February 2014 News Archives

• 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)

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  News from February 27, 2014

• NASCAR comments on veto of Arizona bill: Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed a bill Wednesday that would have allowed businesses that asserted their religious beliefs the right to deny service to gay and lesbian customers. The controversial measure faced a surge of opposition in recent days from large corporations and athletic organizations, including Delta Air Lines, the Super Bowl host committee and Major League Baseball.(CNN)
  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)

• New Jeff Gordon viral “test drive” video filmed in Charlotte area: #24-Jeff Gordon is at it again. A year after his hidden camera “Test Drive” ad for Pepsi Max went viral, he went undercover again for a part two. But this one came with a twist. Gordon took a lot of flack after the first video with many people across the internet saying it wasn’t real and that the entire thing was faked. One of the loudest voices – a blogger named Travis Okulski. So with the help of a friend, Gordon and Pepsi Max teamed up to shoot another video – this time with Okulski as the unexpecting “victim.” Okulski was flown down to Charlotte earlier this month under false pretenses. He thought he was getting a chance to get in the brand new Corvette Z06. In order to keep things quiet, Okulski was told the project was top secret and lots of money would be lost if people knew. That’s when Gordon, dress with fake neck tattoos, a wig and fake facial hair, pulled up in a cab to pick Okulski up from the motel. After a few minutes of small talk, a state trooper pulls behind the cab and Gordon said something Okulski didn’t want to hear. “There’s a cop behind me. I get nervous when cops are on me. I just got out after 10 years in jail.” After briefing pulling over, Gordon decides to make a run for it and the real fun (and screams) begin.(see full story and view the viedo at WBTV)(2-27-2014)

• Wendell Scott decal on cars in Phoenix: Since 2010, NASCAR has designated the first race weekend in March as a time to commemorate Wendell Scott’s first career start. Scott is the only African- American driver to win a Grand National (now Sprint Cup) Series event in NASCAR history. Cars in all four NASCAR series competing at Phoenix International Raceway (NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series) will sport a commemorative decal. The decals will be applied to the B or C post of each vehicle during the inspection processes throughout the entire weekend.(NASCAR)(2-27-2014)
  

• France discusses Earnhardt, Jr’s win; running Daytona 500 at night: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. winning the Daytona 500 is considered a good thing for NASCAR. Its most popular driver the last 11 years winning its most prestigious event certainly should generate interest in the sport. But NASCAR Chairman Brian France says it’s not just the Earnhardt win that could help the sport. “The really great thing is how authentic he’s been throughout the week here as he’s doing (the media tour),” France said in a phone interview Wednesday. “That’s great. We’ll have to see (on the impact).” Earnhardt won the Daytona 500 for the second time, with the first coming in 2004 before the world of Twitter and in the infancy of social media. Now, Earnhardt is tweeting photos during his winner’s media tour and that has gotten an already enthusiastic Junior Nation looking forward to the rest of the season even more. The victory also all but guarantees him a spot in the Chase. “Anytime his fanbase gets revved up, that’s a good thing,” France said. “That’s good for him, and that’s good for us.”
  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)

• Whitetail Club returns to the #33: The Whitetail Club once again returns on Brian Scott’s #33 Chevy SS on Saturday afternoon. Whitetail was the primary partner during Scott’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 debut last weekend at Daytona International Speedway. The bright orange, white and black scheme will support the McCall, Idaho living community on Payette Lake, just two hours north of Boise, Idaho for the 500-kilometer race.(Circle Sport PR), see an image of the car on the #33 team paint schemes page.(2-27-2014)

• Alliance Truck Parts debuts as Keselowski’s sponsor: Team Penske will debut another new look for the #2 Ford Fusion this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway as Alliance Truck Parts will make its inaugural run as a Sprint Cup Series primary sponsor in Sunday’s race.(Team Penske), see an image of the car on the #2 team paint schemes page.(2-27-2014)

• Clorox Wipes on Larson’s car at Phoenix: This week the #42 team will be easy to spot both on the track and in the pits with a special paint scheme from Target Racing partner Clorox. The #42 Clorox Disinfecting Wipes Chevy SS will shine bright under the desert sun with a yellow paint scheme that features Clorox’s familiar logo on the hood.(Chip Ganassi Racing), see an image of the car on the #42 team paint schemes page.(2-27-2014)
• Phoenix Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will run the same tire codes at Phoenix this week . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that NASCAR teams ran at this track last November . . . this left-side tire code (D-4612) was introduced at Phoenix in November, while this right-side code (D-4594) debuted at the track last March . . . as on most NASCAR ovals one mile or less in length, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at Phoenix.(Goodyear), see full notes, tire pressures, tire codes, set limits on the Phoenix Race Info page – Goodyear section.(2-27-2014)
• Chassis selections for this weeks race: see the list of many teams [that report or post them] and what chassis were selected by the team to run in Phoenix Interantional Raceway on the Phoenix Race Info page – Chassis selection area.
• Garcia to debut with SR2 in Phoenix: Thankful of the opportunity created by the NASCAR Mexico Series and his great results in his short career, Ruben Garcia Jr. has been called in and asked by SR2 Motorsport to drive the #24 Toyota in the NASCAR Nationwide Series during the events this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. The teenager has run full time in the NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series for the past two seasons, winning the Aguascalientes 240 in May of 2013. Garcia Jr. is working hard to follow in his father, Ruben Garcia’s footsteps. Garcia Sr. made nine NASCAR Sprint Cup starts in the 80’s, all at Riverside Speedway. He also made 44 starts in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West from 1979 to 1988, winning two races, both at Mesa Marin in 1985. In 2013, Ruben made his first career start at Phoenix International Raceway, starting 11th and finishing 3rd. Garcia Jr. notched three top-fives and eleven top-ten finishes during the 2013 season, finishing third in the final NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series points standings.(SR2)(2-27-2014)
• Conley to drive limited schedule for RCR UPDATE: Cale Conley will drive a limited Nationwide Series schedule in the #33 Chevy for Richard Childress Racing starting March 15 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Nick Harrison will be his crew chief. Conley competed full-time in the K&N Pro Series East tour last year and finished 12th in the point standings. He earned his first K&N win at Columbus and posted poles at Gresham and Iowa in 2012. Although Conley didn’€™t compete on the tour full-time that season, his 299 laps led ranked third among drivers.(Fox Sports)(2-20-2014)
  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)
• Kentucky state police say Speedway hasn’t paid for security: The Kentucky State Police has been pressing the Kentucky Speedway for months to pay nearly $300,000 for security provided by troopers during four major races in 2012 and 2013. Records obtained by The Courier-Journal through the Kentucky Open Records Act show that since at least last July, the agency has sent emails and letters requesting reimbursement for security provided during big race days at the track in June and September of each year. A Dec. 27 letter to the Speedway put the overdue tab at $299,125.86 and requested payment in full by Jan. 15. “I never heard back from that,” State Police Commissioner Rodney Brewer said in an interview this week. “And I have called the speedway twice in the last 10 days and can’t get anybody to return my call.” Mark Simendinger, general manager of the speedway, did not return numerous phone messages left Wednesday with his assistant and on his voice mail seeking comment. A phone message and email sent to corporate offices of Speedway Motorsports in Charlotte, N.C., also were not returned Wednesday. Invoices show the State Police assigned more than 100 troopers to the speedway security contract during the June race days, and about 50 to the smaller September races. Most worked 13 or 14 hours for each race. [Kentucky Governor] Beshear’s spokeswoman Kerri Richardson said late Wednesday that he “has not discussed this issue with the Kentucky Speedway, but has asked his staff to look into it.”(Louisville Couriel-Journal)(2-27-2014)
• Petty, Inman Reunited as Grand Marshals at Martinsville: One of racing’s most potent partnerships is reuniting for the STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on March 30. Richard Petty and Dale Inman, who combined for more wins than any other driver-crew chief team in the history of NASCAR, have been named Grand Marshals for the STP 500. With Petty behind the wheel and Inman turning the wrenches and calling shots from the pits, Petty Enterprises dominated the sport for nearly three decades. They combined for 193 victories and eight championships, both records for a driver-crew chief. Petty and Inman notched 15 wins together at Martinsville Speedway, tops for both driver and crew chief at the historic half-mile track. And they will get one more chance to shine at Martinsville Speedway when they give the command for drivers to start their engines on March 30.(Martinsville Speedway)(2-27-2014)
• Friday is deadline to renew Atlanta tickets: Atlanta Motor Speedway is reminding fans that Friday, Feb. 28 is the deadline to renew their tickets for the 2014 Labor Day Weekend of NASCAR night racing at AMS. Fans who purchased tickets or camping spaces for last year’s race have until Friday to not only lock in their seats for 2014, but also become members of the Atlanta Motor Speedway Insiders Club as well. AMS Insiders Club members receive tickets, AMS gift shop discounts, are able to purchase tickets or camping spaces on a four-payment plan and are also eligible to win exclusive, once in a lifetime race weekend experiences. AMS Insiders Club prizes awarded for last year’s AdvoCare 500 NASCAR night race weekend included pace car rides, tours of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage, meet & greets with NASCAR drivers and waving the green flag during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying sessions. Fans can renew their tickets by either calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at 877-9-AMS-TIX or they can also renew online.(AMS)(2-27-2014)

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  News from February 26, 2014

• Timmy Hill to be back in car at Las Vegas UPDATE: 2013 Rookie of the Year candidate Timmy Hill said at Daytona he’s secured a Cup ride that will run beginning in a week and a half at Las Vegas. The 20-year-old wouldn’t say which team, only that it wasn’t a part of the #32 operation he drove for last year. New ownership, with Archie St. Hilaire partnering with Frank Stoddard, caused them to turn away from Hill’s youth at GO FAS Racing and to veteran Travis Kvapil beginning at Phoenix this weekend. The reason? With the back of the field more competitive this year, in the form of 44-47 teams getting to the track each weekend, they felt an experienced driver would leave them in better position to stay up in owner points for those all-important provisional qualifying spots.(Frontstretch)(2-26-2014)
  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)

• Labonte will run a handful of races in #52: James Finch and HScott Motorsports were thrilled with Bobby Labonte’s 15th-place finish Sunday, his best performance in Cup since the Daytona 500 last year. Just don’t expect it to translate into a full-time ride driving the team’s second car. The 2000 Cup champ, who turns 50 this year, has been signed for a fairly limited schedule, the four plate races (Daytona and Talladega) as well as two more TBD events in the #52. More sponsorship could beef up the program, but there’s no major deals on the table for Labonte as of now.(Frontstretch)(2-26-2014)

• Glen Wood extends 68-Year Daytona attendance streak: Last Thursday at Daytona International Speedway, Wood Brothers Racing was preparing their famed #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane NASCAR Sprint Cup car for the second of two Budweiser Duel qualifying races. But something, or more accurately someone, was missing. “Win, lose or draw, no matter what happens in this race, I’m going to go get daddy and bring him down here,” said team co-owner Eddie Wood, of his legendary Hall Of Fame father, Glen Wood. Wood had never missed a Daytona 500 in its 55-year history, dating back to 1947 when the cars ran on the old Daytona Beach course that included Highway A1A and the sands of “The World’s Most Famous Beach.” According to the Woods, Glen’s attendance at this year’s Daytona 500 was questionable all along. Travel is not as easy as it once was for the 88-year-old, and Virginia got hammered by severe winter weather in recent weeks, making the trip even more daunting. Said the elder Wood about his 68th consecutive February trip to Daytona Speedweeks, “I think it means more to my family, or at least to Len and Eddie, because I’ve been here so many times. I told them I’m getting old and it (the streak) has to stop sometime, but they told me it wasn’t going to be this year. Eddie called and said he had it all figured out, so how could I refuse? I knew I needed to come in a sense, but when (my wife) Bernice said she wasn’t going to come, I made up my mind that I would stay home. But now, I’m glad I’m here.”(Godfather Motorsports)(2-26-2014)

• Drivers test at Bristol: According to MRN’s Dustin Long, drivers #13-Casey Mears, #32-Travis Kvapil, and #95-Michael McDowell tested at Bristol Motor Speedway on Tuesday. What as planned as a two day test was condensed down to one day because of weather.(2-26-2014)

• Patrick passes 1 million Twitter followers: Daytona 500 winner #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. may be known as NASCAR’s most popular driver, but when it comes to Twitter, he’s got some catching up to do. #10-Danica Patrick became NASCAR’s first driver with over 1 million Twitter followers in the days leading up to Sunday’s big race, ranking her among the top racing drivers and female athletes in the world. Of course, Dale Jr. didn’t even have a Twitter account before the Daytona 500, but celebrated his second win there by opening an account and quickly attracted over a quarter of a million followers. The 1 million mark easily tops all NASCAR drivers. Next highest is six-time champion #48-Jimmie Johnson’s 530,000 followers. Juan Pablo Montoya leads all IndyCar drivers with just under 800,000. Patrick’s boyfriend, fellow NASCAR driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr., has 126,000 followers.(Associated Press)(2-26-2014)

• American Ethanol on the #3 at Phoenix: RCR’s #3 Chevy team will sport the black and green colors of American Ethanol this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. American Ethanol, a renewable source of cleaner burning energy from the bounty of America’s farmers, helps create new green jobs and a renewed sense of pride for the American worker, while helping to achieve greater energy security for our country. Launched by Growth Energy and the National Corn Growers Association, along with the support of other partners, American Ethanol is a breakthrough brand that seeks to expand consumer awareness of the benefits of ethanol and E15, and takes the NASCAR Green initiative to the next level. Since the program launch for the 2011 season, NASCAR drivers have run more than 5 million miles on renewable Sunoco Green E15.(RCR), see an image of the car on the #3 team paint schemes page.(2-26-2014)

• Skittles makes first appearance on the #18: After a 15-year break, the “Rainbow” will be making its return to the Sprint Cup ranks as the colorful Skittles paint scheme will adorn Busch’s #18 Toyota on the Phoenix mile oval. The Skittles brand made its NASCAR debut in 1998 in partnership with MB2 Motorsports on the #36 Pontiac for driver Derrike Cope. In 1999, driver Ernie Irvan took the wheel of the Skittles #36 Pontiac and went on to take the top starting spot at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.(TrueSpeed Communications/Joe Gibbs Racing), see an image of the car on the #18 team paint schemes page.(2-26-2014)

• Koch attempting to make second Cup race: Blake Koch, driver of the #35 MDS Transport Ford comments on racing at Phoenix International Raceway: “I’m really excited to get into the Cup car. I’m looking at this as a great opportunity and an audition, too, to go to Phoenix and, first off, make the race and then, second, finish the best we can and learn as much as we can. And then go to Vegas and do the same thing. And we’ll see where it takes me from there. I’m definitely very grateful for this opportunity and I’m going to give it all I’ve got. It’s tough to get here and it’s tough to stay here. Seats don’t open very often. So, this could be a dream come true.” Koch has one other Sprint Cup start (Charlotte, October 2013) in his racing career. He has nine career starts at Phoenix in the Nationwide and K&N West series.(Front Row Motorsports)(2-26-2014)

• OCESA signs extension to continue operating NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series: For the past decade, NASCAR and OCESA have established the NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series as the national championship for racing in the country. Tuesday’s announcement establishes the framework for them to build upon that success. NASCAR and CIE, the leading live entertainment company in Latin America and third biggest live entertainment promoter of the world, have reached a 10-year landmark agreement for the Mexico-based Toyota Series to continue to operate under the NASCAR banner through the 2023 season. The NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series is the premier auto racing series in Mexico. It traditionally runs a 15-race schedule, and for the second year in a row will kick off the season at Phoenix International Raceway. In another significant moment, Deportes Telemundo will air NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series’ Toyota 120 live on mun2, a first for NASCAR and the Mexico-based series. The 2014 season will mark the 11th overall for the NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series, which has been a NASCAR-sanctioned series since 2007. The inaugural year featured just one oval, while recent years have had just one or two road courses. This is emblematic of the shift the series has undergone under the NASCAR banner.(NASCAR)(2-26-2014)

• RCR adds communications members: Richard Childress Racing has added four new team members to their Communications Department for the 2014 season. They are Patrick Budd, Katey Hawbaker, Morgan Hollars and Traci Hultzapple.
  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)
• Target expanding sponsorship of Larson: Target is expanding its sponsorship of NASCAR rising star Kyle Larson to include the majority of the NASCAR Nationwide Series season. During the season Target will feature its first-of-its-kind digital savings app, Cartwheel, on Larson’s #42 Chevy Camaro and firesuit. This is Larson’s second season with Turner Scott Motorsports’ NNS program and first driving the #42 Chevy Camaro, where he competed in 2013 en route to NNS Rookie of the Year honors and an eighth-place finish in points. Cartwheel is a fun and easy new way to save at Target and allows guests to choose from hundreds of offers at Target stores nationwide. These offers are readily accessible from mobile phones, and can be shared easily with friends on Facebook. And as guests use Cartwheel more, they earn the opportunity to access even more offers. Since its launch last May, more than 5 million people have signed up for Cartwheel and saved more than $43 million on their Target purchases.(Chip Ganassi Racing)(2-26-2014)

• Gallaher joins Wauters with plans to run trucks: Wauters Motorsports announced today that Will Gallaher will join Wauters Motorsports driver development program. Gallaher, a California native, will drive for Wauters in the Southern Super Late Model Series in 2014. Gallaher at age 18 began racing in F-1600 Formula Cars competing at tracks along the West Coast. He then moved into the United Auto Racing Association Series, as well as, making three starts in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. Wauters Motorsports will focus on bringing Gallaher up through the Super Late Model racing series and then into the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Will Gallaher is slated to make his first start later this spring in the Southern Super Late Model Series.(Wauters Motorsports)(2-26-2014)
• Two-Day ticket package available at Auto Club Speedway: Auto Club Speedway is offering a special two-day ticket package for the upcoming Auto Club 400 Weekend at Auto Club Speedway that includes tickets for the NNS 300 race on Saturday, March 22 and the Auto Club 400 on Sunday, March 23 and a scheduled question and answer session with NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet. The Jeff Gordon ticket package is available for just $99. This incredible deal is available now through March 13 and includes: One general admission ticket to the NNS 300 on Saturday, March 22, One reserved ticket to the Auto Club 400 (rows 15-23) on Sunday, March 23, One FanVision scanner/video rental so you can listen, watch and follow every driver, every lap, and Exclusive Q&A with Jeff Gordon on Saturday, March 22. In addition to the Jeff Gordon ticket package, Auto Club Speedway offers many other ticket packages.(ACS)(2-26-2014)

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  News from February 25, 2014

• Special scheme for Gordon at Texas: Texas A&M alum Charles W. Shaver, Chairman and CEO of Axalta Coating Systems, will host 20 engineering students for Aggie Race Day at the Texas Motor Speedway on April 6. Students will experience the ultimate VIP treatment and see the impact engineers have on one of the most popular sports in the world. Axalta sponsors driver Jeff Gordon and the #24 Axalta Racing Chevrolet SS of Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. With his strong Aggie spirit and gratitude for his engineering training from our school, Charlie arranged for Jeff Gordon’s car to be custom-painted Aggie maroon for the Texas race and bear the Texas A&M Engineering logo in premium sponsor locations on the car. “Engineering is integral to racing and the coatings systems we create,” explained Charlie. “It’s been a real privilege to serve on the Texas A&M Engineering Advisory Council for more than 12 years and now to be able to showcase our alma mater to the NASCAR community and show fellow Aggies how the great engineering education I received has translated into practical application. My career and the opportunities I’ve been able to provide to others all began with my time at the university.”(Texas A&M Engineering), see an image of the scheme on the #24 Team schemes page.(2-25-2014)

• Go FAS Racing names a sponsor for Phoenix: Go FAS Racing has named “Ask More Get More. Ask More, Get More” as the primary sponsor for the #32 Ford driven by Travis Kvapil in the The Profit on CNBC 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix. “Ask More Get More. Ask More, Get More”, written by Michael Alden, is a guide into getting more out of you professional, and personal life. “I had never been to a NASCAR race before, and when I was invited to the Daytona 500 and had a chance to meet the team, and all the NASCAR fans, I knew that this was a great opportunity to promote my new book”, Alden said. Alden further stated that he hoped that this was just the beginning of his relationship with Go FAS Racing and NASCAR.(Go FAS Racing), see an image of the car on the #32 Team schemes page.(2-25-2014)

• Terry Labonte’s reaction about being a NHOF Nominee: In his first year of eligibility, Two-time Cup champion Terry Labonte was one of 20 racing greats nominated Saturday at Daytona for the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s 2015 class. Just hours before competing in his final Daytona 500, Labonte was humble the 22-person nominating committee placed his name on the list. “It kind of surprised me”, said Labonte. “I didn’t really think about it but that’s exciting to be named with those other guys that were named. That’s pretty cool.” As far as his chances of being one of the five inductees during the May 21st announcement, Labonte said, “I don’t know. I can think of a lot of people I think that are more deserving than me to be in the Hall of Fame and there’s been so many people that have been in the sport for so many years that accomplished so many things back in the early days whether it was drivers or crew members or team owners. It’s an honor to be mentioned in that category with those people but there’s a lot of people I think that really made our sport great.”(PRN’s Garagepass)(2-25-2014)

• Truex, Jr. first Daytona 500 Outside-Polesitter to Finish Last since 1973: #78-Martin Truex, Jr. picked up the 4th last-place finish of his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career in Sunday’s 56th Annual Daytona 500 at the Daytona International Speedway when his #78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet lost the engine after he completed 30 of the race’s 200 laps. The finish was Truex’s first since Phoenix in the fall of 2012, thirty-nine races ago, when he also started in the second position. This is the first last-place finish for the #78 at the Daytona International Speedway. However, the #78 did finish last once on the old Daytona Beach-Roadcourse in 1953 when Indianapolis native Frank Arford’s 1953 Oldsmobile blew a gasket after 2 laps, putting him at the back of a 57-car field. This is Furniture Row Racing’s first last-place run in the Daytona 500 since 2008, when Kenny Wallace’s #87 Furniture Row Chevrolet lost the engine after 141 laps. Truex is the first outside-polesitter of the Daytona 500 to finish last since 1973, when Pete Hamilton’s #9 Housby Mack Inc. 1972 Plymouth lost the engine after 33 laps. That race was the next-to-last of Hamilton’s 64 Cup starts, a brief career highlighted by a win in the 1970 Daytona 500.(Lastcar)(2-25-2014)

• Top 10 Driver Ratings at Phoenix:
  #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)

• Phoenix Notes and Facts:
  · 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)
• Contreras partners with Voli Vodka for Phoenix race: Carlos Contreras will return this weekend to NASCAR’s Nationwide Series in the Blue Jeans Go Green 200, Presented by Cotton, the Fabric of Our Lives in Avondale, AZ. Contreras will attempt to make the 40 car field in the Voli Vodka / Global Aircraft Solutions #23 Chevy Camaro. The Phoenix race will mark Contreras’s 88th NASCAR race and get him closer to completing his “Chase to 100” this year. Voli Vodka and Natural Flavors is an award winning spirit hand-crafted in Cognac, France. Pitbull [Armando Christian Perez], the internationally renowned recording artist has taken the brand worldwide, as a major equity owner and official ambassador for Voli.(Rick Ware Racing)(2-25-2014)
• Wesco on the #3 at Phoenix: WESCO will be a primary sponsor in 2014 for the #3 Chevy Camaro, continuing its two-year relationship with Richard Childress Racing. WESCO International, Inc., a publicly traded Fortune 500 holding company headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a leading provider of electrical, industrial, and communications maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) and original equipment manufacturers (OEM) product, construction materials, and advanced supply chain management and logistic services.(RCR), see an image of the car on the #3 team paint schemes page.(2-25-2014)
• Whitetail Club on the #2 at Phoenix: The Whitetail Club will shine on the hood of the #2 Chevy Camaro on Saturday afternoon and was the primary partner during Brian Scott’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 debut last weekend at Daytona International Speedway. The bright orange, white and black scheme will support the McCall, Idaho living community community on Payette Lake, just two hours north of Boise, Idaho.(RCR)(2-25-2014)

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  News from February 24, 2014

• Entry List for the The Profit on CNBC 500(k) Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway is posted, 46 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including: #32-Kvapil, #66-Nemechek, #87-Shepherd, #95-McDowell, #33-Scott.
  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
• Weather brings down Daytona 500 TV Ratings: Sunday’s 56th running of the Daytona 500, the second won by #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., was clearly impacted by an historic weather delay that included torrential rain and tornado warnings for local areas. Despite starting on time, the race experienced an unprecedented six hour, 22-minute weather delay with only 38 laps run at 2:17pm/et that pushed it well out of its normal running window. The race resumed at 8:25pm/et, finding itself in direct competition with the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games, which seems to have also been impacted by the competition.
  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)

• Earnhardt Jr. installs the winning #88 National Guard Chevy at DIS: Two-time Daytona 500 champion Dale Earnhardt Jr. is ready to tell the world the story of his epic victory in Sunday night’s 56th annual Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory at Daytona International Speedway. Running on only one hour of sleep, Earnhardt Jr. embarked on his week-long whirlwind media tour Monday morning after installing his #88 National Guard Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet inside the Daytona International Speedway Ticket and Tours Building. The car will be part of the Daytona International Speedway tours program and will be returned to the team at the 2015 Daytona 500, a tradition that has been in existence since 1996. Earnhardt, crew chief Steve Letarte, team owner Rick Hendrick and the crew of the #88 car enjoyed a breakfast with the media and participated in interviews and pictures on Monday morning.
  “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)

• What happened to Tony Stewart’s car in Daytona 500? After a six-hour and 22-minute rain delay subdued the momentum of the Daytona 500, a fuel pressure issue subdued #14-Tony Stewart’s run in the season-opening NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway. He finished 35th. The problem reared its head on lap 94 when Stewart radioed to crew chief Chad Johnston that his fuel gauge was “jumping all around” and that his engine “laid down” on exit of the track’s corners. Stewart tried to wait the problem out until a caution appeared, but the problem worsened and Stewart was forced to pit under green on lap 101 of the 200-lap race. Johnston and Co. opened the trunk where the fuel cell and associated electronics are located. Stewart shut off his racecar, switched batteries and then restarted his #14 Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet SS. With no indications of a problem, Stewart headed back onto the racetrack where on lap 105 he said, “So far, so good.” A moment later, however, Stewart said he spoke too soon. The problem remained. Stewart returned to pit road on lap 117 and didn’t return to the track until lap 128. The problem persisted and, finally, Stewart was forced to bring his car to the garage with 70 laps remaining. There, the team replaced the fuel cell and all its electronic pieces. It was an intensive effort that took time, with Stewart pulling out of the garage on lap 146. While many laps down, the problem was solved. Stewart logged laps and took advantage of the attrition of others, rising from 42nd when he made his first unscheduled pit stop to finishing 35th when the checkered flag waved.(TSC/SHR)(2-24-2014)

• Earnhardt Jr. off on Daytona 500 media tour: 2014 Daytona 500 winner, #88-Dale Earnhardt heads to New York City on Monday to be on the “Dan Patrick Show,” Jay Mohr’s radio show and “Late Night with David Letterman”. The media tour will also see Earnhardt Jr. visit the ESPN headquarters in Bristol, CT on Tuesday to appear on a variety of programs, and then Los Angeles on Wednesday for FOX Sports 1 and other appearances on local shows.
  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)
• Nationwide Phoenix Entry List:There are 40 cars on the preliminary entry list for Saturday’s Blue Jeans Go Green 200 at Phoenix International Raceway. A few notes:
  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.

