February 2014 News Archives
News from February 28, 2014
- Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the The Profit on CNBC 500(k) Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway have been made.
Pole sitter #2-Brad Keselowski chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #22-Logano took pit stall 16, with an opening in front of it.
#1-McMurray, who starts 3rd took the 33rd pit stall, with an opening in front of it.
The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #42-Larson, who starts 8th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(3-1-2014) - Keselowski wins Phoenix pole: #2-Brad Keselowski won the pole for the Profit on CNBC 500(k) Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway with speed of 139.384mph (a new track record) for his 1st pole of 2014, 1st at Phoenix and 4th of his career.
Penske teammate #22-Logano is on the outside pole. #1-McMurray, #48-Johnson, #88-Earnhardt Jr, #16-Biffle, #42-Larson, #18-Busch, #43-Almirola, #41-Busch, #5-Kahne and #11-Hamlin round out the top 12. Those 12 drivers had the fastest speeds during the opening 30 minute group qualifying session and moved on to the final 10 minute session. #22-Logano had the fastest speed during the first session. The new qualifying format this season will use two qualifying sessions on tracks less than 1.25 miles.
#51-Justin Allgaier crashed just 2 minutes into the opening session. He backed the car into the turn 4 wall. The team will have to go to a backup.
Missing the race were: #98-Josh Wise, #40-Landon Cassill and #77-Dave Blaney.
See the full starting lineup,qualifying results & order on the Phoenix Starting Lineup / Qualifying Page.(2-28-2014) - Qualifying Fast Facts – Phoenix:
Brad Keselowski won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 10th Annual The Profit on CNBC 500 presented by Small Business Fueling America with a lap of 25.828 seconds, 139.384 mph.
His qualifying speed is a track record, beating Jimmie Johnson’s qualifying lap of 139.222 mph from Nov. 2013. His teammate Joey Logano (139.265 mph) also surpassed the old track record.
This is his fourth pole in 163 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his first pole and first top-10 start in 2014.
This is his first pole in ten races at Phoenix International Raceway.
Joey Logano (second) posted his first top-10 start of 2014 and his sixth in 11 races at Phoenix International Raceway.
Jamie McMurray (third) posted his eighth top-10 start at Phoenix International Raceway. It is his first in two races this season. Kyle Larson (eighth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics)(2-28-2014) - Friday practice: for The Profit on CNBC 500(k) at Phoenix International Raceway is over after 90 minutes. The top 5, slowest, and notes:
#88-Earnhardt, Jr. 138.723
#22-Logano 138.344
#18-Busch 138.238
#16-Biffle 137.910
#3-Dillon 137.799
slowest: #66-Nemechek 134.013 & #87-Shepherd 130.890
All 46 cars have practiced.
Notes: With rain in the forecast for tomorrow, many teams worked on race setups. #41-Busch make light contact with the outside wall late in the session but the car suffered only minor cosmetic damage.
See the speeds, laps run, 10-lap averages on the Phoenix Practice 1 speeds page.(2-28-2014) - Qualifying Order for the The Profit on CNBC 500(k) Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway is posted. 46 cars/drivers are listed. This is the order drivers can go through inspection and can go off pit road for the first session of group qualifying.
The first of the drivers scheduled to go out is #98-Wise.
The final driver scheduled to go out is #51-Allgaier.
Fastest in Friday practice, #88-Earnhardt, Jr., is scheduled to go out 10th.
Qualifying order is set by a random draw, held about an hour before the first practice.
See the full qualifying order on the Phoenix Qualifying Page.(2-28-2014) - Weather could be an issue at Phoenix: A weather system moving into Arizona could cause problems with on track activites this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. The chance for showers increases late this afternoon with a 100% chance of rain overnight and a 70% chance on Saturday. The forecast for Sunday improves as the system moves out of the area. See more information at the Weather Channel and find more weather links on the Phoenix Race page – weather section.(2-28-2014)
- Earnhardt, Jr. to have different spotter this week: Daytona 500 winner #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. will have a different spotter this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. Earnhardt tweeted that spotter T.J. Majors will miss this weekend because of “personal reasons” and that Majors “Will be back ASAP. Will miss ya buddy. #getwell.” Bill Elliott will spot for Earnhardt in today’s practice session, crew chief Steve Letarte said. Letarte said he might spot for Earnhardt during Friday’s qualifying session. If so, Letarte would have to be in the spotter’s stand instead of on pit road. Letarte said he might spot qualifying to have a better perspective and understanding of the new qualifying format. Elliott likely will spot for Earnhardt for Saturday’s practice sessions although rain is scheduled most of Saturday. For the race, Jeff Dickerson will spot for Earnhardt. Dickerson, who formerly spotted for Jeff Gordon, filled in last year for Majors when he was out because of sickness.(Motor Racing Network)(2-28-2013)
- New Sprint Cup Coors Light Qualifying Debuts at Phoenix: That phrase you heard so often the last two weeks – “the pack is back” – can be recycled, and used again Friday at around 4:30pm local time at Phoenix International Speedway. At about that time, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams will roll their cars to the grid, ready for the debut of the new group qualifying format to be used at each premier series race except last week’s Daytona 500.
A primer on the new rules: There will be two rounds of qualifying at Phoenix, a one-mile track. The first round will last 30 minutes. The fastest 12 will then move to a second and final round lasting 10 minutes, with the fastest car in the final round winning the Coors Light Pole.
Actually – if the weather cooperates – this weekend could see the new format in play for the first time in its entirety for the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series as well. Truck qualifying was completely washed out at Daytona, and rain caused Nationwide Series qualifying to be limited to one round.
At tracks measuring 1.25 miles or longer, there will be three rounds of qualifying, with the field decreasing to 24 cars in the second round and 12 cars in the final round. The time breakdown in each: 25 minutes for the first; 10 for the second; and five for the third.(NASCAR), see more information on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying Rules page.(2-28-2014) - Formula One expected to make decision on Haas: The FIA is due to make a decision on Friday regarding whether it will grant a 2015 Formula One entry to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team owner Gene Haas — or to the Romanian project fronted by Colin Kolles. The FIA on Dec. 12 announced a “call for expression of interest,” and noted that it would make its decision on Feb. 28. However, when the decision will be announced to the public remains to be seen. Haas, who co-owns Stewart-Haas Racing with Tony Stewart, is tied to Ferrari, and if granted an entry would be able to take advantage of the fact that the FIA is relaxing the rules on technology sharing between teams next season. Haas would be able to buy almost everything he needs for an F1 program from Maranello. However, he has to own the intellectual property of his chassis and bodywork. The Romanian project is believed to involve state-funded backing and is in theory closer to being realized than its American rival. Lotus LMP1/LMP2 sports-car constructor Kolles, who ran the now-defunct HRT F1 team from his base near Munich, could provide existing race team and manufacturing facilities. The two candidates paid the FIA a $130,000 fee and went through a vetting process which culminated in a meeting with key FIA figures on Tuesday of this week.(Autoweek)(2-28-2014)
- Mac Tools making only appearance on the #9: Marcos Ambrose will carry the colors of Mac Tools on the #9 Ford for the one and only time this weekend at the one-mile Phoenix International Speedway just outside the city of Phoenix. Ambrose will be making his 12th Sprint Cup start at the track. His best finish is eighth and start is third, both with Richard Petty Motorsports.(Richard Petty Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #9 team paint schemes page.(2-28-2014)
- Quicken Loans on the #31: RCR’s #31 Chevy will sport the colors of Detroit-based Quicken Loans Inc. It is the nation’s fourth largest retail home mortgage lender. The company closed a record $80 billion of volume across all 50 states in 2013. Quicken Loans generates loan production from web centers located in Detroit, Cleveland and Scottsdale, Arizona. The company also operates a centralized loan processing facility in Detroit, as well as its San Diego-based One Reverse Mortgage unit.(RCR), see an image of the car on the #31 team paint schemes page.(2-28-2014)
- Earnhardt Jr’s die-cast set to becoming best seller: The Daytona 500 Win Version of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s National Guard Chevy is predicted to be the best-selling die-cast car since Lionel Racing became The Official Die-Cast of NASCAR in 2010. Just 12 hours after Earnhardt took the checkered flag in the sport’s biggest race of the season, sales of the die-cast were more than double the first full day’s sales of any previous win car – including Earnhardt’s “The Dark Knight Rises” Michigan Win car from 2012. The Monday after the Daytona 500, Lionel Racing was selling Earnhardt’s Raced Win car through its direct-to-consumer channel at a rate of more than 100 per hour. The company’s distributor and dealer orders are also trending at record levels.(Lionel Racing Collectibles)(2-28-2014)
- Bobby Hamilton Jr. running ARCA: Carter 2 Motorsports announced that NASCAR veteran Bobby Hamilton Jr. will be joining the team on a full-time basis for the 2014 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season. He will make his first start for the team at Mobile International Speedway’s “Mobile ARCA 200” on March 22nd . Hamilton Jr. will drive the #40 Carter 2 Motorsports Dodge Charger. The 36 year-old native of Nashville, Tenn., returns to ARCA after racing at all three levels of NASCAR competition. During his career, Hamilton Jr. has competed in 64 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events, 253 Nationwide Series events and 37 Camping World Truck Series events. He has captured 5 victories in Nationwide Series competition.(Carter 2 Motorsports)(2-28-2014)
- Humpy Wheeler’s Speedway Benefits inks deal to improve concessions: Speedway Benefits has announced a new supply chain partnership with Premier, Inc. that is expected to reduce the costs of and improve the quality of grassroots racetrack concessions nationwide. Speedway Benefits seeks to align the 1,000+ grassroots racetracks across the United States and Canada whose 50 million fans produce over $1 trillion in consumer spending. In aggregate, it is expected to be the second largest sports property in the United States in terms of attendance – more than the NFL, NBA, NHL and NASCAR combined. This means that, in addition to higher-quality concessions for fans, food companies and sponsors, Speedway Benefits will gain inroads to a previously unreachable fan base of more than 50 million people. The resulting attention and economic upswing means that Small Town, USA wins. Premier is a healthcare improvement company that also provides supply chain services for non-healthcare organizations through the Premier REACHprogram. The partnership includes services from Value 4, Premier’s largest non-healthcare member, focused on customized solutions for foodservice operators. Tracks that have signed on with Speedway Benefits for collective buying and advertising are immediately eligible for the services provided by Premier REACH, which leverages over $40 billion in combined annual group purchasing power to help organizations improve quality and reduce costs for the products and services they need.(Speedway Benefits)(2-28-2014)
- Busch fastest in happy hour: #54-Kyle Busch was quickest during happy hour for the Blue Jeans Go Green 200 with a speed of 132.309 mph. He was followed by: #2-Brian Scott, #20-Matt Kenseth, #6-Trevor Bayne, #3-Ty Dillon, #16-Ryan Reed, #42-Kyle Larson, #62-Brendan Gaughan, #19-Mike Bliss, and #99-James Buescher in the top-10. 39 drivers participated in the session. See complete results on the Phoenix practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(2-28-2014)
- Keselowski fastest in first practice: #22-Brad Keselowski was fastest during opening practice at Phoenix International Raceway with a speed of 131.974 mph. #11-Elliott Sadler was second, followed by: #54-Kyle Busch, #7-Regan Smith, #16-Ryan Reed, #20-Matt Kenseth, #6-Trevor Bayne, #42-Kyle Larson, #2-Brian Scott, and #3-Ty Dillon. 37 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Phoenix practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(2-28-2014)
- Phoenix International Raceway to release book: Phoenix International Raceway has been a part of the motor sports scene since 1964. From its genesis as an open-wheel destination through its present-day status as a stock car haven, the one-mile desert oval has built a reputation as a unique challenge for drivers and as a memory maker for all who have visited over the last 50 years. To celebrate and acknowledge the track’s golden anniversary, PIR president Bryan R. Sperber announced today the release of a limited-edition commemorative book documenting the past 50 years. ‘Phoenix At 50: A Half-Century of Racing‘ is a comprehensive journey through the last five decades of racing in the Valley of the Sun. Comprised of a collection of work by writers from varying backgrounds that have shared their talents to bring these stories together – including a foreword from ‘The King,’ Richard Petty – the book tells the stories and the secrets that the track has held for fifty years. The book will be available for purchase at PIR merchandise locations throughout the track during the Feb. 28 – March 2 NASCAR event weekend. After the race weekend, the book will be available for purchase at the PIR ticket window and on Amazon.com.(PIR)(2-28-2014)
- P.O.D. to perform concert prior to Profit on CNBC 500: Well-known band P.O.D. (Payable on Death) will energize the crowd at Phoenix International Raceway with a live concert prior to The Profit on CNBC 500, Presented by Small Business Fueling America NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race on Sunday, March 2. The concert beings at 11:00 a.m. MST on the Budweiser ROLL-BAR main stage in the fan midway. Live entertainment on the Budweiser ROLL-BAR main stage is available to all grandstand ticket holders. Tickets to the Budweiser ROLL-BAR Club are available for advance purchase at $99 for March 1 and $149 for March 2. Tickets to Budweiser ROLL-BAR and all of the exciting experiences at PIR are available online at PhoenixRaceway.com, or by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223).(Phoenix Raceway)(2-28-2014)
News from February 27, 2014
NASCAR Statement: “We are pleased with Arizona Governor Jan Brewer’s veto of SB1062. NASCAR actively strives to promote diversity and inclusion throughout the motorsports industry. NASCAR has a zero tolerance policy against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, race, gender, national origin, age, color, disability, religion, or other factors which deny the essential humanity of all people.”(NASCAR)(2-27-2014)
With rain pushing the Daytona 500 to night for the second time in the last three years, it brings up the question of whether NASCAR would consider a move to night for that race. France says the sanctioning body already has considered it but Fox and the racetrack would also want to move it for it to happen. “We have considered it and for lots of reasons have not done that,” France said. “But it’s always a consideration. Of course, it’s not just our decision. Fox has to believe that’s the right time and all the rest.”(Sporting News)(2-27-2013)
UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing announced today the addition of Cale Conley to the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series driver lineup in the #33 Chevy Camaro. Conley will run a limited schedule, making his Nationwide Series debut at Bristol Motor Speedway in March. Conley raced full time in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in 2013 finishing with four top-fives, five top-10s and one pole award. The Vienna, W.Va. native will team up with crew chief Nick Harrison, who joined RCR in 2013. Harrison’s crew chief experience spreads across 131 races in NASCAR’s top-three series and includes a Nationwide Series victory at Daytona International Speedway in July 2012.(RCR)(2-27-2014)
News from February 26, 2014
UPDATE: #33 Circle Sport team owner Joe Falk Tweeted that Timmy Hill, who drove the #32 Ford in 19 2013 races, will drive the #33 Circle Sport Chevy at Las Vegas Motor Speedway next weekend.(2-26-2014)
Budd, of High Point, N.C., is a graduate of High Point University with a Communication degree. He will handle the communications needs of the #3 Bass Pro Shops/WESCO/Yuengling Light Lager team of driver Ty Dillon. Budd comes to RCR from the High Point Enterprise newspaper, where he was a staff writer.
Katey Hawbaker joins RCR with extensive NASCAR team, sanctioning body and agency experience. The native of State College, Penn., graduated from Shippensburg University with a degree in Marketing. She was most recently with Red Horse Racing, and prior to that, served in communications roles with NASCARKevin Harvick, Inc. and agency Breaking Limits. She will handle communication duties for the #2 Shore Lodge/Whitetail Lodge/Anderson’s Maple Syrup Nationwide team of Brian Scott.
Morgan Hollars is a graduate of the Belmont Abbey College Motorsports program, which she attended on a NCAA Division II volleyball scholarship. She comes to RCR from Octagon where she worked with clients Sprint and Sunoco. The native of Cochran, Ga., will manage the communications responsibilities of Brendan Gaughan and the #62 South Point/WIX Filters team in the Nationwide Series.
Traci Hultzapple brings her veteran experience on the media, sponsor and team channels of NASCAR to the #31 CAT/Quicken Loans/WIX Filters/Kwikset team of Ryan Newman. For the past seven seasons, the native of Lancaster, Penn., managed the NAPA Auto Parts Sprint Cup Series program at Michael Waltrip Racing and at Wasserman Media Group. Her background in NASCAR public relations includes stints at PPI Motorsports and Cox Marketing Group. Hultzapple’s TV background includes being a senior producer at NASCAR Media Group and producer at FOX 43 in York, Penn., where she earned three mid-Atlantic Emmy awards and a national Telly award.(RCR Racing)(2-26-2013)
News from February 25, 2014
#48-Jimmie Johnson………………….. 116.7
#4-Kevin Harvick……………………… 101.3
#99-Carl Edwards………………………. 100.0
#24-Jeff Gordon………………………….. 99.4
#14-Tony Stewart………………………… 99.2
#11-Denny Hamlin……………………….. 98.2
#41-Kurt Busch…………………………… 98.0
#18-Kyle Busch…………………………… 97.4
#16-Greg Biffle…………………………… 91.6
#31-Ryan Newman………………………. 87.1
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2013 races (18 total) among active drivers at Phoenix International Raceway.
Formula combining the following categories: Wins, Finishes, Top-15 Finishes, Average Running Position While on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.(NASCAR)(2-25-2014)
· Construction was completed in January 1964. The facility consisted of a one-mile oval and a 2.5-mile road course.
· Alan Kulwicki won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix on Nov. 6, 1988.
· The first spring race was held on April 23, 2005 and also the first night race, which was won by Kurt Busch.
· The track underwent its first repave in 2011. The construction began in March and concluded in September of that year.
· The following changes were made during the construction period (March – Sept. 2011):
o Widened the frontstretch from 52 to 62 feet
o Reconfigured pit road with the installation of concrete pit stalls
o Pushed the dog-leg curve between Turn 2 and Turn 3 out 95 feet
o Tightened the turn radius of the dog-leg from 800 to 500 feet
o Implemented variable banking to ensure the immediate use of two racing grooves, including 10-11 degree banking between Turn 1 and Turn 2; 10-11 degree banking in the apex of the dog-leg; and 8-9 degree banking in Turn 4
· There have been 35 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Phoenix International Raceway, one per season from 1988-2004 and two each season since.
· 186 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Phoenix; 138 in more than one.
· Mark Martin leads series in starts at Phoenix with 34; followed by Jeff Gordon and Bobby Labonte with 30 each.
· Geoff Bodine won the first pole in 1988 at a speed of 123.203 mph (29.220 sec.).
· There have been 19 different Coors Light pole winners, led by Ryan Newman with four.
· Ryan Newman, Jeff Gordon and Carl Edwards are the only drivers to win consecutive poles. Newman won three straight (2002-04), while Gordon won the fall of 2006 and the spring of 2007. Edwards won the fall of 2010 and spring of 2011.
· Denny Hamlin (November, 2005) and AJ Allmendinger (April, 2010) won their first career Coors Light poles at Phoenix International Raceway.
· There have been 23 different NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race winners at Phoenix, eight have won more than once, led by Jimmie Johnson, with four – (’07 Chase race, ’08 spring race and Chase race, ’09 Chase race).
· The eight drivers who have won more than once at Phoenix: Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick lead the series in wins (four each), Davey Allison (two), Jeff Burton (two), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (two), Jeff Gordon (two) Carl Edwards (two) and Mark Martin (two).
