March 2014 News Archives

News from March 31, 2014

Entry List for the Duck Commander 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway is posted, 46 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including: #21-Bayne, #33-Hill, #35-Reutimann, #66-Nemechek, #77-Blaney, and #95-McDowell. With 46 cars entered, 3 drivers will miss the race. The drivers who must qualify on speed are: #35-Reutimann, #77-Blaney, #95-McDowell.
See the full entry list at my Jayski’s Texas Entry List
War of words between Keselowski & Kurt Busch: If you want to find a driver who isn’t particularly thrilled with #41-Kurt Busch’s victory in Sunday’s STP 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway, look no farther than the #2 Team Penske garage stall. #2-Brad Keselowski felt he had a potential race-winning car, but his chances disappeared early in a pit-road collision with Busch. Keselowski took his Ford to the garage and lost 31 laps while his crew made repairs. He finished 38th. After the race, Keselowski questioned Busch’s judgment in driving aggressively on Lap 42 of 500. “If you’re going to be aggressive, wreck yourself, don’t wreck me,” Keselowski said. “I’ll remember that when it’s Lap 50 and he needs a break, and he’ll find his ass turned around in the wall. Just like he tore my car up.
Busch was surprised at the vehemence of Keselowski’s reaction to the incident, especially after Keselowski tried to exact payback on the track. “Yeah, I can’t believe he overreacted and he’s as upset as he is,” Busch said. “The 5 car (Kasey Kahne) was trying to pull into his box. Brad ran into the back of him. I steered right to go around Brad and then he clobbers our left-side door, and it’s like, OK, accidents happen on pit road. It’s congested. It’s not a place to race, because of all the pit crew guys down there and I didn’t think much of it, and then once we were back out running, he targeted us. He was aiming for us. He tried to flatten all four of my tires. That’s a no-fly zone. That’s a punk-ass move and he will get what he gets back when I decide to give it back.”(NASCAR Wire Service)(3-31-2014)
Commercial breakdown and links related to the 2014 STP 500: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, here is the breakdown for Sunday’s race. Began recording the times at the Invocation of the race at 1:00 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 4:57 PM (all times are EST). Fox was the broadcast team for this event.
Total number of commercials: 108
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 62
Number of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 96
Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast: 60
Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 5 min. 40 sec.
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 1:00 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 4:57 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 237
Minutes of race broadcast: 190
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 47
Minutes of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials (split-screen): 7
Number of missed restarts: 1
Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 0
Total race brdcst time 190 Total comm. brdcst time 47
See past races, links, more info on the 2014 TV Commercials page.(3-31-2014)
Sad News – Jordan Janway: [Jimmie and Chadnra] Johnson are saddened by the tragic passing of Chandra’s brother, Jordan Janway, 27. Jordan was an incredible son, brother, uncle and friend and will be dearly missed. Please keep the Janway family in your thoughts and prayers. The family asks for privacy at this time.(JimmieJohnson.com)(3-31-2014)
Sad News – Bob Pressley: Robert “Bobby” Russell Pressley, 53, of Landis died Sunday at his home. He was born December 29, 1960 in Norfolk, VA , a son Brenda Rich Pressley of High Point and the late Robert Pressley. He was the fitness director of Penske Racing for 17 years before moving to South Port, NC where he owned an antique shop. He later moved to High Point to give loving care to his dad who was terminally ill. Mr. Pressley was a member of the Connect Christian Church in Concord. He will be remembered as a devoted son, brother and uncle. In addition to his mother Mr. Pressley is survived by a brother Bradford Pressley and wife Heather of Raleigh and three nephews, Hudson, Heath and Hogan. Also surviving are his beloved friend Darlene DeRosa and nephews Robert and Domenic DeRosa.Funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be given to Hospice of the Piedmont, 1801 Westchester Drive, High Point, NC 27262, First Baptist Church of High Point, 405 N. Main Street, High Point, NC 27260 or to McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, Concord, NC 28027-9757. Online condolences may be made on Mr. Pressley’s memorial page at www.cumbyfuneral.com.(3-31-2014)
Whataburger sponsoring Starr at Texas: NASCAR Nationwide Series driver and Texas native David Starr will partner with San Antonio, Texas-based Whataburger for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 at Texas Motor Speedway, on Friday, April 4. Starr, who has 40 starts across NASCAR’s top three national touring series at the 1.5-mile track, will pilot the #44 Whataburger Toyota Camry for TriStar Motorsports.(TriStar Motorsports)(3-31-2014)
Thomas Rhett to perform at Kentucky Speedway’s Quaker State 400: Country music singer/songwriter Thomas Rhett will rev up Kentucky Speedway’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts race day when he takes the Kroger Prerace Concert Stage June 28. The 23-year-old Georgia native’s “Get Me Some of That” single is 16th on the current Billboard Magazine Hot Country Songs Chart and he’s also made an impact with the hits “Something to Do with My Hands,” “Beer with Jesus” and the title single from his first release, It Goes Like This. Rhett’s energetic performance is included with Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts race tickets priced as low as $59. Fans can enjoy stage-side and infield views of the show while enhancing their race day experience with a daily Fan Zone pass that is sold separately. Passes additionally provide pit road access at designated times, the opportunity to view NASCAR inspection as well as enjoy unique activities and concessions in an area near pit road and surrounding Victory Lane.(Kentucky Speedway)(3-31-2014)

News from March 30, 2014
Kurt Busch wins at Martinsville Speedway: #41-Kurt Busch won the STP 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway for his 1st win of 2014, his 2nd at Martinsville Speedway and his 25th career win. It is his first win since Dover in October 2011.
It is the first win for car #41 since Curtis Turner won at Rockingham on October 31, 1965.
#48-Johnson finished 2nd followed by: #88-Earnhardt, Jr., #22-Logano, #9-Ambrose, #20-Kenseth, #4-Harvick, #43-Almirola, #15-Bowyer, and #27-Menard..
Polesitter #18-Busch finished 14th
#3-Austin Dillion was the rookie of the race, finishing 15th.
#99-Edwards, who came into the race as the points leader finished 13th, so #88-Earnhardt, Jr. retakes the points lead, 9 points over #20-Kenseth.
There were 33 lead changes (a record for this race) among 12 drivers and there were 14 cautions for 92 yellow flag laps.
The average speed was 72.176mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Unofficial Martinsville Speedway Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Martinsville Penalty Report (pdf).
(3-30-2014)
Race Fast Facts – Martinsville Speedway:
Kurt Busch won the 65th Annual STP 500, his 25th victory in 477 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
There were 33 lead changes today, a new track record. The previous record was 31, set on April 3, 2011.
This is Busch’s first victory and second top-10 finish in 2014.
With the victory, Busch breaks an 83-start winless drought. His last win came at Dover on Oct. 2, 2011.
This is his second victory and fifth top-10 finish in 28 races at Martinsville Speedway. His first Martinsville win came in October 2002.
There have now been six different winners in the first six races this season, the most in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup era and longest streak to start a season since 2003.
Jimmie Johnson (second) posted his 22nd top-10 finish in 25 races at Martinsville Speedway. It is his fourth top-10 finish in 2014.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (third) posted his 16th top-10 finish in 29 races at Martinsville Speedway.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(3-30-2014)
2014 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Championship Points Standings:
[after Martinsville Speedway, race 6 of 36]
1) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [1 win], 227
2) #20-Matt Kenseth, 218, -9
3) #99-Carl Edwards [1 win], 217, -10
4) #24-Jeff Gordon, 216, -11
5) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 209, -18
6) #18-Kyle Busch [1 win], 189, -38
7) #2-Brad Keselowski [1 win], 188, -39
8) #22-Joey Logano, 187, -40
9) #3-Austin Dillon, 179, -48
10) #31-Ryan Newman, 174, -53
Other drivers with a win:
20) #41-Kurt Busch [1 win], 146, -81
25) #4-Kevin Harvick [1 win], 135, -92
See UNOFFICIAL drivers championship points standings on the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings (pdf).
See the UNOFFICIAL owner points standings on the Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf).