• Marcus Lemonis, star of CNBC’s ‘The Profit,’ will serve as the grand marshal at Phoenix:Marcus Lemonis, star of CNBC’s ‘The Profit,’ will serve as the grand marshal and honorary starter for The Profit on CNBC 500 Presented by Small Business Fueling America NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, March 2. On ‘The Profit,’ Lemonis, the Chairman and CEO of Camping World and Good Sam Enterprises, steps in to save struggling businesses by investing his own money and teaching the owners his secrets to business success. The second season of ‘The Profit’ premiers on Tuesday, Feb. 25 on CNBC.
  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)
• Atlanta to sell Labor Day Weekend Tix For $59 Monday Morning as part of Racing Roulette Promotion: Atlanta Motor Speedway will sell 1,000 tickets to the Aug. 31 Labor Day Weekend NASCAR Sprint Cup Series night race for the price of $59 at 9:00am/et on Monday, Feb. 24. The tickets, located near the start/finish line in the lower Champions grandstands are being sold through the Speedway’s popular Racing Roulette ticket promotion. The Speedway capped the price at $59 for any winning car number over 60. The price of $59 was set by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his #88 as he won the Daytona 500 on Feb. 23. The tickets are regularly priced at $99. A limit of two tickets may be purchased per individual at this price. The promotional tickets will be available until the allotment is sold out. The tickets may be purchased in three different ways. Fan can purchase in person at the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office, by phone at 877-9-AMS-TIX or online at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com. After the allotment of Racing Roulette tickets have been sold, Atlanta Motor Speedway will sell tickets to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series night race on Labor Day Weekend at a discounted rate through Feb. 25. Fans will be able to purchase tickets at the same price offered to renewal customers with savings up to $20. All fans who purchase tickets will become members of the Atlanta Motor Speedway Insiders Club, enabling them to purchase their tickets on a payment plan and be eligible to win exclusive race weekend fan experiences.(AMS)(2-24-2014)
• Chael Sonnen has been named PIR Honorary Pace Car Driver: UFC fighter and FOX Sports analyst Chael Sonnen has been named Honorary Pace Car Driver for The Profit on CNBC 500, Presented by Small Business Fueling American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, March 2 PIR President Bryan R. Sperber announced today. Sonnen, also known as “The American Gangster, will participate in pre-race ceremonies and will lead the pack of cars on Sunday to the green flag. In addition Sonnen, brought to PIR through a partnership with Niner Sports & Entertainment, will be making appearances throughout the day on Sunday at PIR.(Phoenix Raceway)(2-24-2014)
• Final Phase of Construction on TMS’s HD Video Board: Frigid temperatures, snow and ice in North Texas has not slowed construction workers from continued progress on the world’s largest HD video board created by Panasonic at Texas Motor Speedway. On Friday {Feb 14], Dallas/Fort Worth media members were led by Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage on a sneak preview of “Big Hoss TV,” which is scheduled to be completed by March 1 and officially dedicated during pre-race ceremonies for the Duck Commander 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, April 6. Towering 12 stories high over the backstretch is the completed steel framework that will serve as the foundation for “Big Hoss TV.” Workers have installed 28 of the 40 LED modules – each measuring 54.5 feet by 9.5 feet – that will be placed in 10 rows of four that will serve as record HD display area that measures 218 feet (width) by 94.6 feet (height). Once completed, “Big Hoss TV” will provide fans with 20,633.34 square feet of HD imagery and will be 79% larger than the video board at AT&T Stadium (11,520 sf), home of the Dallas Cowboys. It also will surpass current record-holder Charlotte Motor Speedway (16,000 square feet), the Speedway Motorsports, Inc. sister track of Texas Motor Speedway, for the world’s largest HD video board at a sporting venue. “Big Hoss TV” also requires a state-of-the-art control room that is being built and housed adjacent to the timing and scoring booth atop the start/finish line on suite level. The control room houses five servers and two switchers that control the video feed to “Big Hoss TV.” The control room operator will have the luxury of choosing from 19 different cameras, 16 of which are operated by two production trucks. Ultimately, the video is broken up into 16 different sections on the video board. The equipment will be manned by a minimum of five individuals which will include producer, director and technical directors. Construction on “Big Hoss TV” began after November’s AAA Texas 500 as workers began digging 16 anchor holes 42 feet deep and four feet in diameter for the massive 108-ton structure. “Big Hoss TV” is anchored with 42 feet of steel rebar reinforced in the ground by 20 yards of concrete filled in each of the holes. The strength of the foundation allows for “Big Hoss TV” to sustain winds of 140 miles per hour. Initial construction plans also required workers to install 4,200 feet of 96-strand fiber optic cable that runs from the location of “Big Hoss TV” on the backstretch to the control room in the frontstretch suites. Tickets for the Duck Commander 500 NASCAR doubleheader weekend and the official christening of “Big Hoss TV” are available by calling the Texas Motor Speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500 or by visiting www.texasmotorspeedway.com.(TMS)(2-24-2014)

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  News from February 23, 2014

• Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins the Daytona 500: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the 56th Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway fir his 2nd win in the Daytona 500 (2004) and his 20th career win. There was a 6 hour and 22 minute red flag for severe weather and rain starting just after 2:00pm/et on lap 38. It was the 8th Daytona 500 win for Hendrick Motorsports. Earnhardt Jr. also led the most laps with 54 of 200.
  #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)
• Race Fast Facts – Daytona 500:
  #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)
• 2014 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Championship Points Standings:
  [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)
• Daytona 500 to restart: the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway was red flagged for over six hours when it started raining at the track after lap 38. The Air Titan Track Drying System was out on the track many times and helped get the track dry when the rain stopped around 6:30pm/et. There were tornado warnings and severe weather warnings posted late in the afternoon but that has all passed. FOX came back live at 8:00pm/et, the engines fired up around 8:30pm/et and the cars are back on the track. Will go green once pit road is dry.(2-23-2014)
  
  

• NASCAR Sprint Cup Series WINNER Decals New for 2014: Last month, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France announced that the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series would change its championship format to put an increased emphasis on winning each and every week. Along with the spoils of victory – including a likely spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – the winning driver / team will receive a WINNER decal to display on their car. All NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners now will receive the decal, to be placed next to the driver’s name above the door, following a victory. The first recipient will be the winner of the 56th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday.(NASCAR(2-23-2014)

• Truex Jr. comments on engine problems in the Daytona 500: #78-Martin Truex Jr experienced motor problems on Lap 31 of the Daytona 500, a Q&A:
  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)

• A Daytona 500 Victory Could Mean Big Time Television Exposure for Sponsors: Jimmie Johnson’s victory in last year’s Daytona 500 enabled his sponsors to collect a combined $16.6 million of in-broadcast television exposure value, which ended up equating to 11.2% of the total amount garnered by his supporting brands during the entire 36-race season. According to research conducted by Joyce Julius & Associates, Inc. – which has monitored every NASCAR race telecast since the mid-1980s – Johnson’s sponsors as a group appeared for one hour, 13 minutes, 40 seconds (1:13:40) during the live FOX telecast last February. The brands associated with Johnson were also mentioned verbally on 20 occasions throughout the broadcast. Joyce Julius calculates television exposure value by comparing the in-broadcast visual and verbal exposure to the estimated cost of a national commercial during the telecast and applying Joyce Julius Recognition Grading-which takes into account such factors as size and placement of the image on screen, as well as brand clutter and integration of the brand into the activity. Commercial costs during the Daytona 500 broadcast are the highest of the NASCAR season, making sponsor in-broadcast appearances the most valuable of the year. The logos of Johnson’s primary sponsor, Lowe’s, appeared on-screen for 0:23:26 during the 4.5-hour season-opening telecast, marking the third-best showing for a winning sponsor at Daytona. Johnson’s previous Daytona 500 victory in 2006, where Lowe’s collected 0:27:30 of camera time, is the all-time high, finishing just ahead of Dale Earnhardt’s historic 1998 win when he delivered 0:25:46 of TV time to GM Goodwrench.(Joyce Julius)(2-22-2014)

• NASCAR looking into limiting drivers’ double duty: NASCAR said Saturday it is looking at potentially limiting the number of second- and third-tier event Sprint Cup regulars can run during the season. Officials have already talked about a potential rules adjustments. Maybe even a change. “We’re definitely aware of the fan messaging we get,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s senior vice president of racing operations. “There’s a balance, especially talking to the tracks, of having a Cup driver or two in the Trucks or Nationwide. … We have had discussions with the race teams about ownership and should Cup drivers get points and we’ve looked at should they be limited in the number of races. It’s something we are really studying.”(Associated Press)(2-23-2014)

• Cassill and Hillman Racing get 18 race sponsor: Fuhu, Inc., creator of nabi – the world’s first Android tablet built just for kids – is getting revved up for an exciting and meaningful new sponsorship with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Landon Cassill, fresh off of his ninth-place finish in Thursday night’s second Daytona 500 qualifying race. In addition to acting as the primary sponsor in 18 Sprint Cup races, Cassill will debut the nabi branding on his #40 Hillman Racing Chevrolet at the NASCAR season-opening race, the Daytona 500, on Sunday, February 23, where he rolls off in the 18th position. Philanthropy is a large and important part of this sponsorship. For every Fuhu-sponsored primary race – beginning with the event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in two weeks – Cassill will donate five % of his race team’s prize money to benefit nabi Inspire, Fuhu’s philanthropic arm with the mission to offer direct support for families living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and help raise awareness. Fuhu will then match that donation with an additional 5% for a 10 % total that could reach in excess of $175,000 during the initial 18-race program. During that time, Hillman Racing also will be leveraging its assets to bring additional partners to join the cause-related marketing program in an attempt to increase awareness of nabi Inspire. Fuhu’s signature product and sponsor headliner is the nabi brand.(Hillman Racing Facebook), see images of the scheme on the #40 Team schemes page.(2-23-2014)

• Martin Truex Jr. Quote about backup car: #78-Martin Truex Jr. ran 13 laps in his backup car during Saturday’s Happy Hour practice session. It was the first time on the track for the new Furniture Row Chevy after crashing the primary car in the 2nd Budweiser Duel 150 on Thursday night. “I was definitely relieved to get some time in the car,” said Truex. “Honestly, I am really excited about this race car. Without a shadow of a doubt this car is better than the one we ran the other night in the qualifying race. The Furniture Row guys did another good job. I even hate to call this car a backup because of how good it felt.”(FRR)(2-23-2014)

• Sponsors Join Forces for Bayne This Weekend in Daytona: In a display of sponsorship solidarity, 2011 Daytona 500 champion Trevor Bayne will be supported by both his NASCAR Nationwide Series primary sponsor and his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series primary sponsor for both series races this weekend at Daytona International Speedway. In Saturday’s DRIVE4COPD 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race, Bayne’s #6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Mustang carried the colors of his Sprint Cup sponsor, Motorcraft/Quick Lane, on the rear quarter panels in addition to his primary sponsor in that series, AdvoCare, a nutrition, weight loss, energy and sports performance product company.
  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)

• Harley J. Earl trophy for winning the Daytona 500, who was Earl? If there’s one trophy a driver dreams of putting his hands on, it’s the Harley J. Earl trophy. Awarded to the winner of the Daytona 500, the Harley J. Earl trophy is one of the most prized possessions in motorsports. Named after Harley J. Earl, a famous General Motors designer and friend of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., the Harley J. Earl Perpetual Trophy rests year round inside The Daytona 500 Experience , “The Official Motorsports Attraction of NASCAR,” and bears the name of every Daytona 500 champion.
  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)

• Hamlin going for the triple: #11-Denny Hamlin is attempting to do something no other driver has done. Win the Sprint Unlimited, a Budweiser Duel and the Daytona 500 in the same year. Nine drivers have won the Sprint Unlimited and a Budweiser Duel 13 times in the same year but didn’t win the Daytona 500:
  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)

• Front row starters don’t win Daytona 500 often: In the 55 previous runnings of the Daytona 500, only seven drivers have won from the pole position. Only two of these drivers accomplished the feat more than once — Cale Yarborough (1968, 1984) and Bill Elliott (1985, 1987). Dale Jarrett is the most recent polesitter to capture the Harley J. Earl Trophy when he won the event in 2000. The other drivers to win the Daytona 500 from the pole were Fireball Roberts (1962), Richard Petty (1966), Buddy Baker (1980) and Jeff Gordon (1999).
  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)

• Atlas Copco To Serve as Associate Sponsor of #41 Team in 2014: Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) has expanded its partnership with Atlas Copco, which will serve as an associate sponsor of the #41 Haas Automation Chevrolet SS and driver Kurt Busch during the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. “We enjoy a longstanding and successful partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing,” said John Brookshire, president, Atlas Copco Compressors LLC. “We are proud to be part of their team at the track and in the race shop, and we’re looking forward to supporting the expanded SHR lineup in the 2014 Sprint Cup Series. It is especially exciting to kick-off this close partnership with the #41 team in our 141st year in business,” added Brookshire. As part of the relationship, Atlas Copco is providing new compressed air equipment and installing its SmartLink monitoring technology into SHR’s new 125,000 sq.-ft. state-of-the-art race shop expansion located next to the team’s existing headquarters in Kannapolis, NC. This year is the first time Atlas Copco will appear as an associate sponsor of an SHR car for the full season. Atlas Copco will appear on the B-post of Busch’s #41 Haas Automation Chevrolet and on the sleeve of Busch’s firesuit.(SHR)(2-23-2014)

• Lionel’s Hitchcock inaugural “Jostens’ Motorsports Choice Award”: At the 2014 Diecast Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony today at the Plaza Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Lionel Racing SVP and General Manager Howard Hitchcock was awarded the inaugural “Jostens’ Motorsports Choice Award”. The Diecast Hall of Fame and Jostens Motorsports division announced the new induction category and named Hitchcock as its first recipient in January. With more than 15 years of experience in the die-cast industry, Hitchcock is a celebrity among die-cast collectors and is known by the nickname “Dr. Die-cast,” which was a radio persona he created for the popular Sirius Satellite Radio show “NASCAR Collector”. He is also a familiar face to QVC watchers as he was a recurring guest on the NASCAR die-cast show “For Race Fans Only”.(Lionel Racing)(2-23-2014)
• Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Popular “Racing Roulette” Promotion Returns: The ever popular Atlanta Motor Speedway Racing Roulette promotion returns and will offer fans the opportunity to purchase tickets for the 2014 Labor Day Weekend NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race for the price of the winning car number of the 2014 Daytona 500. The Speedway will make 1,000 tickets available for sale near the start/finish line in the lower Champions grandstand for a special promotional price equal to the car number of the Daytona 500 winner. Lower Champions grandstand tickets are regularly priced at $99. If the car number of the Daytona 500 winner is 60 or higher, Atlanta Motor Speedway will offer tickets as part of the promotion for $59, giving fans a $40 savings. Tickets will be limited to two tickets at the promotional price per order. Tickets priced at the winning car number of the 2014 Daytona 500 will go on sale beginning on Monday, Feb. 24 promptly at 9 a.m. and will be available for this exclusive limited time price until the allotment is sold out. If the running of the Daytona 500 is delayed, the offer will also be available beginning the day following the running of the event. For more information on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Labor Day weekend race, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway Ticket Office at (770) 946-4211, (877) 9-AMS-TIX or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS)(2-23-2014)
• Phoenix International Raceway invites fans to ‘Memory Lane’: As Phoenix International Raceway prepares to kick off its 50th anniversary season, the track is inviting fans to take a stroll down, ‘Memory Lane, Presented by BlueMedia’ a one-of-a-kind historical exhibit featuring race cars and memorabilia with connections to the track’s past. Located in the fan midway area behind the Bobby Allison Grandstand, ‘Memory Lane’ will showcase 15 historic cars, including the 1964 roadster driven to victory by A.J. Foyt in the first professional race ever held at PIR in March, 1964. Admission to the exhibit is free to everyone with a grandstand ticket. The exhibit, which is housed in a tent provided by Classic Party Rentals, will be open beginning when the track’s gates open each day during race weekend. Other cars on display will include Alan Kulwicki’s #7 Zerex Thunderbird that won the first-ever NASCAR Winston Cup Series race at PIR in November, 1988, and a USAC Silver Crown car driven by Tony Stewart in the 1993 Copper World Classic at PIR.
  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)

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  News from February 22, 2014

• Happy Hour practice for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is over after a 55 minute wet track delay, after 65 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest, notes:
  #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)
• Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway have been made.
  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)

• NASCAR’s Highest Paid Drivers 2014: NASCAR driver salaries have been shaved in recent years with fewer dollars available as sponsors cut back on their financial commitments to teams. Drivers that once made $4-6 million in salary are getting re-signed to deals for $3 million in some cases. Guys on poorly funded teams are lucky to make seven figures. Licensing and endorsement money has also dried up for all but the very elite drivers. Endorsement deals that once paid $500,000 a clip are now $250,000 and many have disappeared completely. But for the sport’s stars, the paychecks are nearly as big as ever and can reach eight figures in salary alone. The 10 highest-paid drivers pulled down $170 million in 2013 in cumulative salary, endorsements and their share of winnings and licensing income.
  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)

• The Most Valuable NASCAR Teams 2014: Thirty years ago Rick Hendrick launched All-Star Racing with five employees and 5,000 square feet of workspace. Geoff Bodine raced the fledgling outfit’s sole NASCAR Cup entry in the #5 car and finished ninth in the season long standings, including three victories. The company was rebranded Hendrick Motorsports the following year and a racing dynasty was born. Hendrick Motorsports today carries more than 500 employees in 430,000 square feet of workspace across a 140 acre campus in Concord, N.C. It has racked up 218 victories and a record 11 season titles in Sprint Cup, plus an additional 52 wins and four championships in the Nationwide and Truck series. The success has propelled Hendrick to the top of the NASCAR food chain. The team is worth $348 million, by Forbes’ count, twice as much as any other NASCAR squad.
  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)

• Budweiser Duel TV Ratings: The amazing high-speed pile up that concluded the Budweiser Duel at Daytona International Speedway, one that saw the #15 Toyota of Clint Bowyer do an airborne 360, land on its wheels and the driver walk away unharmed, wasn’t the night’s only spectacular occurrence. The Budweiser Duel averaged 3.122 million viewers, making it the most-watched NASCAR “Duel” event since 2000 when CBS aired it on a Saturday (4.296 million). It is now the second most-watched program on FOX Sports 1 since launch behind Saturday’s Sprint Unlimited (3,526,000 viewers).(FoxSports)(2-22-2014)

• Stewart: Richard Petty should race Danica UPDATE ‘The King’ accepts: During the first of two PRN Fast Talk Shows at Outback Steakhouse in Daytona with Doug Rice and Mark Garrow, Tony Stewart made it very clear how he feels about the negative remarks Richard Petty made recently about Danica Patrick. “I told her she should challenge Richard to a heads up race,” said Stewart. “I think that would pretty much settle it once and for all, maybe get him to shut up a little bit too. He drove in an era when he had cars that were superior to what everybody else was running a lot. I think he forgets that, that NASCAR has changed a lot since he was a driver and how hard it really is now.” Stewart added, “I will supply the cars, I don’t care. If he wants to race her I’ll make sure they have exactly the same set-up in the car and give him a chance. He can drive one of my 14 cars I don’t care.” It was then suggested if Danica ever won a race that she should ask Petty to autograph the checkered flag. Stewart, however, had another suggestion. “If I were her I’d take it over and cram it up his (bleep)…If it were me, that’s just me.” The second and final PRN Fast Talk show from the Daytona Outback Steakhouse will take place Thursday from 12-1 with Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick the special guests. Both shows can be heard at goprn.com.(PRN)(2-20-2014)
  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)

• Get Well Sam Bass: Fox’s Mike Joy mentions during coverage of the Budweiser Duels on Thursday night that NASCAR Aritst Sam Bass is in the hospital, per Sam’s Facebook: “We greatly appreciate all of your thoughts, prayers and wishes to Sam for a speedy recovery. He has been hospitalized since February 10, undergoing treatment for a severe blood infection, complicated by his diabetes. Sam sends you his sincerest thanks and wants all to know he would rather be in Daytona, but will be back at the drawing table very soon!”(2-22-2014)

• Ganassi explains why ‘Earnhardt’ is no longer part of team name: For the first time since 1996, there will not be a team in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series with “Earnhardt” in its corporate name. The string began in 1996 when the late Dale Earnhardt formed Dale Earnhardt Inc. In less than a decade, it had become one of the premier teams in Cup competition, with son and namesake Dale Earnhardt Jr. as its on-track figurehead. But once Junior left DEI for Hendrick Motorsports in 2008, the once-feared company began by the man they called The Intimidator began to slowly disappear. Now, the Earnhardt corporate name is essentially extinct. After an ill-fated and short-lived merger with Ginn Racing in mid-2007, team owner Teresa Earnhardt lent her company’s name and some of its assets to fellow team owner Chip Ganassi, forming Earnhardt Ganassi Racing in 2009. In the year before Junior left the family fold, Earnhardt’s widow also lent her late husband’s surname to Richard Childress Racing to form a new business – known as Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technology – designed to build motors for both RCR and other teams that would lease the engines. But as the Earnhardt name lived on with other teams, Teresa Earnhardt withdrew more and more from being active in racing. She continued to oversee the still-thriving souvenir business that memorialized her late husband and kept his name and legend alive, but that was about it.
  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)

• Borla Exhaust to sponsor the #23 car in the Daytona 500: Alex Bowman will now pilot the #23 Borla Exhaust Toyota Camry in Sunday’s 56th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Dr Pepper however will remain as an associate sponsor on the #23 BK Racing entry. Bowman will start from the 29th position. For over three decades, Borla has been the leader in the manufacture and design of high-performance exhaust systems for racing and the street. Made with pride in the heartland of the USA.(BK Racing)(2-22-2014)

• Earnhardt Narrates Story of Cancer-Stricken NASCAR Fan: On SportsCenter the morning of the Daytona 500 [Sunday, Feb. 23rd], #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. will narrate the SC Featured story of cancer-stricken NASCAR fan Mitch Zanette. A year ago and knowing he had only days to live, Zanette chose to fulfill his wish of visiting the Daytona International Speedway for the Daytona 500. He drove himself from Pennsylvania to Florida and died during the visit in the speedway infield. SportsCenter airs at 10:00am/et on Sunday, Feb. 23.(ESPN)(2-22-2014)

• Nationwide Insurance Features Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the Driver’s First National Television Campaign: The 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Sunoco Rookie of the Year, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., seeks to improve his performance on the track and off as the Nationwide Insurance member debuts his first national television commercial for a sponsor. The spot airs for the first time on Saturday, Feb. 22 during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Drive4COPD 300 race at Daytona International Speedway. “Spotter” brings to life how NASCAR spotters are looking out for their driver’s best interests, just as Nationwide does for its members. The commercial also airs during “The Great American Race” on Sunday, Feb. 23 on Fox and throughout the 2014 NASCAR season. Stenhouse also will be featured in a co-branded consumer promotion for Nationwide Insurance and ESPN. NASCAR fans are able to register to win a 2014 Ford Mustang beginning Thursday, Feb. 20 at espn.com/nationwide.
• Daytona 500 Tidbits:
  · 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)

• Stenhouse Jr. and Zest offer PSA to help those in need: #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and one of his primary sponsors, Zest personal care brand, have teamed up to tackle a serious issue across the country, joining Family-to-Family.org to create a public service announcement video. The program that Stenhouse promotes in the PSA, called Shower To The People, addresses the serious and sadly overlooked issue of getting basic personal care items into the hands of people who struggle to afford them. The PSA starring Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will debut this weekend on the big screen at Daytona International Speedway. In it, Stenhouse Jr. addresses a serious and sadly overlooked issue: getting basic personal care items into the hands of people who struggle to afford them.(PR)(2-22-2014)

• Martin Truex Jr signs deal to upgrade his Hawker business jet: #78-Martin Truex has signed an order for an upgrade package for his Hawker 400XPR business jet. Delivery is expected to take place in the first half of this year, Beechcraft said. The upgrade package includes winglets, new Williams International engines, a refurbished interior and new exterior paint, aimed to improve performance, operating costs and resale value, Beechcraft said. “I have evaluated many aircraft that have the speed and efficiency to get me to 36 NASCAR events annually,” Truex said in a statement. The range, cabin volume, operating costs and support expected from an aircraft partner led him to choose the jet, he said. “The overall value proposition of this aircraft made this a very simple decision for our team,” Truex said.(Wichita Eagle)(2-22-2014)
• Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project Speeds American Winter Olympic Effort: NASCAR racing imprints are abound on the equipment used by the United States Olympic four-man bobsled team. The XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia began Feb. 7, but the four-man bobsled competition is set for Feb. 22-23 at the Sliding Center Sanki, located 37 miles from Sochi in Rzhanaya Polyana. The two four-man U.S. Olympic bobsleds, dubbed Night Train and the new Night Train 2, were developed, built and refined by the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project. The bobsleds arrived in Russia from the 2013-14 World Cup circuit where they achieved gold medal results in four of eight events between November 30 and January 26. The journey to competition on the world stage began in Huntersville, N.C., in an otherwise inactive race shop owned by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star Joey Logano. There, up to 18 bobsleds were once built, maintained and prepared for competition. Now, it is the exclusive home to four-man bobsleds used in World Cup and Olympic competition. The Joey Logano Foundation is also a supporter of the United States Paralympic Sled Hockey Team.
  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)
• Smith wins at Nationwide race Daytona: #7-Regan Smith won the DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway, beating #22-Brad Keselowski to the finish line by .013 seconds. It was the 7th closest finish in Nationwide Series history. They were followed by #6-Trevor Bayne, #54-Kyle Busch, #11-Elliott Sadler, #62-Brendan Gaughan, #3-Ty Dillon, #31-Dylan Kwasniewski, #39-Ryan Sieg, and #42-Kyle Larson.
  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)
• Daytona Nationwide Race Fast Facts:
  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)
• Nationwide Driver standings following Daytona:
  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)

• NASCAR considers limiting drivers on “double duty”: Kyle Busch’s thrilling move in the final few hundred feet of the Truck Series season opener led to his 99th win outside NASCAR’s top series. The victory infuriated many fans. NASCAR heard them loud and clear. NASCAR said Saturday it is looking at potentially limiting the number of second- and third-tier event Sprint Cup regulars can run during the season. Officials have already talked about a potential rules adjustments, and Busch’s win Friday night surely will lead to more discussions. Maybe even a change. “We’re definitely aware of the fan messaging we get,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s senior vice president of racing operations. “There’s a balance, especially talking to the tracks, of having a Cup driver or two in the Trucks or Nationwide.We have had discussions with the race teams about ownership and should Cup drivers get points and we’ve looked at should they be limited in the number of races. It’s something we are really studying.” Busch has 63 wins in the Nationwide Series and 36 more in the Truck Series. Busch and fellow Sprint Cup driver Brad Keselowski own Truck teams, and NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. owns a Nationwide team. And with sponsorship key to funding those operations, corporations often agree to sponsorship deals with the guarantee that the driver/owners will get behind the wheel in a handful of races or more. Tracks, television rights holders and NASCAR also all benefit from the draw of racing’s top drivers. Of course, that usually means young and upcoming drivers get overlooked or left out of the car.(Associated Press)(2-22-2014)

  ---

  News from February 21, 2014

• Final Friday practice for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway has been cancelled due to rain. The Air Titan Track Drying system is out on the track as of 2:40pm/et. The practice session was scheduled for 80 minutes, until 3:50pm/et. Happy Hour practice is scheduled for 10:00am/et on Saturday, Feb 22nd for 90 minutes and will be aired on FS1.(2-21-2014)
• First Friday practice for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is over after rain ended it, after 65 of 80 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest, notes:
  #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)
• NASCAR Announces Nominees For 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class, Inaugural Landmark Award: Following the first in-person meeting among the NASCAR Hall of Fame nominating committee in the hall’s history, NASCAR today announced the 20 nominees for the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame’s sixth induction class, as well as the five nominees for the inaugural Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. Included among the list up for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame are an eclectic – and exemplary – group of individuals whose skillsets span all levels of racing and areas of expertise.
  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)

• Explanation why #4 failed post-race inspection: from a Team Chevy press release, Greg Zipadelli, Vice President of Competition at Stewart Haas Racing, comments on the #4 Budweiser Chevy of Kevin Harvick failing post-race inspection after finishing 2nd in the first Budweiser Duel at Daytona:
  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)

• Kvapil to join Labonte and Boris Said as drivers of the #32 in 2014: Go FAS Racing announced that 2003 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Travis Kvapil will drive the #32 Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2014. Kvapil will share the driving duties with two time Sprint Cup Champion Terry Labonte and road course ace Boris Said. “I’m really excited to be a part of the Go FAS Racing team” said Kvapil. “They have put me together with two great teammates, Terry Labonte and Boris Said, and I am ready to make the most of this opportunity in 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)
• 2014 Budweiser Duels Race and Commercial Breakdown: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, here is the breakdown for Thursday’s race. Began recording the times at the Invocation of the race at 7:02 PM, and stopped at the close of the race at 9:50 PM (all times are EST). FoxSports1 was the broadcast team for this event.
  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)