· Of the eight drivers with multiple wins at Phoenix International Raceway, Mark Martin is the only driver to win in two different manufacturers: Ford (1993) and Chevrolet (2009).
· Four of the 35 (11.4%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Phoenix have been won from the Coors Light pole: Jeff Gordon (spring 2007), Jimmie Johnson (fall 2008), Mark Martin (spring 2009) and Carl Edwards (fall 2010).
· Seven of the 35 (20%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Phoenix have been won from the front row: four from the pole and three from second-place.
· 17 of the 35 (48.5%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Phoenix have been won from a starting position inside the top 10.
· Jimmie Johnson leads the series in average finishes at Phoenix with a 6.3; he is the only active driver with an average finish inside the top 10.
· Ricky Rudd won the 1995 race from the 29th-place starting position, the furthest back a race winner has started.
· Matt Kenseth won the 2002 race from the 28th-place starting position, the furthest back an active race winner has started.
· 18 of the 35 (51.4%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Phoenix have been won from a starting position outside the top 10.
· 3 of the 35 (8.5%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Phoenix have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
· Five drivers have won consecutive races at Phoenix: Davey Allison (1991,1992); Jeff Burton (2000, 2001); Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2003, 2004); Kevin Harvick (swept 2006); Jimmie Johnson is the only one of the five to win three consecutive races (fall 2007, swept 2008).
· Hendrick Motorsports leads the series in wins at Phoenix with nine, followed by Roush Fenway Racing with seven.
· Two perfect Driver Ratings of 150.0 have been recorded at Phoenix, Kurt Busch in April of 2005 and Kevin Harvick in November of 2006.
· Mark Martin leads the series in runner-up finishes at Phoenix with five; followed by Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart with three each.
· Jimmie Johnson leads the series in top-five finishes at Phoenix with 14.
· Alan Kulwicki (11/6/1988) and Bobby Hamilton (10/27/1996) are the only two drivers to post their first NASCAR Sprint Cup career win at Phoenix International Raceway.
· 21 of the 23 NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers who have won at Phoenix participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Alan Kulwicki (11/6/1988) and Tony Stewart (11/7/1999) are the only two drivers to win at Phoenix in their first appearance.
· Jeff Gordon competed at Phoenix International Raceway 16 times before winning (4/21/2007); the longest span of any the 23 winners.
· Six drivers have made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Phoenix: Jeff Gordon (16), Ryan Newman (15), Kasey Kahne (14), Denny Hamlin (13), Carl Edwards (12) and Rusty Wallace (11).
· Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Phoenix was the April 10, 2010 race won by Ryan Newman with a MOV of 0.13 seconds.(NASCAR)(2-25-2014)
News from February 24, 2014
With 46 cars entered, 3 drivers will miss the race. #41-Busch has no owners points (until the 4th race), so he must qualify on speed or he could use a past champions provisional as long as #14-Stewart or #2-Keselowski do not need to use it. Two drivers must qualify via speed and do not have a provisional available: #26-Whitt and #77-Blaney.
See the full entry list at my Jayski’s Phoenix Entry List
Remarkably, NASCAR’s famously loyal fans stayed tuned to FOX throughout the marathon rain delay. The network’s nearly five hours of rain-delay coverage averaged a 4.0/8 in the metered markets, which easily beat head-to-head competition from a live NBA doubleheader on ABC (+54% vs. 2.6/6) and was competitive with Winter Olympics afternoon coverage on NBC (4.4/9 from 2-6 PM). Just as impressive, FOX was able to hold 69% of its pre-rain delay audience throughout the long interruption.
As a result, the 2014 Daytona 500 posted a 5.6/10 fast national household rating/share, averaging 9.3 million viewers. The last Daytona 500 to face Olympics’ competition came in 2010, and that race posted a 7.7/16, with 13.3 million viewers. Due to the extensive rain delay, yesterday’s race was broken out into two parts: from 1:30-2:17pm/et the race averaged a 6.3/15 with 10.1 million viewers and 5.5/9 with 9.1 million viewers from 8:25-11:23pm/et. Last night’s prime time portion of the race opened with a 4.6/7 with 7.7 million viewers. It grew steadily throughout the evening and peaked at a 6.7/12 with 10.9 million viewers from 11:00-11:23pm/et as Earnhardt Jr. took the checkered flag. In total, 23.7 million viewers watched all or part of the race.
The top five ranked markets are: Greensboro (17.5/26), Orlando (13.2/21), Greenville (13.0/20), Richmond (12.0/18) and Jacksonville (11.8/18). NBC’s coverage of the Closing Ceremony of the Sochi Olympic Winter Games, which aired directly opposite FOX’s prime time portion of the Daytona 500, averaged a 9.6/14 among the metered markets, down 32% from 2010 (14.1/21).(FoxSports)(2-24-2014)
“I was taking pictures and doing media until about 3 a.m.,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “The team was having most of the fun. When I got over there, they were out of spirits so we found some more and we just sat around and talked about how cool it was – just punching each other in the shoulder until about 4 a.m. and then I had to hang it up.”
During the Champion’s Breakfast, Speedway President Joie Chitwood presented all three Daytona 500 champions with their leather jackets, Hendrick with his Harley J. Earl Daytona 500 trophy and Letarte with the Cannonball Baker trophy. Chitwood and Earnhardt Jr. also unveiled the logo for next year’s 57th annual Daytona 500.
The Champion’s Breakfast isn’t the only obligation that comes with winning “The Great American Race.” Earnhardt Jr. will fly across America making stops in places such as New York City, ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut and Los Angeles.
“I’m looking forward to it and I want to enjoy it,” said Earnhardt Jr., who will be appearing on the Late Show with David Letterman on Monday night. “We won a big race, we put a lot of effort into it and I’m going to make sure everybody hears about it.”
“This race is such a big deal,” said Letarte. “The whole thing felt pretty surreal. What races do you still celebrate the next day? You have a breakfast and keep getting trophies and jackets. I’m proud of the team we’ve assembled. They’re a great group of guys and deserve most of the credit. They built a great race car, Dale drove a great race and we’re excited.”
“That was a perfect race,” agreed Hendrick, who is enjoying his eighth Daytona 500 win as an owner. “That was a perfect race. Dale – I’ve never seen anybody drive a car (like that). He drove the wheels off the car every lap. Stevie called a perfect race, pit stops were perfect and TJ (Majors) did an unbelievable job up there spotting. I’m so proud.”
Earnhardt Jr. was asked to sum up the feeling of winning the Daytona 500 for a second time. “This place just has a lot of great history,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “It’s a great race track. You drive into it and you get a special feeling you don’t get anywhere else. As soon as you drive through the tunnel you know where you’re at. There are some great facilities and unique tracks and places we go that I have a lot of appreciation for, but nothing like Daytona. Once you win it, it’s like a color TV – once you watch color TV for the first time, you don’t want to go back to black and white. When I won it for the first time (in 2004), I just couldn’t wait to get back to Victory Lane.”(DIS)(2-24-2014)
Dale Earnhardt Jr. will visit ESPN’s campus on Tuesday, Feb. 25, and appear on a variety of ESPN platforms. NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver will talk about his second win in the “Great American Race” on SportsCenter, Mike and Mike, NASCAR Now and more.(2-24-2014)
Jeff Green will be in the TriStar #10;
Carlos Contreras moves to the #23;
The #24 for SR2 is TBA;
Matt Dibenedetto will be in the #46 for Curtis Key;
Tommy Joe Martins will drive the #67;
Willie Allen will be in the #76;
Daryl Harr will drive the #87 for NEMCO;
Kevin Harvick will drive the JR Motorsports #88.(2-24-2014)
UPDATE: Blake Koch will be in the #10 for TriStar and Will Kimmel will drive the #44.(2-24-2013)
See the complete list on the Phoenix entry list page.
As grand marshal, Lemonis will say the four most famous words in racing – “Drivers, start your engines!” prior to the start of the race. After giving the command, Lemonis will head to the flag stand where he will wave the green flag to officially start The Profit on CNBC 500 Presented by Small Business Fueling America.
Lemonis headlines an exciting pre-race schedule. Fan favorite and Phoenix-native trumpet soloist Jesse Maguire will perform the national anthem, while UFC fighter and FOX Sports analyst Chael Sonnen will be the honorary pace car driver.
The popular rock group P.O.D. (Payable On Death) will perform on the pre-race stage beginning at 11:00 a.m. MST. Adding to the scene during pre-race will be an appearance by the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales, who will make a parade lap along the front stretch prior to the start of the race.
Tickets to all events throughout The Profit on CNBC 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend at Phoenix International Raceway are available on PhoenixRaceway.com or by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223).(PIR)(2-24-2014)
News from February 23, 2014
#11-Hamlin finished 2nd followed by #2-Keselowski, #24-Gordon, #48-Johnson, #20-Kenseth, #17-Stenhouse Jr., #16-Biffle, #3-Dillon (pole winner) and #13-Mears.
Outside pole winner, #78-Truex Jr had an engine let go after only 30 laps and finished 43rd/last.
There was a big wreck on lap 146 when #4-Harvick and #33-Scott made contact, moving the #33 into #43-Almirola, who bounced off the wall, came back down into the #3-Dillon and #10-Patrick. Patrick then shot up the track into the wall nose first, but she walked away and is fine. Other cars involved were #5-Kahne, #9-Ambrose, #17-Stenhouse Jr., #27-Menard, #38-Gilliland, #51-Allgaier, #66-Waltrip and #98-Wise.
A few laps later, on lap 162, #3-Dillon got loose and into #42-Larson, who spun, collecting #5-Kahne, #7-Annett, #9-Ambrose, #31-Newman, #33-Scott, #52-Labonte and #55-Vickers. There was a wreck just behind the leaders that collected #18-Busch, #9-Ambrose, #22-Logano, #4-Harvick and #99-Edwards among others.
Rookie report: #3-Dillon finished 9th, #23-Bowman 23rd, #51-Allgaier 27th, #26-Whitt 28th, #30-Kligerman 29th, #7-Annett 37th (accident), #42-Larson 38th (accident) and #83-Truex DNQ.
There were 42 lead changes among 18 drivers and there were 7 cautions for 39 yellow flag laps.
The average speed was 145.290mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Unofficial Daytona Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Daytona Penalty Report (pdf).(2-23-2014)
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Daytona Race & Points Report (pdf)
#88-Dale Earnhardt. Jr. won the 56th Annual Daytona 500, his 20th victory in 506 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. joins Bill Elliott, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Michael Waltrip and Sterling Marlin as a two-time Daytona 500 winner.
This is his third victory and 17th top-10 finish in 29 races at Daytona International Speedway.
#11-Denny Hamlin (second) posted his third top-10 finish in 17 races at Daytona International Speedway. It is his first top-10 finish in 2014.
#2-Brad Keselowski (third) posted his third top-10 finish in 10 races at Daytona International Speedway.
#3-Austin Dillon (ninth) was the highest finishing rookie.
Dale Earnhardt. Jr. leads the point standings by five points over Denny Hamlin.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. last won a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway on June 17, 2012.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. last won the Daytona 500 on February 15, 2004.(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(2-23-2014)
[after Daytona, race 1 of 36]
1) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [1 win], 48
2) #11-Denny Hamlin, 43, -5
3) #2-Brad Keselowski, 42, -6
4) #24-Jeff Gordon, 40, -8
5) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 40, -8
6) #20-Matt Kenseth, 38, -10
7) #17-Ricky Stenhouse. Jr., 37, -11
8) #16-Greg Biffle, 37, -11
9) #3-Austin Dillon, 36, -12
10) #13-Casey Mears, 34, -14
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Daytona Race & Points Report (pdf)
Q) YOU HAD TWO GREAT CARS HERE IN DAYTONA FOR SPEEDWEEKS. DOES DISAPPOINTING EVEN DESCRIBE WHAT YOU ARE FEELING RIGHT NOW?
Truex Jr.: “No not really. I mean it’s definitely a tough break for the team. The car was super-fast today and I went to bed last night thinking that this was my best shot ever to win the Daytona 500 and really felt that way – even today. The car was just so good and we were just riding around and biding our time you know, being patient and trying to get to the end of this thing. Unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be. It looks like something knocked the oil pump belt off. Not sure if it was debris off the race track or what. You typically get about two seconds to shut it off once that belt comes off or it will blow up and we just didn’t get enough warning. Definitely a shame and definitely a tough break for this team. They built us a great race car. I guess the only good news is that we have a car in one piece to race next time because it’s pretty darn good.”(Team Chevy)(2-23-2013)
For Sunday’s Daytona 500, Bayne’s Wood Brothers’ Ford Fusion will reciprocate with an AdvoCare decal to the right of the famed #21 Ford in addition to the customary Motorcraft/Quick Lane livery. Bayne is running for a points championship in the NASCAR Nationwide Series while also looking for his second Daytona 500 trophy after a Cinderella win in 2011 in Motorcraft/Quick Lane colors.(Ford PR)(2-23-2014)
Each year, the Harley J. Earl Perpetual Trophy makes a trip outside the attraction to the hallowed grounds of Gatorade Victory Lane at the “World Center of Racing” for a meeting with the Daytona 500 champion.
While the Daytona 500 champion doesn’t take home the Harley J. Earl trophy, the winner of the “Great American Race” is awarded a replica Harley J. Earl trophy, which has a black base with a scaled-down replica of the Firebird One that Earl created in 1954 at the peak of his career with General Motors.
For the 50th running of the Daytona 500, the trophy was painted gold. The Harley J. Earl trophy is just one of three trophies awarded on the day of the Daytona 500.
The winning crew chief of the Daytona 500 champion is awarded the Cannonball Baker trophy, which is named after the famous coast-to-coast racer who was elected the first national commissioner of NASCAR in 1948 while the owner of the winning Daytona 500 champion is awarded the Governor’s Cup.(DIS PR)
Richard Earl, a former Wall Street broker and youngest grandson of Earl, makes his living selling Harley Earl-designed cars. ” ‘Motoramic masterpieces’ is how I like to refer to them,” he said.(2-23-2014)
year, driver, Daytona finish, Daytona 500 winner
2014: Denny Hamlin, finished TBDm won by TBD
2013: Kevin Harvick, finished 42nd, won by Jimmie Johnson
2011: Kurt Busch, 5th, won by Trevor Bayne
2008: Dale Earnhardt Jr., 9th, Ryan Newman
2007: Tony Stewart, 43rd, Kevin Harvick
2003: Dale Earnhardt Jr., 36th, Michael Waltrip
1995: Dale Earnhardt, 2nd, Sterling Marlin
1993: Dale Earnhardt, 2nd, Dale Jarrett
1991: Dale Earnhardt, 5th, Ernie Irvan
1989: Ken Schrader, 2nd, Darrell Waltrip
1986: Dale Earnhardt, 14th, Geoff Bodine
1983: Neil Bonnett, 22nd, Cale Yarborough
1981: Darrell Waltrip, 36th, Richard Petty
1979: Buddy Baker, 40th, Richard Petty (2-23-2014)
Winning the Daytona 500 from the outside of the front row is even rarer. Only six drivers have accomplished this feat, with Richard Petty the only one with more than one victory in the race from the second starting position. The most recent driver to win from this spot was once again Jarrett, in 1993. A.J. Foyt (1962), Geoff Bodine (1986), Darrell Waltrip (1989) and Ernie Irvan (1991) are the four other drivers.(NASCAR Wire Service)(2-23-2014)
Memorabilia on display will include several trophies which were won at PIR, including the Bobby Ball Trophy which was awarded annually to the winner of the Bobby Ball Memorial in PIR’s early years. Additionally, several fire suits and helmets worn by drivers through the years will be on display, along with programs, posters, photos, pins and pennants from past races. Many of the items are generously on loan from the Arizona Open Wheel Motorsports Museum.
Several legendary drivers and racing personalities will make special appearances on the stage in Memory Lane through the weekend to share their favorite stories and memories from racing at Phoenix through the years. Tickets to the exciting Feb 27-March 2 The Profit on CNBC 500 NASCAR event weekend are available with Sprint Cup Series ticket prices starting at just $25. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit PhoenixRaceway.com or call 866-408-RACE (7223).(PIR)(2-23-2014)
News from February 22, 2014
#41-Busch 197.625
#5-Kahne 197.490
#1-McMurray 197.472 (backup car)
#99-Edwards 197.070
#78-Truex Jr 197.057 (backup car)
slowest: #30-Kligerman 187.025 & #55-Vickers 188.913
not practicing: #’s 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 14, 18, 22, 23, 26, 27, 31, 33, 38, 40, 88
27 of 43 drivers have made practice runs.
Notes: #66-Waltrip had the optional roof hatch fly open during a run and had to head to the garage to get it closed. Practice was scheduled to run 90 minutes, 10:00 – 11:30am/et but a damp track delayed the cars getting on track until around 10:55am/et; NASCAR extended the practice session until 12:00pm/et.
See fastest speeds, laps run, Ten-lap averages on the Daytona 500 Happy Hour Practice Speeds page (pdf).(2-22-2014)
Pole sitter #3-Dillon chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #78-Truex Jr. took pit stall 34, the second pit stall with an opening in front of it (not counting stall 1).
#20-Kenseth, who starts 3rd took the 20th pit stall, the 1st stall with an opening in front of it.
The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #42-Larson, who starts 16th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(2-22-2014)
Leading the way for the sixth straight year is Dale Earnhardt Jr., who earned $25.6 million in 2013 by Forbes’ count. Earnhardt’s licensing income is down significantly from five years ago when he was making $30 million a year, but he is still the sport’s biggest star with the biggest salary, as well as the top licensing and endorsement income, according to sources. Earnhardt’s #88 Chevy carries the most expensive real estate in the sport. The Army National Guard spent $30 million in 2013 on sponsoring 20 races on the #88 car and activating around the sponsorship. Hendrick Motorsports entered the past two seasons with 13 races to sell on Earnhardt’s car, but even if owner Rick Hendrick has to pick up the tab on a couple of races, the sponsorship revenue for Earnhardt’s car is still the envy of the sport.
#48-Jimmie Johnson, ranks No. 2 with estimated earnings of $24.8 million last year. Johnson won his sixth Sprint Cup title, which carried bonuses and special awards of $5.8 million. Johnson’s total prize money haul of $14.7 is twice as much as Earnhardt, but Johnson’s endorsements and licensing income lag behind. #24-Jeff Gordon in third earning $18.2 million in 2013. His merchandise was the sport’s second best seller, behind Earnhardt, in 2013, according to multiple sources. Gordon also benefits from his ownership stake in the #48 car. NASCAR’s golden girl, Danica Patrick, ranks No. 9 with earnings of $13.5 million. See full report at Forbes.com.(2-22-2014)
Joe Gibbs Racing ranks No. 2 with a value of $171 million, up 2% from last year. Roush Fenway Racing ranks No. 3 with a value of $157 million, down 6%. The team making the biggest jump is Stewart-Haas Racing, which ranks fourth with a value of $148 million, up 20%. #5 is Richard Childress Racing at $128 million; #6 is Team Penske at $108 million; #7 is Michael Waltrip Racing at $80 million; #8 is Chip Ganassi Racing at $69 million; #9 is Richard Petty Motorsports at $50 million. See full report at Forbes.com.(2-22-2014)
UPDATE: The Richard Petty-Danica Patrick-Tony Stewart saga just won’t stop. Goaded by “Fox & Friends” hosts on Friday morning, Petty accepted Stewart’s offer to set up a head-to-head race between Patrick and the NASCAR Hall of Famer. “I’m 76 years old, OK?” Petty said, grinning, during a live spot from Daytona International Speedway. “It’s been 25 years since I’ve been in a race car. But I’ll take that challenge.” When pressed, he reaffirmed, “Oh, yeah. When is this going to happen?” When asked by Fox hosts about his critique of Patrick’s career, he stated, “I judge by results.”(ESPN)(2-22-2014)
Now in 2014, what was Earnhardt Ganassi Racing for the last five seasons has reverted back to its original name prior to joining forces with Earnhardt, namely Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. And what was Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technology has quietly become simply ECR, with a team source telling MotorSportsTalk that “the E no longer stands for anything. It doesn’t stand for Earnhardt. It’s just ECR now.”