(3-30-2014)
Harvick to host firefighters at Martinsville: Sunday will be a kind of Thanksgiving Day for Kevin and Delana Harvick. Sure, Kevin will be racing in the STP 500 Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway. But the couple might not be there – let alone still alive – if it wasn’t for the efforts of firefighters from the Oak Ridge (N.C.) Fire department. The first responders found and contained a smoldering fire within the Harvick’s house last November 27 before it became fully engulfed and did more damage – both property – and life-wise. The Harvicks were awoken in the early hours of the morning by the sound of a smoke alarm. While they saw and smelled smoke, they didn’t detect any fire, but called the fire department to respond. The department responded quickly, and using thermal imaging equipment, found a simmering blaze between the basement ceiling and main floor of the house. Harvick and his son toured the Oak Hill fire station on Thursday and gave personal thanks to Chief Steve Simmons. To show further thanks, Harvick and his Stewart-Haas Racing #4 Budweiser Chevrolet team will host those firefighters who responded to the fire at Sunday’s STP 500 Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway. The firefighters will also serve as honorary crew members and watch much of the race from atop the war wagon in Harvick’s pit stall. Harvick’s race car will also carry a special “Smoke detectors save lives” decal recognizing both the firefighters and department for their life-saving efforts.(NBC Sports)(3-30-2014)
Earnhardt, Jr, Graham Rahal interested in ride swap UPDATES: Verizon IndyCar Series driver Graham Rahal believes the timing and circumstances are just too perfect not to do the much-ballyhooed car swap with his National Guard NASCAR counterpart, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Rahal attended the Auto Club 400 in Fontana on Sunday afternoon with girlfriend Courtney Force and her father, 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion, John and reached out to Earnhardt after the race, via Twitter, about the possibility of swapping rides somewhere down the line. For his part, Earnhardt seemed agreeable. Rahal says the Twitter exchange was calculated but “100 percent authentic” and something that the second-generation IndyCar ace has wanted to do for quite some time. “I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t want it to happen,” Rahal told Popular Speed. “Dale and I share a sponsor now (National Guard) and my dad (three-time champion, Bobby) and Rick (Hendrick) have always had a great relationship.” Rahal believes the shared National Guard sponsorship makes for a great marketing opportunity for both himself and Earnhardt, allowing for Rahal to knock a machine off his personal bucket list – the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car. Rahal, who is pushing for the car swap to take place on the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is just looking forward to potentially hanging out with Earnhardt, believing that their similarities could establish a fast friendship.(Popular Speed)(3-25-2013)
UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Tuesday he wants to swap race cars with Graham Rahal, but believes it won’t be possible because they drive for rival manufacturers. Both drivers are sponsored by Army National Guard this season. Rahal reached out to Earnhardt on Twitter after Sunday’s NASCAR race at Fontana, proposing they swap cars in an exhibition. Only Earnhardt drives a Chevy in NASCAR, and Rahal’s car in IndyCar is a Honda. Because Chevy and Honda are direct competitors in IndyCar, and Earnhardt is so closely associated with Chevy, he said he doesn’t think the swap is doable. “Well, he drives a Honda, which is more than just a speed bump,” Earnhardt said during an appearance at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “If I wanted to drive an Indy car, I’m sure I could get with Penske or somebody who owned a Chevy and take a couple laps somewhere. But it would have been fun to do that with Graham because of the relationship with our sponsor and the history of our families. I look forward to meeting him one day, but I think the fact he has a relationship with a different manufacturer is going to make it challenging – if not impossible – for me to drive that particular car.”(Associated Press)(3-26-2014)
UPDATE 2: Chevy has not received an official request from Dale Earnhardt Jr. to swap race cars with Honda driver Graham Rahal. Jim Campbell, the U.S. Vice President Performance Vehicles and Motorsports for Chevy, said Saturday the manufacturer would consider any proposal to drive an Indy car from Earnhardt but until then, any talk about a manufacture conflict is premature. “If we get a proposal, we’ll take a look at it and we’ll look at it with an open set of eyes. The rest is hypothetical,” Campbell told The Associated Press. “Broadly speaking about any Chevy driver that is currently on our roster, if they decided to go race in another category or series, of course we’d love to see them in Chevys. There’s no doubt about that. In some cases it works out like that, and in some cases it doesn’t.” Kurt Busch, who currently drives a Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing in NASCAR, will drive a Honda for Andretti Autosport in the Indianapolis 500. He was encouraged by Chevy before completing the deal with Andretti to work with a Chevrolet team for Indy, but the manufacturer ultimately agreed he could drive for Andretti.(Associated Press)(3-30-2014)
NASCAR team tests at Kennedy Space Center: When it comes to testing, many NASCAR teams head to places such as Road America, Nashville, or a variety of other racing facilities sprinkled across the country. Yet for one team, they took their test session to a whole new level — space. On March 11, an unidentified NASCAR team tested the 3.2-mile Shuttle Landing Facility runway at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. According to the NASA release, on the same day, the space agency tested the experimental Morpheus lander, Starfighters Aerospace tested “modified jet fighters through their afterburner evaluations, and medical evacuation helicopters conducting safety checks and procedure tests.” The uniqueness of the March 11 test day was that the runway was used by a multitude of people for a variety of reasons. Prior to March 11, the facility made famous by rocket launches and space shuttle landings was used by only one group at a time. While this particular test was the first to mention a NASCAR team, the Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility has hosted “car tests” in the past. It is unclear whether any of these previous tests were conducted by NASCAR teams or not, and attempts to contact NASA were not returned at time of publication. In the past, teams have used large facilities such as the Toyota’s North America Proving Grounds in Arizona for test purposes such as these.(FoxSports)(3-30-2014)
Sad News – Roy Trantham: Roy M. Trantham, 73, died March 17, 2014 after a long battle with leukemia. Roy was born on February 10, 1941 in Asheville, N.C. He was involved in NASCAR auto racing in engine development and as a driver. He moved to St. Croix, USVI where he was a managing partner in an automobile dealership and several related businesses. He moved to Palm City Florida in 1994 and stayed involved in the automotive world. He was passionate about all animals and helped in animal rescue. He is survived by his loving wife, Lucia; his daughter, Regina and son in law, Earl, and his son, Roy III and grandchildren, Sydney, Rebecca and Travis and his brother Jim.(Asheville Citizen-Times), Trantham ran 5 Cup races in 1968.(3-30-2014)
Crafton wins at Martinsville: #88-Matt Crafton won the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway after rain delayed the race until Sunday. #54-Darrell Wallace, Jr. finished second followed by #31-Ben Kennedy, #98-Johnny Sauter, #29-Ryan Blaney, #17-Timothy Peters, #77-German Quiroga, #32-Ben Rhodes, #30-Ron Hornaday, Jr., and #7-Brian Ickler.
There were 10 cautions for 56 laps and 17 lead changes among 6 leaders. Complete results are on the Martinsville race results page (pdf).(3-30-2014)
Martinsville Race Fast Facts:
Matt Crafton won the 16th Annual Kroger 250, his fourth victory in 318 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
There were 17 lead changes, a new track record. The previous record was 13, set in April of 2013.
This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in 2014.
This is his first victory and 13th top-10 finish in 25 races at Martinsville Speedway. His previous best finish was second, twice.
Darrell Wallace Jr. (second) posted his third top-10 finish in three races at Martinsville Speedway. It is his first top-10 finish in 2014.
Ben Kennedy (third) posted his second top-10 finish in two races at Martinsville Speedway.
(NASCAR Statistics)(3-30-2013)
Driver standings following Martinsville:
1)#17-Timothy Peters, 82
2) #98-Johnny Sauter, 82
3) #88-Matt Crafton,78, -4
4) #29-Ryan Blaney, 78, -4
5) #30-Ron Hornaday, 76, -6
6) #31-Ben Kennedy, 72, -10
7) #77-German Quiroga, 71, -11
8) #54-Darrell Wallace, 61, -21
9) #13-Jeb Burton, 60, -22
10) #19-Tyler Reddick, 60, -22
See complete standings on the driver standings page (pdf).(3-30-2014)
Owner Standings following Martinsville are posted (pdf).(3-30-2014)
Cassadee Pope performing concert at Dover: Fans will be treated to a free concert from knockout female vocalist Cassadee Pope leading into the Sunday, June 1, 2014 “FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in Victory Plaza. “The Voice” season three champ will also sing the National Anthem to kick off the race at the Monster Mile. Since winning the NBC hit show, Pope successfully debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums and in the top 10 on the all-genre Top Albums charts with her first solo album, FRAME BY FRAME, on Republic Nashville. With that, she became one of only two solo women in the past five years to top the country chart with a debut release. Pope recently joined an elite group of women upon selling more than 1 million downloads of her lead single, “Wasting All These Tears.” Not since Taylor Swift in 2006 has a solo female country artist gone platinum on their debut single.(Dover International Speedway)(3-30-2014)

News from March 29, 2014
Saturday on track activity cancelled: Due to steady rain at the track, both NASCAR Sprint Cup practices, Truck Series qualifying and the Truck Series race were all cancelled Saturday. The Truck race has been rescheduled for Sunday at 5:30pm/et, after the Cup race concludes.(3-29-2014)
First Cup practice cancelled: Rain started at Martinsville Speedway just minutes before the first Cup practice was to get underway. NASCAR has cancelled the practice to try to get Truck Series qualifying completed. Final practice is still scheduled for 1:00pm/et.(3-29-2014)
NASCAR considering reducing horsepower to Cup cars next season UPDATE: NASCAR is planning on making significant engine package changes in 2015 to extend the life of Sprint Cup powerplants and reduce horsepower. And along with engine changes, there likely will be aerodynamic and tire changes for the Cup cars in 2015 as well. That’s the word from NASCAR Vice President of Competition and Racing Development Robin Pemberton. Pemberton said the sanctioning body has had four meetings so far with representatives from Chevy, Ford and Toyota and race teams about how to implement those changes. No consensus has been reached yet, according to Pemberton, but discussions are ongoing in advance of making the changes for next year. Although Pemberton declined to specify how many horsepower NASCAR is looking to cut, sources familiar with the discussions said the reduction would be in the neighborhood of 75 to 100 horsepower. Currently, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series engines make about 860-900 horsepower at most tracks. Discussions are still in the early stages, Pemberton said, but given the fact that there are so few engine suppliers now, they will need plenty of lead-time to make changes for next year.
Among the options being discussed are reduction in engine displacement and changes to throttle body size. Sources familiar with the discussions say that Chevy and Toyota are pushing for a reduction to 5.0-liter engines, while the Ford camp is pushing for the use of tapered spacers, such as are used in the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series engines. Pemberton said any change in the engine package likely would necessitate other changes as well.