• Terry Labonte to make final Daytona 500 start: Two-time NASCAR champion #32-Terry Labonte said Sunday’s Daytona 500 will be his final start in this race. This will be Labonte’s 32nd Daytona 500 start. He’s never won the race but finished second in 1986, ’90 and ’97. Labonte will fall one start short of the record for this race. Dave Marcis started 33 Daytona 500s. Labonte, 57, said he plans to run the remaining three restrictor-plate races and maybe a few others this season for car owner Frankie Stoddard’s Go Fas Racing. Labonte is scheduled to start 24th Sunday. He finished 12th in the second of two Budweiser Duel races Thursday night at Daytona International Speedway. Labonte said he’s certain this will be his final Daytona 500. “I still love it,” he said. “I’ve been dragging this retirement out for about seven years.” Labonte admits he told Stoddard that last year’s Daytona 500 would be his final one. “I told him I really mean it this time,” Labonte said.(Motor Racing Network)(2-21-2014)

• Carsforsale.com to sponsor Cassill in Daytona: Carsforsale.com announced a partnership with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Landon Cassill at Daytona Speedweeks. As part of thispartnership, Carsforsale.com has become the primary sponsor for Hillman Racing’s #40 Chevrolet SS starting in Thursday night’s Daytona Duel No. 2 Qualifying Race, which leads into the 56th running of the Daytona 500. “Carsforsale.com is proud to sponsor the #40 car, driven by Landon Cassill this weekend,” explained Sean Coffman, the CEO of Carsforsale.com. “For us, this is a way to say thanks to our subscribing dealers across the country. Carsforsale.com has over 16,500 dealers that rely on us to drive even more leads to their inventory. Our goal is to increase awareness of the Carsforsale.com brand, and this is another great opportunity to do that. We are excited to see the Carsforsale.com Car circle the track throughout the weekend on national television, and we are confident of landing a starting position in the Daytona 500 on Sunday. We hope for a fun and safe weekend for the drivers and millions of NASCAR fans across the country.” Headquartered in Sioux Falls, SD, Carsforsale.com is one of the fastest-growing online automotive websites. Carsforsale.com provides over 16,500 auto dealers with a full suite of tools, as well as means for private sellers to connect with buyers and sell their car for free.(Mike Hillman Racing)(2-21-2014)

• American Ethanol Enhances Partnership with RCR in 2014: American Ethanol is enhancing its partnership with Richard Childress Racing and driver Austin Dillon for the 2014 NASCAR season. Beginning with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway on March 2, Dillon will race the #3 American Ethanol Chevrolet SS in select races during the 2014 season. “American Ethanol is extremely pleased to once again partner with Austin Dillon, Richard Childress and the entire RCR team to help promote a sustainable homegrown American fuel that is better for our environment, reduces our dependence on foreign oil and creates jobs right here in the U.S., while revitalizing rural economies across America and save consumers at the pump,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy. American Ethanol, launched by Growth Energy and the National Corn Growers Association along with the support of other partners, is a breakthrough brand that seeks to expand consumer awareness of the benefits of ethanol and E15. Since the program launch for the 2011 season, NASCAR drivers have run more than 5 million miles on renewable Sunoco Green E15. American Ethanol will also serve as a major associate sponsor for Dillon’s #3 Chevrolet for the full 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season joining Dow, Cheerios, Realtree Outdoors, Bass Pro Shops and the University of Northwestern Ohio. Dillon is an official spokesperson for American Ethanol.(RCR)(2-21-2014)

• Chevrolet SS to Pace 56th Daytona 500: Chevrolet unveiled the trio of vehicles that will pace NASCAR’s opening round of events at Daytona International Speedway this weekend.
  · 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)

• Lame Duck ESPN Promises To Give Full Effort: When the green flag waves over Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway, ESPN’s coverage of the sport officially goes into lame duck status. For the final time in the foreseeable future, the “Worldwide Leader” will broadcast 17 races of this year’s Sprint Cup season and the entire Nationwide Series schedule. But as rival network NBC waits in the wings and prepares to fill the void in 2015, the crew at ESPN still intends to give a full-blown effort. “Our company has dedicated tremendous resources to us,” said ESPN lead announcer Allen Bestwick, who will transition into the same role of ESPN’s coverage of the Indy Car Series. “Our plans are exactly the same. We’ve been here before we even started the season. We covered live on the air Brian France’s press conference, including the question-and-answer sessions from Charlotte. We had four hours coverage of media day last week. Nothing changes, and we’re here to do our job. We have some great plans and we look forward to a great season.”(RacinToday)(2-21-2014)

• Swan Racing #26 team picks up associate sponsor: Swan Racing announced that it has partnered with DOC 360 for an exclusive agreement to be an associate sponsor on the team’s #26 Toyota Camry during the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup season for driver Cole Whitt. DOC 360 is a fast growing soft drink with a bold pepper taste, owned and manufactured by Wis-Pak, Inc. “Swan Racing is very proud to partner with a growing national brand like DOC 360,” said team owner Brandon Davis. “The DOC 360 brand will be part of Cole Whitt’s car and I know our fans are going to love the product.” DOC 360 was founded in 2011, and as a growing brand, aligns perfectly with up and coming athletes as they carve their own name in the sports world. DOC 360 encourages individual creativity and innovation in athletes and those consumers that pride themselves on taking on new challenges. “Cole Whitt is the perfect match for DOC 360,” said Tim Preston, Director of Business Development. “He is as passionate for the sport of racing as we are for our products, and we’re confident that the soda-loving NASCAR fan base is going to enjoy the great taste of DOC 360.”(Swan Racing)(2-21-2014)
• Daytona Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in all three NASCAR series will run the same tire codes at Daytona . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that NASCAR teams ran at Daytona last July and Talladega last October . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Daytona . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire (Goodyear), see full notes, tire pressures, tire codes, set limits on the Daytona Race Info page – Goodyear section.(2-21-2014)

• Sorenson Prepares for Daytona 500 Debut with TBR: Tommy Baldwin Racing welcomes back Golden Corral as the primary sponsor of Reed Sorenson’s #36 Chevy for the Daytona 500. Also joining TBR and the #36 crew is championship winning Crew Chief Todd Parrott. Parrott has several notable wins under his belt, including two Daytona 500 wins. Together Sorenson and Parrott are looking to take the #36 Golden Corral Chevy to a Top 10, so children will eat for free on Monday. “It’s great to have Golden Corral back on board the #36 again with us this season,” said team owner Tommy Baldwin. “We have spent a lot of time in the offseason making sure we got these cars ready, I believe we can compete with the top teams out there this weekend.”(TBR)(2-21-2014)

• Klarbrunn Vita ICE Joins Swan Racing as Sponsor: Swan Racing announced that it has partnered with Klarbrunn Vita ICE for an exclusive agreement to be an associate sponsor on the team’s #30 Toyota Camry during the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Klarbrunn Vita ICE is a lightly carbonated, flavored sparkling water, owned and manufactured by Wis-Pak, Inc. “Swan Racing is very proud to partner with a growing national brand like Klarbrunn,” said team owner Brandon Davis. “The Klarbrunn Vita ICE brand will be part of Parker Kligerman’s car and we are thrilled to introduce this exciting new product to the NASCAR fans.” Vita ICE launched this past April with a variety of refreshing flavors. Klarbrunn Vita ICE is a zero calorie sparkling water with added antioxidants and vitamins, perfect for refueling on the track. Refreshing and light, Vita ICE is a healthy and delicious beverage for every occasion. Vita ICE recently added two new flavors to the product line and is looking forward to introducing new flavors this spring.(Swan Racing)(2-21-2014)
• Kwasniewski on Nationwide pole at Daytona: #31-Dylan Kwasniewski won the 21 Means 21 pole (not the Coors Light pole because he’s not 21 yet) for the DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway with a speed of 192.078mph. #42-Kyle Larson will start second. The rest of the top 10: #30-Danica Patrick, #54-Kyle Busch, #11-Elliott Sadler, #20-Matt Kenseth, #55-Jamie Dick, #91-Jeff Green, #80-Johnny Sauter, and #10-David Starr. Rain cut the session short, with only the first session being completed after several delays. Did Not Qualify: #98-David Ragan, #17-Tanner Berryhill, #60-Chris Buescher, #76-Willie Allen, #98-Matt Carter; #37-Matt DiBenedetto, #13-Carl Long, #15-Carlos Contreras, #67-Clay Greenfield. The starting lineup is posted on the Daytona starting lineup page (pdf).(2-21-2014)
• Daytona Nationwide Qualifying Notes:
  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)
• Bayne’s Cup and Nationwide sponsors join forces: In a display of sponsorship solidarity, 2011 Daytona 500 champion Trevor Bayne will be supported by both his NASCAR Nationwide Series primary sponsor and his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series primary sponsor for both series races this weekend at Daytona International Speedway. In Saturday’s DRIVE4COPD 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race, Bayne’s #6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Mustang will carry the colors of his Sprint Cup sponsor, Motorcraft/Quick Lane, on the rear quarter panels in addition to his primary sponsor in that series, AdvoCare, a nutrition, weight loss, energy and sports performance product company. For Sunday’s Daytona 500, Bayne’s Wood Brothers’ Ford Fusion will reciprocate with an AdvoCare decal to the right of the famed #21 in addition to the customary Motorcraft/Quick Lane livery.(Wood Brothers)(2-21-2014)
• Valvoline joins JR Motorsports as associate sponsor: Valvoline, a leading marketer, distributor and producer of quality branded automotive and industrial products and services, announced that it has entered into a multi-year sponsorship agreement with JR Motorsports. The sponsorship will kick off at the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway. The Official Lubricants Supplier of JR Motorsports beginning in 2014, the Valvoline brand will be featured as an associate sponsor of the team’s Chevy Camaro race cars. The company will utilize Nationwide Series drivers #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #7-Regan Smith and #9-Chase Elliott to promote Valvoline premium motor oil products. In addition, JR Motorsports will use a specially designed Valvoline racing formulation in its Chevy racing engines.(Valvoline)(2-21-2014)
• Busch wins at Daytona: #51-Kyle Busch edged out #17-Timothy Peters at the finish line to win the season-opening NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway. #98-Johnny Sauter was third. #32-Ryan Truex, #30-Ron Hornaday, Jr., #29-Ryan Blaney, #13-Jeb Burton, #8-Joe Nemecheck, #08-Jimmy Weller, and #77-German Quiroga close out the top-10 finishers. There were 4 cautions for 19 laps and 8 lead changes among 4 drivers. Complete results are on the Daytona race results page (pdf).(2-21-2014)
• Daytona Race Fast Facts:
  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)
• Driver standings following Daytona:
  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)
• Owner Standings following Daytona are posted (pdf).(2-21-2014)
• Kennedy on pole at Daytona: #31-Ben Kennedy won the pole for Friday night’s NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway after rain forced qualifying to be canceled. The field was set based on combined practice times. #30-Ron Hornaday, Jr. will start second, followed by: #29-Ryan Blaney, #88-Matt Crafton, #21-Joey Coulter, #5-John Wes Townley, #51-Kyle Busch, #92-Ross Chastain, #98-Johnny Sauter, and #19-Tyler Reddick. 38 trucks entered the event but the #60 withdrew, leaving #40-Todd Peck the only driver to miss the field. See complete results on the Starting lineup (pdf) page.(2-21-2014)
• ICI Homes partners with Silas for Daytona: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Bryan Silas welcomes ICI Homes as the primary marketing partner for Friday night’s NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway. ICI Homes is a leading Florida home builder dedicated to excellence in quality and service. ICI offers a wide variety of home models, but is best known for its first class home designs, its unique ability to customize and its superior energy-wise standards and features. ICI Homes is ranked by Builder magazine as one of the top 100 homebuilders in the nation. In addition to hoisting the ICI Homes logo, the T3R2 team will carry the Food Brings Hope logo on the truck bed of their Chevy bowtie. Food Brings Hope is a 501(c)3 Florida Public Charity. Forough B. Hosseini, Founder and Chair of FBH, is a local businesswoman who is dedicated to fulfilling her dream that all school-age children in the local community should be free from hunger. The charities mission is nurturing the body, mind and spirit of underprivileged children in our community. During the winter months, T3R2 made a manufacturer switch, changing to Chevrolet and will now be powered by pro motor engineering (pme). Additionally, the Mooresville, North Carolina-based team has added more personnel as it revs up for its fourth season of NCWTS competition. Veteran Gary Cogswell will continue to serve as the crew chief for the 26-year old driver.(T3R2)(2-21-2014)

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  News from February 20, 2014

• See the starting lineup for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway on the Daytona 500 Starting Lineup Page.
• Hamlin wins Budweiser Duel 2: #11-Denny Hamlin won the second Budweiser Duel qualifying race for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway followed by #24-Gordon, #41-Busch, #27-Menard and #33-Scott. The race ended when #48-Johnson ran out of fuel coming to the checked flag and slowed, #1-McMurray got into the rear of the #48, crashing the #48 into the wall and collecting outside pole winner #78-Truex Jr., #15-Bowyer (who flipped over but landed on his wheels and kept driving), #99-Edwards, #66-Waltrip and #34-Ragan. Four drivers deep in 2013 owners points or low qualifying speed, raced into the Daytona 500: #21-Bayne (6th), #40-Cassill(9th), #32-Labonte(12th) and #52-Labonte(13th). No driver needed to use the past champions provisional.
  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)
• Kenseth wins Budweiser Duel 1: #20-Matt Kenseth won the first Budweiser Duel qualifying race for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway followed by #4-Harvick, #5-Kahne, #9-Ambrose and #88-Earnhardt Jr. Four drivers deep in 2013 owners points or low qualifying speed raced into the Daytona 500: #98-Wise (6th), #26-Whitt(12th), #10-Patrick(14th) and #23-Bowman (15th). #14-Stewart races into the Daytona 500, finishing 11th, which assures a spot for #41-Busch at least via a past champions provisional. Pole winner #3-Dillon faded midway thru the race and finished 19th, but will start on the pole for the Daytona 500. Four drivers who didn’t race into the Daytona 500 will make the race via speed or 2013 owners points (provisional spot): #55-Vickers, #22-Logano, #17-Stenhouse Jr and #18-Busch. #30-Kligerman, #36-Sorenson and #87-Nemechek could still make the race depending on the finish of the 2nd Duel. #95-McDowell will not race in the Daytona 500.
  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)
• Coverage of Budweiser Duel Qualifying races at Daytona International Speedway is scheduled for Thursday, February 20, 2014 at 7:00pm/et.
  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.
• Setting The Daytona 500 Grid:
  * 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)
• Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Budweiser Duel Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series qualifying races at Daytona International Speedway have been made. To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.
• Chassis selections for this weeks race: see the list of many teams [that report or post them] and what chassis were selected by the team to run in Daytona International Speedway on the Daytona 500 Race Info page – Chassis selection area.

• Florida Lottery to sponsor #52 at Daytona: The #52 Chevy that Bobby Labonte will drive for HScott Motorsports in the Budweiser Duel and Daytona 500 will be sponsored by the Florida Lottery.(The Decal Source Twitter). See images of the scheme on the #52 Team Schemes page(2-20-2014)

• LendingTree to sponsor Kligerman at Daytona UPDATE: from Swan Racing’s Twitter: Swan Racing welcomes Lending Tree on board as primary sponsor of PK’s (Park Kligerman) #30 Toyota for the Daytona 500.
  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)

• #77 Team Withdraws from Daytona 500: #77-Dave Blaney will not attempt to make the Daytona 500 as his Randy Humphrey Racing team had to withdraw after the Sprint Cup veteran got collected in the big crash Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway. The team did not have a backup car and could not secure one for the event.(Sporting News)(2-20-2014)

• USA Today’s Nate Ryan joins NBC NASCAR AMERICA: Amid final preparations for Monday’s launch of NASCAR AMERICA on NBCSN, NBC Sports welcomes USA TODAY Sports auto racing writer Nate Ryan to the Group’s expanding roster of on-air talent. Ryan, who will cover his ninth Daytona 500 for USA TODAY Sports on Sunday, is set to join NASCAR AMERICA host Rick Allen, fellow reporters Kelli Stavast, Marty Snider, and a rotating panel of guest analysts when the show premieres on Monday, February 24 at 5:00pm/et. The announcement was made today by Jeff Behnke, Vice President of NASCAR Production, NBC Sports Group.
  “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 to announce Sprint Cup plans soon: Travis Kvapil, whose career had seemed stalled, will race Friday night in the Camping World Truck Series opener and plans to announce a Sprint Cup deal within the week. The Janesville native will drive for tiny MAKE Motorsports at Daytona, “run the first three, four, five races with them, whatever; just kind of take it from there,” he said before practice Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway. “They’re just a really small team, they’ve got a small shop, a couple of guys working on it, a couple of decent trucks,” Kvapil said. “It’ll be fun for me. Truck racing is always fun. Daytona anything can happen.” Even if Kvapil can’t qualify on speed, his status as a past champion guarantees the team a spot in the field.
  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)

• Stewart: Richard Petty should race Danica: During the first of two PRN Fast Talk Shows at Outback Steakhouse in Daytona with Doug Rice and Mark Garrow, Tony Stewart made it very clear how he feels about the negative remarks Richard Petty made recently about Danica Patrick. “I told her she should challenge Richard to a heads up race,” said Stewart. “I think that would pretty much settle it once and for all, maybe get him to shut up a little bit too. He drove in an era when he had cars that were superior to what everybody else was running a lot. I think he forgets that, that NASCAR has changed a lot since he was a driver and how hard it really is now.” Stewart added, “I will supply the cars, I don’t care. If he wants to race her I’ll make sure they have exactly the same set-up in the car and give him a chance. He can drive one of my 14 cars I don’t care.” It was then suggested if Danica ever won a race that she should ask Petty to autograph the checkered flag. Stewart, however, had another suggestion. “If I were her I’d take it over and cram it up his (bleep)…If it were me, that’s just me.” The second and final PRN Fast Talk show from the Daytona Outback Steakhouse will take place Thursday from 12-1 with Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick the special guests. Both shows can be heard at goprn.com.(PRN)(2-20-2014)

• Sprint Unlimited TV Ratings: Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint Unlimited earned a 2.0 U.S. rating and 3.5 million viewers on Fox Sports 1, the largest audience on FS1 since the network rebranded last August. Despite the record, Saturday’s telecast declined by 43% in ratings and 38% in viewership from last year on FOX (3.5, 5.7M), and by 52% and 53%, respectively, from 2012 (4.2, 7.5M). It ranks as the lowest rated and least-viewed edition of the race (previously the Budweiser Shootout) since at least 2001.(Sports Media Watch)(2-20-2014)

• Practice Crash pierces hole in Daytona fence: A seven-car accident in Sprint Cup practice pierced a hole in the grandstand fence at Daytona International Speedway on Wednesday. During Wednesday’s first practice session, #20-Matt Kenseth appeared to spark a wreck that sent Parker Kligerman’s #30 Toyota on top of Paul Menard’s #27 Chevy and then along the SAFER barrier, where it tore a hole in the fence that forced the cancellation of the rest of the practice. A Daytona spokesman said the fence “performed the way it was designed to,” but one steel cable and some mesh fencing would be replaced. The track has received no reports of injuries. Joey Logano blamed Kenseth for drifting up the track into the nose of his #22 Ford on Wednesday as he tried to exploit a gap. “Maybe I shouldn’t have been racing as hard as I was there in practice, but everybody was in a big pack there trying to make things happen,” Logano said. “As soon as he came back up I checked up a little bit and then the [Trevor Bayne] hit me from behind and we spun out. It happens. That’s Daytona for you.” Kenseth said Logano got too close and moved him and was spun once he corrected the car. Kligerman blamed Logano for being overly aggressive. “It’s a shame. He’s supposed to be a veteran,” said Kligerman, a rookie. “You go up to the Sprint Cup Series and it’s supposed to be the best of the best. You’ve got a guy in practice who’s racing people like it’s the end of the Daytona 500. Meanwhile, I came out of truck practice, and we were running 3 or 4 wide no problem. I don’t quite understand that one. I’ll have to talk him about that. I’m pretty upset about how that all went down.”(ESPN), also involved in the wreck were #77-Dave Blaney and #83-Ryan Truex. The teams of #22-Logano, #27-Menard, #30-Klingerman and #83-Truex pulled out backup cars for the Budweiser Duel 150 qualifying races. #77-Blaney’s team didn’t have a backup car and no idea if the team will be able to fix the car or secure a care from another team to run the Budweiser Duel.
  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)

• Goodyear shifts branding for Camping World Truck Series: After 10 years of branding its NASCAR Camping World Truck Series tires with the “Wrangler” name, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has made a switch for the 2014 season. Responding to the changing tide of its passenger truck tire buyers, the Akron, Ohio-based tiremaker will now brand its truck series tires as “Eagle” to match how it identifies its products in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series. “What we’ve found, as a company, is that more of our customers who buy tires for their street trucks are now buying ‘Eagles,'” said Greg Stucker, Goodyear’s director of race tire sales. “While our ‘Wrangler’ line is still an extremely popular choice for those consumers that need a more rugged tire, the ‘Eagle’ brand is a performance tire, which goes along with today’s changing demands. Since we have branded our Sprint Cup and Nationwide tires as ‘Eagle’ since 1980, race fans also identify that as our racing brand.” The move is effective as of Daytona Speedweeks 2014, marking the first time Camping World Truck Series teams will have run Goodyear Eagles since the season ending race of 2003 (Nov. 14) at Homestead Miami Speedway.(Goodyear Racing PR)(2-20-2014)

• Fox making tweaks to revamped NASCAR scoreboard: Fox Sports’ attempt to modernize the scoring crawl is going back in for repairs. The network ditched the usual rolling leaderboard at the top of the screen for a rectangular box on the right side of the TV screen. Eric Shanks, Fox Sports chief operating officer and executive producer, says changes are coming after fans complained the new scoring screen blocked a portion of on-track action. He says the network has “some tweaks” that will adjust the layout for Sunday’s Daytona 500. Fox ditched the traditional crawl because it took too long for the entire field to come around. The modernized screen gets fans the running order they want in a faster, more readable layout. The leaderboard changes by lap. For Daytona 500 qualifying, the scoreboard only listed names and running order, not speeds. Fans complained on social media about the scoreboard during the exhibition Sprint Unlimited.(Associated Press)(2-20-2014)

• Larson flies with the Thunderbirds: #42-Kyle Larson had the opportunity to fly with the US Air Force Thunderbirds on Tuesday Feb. 18, during a two-day break in the track schedule at DIS. Larson took to the skies with Major Tyler “Wolf” Ellison in a two-seater F-16 Falcon and flew over Central Florida doing aerobatic maneuvers with the Air Force’s aerial demonstration team.(CGR)(2-20-2014)

• BK Racing and Widow Wax announce partnership: As BK Racing embarks on its third season in NASCAR’s premier level on February 23 with the 56th running of the Daytona 500, the team will have support from Hicksville, OH based Widow Wax. Widow Wax offers the highest quality car-care products money can buy. They have made it a point to go above and beyond all industry standards while choosing key ingredients. They have brought products that offer the consumer the easiest application while delivering the most professional results. Widow Wax products are sold with 100% Money Back Guarantee, if the customer is not satisfied. “We’re thrilled to begin a partnership with the BK Racing team in 2014,” said Justin Kuhn, Founder of Widow Wax. “This level of exposure for Widow Wax is unparalleled. We appreciate Ron Devine and the entire team at BK Racing for this tremendous opportunity.”
  “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 Joins TBR as associate partner on the #7 at Daytona: Longwood, Fla. based company, Insurance Office of America (IOA), has partnered with the Tommy Baldwin Racing’s (TBR) #7 Pilot Flying J Chevy SS as an associate sponsor for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Duels and the 56th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. IOA founder and chairman, John Ritenour, commented on the partnership,”Insurance Office of America is proud to join Tommy Baldwin Racing and its partners to support the #7 car and Michael Annett at the 2014 Daytona 500. We are glad to work with and be a part of the team that shares a passion for building people and delivering results at the highest level.”
  “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)

• SK Professional Tools to be associate sponsor of #32: GO FAS Racing announced that SK Professional Tools will return as an associate sponsor of the #32 Ford in 2014 at Daytona and become the official hand tool of the team. SK Tools tools came aboard last season as Go Green Racing competed in the Nationwide Series and the Sprint Cup Series. “SK Tools have been around a long time and still remain a quality product made right here in the USA. We look forward to grow our businesses together through our marketing partnership in 2014 and beyond. They understand the challenges of growing small businesses and teams out there and I think this will be a great partnership to build on into the future,” said Go Greens owner Archie St Hilaire.(GO FAS Racing)(2-20-2014)
• Gerhart fastest in Nationwide happy hour: #85-Bobby Gerhart was quickest during happy hour for the DRIVE4COPD 300 with a speed of 189.342mph. He was followed by: #29-Scott Lagasse, Jr., #16-Ryan Reed, #43-Dakota Armstrong, #16-Chris Buescher, #6-Trevor Bayne, #28-Mike Wallace, #87-Joe Nemechek, #80-Johnny Sauter, and #62-Brendan Gaughan. 37 drivers participated in the session. See complete results on the Daytona practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(2-20-2014)
• Sadler fastest in first Nationwide practice: #11-Elliott Sadler was fastest during opening practice at Daytona International Speedway with a speed of 187.986mph. #20-Matt Kesenth was second, followed by: #54-Kyle Busch, #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., #39-Ryan Sieg, #22-Brad Keselowski, #2-Brian Scott, #9-Chase Elliott, #6-Trevor Bayne, and #98-David Ragan. 45 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Daytona practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(2-20-2014)
• Koma Unwind to sponsor Long: Bebida Beverage Company, a developer, manufacturer and marketer of Relaxation drinks and energy products, announced today that the company will partner with two NASCAR teams for the approaching 2014 NASCAR season openers this weekend. Promoting its KOMA Unwind relaxation drink, BeBevCo has partnered with Jennifer Jo Cobb and #13Carl Long to serve as an associate marketing partner on both entries for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series races respectively.(BeBevCo. PR)(2-20-2014)
• Conley to drive limited schedule for RCR: Cale Conley will drive a limited Nationwide Series schedule in the #33 Chevy for Richard Childress Racing starting March 15 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Nick Harrison will be his crew chief. Conley competed full-time in the K&N Pro Series East tour last year and finished 12th in the point standings. He earned his first K&N win at Columbus and posted poles at Gresham and Iowa in 2012. Although Conley didn’t compete on the tour full-time that season, his 299 laps led ranked third among drivers.(Fox Sports)(2-20-2014)
• Sport Clips renews sponsorship of Darlington race: Sport Clips Haircuts announced it has extended its partnership agreement with Darlington Raceway to sponsor the NASCAR Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 through the 2016 season. The agreement ensures that Sport Clips and Darlington Raceway will continue to build on an already strong foundation started in 2012. The VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 is slated to run under the lights at the track Too Tough to Tame on April 11, 2014. Sport Clips will continue to use its NASCAR partnership to raise awareness about the struggles many military families are facing and the VFW’s mission to support active-duty military, veterans and their families. As the “Official Haircutter” of the VFW, Sport Clips has donated more than $2 million to the organization through its annual “Help A Hero” campaign, which was established in 2007. Since their first contribution of more than $80,000, Sport Clips’ donations have increased annually. Earlier this year, Sport Clips made its most recent, and largest, donation of more than $520,000, benefiting the new VFW-administered “Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship” program.(Darlington Raceway)(2-20-2014)
• Dodge back to Nationwide? Not so fast: Four Penske-built cars in Dodge Challenger bodies have been entered, apparently by independent teams, into the upcoming Drive4COPD 300 race scheduled for February 28, 2014. Dodge drivers listed on the pre-qualifying page are Mike Wallace (#28), Clay Greenfield (#67), Willie Allen (#76), and Johnny Sauter (#80). Other drivers, based on Twitter statements, appear to be Tommy Joe Martins, Matt DiBenenedetto, Mike Harmon, and Matt Carter. The cars appear to be privately run by independent teams, rather than official Dodge entries, made available by Penske from available engines and bodies.
  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)
• Sieg gets Daytona sponsor: RSS Racing (NSS #39) announced Star Fleet Trucking has joined the team as a primary sponsor for the season opening Camping World Truck Series race at Daytona Friday night. Additionally Pull-A-Part used auto parts has returned with the team for the Nationwide series race Saturday afternoon. The Crew Chiefs Corner online radio show will be an associate sponsor for the races on Friday and Saturday.(RSS Racing)(2-20-2014)
• Blaney fastest in final practice: #29-Ryan Blaney was fastest during final practice at Daytona International Speedway on with a speed of 190.775 mph. #51-Kyle Busch was second, followed by #88-Matt Crafton. #92-Ross Chastain, #13-Jeb Burton, #8-Joe Nemechek, #5-John Wes Townley, #17-Timothy Peters, #35-Mason Mingus, and #74-Chris Cockrum. 31 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Daytona practice 3 speeds page (pdf).(2-20-2014)
• Reddick fastest in second practice: #19-Tyler Reddick was fastest during second practice at Daytona International Speedway on with a speed of 190.090 mph. #29-Ryan Blaney. was second, followed by #32-Ryan Truex, Jr., #54-Darrell Wallace, Jr., #88-Matt Crafton, #5-John Wes Townley, #02-Tyler Young, #13-Jeb Burton, #17-Timothy Peters, and #20-John King. 35 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Daytona practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(2-20-2014)

• BKR sponsor Cooper Standard launches new venture : Cooper Standard announced today that the company is building on its community involvement activities with the formation of the “Cooper Standard Careers for Veterans” program. The program will leverage Cooper Standard’s partnership with Brad Keselowski and Brad Keselowski Racing throughout the 2014 NASCAR season. Novi, Michigan based Cooper Standard, a leading global supplier of systems and components for the automotive industry, has been a primary partner of BKR since 2011. The BKR team, which fields multiple entries in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series including the #29 Cooper Standard Ford F-150, is owned by NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Keselowski. Cooper Standard originally partnered with Brad Keselowski based on his Michigan heritage (Rochester Hills, Michigan-native) and the shared interests in assisting military veterans returning to civilian life. Brad Keselowski’s Checkered Flag Foundation strives to support those who have sacrificed greatly including military members and veterans. The overall objective of the “Cooper Standard Careers for Veterans” program is to provide career opportunities for military veterans and those transitioning from active service. Keselowski, as well as Ryan Blaney, the driver of the #29 Cooper Standard Ford F-150, will help serve as spokesmen of the Cooper Standard program. The #29 BKR truck with Blaney at the wheel will feature a special “Cooper Standard Careers for Veterans” paint scheme that will take to the track at four races in 2014 – Daytona (February 21st), Charlotte (May 16th), Kentucky (June 26th) and Michigan (August 16th).(Brad Keselowski Racing)(2-20-2013)
• Kvapil to run up to four races with MAKE: Travis Kvapil, whose career had seemed stalled, will race Friday night in the Camping World Truck Series opener and plans to announce a Sprint Cup deal within the week. The Janesville native will drive for tiny MAKE Motorsports at Daytona, “run the first three, four, five races with them, whatever; just kind of take it from there,” he said before practice Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway.(Journal Sentinel)(2-20-2013)
  

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  News from February 19, 2014

• Wednesday 2nd practice: for the Budweiser Duels / Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway is over, it started early due to the first practice being red flag and shortened. After 145 minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
  #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)
• Wednesday first practice: for the Budweiser Duels / Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway is over, after about 30 minutes or so, two wrecks and a red flag, the top five, slowest and notes:
  #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)
• Chassis selections for this weeks race: see the list of many teams [that report or post them] and what chassis were selected by the team to run in Daytona International Speedway on the Daytona 500 Race Info page – Chassis selection area.