Ganassi spoke to MotorSportsTalk at Daytona International Speedway on Friday about how the relationship with Teresa Earnhardt essentially disappeared with time, to the point where it no longer made sense to keep her late husband’s surname as part of the team. “I wish I could explain it but I can’t explain it,” Ganassi said. “I don’t have a good answer for you. We had a relationship and I don’t know what happened. We can’t get her on the phone; it’s hard to try to communicate with somebody. She obviously has some other things on her plate, I guess, and that’s her prerogative. She was never active in the team. I think she wanted to keep the name out there to some extent, and I don’t know what Richard’s (Petty) relationship is there (to Richard Petty Motorsports), but it’s kinda the same thing. There’s no ill will, I just don’t have an answer, to tell you the truth. She just wasn’t there anymore.”(NBC Sports)(2-22-2014)
· The 2014 edition will be the 56th running of the Daytona 500.
· Although the first Daytona 500 was held in 1959, it has been the season-opener only since 1982.
· 523 drivers have competed in at least one Daytona 500; 311 in more than one.
· 35 drivers have won a Daytona 500.
· 10 drivers have won more than one Daytona 500, led by Richard Petty with seven victories.
· The 10 drivers who have won the Daytona 500 more than once: Richard Petty (seven), Cale Yarborough (four), Bobby Allison (three), Dale Jarrett (three), Jeff Gordon (three), Bill Elliott (two), Matt Kenseth (two), Jimmie Johnson (two), Sterling Marlin (two) and Michael Waltrip (two).
· A driver has won back-to-back Daytona 500s three times. Richard Petty (1973-74), Cale Yarborough (1983-84) and Sterling Marlin (1994-95).
· Active Daytona 500 winners and the number of NSCS starts in their careers when they won: Jeff Gordon won his third Daytona 500 on his 402nd career start (2005). Gordon also posted his second Daytona 500 win on his 190th career start (1999). Jimmie Johnson posted his second Daytona 500 win on his 400th career start (2013) and Matt Kenseth won his second Daytona 500 on his 437th career start (2012). Michael Waltrip posted his second Daytona 500 win on his 535th career start (2003).
· Seven drivers posted their career-first victory with a win in the Daytona 500: Tiny Lund (1963), Mario Andretti (1967), Pete Hamilton (1970), Derrike Cope (1990), Sterling Marlin (1994), Michael Waltrip (2001) and Trevor Bayne (2011).
· Three other drivers posted their career-first victory in (points-paying) qualifying races: Johnny Rutherford (1963), Bobby Isaac (1964) and Earl Balmer (1966).
· Lee Petty, who won the inaugural Daytona 500, and Trevor Bayne, 2011 Daytona 500 champion, are the only two drivers to win the Daytona 500 in their first appearance.
· Dale Earnhardt leads the series in runner-up finishes in the Daytona 500 with five; Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads all active drivers with four.
· Dale Earnhardt had 12 top fives in his 23 Daytona 500 starts, more than any other driver. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mark Martin and Terry Labonte lead all active drivers in Daytona 500 top-five finishes with six.
· Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty each posted a series leading 16 top 10s in the Daytona 500. Terry Labonte and Mark Martin lead all active drivers in Daytona 500 top-10 finishes with 12; followed by Michael Waltrip with nine.
· Only 12 drivers have an average finish of 10th or better in the Daytona 500, five of those competed in the Daytona 500 only once.
· Clint Bowyer has an 11.9 average finish in nine appearances, the best of the active drivers who have competed in more than one Daytona 500.
· 28 of the 35 drivers, who have won, participated in at least two Daytona 500s before visiting Victory Lane.
· Dale Earnhardt competed 19 times before winning his only Daytona 500 (1998), the longest span of any of the 35 race winners.
· Six drivers made 10 or more attempts before their first Daytona 500 victory: Dale Earnhardt (19), Buddy Baker (18), Darrell Waltrip (16), Bobby Allison (14), Michael Waltrip (14) and Sterling Marlin (12).
· The driver with the all-time most Daytona 500 starts without a victory is Dave Marcis with 33 races; the active drivers with the most starts without a Daytona 500 win is Terry Labonte (31 races), Mark Martin (29 races), Joe Nemechek (18) and Tony Stewart (15).
· Kevin Harvick’s 0.020-second margin of victory over Mark Martin in the 2007 Daytona 500 is the 12th-closest overall since the advent of electronic timing in 1993, and the closest in a Daytona 500.
· Nine of the 55 Daytona 500s (16.3%) have been won from the Coors Light pole. The last to do so was Dale Jarrett in 2000. Jeff Gordon is the only active driver to accomplish the feat (1999).
· Cale Yarborough (1968, 1984) and Bill Elliott (1985, 1987) are the only two drivers to win the Daytona 500 from the Coors Light pole more than once.
· 16 of the 55 Daytona 500s (29.0%) have been won from the front row.
· 27 of the 55 Daytona 500s (49.0%) have been won from a top-five starting position.
· 40 of the 55 Daytona 500s (72.7%) have been won from a top 10 starting position
· Matt Kenseth won the Daytona 500 from the 39th starting position in 2009, the deepest a race winner has started.
· Five reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions have gone on to win the Daytona 500 the following season: Lee Petty (1959), Richard Petty (1973), Cale Yarborough (1977), Jeff Gordon (1999) and Dale Jarrett (2000).
· Five drivers have won the Daytona 500 and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship in the same season, Richard Petty has done it four times: Jimmie Johnson (2006, 2013), Jeff Gordon (1997), Richard Petty (1964, 1971, 1974, 1979), Cale Yarborough (1977) and Lee Petty (1959).
· Danica Patrick on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2013 became the first female in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history to win a Coors Light pole for the Daytona 500 posting a speed of 196.434 mph.
· Janet Guthrie previously held the record for top starting position by a female NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver, starting ninth twice in 1977 – at Talladega Superspeedway on Aug. 7, 1977 and at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 28, 1977.
· In 2012, Danica Patrick became the third female driver to compete in a Daytona 500 joining Janet Guthrie and Shawna Robinson. Below are the previous female driver performances in the Daytona 500.(NASCAR)(2-22-2014)
The Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project was founded in 1992 by now-retired NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star Geoff Bodine and Bob Cuneo of Bethany, Conn., former owner of Chassis Dynamics, a manufacturer of race car chassis. Bodine and Cuneo are still hands-on in their leadership of the bobsled program. In addition, Cuneo said he stays in touch with NASCAR Modified racing as consultant to several drivers including 2013 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Ryan Preece, 2008 tour champion Ted Christopher and rising tour driver Rowan Pennick. Whelen Engineering of Chester, Conn., one of the most familiar brands in NASCAR racing, was one of the earliest supporters of the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project. The company sponsors four NASCAR series –the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour and the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. Whelen is a leading manufacturer of automotive, aviation, industrial and emergency vehicle lighting.
“Whelen Engineering has been a big part of the Bo-Dyn Bobsled’s development,” Caligiore said. “They are a key player in building the program.” Whelen’s support grew into a primary sponsorship 14 years ago. The company’s vice president for motorsports Phil Kurze is also president of the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project Inc., which funds the bobsled mission. The Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation and is classified as a public charity under the IRS Codes.
“This is Geoff Bodine’s dream … Americans racing American-made bobsleds at no cost to the athletes,” Kurze said. “Geoff is the inspiration for all of this.” The Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project was inspired by Bodine’s desire to see U.S. Olympic athletes compete in American-made bobsleds. The teams had been using hand-me-down bobsleds — known as “bobsleighs” in international vernacular — from European teams. The Bo-Dyn name is a derivative of the first two letters of Bodine’s last name and the first three letters of “Dynamics” from Cuneo’s chassis brand. Bo-Dyn bobsleds first appeared in the 1994 Olympic Winter Games and the four-man U.S. Bobsled team won Olympic gold for the first time in 62 years at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. After the Vancouver games, the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project moved their base of operations from Colchester, Conn., to Harrisburg, N.C.
“We wanted to be closer to the hub of NASCAR technology,” Bo-Dyn project spokesman Sandy Caligiore said of the move to North Carolina. Kurze and Bodine became acquainted when Whelen was an associate sponsor on Bodine’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars in the mid-1990s and the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project was still in its infancy. “There are a lot of comparisons between stock car racing and bobsled racing,” Kurze said. “There are different runners for different bobsled tracks just like race cars have different tires for different tracks; bobsled tracks come in different configurations like NASCAR tracks; bobsled aerodynamics are wind tunnel-tested just like stock cars.”
“They do wind tunnel testing with the athletes in the bobsled. They put the athletes in different positions in the sled to find the best alignment and get the best aero flow. That’s really important,” Kurze said. “Medals can be decided by a fraction of a second. A team can go from gold to zero faster than the blink of an eye.” Whelen Engineering’s machine shop in New Hampshire developed the D-shaped steering rings being used by the drivers of Night Train and Night Train 2. The rings are attached to a mechanism that connects to the runners and steers the bobsled. The bobsleds have no seats and no suspension, Kurze noted. Cuneo pointed out the similarities between top-level Olympic competition and top-level NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition. “There is a cultural crossover between bobsled racing and NASCAR racing. The Cup series has a rule book and bobsleds have a rule book. We use the same approach to prepare for competition,” Cuneo said. “The engineering problems are different, but we approach them the same way. We have to find speed within the limitations of the rule book. “Our bobsled team’s ability to respond quickly to challenges at the track – that really sets us apart from the competition,” Cuneo added.
Cuneo and Jim Garde have both been primary engineers, builders and “crew chiefs” for the Bo-Dyn bobsleds. Garde, once head fabricator for Hendrick Motorsports, is on site in Rzhanaya Polyana serving in all those capacities. He started working for Cuneo at Chassis Dynamics when he was just 11 years of age. “Being a bobsled crew chief is the same as being a NASCAR crew chief,” Cuneo said. “There is a tremendous amount of work. “Every time a sled runs it takes a beating like someone pounded it with a sledge hammer. The sleds require a lot of tuning day-to-day. Just like in NASCAR, track conditions change and the driver has to communicate those changes to the crew chief. “A bobsled track is a living thing,” Cuneo said, “and the driver has to tell the crew chief what the sled is doing in what location on the track. The surface can depend on minerals in the water. A surface can be hard on top and soft underneath or visa-versa. The track is hand sculpted so the contours change every day. One guy may prepare a section of the track differently than the next. The crew chief has to take the driver’s input and make things happen. There are many adjustable points on a sled.”
At the Sliding Center Sanki, the hardness of the racing surface can be controlled by a refrigeration system beneath the ice. Olympic bobsled track infrastructure has included refrigeration since 1972. “One turn of a knob can release a chemistry mix into the ice to help maintain its hardness,” Kurze said of the technology. “The hardest ice creates the fastest track.” While the bobsleds are built for speed, the track in Russia is unique to the sport because it has three uphill sections. Those sections were designed to reduce top speeds by up to 10 mph for the sake of safety. Top speeds in next week’s competition are expected to be around 85 mph.
Through the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project, technology within U.S. Olympic bobsled construction has advanced. In the design phase, three-dimensional digital mock-ups were created by Dassault Systems’ SolidWorks division to enhance weight distribution in construction. Exa Corp. used computer-generated simulation to optimize air flow over the body of the sleds and deBotech Inc. manufactured lighter carbon fiber and advanced composite parts used in bobsled bodywork.
Team members in Night Train 2 include driver Steven Holcomb, Curtis Tomasevicz, Steven Langton and Christopher Fogt.
Team members in the original Night Train include driver Nick Cunningham, Justin Olsen, Johnny Quinn and Dallas Robinson.
The Olympic bobsled events will be held in a four-heat format over two days of racing for each division. The men’s two-man bobsled competition took place Feb. 16-17, followed by women’s bobsled Feb. 18-19. The men’s four-man bobsled competition will be one of the last events of the Olympic Games.(NASCAR Wire Service)(2-22-2014)
There were 5 cautions for 20 laps and 9 lead changes among 6 leaders. Complete results are on the Daytona race results page (pdf).
(2-22-2014)
Regan Smith won the 33rd Annual DRIVE4COPD 300, his fourth victory in 137 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
The Margin of Victory (0.017) of today’s event was the seventh closest all-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and second closest in series history at Daytona International Speedway.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in nine races at Daytona International Speedway.
Brad Keselowski(i) (second) posted his fifth top-10 finish in 12 races at Daytona International Speedway. It is his first top-10 finish in 2014
Trevor Bayne (third) posted his third top-10 finish in eight races at Daytona International Speedway.
Ty Dillon (seventh) was the highest finishing rookie.
Regan Smith leads the point standings by 6 points over Trevor Bayne.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(2-22-2014)
1) #7-Regan Smith, 47
2) #6-Trevor Bayne, 41 -6
3) #11-Elliott Sadler, 39 -8
4) #62-Brendan Gaughan, 38 -9
5) #3-Ty Dillon, 37 -10
6) #31-Dylan Kwasniewski, 36 -11
7) #87-Joe Nemechek, 32 -15
8) #28-Mike Wallace, 31 -16
9) #9-Chase Elliott, 29 -18
10) #99-James Buescher, 28 -19
See complete owner and driver standings on the driver standings(pdf) and owner standings page (pdf).(2-22-2014)
News from February 21, 2014
#17-Stenhouse Jr. 197.027
#16-Biffle 196.954
#10-Patrick 196.915
#38-Gilliland 196.863
#14-Stewart 196.790
slowest: #23-Bowman 185.208 & #26-Whitt 187.942
29 of 43 drivers made practice runs.
The Air Titan Track Drying system is out on the track.
See fastest speeds, laps run, Ten-lap averages on the Daytona 500 Practice Speeds page (pdf).(2-21-2014)
Among them are two-time NASCAR premier series champion Terry Labonte; 1988 NASCAR premier series champion and 16-time Most Popular Driver Bill Elliott; nine-time NASCAR champion Mike Stefanik, whose titles came in both the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and NASCAR K&N Pro Series East; Buddy Baker, a 19-time NASCAR premier series winner; and championship winning engine builder and team owner Robert Yates.
From the list of 20 NASCAR Hall of Fame nominees, five inductees will be elected by the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel, which includes a nationwide fan vote on NASCAR.com. Voting Day for the 2015 class will be Wednesday, May 21. Fans can attend the announcement at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C.
As was announced last November during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week, potential Landmark Award recipients could include competitors or those working in the sport as a member of a racing organization, track facility, race team, sponsor, media partner or being a general ambassador for the sport through a professional or non-professional role. Award winners remain eligible for NHOF enshrinement. The five nominees for the inaugural Landmark Award are H. Clay Earles, Anne B. France, Raymond Parks, Ralph Seagraves and Ken Squier. Parks is the only individual who was included as both a NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee and a Landmark Award nominee. This round of nominees was selected by a 22-person nominating committee consisting of representatives from NASCAR, the NASCAR Hall of Fame and track owners from both major facilities and historic short tracks, as well as one at-large member. The committee’s votes were tabulated by accounting firm Ernst & Young.(NASCAR)
Daytona Race Viewing Party: Make plans to attend a Race Viewing Party at the NASCAR Hall of Fame this season. Races are shown live in the High Octane Theater, where you’ll experience the excitement of watching the race on a 64-foot-wide screen complete with surround sound and in-car driver feeds. Admission to the race viewing parties is $10 for non-members and free for members and includes the use of a race scanner that gives you access to driver and crew dialogues. Food, soft drinks, beer and wine will be available for purchase. Doors open one hour prior to the race; all race times are ET.(2-21-2014)
ON THE #4 CAR FAILING POST RACE INSPECTION:
Zipadelli: “The track bar had more rake in it than allowed after the qualifying race. (John) Darby and them are up top; we’ll wait for them to come down and see what it is. I guess they’re telling us we’re starting at the rear. It’s one of those areas. There’s a rule, it’s three inches. Everybody in the garage has adjusted their cars during the race and it’s never been an issue afterward. But I mean it’s a different deal here. We need to figure that stuff out on our side and make sure we don’t put ourselves in this position again.”
Q) WHAT ADVANTAGE IS IT IF ANY?
Zipadelli: “You can dictate the rear travel, the amount the car travels by the amount of rake you have in it. That’s kind of how we got on that rule; people were coming up with just ridiculous amounts of track bar rake and it was pulling the back of the car down so they came up with this rule and you can only have three inches of rake. It doesn’t matter where. You can have it way down on the bottom if you need rear grip, you just can’t have more than three inches. It went through (inspection) that way. They go down and check you every week. It just came back with more than it was supposed to have. For something that honestly as little as it was didn’t probably amount to anything other than changing the handling characteristics of the car. We needed a little bit of an adjustment during the race. So it’s disappointing because it knocks the wind out of your sails. You had a good car, had a great run, did a great job tonight. Just a little setback. But we’ll have a few of our cars back there, we’ll team up and haul ass to the front.”(Team Chevy)(2-21-2014)
“We couldn’t be happier to have drivers like Travis Kvapil, Terry Labonte, and Boris Said behind the wheel of the #32 Ford Fusion in 2014,” said Frank Stoddard & Archie St.Hilaire, co-owners of Go FAS Racing. “We look forward to 2014 to be a competitive season for Go FAS Racing. Having these veteran racers in the car will help us move the program to the next level.”(Go FAS Racing)(2-21-2014)
Total number of commercials: 117
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 58
Number of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 0
Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast: 19
Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 1 min. 30 sec.
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 7:02 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 9:50 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 168
Minutes of race broadcast: 122
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 46
Number of missed restarts: 0
Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 0
Total race brdcst time 122 Total comm. brdcst time 46
See past races, links and more on the 2014 TV Commercials page.(2-21-2014)
· 2014 Chevrolet SS in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500
· 2014 Camaro SS 1LE in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Drive4COPD 300
· 2014 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy 250
All three vehicles sport vibrant red paint schemes designed for this weekend’s events. “Chevrolet is proud to be a part of NASCAR’s season-opening events by pacing all of the races at Daytona International Speedway,” said Jeff Chew, Marketing Manager for Chevrolet Racing. “This will mark Chevrolet’s 11th time pacing the Daytona 500, and we are privileged to continue this heritage and our partnership with Daytona International Speedway again this year.” The 2014 Chevrolet SS is the first rear-wheel drive performance sedan for Chevrolet since 1996. The Chevrolet SS is equipped with a 6.2L V-8 engine and is rated at SAE-certified 415 hp (310 kW), with paddle-shift six-speed automatic transmission. The 2014 Camaro SS 1LE was built for the track, and is characterized by performance. Under the hood is a 6.2 V-8 with 426 hp, and the eye-catching model is easily recognized with its unique graphics and multiple color options. The 2014 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab is all new hood to hitch. The all new Silverado 1500 Crew Cab comes equipped with the Max Towing Package, which offers trailering ratings of up to 12,000 pounds, which is more than any light-duty pickup currently on the market. Earlier this week, Chevrolet debuted its redesigned 2014 Silverado race truck in the Fan Zone and on the track at Daytona International Speedway. This season in NASCAR competition, Chevrolet is campaigning the Chevrolet SS in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Camaro in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and Silverado in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The Silverado pace truck will lead the field on Friday February 21. The Camaro SS 1LE will pace on Saturday February 22. The Chevrolet SS will guide the field for the 56th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday February 23.(Team Chevy)(2-21-2014)
Dylan Kwasniewski won the 21 Means 21 Pole Award for the 33rd Annual DRIVE4COPD 300 with a lap of 46.856 seconds, 192.078 mph.