“It’s not fully appreciated the fact that we’ve had the same engine for basically 25 or 30 years and it’s at 850 or 860 horsepower, where it used to be 500,” Pemberton said. “And we are at the same race tracks where we used to run 160 (miles per hour) we’re now qualifying at 190 and running 213 going into the corners. There’s been a lot of engineering and gains made across the board. Goodyear … we have the same tire patch as when we started.(FoxSports)(3-23-2014)
UPDATE: NASCAR has another meeting scheduled in April with Sprint Cup engine builders to determine possible changes to the engine for next year, said Gene Stefanyshyn, NASCAR vice president of innovation and racing development. NASCAR has talked with teams since late last year about engine changes for 2015 that would reduce horsepower. “We’re all working together to find the solution,” Stefanyshyn told Motor Racing Network on Friday at Martinsville Speedway. “We have to make sure that the little guys, the smaller engine builders are OK with this and we don’t hurt them financially. It’s a balance, and we’ve probably got six different alternatives we’re looking at. We’re going to be needing to get to a decision here pretty soon.” Engine builders expect NASCAR to reduce horsepower by about 100 or so for next year.(Motor Racing Network)(3-29-2014)
CRC Industries returns to sponsor Cassill at Martinsville: For the third consecutive week CRC Automotive will partner with Hillman Racing and driver Landon Cassill as the primary sponsor of the #40 Sprint Cup Series entry. The exposure generated at the end of last Sunday’s event at Auto Club Speedway in Southern California – with Cassill leading the field under the final caution flag – helped propel the underdog team into the spotlight for the second time this season, complementing the team’s 12th-place finish in the season-opening Daytona 500. CRC, a manufacturer of an extensive arsenal of automotive maintenance repair products, will showcase its widely-accepted cooling system additive, K&W FIBERLOCK Head Gasket & Block Repair, with Cassill driving the distinctive green #40 CRC/K&W FiberLock Chevy in Sunday’s STP 500.(Hillman Racing), see an image of the car on the #40 team paint schemes page.(3-29-2014)
Final Fontana TV Ratings: All five NASCAR races this season have declined in ratings and viewership. Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Auto Club 400 from Fontana earned a 4.4 final rating and 7.1 million viewers on FOX, down 6% in ratings and 11% in viewership from last year (4.7, 8.0M), but up 16% and 15%, respectively, from rain-affected coverage in 2012 (3.8, 6.2M). The 4.4 rating is the second-lowest for the Sprint Cup at Fontana since 2000, ahead of only 2012. So far this season, all five NASCAR Sprint Cup races have declined in ratings and viewership. The season has seen the lowest rated and least-viewed Daytona 500 ever, the lowest rated second race of the season since 2000 (Phoenix), the third-lowest rated Las Vegas race ever, and now the second-lowest rated Fontana race in fourteen years.(Sports Media Watch)(3-29-2014)
MWR cars paying tribute to Bobby Waltrip: Bobby Waltrip, the middle brother of NASCAR Hall of Fame driver and FOX analyst Darrell Waltrip and NASCAR Sprint Cup team owner and FOX announcer Michael Waltrip, died of natural causes last Sunday. The middle Waltrip formerly managed Darrell’s race team and was best known as a promoter and announcer of go-kart races in both the American Karting Association and the World Karting Association. To memorialize Bobby, the two Michael Waltrip Racing Toyotas of #15-Clint Bowyer and #55-Brian Vickers are carrying the name “Bobby Waltrip” over their respective driver’s doors, as well as decals honoring his memory this weekend at Martinsville Speedway.(FoxSports)(3-29-2014)
Second Annual NASCAR Race To Green Initiative: Celebrating the sport’s commitment to protecting and preserving the environment, NASCAR officially kicked off its second annual NASCAR Race to Green initiative at Martinsville Speedway. NASCAR is sports’ sustainability leader and this effort is intended to build awareness around the programs the sanctioning body, industry, and a wide range of partners have in place to help reduce the sport’s carbon footprint. A key pillar of the initiative is a call-to-action for fans and the industry to donate trees that will be planted across the country as well as in a number of areas recently devastated by natural disasters. NASCAR fans can visit www.NASCAR.com/green to donate trees – $1 per tree for a 2-3 foot sapling – to be planted in those areas with the support of The Arbor Day Foundation. Fans are encouraged to share their own efforts around green innovation by using the hashtag #NASCARGreen. Social media highlights of the industry’s sustainability efforts will be featured on NASCAR.com/Green. NASCAR will go “green” throughout the month-long initiative with visual reminders reinforcing the importance of this campaign. The color green will be prominently displayed on race vehicles and at tracks across the three NASCAR national series, NASCAR Home Tracks and International Series.(NASCAR)(3-29-2014)
Stewart presented with lifetime membership to Code 3 Associates: Three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion #14-Tony Stewart was presented with lifetime membership to Code 3 Associates by president Eric Bagdikian and executive assistant Jane Giese on Friday, March 28 prior to Sprint Cup practice at Martinsville Speedway. Code 3 Associates is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization specializing in animal rescue and recovery in disaster areas and is a partner of Stewart-Haas Racing, the Sprint Cup team Stewart co-owns with Haas Automation founder Gene Haas. The continued operation of Code 3 Associates relies totally on the generosity of donors and bravery of its responders. Membership educates the populace on pet preparedness during disasters, lends a larger voice to animal-related legislation and policy, and supports first-responder and officer training across the United States. Code 3 Associates is featured on Stewart’s #14 Chevy SS this weekend at Martinsville.(Stewart Haas / TrueSpeed Communications)(3-29-2014)
Sad News – Sharon Grubb: Sharon Grubb, 62, passed away on March 18, 2014. She was born to Reginald C. Stokes and Billie J. Updegraff on January 20, 1952. She was preceded in death by her father, Reginald; and her son, Kevin Grubb. Sharon is survived by her husband, William Grubb; her mother, Billie J. Updegraff; daughter, Michelle Grubb-Solaimani and husband, Michael; son, Wayne Grubb and wife, Holli. She was a proud grandmother to Rylee, Taryn and Reygan Solaimani, and Jordin and Alivia Grubb. Sharon is also survived by her sisters, Carol S. Jones and Reggie S. Loth; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family received friends on March 21 at the Woody Funeral Home, Atlee Chapel, 9271 Shady Grove Rd., Mechanicsville, Va. 23116, and the funeral service was held at the funeral home on March 22. Interment followed at Forest Lawn Cemetery. The family would like to give a special thanks to Star Austin, her caregiver. In lieu of flowers, honor her love of NASCAR Racing by sending donations to the Kyle Petty’s Victory Junction Gang Camp at [email protected] or Victory Junction, 4500 Adams Way, Randleman, N.C. 27317.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(3-29-2014)
Headrush sponsoring JGL Racing at Texas: Derek White has been tagged to drive the JGL Racing #28 at Texas Motor Speedway for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300. Headrush will be sponsoring the #28 and also the #13 driven by Matt Carter and owned by Derek White. Headrush is a popular clothing line in action sports such as MMA Fighting. They are hoping to build a larger customer base in the NASCAR market with Derek White and Matt Carter this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. JGL Racing is currently 19th in owned points and looking forward to another good weekend, JJ Yeley will be back behind the wheel of the #93.(JGL Racin)(3-29-2014)
Kroger 250 delayed until Sunday:The Kroger 250 from Martinsville is delayed until Sunday, March 30 due to persistent rain. The race is scheduled for an approximate 5:30 pm/et start, following the conclusion of the Sprint Cup Series race.(3-29-2014)
Virginia529 College Savings Plan renews Richmond NNS sponsorship Richmond International Raceway officials announced the Virginia529 College Savings Plan has extended its partnership with America’s Premier Short Track through the 2015 season. The Virginia529 College Savings 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race kicks off the September NASCAR Doubleheader weekend “under the lights” on Friday night, September 5. The Virginia529 College Savings Plan remains the Official College Savings Plan of the track, presenting sponsor of the Family Section presented by Virginia529 College Savings Plan and the Virginia529 Kids Zone powered by the Science Museum of Virginia.(RIR)(3-29-2014)

News from March 28, 2014
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the STP 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway have been made.
Pole sitter #18-Busch chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #11-Hamlin took pit stall 10, with an opening behind it.
#22-Logano, who starts 3rd took the 2nd pitstall.
The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #55-Vickers, who starts 13th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(3-28-2014)
Kyle Busch wins Martinsville pole: ##18-Kyle Busch won the pole for the STP 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway with speed of 99.674mph for his 1st pole of 2014, 1st at Martinsville and 14th of his career.
#11-Hamlin is on the outside pole, followed by #22-Logano, #48-Johnson, #24-Gordon, #20-Kenseth, #14-Stewart, #99-Edwards, #1-McMurray, #10-Patrick, #16-Biffle, and #15-Bowyer.
So far this season, #48-Johnson and #22-Logano are the only drivers to make it to the final round in all races featuring knockout qualifying.
The fastest driver in the first qualifying session was #22-Logano with a speed of 100.201mph which is a new track record.
Missing the race was: #35-Reutimann.
See the full starting lineup, qualifying results & order on the Martinsville Starting Lineup / Qualifying Page.(3-28-2014)
Qualifying Fast Facts – Martinsville:
Kyle Busch won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 65th Annual STP 500 with a lap of 18.998 seconds, 99.674 mph. With a first-round speed of 100.201 mph (18.898 seconds), Joey Logano set the track qualifying record. The previous record was set by Denny Hamlin on Oct. 25, 2013 (99.595 mph/19.013 seconds).
This is his 14th pole in 335 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his first pole and third top-10 start in 2014. Busch now has scored one Coors Light Pole in seven consecutive seasons.
This is his first pole in 19 races at Martinsville Speedway.
Denny Hamlin (second) posted his third top-10 start of 2014 and his 11th in 17 races at Martinsville Speedway.
Joey Logano (third) posted his sixth top-10 start at Martinsville Speedway. It is his fifth in six races this season.
Alex Bowman (19th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.(NASCAR Statistics)(3-28-2014)
Hamlin discusses issue with eye at Fontana: Friday at Martinsville Speedway, #11-Denny Hamlin talked about the series of events that caused him to set out the race at Auto Club Speedway:
“I literally thought on Friday that I was starting to get a sty. It happened sometime during practice whether it came in through the car or through the air conditioning unit through the helmet — something, it came in through somewhere, but I don’t remember the exact time when it happened. Friday evening I definitely felt an agitation right in the corner to my upper eyelid so I thought I was getting a sty because it just felt like one. Then Saturday, I woke up and it was a little worse. I ran through practice and vision was fine, but just a lot of watering and I didn’t see any swelling of the eyelid so I knew it wasn’t a sty at that point. I didn’t go to the infield care center until late on Saturday. Me and my girlfriend went to the mall — we were shopping around and it was bothering me so much that I contacted one of the NASCAR liaisons and asked if anyone was still at the infield care center. They said they would wait on me so they waited on me. They looked at it, they dyed it, they put it under a black light — didn’t see any scratches, didn’t see anything in the eye.
Immediately we started trying to figure out what would be causing it if there’s nothing in it. The only thing I could think of is I was starting to actually get a little stuffy on my left hand side of my face and my nose was running a little bit. I mentioned to them in trying to cover all the possibilities that I showed them a CT scan from January where I had a really, really bad sinus infection — it was the worst the doctor has ever seen and Dr. Petty has been around a really, really long time.
So the only other option, I went to bed Saturday night, woke up Sunday and felt twice as worse — pain was twice as worse and vision was slightly impaired over where it was Saturday. So I stayed in the infield care center for a couple hours and we tried to go over all the possibilities of what it could be and really since they didn’t see anything in it, the only thing we could do was get an optometrist to come to the race track, which it was too late into the day for that, it was too late for me to go to one and come back in time so everyone came to an agreement that the best thing for me was to go to the hospital and get scanned in case.