• Larson to run two Target schemes in 2014: Target Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (TCGRFS) unveiled a video for three newly-designed firesuits that Kyle Larson and the #42 Target team will wear throughout the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) season. In addition, the team unveiled two new paint schemes for the #42 Target Chevrolet SS. Beginning with the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 23, the speed and excitement of Target will be on display at the track each week in these fresh, new designs that offer edgier, modern updates to iconic firesuits. In his inaugural NSCS season, Larson and crew will hit the ground running with the new designs that will ensure they stand out from the pack both on the track and in the garage. This season the #42 Target Chevrolet SS will feature a two-tone paint scheme of red and white, with the dominant color changing based on the start time of the race. The car will shine bright at night races with a white paint scheme that fades into red along the rear of the car. For day races, a red paint scheme will dominate the front of the car and fade into white along the rear. The iconic Target Bullseye continues to be prominently displayed on the car’s hood, and for the first time numerous small Bullseyes drape the lower panels all around the car.(see full PR at Chip Ganassi Racing), see an image of the Target scheme on the #42 Team Schemes page.(2-19-2014)

• Team Penske tests at Nashville: Team Penske and both #2-Brad Keselowski and #22-Joey Logano tested on Tuesday at Nashville Superspeedway.(Team Penske)(2-19-2014)

• NASCAR ’14 is launched: As the Daytona 500 approaches, NASCAR is hitting the gas on the racetrack and into gamers’ homes with the release of NASCAR ’14. Deep Silver announced that the racing game NASCAR ’14, developed by ETX Racing, is available in North America on the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation3 computer entertainment system and Steam for Windows PC for the suggested retail price of $49.99. NASCAR ’14 includes the most requested gaming feature: online leagues, allowing gamers to band together to overtake rivals on the track. NASCAR ’14 also delivers skill-based matchmaking for the first time in franchise history. Tony Stewart, the three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and winner of the “Drive For the Cover” contest, was chosen by more than 700,000 fans to appear on the front of the box. For racing fans headed to Daytona, they will have the chance to play NASCAR ’14 at the Sprint Unlimited Experience, win copies of the game and four lucky fans will play against Brad Keselowski and Miss Sprint Cup on the 42-foot Jumbotron 2/21 at 3:30pm/et.(Tinsley-PR for Deep Silver)(2-19-2014)

• Montoya could run the Brickyard 400: Juan Pablo Montoya, former NASCAR driver [#42 Target Chevy], current driver of the #2 Verizon Indy car for Team Penske, met with members of the media on Orlando, FL and discussed his return to IndyCar among other topics, the transcript in part:
  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 Numbers that have produced three or more Daytona 500 victories:
  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)

• #78 Chevrolet to Carry World Vision Signage: As a means to raise awareness and resources to fight global poverty and injustice, the #78 Furniture Row Chevrolet, driven by Martin Truex Jr., will display signage for World Vision during the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice along with providing emergency assistance during natural disasters and civil conflict. Barney Visser, Furniture Row Racing team owner and supporter of World Vision for more than 30 years, witnessed firsthand the high-caliber efficiency of World Vision’s relief work in the ghastly aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which killed more than 230,000 people. Thirty days after the tsunami hit, Visser went with World Vision workers to the Indonesian city of Banda Aceh, the closest city to the tsunami’s epicenter where approximately 167,000 people died and many more injured.
  “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)

• Get Well DW UPDATE2: NASCAR Hall of Famer and Fox broadcaster Darrell Waltrip is having gall bladder surgery today (Feb 13th) in Nashville, TN.(2-13-2014)
  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)

• Scott sponsored by Whitetail: Brian Scott will make his debut in the Daytona 500, in only his second Sprint Cup series start. Scott has eight previous starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Daytona International Speedway. The Whitetail Club will be the primary sponsor of the #33 Chevy. Located in the heart of the Idaho Mountains, the Whitetail Club is a secluded gated community where social and recreational activities are a part of everyday living. Whitetail Club offers a wide array of amenities including biking, fishing, hiking, golf, water skiing, and snow skiing. The beautiful family neighborhood is located in McCall, Idaho with a variety of modern mountain cottages and homes set to describe camp life.(Circle Sport), see an image of the scheme on the #33 Team Schemes page.(2-19-2014)

• Bestwick to move to IndyCar Series broadcasts UPDATE: Sportscaster Allen Bestwick will remain with ESPN /ABC after it loses its NASCAR contract and work primarily as play-by-play announcer for the network’s broadcasts of IndyCar Series events. Bestwick currently serves in the same role for network’s NASCAR broadcasts but ESPN/ABC will lose broadcast rights to those races at the conclusion of the 2014 season. NBC and Fox and their respective sports networks will broadcast all NASCAR events beginning in 2015. Bestwick will do both IndyCar and NASCAR events this season for ESPN/ABC. In 2015, Bestwick will do IndyCar broadcasts and work in other sports. An ESPN spokesman declined to comment (Charlotte Observer).(1-3-2014)
  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)
• Jeremy Clements names Daytona sponsor: All South Electrical Constructors, Inc. will return as a sponsor of Jeremy Clements Racing in 2014. They will be the primary sponsor of the #51 for the NASCAR Nationwide Series season opener, Drive4COPD 300, this weekend at Daytona International Speedway. All South Electrical Constructors, Inc., based in Cartersville, GA, is one of the most competitive electrical contractors within the multifamily market, providing a quality product at the most economical price while maintaining a safe environment within the work place.(Clements Racing)(2-19-2014)
• Flex Seal returns to JD Motorsports: Flex Seal, a solid partner with JD Motorsports with Gary Keller for several racing seasons, will return in 2014 to support both JDM drivers – Jeffrey Earnhardt and Landon Cassill – in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Flex Seal will be Earnhardt’s primary sponsor for Saturday’s season-opening DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway, the Nationwide schedule’s biggest race. Earnhardt joins JDM this season for his first full-schedule run in the Nationwide Series. He will drive Chevy #4. Flex Seal also will play a prominent role in sponsoring the JDM team car driven by #01-Landon Cassill.(JD Motorsports)(2-19-2014)
• Berryhill gets Daytona sponsor: Baseball season is over as the smell of burnt gas fills the air, but for #17-Tanner Berryhill and BWP Bats the season is just starting. Vision Racing has secured sponsorship for its young NASCAR Nationwide 2014 Rookie of the Year contender. BWP bat company out of Brookville, PA, has locked its mit on to the up and coming NASCAR driver with high hopes of hitting a Grand Slam. BWP bats builds extremely competitive bats for all types of players, not only the professionals. Vision Racing will also be carrying across the finish line, sponsorship from Roomba Inn and Suites from Daytona Beach Florida.(Vision Racing)(2-19-2014)
• Salt Life joins TriStar at associate sponsor: TriStar Motorsports announces their partnership with Salt Life for the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series season. Salt Life will be an associate sponsor on board the #10, #14, #19 and the #44 TriStar Motorsports Toyota Camrys this season. Salt Life is an authentic, aspirational and lifestyle brand that embraces those who love the ocean and everything associated with living the “Salt Life”. Founded in 2003 by four avid watermen from Jacksonville Beach, Florida, the Salt Life brand has widespread appeal with ocean enthusiasts worldwide. From fishing, diving and surfing, to beach fun and sun-soaked relaxation, the Salt Life brand says “I live the Salt Life”.(TriStar Motorsports)(2-19-2014)
• Kennedy fastest in first practice: #31-Ben Kennedy was fastest during opening practice at Daytona International Speedway on Wednesday with a speed of 192.806 mph. #30-Ron Hornaday, Jr. was second, followed by #88-Matt Crafton, #21-Joey Coulter, #5-John Wes Townley, #98-Johnny Sauter, #39-Ryan Sieg, #8-Joe Nemechek, #58-Parker Kligerman, and #13-Jeb Burton. 37 drivers practiced during the session. #07- Michel Disdier changed engines. #24-Brennan Newberry will move to a back-up truck after his truck suffered damage caused by his hood. See complete results on the Daytona practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(2-19-2014)
• LOCKED IN TRUCKS: The following drivers are locked into the field based on points transfers from 2013;
  #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.
• Star Fleet Trucking joins RSS: RSS Racing is pleased to announce Star Fleet Trucking has joined the team as a primary sponsor on the #39 Chevy driven by Ryan Sieg for the season-opening Camping World Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway. The Crew Chiefs Corner online radio show will also be on board as an associate sponsor.(RSS Racing)(2-19-2014)

• Goodyear changes tire branding for trucks: After 10 years of branding its NASCAR Camping World Truck Series tires with the “Wrangler” name, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has made a switch for the 2014 season. Responding to the changing tide of its passenger truck tire buyers, the Akron, Ohio-based tiremaker will now brand its truck series tires as “Eagle” to match how it identifies its products in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series. “What we’ve found, as a company, is that more of our customers who buy tires for their street trucks are now buying ‘Eagles,'” said Greg Stucker, Goodyear’s director of race tire sales. “While our ‘Wrangler’ line is still an extremely popular choice for those consumers that need a more rugged tire, the ‘Eagle’ brand is a performance tire, which goes along with today’s changing demands. Since we have branded our Sprint Cup and Nationwide tires as ‘Eagle’ since 1980, race fans also identify that as our racing brand.” The move is effective as of Daytona Speedweeks 2014, marking the first time Camping World Truck Series teams will have run Goodyear Eagles since the season ending race of 2003 (Nov. 14) at Homestead Miami Speedway.(Goodyear Racing)(2-19-2014)

• NASCAR officially unveils new truck bodies: At an event today at the SPRINT Fan Zone at Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR officially unveiled newly designed bodies for NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race trucks – set to debut on Friday night in the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona. The newly redesigned bodies will now match the look of their respective showroom counterparts. Today’s introduction of the new truck bodies follows successful launches of race vehicles in NASCAR’s other two national series – the Gen-6 car last year in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the new models in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2010. “Each manufacturer has designed distinctly different trucks that they can use to promote their showroom models through their involvement with NASCAR racing,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition and racing development. “We have worked closely with all three manufacturers for the past several years, and we’re excited to unveil a new truck body that will make one of NASCAR’s most exciting series even better.” Extensive research and testing went into the development of the new bodies, with the goal of continued close competition while allowing specific features from each model. The new trucks have a unique design that will make it easier for fans to recognize their favorite model. “The truck has a new look that fans can relate to with their own truck at home,” said Chad Little, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series managing director. “The competitors have been happy with the new trucks in testing in January and we expect to continue to have some of the best racing in NASCAR for our fans at Daytona.”(NASCAR)(2-19-2014)

• Kligerman, BRG reunite for Daytona UPDATE: The Camping World Truck Series season opens on Feb. 21 at Daytona International Speedway. George Bragg wishes it started sooner. Last time for Bragg’s BRG Motorsports was the NASCAR truck race at Talladega Superspeedway in October. In the team’s only outing of the 2013 season, BRG came away with a fourth-place finish. Bragg said the team expected to do even better in the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona on Feb. 21. The BRG Motorsports’ Daytona entry again will have Parker Kligerman in the truck and Josh Bragg on top of the pit box. Josh Bragg is George Bragg’s son and the winner of the pro late model season championship at Mobile International Speedway for each of the past two seasons. BRG Motorsports has grown over the past decade from its roots in Helena, Miss. The Daytona truck was prepared in a shop in Mooresville, N.C., in the heart of NASCAR country. The team has support from Joe Gibbs Racing’s motor program and Toyota. Daytona will be the team’s sixth NASCAR truck event. Bragg would like to race more often. He said BRG Motorsports was building another speedway truck to race at Talladega on Oct. 18. For the truck series, other than Daytona and Talladega, nothing is certain for the 2014 season except the team needs sponsors to enable it to race more.(AL.com)(2-3-2014)
  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)

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  News from February 18, 2014

  
  13 years ago, we lost Dale Earnhardt

• CRC Industries to Showcase K&W® FiberLock on #40 in two races:CRC Industries, Inc. has announced that it will showcase its widely-accepted cooling system additive, K&W FIBERLOCK Head Gasket & Block Repair, on a full car wrap on the #40 Hillman Racing Chevrolet SS at two upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events. A manufacturer of chemical specialties for maintenance and repair professionals and do-it-yourselfers, CRC is the primary sponsor of the #40 Chevrolet SS driven by Landon Cassill for the Hillman Racing team for these events. K&W FIBERLOCK is a pour-in repair additive that can permanently seal cracks and leaks in head gaskets, engine blocks, freeze plugs, cylinder heads and radiators. Designed for do-it-yourselfers as well as automotive repair technicians, K&W FIBERLOCK prevents an expensive repair on a vehicle that is not worth the cost of the service.
  “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)

• NASCAR pace car catches on fire during Sprint Unlimited UPDATE: With a full moon shining high above Daytona International Speedway, one of the most bizarre scenes in recent memory took place. As the field bunched up for the final 20-lap segment of the NASCAR Sprint Unlimited, smoke began billowing from one of the cars. No, not one of the race cars, it was the pace car. Pace car driver Brett Bodine pulled off the track as the trunk of the Chevrolet SS caught fire. Luckily, safety crews were quick on the scene to extinguish the fire. Come to find out, it was a battery pack used to power external lights that ignited the fire.(FoxSports)(2-16-2014)
  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)

• #32 gets associate sponsor for Daytona: GO FAS Racing announced that motivational speaker Michael Alden will be an associate sponsor for the #32 Ford driven by Terry Labonte in the Daytona 500. Alden has just released his new book Ask More Get More which paves the way to get more out of your personal and professional life.(GO FAS Racing)(3-18-2014)

• Daytona Notebook:
  · 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)

• Phoenix International Raceway 50th anniversary logo on the #95: Phoenix International Raceway will team with local driver Michael McDowell to kick off the race track’s 50th anniversary in true NASCAR style with a sponsorship of McDowell’s car, PIR President Bryan R. Sperber announced. PIR’s 50th anniversary logo will adorn McDowell’s #95 Leavine Family Racing Ford Fusion during The Profit on CNBC 500 Presented by Small Business Fueling America NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, March 2. “Growing up in Phoenix, PIR has always held a special place in my heart,” McDowell said. “To be able to play a role in celebrating the track’s 50th anniversary is a tremendous honor and is something I’ll always remember.” The logo will be prominently featured on the left and right rear quarter panels of the car, providing tremendous visibility. “We are thrilled to be able to support Michael McDowell this year and tie in our 50th anniversary,” Sperber said. “Having grown up here in the Valley, Michael and his family know how important PIR is to our community. To be able to support his NASCAR Sprint Cup campaign during our golden anniversary season is very exciting for us.” McDowell, a Glendale native, is in his first year with Concord, N.C.-based Leavine Family Racing and his seventh year of full-time competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Season tickets for 2014 are available by visiting PhoenixRaceway.com or calling 866-408-RACE (7223).(PIR)(2-18-2014)

• Top 10 Driver Ratings at Daytona:
  #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)

• added ALL 49 schemes from Daytona 500 qualifying:
  #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.
• G&K Services returns to JD Motorsports: With only a few days remaining to the season opener, driver Landon Cassill and the JD Motorsports with Gary Keller team are in the final stages of preparations for the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule. Cassill, a former Nationwide Rookie of the Year, will race this season with sponsorship from Minnesota-based G&K Services. Team owner Johnny Davis expressed optimism about the new season. “We have a fantastic partnership with G&K Services and are pleased to have them return as a key sponsor for the fifth consecutive year,” Davis said. “We’re looking forward to seeing the progress Landon makes in the #01 G&K Services Chevy.” Cassill plans to run the full Nationwide and Sprint Cup schedules this year.(JD Motorsports)(2-18-2014)
• RAB names Lucas crew chief of #29: RAB Racing has made an addition to its competition department with veteran crew chief Matt Lucas taking over the crew chief responsibilities for the #29 Toyota Camry for the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series season. Lucas brings over 16 years of racing experience to RAB Racing, also winning two races in 2013 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with driver Matt Kenseth at Joe Gibbs Racing. To date, Lucas joins RAB Racing with two wins, 21 top-5 finishes, and 35 top-10 finishes in 49 starts as a crew chief, and 36 NNS wins as an engineer.(RAB Racing)(2-18-2014)
• King, Newberry racing for gun safety: Daytona International Speedway NASCAR Camping World Truck Series winner John King has signed with NTS Motorsports to race the #20 Chevy Silverado in the Feb. 21 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. As they race, both GunBroker.com drivers will be raising $24 for every lap they run in the top 10 during the race to benefit Project Child Safe http://www.projectchildsafe.org, a national gun safety program sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation.(DIGNEY Mario & Co)(2-18-2014)
• Paint Schemes: 2014 Camping World Truck Series paint schemes are rolling in. Check them out on the 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Paint Schemes page.(2-18-2014)

• VaporBrands joins Burton: VaporBrands International, Inc., and its e-cigarette brand, VAMP, announced a new partnership with ThorSport Racing Tuesday, serving as primary sponsor of the #13 Toyota Tundra driven by Jeb Burton. Second-generation driver Burton will continue to follow in his father Ward Burton’s footsteps at Daytona International Speedway this weekend, competing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250. Focused on the development and ownership of electronic cigarette brands, VaporBrands International, Inc. creates opportunities for brands seeking to expand their market share in the rapidly growing “vaping” sector of the global marketplace. VaporBrands provides global licensing, branding and marketing to products like VAMP, as they prepare to launch into the public sector.(See an image of the truck on the #13 Team Paint Schemes page)(Edgehill Management Group)(2-18-2014)
• Engine Parts Plus and Genmak Geneva-Liberty Steel on board with Weller: Jimmy Weller will partner with Engine Parts Plus and Genmak Geneva-Liberty Steel for the season opening NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, February 21. It will be Weller’s first start at the historic speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., and will kick off a 12-race schedule in the #08 Chevy Silverado with Mooresville, N.C.-based SS GreenLight Racing. Engine Parts Plus, who partnered with Weller in 2013, will return as co-primary on Weller’s #08 Chevy Silverado for the NextEra Energy Resources 250. Joining them will be Genmak Geneva-Liberty Steel to mark the Youngstown, Ohio-based company’s first venture into the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Integrated Metal Products, a longtime supporter of Weller, and Maxim Racewear will also partner with the rookie driver in his debut at Daytona International Speedway.(A2B Strategies)(2-18-2014)

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  News from February 17, 2014

• Honoring Dale Earnhardt, Tuesday, Feb 18th: The Charlotte skyline will illuminate with 45,730 blue LED lights atop the Duke Energy Building in honor of Dale Earnhardt on Tuesday, February 18, 2014. The light presentation at the 786 foot tall Duke Energy Building, as well as the annual Candlelight Tribute at Dale Earnhardt Inc. in Mooresville NC, is presented by The Dale Earnhardt Foundation. The foundation’s mission is to “Continue the Legend” that sustains Dale’s lifelong commitment to Children, Education and Environmental/Wildlife Preservation. The Candlelight Tribute with open showroom is held from 6:00-8:00pm/et at Dale Earnhardt Inc. in Mooresville, NC. Those unable to attend are encouraged to light a candle at home that evening in honor of Dale Earnhardt’s remarkable spirit.(DEI)(2-17-2014)

• Koch says he will drive the #35 in two races: Blake Koch announced on Twitter that he will drive the #35 Front Row Motorsports Ford at Phoenix and Las Vegas in March. Eric McClure will drive the #35 in the Daytona 500. After Las Vegas, no word who will drive the car. Koch made his Sprint Cup Series debut in 2013, running at Charlotte in October for the #95 Leavine Family Racing team, finishing 38th.
  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)

• C&J Energy Services Returns to sponsor Labonte and GO FAS Racing: For the fourth consecutive year, C&J Energy Services is teaming up with Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Terry Labonte. Labonte will pilot the #32 C&J Energy Services Ford for the 56th Running of the Daytona 500. C&J Energy Services, who has supported for the past three seasons, will renew their partnership for four more races during the 2014 season. Labonte and C&J Energy Services will compete at the restrictor plate races during the 2014 season. “We are very proud and excited to be associated with GO FAS Racing and Terry Labonte,” commented Josh Comstock, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of C&J Energy Services. “Like C&J, both GO FAS and Terry have strong family values and a competitive spirit. Also like C&J, they generate more with a smaller asset base than most of their much larger competitors and deliver superior performance through technology and efficiency. This team truly exemplifies our slogan of “Competitive Horsepower”. We are looking forward to participating with Terry and GO FAS at the 2014 Daytona and Talladega events.”
  “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)
• 2014 Sprint Unlimited Race and Commercial Breakdown: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, here is the breakdown for Saturday’s race. Began recording the times at the Invocation of the race at 8:15 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 10:26 PM. FoxSports1 was the broadcast team for this event.
  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)
• Nationwide Entry List:There are 46 cars on the preliminary entry list for Saturday’s season-opening DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway. A few notes:
  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.
• Cope picks up 3 race sponsor: Charlie’s Soap is going nationwide — NASCAR’s Nationwide Series, that is. Charlie’s Soap’s logo will appear on Derrike Cope’s #70 Chevy Camaro for three upcoming NASCAR Nationwide Series races: Feb. 22 at Daytona International Raceway, March 1 at Phoenix International Raceway and March 8 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Co-sponsoring Cope’s car will be Charlie’s Soap’s new, industrial-strength line of cleaners: Charlies Professional. Family-owned and operated since 1976, Charlie’s Soap has been dedicated to the development, manufacture and worldwide distribution of the highest quality biodegradable, safer for environment and hypo-allergenic detergents. Derrike Cope has competed in NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck series. Cope is owner of Derrike Cope Racing and the driver of the #70 Charlie’s Soap Camaro for the start of the 2014 race season in conjunction with Jay Robinson Racing and ML Motorsports.(Charlie’s Soap), see an image of the car on the #70 team paint schemes page.(2-17-2014)
• Carlos Contreras to drive for Ware at Daytona: Carlos Contreras makes his return to NASCAR’s Nationwide Series in the Drive for COPD 300 at Daytona on February 22, 2014. Contreras, a talented internationally known driver with 7 Mexican Championships, has been a true ambassador for NASCAR over the years. He currently has 87 NASCAR starts and will attempt to make his 100th start this season. Carlos became the 1st Hispanic driver in NASCAR’s history when he qualified 7th and finished 14th at California Speedway in his first NASCAR Truck series event. He went on to race 3 complete Truck seasons before taking a shot in the Nationwide series where he ran sporadically from 2003 through 2007. In 2010 Carlos ran 1 NASCARTruck Series event, Daytona, where he finished 14th. Since then Carlos has been racing in and supporting the NASCAR Mexico Series which he helped establish, and which is now the #1 Motorsport Series in Mexico. “I am very excited to have Carlos driving the #15 for Rick Ware Racing and proud to have RaceTrac convenience stores and Global Aircraft Solutions on board with us for Speedweek at Daytona,” said team owner Rick Ware. Carlos will be participating in additional Nationwide Series events throughout 2014 for RWR. Next on the schedule is Phoenix on March 1st. Additional confirmed races include California, Texas (both), Daytona (July), Homestead-Miami and, among others, the 3 Road Courses on the 2014 schedule.(Rick Ware Racing)(2-17-2014)

• Kligerman, BRG reunite for Daytona UPDATE: The Camping World Truck Series season opens on Feb. 21 at Daytona International Speedway. George Bragg wishes it started sooner. Last time for Bragg’s BRG Motorsports was the NASCAR truck race at Talladega Superspeedway in October. In the team’s only outing of the 2013 season, BRG came away with a fourth-place finish. Bragg said the team expected to do even better in the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona on Feb. 21. The BRG Motorsports’ Daytona entry again will have Parker Kligerman in the truck and Josh Bragg on top of the pit box. Josh Bragg is George Bragg’s son and the winner of the pro late model season championship at Mobile International Speedway for each of the past two seasons. BRG Motorsports has grown over the past decade from its roots in Helena, Miss. The Daytona truck was prepared in a shop in Mooresville, N.C., in the heart of NASCAR country. The team has support from Joe Gibbs Racing’s motor program and Toyota. Daytona will be the team’s sixth NASCAR truck event. Bragg would like to race more often. He said BRG Motorsports was building another speedway truck to race at Talladega on Oct. 18. For the truck series, other than Daytona and Talladega, nothing is certain for the 2014 season except the team needs sponsors to enable it to race more.(AL.com)(2-3-2014)
  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)
• Reddick approved for debut: Tyler Reddick confirmed on his Twitter that he received approval from NASCAR for this Friday’s NextEra Energy Resources 250. Reddick will make his debut behind the wheel of the #19 Ford for Brad Keselowski Racing. To get approval, Reddick ran Saturday’s ARCA Racing Series event at the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway. He finished fifth.(2-17-2014)
• Actor Chris Evans Named Grand Marshal for Daytona 500: Chris Evans, star of Marvel’s latest Super Hero adventure “Captain America: The Winter Solider,” scheduled for release on April 4, will serve as Grand Marshal for the 56th annual Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Feb. 23, at Daytona International Speedway. As Grand Marshal, Evans will declare the four most famous words in motorsports-“Drivers, start your engines.” In addition to delivering the command, he will be introduced at the driver’s meeting, participate in pre-race ceremonies and ride in one of the Grand Marshal cars during the pace laps prior to the green flag of the historic 200-lap, 500-mile race. “What better way to kick-off ‘The Great American Race’ than with Captain America, Chris Evans, giving the command to start engines,” Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said. “We look forward to having him be a part of our pre-race ceremonies in front of more than a hundred thousand race fans in attendance and millions more watching on FOX as we launch the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.” For more information on tickets for the 56th annual DAYTONA 500 and Sprint FANZONE/Pre-Race access, race fans can go online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS)(2-17-2014)