This is his first pole in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
This is his first pole at Daytona International Speedway in NASCAR national series competition.
Kyle Larson(i) (second) posted his first top-10 start of 2014 and his first in three races at Daytona International Speedway.
Danica Patrick(i) (third) posted her fifth top-10 start at Daytona International Speedway. It is her first this season.
Dylan Kwasniewski (first) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
Kwasniewski becomes the first rookie to win a pole in his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut since Scott Speed did it at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2009.
Kwasniewski is the first rookie contender to post a pole at Daytona International Speedway in his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut since NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace did it in 1985.(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(2-21-2014)
Kyle Busch(i) won the 15th Annual NextEra Energy Resources 250, his 36th victory in 116 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his first victory and fifth top-10 finish in six races at Daytona International Speedway.
Timothy Peters (second) posted his fourth top-10 finish in seven races at Daytona International Speedway. It is his first top-10 finish in 2014.
Johnny Sauter (third) posted his second top-10 finish in six races at Daytona International Speedway. Tyler Reddick (12th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Timothy Peters leads the point standings by 2 points over Johnny Sauter.
The margin of victory (0.017) in tonight’s race is the eighth closest finish all-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, and the closet in series history at Daytona International Speedway
(NASCAR Statistics)(2-21-2014)
1) #17-Timothy Peters, 43
2) #98-Johnny Sauter, 41, -2
3) #30-Ron Hornaday, Jr., 39, -4
4) #29-Ryan Blaney, 38, -5
5) #13-Jeb Burton, 37, -6
6) #08-Jimmy Weller III, 35, -8
7) #77-German Quiroga, 34, -9
8) #39-Ryan Sieg, 33, -10
9) #19-Tyler Reddick 32, -11
10) #88-Matt Crafton, 31, -12
See complete standings on the driver standings page (pdf).(2-21-2014)
News from February 20, 2014
Missing the Daytona 500: #83-Truex, #35-McClure, #87-Nemechek, #95-McDowell & #93-Shepherd.
See race results on the Budwesier Duel 1 Race Results page (pdf).(2-20-2014)
UPDATE: #4-Harvick’s Chevy didn’t pass post-race inspection after exceeding the split on the trackbar. So Harvick is moved to the 24th finishing spot and all the other drivers move up a spot, so #55-Vickers is now in the Daytona 500. Harvick will either have to use a provisional (11th in owners points) or get in on speed 26th fastest, which seems unlikely.
See race results on the Budwesier Duel 1 Race Results (revised) page (pdf)(2-20-2014)
Television (TV): FS1, 7:00pm/et
Radio: Live online at Motor Racing Network (MRN)
Scheduled Budweiser Duel Re-Air:
Friday, February 21, 2014 at 6:00am/et on FS2
Saturday, February 22, 2014 at 12:00am/et on FS2
See more info on the Budweiser Duel Lineup and Notes page.
* The two fastest qualifiers set starting positions one and two. Those were decided on Sunday, with #3-Austin Dillon winning the Coors Light Pole and #78-Martin Truex Jr. earning starting position No. 2.
* The highest 15 finishers in each Duel race – excluding the already locked-in front row – will earn spots in the Daytona 500, filling positions 3-32.
* Based on their finishing position in the first Duel race, the top 15 line up on the inside row (odd-number starting positions).
* Based on their finishing position in the second Duel race, the top 15 will line up on the outside row (even-number starting positions).
*Positions 33-36 go to the four fastest cars from qualifying that have not already earned a spot.
* Positions 37-42 are provisional positions and go to the highest six cars in 2013 owner points that have not already qualified via the Duel or Coors Light Pole qualifying.
* The 43rd starting position will be assigned to any car owner who has the most recent eligible past Sprint Cup champion who did not make the field by any other method, providing the driver competed in the 2013 Sprint Cup season. If the 43rd spot remains unused it will be assigned to the next highest car in 2013 owner points not already locked into the field.(2-20-2014)
UPDATE: Swan Racing announced that LendingTree, an online loan marketplace, will sponsor the #30 Toyota and Parker Kligerman for the Daytona 500. “The #30 LendingTree Toyota is ready to roll and we are looking forward to getting on track beginning with tonight’s Budweiser Duel qualifying race and then Sunday’s Daytona 500,” said Kligerman. LendingTree, based in Charlotte, N.C., allows borrowers to fill out one form online and receive multiple offers from different lenders who compete for their business. “We’re extremely excited to partner with Swan Racing in our first-ever involvement with NASCAR, and proud to support rookie driver Parker Kligerman at Daytona,” said Doug Lebda, LendingTree’s founder CEO. “LendingTree’s primary focus is to empower individuals, whether that’s empowering borrowers against big banks or empowering up-and-coming drivers against more established race teams.”(Swan Racing), See an image of the scheme on the #30 Team Schemes page.(2-20-2014)
“Nate’s work ethic, relationships throughout the sport and sharp journalistic instincts have earned him an elite position within NASCAR over the last decade,” said Behnke. “He is a terrific addition to the NBC Sports family and will add a lot to NASCAR AMERICA.”
Ryan’s contributions to NASCAR AMERICA will include interaction with NBCSN’s new daily NASCAR show via reports from NASCAR venues nationwide and regular visits to NBC Sports’ studio locations in Charlotte, N.C. and Stamford, Conn. Ryan’s work will surround breaking news as well as feature stories, which melds nicely with his continuing role at USA TODAY Sports.
“The first NASCAR race I covered was also the first that I attended, and it bred an insatiable curiosity about a sport that is fueled by so many moving parts, both literally and figuratively,” Ryan said. “I’ve tried to remain true to exploring the myriad storylines with a fresh and unique perspective, and I’m enthused and humbled to be afforded such a terrific platform with NBC Sports.”
Ryan joined USA TODAY Sports in January 2006 as an auto racing writer and recently completed his 11th full season of covering the Sprint Cup Series. He has covered more than 300 races in NASCAR’s premier series, beginning with the June 22, 1997 opening of California Speedway as a writer with the San Bernardino County Sun. He moved to the Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch as a backup NASCAR writer in 1998 and took over the full-time beat in May 2002.
Ryan is a four-time winner of the Russ Catlin Motorsports Journalism Award of Excellence and was named a two-time writer of the year by the National Motorsports Press Association. He has held a weekly Thursday morning spot on Sirius Satellite Radio’s “The Morning Drive” since 2007 and has been a regular fill-in for the hosts and other programs since 2008, co-hosting several dozen times. He was a guest panelist on ESPN’s “NASCAR Now” several times from 2009-11 and was a regular weekly contributor to Fox Sports One’s “Race Hub” from 2012-13. Ryan graduated from Northwestern University in June 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.(NBC Sports)(2-20-2014)
Kvapil, 37, had driven for upstart BK Racing in Sprint Cup the past two years, finishing 27th in points in 2012 and 31st last season. Neither he nor veteran teammate David Reutimann was retained. His new “nearly full-time” Cup program — to begin next weekend in Phoenix — is of a similar level to BK and Front Row Motorsports, his previous home. “It’s a small team over there,” Kvapil said, “but they made some moves in the offseason in some personnel and some other things and they’re trying to grow their program and get stronger so I’m happy to be a part of that as well, and I think I can bring a value to their team as well.”(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel), calculated guesses would be the #87 Identity Ventures Racing [Nemechek will drive the #66 at Phoenix], #33 Circle Sport Chevy or the #52 HScott Motorsports team.(2-20-2014)
AND Four laps into the afternoon practice session, Cole Whitt scraped the outside wall after a piece of debris punctured the nose of his #26 Swan Racing Toyota. In an attempt to avoid Whitt’s car, #55-Brian Vickers collected #13-Casey Mears’ Chevrolet and shot nose-first into the outside wall. The impact sent parts and pieces flying, and one of the square cowl flaps from Vickers’ Camry lodged edge-first into the nose and hood of Jeff Gordon’s #24 Chevy. From the first wreck, Vickers went to a backup, but the teams of Whitt and Mears opted to repair their cars. Swan Racing teammates Whitt and Kligerman had but one backup car between them (NASCAR Wire Service).
UPDATE #77-Dave Blaney has withdrawn from the Budweiser Duels / Daytona 500.(2-20-2014)
“We are excited to welcome Widow Wax to the BK Racing organization,” said team owner Ron Devine. “The fine products Widow Wax offers will be used every day both in the shop and at the track.”(BK Racing)(2-20-2013)
“IOA has partnered with us in the past at the July race in Daytona,” said TBR team owner Tommy Baldwin. “I’m excited to have them on board again for this special weekend.” IOA is currently the 10th largest privately-held insurance agency in the U.S. by Insurance Journal and is the 28th largest American broker according to Business Insurance magazine.(TBR/RSM)(2-20-2014)
Update: A Chrysler spokesman has confirmed that “the Challengers slated to run this weekend at Daytona were part of past inventory from Penske Racing that were sold to various independent teams.”(Allpar)(2-20-2014)
News from February 19, 2014
#11-Hamlin 199.574
#5-Kahne 199.570
#66-Waltrip 198.965
#17-Stenhouse Jr. 198.776
#16-Biffle 198.627
slowest: #23-Bowman 185.713 & #55-Vickers 189.099
40 of 49 cars have practiced.
backup cars that practiced included #27-Menard, #55-Vickers and #22-Logano.
cars that didn’t practice: #4-Harvick, #9-Ambrose, #10-Patrick, #21-Bayne, #26-Whitt, #30-Klingerman, #77-Blaney, #78-Truex Jr., #83-Truex
See the speeds, laps run, 10-lao averages on the Daytona Practice 4 speeds page.(2-19-2014)
#47-Allmendinger 199.574
#55-Vickers 199.327 (wrecked)
#22-Logano 198.456 (wrecked)
#21-Bayne 198.308
#66-Waltrip 198.308
slowest: #34-Ragan 188.505 & #24-Gordon 189.203
34 of 49 cars have practiced.
no speeds for: #’s 95 87 3 98 88 40 51 33 48 31 17 36 52 32
notes: early in the practice, #26-Whitt had a tire go down and slapped the wall, #55-Vickers went down to avoid the 26 and got into #13-Mears. #55 then spun and nosed into the wall. #55 will go to a backup.
30 minutes into practice, #20-Kenseth was in the middle, moved down then back up, contacting #22-Logano, which turned sideways, collecting #30-Kligerman, #77-Blaney, #83-Truex, #21-Bayne and #27-Menard. All but the #20 & #21 are pretty damaged and looks like they will go to backups. Swan Racing has had two big wrecks in this practice session. #30-Klingerman ended up on his roof, upside down. All drivers are ok. The wreck damaged the fence on the front stretch, taking down some of the fencing, but the cables all held strong. #77-Blaney, currently does have a backup car, unless owner Randy Humphrey comes up with a backup, Blaney may not race the Budweiser Duel. The rest of the practice was cancelled to allow track workers to fix the front stretch fence. The 2nd practice is scheduled for 6:30pm/et and run 90 minutes.
See the speeds on the Daytona Practice 3 speeds page.(2-19-2014)
Q. Can you reflect a little bit on the NASCAR journey? What are your thoughts with Speedweeks going on? Does it feel odd at all that you’re not there? Do you feel like you’re where you belong?
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: It’s a feeling that I wasn’t missing it probably. It was weird actually. A month ago when they did their first set, I was with my son racing at Homestead. I got a text from Chevy, We’re missing you. I’m like, Why are you missing me (laughter)? I had no idea they were even testing. It’s nice to do what I’m doing right now. I feel really happy. I’m really excited to be part of Team Penske. It’s a tough challenge ahead of me. I know that. It seems weird because it seems like race speed is really good when we’re in race trim. Our pace is really good. I was telling my guys, like my race engineer, If you really look at it, even on new tires, I’m not missing corners. There’s a lot of room there for improvement and I know that. It’s not bad. It’s a process, I guess, I hope.
Q. You were talking about it being a difficult challenge. Obviously it was a difficult challenge when you moved over to NASCAR.
MONTOYA: It’s completely different. The NASCAR one was one that it was like, Where the hell am I? The cars were very different. There was a lot of movement. This is the opposite because in NASCAR the limit of the car is very easy. You can get to the limit of the car very easy. The big thing is you’re driving it too hard. In IndyCar, you can’t drive it hard enough, or at least I can’t yet. I’m leaving a lot on the table. I think that’s the biggest thing.
Q. Having been successful in virtually every motorsports field you have taken part in, how do you look back and judge NASCAR?
MONTOYA: When we had good cars, we did good. When we had bad cars, we did bad. I think as a team we threw a lot of races away. It’s part of the thing you always do. The point is when you’re winning races, you throw a lot away and you still win a few. When you’re not winning races, you notice the things you throw away. I think that’s the biggest difference. The focus for me now is IndyCar 100%. I’m pumped about it. I feel like a complete rookie right now, so it’s pretty cool.
Q. Roger (Penske) said with the right funding, he’d like to see you run the Brickyard 400. Is that something else you want to do? A fan on Twitter wants to know if you have any interest in running the NASCAR road courses as well?
MONTOYA: I think the Brickyard would be a good thing. I’ve been so close so many times, it would be a good way of closing that chapter with a good win there. I know Roger hasn’t won there. If we could get the opportunity to do it, I think it would be pretty cool.
Q. Is there any consideration this year to try to run the Daytona 500 and Indy 500, to be the guy to win them both?
MONTOYA: No, unless Roger asks me.
Q. Have you asked him?
MONTOYA: No. I got enough things going on. No, no, no, no, no (laughter).(Team Chevy)(2-19-2014)
Car Number (wins) – Drivers (years)
o #43(7) – Richard Petty (1964, ’66, ’71, ’73, ’74, ’79, ’81)
o #21(5) – Tiny Lund (1963), Cale Yarborough (1968), A.J. Foyt (1972), David Pearson (1976) and Trevor Bayne (2011)
o #28(5) – Fred Lorenzen (1965), Buddy Baker (1980), Cale Yarborough (1983 and 1984) and Davey Allison (1992).
o #4(3) – Ernie Irvan (1991), Sterling Marlin (1994 and 1995)
o #15(3) – Bobby Allison (1978), Michael Waltrip (2001 and 2003)
o #17(3) – Darrell Waltrip (1989), Matt Kenseth (2009 and 2012)
o #24(3) – Jeff Gordon (1997, 1999 and 2005)
o #88(3) – Bobby Allison (1982), Jeff Gordon (1996 and 2000)
(NASCAR)(2-19-2014)
“I have always been impressed with World Vision for its worldwide efforts during natural disasters and humanitarian work in aiding the poor and sick,” said Visser. “But what I saw firsthand after the tsunami in Bande Aceh was how truly prepared and competent World Vision workers were in one of the most horrific disasters in history. I was extremely proud of how World Vision took the lead with its disaster response team and how they executed a well-prepared emergency plan.” Visser added, “Furniture Row Racing will be proud to showcase World Vision on its race car in 2014 and hope that more NASCAR fans take notice of this extraordinary humanitarian organization.”
The idea of being involved with Furniture Row Racing and NASCAR, beginning with Sunday’s Daytona 500, has added a high-degree of excitement to the workers and volunteers of World Vision, which is based in Federal Way, Wash., outside of Seattle. “NASCAR fans are among the most brand loyal of any sport in the U.S. and have clearly demonstrated their support for meaningful causes,” said Morris Franklin, Director of Sports & Entertainment at World Vision U.S. “The partnership with Furniture Row Racing will provide World Vision with an opportunity to reach thousands of fans at The Great American Race and millions more on TV. We are confident this exposure will improve the lives of children around the world.”(FRR)(2-19-2014)
UPDATE: Waltrip was released from the hospital Saturday [Feb 15]. DW will not be in Daytona for the Sprint Unlimited or Daytona 500 qualifying on Sunday, but plans to be back at the track on Monday. Michael Waltrip will replace his brother Darrell in the booth for the Sprint Unlimited.
FOX Statement: “Darrell Waltrip underwent a minor surgical procedure today [Thursday] near his home in Tennessee and is resting comfortably. We wish him a speedy recovery and his on-air status is day to day.”(Charlotte Observer)(2-15-2014)
UPDATE2 Darrell Waltirp is back in Daytona just in time for his Fox broadcasting duties and to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his Daytona 500 win. Waltrip missed last weekend’s Sprint Unlimited and Sprint Cup qualifying because of emergency gallbladder surgery. “I feel great,” Waltrip said. “I had no idea I had anything wrong. I just got sick all of a sudden. I was getting ready to leave to come down here. Next thing you know I was rushed into the emergency room and they took out my gallbladder. I should be good for Thursday and Sunday no problem. Being at home, watching the guys, watching somebody else do your job is like watching somebody else run your racecar. It wasn’t any fun.”(Motor Racing Network)(2-19-2014)
UPDATE: Allen Bestwick has agreed to a new multi-year deal with ESPN and will become lap-by-lap announcer for ABC’s telecasts of the IndyCar Series, including the Indianapolis 500, in 2014. The veteran broadcaster also will branch into other sports beginning in 2015. Bestwick, who has been part of ESPN’s NASCAR coverage since 2007, will continue as the anchor for the network’s NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series telecasts in 2014, the final year of ESPN’s contract to televise live NASCAR racing. In 2015, in addition to IndyCar Series racing, Bestwick also will call play-by-play on college football telecasts for ESPN, a variety of collegiate sports on the upcoming SEC Network, and on ESPN interactive television productions of golf and tennis. “Allen Bestwick has been a valuable contributor to our NASCAR coverage the past seven years and we’re delighted that he will be bringing his versatility and talents to our IndyCar telecasts as well as other sports for years to come,” said John Wildhack, ESPN executive vice president, programming and production. Though closely associated with motorsports for most of his 27 years in broadcasting, Bestwick also has called football, track and field and hockey, among other sports, during his career. He worked a college football game for ESPN in November.