There’s tons of different possibilities, whether it be a blood clot — anything that affects because there’s more to it, but any time wind would hit my eye it would shoot a pain right to my temple so they thought that there was something really bad going on behind the eye that they didn’t have the equipment in the infield care center — you need some pretty — you need to get a CT scan. By the time I got to the hospital and the optometrist came in with her microscope, saw the metal, got it out — a portion of it, she couldn’t get the rust out she said — it would need a couple more days for that to harden to get out. Once the metal came out, I felt a lot better. We went home, the CT scan showed that I was perfectly clear on the sinus part of it.
Long story short, it won’t keep me from going to the infield care center at any point. I wanted to race of course, no matter what. I felt like if I was going to be a liability I would have pulled myself during the race, but there’s protocols that we have to go through and it’s not just my safety that has got to be taken into account. We’re racing around other guys and that’s one of the fastest tracks we go to. What if I caused a wreck early on? I don’t need to be a liability out there and obviously with this new format we hardly lost anything in points.”(Toyota Racing PR)(3-29-2014)
Teams honor Lynda Petty at Martinsville: As the Petty family remembers the life of Lynda Petty on Friday, the NASCAR community is paying respect to the long-time wife of Richard Petty, who lost her life on Tuesday. For this weekend’s race at Martinsville Speedway, Richard Petty Motorsports handed out commemorative stickers honoring Lynda to all the teams in the garage to place on their cars if they choose. Along with the commemorative stickers, the team has developed the hashtag #WinForMissLynda and hope to get it trending on Twitter. RPM also has Petty blue ribbons available in the garage for those that would like to remember the ‘First Lady of NASCAR.’ While Richard Petty will not be at the track this weekend, Martinsville Speedway is will honor the Petty family with NASCAR Hall of Fame member Dale Inman serving as grand marshal for Sunday’s race. ‘The King’ was scheduled to fill that role before Lynda’s passing earlier this week. Aric Almirola’s crew chief Trent Owens, nephew of Richard and Lynda Petty, will not be at the track on Friday, but is scheduled to return for Sunday’s race. In an almost fitting course of events, Sunday’s race at Martinsville is the STP 500, and the #43 team is running a throwback paint scheme similar to the one run by Richard Petty in his final years in the sport.(FoxSports)(3-28-2014)
Friday practice: for the STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway is over after 90 scheduled minutes. The top 5, slowest, and notes:
#11-Hamlin 100.021
#22-Logano 99.313
#20-Kenseth 99.173
#15-Bowyer 99.147
#14-Stewart 99.126
slowest: #66-Nemechek 95.961 & #7-Annett 94.784.
All 44 drivers practiced.
Notes:
Qualifying is scheduled for 4:40pm/et and will be shown on FoxSports 1
See the speeds, laps run, 10-lap averages on the Martinsville Practice 1 speeds page.(3-28-2014)
Qualifying Order for the STP 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is posted. 44 cars/drivers are listed. This is the order drivers can go through inspection.
The first of the drivers listed is #14-Stewart.
The final driver scheduled to is #17-Stenhouse, Jr..
Qualifying order is set by a random draw about an hour before the first practice.
See the full qualifying order on the Martinsville Qualifying Page.(3-28-2014)
NASCAR Unveils Air Titan 2.0: NASCAR introduced an evolution in innovation – the results of which will continue to elevate a fan’s race-viewing experience to an even greater level. The Toyota-hauled next generation of Air Titan, the cutting-edge track-drying technology, made its race weekend debut at Martinsville Speedway today. Air Titan 2.0 is a more compact, more nimble and more environmentally friendly version of its innovative predecessor – one that since its introduction in February 2013 has rescued multiple races, including this year’s Daytona 500. Air Titan 2.0 signals a major step forward in NASCAR’s innovation cycle. It replaces the bulky support vehicles required by Air Titan 1.0 with a single, self-contained unit that’s perched on the bed of a Toyota Tundra. By addressing the size of the power source, NASCAR now has the ability to deploy up to 21 units in Toyota Tundras at larger venues and operate more efficiently on smaller tracks. The Air Titan 2.0 more than triples the blade capacity of the original version and deliver 2.6 times more air volume at a speed of 568 mph, while raising the air temperature by 70 degrees over ambient. With the combination of water removal and accelerated evaporation, the ultimate goal is to reduce track-drying time by 80 percent. Air Titan 2.0 will consume nearly 80 percent less fuel and emit 80 percent less carbon dioxides. Air Titan 2.0 works in conjunction with the Eco-Infused Elgin Track Vacuum/Sweeper and existing jet dryers. In coordination with the roll out of the Air Titan 2.0, Elgin has now become the Official Sweeper of NASCAR Green.(NASCAR)(3-29-2014)
Another wet NASCAR weekend? The National Weather Service calls for the possibility of wet weather at Martinsville Speedway Friday and Saturday, although Sunday’s forecast looks good. The current forecast as of Friday morning:
Friday: Showers likely, mainly between 11am and 5pm. Cloudy, with a high near 61.Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Friday Night: Rain likely, mainly after 1:00am. Cloudy, with a low around 51. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Saturday: Occasional rain, with thunderstorms also possible after 3:00pm. High near 60. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Sunday: A slight chance of showers before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 58. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
See more weather links on the Martinsville Race Page – weather section.(3-28-2014)
New sponsor on the #95: The #95 Ford Fusion team will sport the red, white and blue colors this weekend at Martinsville Speedway, where the Triangle Office Equipment logo will adorn the hood and quarter panels of the car. Triangle Office Equipment is a family owned company based in Chapel Hill, NC, that offers a full line of office furniture and architectural products. Triangle Office Equipment furniture is in the Leavine Family Racing front office and throughout the team facilities.(Leavine Family Racing)(3-28-2014)
30th anniversary of Hendrick’s first win: 30TH ANNIVERSARY: In 2014, Hendrick Motorsports is celebrating its 30th anniversary in NASCAR. The organization began in 1984 with five employees and 5,000 square feet of work space. It has grown to more than 500 employees with a 430,000-square-foot facility that sits on 140 acres. Driver Geoff Bodine won the Martinsville Speedway spring race on April 29, 1984, marking Hendrick Motorsports’ first victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.(Hendrick Motorsports)(3-28-2014)
Steve Waid Joins PopularSpeed.com: Nine months ago, PopularSpeed.com was launched and in that time has successfully found a niche that balances NASCAR news, exclusive content and pointed editorials. Growing rapidly over this time, their success lies within the staff. Now, Popular Speed has announced the latest addition to their growing executive staff. SteveWaid has joined the team and will immediately assume the role of Features and Opinions Editor. Waid, a former President of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA), has covered NASCAR for more than four decades. He is a past winner of the organization’s George Cunningham Writer of the Year award, and in 1989 was presented the Henry T. McLemore Award for distinguished service in the field of motorsports journalism.(Popular Speed)(3-28-2014)
Hornaday fastest in final practice: #30- Ron Hornaday, Jr. was fastest in final practice for the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway with a speed of 96.171 mph. He was followed by #00-Cole Custer, #32-Ben Rhodes, #20-Gray Gaulding, #98-Johnny Sauter, #21-Joey Coulter, #29-Ryan Blaney, #54-Darrell Wallace, Jr., #7-Brian Ickler, and #8-John Hunter Nemechek. 34 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Martinsville practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(3-28-2014)
Wallace fastest in first practice: #54-Darrell Wallace, Jr. was fastest during opening practice at Martinsville Speedway with a speed of 96.662 mph. #29-Ryan Blaney was second, followed by #17-Timothy Peters, #51-Erik Jones, #31-Ben Kennedy, #7-Brian Ickler, #77-German Quiroga, #30-Ron Hornaday, Jr., #00-Cole Custer, and #88-Matt Crafton. 37 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Martinsville practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(3-28-2014)
Sieg scales back schedule: The #39 RSS Racing team has turned its focus to the Nationwide Series where the team currently sits 15th in owner points. RSS Racing is still planning a part time truck schedule with Ryan Sieg going forward.(RSS Racing)(3-28-2014)
Night race for New Hampshire? In response to a question on Twitter, New Hampshire Motor Speedway General Manager Jerry Gappens tweeted Thursday evening, Hey @DaleJr @Greenie9374, @nhms is working w/ @NASCAR & @NASCARonNBC on possibility of night racing for 2015. #NewEngland fans would love it.(3-28-2014)
April 6-13 is “Darlington Race Week” in South Carolina: The week of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500, April 6-13, 2014, has been named “Darlington Raceway Week, a Week Too Tough To Tame” after the South Carolina Senate and House of Representatives passed a concurrent Resolution. The famed track’s 65-year history is a major reason that the South Carolina Senate and House of Representatives passed the concurrent Resolution, led by state Senator Gerald Malloy, D-Hartsville. The Resolution outlines the historical significance of Darlington Raceway and addresses the role the track played in building the foundation of what has become one of the largest spectator sports in the country. Bojangles’ Southern 500 race week will shift into high-gear on Wednesday, April 9, with the 10th annual Darlington Car Hauler Parade making its way from the Florence Civic Center through the Darlington Square and finishing at the track “Too Tough To Tame.”(Darlington Raceway)(3-28-2014)

News from March 27, 2014
Shawna Robinson diagnosed with breast cancer: Former NASCAR driver Shawna Robinson, the first woman to win a pole in what is now the Nationwide Series, has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Robinson, who now works in interior design and is creator and owner of Happy Chair which restores old chairs, announced on her Facebook page this week that she would begin five to six months of chemotherapy and then require surgery. Here is her entire post:
“I’m getting ready to start a new journey that was unexpected but I am prepared to take it on as I would any challenge ..with direction and strength. I have breast cancer…when they tell you you have cancer you don’t hear the rest you just see talking and you seem to be there but your not hearing the words. But it is real, start Chemo next week for 5-6 months then surgery….there is such progress in cancer treatment…..still scared but prepared for battle. Thankful for the family and friends….I’m blessed to have….ready to go wide open and get this thing!!!”(Charlotte Observer)(3-27-2014)
David Stremme returns to Cup with Circle Sport: Circle Sport announced that their #33 Chevy will be sponsored by Mace this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. Mace is a manufacturer and provider of personal defense, safety and electronic security products for home, school, business and law enforcement use. Additionally, the team announced that NASCAR veteran racer David Stremme will make his return to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series action as he will pilot the #33 Mace Chevy for the running of Sunday’s STP 500 at the paperclip-shaped track in Martinsville, Virginia. Stremme is a veteran racer who has 340 starts in NASCAR’s top three Series with 190 starts in the Sprint Cup Series. He last raced for Swan Racing in the Sprint Cup Series during the 2013 season.(Integrity Sports Marketing), see an image of the car on the #33 team paint schemes page.(3-27-2014)
Teams complete tires test at Sonoma: Five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams completed a rain-dampened two-day Goodyear tire test at Sonoma Raceway on Wednesday. Intermittent rain fell at the raceway both Tuesday and Wednesday, but #9-Marcos Ambrose, #18-Kyle Busch, #24-Jeff Gordon, #14-Tony Stewart and #55-Brian Vickers were able to log approximately nine hours of track time over the two days. “Goodyear had a pretty stout tire here last year, and they want to improve on it if they can. They came here with some different compounds to try, and a good mix of teams and drivers to get feedback,” said Ambrose, who started from the pole in Sonoma in 2012. “We also get a chance to set up the car up with the new technical regulations, which is helpful for the team. Ninety-five percent of the time was getting tires dialed in for Goodyear, and then the rest of the time was for us to see what we’ll need when we come back.” The two-day test marked the first Goodyear Sprint Cup Series tire test of the year, and is currently the only scheduled road-course test. Goodyear worked closely with the teams and drivers to develop a durable race package while giving teams the appropriate amount of grip.(Sonoma)(3-27-2014)
New sponsor for HScott Motorsports at Martinsville: This weekend the #51 car will sport a flat black and green paint scheme with AccuDoc Solutions as the primary sponsor. AccuDoc Solutions is based in Morrisville, N.C. and provides billing-statement printing and processing to hospitals and hospital-based physicians. In addition to paper-based billing statements, ADS enables patients to choose electronic statement delivery and make payments through secure online payment portals.(HScott Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #51 team paint schemes page.(3-27-2014)
Martinsville Speedway Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series will run the same Goodyear tire codes at Martinsville this weekend . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that these teams ran twice each at this track last season . . . Martinsville is the only track at which NASCAR teams run this left-side tire code (D-4588) . . . this right-side tire code (D-4590) was run on all four tire positions by NASCAR teams on all road courses in 2013 . . . as on most NASCAR ovals one mile or less in length, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at Martinsville.(Goodyear), see full notes, tire pressures, tire codes, set limits on the Martinsville Race Info page – Goodyear section.(3-27-2014)
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 at Martinsville Speedway on the Martinsville Race Info page – Chassis selection area.