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  News from February 16, 2014

• Dillon wins Daytona 500 pole: #3-Austin Dillon won the pole for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway with a speed of 196.019mph. Dillon is the fifth rookie driver to win the Daytona 500 pole [Danica Patrick, Jimmie Johnson, Mike Skinner and Loy Allen] and the 4th driver to win the Daytona 500 pole running the #3 car [Buddy Baker-1969, Ricky Rudd-1983 and Dale Earnhardt-1996]. #78-Martin Truex Jr won the outside pole and will start 2nd next Sunday.
  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)
• Daytona 500 Qualifying Fast Facts:
  #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)

• Stewart OK after slamming wall in wreck: After waiting nearly seven months to get back in his #14 Mobil 1/Bass Pro Shops Chevy and race, Tony Stewart didn’t waste any time getting racy in the Sprint Unlimited Saturday night at Daytona. Stewart, who broke his right leg in a sprint car crash on Aug. 5, 2013, waited only five laps before ducking to the inside lane to see how his car would react in the draft. For the next 30 laps, Stewart ebbed and flowed with the draft, dropping to as low as 17th before running as high as third. But on lap 35, a multicar crash consumed Stewart and six other drivers, three of whom were his Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) teammates – #4-Kevin Harvick, #41-Kurt Busch and #10-Danica Patrick. Only Harvick was able to continue in the race. For Stewart, Busch and Patrick, their race was over, with each one of their racecars a crumpled mess. All were evaluated and released from the infield care center.
  “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)

• Ambrose takes blame for late wreck in Sprint Unlimited: #9-Marcos Ambrose – “We were actually in a pretty good position. I was trying to help Junior there and ended up hurting him and hurting myself. I feel bad for Junior, but we finished the race with the Stanley car, but we were just a little disappointed with our effort.”
  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)

• Petty stands by Danica remarks: Richard Petty said he is no sexist and defended his right to express his opinions a week after comments about Sprint Cup driver #10-Danica Patrick unleashed a backlash against the Hall of Fame driver and current team owner. At a trade show in Canada, Petty said Patrick, a second-year driver at NASCAR’s highest level, could only win “if everybody else stayed home.” Before the Sprint Unlimited on Saturday at Daytona International Speedway, Petty expressed his opinion on the firestorm. “What I said is what I said, and that’s what I believe, OK?” he said. “What’s unfair is the sexist part. If her name had been Danny, OK, nobody would have said anything about it. So y’all are bringing up the sexist part of it, not me.” Petty added, “It was definitely not sexist, OK? Hey look, I’ve been married 55 years to the same woman. So I am not a sexist by any ways. I love women.” Petty said Saturday he wouldn’t hesitate to express his opinions in the future. He noted that his comments generated a national NASCAR news cycle in the lull before SpeedWeeks, oddly verifying Patrick’s ability to generate publicity even while being critiqued. “There was nothing going on NASCAR racing. Nobody was talking about Daytona,” he said. “Nobody was talking about nothing. Look at all the publicity NASCAR got and she got just for one little comment.”(ESPN)(2-16-2014)

• NASCAR pace car catches on fire during Sprint Unlimited: With a full moon shining high above Daytona International Speedway, one of the most bizarre scenes in recent memory took place. As the field bunched up for the final 20-lap segment of the NASCAR Sprint Unlimited, smoke began billowing from one of the cars. No, not one of the race cars, it was the pace car. Pace car driver Brett Bodine pulled off the track as the trunk of the Chevrolet SS caught fire. Luckily, safety crews were quick on the scene to extinguish the fire. Come to find out, it was a battery pack used to power external lights that ignited the fire.(FoxSports)(2-16-2014)

• Martha Earnhardt comments about the return of the #3 UPDATE: Martha Earnhardt, mother of the late NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt, in an exclusive interview with Steve Byrnes on today’s edition of NASCAR RACE HUB on FOX Sports 1, talked about the return of the #3 to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition. Richard Childress Racing, who owned the #3 that Earnhardt drove at the time of his tragic incident at Daytona International Speedway in February of 2001, is once again utilizing the #3 for Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year candidate Austin Dillon in 2014. Here is what Martha Earnhardt told FOX Sports 1: “I have mixed feelings because I was told that I would never see a number three on the race track after Dale died. I can understand it to a point. I know it was Richard’s [Childress] number when he drove and this is his grandson, and I understand that. As long as they don’t make it look like the number three. If they painted it a different color … I can sort of deal with it, but I don’t want to see the black number three just like Dale’s. But that’s not my decision.”(FOX)(2-12-2014)
  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)

• Ricky Rudd to be honored Monday: Created by Rotary Club of Daytona Beach West to honor legendary drivers and personalities in stock car racing, the Stock Car Hall of Fame event has raised funds for local charities for almost 25 years. This year, the proceeds from the event will benefit Habitat for Humanity. Well known for its community based housing initiatives, Habitat for Humanity has already earmarked the funds it will receive from the SHOF event to build a home for a wounded veteran. The Stock Car Hall of Fame and Rotary Club of Daytona Beach West are proud and honored to assist in raising funds for this amazing cause. The 2014 Inductee will be Ricky Rudd. Known as the “Iron man” of NASCAR; Ricky Rudd holds the record for most consecutive starts in NASCAR racing. Rudd had made 788 consecutive starts. More info at stockcarhalloffame.org.(2-16-2014)
• Elliott, Kwasniewski approved for Daytona: NASCAR has approved a pair of high-profile 18-year-old drivers for speedway racing. The sanctioning body gave the nod to #9-Chase Elliott and #31-Dylan Kwasniewski following their runs in the ARCA race Saturday. Elliott finished ninth in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway, five spots ahead of pole-sitter Kwasniewski. Both were running and on the lead lap at the end of the 80-lap race. The youngsters were required to drive the ARCA race at Daytona to gain speedway clearance. Proving they can handle fast speeds, high banks and lots of traffic, they were given the green light for the Nationwide Series opener at Daytona next Saturday.(Associated Press/ESPN)(2-16-2014)

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  News from February 15, 2014

• Denny Hamlin wins all three segments in Sprint Unlimited victory: #11-Denny Hamlin survived a war of attrition to win Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season-opening exhibition race at Daytona International Speedway. The winner of all three segments of the 75-lap event, Hamlin was running up front and out of harm’s way when a wreck halved the field early in the second segment. And on a night when the pace car caught fire and had to be abandoned between the second and final segments, Hamlin won the race with a three-wide move on the backstretch on the next-to-last lap at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. The event was decided in a five-lap dash after a Lap 66 collision with #9-Marcos Ambrose in Turn 1 eliminated the #88 Chevy of Dale Earnhardt Jr., who had surrendered the lead to #22-Joey Logano two laps earlier. #2-Brad Keselowski ran second, followed by #18-Kyle Busch, Logano and Kevin Harvick, whose #4 Chevy was damaged in the nine-car wreck that punctuated segment No. 2.
  “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)
• Final Sprint Unlimited Results, lap 75 of 75: 1) #11-Denny Hamlin (1), 75 laps run, 27 laps led
  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)
• Sprint Unlimited Race Fast Facts:
  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)
• Final segment – fans choose mandatory pit stop: Fans voted up to the end of segment 2 to see how the final segment of the Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway would be restarted, the choices were.
  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)
• Segment 2 Results, lap 55 of 75: 1) #11-Denny Hamlin (1), 55 laps run, 25 laps led
  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.
• Segment 1 Results, lap 30 of 75: 1) #11-Denny Hamlin (1), 30laps run, 9 laps led
  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.
• Hamlin to start first: Race fans had the final voice in selecting the starting lineup for The Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday night, Feb. 16. The fans had three choices:
  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)

• see all 18 of the Sprint Unlimited paint schemes on the 2014 Sprint Unlimited Paint Schemes page
• Race Coverage of the Sprint Unlimited Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, February 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

• Get Well DW UPDATE: NASCAR Hall of Famer and Fox broadcaster Darrell Waltrip is having gall bladder surgery today (Feb 13th) in Nashville, TN.(2-13-2014)
  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)

• Engine Issues for three drivers, will go to the rear of Daytona 500: #10-Danica Patrick, who won the pole for the Daytona 500 last year, was one of three drivers to have their Hendrick Motorsports engines suffer catastrophic failures in practice Saturday. #52-Bobby Labonte, driving a second car for HScott Motorsports, was the first using a leased HMS engine to experience trouble in the first practice session of the day. In the second session, the #14 Chevy of Tony Stewart — Patrick’s teammate at Stewart-Haas Racing — belched smoke, signaling a failure. Patrick’s #10 Chevrolet did much the same 10 minutes later. Both Stewart and Patrick said they had no warning. “It’s just a motor. If it was getting ready for the race you would be a little more concerned,” Stewart said. “It’s just for qualifying. They pay the big check a week from tomorrow, not tomorrow.”
  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)
• Coverage of Qualifying for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is scheduled for Sunday, February 16, 2014 at 1:05pm/et.
  Television (TV): FOX, 1:00pm/et
  Radio: Live online at Motor Racing Network (MRN)
  Scheduled Qualifying Re-Air: none
• Qualifying Order for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is posted. 49 cars/drivers are listed.
  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)
• 2nd practice for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is over, after 110 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
  #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)
• Opening practice for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is over, after 120 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
  #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)

• Fans To Vote On Race Format For The 2014 Sprint Unlimited: For the second year in a row, fans will decide upon a number of competition elements for the Sprint Unlimited at Daytona, the 75-lap, non-points race that kicks off the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing season on Saturday, February 15. Fans can cast their votes to set the overall format and determine key racing elements. Fans will again set the number of laps in each of the three segments, while also voting on how drivers will line up at the start of the race and how they will line up for the restart of the final segment.
  “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)

• By the Numbers: Sprint Unlimited:
  .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)

• Stewart says his leg feels ok after first practice: #14-Tony Stewart, met with members of the media at Daytona International Speedway following the first practice session for Saturday’s Sprint Unlimited. Stewart discussed how he felt in the car as he climbed behind the wheel for the first time following his accident last season, the transcript in part:
  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)

• More possible suitors for a Kurt Busch Indy 500 run?: It’s already becoming the “will he, won’t he” saga of the run up to this year’s Indianapolis 500. “It” is Kurt Busch’s participation. The “will he” part is, as it was a couple weeks ago, still hovering at the 70 percent mark. He expanded on this at NASCAR Media Day in Daytona on Thursday, and said there were more potential teams in the frame than Andretti Autosport, with whom he completed Rookie Orientation in 2013. “My forecast hasn’t changed from the other week when I said I was 70 percent sure that I would run the Indy 500 this year,” Busch said, via the Indianapolis Motor Speedway website. “I’m still confident in that forecast. If I were a weatherman, I’d say bring an umbrella.” The new teams identified are Chip Ganassi Racing, KV Racing and Ed Carpenter Racing, which all carry one thing in common: the Chevrolet bow-tie. Ganassi already has a four-car lineup but with the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship off between May 4 and May 31, it could have its sports car crew available to run a fifth car at the Speedway. KV team co-owner Jimmy Vasser said earlier this week it would prefer to run a veteran driver in its third car for the ‘500, a car which is very likely to materialize. Andretti’s squad, which had run Chevrolets the last two years, has shifted to Honda power in 2014. Busch stays with Chevrolet in his new NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team at Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014, after he moves over from Furniture Row Racing. The manufacturer divide may be the stumbling block that prevents Busch’s participation. Or, alternatively, it could be something both sides work through, which would be for the benefit of all parties.(NBC Sports)(2-15-2014)

• Stewart Donates Custom Scooter to Darrell Gwynn Foundation: The custom scooter three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion #14-Tony Stewart used to move around following an Aug. 5 sprint car crash that broke his right leg has been donated to the Darrell Gwynn Foundation. Stewart personally donated the scooter, complete with a special paint scheme that mimics the #14 Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet SS he drives in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, to the Darrell Gwynn Foundation. The Foundation, in turn, will auction the scooter at the upcoming Barrett-Jackson event April 11-13 in Palm Beach, FL. Stewart signed the scooter, as well as a 16×20 picture of him on the scooter. But in addition to the scooter, Stewart has created an overall package that will accompany the scooter’s winning bid. It includes a race-worn Bass Pro Shops firesuit signed by Stewart and a trip for two people to be his guests at the July 3-5 Coke Zero 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Daytona International Speedway. Round-trip airfare, a three-night hotel stay and garage passes will all be covered by Stewart, and two reserved seats will be available on the #14 team’s pit box for the winners to watch the Coke Zero 400. To make sure the scooter and accompanying prize package is a strong fundraiser for the Darrell Gwynn Foundation, Stewart will personally match the first $50,000 bid and donate it to the Darrell Gwynn Foundation.(TSC)(2-15-2014)

  ---

  News from February 14, 2014

• Happy Hour (final) practice: for the Sprint Unlimited Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is over, after 60 scheduled minutes, the top five and notes:
  #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)
• First practice: for the Sprint Unlimited Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is over, after 45 scheduled minutes, the top five and notes:
  #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)
• Entry List for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is posted, 49 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including: #33-Brian Scott, #32-Terry Labonte, #95-McDowell, #52-Bobby Labonte, #40-Cassill. Six drivers will miss the race. There are six teams that must race in via the Duel or by speed and do not have a regular provisional to use at Daytona [either no owners points or 43 teams ahead of them]: #26-Whitt, #41-Busch, #52-Labonte, #93-Shepherd, #77-Blaney and #95-McDowell. #41-Busch or #52-Labonte could use a past champions provisional if not used by another past champion ahead of them in rank.
  See the full entry list at my Jayski’s Daytona 500 Entry List
• added some more 2014 images: #52 Phoenix Construction, #34 CSX Play It Safe, #38 Love’s Travel Stops, #35 Hefty / Reynolds Wrap, #88 Kelley Blue Book, #21 Motorcraft, #22 AutoTrader.com and#26 Speed Stick Gear schemes

• Biffle working on new contract: #16-Greg Biffle, met with members of the media at NASCAR Daytona Media Day and among the issues discussed was his contract with Rosuh Fenway Racing, which expires at the end of the 2014 season, the transcript in part:
  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)

• Gordon says he’ll retire if he wins Sprint Cup title: #24-Jeff Gordon said Thursday afternoon that he’ll retire at the end of the season if he can finally capture his elusive fifth title this year. Gordon won his titles in 1995, ’97, ’98 and 2001 when Winston was the series sponsor, but in recent years has been unable to top teammate Jimmie Johnson, who won six titles between 2005 and 2013. “I go home and I look in my trophy room and I see four trophies that are championship trophies, but they say ‘Winston Cup’ on them,” Gordon said at Thursday’s NASCAR Media Day at Daytona International Speedway. “You can name me a four-time Sprint Cup (champion) for technical reasons all you want, but to me, I’m not. And I want that before my career is over.” And if Gordon can do win a title this year, he’ll call it quits. “If that happened, that would be all the reasons I need to say, ‘This is it, I’m done,'” Gordon said. “Go out on a high note.”(FoxSports)(2-14-2014)

• Goodyear Expands Use of Multi-Zone Tread Technology in 2014: Last year, Goodyear brought a tire concept to America’s most popular motorsport that 2012 Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski has said could “revolutionize” the sport. That innovation was Goodyear’s Multi-Zone Tread technology, which features two distinct compounds in one tire – creating one zone for enhanced traction and another for greater endurance. Goodyear first employed Multi-Zone Tread technology in passenger car tires like the Assurance TripleTred All-Season, which features three zones for superior traction in wet, icy and dry conditions.In 2013, Goodyear debuted its Multi-Zone Tread technology at two NASCAR races – Atlanta Motor Speedway and the fall event at Kansas Speedway. Because the two tracks were at opposite ends of the tire wear spectrum, the compound combinations were different for each.
  “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)

• Wood Brothers ready for Daytona: The Wood Brothers team will be ready for action in Daytona, despite numerous problems with the weather. Throughout the last few weeks, they have battled rain in Daytona during the test, a postponed Talladega test due to a snow covered track, and sleet on the roadways in the southeast this week. Despite all of this, nothing stopped Donnie Wingo and the Wood Brothers from arriving at Daytona International Speedway with a Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion ready to race. Wingo and the Motorcraft Quick/Lane team kicked off the Woods’ 64th NASCAR season – and the team’s 14th with Motorcraft/Quick Lane colors on the sides of the iconic #21 – in January with a planned two-day test in advance of the 56th annual Daytona 500. When rain washed out the first day, Wingo, Trevor Bayne, and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team returned for the second day and literally ran from daylight to dark, turning 47 laps in a rain-delayed session before the track closed at 9 pm. Wingo felt there was more speed to be found, so he scheduled a test at Daytona’s sister track, Talladega Superspeedway, only to have the first test snowed out. Even the second test, last week, was delayed by snow, but the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team got in a full two days of testing with the car that will be the back-up for the Daytona 500 entry that was run in the January test. Back at home base in Charlotte, Wingo and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team continued to fine-tune the car, taking it to the wind tunnel three times, including one session at 6 a.m. Tuesday, just before the car was loaded for an early trip to Daytona to avoid being caught in the sleet and ice storm that wreaked havoc on the highways around the Carolinas and Georgia. “There’s been a lot of work done on this car since the Daytona test. I’m sure if there was more time, Donnie and the crew would still be working on it. Teams never stop until its time to load.” Wood also likes the tweaks that have been done to the paint scheme. “It’s still Motorcraft red, white and gold, but the Motorcraft/Quick Lane logos are a little different. I think they look racier, and they’re easier to read on the track.”(Wodd Brothers Racing), see an image of the car on the #21 Team Schemes page.(2-14-2014)

• Bloomin’ Monday is Back with Harvick: After a successful two-year partnership with Stewart-Hass Racing that has seen Outback Steakhouse deliver over 400,000 free Bloomin’ Onions to race fans, Outback Steakhouse is pleased to announce that Bloomin’ Monday is back for 2014. Kevin “Happy” Harvick, driver of the #4 Chevrolet SS will be the NEW face of the Outback Steakhouse Bloomin’ Monday promotion. Outback Steakhouse hopes to wish fans many “Happy” Bloomin’ Mondays” this season. Whenever Harvick finishes in the top-10 of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, fans can get a free Bloomin’ Onion at Outback Steakhouse on the Monday immediately following the race. Fans simply need to reference the promotion to their server to receive their Bloomin’ Onion. Harvick had 18 top-10s in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2013. Outback Steakhouse will be the primary sponsor of Harvick and the #4 team for two races in 2014 – at Richmond in April and Martinsville in October. When not serving as a primary sponsor, Outback Steakhouse will be an associate sponsor with placement on the B-post of the #4 Chevrolet.(Outback Steakhouse Racing), see an image of the car on the #4 Team Schemes page.(2-14-2014)

• KMC Wheels joins Germain Racing: Germain Racing announced the addition of KMC Wheels as a major associate sponsor on their #13 GEICO Chevrolet SS and driver Casey Mears for the 2014 season. KMC Wheels, which was founded in 1982, is not unfamiliar to Mears who has long used their cutting edge custom wheels on a variety of vehicles over the years. KMC Wheels is a brand of Wheel Pros, which has multi-disciplinary sponsorships encompassing nearly the entire sport of auto racing, as well as off-road truck racing. The relationship with Germain Racing and Casey Mears will be their first full-time sponsorship effort in the sport of NASCAR and will serve to complement their current programs, while also expanding their reach among the racing world. Wheel Pros’ longstanding commitment to motorsports has Mears excited to be the KMC Wheels brand ambassador in the world of stock car racing.(PMI)(2-14-2014)

• Bodine joins broadcast team: Two-time series champion Todd Bodine announced on his Twitterpage that he would be joining the FOX Sports 1 broadcast team for the season-opening Camping World Truck Series race next week in Daytona. Bodine ran eight races in 2013 with a best finish of 11th. He assisted in the broadcast booth last summer, filling in for Michael Waltrip.(2-14-2014)

• Hornaday in TSM truck at Daytona: Turner Scott Motorsports announced today that the four-time NASCAR Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr. will be behind the wheel of the the #30 Chevy Silverado in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway. The seasoned NASCAR veteran will embark on his second-career start for TSM following a top-five finish in the 2013 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Sponsored by Rheem Comfort Products, the 55-year-old veteran will pilot the famed red and black Rheem paint scheme in the NextEra Energy Resources 250. Hornaday is no stranger to success at the 2.5-mile track, having 10 starts, two top fives and three top 10s in the NCWTS alone. With direction from former racer-turned-crew-chief, Shane Huffman, Hornaday completes the TSM roster for the NCWTS race at Daytona and will be running alongside teammates Ben Kennedy and Ryan Truex.”I’m really excited about having a four-time champion in one of our trucks,” said TSM co-owner Steve Turner. “Both Ron’s team and our team are working diligently to get a full-time deal put together for the 2014 season.”(Turner Scott Motorsports)(2-14-2014)
• Larry and Shawn King to Participate In The Sprint Unlimited Pre-Race Ceremonies: Legendary television and radio journalist Larry King will serve as co-Grand Marshal of The Sprint Unlimited At Daytona International Speedway on Saturday night, Feb. 15 while his wife, singer Shawn King, will perform the National Anthem. Shawn King will sing the National Anthem just prior to her husband Larry King’s starting command, “Drivers, start your engines,” which will be delivered alongside two race fans that will be selected earlier in day to serve as Co-Grand Marshals. “We are excited to welcome Larry and Shawn King to the ‘World Center of Racing’ to participate in the pre-race ceremonies for The Sprint Unlimited,” Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said. “Larry is an iconic newsman and we’re looking forward to his command alongside two race fans. We are also delighted to have his wife Shawn King deliver a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem.”
  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)
• Aloe Blacc to Sing National Anthem for Daytona 500: Singer, songwriter Aloe Blacc will perform the National Anthem prior to the 56th annual DAYTONA 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. “Aloe Blacc is recognized around the globe for his smooth vocals, so it’s only fitting he perform at the ‘World Center of Racing’ in front of more than one hundred thousand race fans and millions more watching on FOX,” Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said. “We look forward to hearing his moving rendition prior to the start of NASCAR’s richest and most prestigious race.” For more information on tickets for the 56th annual DAYTONA 500 and Sprint FANZONE/Pre-Race access, race fans can go online at daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS)(2-14-2014)
• Ticket deal kicks off on Feb. 15 during Darlington Raceway’s Sprint Unlimited Viewing Party:Darlington Raceway is once again giving its fans the opportunity to receive ultimate access during pre-race ceremonies for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 on April 12. The track’s Daytona 500 special ticket package, which kicks off on Saturday, Feb. 15, will give fans the ability to watch Sprint Cup Series driver introductions and a concert from in front of the pre-race stage. To receive this extraordinary access, fans need to purchase a ticket to the Bojangles’ Southern 500 up until the checkered flag of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 23. The offer begins on Saturday in conjunction with the track’s viewing party, scheduled for 7 p.m. at Buffalo Wild Wings in Florence, S.C. The party officially kicks off the 2014 NASCAR season when the series competes in the Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway. Darlington is again teaming up with partners Crown Beverages, Eagle 92.9 FM and WBTW CBS 13 to kick off the season by hosting the fan favorite party. The event is free and open to the public. Tickets to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 on Saturday, April 12 and Nationwide Series 200 on Friday, April 11 are now on sale. Remember, kids 12 and under are half off for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 and FREE for the Nationwide Series 200 in general admission sections. Visit DarlingtonRaceway.com or call 866-459-7223 for more information.(Darlington Raceway)(2-14-2014)

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  News from February 13, 2014

• Get Well DW: NASCAR Hall of Famer and Fox broadcaster Darrell Waltrip is having gall bladder surgery today (Feb 13th) in Nashville, TN.(2-13-2014)
• Entry List for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is posted, 49 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including: #33-Brian Scott, #32-Terry Labonte, #95-McDowell, #52-Bobby Labonte, #40-Cassill. Six drivers will miss the race. There are six teams that must race in via the Duel or by speed and do not have a regular provisional to use at Daytona [either no owners points or 43 teams ahead of them]: #26-Whitt, #41-Busch, #52-Labonte, #93-Shepherd, #77-Blaney and #95-McDowell. #41-Busch or #52-Labonte could use a past champions provisional if not used by another past champion ahead of them in rank.
  See the full entry list at my Jayski’s Daytona 500 Entry List

• Yeley says he has a 2014 Cup ride UPDATE: J.J. Yeley, who drove the #36 Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevy in 2013 posted on his Facebook that he has a 2014 Sprint Cup Series ride, but didn’t say if full-time or which team. Reed Sorenson was named the driver of the #36 ride on Tuesday.(2-6-2014)
  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)

• #32 team gets an associate sponsor for Daytona: Go FAS Racing announced that Tender Beef Jerky USA will be an associate sponsor on the #32 Go FAS Racing Ford driven by Terry Labonte in the Daytona 500. Tender Beef Jerky helped Go FAS Racing during the January testing, and was pleased from the response of the NASCAR community, that they had to be a part of the Daytona 500. “We hope that this is just the beginning of our involvement with NASCAR,” Tender Beef Jerky owner Luc Fortin said.(Go FAS Racing PR)(2-13-2014)

• Richard Petty: Danica won’t win UPDATE Danica responds: The only way #10-Danica Patrick will win a NASCAR Sprint Cup race is if she’s the only driver on the track, says the legendary “King” of stock car racing, Richard Petty. Petty, who visited Toronto Sunday for an appearance at the Canadian Motorsports Expo (for the live blog, please click here), answered quickly and decisively when asked if the former IndyCar star who’s now a second-year driver for Stewart-Haas Racing would ever visit Victory Lane in the Cup series. “(Only) if everybody else stayed home,” said Petty, who startedhis NASCAR career in 1958 in a race at the long-gone Canadian National Exhibition Speedway in downtown Toronto. Petty spent much of the time in a media scrum discussing how NASCAR has evolved over the years from “race time” to “show time” and he acknowledged that Patrick has been good for the sport in that respect.(full story at Toronto Star Wheels)(2-10-2014) UPDATE #10-Danica Patrick, met with members of the media at NASCAR Daytona Media Day and discussed: Richard Petty comments and other topics, the transcript in part:
  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)
• Some updates to the new group qualifying rules: during NASCAR Media Day at Daytona on Thursday, February 13, 2014. First a statement by NASCAR’s vice president of competition and racing development, Robin Pemberton, then a quick Q&A:
  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)

• State Water Heaters returns to sponsor Stewart-Haas Racing: State Water Heaters, a leading manufacturer of commercial and residential water heaters, has renewed its partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), the title-winning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team co-owned by three-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart and Haas Automation founder Gene Haas. State Water Heaters will serve as the primary sponsor of 2004 Sprint Cup champion Kurt Busch and the #41 team during the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup race weekend Oct. 10-11 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and as an associate sponsor throughout the 2014 season with the State Water Heaters logo appearing on the C-post of the #41 Chevy and on the chest of Busch’s firesuit.(Stewart Haas Racing), see an image of the scheme on the #41 Team Schemes page.(2-13-2014)

• New sponsor for Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Kelley Blue Book, the vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the automotive industry, has joined Hendrick Motorsports as a primary sponsor of the #88 Chevrolet SS NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team with driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2014 and 2015. The two-year agreement includes full-season associate sponsorship, which provides Kelley Blue Book prominent brand placement on the #88 race cars throughout the Sprint Cup schedule, and primary sponsorship of Earnhardt in one event annually. The 2014 season will be the first as a NASCAR team sponsor for Kelley Blue Book, a subsidiary of AutoTrader Group.
  “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)

• New sponsor for Joey Logano: AutoTrader.com will join Team Penske in 2014 with sponsorship of the #22 Ford Fusion and driver Joey Logano in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Under the terms of the multi-year agreement, AutoTrader.com will become a season-long associate sponsor on the #22 team and will also serve as the car’s primary sponsor for the July 13 race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) with a special AutoTrader.com livery.
  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)
• NASCAR Sprint Cup 2013 Season Commercial Statistics: The new NASCAR season is barely a pit stop away. Before the start of the 2014 season, here are some stats to peruse. These are the commercial statistics for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, showing which network had the most ads, the least ads, and other interesting stats. These were culminated from my Commercial Breakdown Reports for the 2013 season. One thing that has remained consistent in the years CawsnJaws.com has provided these stats: the discomfort many NASCAR fans feel for the quantity and placement of commercials during races.
  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)