“I love sports – all sports,” Bestwick said. “This is a tremendous opportunity to call the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, a childhood dream come true, and some other sports that I enjoy as well. And we still have two NASCAR champions to crown on ESPN in 2014. I’m thrilled to be going into the future with ESPN.” Bestwick started broadcasting in 1986 covering live NASCAR races as a turn announcer for MRN Radio. He worked for MRN for nearly 15 years, including as the play-by-play announcer from 1988-2000 and host of the network’s daily news program. Bestwick, who also worked briefly in New York for ABC Radio, made his television debut in 1995 on the original NASCAR Today program on ESPN and joined the SPEED Channel in 1996 as the host of Inside NEXTEL Cup Racing, a post he held for 10 years. He started pit reporting for TBS and TNT in 1997. While continuing to work in radio, Bestwick joined NBC in 1999, covering NASCAR races as well as American Le Mans Series races, arena football and track and field events. He was part of NBC and TNT’s NASCAR coverage from 2001-2006, both as a pit reporter and lead announcer. Bestwick has been the anchor for ESPN’s NASCAR coverage since July of 2011. He previously was host of the pre-race NASCAR Countdown program from mid-2007 through mid-2011 while also calling selected races from the booth, and was a pit reporter for part of the 2007 season. ESPN’s NASCAR coverage for 2013 begins with the NASCAR Nationwide Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 22, with telecasts of the final 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup races beginning July 27 at Indianapolis. On May 25, ABC will televise the Indianapolis 500 for the 50th consecutive year. The network also will televise four other IndyCar Series races as well as Indianapolis 500 qualifications. Coverage begins with the March 30 season opener in St. Petersburg, Fla.(ESPN)(2-19-2014)
#08-Jimmy Weller, using the #81 points;
#8-Joe Nemechek, using the #8 points;
#20-John King, using the #9 points;
#21-Joey Coulter, using the #3 points;
#30-Ron Hornaday, using the #32 points;
#32-Ryan Truex, using the #4 points;
#35-Mason Mingus, using the #18 points;
See the complete list on the Daytona entry list page.
UPDATE: Following a great 2013 NASCAR season with rising superstar Parker Kligerman, Bandit Industries will return to the stage at Daytona International Speedway with Kligerman in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on February 21. Bandit will serve as co-primary sponsor for Kligerman, driving the #58 Bandit Chippers/North American Power Toyota for BRG Motorsports in the Nextera Energy Resources 250.(Lawn and Landscape)(2-17-2013)
UPDATE 2: PK Racing announced today that North American Power, one of the fastest-growing energy suppliers in the United States, will make a return to NASCAR as a co-primary sponsor of Parker Kligerman’s #58 Toyota for BRG Motorsports in the Camping World Truck Series at Daytona International Speedway.(Parker Kligerman Racing)(2-18-2014)
AND:Parker Kligerman’s #58 Bandit Chippers/North American Power Toyota will also feature a unique sponsor this weekend in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Daytona International Speedway: Nootelligence, a nutritional focus and memory company, co-founded by Kligerman himself. In 2013, Kligerman teamed up with longtime friend Ian O’Connell to establish the company and create its first product, Nootelligence Focus. The two-ounce shot is a safe and healthy way to boost focus and memory using Nootropics, a cognitive enhancer. With the product just about to hit the market, Kligerman felt that Daytona was an opportune time to spread the word about his product.(Parker Kligerman Racing)(2-19-2013)
News from February 18, 2014
13 years ago, we lost Dale Earnhardt
“If your car is one on which you’d rather not spend a hefty sum in repairs, K&W FIBERLOCK provides a quick, easy-to-use – and inexpensive – solution,” said Adam Selisker, CRC vice president of technology. “K&W FIBERLOCK uses thermochemical sodium silicate reinforced with military-strength fibers to create a web-like weave over the crack for a multi-layer repair. The crack could cause a hot spot from all the pressure being released in that area. This extra pressure is going to force more product into the damaged area of the cooling system and the hot spot will aid in the FIBERLOCK curing process. Also, the air introduced from the flaw in the cooling system helps the sodium silicate to solidify, making it a permanent repair.” Easy to use, K&W FIBERLOCK does not require you to drain the cooling system first as in the case of many other cooling system additives on the market today. Just pour and go.
K&W FIBERLOCK will be featured on a full car wrap on the #40 Hillman Racing Chevrolet SS at Phoenix in March and Auto Club Speedway in March.
According to Mike Hillman, Sr., owner of Hillman Racing, “The race track is an unforgiving testing ground, and the CRC chemical products used in the maintenance of our race cars have always helped us rise to the challenge.”
“The labor required to remove and repair the cracked part of an engine can be extensive,” said Selisker. “FIBERLOCK uses nanotechnology to reach into the tiniest crevices, making the molecular bond stronger and permanently hardened to the surface area. FIBERLOCK is a great alternative to a costly engine repair, and it is backed by CRC’s double-your-money-back guarantee.” K&W FIBERLOCK is available at Advance Auto Parts, AutoZone, NAPA Auto Parts, Pep Boys and Wal-Mart.(PR Newswire), see an image of the car on the #40 Team Schemes page.(2-18-2014)
Statement from Chevrolet: During the closing laps of the NASCAR Sprint Unlimited race, the pace car experienced a fire in the trunk area, which contains a purpose-built auxiliary electrical kit to operate the numerous caution lights during the race. The pace car driver and passenger safely exited the vehicle. An assessment is underway.(Team Chevy)(2-18-2014)
· There have been 133 NASCAR Sprint Cup races since the track hosted its first race in 1959: 55 have been 500 miles, 51 were 400 miles and four 250 miles. There were also 23 qualifier races that were point races.
· Fireball Roberts won the inaugural pole at Daytona.
· Bob Welborn won the first race at Daytona, the 100-mile qualifying race for the Daytona 500.
· Lee Petty won the inaugural Daytona 500 on Feb. 22, 1959; he led 38 laps and won by 2 feet.
· Fireball Roberts won the first 400-mile race at Daytona, the 1963 Firecracker 400.
· 57 drivers have posted poles at Daytona.
· Cale Yarborough leads all drivers with 12 poles at Daytona.
· Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin lead all active drivers with three poles at Daytona.
· 56 drivers have won at Daytona.
· Richard Petty leads all drivers in victories at Daytona with 10.
· Jeff Gordon has six victories at Daytona, more than any other active driver.
· The Wood Brothers have won 15 races at Daytona, more than any other car owner.
· 17 full-length races at Daytona have been won from the pole; the last to do it was Jimmie Johnson in the 2013 Daytona 500.
· A driver has swept both the Daytona 500 and the July race only five times at Daytona International Speedway: Jimmie Johnson (2013), Bobby Allison (1982), LeeRoy Yarborough (1969), Cale Yarborough (1968) and Fireball Roberts (1962).(NASCAR)(2-18-2014)
#18-Kyle Busch 96.9
#14-Tony Stewart 93.0
#20-Matt Kenseth 92.6
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. 89.7
#41-Kurt Busch 88.8
#48-Jimmie Johnson 88.4
#24-Jeff Gordon 87.2
#15-Clint Bowyer 86.2
#11-Denny Hamlin 83.7
#5-Kasey Kahne 82.4
Note: Driver Ratings are compiled from 2005-2013 races (17 total) at Daytona.
Formula combining the following categories: Wins, Finishes, Top-15 Finishes, Average Running Position While on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.(NASCAR)(2-18-2014)
#1 McDonald’s, #2 White Miller Lite, #3 DOW, #4 Budweiser, #5 Farmers Insurance, #7 Pilot FlyingJ,#9 Stanley, #10 GoDaddy, #11 FedEx Express, #13 GEICO, #14 Bass Pro Shops / Mobil1, #15 Five Hour Energy, #16 3M, #17 Nationwide Insurance, #18 M&M’s Peanuts, #20 Dollar General, #21 Motorcraft, #22 Shell-Pennzoil, #23 Dr Pepper, #24 Drive to End Hunger, #26 Speed Stick Gear, #27 Peak / Menards, #30 Swan Eneregy, #30 Swan Eneregy, #32 C&J Energy Services, #33 Whitetail,#34 CSX Play It Safe, #35 Hefty / Reynolds Wrap, #36 Golden Corral, #38 Love’s Travel Stops, #40 Hillman Racing, #41 Haas Automation, #42 Target, #43 Smithfield, #47 Kroger / USO, #48 Lowe’s,#51 Brandt, #52 Phoenix Construction, #55 Aaron’s Dream Machine, #66 BluDef, #77 Plinker Arms,#78 Furniture Row, #83 Borla Exhaust, #87 300: Rise of an Empire, #88 National Guard, #93 SupportMilitary.org, #95 K-LOVE, #98 Phil Parsons Racing, #99 Fastenal.
News from February 17, 2014
From Blake Koch’s Twitter: So pumped I get the opportunity to drive the @NASCAR Cup car at Phx & Vegas for @FrontRowNASCAR in the MDS 35 FORD. Huge deal for me.
From Front Row Motorsports Facebook: Mystery driver revealed! Blake Koch will be at the wheel of the #35 MDS Ford at Phoenix and Vegas. Welcome to the team, Blake!(2-17-2014)
“It is exciting for the GO FAS Racing team to be heading to Daytona once again with Terry Labonte and have C&J Energy Services back with us for a fourth season,” said team owner Frank Stoddard. “Terry doesn’t get rattled behind the wheel at these tracks, and I think his numbers speak volumes. You don’t have to worry about him making mistakes and he takes care of the car for you. He has completed almost 90% of all laps he’s run at Daytona, so I am real happy he is behind the wheel of the #32. It is very important for our team to not only run competitive, but also finish the race and run all of the laps.(GO FAS Racing)(2-17-2014)
Total number of commercials: 64
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 41
Number of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 0
Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast: 23
Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 2 min.
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 8:15 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 10:26 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 131
Minutes of race broadcast: 102
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 29
Number of missed restarts: 0
Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 0
Total race brdcst time 102 Total comm. brdcst time 29
See more and links on the 2014 TV Commercials page and see last years at 2013 TV Commercials page.(2-17-2014)
Jason White will be in the #00 for SR2;
The JD Motorsports #4 driver is TBA;
The TriStar Motorsports #10 driver is TBA;
Josh Wise will drive The Motorsports Group #40;
Clay Greenfield will drive the #67 for Martins Motorsports;
Derrike Cope is in the #70, which was formerly owned by ML Motorsports;
Not on the list but expected to be added: #52 Jimmy Means Racing with Joey Gase.
(2-18-2014)
See the complete list on the Daytona entry list page.
UPDATE: Following a great 2013 NASCAR season with rising superstar Parker Kligerman, Bandit Industries will return to the stage at Daytona International Speedway with Kligerman in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on February 21. Bandit will serve as co-primary sponsor for Kligerman, driving the #58 Bandit Chippers/North American Power Toyota for BRG Motorsports in the Nextera Energy Resources 250.(Lawn and Landscape)(2-17-2013)
News from February 16, 2014
QUALIFYING RESULTS (odd qualifiers start in 1st Duel, even qualifiers in 2nd Duel)
1) #3-Austin Dillon 196.019mph – locked in, pole winner
2) #78-Martin Truex Jr. 195.852 – locked in, outside pole winner
3) #16-Greg Biffle 195.818 – locked in Daytona 500 at least by speed
4) #99-Carl Edwards 195.712 – locked in Daytona 500 at least by speed
5) #31-Ryan Newman 195.707 – locked in Daytona 500 at least by speed
6) #2-Brad Keselowski 195.296 – locked in Daytona 500 at least by speed
7) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. 195.211 – locked in Daytona 500 at least by owners points/provisional
8) #24-Jeff Gordon 195.042 – locked in Daytona 500 at least by owners points/provisional
9) #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr 195.004
10) #27-Paul Menard 194.919
11) #9-Marcos Ambrose 194.894
12) #22-Joey Logano 194.852
13) #33-Brian Scott 194.776
14) #43-Aric Almirola 194.658
15) #48-Jimmie Johnson 194.637 – locked in Daytona 500 at least by owners points/provisional
16) #13-Casey Mears 194.582
17) #20-Matt Kenseth 194.574 – locked in Daytona 500 at least by owners points/provisional
18) #7-Michael Annett 194.574
19) #5-Kasey Kahne 194.544
20) #15-Clint Bowyer 194.523 – locked in Daytona 500 at least by owners points/provisional
21) #18-Kyle Busch 194.502 – locked in Daytona 500 at least by owners points/provisional
22) #11-Denny Hamlin 194.477
23) #4-Kevin Harvick 194.422
24) #42-Kyle Larson 194.410
25) #10-Danica Patrick 194.380
26) #21-Trevor Bayne 194.334
27) #47-AJ Allmendinger 194.108
28) #41-Kurt Busch 194.078 – needs to race in via Budweiser Duel, no regular provisional available, BUT could use past champ if not used
29) #36-Reed Sorenson 194.066
30) #51-Justin Allgaier 193.815
31) #38-David Gilliland 193.736
32) #40-Landon Cassill 193.732
33) #30-Parker Kligerman 193.594
34) #66-Michael Waltrip 193.428
35) #14-Tony Stewart 193.365 – locked in Daytona 500 at least by past champions provisional
36) #35-Eric McClure 192.905
37) #55-Brian Vickers 192.798
38) #1-Jamie McMurray 192.695
39) #26-Cole Whitt 192.538 – needs to race in via Budweiser Duel, no provisional available
40) #34-David Ragan 192.328
41) #95-Michael McDowell 192.291 – needs to race in via Budweiser Duel, no provisional available
42) #32-Terry Labonte 192.135, could use past champions provisional if needed and not used
43) #98-Josh Wise 192.061
44) #52-Bobby Labonte 191.493 – needs to race in via Budweiser Duel, no regular provisional available, BUT could use past champ if not used
45) #87-Joe Nemechek 190.480
46) #83-Ryan Truex 190.347
47) #23-Alex Bowman 189.685
48) #93-Morgan Shepherd 189.542 – needs to race in via Budweiser Duel, no provisional available
49) #77-Dave Blaney no speed – needs to race in via Budweiser Duel, no provisional available
See qualifying speeds on the Daytona 500 Qualifying Speeds page and the Budweiser Duel lineups on the 2014 Budweiser Duel 150’s page.(2-16-2014)
#3-Austin Dillon won the Coors Light Pole Award for the The 56th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona with a lap of 45.914 seconds, 196.019 mph.
This is his first pole in 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his first pole and first top-10 start in 2014.
This is his first pole in two races at Daytona International Speedway.
#78-Martin Truex. Jr. (second) posted his first top-10 start of 2014 and his sixth in 18 races at Daytona International Speedway. This is the second time Truex has sat on the front row of the Daytona 500. He won the pole in 2009.
#16-Greg Biffle (third) posted his ninth top-10 start at Daytona International Speedway.
#3-Austin Dillon (first) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
Four times the #3 car has sat on the Daytona 500 Coors Light pole: Buddy Baker (1969), Ricky Rudd (1983), Dale Earnhardt (1996) and Austin Dillon (2014).
(NASCAR Statistics)(2-16-2014)
“From the replay, I don’t know whether the #20 (Matt Kenseth) came down or the #22 (Joey Logano) got into him. You’ve just got to protect your spot,” Stewart said after walking out of the infield care center. “I’ve always said I’m not a big fan of blocking, but unfortunately it’s what you have to do here. It seemed like tonight it was a little easier to get stalled out, so if you got track position, you had to protect it. We just needed a couple more inches here and there and we would’ve gotten out of that. We hate to have that happen.” Moments after the accident, many were uneasy for fear the impact may have reinjured Stewart’s leg.
“I was a little nervous about it because I knew we were going to hit nose-first, but it doesn’t feel bad at all,” Stewart said. “It doesn’t have any pain. We’ll see when the adrenalin wears off here in about an hour, but so far it feels good.”(SHR)(2-16-2014)
Q) DID HE SURPRISE YOU WITH HIS MOVE INSIDE?
Ambrose: “Yeah, I was trying to push him and there was a little bit of a zig and a little bit of a zag and the next thing you know I helped him in the fence. I apologize to Junior. I’ll try and find him later on if he wants to talk to me, but that’s just what happens here. You’ve got 10 laps to go in a race that only counts to win and I’m trying to push him to the front. Unfortunately, it was just a bad day.”
Q) HE SAID HE WAS HAVING FUN WHEN HE HIT YOU ON THE BACKSTRETCH. I ASSUME YOU DIDN’T THINK IT WAS FUNNY.
Ambrose: “It’s OK. He’s entitled to do that. At the end of the day we didn’t end up in the fence, so put the blame on me for that. We’ll go to the next one and try not to make the same mistake.”
Q) DALE JUNIOR SAID THERE WILL BE A LOT OF WRECKING IN THE 500 BECAUSE THE SIDE DRAFT STALLS THE CARS OUT. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?
Ambrose: “Yeah, it certainly does. If you can get your nose to the guy’s right-rear or left-rear quarter, you pull him back and you actually give yourself a little boost. It’s like a little shot of nitrous and it can really make you run, so it makes cars really move around a lot trying to do that. I think he was trying to side draft someone came back across when I was trying to help push him and that’s what happens.”(Ford Racing)(2-16-2014)
UPDATE: Team owner Richard Childress talked to Dale Earnhardt’s mother Friday and feels he has her support to have his grandson racing Earnhardt’s famous #3 in the Sprint Cup Series. Childress is bringing back the #3 to Cup racing this year with grandson Austin Dillon behind the wheel. Dillon has raced the number throughout his NASCAR career but the Daytona 500 next week will be the first Cup race with the #3 on the track since Earnhardt died in the 2001 Daytona 500. Dillon will drive one car that is black, white and red when sponsored by Dow and another that is yellow and black when sponsored by Cheerio’s. While the number is slanted in the #3 style that Earnhardt drove to six of his seven Cup titles, it will never be an all black car, Childress said Saturday. He said he talked to Martha Earnhardt on Friday, a couple of days after her comments on “RaceHub.”
“I understand her feelings,” Childress said Saturday in the Cup garage. “We’ve talked. She doesn’t have a problem with him running. What she said is (she) doesn’t want it to look exactly like Dale’s car, solid black.Her and I talked yesterday. Everything is great.” Earnhardt’s family has been generally supportive about the return of the #3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been a vocal proponent for the number coming back. He said Thursday he had not talked to his grandmother about her feelings. “We haven’t talked about that,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “I’m sure that’s got to stir up a lot of emotions for a lot of different people. Some will be stronger than others, and that’s just up to the individual.”(SceneDaily)(2-16-2014)
News from February 15, 2014
“The best car won — that’s for sure,” said Hamlin, who won the last race of the 2013 season, at Homestead-Miami Speedway. “Two in a row now. We’re building on something. That was survival of the fittest, that’s for sure. With three (laps) to go, we were at the tail end of a very small pack, and it’s really hard to get runs. But this car was phenomenal.”
With 15 laps left, Kyle Busch spun in Turn 4 off the nose of Keselowski’s Ford, as Busch tried to move down the track. The resulting yellow gave Ryan Newman and Hamlin, the winner of the first two segments, a chance to make pit stops. Fresh tires certainly helped the race winner.
After fan voting closed at 6 p.m., drivers learned the structure of the race — segments of 30, 25 and 20 laps in that order. When the engines were fired, roughly 55 minutes after the close of another fan vote, the method of ordering the field was revealed, and the starting lineup was set according to speeds in Friday’s final practice. That put Hamlin on the pole, with #1-Jamie McMurray beside him. #20-Matt Kenseth, #31-Newman and #48-Jimmie Johnson, who sat out the final practice session, started 16th through 18th, respectively in the 18-car field. Typical of restrictor-plate racing, however, starting position had little relevance. Hamlin went from the pole to last place and back to the lead again in the first 35-lap segment. Johnson advanced from the tail end of the field to the top five within the space of 20 laps.