Hungry Fan TV Dinner available at Texas: Levy Restaurants will usher in the debut of “Big Hoss TV” fittingly with the “Hungry Fan TV Dinner” that is suited for the world’s largest appetites during next weekend’s Duck Commander 500 NASCAR doubleheader weekend. The “Hungry Fan TV Dinner” is the latest culinary creation by Levy Restaurants that will coincide with the premiere of the world’s largest high-definition LED video board during the Duck Commander 500 weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. The oversized TV dinner takes on the “Go Big or Go Home” theme generated by “Big Hoss TV” and features some of the flavors that have grown to symbolize Texas’ southwest roots. The “Hungry Fan TV Dinner” includes 1.5 pounds of barbeque cheddar chipotle meatloaf topped with onion crisps and barbeque glaze, 12 ounces of mashed Yukon potatoes sprinkled with cheddar cheese and 12 ounces of elote-style corn that combines chili powder, parmesan cheese, cilantro and mayo. The “Hungry Fan TV Dinner” will sell for $18 and will be available on the main concourse just inside Gate 4.(TMS)(3-27-2014)

News from March 26, 2014
Hamlin cleared to return at Martinsville: Joe Gibbs Racing driver #11-Denny Hamlin will race this weekend at Martinsville Speedway after NASCAR received official confirmation from his doctors that he has been medically cleared to return to regular racing activities. Hamlin first visited the infield care center at Auto Club Speedway Saturday night bothered with an irritation in his eye. He returned to the infield care center again on Sunday morning because his condition had worsened. It was at this time that it was determined by the medical team onsite that he would not be allowed to race due to a sinus infection that was impacting his vision. The doctors at the infield care center referred him to the local hospital for further evaluation. During the evaluation at the hospital a small piece of metal was also found to be in Hamlin’s eye. Doctors were able to remove the sliver of metal and Hamlin felt immediate improvement to his condition. A CT Scan did not find any other complications and thus it is believed that the metal was actually the source of Hamlin’s vision issues. He was released from the hospital Sunday afternoon and was given the doctor’s approval to fly home. Hamlin was then evaluated by a doctor in the Charlotte area on Monday and was sent home to rest. He was instructed to return Wednesday for a follow-up examination. Following today’s examination, his doctors provided the necessary approval for Hamlin to resume all racing activity without restriction. NASCAR has received official confirmation from his doctors clearing him to resume racing this weekend at Martinsville Speedway.(Joe Gibbs Racing)(3-26-2014)
Congrats to the Kenseths: Joe Gibbs Racing’s driver of the #20 Toyota, Matt Kenseth, and his wife Katie welcomed a new bundle of joy Tuesday evening with the birth of the couple’s third daughter. Clara Mae Kenseth was born March 25 at 7:39pm/et weighing in at eight pounds and five ounces. Both mother and daughter are doing well as the family enjoys the latest addition who joins the couple’s other daughters Kaylin and Grace, along with their son Ross. Kenseth will be able to spend a few days at home with his brand new baby girl before traveling to nearby Martinsville, Virginia for this weekend’s STP 500 Sprint Cup Series event at the Martinsville Speedway.(JGR)(3-26-2014)
More info on Hamlin expected Wednesday: #11-Denny Hamlin, who missed Sunday’s race at Auto Club Speedway, tweeted Tuesday evening, “With due respect to the Petty family I will send out a update tomorrow. Please keep their family in your thoughts tonight.”(3-26-2014)
Earnhardt, Jr. wants NASCAR to address Hamlin’s issue: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. wants to know why there hasn’t been more information about what caused #11-Denny Hamlin to miss Sunday’s race at Auto Club Speedway. Hamlin was taken to a local hospital shortly before the race with what Joe Gibbs Racing said was a sinus infection that affected his vision. But Earnhardt wondered aloud why there has been no official NASCAR statement or further explanation from Hamlin on what happened. No further updates were expected from NASCAR or Joe Gibbs Racing on Tuesday and Hamlin has not been officially cleared for this weekend’s race at Martinsville Speedway. Earnhardt said there were questions because he’d never heard of a driver being pulled from the race shortly before the start after not being cleared to race by NASCAR. “I’m worried the perception is bad for NASCAR and the perception is bad for Denny,” Earnhardt said Tuesday. “… If Denny didn’t race because his vision is blurred and he had a sinus infection, NASCAR should put out a release and say, ‘This is the timeline of the events and this is why we made this choice and this is the protocol for going forward.’ That answers everybody’s questions. Don’t you have questions? I have questions. We shouldn’t have questions. We should all feel pretty comfortable with what happened.” Hamlin is expected to see doctors in Charlotte this week. He cannot race until he is cleared by a NASCAR-approved doctor. If he does not qualify Friday at Martinsville or race on Sunday, he would need another medical exemption from NASCAR in order to remain eligible for the Chase for the Sprint Cup.(USA Today)(3-26-2014)
Fans raise money to sponsor Wise at Talladega: NASCAR and sponsorship run hand-in-hand. The high costs of racing a car means that wrapping it in corporate logos is of vital importance. What happens when you don’t have a sponsor? You can try and do as best you can, or you can let the internet help you. The folks at r/dogecoin discovered that Josh Wise and the #98 car were without a sponsor. They made it their mission to raise the $55,000 needed to cover his car in their beloved dogecoin for one race. Now they’ve met that goal and the aim is to wrap the #98 for Talladega.
“Dogecoin” is one of several peer-to-peer cryptocurrencies, much like bitcoin. The main distinction is that dogecoin is based on and embraces the popular “doge” meme. One dogecoin is worth a fraction of one cent. This isn’t the first fundraising spearheaded by the dogecoin community. Previously they’ve sent the Jamaican bobsled team to Sochi, raised money to supply needy families with service animals and gathered $30,000 to help supply clean water to Kenya.