• 2014 NASCAR Media Day: The 2014 NASCAR Media Day will be held as scheduled. At 7:30am/et, Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition and racing development, will provide a competition update. NASCAR Media Day features two sessions of more than 50 drivers from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. There will also be a Goodyear Announcement acknowledging 60 years of Official Partnership.(2-13-2014)

• Stewart will not have a driver on standby at Daytona: #14-Tony Stewart will not have a driver on standby this weekend at Daytona International Speedway as he plans to get back in a racecar for the first time since breaking two bones in his right leg in August. Stewart, whose leg was punctured by a front-end piece of the sprint car he crashed when trying to avoid another vehicle in an Aug. 5 race at Southern Iowa Speedway, has estimated that his leg will be 65% healed when practice starts Friday at Daytona International Speedway. A Stewart-Haas Racing spokesman said that the team has no standby driver tapped for the weekend. Mark Martin, who insists he won’t race again, tested for Stewart last month.(Sporting News)(2-13-2014)

• Owners Points Updates: NASCAR announced that it has approved points for three new ownership groups. The points from the #32 car owned by Frank Stoddard last season will go to Go Fas Racing. That features the new partnership between Stoddard’s Fas Lane Racing and Archie St. Hilarie’s Go Green Racing.
  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)

• NASCAR Rule Book Reveals More on Infractions: The new NASCAR Sprint Cup Rule Book provides more details on what type of infractions can lead to particular penalties and includes a list of members of the Appeals Panels that reveals four new members. This year’s Rule Book is 208 pages, 16 pages more than last year’s version. The book lists 34 people in the pool for the appeals panels. There were 48 in the pool last year. The Rule Book also provides more explanation of its penalty structure. NASCAR’s new deterrence system divides infractions into warnings and penalties labeled from P1 (least severe) to P6 (most severe). The Rule Book states that if a team receives two warnings during an event or two warnings during two consecutive events, then that may result in a P1 penalties that could include the team having the last choice in pit selection, reduction of track time in practice or qualifying or be selected for post-race inspection, among various possibilities. See full report and much more info at Motor Racing Network.(2-13-2014)

• Danica to run Nationwide race at Daytona: Danica Patrick will pilot Turner Scott Motorsports’ (TSM) third entry in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) race at Daytona International Speedway. Patrick, who will compete in her second full-time season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) in 2014, will be behind the wheel of the #30 Florida Lottery Chevy Camaro in the season-opening DRIVE4COPD 300. Veteran crew chief Mike Greci will once again be calling the shots from atop the pit box. Patrick made her TSM debut in last year’s season opener and surged to an early lead before an electrical failure forced her to retire early and resulted in a 36th-place finish. Patrick, who is the first woman in history to win an IndyCar race, has raced in a total of 60 NNS events, completing one full-time season in 2012. Patrick will be sponsored by the Florida Lottery for the event.(TSM)(2-13-2014)

• Harvick joins Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation board: The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation (CRSF) announced that NASCAR driver #4-Kevin Harvick will be joining its Board, effective immediately. One of the first initiatives that the Ripken Foundation and Kevin Harvick Foundation will combine efforts on is construction of a Youth Development Park in the greater Greensboro, N.C. area.(Kevin Harvick Foundation)(2-13-2014)

• Florida Lottery, Whelen Engineering on board with Kennedy: Ben Kennedy announced on his Facebook page that Florida Lottery and Whelen Engineering will sponsor his #31 Chevy Silverado for Turner Scott Motorsports in the season-opener next week at Daytona.(2-13-2014)

• Cobb to run full season with new sponsor support: Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing is pleased to announce its sponsorship line-up for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextERA Energy Resources 250 on Friday, February 21, 2014 at Daytona International Speedway. Cobb is proud to be participating with the Used Truck Association, Wreaths Across America and Fans4Truckers to honor Arlington Cemetery’s 150th Anniversary with a “Remember Them All” kickoff. Fans can visit www.uta.org/driven2honor and join Cobb in a fundraiser group to the public and sponsor a remembrance wreath for a fallen soldier at Arlington on “Wreaths Across America Day” this December 13th 2014. The campaign goal is to fund enough remembrance wreaths to be placed on all of the over 240,000 fallen veterans buried at Arlington. JJCR will also have co-primary sponsorship from Tyler, Texas-based Grimes Irrigation & Construction, Inc. With a surge of new sponsorship and returning support from Koma Unwind, Arrow Truck Sales, Horejsi Graphics and Waldo’s Paint Supply Co., the team is slated to compete in all 22 race events on the schedule. Crew Chief, Steve Kuykendall will lead the team.(Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing)(2-13-2014)

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  News from February 12, 2014

• Martha Earnhardt comments about the return of the #3: Martha Earnhardt, mother of the late NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt, in an exclusive interview with Steve Byrnes on today’s edition of NASCAR RACE HUB on FOX Sports 1, talked about the return of the #3 to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition. Richard Childress Racing, who owned the #3 that Earnhardt drove at the time of his tragic incident at Daytona International Speedway in February of 2001, is once again utilizing the #3 for Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year candidate Austin Dillon in 2014. Here is what Martha Earnhardt told FOX Sports 1: “I have mixed feelings because I was told that I would never see a number three on the race track after Dale died. I can understand it to a point. I know it was Richard’s [Childress] number when he drove and this is his grandson, and I understand that. As long as they don’t make it look like the number three. If they painted it a different color … I can sort of deal with it, but I don’t want to see the black number three just like Dale’s. But that’s not my decision.”(FOX)(2-12-2014)

• NASCAR Taps Military Veteran As Director, Touring And Weekly Communications: NASCAR announced several personnel moves within its Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) department, including the hiring of Tom Bryant, a 20-year U.S. Army veteran, to a new position of Director, Touring and Weekly Communications. Bryant is a recently retired Lt. Colonel, who completed his service after a decorated career in the Infantry and Special Operations. He most recently served as director of public relations for the U.S. Special Operations Command in Kabul, Afghanistan.
  “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)

• Swan Racing gets a sponsor for Daytona 500: Swan Racing announced that Speed Stick GEAR is sponsoring Cole Whitt and the #26 Toyota for NASCAR’s Daytona 500. To kick off the relationship, Speed Stick will film a multi-part documentary series that will chronicle the rookie’s preparation and in-car experience during this year’s Great American Race – the Daytona 500, on February 23rd. Whitt, 22, is a candidate for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year award and will be competing in one of the toughest rookie classes ever. “Nothing is more heart-pounding than driving 200 miles per hour, just inches apart – especially in front of tens of millions of people,” said Whitt. “Preparation is everything. My crew, my car and my body have to perform at an advanced level.” Speed Stick GEAR is a new line of antiperspirants with DRYCORE technology designed for advanced performance, keeping guys dry even in the most pulse-inducing conditions imaginable – like racing in the Daytona 500. “Cole Whitt is about to embark on an experience that aligns perfectly with our brand story,” said Bill Van Da Graaf. “We are so excited to be able to capture and share it as a way to inspire guys to face life head-on.” Visit Speed Stick’s YouTube channel on March 1st, 2014 to watch the documentary series chronicling every step of Whitt’s journey from the Swan Racing team headquarters in North Carolina to the Daytona 500 checkered flag (Swan Racing), see an image of the scheme on the #26 Team Schemes page.(2-12-2014)

• Wiley X Sponsoring 14 NASCAR Drivers: Wiley X, Inc. has announced its team of sponsored NASCAR drivers. Among the Wiley X Pro Racing Team this year are proven champions, racing legends, perennial fan favorites and up-and-coming stars. Among Wiley X’s stable of sponsored NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers are #20-Matt Kenseth, #99-Carl Edwards, #4-Kevin Harvick, #22-Joey Logano and #16-Greg Biffle. These drivers have been selected not only for their racing skills, but for their ability to serve as ambassadors for the Wiley X sunglasses brand. Wiley X will also be sponsoring drivers Aric Almirola, Ron Hornaday Jr., Michael McDowell, Joe Nemechek, John Hunter Nemechek, David Ragan, Joey Coulter and Chad Hackenbracht. Fifteen-year-old racing protégé Gray Gaulding, who signed with Wiley X last year, is also an important part of the team. Wiley X is also the official sunglass of Roush Fenway Racing.(NSSN)(2-12-2014)

• Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson team up with Valvoline for Reinvention Project:Valvoline and Hendrick Motorsports announced a first-of-its-kind consumer challenge called the Reinvention Project. Valvoline is working with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. to secretly reinvent two classic Chevy trucks and will be keeping them under wraps to give fans a chance to get in on the action. Car enthusiasts everywhere can put their know-how to the test in an attempt to guess the various features of Earnhardt Jr.’s and Johnson’s creations. A virtual garage hosted at www.ReinventionProject.com invites consumers to select the parts that the drivers hand-picked for their high-performance trucks, from Chevrolet Performance* engines, to American Eagle* wheels and Goodyear* tires. More info at Hendrickmotorsports.com.(HMS)(2-12-2014)

• Scott Lagasse, Jr. to drive for RAB at Daytona: Daytona International Speedway will see it’s hometown driver, Scott Lagasse Jr. in action in a joint effort between RAB Racing and TeamSLR in the DRIVE4COPD 300 on Saturday, February 22nd. Lagasse Jr. will be carrying an important message for the fans in the state of Florida, on his #29 Alert Today, Alive Tomorrow Toyota Camry. The DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway will also be the first event for crew chief Matt Lucas at RAB Racing. The ‘Alert Today, Alive Tomorrow’ initiative began in 2011 with the goal of increasing awareness and decreasing crashes, injuries and fatalities of bicyclists and pedestrians in the state of Florida. As part of the Florida DOT’s focused initiative, the ‘Alert Today, Alive Tomorrow’ campaign is being presented via television, radio, social media, transit advertising, and through local education and enforcement activities. The Boy Scouts of America will continue their involvement and support of Scott Lagasse Jr. and TeamSLR for 2014 beginning with the Daytona International Speedway event. The BSA and Lagasse Jr. have been successfully providing unique opportunities for Scouts through motorsports for the past 2 years.(RAB Racing), see an image of the car on the #29 team paint schemes page.(2-12-2014)

• Danica Patrick in the #30 at Daytona: Danica Patrick will pilot Turner Scott Motorsports’ third entry in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway. Patrick, who will compete in her second full-time season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2014, will be behind the wheel of the #30 Florida Lottery Chevy Camaro in the season-opening DRIVE4COPD 300. Veteran crew chief Mike Greci will once again be calling the shots from atop the pit box. Patrick made her TSM debut in last year’s season opener and surged to an early lead before an electrical failure forced her to retire early and resulted in a 36th-place finish. The former IndyCar driver made her Nationwide Series debut at the 2.5-mile superspeedway in 2010 and has six previous NNS starts in Daytona, with a best finish of 10th.(Turner Scott Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #30 team paint schemes page.(2-12-2014)
• Dover and Pocono Partner Up for Feb. 23rd Event Featuring Giveaways: Dover International Speedway and Pocono Raceway will help area NASCAR fans kick off the 2014 season with the second-annual Daytona 500 Watch Party at XFINITY Live! Philadelphia on Sunday, February 23, at 1:00 pm/et. One of the biggest events in the motorsports world will be broadcast on the 32-foot Sony High Definition television screen at the center of the NBC Sports Area venue. In addition to viewing “The Great American Race,” fans in attendance can enter to win a number of great prizes, including NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tickets to both the June 1, 2014, race at the Monster Mile and the June 8, 2014, “Pocono 400” at The Tricky Triangle, as well as, some autographed NASCAR memorabilia. The first 60 fans to arrive will have their choice of a pair of tickets to either the Friday, May 30 “Lucas Oil 200” NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race or the Saturday June 7 “Pocono 200” ARCA Racing Series race.
  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)

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  News from February 11, 2014

• Haas Speeds Forward With Formula One Plans: NASCAR team co-owner [#4,#10,#14,#41] Gene Haas knows there are those who doubt his ability to field a Formula One team due to the failure of USF1 about five years ago, but that’s not keeping him from taking the next step in his pursuit of one. Haas was scheduled to file the next part of his F1 application Feb. 10. He already has paid a $5,000 application fee. “I think they said their final selection would be in March, something like that,” Haas said during Charlotte Motor Speedway’s annual media tour. “I think we have a shot. I don’t think it’s a great shot. I think it could go either way.” Haas said F1 could decide to grant one team a license or it could elect not to add another organization. Haas said he had met with Bernie Ecclestone, the president and CEO of Formula One Management and Formula One Administration, and admitted Ecclestone was skeptical about his ability to field a team. If Haas’ F1 aspirations become reality, the team would be based in the United Stated. Haas said he would need to begin his operation with a veteran F1 driver so he could help “sort out” the car and “then someone else that could bring some money in.”(in part from RacinToday)(2-11-2014)

• Dave Blaney Claims Sprint Car All Star Opener: After three straight rain-outs, the 2014 season for the University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions finally kicked off Sunday at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, FL. NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Dave Blaney – the Buckeye Bullet – put on a dominating performance early and then held off a charging Tim Shaffer to pick up his 46th career series win.(NSSN)(2-11-2014)

• NBCSN to launches new NASCAR Show: The day after the next Daytona 500 Champion is crowned, NBCSN introduces NASCAR AMERICA, a new 30-minute daily show dedicated to the nation’s longstanding fascination with speed and stock car racing. Making its debut on NBCSN at 5:00pm/et on Monday, February 24, and returning each weekday at the same time and place, NASCAR AMERICA will cover the sport from all angles, delivering news, highlights and access to NASCAR’s dynamic stars and personalities. Originating from NBC Sports Group’s International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn., as well as a new NBC Sports’ studio located in Charlotte, N.C., NASCAR AMERICA’s primary host is Rick Allen. Allen, who will usher in NBC Sports’ live coverage of NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series racing as lead announcer in July 2015, will interact daily with NBC Sports motorsports reporters Marty Snider and Kelly Stavast. Snider and Stavast, both based in Charlotte, N.C., will operate on location throughout the country to deliver the latest news and features on NASCAR’s drivers and race teams. NBC Sports Group’s IndyCar and Formula One play-by-play voice Leigh Diffey will also serve as host of NASCAR AMERICA.
  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)

• Morton Buildings to sponsor Burton: Morton Buildings announced thier sponsorship of NASCAR drivers Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton. Morton Buildings will sponsor Kevin Harvick in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series, primary sponsor for two Nationwide races. at Indianapolis in July and Kansas at October. Morton Buildings will sponsor Jeff Burton in the Sprint Cup Series (no word which races).(Morton Buildings)(2-11-2014)
• Keen Parts on the #84 at Daytona: Billy Boat Motorsports announced a partnership with Keen Parts, through their www.corvetteparts.net brand, for the NASCAR Nationwide Series season-opener at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 22nd. Keen Parts will serve as an Associate Sponsor for the #84 Chevy Camaro as 21-year-old driver Chad Boat makes his NNS debut. Keen Parts will also work with Billy Boat Performance Exhaust to develop and distribute stainless steel exhaust systems for the C1, C2, and C3 Corvette, in addition to a new line of exhaust for the Corvette “RestoMod” conversions. NASCAR approved Chad Boat to participate in the NNS season-opener after a strong Preseason Thunder test session at the historic 2.5-mile superspeedway where the #84 Chevy topped the speed charts during the final day of testing.(Integrity Sports Marketing)(2-11-2014)

• Preece to run two races for Tommy Baldwin: Tommy Baldwin Racing has hired Ryan Preece, the 2013 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Champion, to run two races in the NASCAR Nationwide series in 2014 in the #36 Chevy. Preece will make starts at Richmond International Raceway as well as returning to New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Preece, a member of the prestigious NASCAR Next program, has a decorated NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour career under his belt. He made his career debut in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2013 with Tommy Baldwin Racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. In seven years in the NWMT Preece has made 95 career starts including nine wins, 42 top five finishes, 54 top 10 finishes and 11 pole position starts. East West Marine, based out of Manorville, N.Y., will adorn Preece’s #36 Chevy for both races.(TBR/140 Buzz)(2-11-2014)

• NASCAR evaluates sponsorship: NASCAR has transformed its research and insights capabilities, giving the racing-car circuit’s commercial partners – like Coca-Cola – a deeper insight into return on investment than ever before. Sean Doherty, NASCAR director/digital and social-media engagement, told an American Marketing Association (AMA) webcast audience: “The Coca-Cola Co. came to us and wanted a brand analysis for each of their drivers. They wanted share for each driver; how each one engaged with fans; and the size of their social footprint. They wanted to be able to activate their brand against a track, a race, or off site as well.” Stepping up to that challenge, said Doherty, “We had to transition from a PR department to a fully-integrated marketing communications model. We took a deep dive into the industry’s position relative to digital and social media. We researched the way that fans experienced our events. And we looked at the way people consumed other sports and entertainment properties. We searched for growth markets to attract new fans to the sport. And we also took a critical look at our current portfolio of drivers.” NASCAR found a partner to give it the tools required to make this transition, as information technology group Hewlett-Packer designed and created the Fan and Media Engagement Center. This research facility features 13 screens of 46 inches in size, as well as three work stations and the analytical tools NASCAR needs to help race-car teams, tracks, sponsors, broadcast partners process more data faster. The facility provided Coca-Cola with the insight it needed, as well as securing engagement from a group of other Fortune 100 companies, including Sprint, Goodyear Tires, MillerCoors and ExxonMobil.(Warc)(2-11-2014)
• Actor Gary Sinise Named Honorary Starter for the 56th Annual Daytona 500: Gary Sinise, actor, humanitarian and founder of the Gary Sinise Foundation, will wave the green flag as the Honorary Starter at Daytona International Speedway for the 56th annual Daytona 500. “It’s an honor to be selected as Honorary Starter at this year’s Daytona 500 on behalf of the Gary Sinise Foundation. The race is a celebrated tradition and an important occasion to raise awareness and support for the men and women who serve our country”, said Sinise. In addition to Sinise’s participation as Honorary Starter, a special Daytona 500 ticket package supporting the Gary Sinise Foundation is available for $90 and includes:
  ” 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)

• Chastain joins Benton team, along with Ford, Bruce: Ricky Benton Racing Enterprises announced today the team is going back to its roots for the 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. The team has switched manufacturers for its BTS Tire and Wheel Distributors/National Watermelon Association/Goodyear FleetHQ/Wynn’s Truck Series entry and will be running Ford F-150’s powered by Roush-Yates Engines beginning with the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway later this month. RBR Enterprises will also have a new driver behind the wheel in 2014. Ross Chastain, who had a break out year in 2013, will make the move from Brad Keselowski Racing to take over driving duties of the #92 Ford. The 21-year old Alva, Fla. native has competed in 41 Truck Series events with two poles and 231 laps led en route to five top-five and 12 top-10 finishes. Calling the shots for the #92 RBR Enterprises Ford is veteran crew chief Trip Bruce. Bruce has 13 wins as a crew chief and a NCWTS championship with driver Johnny Benson Jr. in 2008. The team plans to run 10-12 races, depending on sponsorship. Chastain and Bruce have worked together in the Truck Series previously. The duo paired up for three races in 2011. The #92 RBR Enterprises Ford will carry primary sponsorship from BTS Tire and Wheel Distributors and National Watermelon Association. Associate sponsors for the entry will be Goodyear, FleetHQ and Wynn’s. The team plans to run 10 to 15 races in 2014, but the schedule could expand if additional sponsorship can be secured.(Ricky Benton Racing)(2-11-2014)
• Feel The Heat of Daytona at The Glen: Watkins Glen International welcomes all fans of NASCAR and The Glen to watch the Great American Race during a Daytona 500 Viewing Party in the Media Center on Sunday, Feb. 23. Doors open at noon and the race starts at 1 p.m. Admission at the door is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages six to 10. Children five and under receive free admission. There will be random drawings for door prizes throughout the day and a 50/50 cash raffle to benefit Autism Speaks. Buffet-style food service is available at no additional cost. The menu includes hamburgers, Sahlen’s Hot Dogs, Yancey’s Fancy Cheese, potato salad and chocolate chip cookies. All beverages are available for purchase at a discounted rate. There will be a silent auction that will feature items from The Glen, NASCAR Teams and WGI’s valued sponsors, including, but not limited to: Cheez-It, Coca-Cola, Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards, Toyota and Zippo. The silent auction is cash only. Tickets for all 2014 races are available by calling 866.461.RACE or at www.TheGlen.com.(WGI)(2-11-2014)

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  News from February 10, 2014

• Richard Petty: Danica won’t win: The only way #10-Danica Patrick will win a NASCAR Sprint Cup race is if she’s the only driver on the track, says the legendary “King” of stock car racing, Richard Petty. Petty, who visited Toronto Sunday for an appearance at the Canadian Motorsports Expo (for the live blog, please click here), answered quickly and decisively when asked if the former IndyCar star who’s now a second-year driver for Stewart-Haas Racing would ever visit Victory Lane in the Cup series. “(Only) if everybody else stayed home,” said Petty, who startedhis NASCAR career in 1958 in a race at the long-gone Canadian National Exhibition Speedway in downtown Toronto. Petty spent much of the time in a media scrum discussing how NASCAR has evolved over the years from “race time” to “show time” and he acknowledged that Patrick has been good for the sport in that respect.(full story at Toronto Star Wheels)(2-10-2014)

• Joe Gibbs Racing Announces Changes to Front Office Structure: Joe Gibbs Racing announces today a re-organization to its management structure. Longtime JGR executives Dave Alpern and Todd Meredith have been named Chief Marketing officer and Chief Operations Officer, respectively. Both have over 20 years of experience in the sport and have been invaluable assets to J.D. and Joe Gibbs since the team’s inception. In the front office, Alpern will oversee the team’s three primary business units: Sponsorship, Communications and Marketing. Meredith will manage all departments involved in the racing operation.
  “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)

• NASCAR and ACORE Announce Partnership: At the Lockheed Martin Global Vision Center in Arlington, Va., NASCAR and the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) announced a multi-year partnership that designates the Washington, D.C.-based non-profit as NASCAR’s newest Official Green Partner. A member-based 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, ACORE is dedicated to building a more secure and prosperous America with clean, renewable energy. With a focus on technology, finance and policy, ACORE promotes all renewable energy technologies for the production of electricity, fuels, heat and hydrogen. Lockheed Martin is sponsoring ACORE in this partnership; the companies share a commitment to promoting energy innovation, sustainability and careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. NASCAR now boasts the three largest green programs in sports: renewable energy, recycling and clean air. According to a 2013 study conducted on the Official NASCAR Fan Council, three out of four avid NASCAR fans are aware of “NASCAR Green” (72%) and recognize it as showing NASCAR cares about the environment (77%). Sponsored by Lockheed Martin, ACORE will activate its NASCAR partnership with selected at-track activities in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway in July; Chicago in September; and Kansas in October. ACORE will provide educational tools about renewable energy and sustainability and an on-site membership registration. ACORE will also play a role in NASCAR’s month-long Race To Green Campaign in April, which will highlight the accomplishments of green programs that NASCAR, the industry and a wide range of partners have in place to help reduce the environmental impact of the sport.(NASCAR)(2-10-2014)

• SHR pit crews face off in preseason competition: As the offseason comes to a close and the Daytona 500 rapidly approaches, teams are doing all they can to show up to the first race of the season at their best. Drivers have been testing behind the wheel, mechanics turning wrenches in the shops, engineers working through data and computer programs to determine the ideal set-up. Each team is looking to bring their ‘A-game’ to Daytona to show off in a big way. For the pit crews, however, preparation is typically limited to workout routines and practice stops out behind the shop. While this is great for repetition and practice, the sense of competition is not always there. At Stewart-Haas Racing, however, the organization found a fun way to get their over-the-wall guys ready for Daytona by competing against one another. On Friday [Feb 7th], SHR held an internal “Pit Crew Throwdown” to see which team was the fastest crew in the bunch. The competition was stiff between the four teams. In the end, it was Danica Patrick’s #10 team that took the title and the bragging rights heading into Daytona with a pit stop time average of 11.32 seconds.(images and more at FoxSports)(2-10-2014)

• Brad Keselowski surprises Veterans with Phoenix race tickets: 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion #2-Brad Keselowski visited military veterans at the Phoenix VA Health Care System on Monday [Feb 3rd] and surprised several vets with tickets to the upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, March 2. Keselowski joined a group of veterans at the facility for lunch and visited with several others as he toured the hospital. The 29-year-old thanked each of the veterans for their service, and as a token of gratitude, offered them complimentary race tickets on behalf of his charitable foundation. Founded in 2010, Brad Keselowski’s Checkered Flag Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit which supports those who have sacrificed greatly, including military personnel, veterans, first-responders and their families. Keselowski also tested out a driving simulator which is used in the rehabilitation process for veterans who suffered severe injuries. The simulator allows a driver to control the gas and brake pedals through hand controls; and it recreates the feeling of driving a car, from the sights and sounds of the highway to the feeling of hitting bumps in the road.(PIR)(2-10-2014)

• Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff partners with Sauter for six races: Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff, America’s original and best-selling tobacco-free smokeless brand, will sponsor Johnny Sauter’s #98 ThorSport Racing Toyota Tundra in six NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races, beginning with the series’ second race, at Martinsville Speedway. Smokey Mountain will sponsor Sauter, who led Truck Series regulars in 2013 with three victories, in additional races at Gateway, Kentucky, Iowa, Martinsville and Texas in the fall.(ThorSport Racing)(2-10-2014)
• Anderson’s Maple Syrup to sponsor Brian Scott: Richard Childress Racing announced that Anderson’s Maple Syrup will serve as a primary sponsor for two races this season with driver Brian Scott and the #2 Chevy Camaro NASCAR Nationwide Series team. The Wisconsin-based company will serve as the primary partner on the #2 Chevrolet at Auto Club Speedway on March 22 and Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24. In addition to the two-race primary sponsorship, Anderson’s will also have an associate sponsorship presence on the #2 machine throughout the 2014 season. Family-owned and operated for more than 80 years, Anderson’s Maple Syrup started as a hobby and has since grown into a quality business. After selling all their farming equipment in the late 1940’s to dedicate themselves to the maple syrup industry, the family is one of the largest packagers of pure maple syrup in the Midwest and a top equipment dealer in the region.(Richard Childress Racing), see an image of the car on the #2 team paint schemes page.(2-10-2014)

• Truex to run Daytona for Turner: Turner Scott Motorsports announced today that Ryan Truex will be behind the wheel of the #32 Chevy Silverado in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway, making his second-career start for the organization. The two-time consecutive NASCAR K&N Pro Series East champion’s Silverado will be sponsored by Bass Pro Shops, a leading retailer of hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor equipment.(Turner Scott Motorsports)(2-10-2014)

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  News from February 9, 2014

• ESPN films in Dawsonville, GA: Dawsonville [GA] is making national news, once again. An ESPN crew was in town filming at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame, the historic Dawsonville Pool Room and other local locations, for a segment on Chase and Bill Elliott. The piece is scheduled to air during a pre-race show leading up to the NASCAR Nationwide Series on Saturday, Feb. 22, according to Hall of Fame President Gordon Pirkle. “This is the biggest break we could have got,” Pirkle said. “They’ll probably go through Bill Elliott’s career, then Chase’s.” ESPN’s crew filmed Tuesday at the hall of fame, and spent Wednesday in downtown Dawsonville. The race is being shown at 1:15pm/et on ESPN, and it will be broadcast on a theater-size screen at the hall of fame. There is no fee to enter.(Dawson Advertiser)(2-9-2014)

• Lionel Racing’s Howard Hitchcock & Jeff Gordon to be honored: On January 27, the Diecast Hall of Fame and Jostens Motorsports division announced the creation of an all new induction category called the “Jostens’ Motorsports Choice Award” to be launched at the 2014 induction ceremony. Lionel Racing’s Senior Vice President and General Manager Howard Hitchcock will be the first inductee to receive the award. Hitchcock is recognized throughout the diecast community, and has more than 15 years of experience in the industry. Many collectors know him as “Dr. Diecast,” which was a radio persona he created for the popular Sirius Satellite Radio show “NASCAR Collector.” “I’m deeply honored to have been selected as the inaugural recipient of the Jostens Motorsports Choice Award,” Hitchcock said. “It is truly an honor to be in the presence of some of the greatest people who have had such a dramatic impact on the industry we operate in every day.” Fans and collectors can attend the 2014 Diecast Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on February 21, at the Plaza Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV.(Lionel Racing Pit Box), #24-Jeff Gordon will recieve the Lifetime Achievement award.(2-9-2014)