In danger of losing the draft on Lap 6, #10-Danica Patrick rallied to run as high as third in the first segment, using the inside line to advance to the front, as Hamlin and Johnson did likewise. But Johnson’s night ended early, after he spun off Turn 4 on Lap 30, bringing the first 30-lap run to an end under caution. Johnson’s No. 48 Chevrolet was too badly damaged to continue, marking the third straight year the six-time champion has crashed out of the season-opening exhibition race. “Well, that didn’t last long,” Johnson posted on his Twitter account. Johnson’s wreck paled in comparison with the nine-car melee that followed on Lap 37 of the second segment. Kenseth turned sideways near the start/finish line after contact with the #22 Ford of Logano. The resulting wreck collected most of the cars behind Kenseth.
#14-Tony Stewart, racing for the first time since breaking his right leg in a sprint car accident on Aug. 5, was pinned against the outside wall in a three-car tangle that included the Chevrolets of #24-Jeff Gordon and #41-Kurt Busch. #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s Ford slammed into the Chevy of girlfriend #10-Danica Patrick, who had spun in the tri-oval. Kenseth apologized for triggering the wreck, which started when Kenseth tried to move from the outside to the inside lane and hit Logano’s Ford. “I was just kind of easing my way down there, and I had no idea Joey was that close to me,” Kenseth said. “…Not the way you want to start the season.” Stewart seemed no worse for the wear after climbing from his car. “There’s no pain right now,” he said. “But we’ll see what happens in about an hour when the adrenaline wears off.”
Stenhouse was out of control after running into the back of Busch’s Chevrolet in the pileup that damaged all four Stewart-Haas Racing entries. “I didn’t see anything from the time it started to the time it ended,” Stenhouse said. “Talking to Danica when I got in there (infield care center) that I drilled her when she was pretty much sitting still. I couldn’t see, couldn’t turn and just really destroyed our Nationwide Insurance Ford.” The accident left nine cars to take the green flag on Lap 41, including two — Logano’s Ford and Harvick’s Chevy — that were involved in the crash. Harvick quickly dropped back and lost the draft because of crash damage but stayed on the lead lap through the end of the segment. Hamlin grabbed the lead on Lap 47 and held it for the final nine laps of the segment No. 2, crossing the start/finish line .131 seconds ahead of Keselowski. The final fan vote of the night, announced before the last 20-lap run, determined the restart lineup for the final segment would be set by running order off pit road after a mandatory pit stop, with crews changing at least two tires. Hamlin won the race off pit road, lost the lead to Earnhardt but worked his way back to the front a lap and a half before the finish.(NASCAR Wire Service)(2-15-2014)
2) #2-Brad Keselowski (5), 75, 8
3) #18-Kyle Busch (4), 75, 6
4) #22-Joey Logano (11), 75, 11
5) #4-Kevin Harvick (6), 75, 6
6) #1-Jamie McMurray (2), 75, 10
7) #9-Marcos Ambrose (8), 75
8) #31-Ryan Newman (17), 75
9) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. (14), 65, 7, accident
10) #20-Matt Kenseth (16), 35, accident
11) #14-Tony Stewart (9), 35, accident
12) #24-Jeff Gordon (13), 35, accident
13) #99-Carl Edwards (7), 35, accident
14) #41-Kurt Busch (10), 35, accident
15) #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr.(3), 35, accident
16) #10-Danica Patrick (12), 35, accident
17) #48-Jimmie Johnson (18), 28 laps, accident
18) #32-Terry Labonte (15), 1 lap, vibration
On lap 65, #88-Earnhardt Jr moved down, #9-Ambrose tried to go around and the #88 came back up and got hooked and slammed into the wall, ending his night.
Big wreck on lap 35 when #2-Keselowski slowed, then #20-Kenseth who was behind the #2, moved down and into #22-Logano, the #20 spun and came back up the track, causing many cars to wreck: #14-Stewart, #24-Gordon, #99-Edwards, #41-Busch, #17-Stenhouse Jr, #10-Patrick. #4-Harvick got a little damage but was able to drive on. NASCAR red flagged the race on lap 38 so the track could be cleaned up. The remaining 9 cars were sent to their pit stalls and the crews were allowed to work on the cars.
#48-Johnson was running 2nd on lap 28, got loose and spun around hitting the inside the wall and ending his night.
See results and more on the Sprint Unlimited Race Results and Report (pdf).(2-15-2014)
Denny Hamlin won the The 2nd Annual Sprint Unlimited at Daytona, his second victory in this event
Brad Keselowski (second) posted his second top-10 finish in this event at Daytona International Speedway.
Kyle Busch (third) posted his fith top-10 finish in this event at Daytona International Speedway.
Denny Hamlin becomes the ninth driver with multiple wins in the Sprint Unlimited.(NASCAR Statistics)(2-16-2014)
Restart Order for Final Segment: How drivers will line up for the final segment (Voting ends at the conclusion of the second segment)
Option A: Fastest lap in the race (first and second segments both count)
Option B: Most laps led (first and second segments both count)
Option C: Mandatory pit stop (drivers lineup how they come off pit road)
Fans choose Option C, for a Mandatory pit stop.(2-15-2014)
2) #2-Brad Keselowski (5), 55, 6
3) #18-Kyle Busch (4), 55, 6
4) #1-Jamie McMurray (2), 55, 9
5) #9-Marcos Ambrose (8), 55
6) #22-Joey Logano (11), 55, 3
7) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. (14), 55
8) #31-Ryan Newman (17), 55
9) #4-Kevin Harvick (6), 55, 6
—————-
10) #20-Matt Kenseth (16), 35, accident
11) #14-Tony Stewart (9), 35, accident
12) #24-Jeff Gordon (13), 35, accident
13) #99-Carl Edwards (7), 35, accident
14) #41-Kurt Busch (10), 35, accident
15) #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr.(3), 35, accident
16) #10-Danica Patrick (12), 35, accident
17) #48-Jimmie Johnson (18), 28 laps, accident
18) #32-Terry Labonte (15), 1 lap. park
Big wreck on lap 35 when #2-Keselowski slowed, then #20-Kenseth who was behind the #2, moved down and into #22-Logano, the #20 spun and came back up the track, causing many cars to wreck: #14-Stewart, #24-Gordon, #99-Edwards, #41-Busch, #17-Stenhouse Jr, #10-Patrick. #4-Harvick got a little damage but was able to drive on. NASCAR red flagged the race on lap 38 so the track could be cleaned up. The remaining 9 cars were sent to their pit stalls and the crews were allowed to work on the cars.
#48-Johnson was running 2nd on lap 28, got loose and spun around hitting the inside the wall and ending his night.
2) #4-Kevin Harvick (6), 30, 6
3) #22-Joey Logano (11), 30
4) #41-Kurt Busch (10), 30
5) #99-Carl Edwards (7), 30
6) #2-Brad Keselowski (5), 30
7) #20-Matt Kenseth (16), 30
8) #31-Ryan Newman (17), 30
9) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. (14), 30
10) #24-Jeff Gordon (13), 30
11) #9-Marcos Ambrose (8), 30
12) #18-Kyle Busch (4), 30, 6
13) #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr.(3), 30
14) #10-Danica Patrick (12), 30
15) #14-Tony Stewart (9), 30
16) #1-Jamie McMurray (2), 30, 9
17) #48-Jimmie Johnson (18), 28 laps, accident
18) #32-Terry Labonte (15), 1 lap. park
#48-Johnson was running 2nd on lap 28, got loose and spun around hitting the inside the wall and ending his night.
1) Most Career Poles (most to least)
2) 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final driver point standings
3) Final Practice Speeds (fastest to slowest times)
And fans chose the third option, so #11-Hamlin, who was fastest in finalk practice will start on the pole followed by #1-McMurray.
The Lineup:
1) #11-Denny Hamlin
2) #1-Jamie McMurray
3) #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
4) #18-Kyle Busch
5) #2-Brad Keselowski
6) #4-Kevin Harvick
7) #99-Carl Edwards
8) #9-Marcos Ambrose
9) #14-Tony Stewart
10) #41-Kurt Busch
11) #22-Joey Logano
12) #10-Danica Patrick
13) #24-Jeff Gordon
14) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.
15) #32-Terry Labonte
16) #20-Matt Kenseth
17) #31-Ryan Newman
18) #48-Jimmie Johnson
(2-15-2014)
Television (TV): FoxSports1 at 8:00 pm/et; Pre-Race show at 6:30 pm/et; green flag approx. 8:29pm/et
Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 90
Scheduled Race Re-Airs:
Sunday, February 16 at 9:30pm/et on FoxSports2;
Monday, February 17 at 4:00am/et on FoxSports2;
Monday, February 17 at 2:00pm/et on FoxSports1
UPDATE: Waltrip was released from the hospital Saturday [Feb 15]. DW will not be in Daytona for the Sprint Unlimited or Daytona 500 qualifying on Sunday, but plans to be back at the track on Monday. Michael Waltrip will replace his brother Darrell in the booth for the Sprint Unlimited.
FOX Statement: “Darrell Waltrip underwent a minor surgical procedure today [Thursday] near his home in Tennessee and is resting comfortably. We wish him a speedy recovery and his on-air status is day to day.”(Charlotte Observer)(2-15-2014)
Each team will be forced to start from the rear of the field for the Daytona 500. All three cars will also begin their respective Thursday qualifying races from the rear. None of Hendrick Motorsports’ drivers suffered such problems. HMS director of track support Scott Maxim surmised problems were in the “bottom” of the engine but would not know for certain until each was dismantled. HMS general manager Doug Duchardt foresaw no problems for the rest of the race weekend, saying the team had “pushed the limit and found the limit.”(ESPN)(2-15-2014)
Television (TV): FOX, 1:00pm/et
Radio: Live online at Motor Racing Network (MRN)
Scheduled Qualifying Re-Air: none
The first of the drivers scheduled to go out is #88-Earnhardt Jr.
The final driver scheduled to go out is #15-Bowyer.
Fastest in first practice, #27-Menard, is scheduled to qualify 29th.
Qualifying order is set by a random draw, held about an hour before the first practice.
See the full qualifying order on the Daytona Qualifying Page.(2-15-2014)
#31-Newman 195.346
#3-Dillon 195.211
#42-Larson 194.734
#4-Harvick 194.721
#13-Mears 194.704
slowest: #93-Shepherd 187.239 and #87-Nemechek 188.505
46 of 49 cars have made runs
notes: #10-Patrick, #14-Stewart and #52-Labonte both lost engines during this session.
All three drivers will have to fall to the rear of the field for the Budweiser Duel AND the Daytona 500.
The teams all did single car runs as they prepared for the Daytona 500 qualifying on Sunday [1:00pm/et on FOX].
Qualifying will be one car runs, not the new group qualifying, which will be used starting at Phoenix, the weekend following the Daytona 500.
See speeds and laps run on the Daytona 500 Practice 2 speeds page(pdf).(2-15-2014)
#27-Menard 195.042
#31-Newman 194.839
#20-Kenseth 194.561
#3-Dillon 194.334
#33-Scott 194.330
slowest: #93-Shepherd 187.719 & #23-Bowman 187.950
All 49 cars made single car runs
notes: #98-Wise had something wrong on his first lap, looked like some sort of right front hub/brake issue, only made one lap.
the teams only made single car runs as they prepared for Daytona 500 qualifying on Sunday [1:00pm/et on FOX]. Qualifying will be one car runs, not the new group qualifying, which will be used starting at Phoenix, the weekend following the Daytona 500.
See speeds and laps run on the Daytona 500 Practice 1 speeds page(pdf).(2-15-2014)
“We are excited to build off of the success of last year’s event and give our fans another opportunity to help make key decisions that will enhance the excitement around this highly anticipated race,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition and racing development. “This interactive element is unique to NASCAR – and all of sports.”
Fans can submit their votes within the official NASCAR app, NASCAR MOBILE, or at NASCAR.com/SprintUnlimited. Voting is unlimited and all votes cast through NASCAR MOBILE will count twice. The voting window for the race format will close on Saturday, February 15 at 6:00pm/et, while voting for the starting order and final segment restart order will close at various times during the race broadcast. Voting results will be announced live during the FOX Sports 1 race broadcast.
Voting Categories:
Race Format: Number of laps in each race segment (Voting ends at 6:00pm/et on Saturday, February 15)
Option A: 30 laps/35 laps/10 laps
Option B: 30 laps/30 laps/15 laps
Option C: 30 laps/25 laps/20 laps
Starting Order: How drivers will line up to start the race (Voting ends at 7:30pm/et on Saturday, February 15)
Option A: Most Career Poles (most to least)
Option B: 2013 Driver Points Standings
Option C: Final Practice Speeds (fastest to slowest times)
Restart Order for Final Segment: How drivers will line up for the final segment (Voting ends at the conclusion of the second segment)
Option A: Fastest lap in the race (first and second segments both count)
Option B: Most laps led (first and second segments both count)
Option C: Mandatory pit stop (drivers lineup how they come off pit road)
Tickets for the Sprint Unlimited are available online at DaytonaInternationalSpeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.(NASCAR)(2-15-2014)
.013 – Margin of victory in seconds by Kyle Busch over Tony Stewart in 2012, the closest margin in Sprint Unlimited history.
.058 – Margin of victory in seconds by Kurt Busch over Jamie McMurray in 2011, the second closest margin in Sprint Unlimited history.
.08 – Margin of victory in seconds by Dale Earnhardt over Sterling Marlin in 1995, the third closest margin in Sprint Unlimited history.
1 – Laps led by Rusty Wallace (1998), Neil Bonnett (1983-84), Dale Earnhardt (1980), Dale Jarrett (2000 and 2004) and Kevin Harvick (2009) in the Sprint Unlimited races they won.
2 – The starting position that has produced the most Sprint Unlimited wins (five).
2.75 – Average finish by Dale Earnhardt, best by any driver with multiple starts.
5 – Drivers who have won the event in their first appearance (Buddy Baker, 1979; Dale Earnhardt, 1980; Jeff Gordon, 1994; Dale Jarrett, 1996; Denny Hamlin, 2006).
6 – Number of Sprint Unlimited wins by Dale Earnhardt, the series leader.
7 – Number of fewest starters in the field for the Sprint Unlimited (1981).
9 – Number of races led, most since race began in 1979 (Dale Earnhardt Jr.)
11 – Number of starts before winning, most since race began in 1979 (Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin).
14 – Number of different leaders in the 2009 event, most since race began in 1979.
20 – Number of wins by Chevrolet in the Sprint Unlimited, leads all manufacturers.
20 – Most consecutive starts in the Sprint Unlimited by Mark Martin (1989-2008) and Jeff Gordon (1994-2013).
27 – Kevin Harvick’s starting position in 2009, the lowest by a race winner in the event’s history.
28 – Number of lead changes in the 2011 event, highest number since race began in 1979.
44 – Laps led by Greg Biffle in 2005, the most by a driver who did not win the event.
47 – Laps led by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2008, the most in a single Sprint Unlimited.
124.095 mph – The slowest average speed of the race for the Sprint Unlimited was last season’s event won by Kyle Busch.
197.802 mph – The fastest average speed of the race for the Sprint Unlimited was in 1987 won by Bill Elliott.(NASCAR)(2-15-2014)
Q) HOW DID IT FEEL?
Stewart: “It felt good. The great thing is there is zero percentage of pain in the car. That was nice. We will see what it feels like at 9 o’clock tonight, but so far so good. That is better than I was hoping for, honestly. I thought we would have some kind of ache, pain of some kind that would bother us. It was like putting on an old pair of shoes again.”
Q) IS IT A RELIEF OR ARE YOU JUST OVERJOYED?
Stewart: “Well a little of both. I think once we got the relief of knowing we weren’t hurting anywhere then it was just joy of being back out there again. It didn’t feel like I had been gone seven months when we started running. It was today though, every five minutes I was looking at the clock from 3 o’clock on going ‘is it 4:30 yet’ because I wanted to get dressed at 4:30 and come in. That is a long time to be staring at the clock for an hour and a half. That is small compared to the seven months.”
Q) DID YOU HAVE ANY THERAPY TODAY OR ANY SPECIAL STRETCHES OR ANYTHING? OR IS IT JUST LIKE A NORMAL PRACTICE DAY?
Stewart: “Knowing you are my back-up guy (referring to an inside joke with reporter Bob Pockrass) I didn’t do anything extra. I felt like my back-up guy is on par and ready to go. No, I didn’t do anything today.”
Q) HOW ABOUT GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE CAR?
Stewart: “Piece of cake. I didn’t fall. I think that was what everybody was waiting for. If there was ever a time to not screw up it is getting in the car this time. About 400 cameras there so I didn’t want to be the guy that fell out of the car and got on the cover of the paper for that.”(Team Chevy)(2-15-2014)
News from February 14, 2014
#11-Hamlin 199.867
#1-McMurray 199.645
#17-Stenhouse Jr. 199.579
#18-Busch 198.842
#2-Keselowski 198.618
slowest: #32-Labonte 189.982 & #88-Earnhardt Jr. 195.912
didn’t practice: #31-Newman, #48-Johnson, #20-Kenseth.
See fastest speeds, laps run on the Sprint Unlimited Happy Hour Practice Speeds page (pdf).(2-14-2014)
#88-Earnhardt Jr. 198.421
#18-Busch 198.255
#41-Busch 198.124
#4-Harvick 198.111
#17-Stenhouse Jr. 198.094
slowest: #48-Johnson 190.359 & #32-Labonte 190.852
Notes: all 18 cars made runs, the drivers ran mostly in packs and the draft. The #48 hung out back. Many drivers will not practice in the 2nd/Happy Hour practice.
See fastest speeds, laps run on the Sprint Unlimited Practice Speeds page (pdf).(2-14-2014)
See the full entry list at my Jayski’s Daytona 500 Entry List
Q) YOUR CONTRACT IS UP AT THE END OF THE YEAR. HAVE YOU HAD ANY TALKS WITH ROUSH FENWAY?
Biffle: “Yes, absolutely. We’ve been in that for about the last half of last year and over the winter talking with 3M and it’s kind of a mutual negotiation, so we’re well on our way to probably announcing something I would think in the first quarter, but we’ll wait and see.”
Q) SO YOU’RE CONFIDENT YOU’LL BE BACK?
Biffle: “Oh yeah.”
(Ford Racing)(2-14-2014)
“Atlanta is a unique track that presents several challenges for us as a tiremaker – it is extremely abrasive, but at the same time it’s extremely fast,” said Greg Stucker, Goodyear’s director of race tire sales. “While the Gen-6 car added even more speed to the equation, thus putting more stress on the right side tires, just going to a harder compound wasn’t a viable solution. The Multi-Zone Tread technology enabled us to maintain the tractive compound on the outside portion of the tread and toughen up the inside three inches to help protect the part of the right-side tire that sees a lot of heat. Kansas, on the other hand, was a little more than a year on this side of a repave. And while the track seemed to have lost some grip, it had not yet begun to wear tires. For this case, we chose to increase the grip on the left side of the car with a more tractive, single-compound tire. We paired that with a Multi-Zone Tread right-side that combined the same compound we’d run there since the repave on the outside for traction with a tougher, more heat resistant compound on the inboard three inches for endurance.”