A funding page was set up to accept dogecoin donations and regular, boring monetary offerings. It certainly helped that the founder of a cyrptocurrency trading site accidentally donated 22 million coins (just over $15,000 worth). Roughly 1,200 people helped reach the goal of 67,500,000 dogecoins. Fundraising organizer Kevin Dusenberry has told SBNation.com that the car will run in the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega on May 4.(SB Nation)(3-26-2014)
Earnhardt, Jr, Graham Rahal interested in ride swap UPDATE: Verizon IndyCar Series driver Graham Rahal believes the timing and circumstances are just too perfect not to do the much-ballyhooed car swap with his National Guard NASCAR counterpart, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Rahal attended the Auto Club 400 in Fontana on Sunday afternoon with girlfriend Courtney Force and her father, 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion, John and reached out to Earnhardt after the race, via Twitter, about the possibility of swapping rides somewhere down the line. For his part, Earnhardt seemed agreeable. Rahal says the Twitter exchange was calculated but “100 percent authentic” and something that the second-generation IndyCar ace has wanted to do for quite some time. “I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t want it to happen,” Rahal told Popular Speed. “Dale and I share a sponsor now (National Guard) and my dad (three-time champion, Bobby) and Rick (Hendrick) have always had a great relationship.” Rahal believes the shared National Guard sponsorship makes for a great marketing opportunity for both himself and Earnhardt, allowing for Rahal to knock a machine off his personal bucket list – the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car. Rahal, who is pushing for the car swap to take place on the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is just looking forward to potentially hanging out with Earnhardt, believing that their similarities could establish a fast friendship.(Popular Speed)(3-25-2013)
UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Tuesday he wants to swap race cars with Graham Rahal, but believes it won’t be possible because they drive for rival manufacturers. Both drivers are sponsored by Army National Guard this season. Rahal reached out to Earnhardt on Twitter after Sunday’s NASCAR race at Fontana, proposing they swap cars in an exhibition. Only Earnhardt drives a Chevy in NASCAR, and Rahal’s car in IndyCar is a Honda. Because Chevy and Honda are direct competitors in IndyCar, and Earnhardt is so closely associated with Chevy, he said he doesn’t think the swap is doable. “Well, he drives a Honda, which is more than just a speed bump,” Earnhardt said during an appearance at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “If I wanted to drive an Indy car, I’m sure I could get with Penske or somebody who owned a Chevy and take a couple laps somewhere. But it would have been fun to do that with Graham because of the relationship with our sponsor and the history of our families. I look forward to meeting him one day, but I think the fact he has a relationship with a different manufacturer is going to make it challenging – if not impossible – for me to drive that particular car.”(Associated Press)(3-26-2014)
Billy Boat Motorsports partners with RedFest at Texas: Billy Boat Motorsports (BBM) announces a partnership with RedFest presented by Natty Light for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) on Friday, April 4th. NNS rookie Chad Boat is set to make his second start of the season in the #84 RedFest Chevy Camaro under the lights on the 1.5-mile track. RedFest is a three day celebration of music, comedy, reality tv, camping, hunting, fishing and loads of hands-on activities for people who work hard, play harder and love the outdoors. Held at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, RedFest offers some of the biggest headliners in music and comedy as well as fun outdoor activities for the entire family. RedFest is a festival for anyone who loves the outdoor lifestyle. (Integrity Sports Marketing)(3-26-2014)
Nemechek ready for first race of 2014: Second generation driver, John Hunter Nemechek, will make his 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut racing the #8 SWM-NEMCO Motorsports Toyota Tundra in this Saturday’s Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, VA. Nemechek, son of veteran NASCAR competitor, Joe Nemechek, will be making his second attempt at Martinsville and his third in the series overall. Approved by NASCAR to compete on tracks one mile in length or under, the 16-year old Nemechek is slated to run 10 races in the #8 entry with his father filling the seat for the remaining 12 races on the NCWTS schedule. SWM International will serve as primary sponsor in Martinsville.(SWM-NEMCO)(3-26-2014)
ALS Association on board with Kennedy: This weekend at Martinsville Speedway, Ben Kennedy’s #31 Chevy Silverado will be carrying the colors of the ALS Association. ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects neurons (nerve cells) in the brain and the spinal cord. Eventually, people with ALS lose the ability to initiate and control muscle movement, which often leads to total paralysis and death within two to five years of diagnosis. For unknown reasons, veterans are approximately twice as likely to get ALS. There is no cure and no life-prolonging treatments for the disease. ALS and the ALS Association are particularly near to Kennedy’s heart, as close family friend Annette Farmer was diagnosed with the disease in 2010. Farmer will be riding along with Kennedy for this weekend’s 250-lap race with her name above the right-side door of the #31 Silverado. Kennedy has supported ALS research in the past as a result of his close connection to the cause, running in the Daytona Beach Half Marathon and honoring Farmer with a fraternity fundraiser last year, raising more than $20,000.(TSM)(3-26-2014)
Pistone’s Martinsville run to support Plagiocephaly Awareness: For the second race of the 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Schedule, Chase Pistone will make his season debut with NTS Motorsports. Pistone will run fourteen NCWTC events this season. This will mark Pistone’s second start in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, his first career start also came at Martinsville, in October of 2005. Pistone and his NTS Motorsports team will be racing to support Plagiocephaly Awareness. A condition, sometimes referred to as deformational or positional plagiocephaly, which develops when an infant’s rapidly growing head attempts to expand and meets some type of resistance, can occur either prenatally in the mother’s womb or after the child is born because the baby’s head is pressed against a bed or other flat resting surface.(NTS)(3-26-2014)
Robertson family filling honorary positions at Texas: The Robertson clan of A&E’s “Duck Dynasty” fame will not be ducking any of the honorary positions associated with the Duck Commander 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, April 6, at Texas Motor Speedway. The Robertsons, ranging from patriarch Phil to granddaughter Sadie, will fill six honorary positions for the race that bears the name of their family-owned business as more than two dozen family members and relatives will be on hand for the festivities surrounding their first NASCAR race sponsorship venture. Many of the family members will play integral roles in the festivities throughout the weekend. Willie will welcome the crowd to the largest-attended, single-day sporting event in Texas, and he and Korie’s 16-year-old daughter Sadie will deliver the invocation. Jase will introduce the top-10 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers, and his wife Missy will sing the National Anthem. Phil Robertson, patriarch of the Robertson clan, will serve as the Honorary Starter and wave the green flag from the starter’s stand while his brother “Uncle” Si will be the Grand Marshal and provide the command to the drivers to start their engines. Jep Robertson, the younger brother of Willie, Jase and Alan, will be in one of the Chevy Camaro pace cars. Willie also will have a post-race role and will present the iconic wooden boot trophy to the Duck Commander 500 winner in Victory Lane. In addition to the honorary roles, Phil and Alan Robertson are scheduled to lead the service for Racing for Faith prior to the Duck Commander 500 at 8:45am/ct in the Turn 1 Speedway Club grandstands on Sunday, April 6.(TMS)(3-26-2014)
Richmond working to get Robert Griffin III to race: When Dale Earnhardt Jr. asked his fans on social media to help convince Robert Griffin III to attend Richmond’s late-April race, Richmond International Raceway President Dennis Bickmeier quickly e-mailed Junior’s tweet to his staff. “Boom,” the track president wrote. When Griffin quickly responded, saying he was in, Bickmeier e-mailed his staff again, this time including Griffin’s tweet. “Double boom,” he wrote. In case you were wondering whether Sunday night’s flurry of tweets about getting Griffin to the Toyota Owners 400 on April 26 was just a goof, well, rest assured it was not. By Monday morning, track officials had already reached out to the Redskins, trying to capitalize on what Earnhardt started. “Our plan at this point is we’d love to connect with Robert and the Redskins and certainly determine his availability,” Bickmeier said in a phone conversation. “I don’t even know if he knew the actual date of the race. We have to determine all those things first, but we would love to have him. We’ve got a good spot for him, and I think giving him kind of an immersion in NASCAR would be pretty cool. I think it’s a win for everybody. Earnhardt had originally suggested Griffin act as the grand marshal; that’s typically an honor bestowed in conjunction with a race’s sponsor, which is why Bickmeier instead suggested the quarterback drive the pace car. RIR hasn’t used an honorary pace car driver in the recent past; “quite frankly, that’s really reserved for someone of RGIII’s stature,” Bickmeier said. Track officials are willing to make any visit as intense or low-key as the quarterback would like.(Washington Post)(3-26-2014)

News from March 25, 2014
Sad News – Lynda Petty: Lynda Gayle Owens Petty, 72, one of the first women of NASCAR and its most beloved wife, mother and friend, passed away peacefully at her home in Level Cross, North Carolina today. She was surrounded by her family.
Affectionately known as “Mrs. Lynda” to so many, Lynda Petty set a standard for being a loving, supportive and, when needed, an authoritative wife and mother. She also set the benchmark for being a leader in her local community while raising a family in the fast-growing sport of stock car racing.
It was with strong will that Petty fought cancer over the past several years. It was the same determination that led her to make a difference as a Red Cross volunteer, a school volunteer, the president of the athletic booster club and a Girl and Boy Scout leader in her lifetime. She also served on the Randolph County School Board for 16 years and was on the board of the Randolph County Hospice.
Lynda helped start the Racing Wives Auxiliary and will always be remembered as the wife to Richard Petty. Their steadfast love endured trials that only a marriage of over 50 years can. Through triumph and heartache, Lynda Petty was the castle that supported a king in private and public moments.
Lynda is proceeded by grandson Adam K. Petty and is survived by her loving husband Richard; son, Kyle and daughters Sharon and husband Terry Farlow; Lisa and husband Charlie Luck; Rebecca and husband Brian Moffitt. In addition, she is survived by grandchildren Austin Petty and wife Sarah; Hannah and husband Brad Leonard; Montgomery and husband Randy Schlappi; Maggie and Kyle Farlow; Richard, Sarah and Margaret Luck; Helen, Thad and Harrison Moffitt, and great grandchildren Sullivan Mae Schlappi and Adam Christopher Stonewall Petty.
A private memorial service for family and friends will be held at Reverie Place in Randleman, North Carolina which Pastor Kenny Crosswhite will officiate. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following:

Petty Family Foundation
311 Branson Mill Road
Randleman, N.C. 27317

A public memorial service will not be held and the family asks for privacy at this time.
The family offered the following statement to the public:
“We wish to sincerely thank everyone who has supported us and our family throughout the years and at this time. We will forever love and miss a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend.”
