May 9, 2010
- Daytona repaving gives Goodyear tight timeline: Daytona International Speedway is repaving the 2.5-mile super-speedway for the first time since 1978. While work will begin following the Coke Zero 400 in July, track officials don’t expect the asphalt to be ready for testing until Jan. 1. That’s more than a month before NASCAR teams return for Speedweeks and it may not leave Goodyear ample time to perfect a tire for the Daytona 500. NASCAR officials informed Goodyear of an open Daytona test scheduled for mid-January (rumored to be Jan. 15th but denied by top brass from the sanctioning body). Goodyear traditionally begins manufacturing tires in October for Speedweeks with the usual run of 6,000 units. With a test involved, as is anticipated given a completely green and unknown track surface, Goodyear would likely up the tire inventory to 8,000 tires for all the Daytona events – the Budweiser Shootout, Gatorade Duels, Camping World Truck race, Nationwide Series race and the 500 (and practices for all those events). Originally, Stu Grant of Goodyear had hoped to start the testing process no later than Nov. 1, using the current Daytona tires as the control tires and build a data base. Should Goodyear not have time for a tire test prior to January, the Daytona open test sessions would become the tire test. Lane Contruction recently repaved Talladega using the same asphalt compound for Daytona, so Grant says Goodyear would now use the Talladega tire as the control tire. Goodyear has received pavement samples from Lane but if testing is not an option, the tires will have to be developed by engineers in the lab instead of on the track. The selection process begins with a control tire and usually requires four to six weeks to assemble the materials, then build and cure the tires. Even if Goodyear could test a tire on Jan. 1, teams would not have track-tested tires for a full Cup Series test on Jan. 15. Although it would be a push, teams could have the new tires for the opening day of Speedweeks on Feb. 9(Fox Sports)(5-9-2010)
- Bill Eliott to wave green flag at the Rock: Part-time Sprint Cup Series driver, #21-Bill Elliott [drives the #21 Wood Brothers Ford in selected races], is scheduled to be the honorary starter [wave the green flag] for the May 15 running of the Carolina 200 at Rockingham Speedway. For more info, please see the Rockingham Speedway website.(5-10-2010)
- Old Spice leaving Stewart Hass next season: Two-time Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart is searching for a new sponsor for the 2011 season. Old Spice, a brand of Procter & Gamble which serves as primary sponsor of Stewart’s #14 Chevy in 14 races this season, confirmed Sunday it has decided not to renew its sponsorship. “Based solely on a change in our marketing strategies, the Old Spice contract with Tony Stewart and Stewart-Haas Racing will expire at the end of 2010 and will not be renewed,” Mike Norton, Old Spice Brand spokesman, said in a statement. Office Depot will continue as a co-primary sponsor of the #14 next season and SHR spokesman Mike Arning said the organization has already started a search for a new sponsor.(Charlotte Observer)(5-9-2010)
- Rear Gear taken from #55 car: NASCAR announced that it confiscated the rear gear of the #55 Toyoya of Michael McDowell on Friday at Darlington Raceway and will take it back to the R&D Center for further inspection. Any penalties could come Tuesday.(Virginian Pilot), McDowell started 18th at Darlington and finished 40th.(5-9-2010)
- Richard Petty Motorsports To Honor Petty At Dover: As a tribute to team owner and NASCAR legend Richard Petty, the #43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford will adorn old familiar colors for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Dover (Del.) International Speedway. The Ford driven by AJ Allmendinger will bring back the “Petty Blue” and “Day-glo Red” colors in honor of “The King,” who will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class on Sunday, May 23. The throwback paint scheme will resemble the #43 machine Petty drove in 1984. That season, the driver collected his 199th career win at Dover. Petty holds the record for the most wins in NASCAR with 200. Petty will serve as the Grand Marshal for the Autism Speaks 400 at Dover International Speedway on Sunday, May 16. The seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion won the inaugural race at Dover in 1969. He is also tied with Bobby Allison for the most wins at the one-mile track with seven.(RPM PR)(5-9-2010)