For 2014, Goodyear enters the season with plans to run its Multi-Zone Tread right-side tire at both Atlanta and Kansas again, as well as at Texas Motor Speedway and Richmond International Raceway. Several more tracks could be added, pending on-track testing during the season.(RPM2Night)(2-14-2014)
The Co-Grand Marshals that will give the starting command alongside Larry King are part of the 1,000+ prizes that will be awarded to race fans on property throughout Budweiser Speedweeks. Fans can register at the DAYTONA Reward Stations powered by Windows located in Sprint FANZONE, the Midway outside Turn 4 and in front of the Daytona International Speedway Ticket and Tours Building. Fans can also pre-register online at www.DISRewards.com prior to arriving at the track. For more information on tickets for The Sprint Unlimited on Saturday as well as the 56th annual DAYTONA 500, race fans can go online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS)(2-14-2014)
News from February 13, 2014
See the full entry list at my Jayski’s Daytona 500 Entry List
UPDATE: Xxxtreme Motorsport announced renewed efforts to their Sprint Cup Series program and the 2014 NASCAR season. Beginning at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 9 the team will set out to compete full-time with J.J. Yeley as their new driver. “We’ve switched from Ford to Chevrolet and we’re going out to complete full races,” team owner John Cohen said. “It’s a new team effort we’ve never shown before as far as running the full season.” Yeley will pilot the team’s #44 Chevrolet. “JJ and I have been friends since I came to NASCAR, we’ve always mentioned working together if we could. This opportunity came about when he mentioned he was available for this season and I knew that he was the driver to take our team to the next level. We’ve always said if we could do something together it would be pretty special,” Cohen said. “JJ and I got together and we’re going to try and do something special in 2014 and beyond.” Xxxtreme Motorsport debuted back in the fall of 2012 with David Reutimann at Phoenix. Scott Riggs drove for the company during the 2013 season. Walter Giles will remain the team’s crew chief while a sponsor will be announced before The Profit on CNBC 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.(140 Buzz)(2-13-2014)
Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF RICHARD PETTY’S COMMENTS?
DANICA PATRICK: He asked it for you. You were hesitating. I saw it (laughter). Oh, Bob. You know, people have said things in the past, and they’re going to say things in the future. I still say the same thing: that everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. People are going to judge what he said, whether they judge it well or not, and I’m just not going to.
Q. DO THOSE THINGS MOTIVATE YOU AT ALL?
DANICA PATRICK: You can’t try any harder in the car. I think that’s something that probably every driver would tell you when someone questions our effort level. You can’t try any harder. You’re doing everything you can. And maybe subconsciously there’s some motivation, but I can’t tell. I’m giving it my all every single time I’m getting in the car, whether I’m making a simple qualifying run or I’m in the race. It is what it is and, again, people are entitled to their opinions, and that’s fine.
Q. REGARDING RICHARD PETTY
DANICA PATRICK: I mean, really it’s more about my belief that everyone can have their own opinion. It has nothing to do with where it comes from. The people that matter the most to me are my team, my sponsors, you know, those little three-year-old kids that run up to you and want a great big hug and say they want to grow up to be like you. That’s the stuff that I really focus on. Q. REGARDING OPINIONS NOT SHAKING HER
DANICA PATRICK: I really don’t. I like that people have opinions. That is fine with me. I think that it creates such conversation. As I said the last time that somebody said something that was not so positive for me, it spawned so many positive articles. So, you know, there’s a positive side to it, too. But more than anything, I love the conversation that it creates in sport. Across the board it makes sports interesting. It makes life interesting when people have different perspectives, and that’s fine with me.
Q. HAVE YOU EVER TALKED TO THE KING, TO RICHARD PETTY?
DANICA PATRICK: I know I met him. I have this great shot of I think it was before last year’s race, maybe it was the Nationwide race, of him standing in front of my car on the pole and giving me two thumbs up. It’s a back shot of his butt sticking out. Apparently I didn’t notice him there for a while. I must have been getting strapped in.
Q. DID YOU TALK TO KYLE AFTER KYLE MADE THE REMARKS LAST SUMMER?
DANICA PATRICK: I didn’t talk to him but he eventually wanted to come talk to me.
Q. HOW DID THAT GO?
DANICA PATRICK: I spoke to him eventually, but it wasn’t me seeking him out is what I’m saying. I wouldn’t seek Richard out either.
Q. HOW DID THAT CONVERSATION GO?
DANICA PATRICK: My conversation with Kyle, it was all right. It was fine. It was lengthy. You know, I think what I came to the conclusion was that really everybody does have their opinion, and that is totally fine. Even if some of the things that came across weren’t completely accurate, there were things that I didn’t quite understand from the comments either that I learned. So, I mean, it really just doesn’t matter. It’s interesting conversation and I’m fortunate I’m in it.(Team Chevy)(2-13-2014)
ROBIN PEMBERTON: As everybody knows or most everybody knows, we’re changing our qualifying format for this year for the three national series. We talked to most of you in the off-season at some different venues and explained that we were continuing our talks and our meetings with the teams and were going to compile that information and then finalize our qualifying format.
So, as it remains same, there will be three rounds of qualifying on our larger than mile-and-a-quarter racetracks. There will be two rounds in the mile-and-a-quarter and less. The difference will be our five road courses will move into the short track version. Through feedback, they felt like the second or last round needed to be a little bit longer to get multiple laps in on the track, so this should optimize their track time.
The other feedback we had gotten was about the adjustments to the cars during qualifying rounds. Starting in Phoenix, the teams will be able to adjust during their qualifying rounds and in the breaks of their qualifying rounds. If it’s during the round when the track is hot, there will be one crew member over the wall that must wear a helmet and he can perform the adjustments which are tape, tire pressures and wedge. And then during the breaks, it will be three crew members when the track is cold, and they’ll go over to perform those duties.
The exception to this are the Daytona and Talladega qualifying, there will be no changes during the rounds. We feel like the Super Speedway is unique anyways, and due to the drafting, which will be most important during those sessions, we feel like we’ll limit those changes to the breaks. Q. I’m just a little bit confused. There will be a crew member who, during the qualifying session, can make changes to the vehicle? So someone could go out for three or four laps, come back in, wait a little bit, make changes, go out again. Is that correct?
ROBIN PEMBERTON: That is true. That is correct.
Q. Why the addition of adjustments allowed during the sessions now instead of just between them?
ROBIN PEMBERTON: It was our feedback through the teams that when we went back and looked at the minutes of the meetings, that seemed to be the most common question. Because of the length and really because of the length of the first round, they felt like if it was an opportunity for them to still make adjustments and still give it a little time for the tires to cool down, engine to cool down. So that was probably unanimous amongst all of our national series, the Camping World Truck Series, Nationwide Series, and the Sprint Cup Series.(NASCAR)
See the qualifying changes and rules on my Qualifying Rules and News page.(2-13-2014)
“I’m looking forward to our partnership with Kelley Blue Book,” said Earnhardt, who will drive the #88 Kelley Blue Book Chevrolet SS at Sonoma Raceway on June 22. “As a car enthusiast and dealership owner, I’ve trusted them for years for vehicle valuation and information. It’s exciting to work with a partner that’s new to the sport, and I’m proud Kelley Blue Book will be on board with the #88 team for their debut season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.”
Through its website, KBB.com, Kelley Blue Book is changing the way people shop for a new car. It now offers the KBB.com Price Advisor, which features a new range-based pricing layout, including the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price, which shows the average price other customers in the same area paid for the same vehicle. Other resources include 5-Year Cost to Own data, and consumer and expert reviews and ratings.(Hendrick Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #88 Team Schemes page.(2-13-2014)
AutoTrader.com has established a successful working relationship with Penske Automotive Group (PAG) over the last few years and that partnership has now blossomed to include the Team Penske NASCAR program. Through the relationship, AutoTrader.com will help build its brand with NASCAR fans and integrate Logano and Team Penske into its marketing programs.
More than 17 million consumers visit AutoTrader.com each month to research their next vehicle purchase and browse the millions of new and used vehicles listed for sale. AutoTrader.com, the “ultimate automotive marketplace”, offers a comprehensive suite of online and mobile tools to help make the car shopping process easier, including Trade-In Marketplace, Private Seller services, vehicle reviews, text alerts, expert advice and more.
AutoTrader.com’s branding will be displayed on the rear quarter panel of the #22 Ford driven by Logano this season. Logano, who finished eighth in Sprint Cup Series points in 2013 after making his first Chase and collecting a win and two poles along the way, will also drive the #22 AutoTrader.com Ford Fusion in the July 13 race at NHMS.(Team Penske), see an image of the car on the #22 Team Schemes page.(2-13-2014)
Total number of commercials per network:
Fox (14 races): 1668
TNT (6 races): 671
ESPN/ABC (17 races): 1992
SPEED (2 races): 166
Total for all networks: 4497
Total number of minutes of race broadcast to minutes of commercial times per network:
Fox (14 races): total: 3025 (race 2220 / commercial 805)
TNT (6 races): total: 1187 (race 861 / commercial 326)
ESPN/ABC (17 races): total: 3702 (race 2796 / commercial 906)
SPEED (2 races): total: 358 (race 280 / commercial 78)
Total for all networks: 8272 (race 6157 / commercial 2115)
Total number of times that companies that sponsored commercials during race broadcasts were shown over the racing season:
Fox (14 races): 887
TNT (6 races): 378
ESPN/ABC (17 races): 936
SPEED (2 races): 96
Total for all networks: 2297
Total number of promos during race broadcasts and the number of minutes they were seen:
Fox (14 races): 542 (1 hr. 11 min. 35 sec.)
TNT (6 races): 184 (23 min. 40 sec.)
ESPN/ABC (17 races): 467 (59 min. 40 sec.)
SPEED (2 races): 25 (3 min. 45 sec.)
Total for all networks: 1218 (2 hrs. 38 min. 40 sec.)
Number of missed restarts per network:
Fox (14 races): 0
TNT (6 races): 0
ESPN/ABC (17 races): 1
SPEED (2 races): 0
Total for all networks: 1
Number of ‘mystery cautions’:
Fox (14 races): 14
TNT (6 races): 4
ESPN/ABC (17 races): 12
SPEED (2 races): 1
Total: 31
Number of ME ads per network:
Fox (14 races): 29
TNT (6 races): 14
ESPN/ABC (17 races): 38
SPEED (2 races): 3
Total for all networks: 84
See the full report and past seasons at CawsnJaws.com.(2-13-2014)
The points from the #55 Michael Waltrip car last season will go to the #66 car of Robinson Racing Team. That car is being shared by MWR and Jay Robinson Racing.
That doesn’t mean the #55 car at MWR driven by Brian Vickers this year will be without points. The team is moving the points earned from the #56 car with Martin Truex Jr. last year to the car Vickers will drive this year.
Also, the #87 car formerly known as NEMCO Motorsports will be known as Identity Ventures Racing, which is a partnership of Jay Robinson, Joe Nemechek, Troy Stafford, James Hamilton and John Burns. It will use the points (40th) earned from Nemechek’s #87 car last year.(MRN)(2-13-2014)
News from February 12, 2014
“Tom brings a wealth of communications experience under a variety of different environments to NASCAR,” said Brett Jewkes, NASCAR chief communications officer. “He grew up around short tracks and has a life-long passion for racing. As we increase our focus on the grassroots racing programs that are so instrumental to developing the next generation of drivers and fans, securing a leader for this position was our top offseason priority. Given NASCAR’s long-standing commitment to the U.S. military, we’re proud to add Tom to our team.”
Bryant, an Alabama native, officially begins March 3 and will be based out of the Daytona Beach, Fla., office. He will report to David Higdon, managing director, integrated marketing communications, and work closely with George Silbermann, NASCAR vice president of touring and weekly series, as well as a number of other NASCAR executives whose business units directly are impacted by the touring and weekly series.
Prior to his most recent service in Afghanistan, Bryant held the following positions with the U.S. Army:
· 2010-2012 – Director of Public Relations, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
· 2008-2010 – Director of American Forces Network South, Vicenza, Italy
· 2006-2008 – Chief of Media Relations and Public Information, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York
· 2004-2006 – Director of Public Relations, 101st Airborne, Ft. Campbell, Kentucky
· Prior to 2004 – Infantry Officer, U.S. Army
In addition, NASCAR announced the hiring of Adé Herbert as coordinator, Fan and Media Engagement Center. A graduate of Fordham University in New York who served in the U.S. Navy from 1993-97, Herbert participated in the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program and worked with Rev Racing for three years on its marketing and public relations initiatives. Herbert will be based in NASCAR’s Charlotte, N.C., office.
NASCAR also made several Integrated Marketing Communications promotions heading into the 2014 season:
Kurt Culbert has been promoted to senior director, stakeholder communications
Jayme Avrit has been promoted to senior manager, stakeholder communications
Matt Nordby has been promoted to senior manager, broadcast and entertainment communications
Alex Moore has been promoted to senior coordinator, content communications
(NASCAR)(2-12-2014)
The event begins at noon at XFINITY Live!, a dining and entertainment venue located in the heart of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. The first-of-its-kind venue features more than a dozen restaurants and entertainment companies, including: Broad Street Bullies Pub, PBR Bar and Grill (Professional Bull Riders), Philly MarketPlace, Spectrum Grill, Victory Beer Hall and the NBC Sports Arena. XFINITY Live! is located at 1100 Pattison Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19418.(Pocono Raceway)(2-12-2014)
News from February 11, 2014
Alongside Allen in the studio will be a constant rotation of guest analysts offering fresh perspectives and insights. Guest analysts who will join NASCAR AMERICA throughout February and March include NBC Sports NASCAR analyst Jeff Burton, Sprint Cup Champion Bobby Labonte, Kyle Petty, Ken Schrader, and crew chief Frank Stoddard. Future guest analysts, which will include former and current drivers and crew chiefs, NASCAR executives, and even prominent fans such as NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams, will be announced at a later date.(NBC)(2-11-2014)
” Daytona 500 backstretch ticket
” $10 donation to the Gary Sinise Foundation
” Access to a 15-minute fan forum with Gary Sinise prior to the Daytona 500
To purchase the special Daytona 500 ticket package, call 1-800-PITSHOP or visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/gary. Acting for more than 30 years, Sinise has had many memorable roles in movies such as Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, Ransom and Truman as well as the television police drama CSI: NY. He has earned a Golden Globe Award, an Emmy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards and an Academy Award nomination. Additionally, Sinise has toured in support of the troops both home and abroad with his Lt. Dan Band, his 12-member cover band. Performing pop hits to classic rock staples, they’ve played for over half-a-million troops and their families since 2004.(DIS)(2-11-2014)
News from February 10, 2014
“This is something that we believe will make us more efficient in all aspects of our organization,” said J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing. “Over the years we have grown from 18 employees to nearly 450 today, so it’s important to review our structure and make sure we are operating in an efficient manner that best serves our partners. Todd (Meredith) and Dave (Alpern) have been with us from the beginning of our organization and have had a tremendous impact on our growth over the past 20 years. Their leadership will help guide JGR for years to come.”
Dean Noble will continue his role of Senior Vice President of Business Affairs and will oversee sponsor contracts and business to business opportunities across JGR’s partners. Also announced were the promotions of Heath Cherry, Vice President Sponsorship; Chris Helein, Vice President of Communications, and JJ Damato, Vice President Marketing Services, each of whom will report to Alpern. Cherry enters his 10th season with Joe Gibbs Racing and will direct the organization’s sales efforts as well as the day to day sponsor management. He also currently serves as the rear tire carrier for JGR’s #11 Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series teams.
Prior to joining Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008, Helein was Vice President of Communications for Comcast SportsNet and more recently served as Vice President of Public Relations for the Washington Redskins. Helein will manage all traditional public relations as well as digital media. In addition, Jessica Smith, who serves as the PR representative for the No. 20 Sprint Cup Series team, will take on the additional role of Director of Media Relations to assist PR efforts across the organization. Bryan Cook has also been promoted to Director of Digital Media. Damato enters his 6th season with Joe Gibbs Racing after long stints with the National Hockey League and NASCAR. Damato will continue to manage Consumer Products along with other branding and marketing initiatives.(JGR)(2-10-2014)
News from February 9, 2014
Below is a recap of key race-ready activities since the last update in January:
· Installed entrance chutes for ticket gates
· Tested lighting and Digital Antenna System (DAS)
· Relocated merchandise store building pad outside the frontstretch
· Built temporary suite tower lobby and temporary ticketing trailers
· Set up hospitality village and the Budweiser 1876 Club
Race fans can follow the progress of the DAYTONA Rising project by visiting www.DAYTONARising.com.(DIS)(2-9-2014)
“The Sprint Unlimited is an event that is designed around the race fans,” said Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III. “As we kick off the new NASCAR season with this exciting star-studded event, fans in attendance will have the opportunity to participate in significant race roles and win some special experiences that will deliver long-lasting memories.”
Among the upgraded experiences that fans can win when attending The Sprint Unlimited At Daytona International Speedway include:
· Presenting the winning driver with The Sprint Unlimited trophy
· Riding in a Grand Marshal car during the pace laps of The Sprint Unlimited
· Attending the driver’s meeting
· Honorary pit crew member
· Photo with the winning Sprint Unlimited driver in Gatorade Victory Lane
Race fans who already purchased tickets to The Sprint Unlimited may pre-register for the special prizes online at www.DISrewards.com beginning Feb. 3. Fans can also register on-site at DAYTONA Reward Stations powered by Windows located in Sprint FANZONE, the Midway outside Turn 4 and in front of the Daytona International Speedway Ticket and Tours Building. For the second straight year, The Sprint Unlimited will feature 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole winners and past champions of The Sprint Unlimited. Tickets for The Sprint Unlimited are available for purchase at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. Children 12 and under are free in general admission grandstands and the Sprint FANZONE.(DIS)(2-9-2014)
News from February 8, 2014
Food City officials also see the program as a means of honoring BMS fans for their continued loyalty. “We are pleased to announce the extension of our relationship with Bristol Motor Speedway and offer the Fuel for Fans program as a way to thank those who have faithfully supported this longtime partnership,” said Steve Smith, president and CEO of K-VAT. “It is the mission of Food City to provide value to our customers as they shop for the staples of everyday life, and this program allows us to extend that value to those who support us both in our stores and at the Speedway.”
Tickets to experience a full season of battles inside the Last Great Colosseum tickets start at just $160 and offer ticket holders more than $300 in savings. For information on the Fuel for Fans program and how you can belong to the BMS family, visit www.bristolmotorspeedway.com or call (855) 580-5525.(BMS)(2-8-2104)
News from February 7, 2014
As for the new qualifying rules, announced before last week’s media tour, we learned that, at first, many crew chiefs were against permission to make any changes to the cars in between sessions. But, after careful consideration, they lobbied for certain concessions, like changing tape (changing downforce), wedge alterations (for handling) and other minor changes. Flat tires in qualifying? NASCAR officials said one scuff (or scuffed-in) tire, not a matched set.
Also, though the qualifying schedule runs less than one hour when you add up the length of the knockout sessions, if all things go smoothly in the three-segment shootout, the television window will more likely go 90 minutes to account for breaks. One journalist asked about explaining to fans what happens in the case that the fastest lap is set in segment one — perhaps even a track record — but someone else gets the pole? NASCAR said it’s the media’s job to explain that.
As for the penalty system — now known as the deterrent system — the graphics published last week are a guide, but not a final, final answer. NASCAR always reserves the right to invoke its “EIRI” rule, also known as “except in rare instances.”