• Johnson to be honored at Bobcats game: The Charlotte Bobcats announced that the team’s game against the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, February 11, will be presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. Blue Cross and Blue Shield Night will be highlighted by an in-game presentation recognizing six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion #48-Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports.(see more at Beach Carolina)(2-9-2014)
• Mike Wallace gets Daytona sponsor: A Wyoming manufacturer – or at least its logo – will hit the fast lane later this month when its serves as primary sponsor for NASCAR racer Mike Wallace’s car at Daytona International Speedway in Florida. Unker’s, a “therapeutic salve” manufactured solely in Upton with a staff of five and sold through about 50 retailers in Wyoming and hundreds worldwide, will sponsor Wallace’s #28 car at a Feb. 22 race starting at 1 p.m.”This is a one-time event for us (all I can afford) but WOW!,” wrote Patricia Pendleton, owner of parent company Olde Tyme Remedies in an email. “What an opportunity. Not only will 100,000 people attend the race, but it is live on ABC, ESPN, Sirius Radio, etc.” Pendleton added that she is “stepping out on faith” to borrow money from her bank to pay for the sponsorship, which is “nothing to sneeze at.” Most sources peg the costs of a primary sponsorship deal for a single race in the six-figures range, though Pendleton said she didn’t want to divulge her contract’s cost. Unker’s logos incorporate the phrase “To God be the Glory,” and that is exactly who Pendleton is directing the glory to with this development. She said the sponsorship came as an extension of a conversation with Mike Wallace that had started three years earlier when Pendleton was the new owner of Unker’s. Wallace told her he had noticed many members of his pit crew using the salve to treat cuts, scrapes and various other mechanic maladies.(Wyoming Business Journal), see an image of the car on the #28 team paint schemes page(2-9-2014)
• DAYTONA Rising February Project Update: After a successful 2014 Rolex 24 At Daytona, Daytona International Speedway is now finalizing its race-ready preparations for Budweiser Speedweeks 2014 and the 56th annual DAYTONA 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Feb. 23. Construction activities for the DAYTONA Rising project will accelerate again in March following the Speedway’s upcoming premier events. “Our team has worked tirelessly to ensure that the facility continues to operate at a high level for our race fans during this busy and unique time,” said Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III. “We are certainly excited about the future of Daytona International Speedway, however we are as equally focused on delivering a great experience during our upcoming events.”
  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)
• Once-In-A-Lifetime Experiences Await Fans at The Sprint Unlimited: Presenting The Sprint Unlimited winner’s trophy, being a part of driver introductions and riding in a Grand Marshal car are just a few of the unique and exciting prizes that will be available for race fans who attend The Sprint Unlimited At Daytona on Saturday night, Feb. 15 at the “World Center of Racing.”
  “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)

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  News from February 8, 2014

• Ambrose hopes to rebound in 2014: Marcos Ambrose, driver of the #9 RPM Ford, felt the Richard Petty Motorsports lacked consistency last year, particularly with the introduction of the Generation 6 car. In his three years with Petty, the veteran has witnessed RPM go “from surviving to thriving.” Ambrose thinks the front office’s commitment to acquiring additional engineering, along with NASCAR’s new rules package will benefit RPM greatly in 2014. Ambrose already is feeling the pressure. He admitted that 2013 wasn’t his best effort. Traditionally, he has “seen an upward trajectory in performance” each year, but that was missing last year. Starting his fourth season with RPM, the 37-year-old native of Launceston, Australia, said he has “an awful lot to prove.” There has been talk that Ambrose wants to return Down Under to raise his daughters, but he insisted his results will determine whether he continues to race in NASCAR. “If you make the Chase, you can’t go home, can you?” Ambrose said. “You’re one of the top 16 drivers in the world in this format, and you’d be mad to give away opportunities like that. So right now my focus is to be in NASCAR and to be winning races. I think with Drew and the team we’ve got, we’ve got a great opportunity to do that — and that’s all I’m thinking about. If we have another 2013, I might struggle just to even get renewed if I want to be there. I’ve got a lot to race for in 2014. I can’t wait.”(FoxSports)(2-8-2014)

• #98 team gets sponsor for Las Vegas: the #98 Chevy of Phil Parsons Racing will have sponsorship at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as Ambient Edge [HVAC] will adorn the car driven by Josh Wise. See an image of the scheme on the #98 Team Schemes page.(2-8-2013)

• Congrats to Sam Hornish: Congrats to Sam Hornish Jr and his wife Crystal on the birth of their third child, Samuel III.(2-8-2014)

• Justin Allison to carry on family legacy in ARCA’s 51st race at Daytona: The legacy of the Allison name is well documented in the annals of stock car racing. It started with brothers’ Bobby and Donnie Allison – part of the infamous Alabama Gang – who barnstormed across the south racing stock cars, eventually landing in NASCAR where they became household names. Eventually, the torch got handed down to the second generation of Allison’s. Brothers’ Davey and Clifford were well on their way up the NASCAR charts before their lives were cut short in tragic accidents. Onto the third generation of Allison’s where Justin Allison, the grandson of NASCAR legend and International Motorsports Hall of Fame driver Donnie Allison, is now trying to scratch his name into the big-league stock car history books. Allison has just one ARCA Racing Series start in last year’s Kansas Speedway finale where he finished 11th driving the #88 Ford for Team BCR, which also fields cars for ARCA winner Grant Enfinger, who just happens to be from Alabama. Justin’s grandfather Donnie had some great runs at Daytona over the years, winning the Firecracker 400 in 1970. His best finish in the Daytona 500 was third in 1969. He also finished fourth in the 500 in 1979. Donnie won 10 NASCAR Sprint Cup races over his career, including the World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1970. Donnie also finished fourth in the Indianapolis 500 in 1970. Allison plans to run in at least 10 ARCA Racing Series events in 2014. Howard Bixman, longtime ARCA car owner and Team BCR manager, will serve as Allison’s crew chief. Bixman is also a former ARCA driver. The team’s #88 Havaco-Multi Services Ford at Daytona will be powered by Roush Yates Engines.(ARCA Racing)(2-8-2014)
• The Profit on CNBC 500 named title sponsor for March Phoenix race: Phoenix International Raceway announced that CNBC’s “The PROFIT,” the popular entrepreneurial reality series returning for a second season on February 25 at 10:00pm/et/pt on CNBC, has joined the track’s team of corporate partners. As part of the new relationship, “The PROFIT” will act as the official title sponsor for the track’s March 2 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event: ‘The Profit on CNBC 500, Presented by Small Business Fueling America.’ Tickets are available at phoenixraceway.com‘(PIR)(2-8-2014)
• Food City & Bristol announce extension: The March 2014 pilgrimage to the Last Great Colosseum just became more affordable for season ticket holders as Bristol Motor Speedway and Food City announce a five-year partnership extension and unveil the new “Fuel for Fans” program. The program loads two Food City Gas-N-Go Fuel Bucks stops on the iBelong Membership card/Food City ValuCard of every iBelong member and BMS season ticket holder, good for 15 cents off each gallon of gas up to 20 gallons at all Food City Gas-N-Go locations. Additionally, Food City is offering a third discounted fill-up to iBelong members who spend more than $15 at one of their stores prior to March 16.
  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)

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  News from February 7, 2014

• Accell Construction to sponsor the #7 for six races: Accell Construction returns to Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) and welcomes a new experience as a primary sponsor of the of the #7 Chevy with Michael Annett behind the wheel for six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events. The Oklahoma-based company will continue its partnership with TBR for the fourth consecutive season commencing at Phoenix International Raceway on March 2nd, 2014. “Accell has been an important part of TBR’s growth”, said team owner Tommy Baldwin. “We are pleased to keep that relationship going.” Accell Construction owner, Steve Todhunter commented on the partnership, “We are very excited to be starting our fourth year Sprint Cup Series with TBR. The 2014 season will begin with a new car number and driver for us as we welcome Michael Annett and the #7 Team to our racing resume. We have enjoyed our racing relationship with TBR over the last three years and wish the 36 well.” “I’m looking forward to having Accell come on board the #7 car this season,” said Annett. “Their support is a key element in bringing forward momentum to TBR.” The Accell Construction brand will adorn the #7 car at both events at Phoenix International Raceway, Texas Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway in 2014.(Rising Star Management Group/TBR), see an image of the scheme on the #7 Team Schemes page.(2-7-2014)

• Sprint Cup officials explain rule changes ahead of Daytona 500: On Thursday, NASCAR competition officials held their version of “Meet the Press” at the NASCAR R&D Center in Concord, N.C. The atmosphere was cordial and conducive to discussion. Some of the more important explanations included the claim that the new Chase points system was more than three years in the making. Bonus points after Richmond count only in the first round of the Chase. Thereafter, pre-Chase bonus points will not be counted after each of the final resets. Awarding more points to winners was considered and discarded because it might create a runaway situation. In other words, NASCAR didn’t want the Sprint Cup title to be clinched at any point before the series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
  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 BBQ & Grill returns as associated sponsor for BK Racing: BK Racing announces that the Mardi Gras colors of purple and gold for New Orleans, LA born brand VooDoo BBQ & Grill will return as a continuing partner for the team’s two Toyota Camry’s fielded for Sunoco Rookie of the Year contenders Alex Bowman and Ryan Truex. VooDoo BBQ & Grill served as the primary sponsor of the team’s #83 car at the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2013. VooDoo BBQ & Grill opened its first location in New Orleans, LA on Mardi Gras Day 2002 and has expanded to reach 57 planned locations in six states. “We’re thrilled to continue this opportunity to be associated with NASCAR and the BK Racing Team,” said Tony Avila, Chief Executive Officer of VooDoo BBQ & Grill. “The level of exposure we saw for VooDoo at Homestead was unparalleled. We appreciate Ron Devine and the entire team at BK Racing for this tremendous opportunity to continue our relationship into this new season.”
  “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)

• Steve Byrnes back with new perspective: You hear it often from cancer patients about the diagnosis: The word stings. In an instant, mortality is very real and oddly tangible, and priorities shift instantly. Steve Byrnes [of FoxSports1, formerly SPEED] was no different. It was early August 2013 when Byrnes’ doctor called with the news: throat cancer, which had spread to a lymph node. Byrnes wasn’t panicked, especially. But his life rushed at him like a freight train, thoughts of and fears for his family, not so much himself. “When you hear that word — I’m not going to lie — I had uncomfortable moments,” said Byrnes, 54, a veteran Fox Sports motorsports broadcaster. “‘Will I see my son grow up?’ He’s 11 now. ‘What’s going to happen to my family?’ You think all those deep thoughts that we don’t really ever want to deal with.” Treatment began immediately. Doctors told Byrnes to prepare for a difficult 10-week span. He chose to take chemotherapy and radiation simultaneously; a very aggressive treatment protocol. The first day of chemo was Sept. 11, at Levine Hospital in Pineville, N.C.
  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)

• Three drivers at test Talladega Superspeedway UPDATE: With the Aaron’s Dream Weekend set for May 2-4 at Talladega Superspeedway, three drivers – led by #21-Trevor Bayne of the famed the Wood Brothers Racing Team – took to the high banks of NASCAR’s Most Competitive Track Wednesday for a test session in hopes of gathering information to help their efforts upon their return. Bayne was joined by Tommy Baldwin Racing drivers #36-Reed Sorenson and #7-Michael Annett. Veteran crew chief Todd Parrott, who will head Sorenson’s effort, was also on hand after taking over the reins earlier this year. Bayne, behind the wheel of the iconic #21 Ford, paced the trio with an unofficial speed of 191.138 mph. NASCAR returns to Talladega Superspeedway in 2014 with the Aaron’s Dream Weekend, which is set for May 2-4. The NASCAR Nationwide Series and ARCA Racing Series will take to the track on Saturday, May 3 while NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series machines take the green flag on Sunday, May 4.(TSS)(2-6-2014)
  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)

• Jimmie Johnson Wins the Off-Season Too…media coverage: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion #48-Jimmie Johnson was referenced in more than 6,000 news media stories this off-season. When comparing the size of the audience generated by the news media coverage to the cost of reaching the same audience through traditional advertising, the mentions of Johnson’s name drew an estimated exposure value in excess of $10 million.
  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)

• NASCAR Installs Five Eaton EV Charging Stations At Charlotte Offices: At the NASCAR Plaza in Charlotte, N.C., on Thursday, officials from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), NASCAR and Sprint Corp. announced the companies’ participation in the Department’s Workplace Charging Challenge – a collaborative effort to increase the number of U.S. employers offering workplace charging. The Challenge also supports the broader efforts of the Department’s EV Everywhere Grand Challenge to make plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) affordable and convenient for the American family. As part of today’s announcement, NASCAR unveiled five Eaton Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at its Charlotte location, bringing the total number of EV charging stations to 20 across NASCAR facilities located in Daytona Beach, Concord, Charlotte and at Michigan International Speedway. The charging stations power electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles of NASCAR employees and guests. Last year, NASCAR entered a Memorandum of Understanding with the DOE to jointly promote clean, efficient energy technologies that strengthen U.S. competitiveness. NASCAR’s participation in the Workplace Charging Challenge is the latest example of these ongoing collaborative efforts to build a cleaner, more sustainable energy economy. Find additional information on the Workplace Charging Challenge at www.electricvehicles.energy.gov.(NASCAR)(2-7-2014)

• Haas is pushing ahead with his plans to enter F1 in 2015: Despite Bernie Ecclestone’s recent warning, Gene Haas is pushing ahead with his plans to enter F1 in 2015. After Haas, a NASCAR team co-owner, responded to the FIA’s invitation to fill the vacant team slot, Ecclestone said publicly he doubts the Californian is prepared to spend what it takes to compete in F1. “He doesn’t think we will get the license,” Haas responded, “so my chances probably aren’t that great of a shot.” Nevertheless, Italy’s specialist Autosprint reports that Haas is pushing ahead. Correspondent Alberto Antonini said Haas is preparing to meet the FIA’s next application deadline of Feb. 10, including demonstrating its ability and willingness to compete with an adequate budget. Autosprint also said Haas, whose project involves the former F1 personality Gunther Steiner, is pushing ahead with plans to field a Dallara chassis in 2015, mated to Ferrari’s V6 and energy-recovery ‘power unit.’ “We look forward to future developments,” Antonini said.(FoxSports)(2-7-2014)
• NNS teams to get extra tires at select tracks: Nationwide teams will receive an extra set of tires at 15 different races, with the goal of improving practice and offsetting the lack of testing in that series. Nationwide teams will also have an open test day at Iowa in May and at Kentucky in June, when they can gather data.(NASCAR.com)(2-7-2014)
• Jeff Green in the #91 at Daytona: Former Nationwide Series champ Jeff Green will drive the #91 SupportMilitary.org Toyota at the season opening Daytona race. See an image of the car on the #91 team paint schemes page.(2-7-2014)
• Congrats: From the Joe Gibbs Racing Facebook page: “Join us in congratulating our driver Sam Hornish, Jr. and his wife Crystal. They welcomed their third child Samuel Jon III into the world today! Sam is calling him ‘the tank’.”(2-7-2014)

• Trucks to get two extra hours of practice at select events: Camping World Truck Series teams will receive two extra hours of practice at four events this season, during which they can use data acquisition: Martinsville, Charlotte, Gateway and New Hampshire.(NASCAR.com)(2-7-2014)

• Gaulding, Newberry to run partial schedules, NTS teams full-time: NTS Motorsports announced the addition of 15 year-old NASCAR Next driver Gray Gaulding to their lineup in 2014. Gaulding will make his debut in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in eight races and will compete alongside Brennan Newberry in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East full-time. With primary sponsorship from Gemini Southern, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and TruMoo Chocolate Milk, Gaulding hopes to claim the NKNPSE championship and contend for victories in the NCWTS. As a NASCAR Next driver, Gaulding has claimed one win, 11 top-10’s and five top-5’s in 18 NKNPSE starts in 2013.
  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)
• GEICO’s Gecko Talladega Superspeedway, new title sponsor: Officials from GEICO and Talladega Superspeedway announced that the fall NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Oct. 19, at NASCAR’s Most Competitive track will be known as the GEICO 500. The GEICO 500 weekend will be held October 17-19 and will also feature the fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. As part of the agreement, GEICO will be named the Official Auto, RV, Motorcycle and Powersport Insurance Provider of Talladega Superspeedway.
  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)
• Toyota Becomes First Founding Partner of Historic DAYTONA Rising Project: International Speedway Corporation announced a groundbreaking, multi-year partnership with Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) U.S.A., Inc. that will make Toyota the first Founding Partner at Daytona International Speedway as part of its unprecedented $400 million DAYTONA Rising redevelopment project. DAYTONA Rising is ISC’s complete reimagining of the fan and sponsor experience at its iconic Daytona International Speedway, a multi-year project encompassing the Speedway’s nearly one-mile long frontstretch that, upon completion in January 2016, will create a world-class facility with premium amenities unmatched in the industry. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Beginning in 2015, the 11-year agreement will provide Toyota with naming rights for one of five fan injectors. The massive, new and redesigned entry statement includes over 20,000 square feet of Toyota engagement and fan experience that vertically spans four concourse levels. The Toyota brand will also have a presence in the new “World Center of Racing” zone, the central “neighborhood” overlooking Daytona’s famed start/finish line inside the new frontstretch facility. The “World Center of Racing” zone is roughly the area of two football fields where Daytona International Speedway, its partners and race fans will celebrate the history and legacy of racing at the iconic motorsports venue. Fans will be able to socialize and enjoy themselves in this area prior to, during and after a race. Additionally, Toyota will serve as an official partner of “The Great American Race,” the DAYTONA 500, and will receive official pace car rights in 2015.
  For tickets and more information on Daytona International Speedway events, visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.(DIS)(2-7-2014)

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  News from February 6, 2014

• Leavine Family Racing signs Black Dragon Tools as Assoc Sponsor: Leavine Family Racing (LFR) announced a one-year partnership with Black Dragon Tools as a full-season associate sponsor of the #95 Ford driven by Michael McDowell in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Setting a new standard for automotive tools, Black Dragon Tools is sought out by professional mechanics and technicians around the globe. “At Black Dragon Tools, we take pride in being at the leading edge of industry innovation,” Ben Thompson, founder and chief operations officer of Black Dragon Tools, said. “We could not be more proud to partner with Bob Leavine and Leavine Family Racing for 2014. Leavine has put together an amazing team. Michael McDowell is an exciting driver and crew chief Wally Rogers is an experienced and innovative racing veteran.” Under the new partnership, Black Dragon Tools has already outfitted Leavine Family Racing’s garage and pit box with their latest tools. The Concord, N.C.-based team will also use the company’s electronic testers as well as other various hand tools at the team facilities and trackside.(Leavine Family Racing)(2-6-2014)

• Yeley says he has a 2014 Cup ride: J.J. Yeley, who drove the #36 Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevy in 2013 posted on his Facebook that he hs a 2014 Sprint Cup Series ride, but didn’t say if full-time or which team. Reed Sorenson was named the driver of the #36 ride on Tuesday.(2-6-2014)

• Three drivers at test Talladega Superspeedway UPDATE: With the Aaron’s Dream Weekend set for May 2-4 at Talladega Superspeedway, three drivers – led by #21-Trevor Bayne of the famed the Wood Brothers Racing Team – took to the high banks of NASCAR’s Most Competitive Track Wednesday for a test session in hopes of gathering information to help their efforts upon their return. Bayne was joined by Tommy Baldwin Racing drivers #36-Reed Sorenson and #7-Michael Annett. Veteran crew chief Todd Parrott, who will head Sorenson’s effort, was also on hand after taking over the reins earlier this year. Bayne, behind the wheel of the iconic #21 Ford, paced the trio with an unofficial speed of 191.138 mph. NASCAR returns to Talladega Superspeedway in 2014 with the Aaron’s Dream Weekend, which is set for May 2-4. The NASCAR Nationwide Series and ARCA Racing Series will take to the track on Saturday, May 3 while NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series machines take the green flag on Sunday, May 4.(TSS)(2-6-2014)

• David Starr joins TriStar: TriStar Motorsports announced the addition of NASCAR veteran David Starr to the team’s driver roster for the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series season, beginning with the season opener at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 22nd. Starr, a Houston, Texas native, is widely known for his participation in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Within that series, Starr ranks third on the all-time career start list after competing in more than 315 races. In addition to racing in the truck series, Starr has raced in select NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series events. During the 2014 NASCAR season, Starr will have a concentrated effort on the Nationwide Series. Starr will be joining TriStar Motorsports drivers Mike Bliss, Blake Koch, Jeff Green, Eric McClure and Will Kimmel for the 2014 season. Additional announcements regarding Starr’s partnerships for the 2014 season will be released in the upcoming weeks.(TriStar Motorsports)(2-6-2014)

• Burton joins ThorSport: Jeb Burton, one of the most promising young drivers on the NASCAR horizon, has signed with ThorSport Racing to open the 2014 Camping World Truck Series and ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards seasons. Burton, 21, the son of 2002 Daytona 500 winner Ward Burton and the fifth-place finisher in the 2013 Truck Series championship, will race ThorSport’s #13 Toyotas in two events a week apart during Speedweeks 2014, Feb. 13-23, at Daytona International Speedway.The balance of Burton’s 2014 program will be determined, in part by gaining additional sponsorship.”The opportunity to come to ThorSport is a big deal for me, my career and my family,” said Burton, who joins an organization that won 2013 championships in both NASCAR and ARCA. “It’s an honor to me that Duke and Rhonda Thorson would make the call to put me in their vehicles – the best there is in both series. “Mr. Thorson has proven his commitment to the Truck Series — he’s a racer, that’s what it’s all about and it feels good to be here. I feel like it’s a place where I can race, and win for many years.” Burton joins a driver lineup that includes 2013 Truck Series champion Matt Crafton and Johnny Sauter, who finished fourth in the championship, one point ahead of Burton. Burton’s first race with ThorSport, the Saturday, Feb. 15 Lucas Oil 200 presented by MAVTV American Real, will be driving a Toyota Camry for the team that won the 2013 ARCA drivers’ and owners’ championships and was a large part of Toyota winning last season’s ARCA manufacturers’ title, its first in that series. The following week, Burton will jump into the #13 Carolina Nut Co. Toyota Tundra that pushed Sauter to the win and Crafton to ninth place before it finished 11th driven by Todd Bodine in the 2013 NextEra Energy Resources 250, which is scheduled on Friday, Feb. 21.(ThorSport Racing)(2-6-2014)

• Scott discusses team status: It’s been a tumultuous week at Turner Scott Motorsports, with the signing of talented youngster Dylan Kwasniewski to a full-time Nationwide Series contract, and the loss of a full-time sponsor expected to back sophomore driver Jeb Burton in the Camping World Truck Series.
  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)

• Benton to be inducted into The Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame: The Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame will stand at 40 members after the induction of four more in May. Race car developer Ricky Benton, former PGA golfer Bob Boyd, retired NFL tight end Alge Crumpler and former UNCW soccer and men’s golf coach Calvin Lane will be enshrined this year at a ceremony May 4 at UNCW’s Burney Center. Benton owns RBR Enterprises, based out of Columbus County, which has fielded cars in NASCAR and the late model stock tour. He’s placed cars in the NASCAR Nationwide series and operates the #92 truck in the Camping World Truck Series.(Star News Online)(2-6-2014)
• Duck Commander to sponsor April Texas race: Duck Commander, the brand of the best-selling duck calls and name of the thriving family-owned company led by the Robertson clan of A&E’s “Duck Dynasty” fame, has signed a multi-year agreement to serve as title sponsor of the annual spring NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. The largest-attended, single-day sporting event annually in Texas with estimated average crowds in excess of 150,000 will be known as the Duck Commander 500 with this year’s edition scheduled for Sunday, April 6. The two sides agreed to a three-year deal with a renewal option for an additional three years, but no financial terms of the agreement were announced. While the Robertson family emerged in the public eye and garnered immense popularity through A&E’s “Duck Dynasty” reality show that premiered in 2012, the Duck Commander brand has been the foundation of the family business of duck calls since patriarch Phil Robertson founded the company in 1972 in West Monroe, Louisiana. Duck Commander has since flourished into a multi-million dollar business with Willie Robertson, one of Phil’s four sons, serving as the CEO of the enterprise that now encompasses more than 1,000 Duck Commander products and a powerful stable of licensees. This race entitlement diversifies Duck Commander’s business portfolio and will be unique in structure as the company will utilize their exclusive licensees to fund this sponsorship for the exposure and opportunities to align their product with their brand. An extensive line of Duck Commander 500 merchandise will be sold at track and in the Speedway World souvenir store year-round in addition to being available through Duck Commander retail partners. Uncle Si’s Tea will be introduced and sold at track in single-serve options in both the sweet and unsweetened varieties. Texas Motor Speedway also will look to integrate products such as Duck Commander Family Foods’ BBQ sauce, salsa and beef jerky with the speedway signature concession items. The Robertson family members also will have a strong presence on their race weekend, with several attending as well as having various VIP or honorary roles such as Grand Marshal or Honorary Starter.(TMS)(2-6-2014)

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  News from February 5, 2014

• Phoenix Racing renamed HScott Motorsports: Harry Scott Jr. announced that Phoenix Racing has been renamed HScott Motorsports. The rebranding of the team comes five months after Scott purchased the team from James Finch. As part of this announcement, the company unveiled its new branding, including a new logo, website and social media accounts. “I am truly looking forward to the 2014 season,” said Scott. “We have two great drivers in place with Justin Allgaier and Bobby Labonte, we’ve partnered with great sponsors and the team is ready and excited for Daytona. Now that we have launched the HScott Motorsports brand, everything is in place. We can’t wait for the season to get started and to get back to racing.”
  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)

• Morgan Shepherd to attempt Daytona 500: Support Military Foundation announced that Morgan Shepherd will be driving the #93 SMF Toyota at Daytona International Speedway in an attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500. The presenting sponsor will be named at a later date. If Shepherd makes the field he would become the oldest driver ever to compete in the Daytona 500. Shepherd, 71, most recently partnered with Support Military Foundation to become the oldest driver to compete in the Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire in 2013. The team is a collaboration of BK Racing, Randy MacDonald of MacDonald Motorsports and Dell Hamilton of Support Military Foundation/HMR. “Whenever you can break a record or make history, it’s something special. To have Morgan in the car and the SMF presented on the car we couldn’t be happier,” said Dell Hamilton. “We are still looking for a presenting sponsor for the race, Support Military Foundation colors will be on the car but we are hoping for a presenting sponsor to come along and help us with this unique initiative.”(SMF PR)(2-5-2014)

• Evernham leaves ESPN: Former crew chief Ray Evernham, who created one of NASCAR’s most dominant teams in the 1990s with Jeff Gordon, will serve as a consultant to Hendrick Motorsports where he will be involved with the competition department. Evernham made the announcement Tuesday on “SiriusXM Speedway” with hosts Dave Moody and Angie Skinner. Evernham, who has served as a consultant for Hendrick Companies since 2011, also said that he no longer will be a part of ESPN’s NASCAR broadcasts. “Now not doing the ESPN thing will allow me to be involved in some of the management and some of the things that they’re doing at (Hendrick) Motorsports,” Evernham told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “The best way to avoid a conflict of interest is to choose one or the other. I’m excited about being able to go and being involved in the management team on the motorsports side.” Evernham told “SiriusXM Speedway” that he is not seeking to be a crew chief – something he’s stated often in the past. He admits he will be on a pit box, though, but in a different capacity. “I’ll be working with everybody at Hendrick Motorsports,” Evernham told the show. “I’ve met with crew chiefs. I think I’ve got a good perspective as they face different challenges. I will be going to meetings and be involved in competition things that I’ve not been involved with in the past three years or so.” Evernham said he plans to attend about 15 races – nearly the same total he worked for ESPN.(MRN)(2-5-2014)