- Keselowski throwing out first pitch in Detroit: On Thursday, May 13, #12-Brad Keselowski will throw out the first pitch of the New York Yankees/Detroit Tigers baseball game at Comerica Park in downtown Detroit. He will be back in his hometown in advance of the race at Michigan International Speedway, June 11-13.(Penske PR)(5-9-2010)
- Camping Sales Brisk at Atlanta for Labor Day Weekend: With the brisk pace of campsite sales for the track’s Labor Day NASCAR night racing weekend, Atlanta Motor Speedway is urging fans to secure campsites now and the track is offering a payment plan to reserve camping for just $20 down. Fans have less than one month remaining to take advantage of the Speedway’s payment plan, which allows customers to reserve tickets or campsite for just $20 down. The remaining balance is due in three later installments on June 1, July 1 and August 2. In addition to payment options, Atlanta Motor Speedway has added a new campground, the Legends Premium Campground, in an effort to better serve customers and meet demand for the upcoming Labor Day weekend of NASCAR night racing. The Legends Premium campground is located between Turn Four and the Legends Campground and provides some of the closest RV campsites to the Speedway’s frontstretch grandstand. In addition, the Legends Reserved Tent Campground and the Elliott Reserved Campground were created last year to provide additional tent camping for the Labor Day weekend event. To reserve a campsite or purchase tickets to Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Labor Day NASCAR night racing weekend, call the Atlanta Motor Speedway Ticket Office at (770) 946-4211, (877) 9-AMS-TIX, or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(5-9-2010)
- Records & Prices Fall at Talladega Superspeedway: Talladega Superspeedway shattered NASCAR records during the Aaron’s Dream Weekend and now they are shattering prices too. To commemorate the NASCAR record 88 lead changes set in the Aaron’s 499, Talladega Superspeedway has lowered ticket prices in the Gadsden and Lincoln Towers from $120 to $88 for the Oct. 31 AMP Energy 500. Race fans that purchase or renew their tickets in these areas will also be entered into a drawing for 88 autographed Dale Earnhardt Jr. hero cards. NASCAR action returns with the Mountain Dew 250 fueled by Fred’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race and Race Number Seven in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the AMP Energy 500, Oct. 29 – 31. To experience it all, call 1-877-Go2-DEGA or visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(Talladega PR)(5-9-2010)
- Bristol single event tickets on sale: For the first time in nearly two decades, fans now may purchase single-event tickets to NASCAR’s most popular Sprint Cup event, the IRWIN Tools Night Race. The Aug. 21 running of the IRWIN Tools Night Race is a major milestone for Bristol Motor Speedway as the World’s Fastest Half-Mile will host its 100th Cup race. The first 500-lap NASCAR race at BMS took place July 30, 1961. A limited number of tickets for the incomparable Saturday night show, voted by fans as the most popular race on the NASCAR schedule, are available for $109 each. These single-event tickets are renewable. Fans also may purchase a three-day package, which features four NASCAR races. Action kicks off Aug. 18 with the O’Reilly 200 Camping World Truck Series race and the UNOH Perfect Storm Whelen Modified doubleheader. Also in the package are the Food City 250 Nationwide event Friday night, Aug. 20, and the showcase race Aug. 21, the IRWIN Tools Night Race. To purchase, please contact the BMS ticket office at its toll free number 1-866-415-4158 or 423-BRISTOL (274-7865). Tickets may also be purchased at www.bristoltix.com.(BMS)(5-9-2010)
- FRAXA joins Fontaine for Dover race: Chris Fontaine will be making his 18th NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at Dover International Speedway. Fontaine will be racing the Glenden Enterprises/FRAXA #84 blue body with flames on the hood. The FRAXA Research Foundation is devoted to funding and finding a cure for Fragile X Syndrome, the most common inherited cause of mental impairment and the most common known cause of autism. For more info on FRAXA go to fraxa.org.(Chris Fontaine PR)(5-9-2010)
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