Speaking of rules, at some point this year the rules will go electronic, meaning all teams will have instant access to technical updates.(AutoWeek)(2-7-2014)
“VooDoo’s unique offering gave BK Racing and NASCAR a boost at the end of 2013 leading into the 2014 season,” said team owner Ron Devine. “I feel that VooDoo’s continued growth, along with BK Racing’s will make for a great long-term partnership.”(BK Racing)(2-7-2014)
When news of Byrnes’ illness filtered through the sport, the resulting support from folks he’d touched was overwhelming to him. Dale Earnhardt Jr. called to offer well-wishes, and noted that if Byrnes needed plane rides or doctor appointments, whatever, it would be arranged. Just call. Jimmie Johnson sent Byrnes a text message from the championship banquet. Just this week, with Byrnes back on the set of Fox Sports 1’s “NASCAR Race Hub” program, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. gave Byrnes a bear hug and a “glad you’re back.” That matters to Byrnes deeply.(see full article by Marty Smith at ESPN.com)(2-7-2014)
UPDATE: Trevor Bayne, driver of the #21 Wood Brothers Ford completed a two-day test on Thursday at Talladega Superspeedway in preparation for the May 2-4 Aaron’s Dream Weekend. “We have been able to learn a lot over the last two days and feel good with our restrictor plate program,” said Bayne, the 2011 Daytona 500 Champion. “It’s always good coming to Talladega.” The famed Wood Brothers team has five triumphs at Talladega with the likes of David Pearson, Donnie Allison and Neil Bonnett. Bayne is hoping to give the legendary team its sixth win in the Aaron’s 499 on Sunday, May 4.(TSS)(2-7-2014)
According to research conducted by Joyce Julius & Associates, Inc., which specializes in measuring the scope of sponsorships across all forms of media, #10-Danica Patrick actually was referenced in about 700 more media stories appearing on television, print and the Internet than Johnson this past off season. However, the estimated audience of Patrick’s media coverage was smaller than Johnson’s, and as a result, she amassed slightly less estimated exposure value ($9.8 million) from her coverage. The Joyce Julius study began the day after the NASCAR Banquet last December and concluded this past Monday following the Super Bowl. Johnson was referenced during 1,274 television programs, as well as in 4,499 Internet and 234 print articles during the two-month period. The bulk of the coverage centered on Johnson’s sixth series championship, and how the newly-altered NASCAR playoff format may effect him moving forward. Meanwhile, Patrick’s off-season media coverage focused on her hosting duties at the American Music Awards and reviews of her GoDaddy Super Bowl commercial.(Joyce Julius & Assoc)(2-7-2014)
Dwayne Gaulding has moved into the role of Vice President of Operations at NTS Motorsports.
NTS Motorsports will compete full-time in the NCWTS with the #24 and #20 Chevy Silverado trucks. Newberry has been confirmed for 12 races, with the remaining 10 races to be filled by an unannounced driver. Gaulding will make his NCWTS debut at Martinsville Speedway on March 29th and will compete in an additional seven races in the series. The remaining fourteen races will be filled in by an additional driver to be announced.(NTS Motorsports)(See an image of the truck on the #20 paint schemes page)(2-7-2014)
AND: 2012 Daytona International Speedway NASCAR Camping World Truck Series winner John King signs with NTS Motorsports to race the #20 Chevy Silverado in the NextEra Energy Resources 250. With sponsorship from GunBroker.com, Brennan Newberry will return to Daytona to defend his Keystone Light Pole Award from 2013 and race for his first NCWTS win. GunBroker.com has signed on to be the primary sponsor of NTS Motorsports for five races and Brennan Newberry in three NCWTS races in 2014 – beginning with Daytona along with Bristol and Homestead-Miami.(NTS Motorsports)(See an image of the truck on the #24 paint schemes page)(2-7-2014)
The GEICO Gecko, which travels the country spreading good news about GEICO, was recently at Talladega Superspeedway with track Chairman Grant Lynch showing excitement and anticipation for the GEICO 500 at NASCAR’s Most Competitive Track on Sunday, October 19. Officials from GEICO and Talladega announced the new race entitlement partnership last week. As part of the agreement, GEICO was also named the Official Auto, RV, Motorcycle and Powersport Insurance Provider of Talladega Superspeedway.. NASCAR’s Talladega Superspeedway offers both reserved and unreserved campgrounds throughout the property, 13 of which have been sponsored by GEICO since 2011. “We are thrilled with our expanded partnership with GEICO, a Fortune 500 company with a sterling reputation and a perfect fit with our passionate fan base,” said Lynch. “While GEICO has been our partner for years with their sponsorship of various campgrounds around the facility, having the entitlement of our October Sprint Cup Series race will allow the company to extend its reach to all Talladega and NASCAR fans. The wild card race at Talladega (sixth race in NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup Series Championship) has long been a tradition in the sport and we couldn’t be happier that it’s now the GEICO 500.”
NASCAR first returns to Talladega Superspeedway in 2014 with the Aaron’s Dream Weekend on May 2-4. The NASCAR Nationwide Series Aaron’s 312 will take to the track on Saturday, May 3 while NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series machines take the green flag on Sunday, May 4, in the Aaron’s 499. For ticket information, log onto www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(TSS)(2-7-2014)
For tickets and more information on Daytona International Speedway events, visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS)(2-7-2014)
News from February 6, 2014
TSM co-owner Harry Scott, Jr. confirmed that Tayler Malsam could fill a Truck Series seat with the team this season, saying, “We’ve had discussions with Tayler. We don’t have anything final yet, but I have pretty good confidence that we’ll get something done with him to do a number of Truck races in a second truck.”
He also revealed that talks are underway with former Camping World Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday, Jr., to put Hornaday in a TSM entry this season, perhaps splitting time with youngster Brandon Jones. He said he has also spoken with former series champion Todd Bodine, who drove for the team at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last fall.
“To be honest, we’ve gone down a list of all our former drivers – and some of our K&N drivers – who might be interested in doing some truck racing, to fill out a second truck, full-time,” he said. “Just like there’s nothing off the table for Jeb Burton, there’s nothing off the table for that second truck, either.”(Godfather Motorsports)(2-6-2014)
News from February 5, 2014
To learn more about the newly rebranded team, its drivers and partners, please visit www.HScottMotorsports.com. You can also keep up with the team via its Facebook page, at Facebook.com/HScottMotorsports, and on Twitter (@TeamHSM51 and @TeamHSM52) and Instagram (TeamHSM51).
Upon purchasing the team last year, Scott pledged to establish a team with a focus on the future and eventually competing for a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. During this past offseason, HScott Motorsports signed Justin Allgaier to drive the #51 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet SS fulltime and Bobby Labonte to drive the #52 Chevrolet SS for a number of races, including the Daytona 500. HScott Motorsports also expanded their relationship with Hendrick Motorsports, which historically has been providing engines to the team. The team also hired NSCS veteran Steve Addington to serve as competition director and the crew chief for the #51 driven by Allgaier. Jimmy Elledge, who served as interim crew chief for Allgaier in 2013, remains with the team and will be crew chief for Labonte’s #52 team. James Finch, former owner of Phoenix Racing, has remained a trusted advisor to the team and will be listed as the owner of Labonte’s #52 Chevy.(Tuckahoe Strategies)(2-5-2014)
Four additional partners have signed one-race sponsorships for Harvick – Great Clips at Phoenix International Raceway (March 1), TaxSlayer.com at Auto Club Speedway (March 22), Tide at Richmond International Raceway (April 25) and Bad Boy Buggies at Atlanta Motor Speedway (Aug. 30). They join primaries Hunt Brothers Pizza (four races) and Armour (three races) to make up Harvick’s current 13-race schedule in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this year. JR Motorsports is working to fill out inventory for the remainder of the season with additional drivers.
Two of JR Motorsports’ returning partners, Great Clips and TaxSlayer.com, are sponsoring Harvick for the first time but have larger sponsorship relationships with the company. Great Clips will carry associate placement on Chase Elliott’s #9 NAPA Chevy through all of 2014, and TaxSlayer.com is a cornerstone partner and primary sponsor of Regan Smith’s #7 Chevy.(JR Motorsports)(2-5-2014)
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will make a pair of stops at MIS in 2014. The opening race will once again be on Father’s Day weekend for the Quicken Loans 400 on June 15. The Pure Michigan 400 will take place on Aug. 17 and annually serves as an important race prior to The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
The MIS Family Four Pack returns in 2014 at the great low price of $99. This package features four Sunday tickets, four hot dogs and four Coca-Colas. The MIS Experience MIS Package gets you a Center Grandstand ticket, a pre-race pit pass and a FanVision rental.
Back by popular demand is the Jimmie Johnson Ticket package. With this $48 package you get one adult ticket and one kids 12 and under ticket for Sunday, access to Johnson’s Q&A and a one-day scanner rental.
New in 2014 is Danica Patrick’s Father’s Day Getaway. This $100 family ticket includes two adult tickets, two kids 12 and under tickets for Sunday, June 15, access to a special Q&A and a $20 voucher to buy souvenirs. This offer is only available for the Quicken Loans 400.(More info and to order tickets go to mispeedway.com(2-5-2014)
News from February 4, 2014
“NASCAR’s Deterrence System is designed to help maintain the integrity and competitive balance of our sport while sending a clear message that rules violations will not be tolerated,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president of racing operations. “This is a more transparent and effective model that specifically spells out that ‘X’ infraction equals ‘X’ penalty for technical infractions. At the same time, we believe the Appeals process allows a fair opportunity for our NASCAR Members to be heard, and have penalty disputes resolved by an impartial, relevant group of people with the ability to handle the complexities inherent in any appeal. This system has been tailored specifically to fit the needs of our sport.”
Bryan Moss, former president at Gulfstream Aerospace, has been selected as the Final Appeals Officer. Moss will hear matters on appeal from the lower three-member Appeals Panel, and serve as the last decision on penalty disputes for the sport.
NASCAR’s Deterrence System NASCAR’s Deterrence System is easily understood and specifically lays out exactly what disciplinary action will be taken depending on the type of technical infraction listed from warnings to six penalty levels in ascending order. Some of the Deterrence System elements include:
The system starts with warnings (W) issued for very minor infractions, then are grouped into six levels – P1 (least significant) to P6 (most significant).
Lower P levels list penalty options from which NASCAR may select (fines or points) while higher P levels are an all-inclusive combination of multiple penalty elements (points and fine and suspension, etc.).
At the highest three levels of the system, if a rules infraction is discovered in post-race inspection, the one or more additional penalty elements are added on top of the standard prescribed penalty.
Repeat offenses by the same car are addressed via a “recurrence multiplier,” i.e. if a P4 penalty was received and a second P4 or higher infraction occurs in the same season, the subsequent penalty increases 50% above the normal standard.
Suspensions are explained in greater detail.
Behavioral infractions are still handled on case-by-case basis and are not built into the W, P1-P6 structure.
The 2014 Rule Book will explain how and why NASCAR issues penalties as well as the factors considered when determining a penalty. The Rule Book also will detail the types of infractions that fall within each level by citing examples that are included but not limited to:
· Warnings are issued instead of penalties for certain types of minor, first-time infractions.
· P1 penalties may result from multiple warnings to the same team.
· P2 penalties may include but are not limited to violations such as hollow components, expiration of certain safety certification or improper installation of a safety feature, or minor bracket and fasteners violations.
· P3 penalty options may include but are not limited to violations such as unauthorized parts, measurement failures, parts that fail their intended use, or coil spring violation.
· P4 level infractions may include but are not limited to violations such as devices that circumvent NASCAR templates and measuring equipment, or unapproved added weight .
· P5 level may include but are not limited to violations such as combustion-enhancing additives in the oil, oil filter, air filter element or devices, systems, omissions, etc., that affect the normal airflow over the body.
· P6 level may include but are not limited to violations such as affecting the internal workings and performance of the engine, modifying the pre-certified chassis, traction control or affecting EFI or the ECU.
The National Motorsports Appeals Panel The new Appeals process continues to provide two tiers for resolving disputes. On the first level before a three-member Appeals Panel, NASCAR has the burden of showing that a penalty violation has occurred. On the second and final level, only a NASCAR Member is allowed to appeal and they have the burden of showing the Final Appeals Officer that the panel decision was incorrect.
Some other Appeals changes include:
Clearly identifying the procedural rights of NASCAR Members
Detailing responsibilities of parties throughout the process
Allowing parties the option to submit summaries on issues before the Appeals Panel
Allowing NASCAR Members named in the penalty to be present during the entire hearing
Appeals Administrator is not allowed to be present during panel deliberations
Creating a clear Expedited Appeals Procedure when necessary
Changing the name of the Appeals Panel to The National Motorsports Appeals Panel
(NASCAR)(2-4-2014)
Q. Robin, can you sort of give us an example of what would classify say as a P4 or a P6 penalty? What in your mind would those be?
ROBIN PEMBERTON: Yeah, I sure can. When we’re looking at a P4 penalty, it would be something that could be unapproved weight location, some minor engine components, generally outside the engine that would not be correct. You know, approved parts that are not installed properly, maybe spoiler angles that don’t meet what we need to have. That’s somewhere in the P4 range.
When you look at a P6 range, and that being the highest level, those are the ones that will be more significant, and they are the engines, engine compression ratio, additives like nitrous oxide or things that are for performance, and that’s the range of those two.
And when you get into the penalty part, you know, a P6, you could lose any of the benefits of winning a race or starting a race, and so if you win a race and you have a P6 penalty, we will not use that win for either seeding or to help you get further into the Chase at the end of the year.
Q. You talked about P6 penalties not counting towards the Chase, seeding or advancement. Was there any consideration about taking the wins away completely, and if so why was it not implemented?
ROBIN PEMBERTON: You know, that’s always a topic of discussion, and at this point in time we always feel that when the fans leave the racetrack they know who won the race, and so right now we just will take away that opportunity for seeding or advancement based on wins if somebody violates the rules. And this part of it isn’t new. We have leveled a penalty against a team a few years ago, I think it was at Las Vegas for some issue, and they weren’t allowed to carry those points over for seeding into the Chase. So it’s not new. It’s in print now. People can see it. And they’ll understand that part of it. You know, it’s always an age-old question why you don’t take away the win, and the timing right now is we’re going to move forward like we have over the 65 years, and we will address things on a year-to-year basis and see where it takes us.(NASCAR)
For the full transcript see the NASCAR Teleconference With Steve O’Donnell And Robin Pemberton Transcript page.(2-4-2014)
UPDATE: Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) announced that it will field the #36 Chevrolet SS with Reed Sorenson behind the wheel for the full 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Season. Team owner Tommy Baldwin and newly hired crew chief Todd Parrott made the decision to bring Sorenson, the 27-year-old seasoned NASCAR driver, on board to assist in building the team and taking it to the next level. Sorenson is excited to get back into the Sprint Cup Series full time. “I will give them everything I’ve got to perform well,” Sorenson said. “I’m confident with Todd’s winning resume along with Tommy’s accomplishments; it’s going to lead to great things for this team. I’m thankful for TBR and all of their partners for allowing me to be their driver. I’m looking forward to helping TBR build on what they have already achieved and to help make the team better than they ever have been.”
Baldwin noted that he’s impressed with Sorenson’s resume and feels he’s the right guy for the job. “It’s cool to have Reed on board driving the #36. I’ve looked at his statistics and was really surprised at how well he’s done,” Baldwin said. “It’s taken six years to get where we are now and the #36 car is only two or three years into it so, we’re slowly building that and we’re excited to have Reed on board with his experience at such a young age and ability to provide sound feedback to help us do that.”(TBR)(2-4-2014)
UPDATE: Young’s Motorsports is honored to announce the signing of Arthur Krenzel Lett Insurance Group as an associate sponsor for four races this season in the Camping World Truck Series. AKL Insurance Group is a risk management solutions firm specializing in auto, home, life, and commercial insurance products. AKL Insurance Group, with two branches located in Winfield, WV and Dublin, OH, will be displayed on the #02 Chevy Silverado driven by Tyler Young when he makes his first Daytona International Speedway start later this month, Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, Bristol Motor Speedway in August, and Talladega Superspeedway in October.(See an image of the truck on the #02 paint schemes page)(Young’s Motorsports)(2-4-2014)
News from February 3, 2014
“I’m glad to get back to the sport I love, and I’ve missed,” said Parrott. “I’m looking forward to working with Tommy, Bono, Michael, and the driver of the #36. I’m hoping to try and build this team into something bigger and better. I’m humbled. I’m going to continue to do what I know how to do and just try to make racecars go fast. I’m tickled to be here.”
Team owner Tommy Baldwin also commented, “We at TBR are excited to take another step and grow our company with Todd Parrott. He will be a great addition to the team. I think it’s important for everyone in this sport to have a second chance. Todd has earned that right by handling everything as a professional, by going through the NASCAR mandated recovery process. He has two Daytona 500 wins, and a Championship, which has earned him his right in the industry, and we are proud to have him on board to help take the #36 to a new level.”(TBR), hearing that Reed Sorenson will be the driver of the #36 in 2014. No word if former crew chief Joe Lax is still with TBR.(2-3-2014)
News from February 2, 2014
Six More Weeks of Winter!
as Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow
Phil is ‘correct’ about 39% of the time in
117 predictions in 127 years (since 1887)
more info at:
groundhogday.org
UPDATE: Planned one- and two-day tests for several NASCAR Sprint Cup teams at Nashville Superspeedway may be brought to an early end Saturday – which also may prompt those teams to make a hasty exit from Music City. The reason is quick-approaching bad weather. The National Weather Service issued a winter weather alert early Saturday calling for rain in the afternoon turning to snow and possibly sleet in the evening. Estimates of snowfall range from a half-inch to as much as three inches in surrounding areas, with potentially a half-inch of ice accumulation, as well. Among teams that tested at Nashville the last day or two, with some having been expected to stick around for Saturday included Hendrick Motorsports (#5-Kasey Kahne and #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.), Roush Fenway Racing (#16-Greg Biffle, #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., #99-Carl Edwards, Trevor Bayne), Richard Childress Racing (#31-Ryan Newman, #27-Paul Menard), Richard Petty Motorsports (#43-Aric Almirola), Michael Waltrip Racing (#66-Jeff Burton), Team Penske (#22-Joey Logano), Germain Racing (#13-Casey Mears) and BK Racing (#83-Ryan Truex).(NBC Sports)(2-2-2014)
News from February 1, 2014
“I have had the chance to get to know some of our Ambassadors since we started this program, and they love to help out during our busy weekends,” stated Michael Printup, president of Watkins Glen International. “Not only do we consider them to be an extension of our team, but our Ambassadors make a real difference…and they get to have a whole lot of fun!”
Fan Ambassadors will have the chance to enjoy a variety of incentives, including, but not limited to: weekend admission to WGI events, being among the first to know exciting track news, WGI event polo, and other special events. Fan Ambassadors are needed, during WGI’s three largest weekend events, including: Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, June 26-29; Finger Lakes Wine Festival presented by Yancey’s Fancy New York’s Artisan Cheese, July 11-13; and Cheez-It 355 at The Glen, August 7-10.
Fans who would like to join the WGI team as a Fan Ambassador need to fill out an application and participate in an interview process. The application and sending info can be found at theglen.com. The deadline to submit an application is April 1 with the first round of interviews taking place March 31 – April 5. The chosen Fan Ambassadors will have their first mandatory meeting in May.(WGI)(2-1-2014)