• 50 Cent and SMS Audio Join Swan Racing as Sponsor: Swan Racing announced that it has partnered with SMS Audio for an exclusive agreement to be an associate sponsor on the team’s #26 and #30 Toyota Camrys during the 2014 and 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series seasons. SMS Audio is an American consumer electronics manufacturer of headphones and audio products, founded by entertainer and entrepreneur Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. “Swan Racing is very proud to partner with a growing worldwide brand like SMS Audio and to include an entrepreneur like 50 Cent as part of our team,” said team owner Brandon Davis. “The SMS Audio brand will be part of both our cars and I think our fans are going to love the product.” 50 Cent, who is a successful musical artist, entrepreneur, investor and actor serves as CEO of SMS Audio, which he founded in 2011. Created with the direct input from 50 Cent, SMS Audio has brought world-class audio products to consumers, delivering studio-mastered sound and unmatched durability and style. The partnership will include SMS Audio branding on both the #26 and #30 car, branding on the driver’s uniforms and Swan-branded SMS Audio headphones featuring drivers Cole Whitt and Parker Kligerman. In addition, 50 will be making appearances at races throughout the season, supporting the drivers and the partnership.(Swan Racing)(2-5-2014)

• Hendrick Motorsports profiled on Showtime show Wed night: In a sport where their performance has to be 12 seconds or less, every tenth of a second can make the difference between victory or defeat. That’s why NASCAR pit crews are so important to auto racing and why teams like Hendrick Motorsports are using athletes from college programs to make their pit crews the best they can be. CBS News correspondent on assignment, Jeff Glor, profiles a Hendrick team for the next edition of 60 Minutes Sports premiering tomorrow/Wed., Feb. 5, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Showtime.(PR)(2-5-2014)

• NASCAR pit crews help renovate homeless shelter: Some of NASCAR’s biggest musclemen are helping make sure a Charlotte homeless shelter gets a much needed makeover– 40 years in the making. They are used to hard work and heavy lifting, but carrying 200 pound consoles up three flights of stairs is not how Jimmie Johnson and Dale Juniors’ pit-crews usually spend their Mondays. “Normally go in and do some light duty stuff like some yoga and some rehab, but today’s not quite like that,” T.J. Ford says laughing. Instead they are getting in a workout helping with a long overdue makeover at Charlotte’s Rescue Mission. “Yeah, you can tell I’m out of breath right now; carrying those 200 pound consoles upstairs takes teamwork– just like pit-stops.” The men at the Rescue Mission have spent the last two months sleeping in the gym so the 1930s building can be completely redone. Everything at the mission had been here since the 60s. Reverend Tony Marciano runs the mission and says, “The building had really deteriorated over that time; the furniture itself was probably 30, 40 years old, so we really needed to renovate everything.” They’re completely re-configuring the men’s dormitory. It was military barracks style, but now they’re going to have four guys sleeping in the same area. The idea is to build a bond between the men. Marciano says there’s a good reason. “So if one is thinking of quitting there’s three other men that if he has a relationship with that will encourage him to stay within the program. For addicts, finishing something is very difficult.” They’re hoping fresh paint, new floors and furniture will help the men realize they’re worth a fresh start. “The old system reinforced the fact that they had messed up their lives; I hate to say that. With the new furniture it says your best days truly are ahead of you,” Marciano said. The men are supposed to be able to move from the gym to the newly redone dorms later this week. The renovations cost $400,000 and come from donations and from part of the non-profit’s operating budget.(NBC Charlotte)(2-5-2014)

• Harvick’s Nationwide schedule expands to 13 races: JR Motorsports announced an update to Kevin Harvick’s 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series race schedule, as the addition of five sponsorship partners brings his schedule to 13 races. Headlining the partner lineup is Morton Buildings, which will sponsor Harvick at two venues – Indianapolis Motor Speedway (July 26) and Kansas Speedway (Oct. 4). Based in Morton, Ill., Morton Buildings specializes in constructing high-quality, long-lasting structures ranging from farm shops, equestrian facilities, hobby buildings, garages, churches, municipal buildings, airplane hangars, custom homes, commercial structures and general storage buildings.
  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)
• Crusader Staffing joins TriStar: TriStar Motorsports announced its partnership with Crusader Staffing, LLC for the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series season. Serving as an associate sponsor on all of TriStar Motorsports Toyota Racing Camry’s, Crusader Staffing, LLC will use the partnership with TriStar Motorsports to promote Support Military Foundation throughout the 33-race NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule. Joining forces in 2012 co-founders Col. Steve West USAF, and Dell Hamilton Jr., a respected military advocate, set out to develop a national military resource directory. Doing so, they have created a one-of-a-kind validated military resource directory, for heroes by heroes.(TriStar Motorsports)(2-5-2014)
• Harrison Rhodes in the #24: 20 year-old Harrison Rhodes will make his first start on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway later this month, driving the HOODZ #24 Toyota Camry for SR2 Motorsports. HOODZ Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning and DUCTZ Air Duct Cleaning and HVAC Restoration have joined on to partner with Harrison and SR2 Motorsports for the race weekend. In 2013, Rhodes got his feet wet in the NASCAR Nationwide Series making seven starts throughout the season, while also making numerous starts in a super late model in races across the South East. Harrison nearly triumphed at the Myrtle Beach 400 in November, leading laps late in the race before a broken water pump ended his day with just two laps remaining in the event. SR2 Motorsports is moving into their third season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with Harrison behind the wheel. The team plans to move forward this season concentrating heavily on their #24 entry while running select races with two cars.(SR2 Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #24 team paint schemes page.(2-5-2014)
• No repave planned for Kentucky Speedway: There would have been talk this summer, as there is every year, about repaving Kentucky Speedway when the Sprint Cup Series circuit descends upon the Sparta, Ky., track for its biggest race weekend. Kentucky Speedway general manager Mark Simendinger isn’t ready to give in just yet. There are no plans for a Kentucky Speedway repave unless track officials absolutely have to, and Mother Nature does that sometimes to asphalt. But in the meantime, Simendinger’s maintenance staff will continue maintaining the track’s original surface installed before it opened in 2000. “If you’re a real motorsports fan, you know you’re allowed to interchange the word “character” for bumpy,” Simendinger said Tuesday. “In that regard, we have a lot of character. And that’s a good thing.” Drivers regularly discuss the difficulty in passing at Kentucky, though they’ve embraced the challenge of setting up a balanced car there. Simendinger said he hasn’t fielded a single complaint from one of them about the track’s, um, character. “In fact, I saw Kevin Harvick came to throw out the first pitch at one of the Reds games,” Simendinger said. “He just walked up to me and didn’t even say hello. He just said, ‘Don’t repave that race track.’ The Quaker State 400, as the Cup Series race will be known through 2018, is set for June 28 during a weekend that includes Camping World Truck and Nationwide series events. The track then hosts the ARCA Racing and Nationwide series on Sept. 19-20. As with other Sprint Cup Series tracks, Kentucky Speedway will be equipped with NASCAR’s “Air Titan” track drying system this season. The device sucks water off surfaces and into a truck, which NASCAR’s R&D Center estimates could decrease drying times by 80%.(Courier-Journal)(2-5-2014)
• Tickets on sale for 2014 races at Michigan: Tickets are on sale now for all events at Michigan International Speedway including the Quicken Loans 400, Pure Michigan 400, Michigan Wine and Beer Fest presented by Experience Jackson, Faster Horses Festival, all the support races and new qualifying.
  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)

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  News from February 4, 2014

• Enhancements To NASCAR Penalty Structure, Appeals Process Announced: As part of its wide-ranging initiatives to transform its competition model, NASCAR today announced enhancements to its penalty structure and appeals process beginning this season. In addition to these changes, NASCAR also announced the appointment of a Final Appeals Officer for the sport.
  “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)

• NASCAR’s new penalty structure, wins will not be stripped from a driver/team, but…: Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s Executive Vice President of Racing Operations, and Robin Pemberton, NASCAR Vice President of Competition Racing Development, held a press conference Tuesday morning to discuss changes to NASCAR’s penalty structure and NASCAR’s appeals process. Two of the Q&A’s mentioned how a winning team could be penalized, but doesn’t look like NASCAR will strip a driver/team of a win.
  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)
• NASCAR to make announcement Tuesday: late Tuesday morning, February 4, NASCAR Executive Vice President of Racing Operations, Steve O’Donnell and NASCAR Vice President of Competition and Racing Development Robin Pemberton are scheduled to make an announcement outlining updates to NASCAR’s penalty and appeal processes.(2-4-2014)

• Sorenson to drive the #36? UPDATE: hearing that Reed Sorenson will be the driver of the #36 Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevy in 2014.(2-3-2014)
  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)

• Dale Jr. staying out of crew chief hunt: The only certainty about Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s next crew chief after Steve Letarte? He won’t be chosen by the driver. “I won’t make any suggestions at all,” Earnhardt said in putting the decision in the hands of Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick and general manager Doug Duchardt. “I don’t really want to have any influence on the choice. It was Rick and upper management that decided to put me with Steve. I didn’t know how that was going to work out, but I just wanted to trust their judgment, and that’s what I’m going to do.”(USA Today)(2-4-2014)
• Joe & John Hunter Nemechek to share Truck Series ride: SWM-NEMCO Motorsports announced unprecedented plans for father and son Joe and John Hunter Nemechek to share a tag-team single season of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for 2014. This move allows the #8 truck, owned by SWM-NEMCO Racing, to run the whole season with John Hunter racing the 10 races at all the tracks that NASCAR allows at his age of 16. His dad, Joe will be mounting a campaign at racing the other 12. John Hunter will be running a combo of short track and one mile ovals, coupled with a road course and a dirt track. “Front Row Joe” will be taking the balance of the season at the larger tracks and super speedways. In the elite club of a few drivers with more than 1000 starts, only seven of those starts have been in a truck, with a best finish of 2nd place for the senior Nemechek. Sponsorship partners are in process for supporting the Father-Son #8 NASCAR Camping World Truck entry along with primary principle supporter Pelletgrillusa.com.(SWM-NEMCO Motorsports)(2-4-2014)

• Special M&M’s scheme in Daytona 500: Kyle Busch is scheduled to drive a special M&M’s Peanut scheme on the #18 Toyota in the Daytona 500 (JGR Facebook), see an image of the scheme on the #18 Team Schemes page.(2-4-2014)

• STP returns to the #43 for two races: STP will be the primary sponsor of Aric Almirola’s #43 Ford at Martinsville in March and Bristol in August. See an image of the scheme on the #43 Team Schemes page.(2-4-2014)

• JTG Daugherty Racing and Scott Brand Announce ‘Win My Car’ Sweepstakes Winner: Scott brand and JTG Daugherty Racing announced the grand prize winner of the ‘Win My Car’ Sweepstakes. AJ Allmendinger visited Hammonton, N.J. this Saturday (Feb. 1st) to hand over the keys of a brand new 2014 Toyota Camry to the winner, Robert “Bob” Wilson, Jr. The sweepstakes, which ran Sept. 1 through Nov. 30, 2013 and generated more than 250,000 total entries, gave Wilson the choice between the ultimate NASCAR fan memorabilia – AJ Allmendinger’s actual #47 Scott Products race car- or the best-selling car in America, a 2014 Toyota Camry.(Kimberly-Clark/ScottBrand PR)(2-4-2014)
• Sieg to run some Nationwide races:RSS Racing announced that Ryan Sieg will compete full-time in the Camping World Truck Series in 2014. In addition to a full season racing trucks, Sieg and the RSS Racing team will also compete in at least the first five Nationwide Series races. The team is coming off their most successful season yet and is currently looking to secure sponsors for the upcoming season.(RSS Racing)(2-4-2014)

• French driver Disdier to drive for SS in Daytona : SS Green Light has had many drivers behind the wheel over the last thirteen Camping World Truck Series seasons, but Daytona will mark a first for the veteran team as Michel Disdier a native of Nice, France will take the wheel of the #07 Chevy Silverado for the season opening Nextera Energy Resources 250 on February 21 at the Daytona International Speedway. Disdier is a second-generation driver who has raced throughout Europe in numerous types of vehicles for nearly twenty years. For the last ten years he has been pursuing his dream of becoming a NASCAR championship caliber driver competing on the high-speed tracks in the United States. The French drivers resume is deep; racing or testing in Formula Renault, Formula Ford, Formula 3, Formula 3000, Formula Nissan, Formula France and Ferrari Challenge after his early beginnings racing motorcycles in his homeland. Michel’s first race in North America was in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series back in 2007 and since then the French native has made eleven starts in the ARCA Series over the last six seasons with a best finish of eleventh last year at Daytona. SS Green Light Racing team owner Bobby Dotter brought Disdier to the NASCAR Preseason Thunder test last month where he received his NASCAR approval to race on superspeedways. The veteran owner/crew chief will call the shots for Disdier’s NASCAR super speedway debut at Daytona.(SS Green Light Racing)(2-4-2014)

• Sieg to return full-time: RSS Racing is pleased to announce that Ryan Sieg will compete full-time in the Camping World Truck Series in 2014. In addition to a full season racing trucks, Sieg and the RSS Racing team will also compete in at least the first five Nationwide Series races. The team is coming off their most successful season yet and is currently looking to secure sponsors for the upcoming season.(RSS Racing)(2-4-2014)

• Young to run full season UPDATE: Young’s Motorsports announced today that Tyler Young will compete full-time in 2014 behind the wheel of the #02 Chevy Silverado in the Camping World Truck Series. Young, who made his Truck Series debut in 2012 and has 11 career starts in NASCAR’s third division, will make his Daytona International Speedway debut in the NextEra Energy Resources 250 on Friday February 21, 2014. Young’s 2014 season will be led by veteran crew chief, Bryan Berry. Berry, a Homestead, Fla. native, is an 11-year veteran of the NCWTS and has 178 starts to his resume, including eight top-five and 27 top-10 finishes.(Young’s Motorsports)(1-27-2014)
  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)
• VisitMyrtleBeach.com to sponsor September’s Nationwide race at Kentucky: One of the fastest-growing family and vacation destinations in the nation, Myrtle Beach, S.C., will be the title sponsor of the VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300 race that will take the green flag at Kentucky Speedway Sat., Sept. 20. Affectionately known as “The Grand Strand,” Myrtle Beach welcomes an average of 15 million annual visitors, many of whom travel from Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. Myrtle Beach visitors experience true southern hospitality while enjoying 60 miles of beautiful, sandy beaches, more than 100 championship golf courses, countless family attractions, live entertainment and Carolina Coastal cuisine specializing in fresh seafood. The VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300 at Kentucky Speedway will conclude a two-race weekend that begins Friday, Sept. 19 with the ARCA Racing Series (ARS) Zloop 150.(Kentucky Speedway)(2-4-2014)

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  News from February 3, 2014

• Tommy Baldwin Racing Hires Parrott as Crew Chief; Sorenson to drive?: Tommy Baldwin Racing announces the hiring of Todd Parrott as the Crew Chief for the #36 Chevy for the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Season. Parrott, a well known name in the garage, has been with multiple teams within the industry for over 20 years, making his debut as a Crew Chief in 1995 with Robert Yates Racing. Following in his father Buddy’s footstep, who was inducted into the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame, Parrott has achieved several accomplishments in NASCAR. Winning a Championship in 1999 with NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett, Todd has gone on to become the third most winning active Crew Chief in the NASCAR Sprint Cup garage, with 31 wins, including two Daytona 500’s and two Brickyard 400’s.
  “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)

• ISC Reports Financial Results For The Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Of Fiscal 2013:International Speedway Corporation reported financial results for its fiscal fourth quarter and full-year ended November 30, 2013. “2013 was a banner year for our sport with TV ratings up, the launch of the Gen 6 car, fan enthusiasm surrounding Danica Patrick’s full season debut in the Sprint Cup series, and increasing diversity in the NASCAR fan base. All are signs that the Industry Action Plan is working,” stated Lesa France Kennedy, ISC Chief Executive Officer. “The exciting 2013 NASCAR season was capped off at our Homestead-Miami Speedway with a sixth Sprint Cup championship for Jimmy Johnson, the eleventh for Hendrick Motorsports. We are pleased to report solid results for our fourth quarter and full year 2013. Despite softness in certain markets and inclement weather impacting fourth quarter admissions, we are seeing encouraging signs of stabilization in our core business, driven by slowly improving economic conditions and solid consumer and corporate marketing strategies. “(more info at ISC site)(2-3-2014)

• Kwasniewski to drive the #31 for Turner Scott: – Turner Scott Motorsports announced that Dylan Kwasniewski, the 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and the 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East champion, will run a full-time NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule in 2014 driving the #31 Rockstar Energy Drink Chevy Camaro. Kwasniewski, 18, will make his series debut in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway on February 22. Kwasniewski, a native of Las Vegas, will bring Rockstar Energy Drink with him from NKNPSE competition to the Nationwide Series. Rockstar Energy Drink, headquartered in Las Vegas, has partnered with Kwasniewski since 2009. The Rockstar Energy Drink team will be led by veteran crew chief Pat Tryson. Tryson first joined TSM in August 2013 as crew chief for Nelson Piquet Jr. In 527 combined NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck events, he has led his teams to 10 wins, 66 top-five and 141 top-10 finishes and four poles.(Turner Scott Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #31 team paint schemes page.(2-3-2014)
• Blake Koch gets Daytona sponsor: TriStar Motorsports and Blake Koch announce their partnership with producers Roma Downey (Touched by an Angel, The Bible) and Mark Burnett (The Voice, Shark Tank, Survivor, Celebrity Apprentice, The Bible) and their epic movie, Son of God, which debuts in theaters nationwide on February 28th. The film will serve as the primary sponsor on the #44 TriStar Motorsports Toyota Camry with Koch, an established keynote speaker in the faith community, behind the wheel. Koch will be promoting advanced ticket sales for the film’s opening weekend and giving away an all-expense paid trip to one lucky fan and a guest to join him at Daytona International Speedway for the Daytona 500 weekend. Advance tickets to the movie can be purchased through www.RacingforSonofGod.com.(TriStar Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #44 team paint schemes page.(2-3-2014)

• Nemecheks to share driving duties: SWM-NEMCO Motorsports today announced unprecedented plans for father and son Joe and John Hunter Nemechek to share a tag-team single season of the Camping World Truck Series for 2014. This move allows the #8 truck, owned by SWM-NEMCO Racing, to run the whole season with John Hunter racing the 10 races at all the tracks that NASCAR allows at his age of 16. His dad, Joe will be mounting a campaign at racing the other 12. John Hunter will be running a combo of short track and one mile ovals, coupled with a road course and a dirt track. “Front Row Joe” will be taking the balance of the season at the larger tracks and super-speedways. In the elite club of a few drivers with more than 1000 starts, only seven of those starts have been in a truck, with a best finish of second place for the senior Nemechek. Sponsorship partners are in process for supporting the Father-Son #8 Camping World Truck entry along with primary principle supporter Pelletgrillusa.com.(SWM-NEMCO Motorsports)(2-3-2013)

• Kligerman, BRG reunite for Daytona: The Camping World Truck Series season opens on Feb. 21 at Daytona International Speedway. George Bragg wishes it started sooner. Last time for Bragg’s BRG Motorsports was the NASCAR truck race at Talladega Superspeedway in October. In the team’s only outing of the 2013 season, BRG came away with a fourth-place finish. Bragg said the team expected to do even better in the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona on Feb. 21. The BRG Motorsports’ Daytona entry again will have Parker Kligerman in the truck and Josh Bragg on top of the pit box. Josh Bragg is George Bragg’s son and the winner of the pro late model season championship at Mobile International Speedway for each of the past two seasons. BRG Motorsports has grown over the past decade from its roots in Helena, Miss. The Daytona truck was prepared in a shop in Mooresville, N.C., in the heart of NASCAR country. The team has support from Joe Gibbs Racing’s motor program and Toyota. Daytona will be the team’s sixth NASCAR truck event. Bragg would like to race more often. He said BRG Motorsports was building another speedway truck to race at Talladega on Oct. 18. For the truck series, other than Daytona and Talladega, nothing is certain for the 2014 season except the team needs sponsors to enable it to race more.(AL.com)(2-3-2014)

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  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
  
  
• Teams test at Nashville UPDATE: many drivers tested at Nashville Superspeedway for one or two days this week: #5-Kasey Kahne, #13-Casey Mears, #16-Greg Biffle, #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., #21-Trevor Bayne, #22-Joey Logano, #27-Paul Menard, #31-Ryan Newman, #43-Aric Almirola, #66-Jeff Burton, #83-Ryan Truex, #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #99-Carl Edwards.(driver / team twitter accounts)(1-31-2014)
  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)

• Super Bowl commercial takes Dale Earnhardt to unusual place: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. does a burnout as part of his Super Bowl commercial for Diet Mountain Dew, but the sport’s most popular driver is in a place where you wouldn’t expect to see his famous racecar. But thanks to the art of cinematography, he’s in a familiar environment and appears to be using his No. 88 Chevy for a unique purpose. Diet Mountain Dew is part of PepsiCo, whose agreement with Hendrick Motorsports includes primary sponsorship for five Cup races with Earnhardt this year. Earnhardt is one of at least two NASCAR stars who will star in Super Bowl commercials on Sunday. Danica Patrick will star in her record 13th Super Bowl commercial for sponsor GoDaddy.(Sporting News)(2-2-2014)

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  News from February 1, 2014

• BK Racing & Dr Pepper continue partnership thru 2014: The start of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season will be a story of “23s” for BK Racing. As the team embarks on its third season in NASCAR’s premier level beginning in just 23 days with the 56th annual Daytona 500 on February 23, the team will continue its longtime partnership with Dr Pepper aboard the renumbered 23 BK Racing Toyota Camry for Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Alex Bowman. “We are excited to partner with BK Racing for the third consecutive year,” explains Kelton Graham, vice president of sales for the Burger King account at Dr Pepper Snapple Group. “Like Dr Pepper, the BK Racing team is one of a kind, and we look forward to celebrating with them in Victory Lane in 2014!” BK Racing renumbered the #93 to the #23 in 2014 as in honor of the 23 flavors in Dr Pepper. The #23 Dr Pepper Toyota Camry will carry two different paint schemes throughout the 2014 season. For day races the car will be maroon with a single-silver offset stripe and for night races silver with a maroon single-offset stripe. “Since we started BK Racing in February of 2012, I always wanted the #23,” said team owner Ron Devine. “We feel like the relationship with Dr Pepper is very strong and this will take it to the next level.”(BK Racing), see image of the maroon scheme on the #23 Team Schemes page.(2-1-2014)

• Travis Kvapil takes deal in domestic assault case: NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Travis Kvapil was placed on two years probation Thursday and must perform community service as part of a deferred prosecution agreement in his domestic assault case. Kvapil, 37, faced misdemeanor charges of false imprisonment and assault after an Oct. 8 incident at his home. Under the prosecution agreement, the charges against him eventually will be dropped. Kvapil, who drove for BK Racing last season but does not have a ride yet for 2014, appeared Thursday in North Carolina District Court in Iredell County. According to court records, he pleaded guilty to the charges as part of an agreement that will dismiss the case after he completes two years probation (at least one year of supervised probation) and 72 hours of community service. He had to pay $460 in fees and court costs and must attend an anger management class. The probation stipulates that he can travel out of the state for work purposes as long as he gives notice to his probation officer.(Sporting News)(2-1-2014)

• Bruce Hayes to be honored for commitment to racing: For the past 55 years, at least one stock car zipping around Bowman Gray Stadium’s track on race night has borne the name “Hayes Jewelers.” And Bruce Hayes, the owner of that Lexington jewelry business, hardly ever misses a Saturday night race. But his involvement goes beyond sponsorship money. “Racing has been good to me,” said Hayes, 79. “It’s been good business, but it’s just something I’ve always enjoyed as well.” Hayes will receive the Allison Family Corporate Award, given in memory of Clifford and Davey Allison, on Feb. 19 at the Living Legends of Auto Racing banquet at Daytona Beach, Fla. Bobby and Donnie Allison will be the presenters. Hayes has been involved in racing at Bowman Gray since 1959. Hayes owned Caraway Speedway near Asheboro in the 1980s and has owned several cars – including the one that Joe Millikan drove to a Sportsman (now Nationwide Series) victory at Daytona in 1976. Hayes said he then supplied a motor to Richard Petty, who went through all he had during the same week at one memorable Daytona race. “Maurice (Petty) pulled the motor out of the car that we had won with and put it in their car and got it ready up to their specifications for Sunday,” Hayes said. “Richard and David Pearson wound up crashing near the finish line.” Hayes said that his company has produced many of the trophies presented by NASCAR over the years. “When R.J. Reynolds started with Winston sponsoring NASCAR races, we made all the Winston Cup trophies,” he said. “And we still make a lot of the awards now, including a lot for NHRA.” The Living Legends of Auto Racing was founded in 1993 as an effort to recognize stock-car racing’s pioneers. The other award winners this year are: Jim Reed (Pioneer of Racing), Geoff Bodine (Distinguished Driver), Don LaJoie (Dedicated Service), Ken Squier (Media), Carl “Bugs Stevens” Bergman (Early Days Tribute) and Ronnie Sanders (Saturday Night Hero).(Winston Salem Journal)
• NASCAR Drive For Diversity Selects 2014 Class: NASCAR Drive for Diversity (D4D), the leading youth development program for multicultural and female drivers, will head into the 2014 season with one of the most well-rounded and accomplished rosters in program history. The 2014 class is led by Daniel Suarez, who contended for two NASCAR touring series championships last year, and Ryan Gifford, who is coming off a successful 2013 season, in which he earned his first NASCAR win and made his NASCAR national series debut. They will be joined by a group of talented newcomers looking to make their mark in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. In addition to Suarez and Gifford, Sergio Peña returns to the program in which he earned three wins and finished fifth in NASCAR K&N Pro Series East points in 2011. They’ll be joined in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series ranks by Jay Beasley. Beasley won the 2013 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Super Late Model track championship at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the series’ Nevada championship. Devon Amos, who drove with Rev Racing’s Legends program last year, and Paige Decker will compete for the team in Late Models in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. D4D saw one the strongest pool of applicants the program has ever seen this year. Nearly 100 drivers, representing 14 states and Mexico, applied for an opportunity to try out for a spot with Rev Racing at the annual D4D Combine – a three-day tryout where drivers’ undergo physical assessments and are evaluated on on-track abilities by executives across the industry.(NASCAR)(2-1-2014)
• 2014 Sonoma Raceway Tickets On Sale: Tickets for the 2014 racing season at Sonoma Raceway go on sale Feb. 1, and the raceway has retooled its menu of offerings to better meet the needs of fans and continue to deliver great value for Northern California’s top motorsports destination. Tickets for all major events will be available beginning Feb. 1, including the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (June 20-22); NHRA Sonoma Nationals (July 25-27); GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma IndyCar Series (Aug. 22-24); and the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) (Sept. 13-14). New for 2014, Sonoma Raceway will offer Buy-Early-and-Save options for all four of its major event weekends. By purchasing in advance of NASCAR, NHRA, INDYCAR and WTCC, fans can save up to 20% on event tickets. It’s the perfect way to guarantee the best seats and the best prices. In addition, all Toyota/Save Mart 350 weekend pass holders will receive a complimentary Friday and Saturday Cold Pit Pass. Sonoma Raceway will also offer new levels of value for the Toyota/Save Mart 350, as tickets start at just $49 for race day. Prices have been restructured in all seating areas around the facility to offer better value to race fans. The raceway will continue to offer camping around the facility, as well as many popular ticket upgrades, including the Pre-Race Pit Pass for Sunday morning. Fans can purchase individual or weekend tickets, as well as secure camping and special ticket packages, for all 2014 major events by calling 800-870-RACE (7223), visiting an account representative at the raceway or by purchasing tickets online at racesonoma.com/tickets or ticketmaster.com.(Sonoma Raceway)(2-1-2014)
• Watkins Glen accepting Fan Ambassador Applications: Watkins Glen International is currently accepting applications from those who are interested in becoming part of the WGI team as Fan Ambassadors. This is an exciting opportunity for passionate fans who are eager to get closer to the action and get a behind-the-scene look at the largest events that take place at The Glen. There is no better way to become part of the fun and excitement during the race season at WGI. Fan Ambassadors will have the opportunity to handle a wide variety of tasks, including, but not limited to: escorting corporate partners and VIP guests during garage and pit tours, greeting guests, providing assistance in The Glen Club and hospitality areas, assisting pace car ride participants, and helping with pre-race ceremonies on track and post-race in Gatorade Victory Lane.
  “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)