(Petty PR)
NASCAR Statement: “On behalf of the France Family and everyone at NASCAR, I want to offer sincere condolences to the Petty Family regarding the loss of their beloved matriarch, Lynda Petty,” said Brian France, NASCAR Chairman and CEO. “Through the years, Lynda became an integral part of the NASCAR landscape. We have lost a true friend, who will be missed each and every day. Our thoughts and prayers will be with the Pettys throughout this difficult time.”(NASCAR)
Austin Petty statement: Victory Junction’s COO, Austin Petty, makes a statement on the passing of his grandmother, Lynda Petty:
“We have lost my grandmother, but my family and our Victory Junction family are grateful to have had her love and wisdom for so many years. It was no secret that she was the cornerstone of the Petty family; a woman of humility and extraordinary strength. While we mourn her death, we also celebrate her life and the profound impact she had on those who knew her. The pride she had in her children, her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren was shared with us through her unconditional love. Her strong example of leadership outside of her home was most recently acknowledged by the Association of Fundraising Professionals when she, along with my grandfather, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement in Philanthropy Award for her personal commitment to seriously ill children and to our American troops. We honor my grandmother’s legacy of inspiration and enduring love at Victory Junction today and always.”PR)(3-25-2014)
Earnhardt, Jr, Graham Rahal interested in ride swap: Verizon IndyCar Series driver Graham Rahal believes the timing and circumstances are just too perfect not to do the much-ballyhooed car swap with his National Guard NASCAR counterpart, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Rahal attended the Auto Club 400 in Fontana on Sunday afternoon with girlfriend Courtney Force and her father, 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion, John and reached out to Earnhardt after the race, via Twitter, about the possibility of swapping rides somewhere down the line. For his part, Earnhardt seemed agreeable. Rahal says the Twitter exchange was calculated but “100 percent authentic” and something that the second-generation IndyCar ace has wanted to do for quite some time. “I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t want it to happen,” Rahal told Popular Speed. “Dale and I share a sponsor now (National Guard) and my dad (three-time champion, Bobby) and Rick (Hendrick) have always had a great relationship.” Rahal believes the shared National Guard sponsorship makes for a great marketing opportunity for both himself and Earnhardt, allowing for Rahal to knock a machine off his personal bucket list – the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car. Rahal, who is pushing for the car swap to take place on the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is just looking forward to potentially hanging out with Earnhardt, believing that their similarities could establish a fast friendship.(Popular Speed)(3-25-2013)
Taylor’s Discount Tire and Automotive joins Germain: Germain Racing announced that North Carolina’s Taylor’s Discount Tire & Automotive will be an associate sponsor on the #13 GEICO Chevy SS driven by Casey Mears for the Virginia 500 at Martinsville Speedway. The race track is located just up the road from Taylor’s Greensboro, NC, location. Taylor’s Discount Tire & Automotive is a leader in offering Castrol Oil Changes, name brand tires, auto repair and brake services for customers located in and around the Greensboro area.(Germain Racing)(3-25-2014)
Overnight TV ratings for Fontana down: NASCAR continued to generate soft – but not terrible – ratings over the weekend. Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Auto Club 400 from Fontana (CA) earned a 4.0 overnight rating on FOX, down 11% from last year (4.5), but up 18% from the rain-shortened 2011 race (3.4). The 4.0 overnight is the second-lowest for the Fontana race since 2000 (3.7), ahead of only 2011. The 4.0 overnight is also the lowest of the season-to-date, trailing the previous mark of 4.1 set by the Bristol and Las Vegas races. Overnight ratings have now declined for all five NASCAR Sprint Cup races this season.(Sports Media Watch via Sports Business Daily)(3-25-2014)
Penske to join Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame: No owner in the history of open-wheel racing has displayed such dominance over the sport than Roger Penske. Penske, the owner of Team Penske, has established himself as one of the premier owners in all of motorsports and his proficiency for finding Victory Lane at Texas Motor Speedway has earned him another accolade as he will become the 16th member inducted into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame. Penske will be honored Thursday, April 3, at the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame Gala benefiting Speedway Children’s Charities-Texas Chapter held in The Speedway Club’s Grand Ballroom at Texas Motor Speedway during the Duck Commander 500 NASCAR weekend. His induction is all part of an evening that recognizes some of the most outstanding individuals in motorsports. Along with Penske, other honorees include four-time Verizon IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti; 2014 Daytona 500 champion and NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr.; defending Duck Commander 500 and O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 winner Kyle Busch; and 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion James Buescher from Plano, Texas. A winner of a combined 12 races at Texas Motor Speedway as a team owner – including a record seven in the Verizon IndyCar Series – Penske remains the only owner with victories in both NASCAR and INDYCAR at “The Great American Speedway!” His success at Texas Motor Speedway is all part of his illustrious 48-year career as team owner of Team Penske that has produced 23 motorsports national championships, including 12 in Indy-car racing.(TMS)(2-25-2014)
Top 10 Driver Ratings at Martinsville:
#48-Jimmie Johnson……….124.0
#24-Jeff Gordon………….121.1
#11-Denny Hamlin…………111.4
#88-Dale Earnhardt………..98.9
#14-Tony Stewart………….98.5
#18-Kyle Busch……………97.0
#15-Clint Bowyer………….93.8
#29-Kevin Harvick…………92.9
#2-Brad Keselowski………..89.2
Jeff Burton………………87.4
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2013 races(18 total) among drivers at Martinsville Speedway. 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)(3-25-2014)
Martinsville Speedway News & Notes:
• Opened in September 1947 by H. Clay Earles, Martinsville, originally a dirt track, is one of the oldest continuously-operating race tracks in the United States. • The first NASCAR-sanctioned race at Martinsville was on July 4, 1948.
• The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was Sept. 25, 1949.
• The track was paved in 1955.
• The first 500-lap event at Martinsville was in 1956.
• Concrete corners were added atop asphalt in 1976.
• There have been 130 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway, one in the inaugural year and two races per year since 1950.
• 593 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville; 374 in more than one.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty has the all-time most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Martinsville with 67 starts; Jeff Gordon has the most among active drivers with 42.
• Curtis Turner won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Martinsville Speedway in 1949.
• 57 drivers have Coors Light poles at Martinsville, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip with eight; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with seven.
• 12 drivers have won two or more consecutive Coors Light poles at Martinsville Speedway. Four of the 12 have won three consecutive poles at Martinsville: Glen Wood (Fall of 1959 and 1960 sweep); Darrell Waltrip (1979 sweep and spring 1980); Mark Martin (fall of 1990 and 1991 sweep); Jeff Gordon (2003 sweep and spring 2004).
• 47 different drivers have won at Martinsville Speedway, led by Richard Petty with 15; Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon lead the series among active drivers with eight wins each.
• 23 drivers have multiple wins at Martinsville Speedway only four active drivers have multiple wins: Jimmie Johnson (eight), Jeff Gordon (eight), Denny Hamlin (four) and Tony Stewart (three).
• Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in wins at Martinsville Speedway with 21.
• 21 of 130 races (16.1%) at Martinsville Speedway have been won from the Coors Light pole; seven of those 21 wins came from active drivers: Tony Stewart (2000), Jeff Gordon (2003 twice), Jimmie Johnson (2008, 2012, spring 2013) and Denny Hamlin (2010).
• The Coors Light pole is the most proficient starting spot in the field at Martinsville producing more wins (21) than any other starting position.
• 36 of the 130 (27.6%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway have been won from the front row: 21 from the pole and 15 from second-place.
• 95 of the 130 (73%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Martinsville Speedway have been won from a top-10 starting position.
• Five of the 130 (3.8%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
• The deepest in the field that a race winner has started was 36th, by Kurt Busch in the fall of 2002.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the series in runner-up finishes at Martinsville Speedway with seven; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with four, followed by his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson with three.
• Richard Petty leads the series in top-five finishes at Martinsville Speedway with 30; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 27, followed by Jimmie Johnson with 17.
• Richard Petty leads the series in top-10 finishes at Martinsville Speedway with 37; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 34, followed by Jimmie Johnson (21).
• Jeff Gordon leads active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Martinsville Speedway with a 7.238. Ryan Newman is the only other active driver with an average starting position at Martinsville in the top-10 (9.417).
• Three active drivers have a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series average finish in the top-10 at Martinsville: Jimmie Johnson (5.333), Jeff Gordon (6.833) and Denny Hamlin (8.125).
• There have been five NSCS green-white-checkered finishes at Martinsville Speedway: fall 2007 (500/506), fall 2008 (500/504), fall 2009 (500/501), spring 2010 (500/508), and spring 2012 (500/515).
• Jeff Gordon has participated in the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway without a DNF (42).
• Tony Stewart (4/18/1999) and Scott Riggs (4/10/2005) won their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light poles at Martinsville Speedway.
• Mike Bliss (09/27/1998), Travis Kvapil (10/24/2004), Michael McDowell (3/30/2008) and Scott Speed (10/19/2008) made their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career starts at Martinsville Speedway.
• 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers have posted consecutive wins at Martinsville Speedway. Fred Lorenzen won four NSCS races straight (the most) from the fall of 1963 through the spring of 1965.
• All 10 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers who have won at Martinsville Speedway participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Tony Stewart won at Martinsville with the fewest previous appearances (three).
• Ryan Newman competed at Martinsville Speedway 20 times before winning in the spring of 2012; the longest span of any the 10 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners.
• Four drivers have made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Martinsville Speedway: Mark Martin (12); Bobby Labonte (18), Kevin Harvick (19) and Ryan Newman (20).
• Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway is the 4/1/2007 race won by Jimmie Johnson with a MOV of 0.065 second.(NASCAR)(3-25-2014)
RSS Racing penalized following California infraction: The #39 team that competes in the NASCAR Nationwide Series has been penalized as a result of a rules violation committed during last week’s event at Auto Club Speedway. During post-race inspection on March 22, the #39 car committed a P3 level penalty by violating Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 20A-12.8.1C (car exceeded maximum rear body height requirement during post-race inspection) of the 2014 NASCAR rule book. As a result, crew chief Kevin Starland has been fined $10,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. In addition, car chief Timothy Brown has also been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.(NASCAR)(3-25-2014)
RSS Racing penalized following California infraction: The #39 team that competes in the NASCAR Nationwide Series has been penalized as a result of a rules violation committed during last week’s event at Auto Club Speedway. During post-race inspection on March 22, the #39 car committed a P3 level penalty by violating Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 20A-12.8.1C (car exceeded maximum rear body height requirement during post-race inspection) of the 2014 NASCAR rule book. As a result, crew chief Kevin Starland has been fined $10,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. In addition, car chief Timothy Brown has also been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.(NASCAR)(3-25-2014)
Gaulding to debut in Martinsville: This weekend’s Kroger 250 will mark a special milestone, Gray Gaulding’s first start in one of NASCAR’s top-3 national touring series. Gaulding will make his mark at the bright young age of 16 years, 1 month, and 19 days. Jeff Hensley will serve as crew chief of the #20 Gemini Southern Chevy. Hensley has three wins at Martinsville Speedway (two in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and one in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.) Gaulding is competing full time in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series where he is currently 3rd in the points.(NTS)(3-25-2014)
Iowa Senate OKs tax break for Speedway: The Iowa Speedway at Newton, which was purchased by NASCAR in November, would get a state sales tax break of up to $9 million under a bill approved 36-9 Monday by the Iowa Senate. Supporters said the legislation will help bolster Iowa entertainment and tourism, while a critic contended the bill violated principles of free enterprise. Senate File 2341, which was sent to the Iowa House, would continue a 5 percent state sales tax rebate that began in 2006 when the Newton track was opened. The rebate has provided $3.5 million for the track so far. The hitch for the new owners is that an existing state law requires that the Iowa Speedway have at least a 25 percent ownership stake, which isn’t the case with NASCAR, stock car racing’s sanctioning body. A law change is required to keep the tax-rebate money flowing. Supporters of the bill say it will help bolster Iowa tourism and spur the state’s economy.(Des Moines Register)(3-25-2014)
Virginia Army National Guard’s 29th Army Band to perform National Anthem at Martinsville:The Virginia Army National Guard’s 29th Army Band, one of the oldest and most decorated military bands in the nation, will perform the National Anthem prior to the STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway Sunday. “We believe our National Anthem should be played with great respect and pride, and having heard the 29th Army Band perform the anthem, we know we will get a that type of performance,” said Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell. “We are truly honored to have such a patriotic and historic band perform here. I’m looking forward to hearing their version Sunday.” The 29th Army Band has been in existence since 1922 and has served the Commonwealth of Virginia and the nation with distinction. It was pressed into active duty during World War II and joined in the assault on Omaha Beach, duty for which its members received the French Croix de Guerre with Palm. The band saw action in four European campaigns during World War II: Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland and Central Europe.(Martinsville Speedway)(3-25-2014)

News from March 24, 2014
Entry List for the STP 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is posted, 44 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including: #33-Hill, #66-Nemechek, and #95-McDowell. With 44 cars entered, 1 driver will miss the race. #95-McDowell must qualify on speed. See the full entry list at my Jayski’s Martinsville Entry List
Hamlin to be further evaluated this week: #11-Denny Hamlin remained in a local hospital Sunday afternoon undergoing a CT scan to see what may be causing severe headaches and vision problems his Joe Gibbs Racing team confirmed. Sam Hornish Jr. substituted behind the wheel of the #11 FedEx Toyota in Sunday’s Auto Club 400 because in the hour before the green flag dropped NASCAR did not medically clear Hamlin to compete. “We do (go forward assuming Denny will be back next week.),” his crew chief Darian Grubb said after the race. “But it’s going to be touch and go for right now obviously with him still in the hospital getting a CT Scan. Last I heard the vision was getting worse and the pain was getting worse so we’re just going to wait and see what happens. Hopefully we’ll get some good news this afternoon.” Before the race, JGR President J.D. Gibbs said initially the team thought it was a sinus infection that was causing the headaches and vision issues. But Grubb said it soon became apparent, it may be more serious. “For him to go the infield care center, for one thing, it must have been pretty bad for him,” Grubb said. “Then it got to where he couldn’t see and was having trouble with vision in his left eye with all the pressure that was going on. At that point, NASCAR did some testing and knew he could not follow the finger going by his eyes as he should have been so they knew at that point,they weren’t going to let him go. It wasn’t just a headache, it was more serious than that. That’s why they’re doing the CT Scan now. He had them on the whole time and was just holding his head, it hurt him so bad. You could tell by the look on his face he was really worried.” Team owner Joe Gibbs confirmed that Hamlin left the track immediately before the race started and that by late afternoon “they are still running tests. It will be later on before we get results.”(NASCAR.com)(3-24-2014)
JGR Statement: Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin was not medically cleared in today’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway because of a sinus infection that affected his vision. Hamlin was taken to a local hospital near the race track for additional evaluation and released. He will be further evaluated this week in Charlotte.(Joe Gibbs Racing)(3-24-2014)
Tire failures impact many teams Sunday: Sunday’s Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway produced a massive number of tire failures, as Goodyear Eagles exploded with shocking regularity from the opening 20 laps until the end of the race. #48-Jimmie Johnson, #4-Kevin Harvick, #99-Carl Edwards, #16-Greg Biffle, #9-Marcos Ambrose, #2-Brad Keselowski, #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #15-Clint Bowyer were among the top drivers who saw their races go out the window because of tire failures. But afterward, most of the drivers weren’t pointing the finger at Goodyear as the source of the problem. Instead, they pointed to changes with the cars and how they are set up for 2014. Last year, NASCAR loosened rules on how much air pressure the teams must run in their tires and how much camber they can run. This year, NASCAR added downforce with a new, larger rear spoiler.
Some teams got very aggressive by running extremely low air pressures on left-side tires — 11 pounds per square inch in some cases, vs. the Goodyear recommendation of 22 psi — and equally aggressive camber, which is defined as how much the tire slants away from vertical when viewing it from the front or back. Lower air pressures combined with aggressive camber make for extremely fast speeds, but it greatly increases the risk of catastrophic tire failure, which is what happened again and again and again on Sunday. “Last year we opened up the rules on camber for the rear end,” added Robin Pemberton, NASCAR’s vice president of competition and racing development. “I would say that a year ago at this time we were early in the process, and teams were probably not as aggressive as they wound up being as the season unfolded, as they got the mechanics better in their cars and the opportunity to be able to make parts and pieces live longer. Now, I think they’re probably a little bit better prepared for that. So if they had too much camber — they’ve got a lot of choices, so if they had too much and it abused the tire, that’s what happens.” Asked by FOXSports.com if he thought the tire failures were a Goodyear problem, Pemberton was clear. “No,” Pemberton said. “We’ve talked to Goodyear. We have asked, the competitors have asked to bring more aggressive tires, to bring tires that they need to manage and want to — how they use them and how they get the most out of them. At this point in time, I think Goodyear, it’s the same tire that we’ve run on in the past. Just the car is a little bit different.”(FoxSports)(3-24-2014)
Commercial breakdown and links related to the 2014 Auto Club 400: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, here is the breakdown for Sunday’s race. Began recording the times at the Invocation of the race at 3:00 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 6:26 PM (all times are EST). Fox was the broadcast team for this event.
Total number of commercials: 109
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 59
Number of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 13
Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast: 42
Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 5 min. 35 sec.
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 3:00 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 6:26 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 206
Minutes of race broadcast: 162
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 44
Minutes of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials (split-screen): 8
Number of missed restarts: 1
Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 0
Total race brdcst time 162 Total comm. brdcst time 44
See past races, links, more info on the 2014 TV Commercials page.(3-24-2014)
Bill Simpson presented with The Justice Brothers-Shav Glick Award: Bill Simpson was presented today The Justice Brothers-Shav Glick Award at Auto Club Speedway. Named in honor of former Los Angeles Times sports writer Shav Glick, the award is presented annually to an individual who has made significant contributions to motorsports in California. Simpson, who was both a driver and safety innovator during his motorsports career, will be remembered for over 50 years of safety contributions in all forms of racing. Today Simpson is focused on his new company, SG Helmets, which has taken racing technology and incorporated it into football helmets used at the youth, varsity, and professional levels.(Shunch PR)(3-24-2014)
Sad News – Bobby Waltrip: Robert Lynn “Bobby” Waltrip, middle brother of NASCAR Hall of Fame driver and Fox Sports announcer Darrell Waltrip and NASCAR team owner and fellow Fox Sports announcer Michael Waltrip, died Sunday. [Darrell and Michael Waltrip were informed of their brother’s death after the race.] Both worked the Fox Sports’ Sunday afternoon telecast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Auto Club 400 race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. Michael, the youngest of the three Waltrip brothers, confirmed his brother’s passing on Twitter Sunday evening. Moments later, Darrell, the oldest Waltrip brother, also paid homage to brother Bobby. Bobby Waltrip grew up in Owensboro, Ky., but had lived in the Concord, N.C. area the last 25 years. While he never followed his brothers into NASCAR as a race car driver – although he did work for Darrell in the late 1980s and early 1990s when the latter formed his own Winston Cup team – Bobby became a major force in the world of go-kart racing, first as a successful kart racer himself and later as an announcer and promoter in the sport in both the World Karting Association (WKA) and the American Karting Association (AKRA). He was believed to be in his early 60s at the time of his death.(NBC Sports)(3-24-2014)
Entry list: There are 39 trucks on the preliminary entry list for Saturday’s Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway. A few notes:
Cole Custer in the #00;
Chase Pistone in the #9;
John Hunter Nemechek in the #8;
Ted Minor in the #12;
Gray Gaulding in the #20;
Spencer Gallagher in the #23;
Ben Rhodes in the #32;
Brandon Jones in the #33;
Raymond Terczak, Jr. in the #56;
Josh Williams in the #66;
Alex Guenette in the #74;
(3-24-2014)
See the complete list on the Martinsville entry list page.
Rhodes to run 5 races with TSM: Turner Scott Motorsports is pleased to announce that Ben Rhodes will run five NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races during the 2014 season in the #32 Alpha Energy Solutions Chevy Silverado, beginning at Martinsville Speedway. The 17-year-old is currently competing full time in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East for TSM and has received three pole awards and one win in just four starts this season. A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Rhodes made his TSM debut last year when he ran a partial NKNPSE schedule and received two top fives and five top 10s in seven starts. Rhodes was also selected as a member of the 2013 NASCAR Next class, a select group chosen by the sanctioning body that spotlights NASCAR’s rising stars with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series potential. Most recently, Rhodes claimed his first NKNPSE victory at Greenville-Pickens Speedway. Rhodes will be under the direction of three-time NCWTS championship-winning crew chief Mike Hillman Jr. throughout the five races. Hillman and Rhodes will team up for the following races: Martinsville (March), Dover (May), Bristol (August), Martinsville (October), and Phoenix (November).(TSM)(3-24-2014)
Alamo on board with Coulter: Alamo Rent A Car will adorn the sides of Joey Coulter’s #21 Chevy Silverado for this weekend’s Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, Alamo Rent A Car, the largest car rental provider to international travelers visiting North America, is a value-oriented, internationally recognized brand serving the rental needs of airport leisure travelers. Alamo offers low rental rates and a hassle-free customer experience at the most popular travel destinations throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Latin America and Asia.(GMS Racing))(3-24-2014)

News from March 23, 2014
Kyle Busch wins at Auto Club Speedway: #18-Kyle Busch won the Auto Club 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway for his 1st win of 2014, his 3rd at Auto Club Speedway and his 29th career win.
Rookie of the Year candidate #42-Larson finished 2nd followed by: #41-Busch, polesitter #20-Kenseth, #14-Stewart, #1-McMurray, #55-Vickers, #47-Allmendinger, #27-Menard, and #99-Edwards.
Tire problems throughout the weekend continued during the race with numerous teams having flats and cautions coming frequently. #48-Johnson was leading the race with 7 laps to go when he cut down a tire. A caution came out with 2 laps to go after #15-Bowyer lost a tire and spun out, causing the race to finish with a green-white-checker.
#11-Hamlin missed the race due to a sinus infection. He was replaced by Sam Hornish, Jr, who had to start at the rear of the field because of the driver change. Hornish finished 17th.
#2-Keselowski, who came into the race as the points leader, also had a late flat and finished 26th.
#99-Edwards is now in the points lead, 1 point over #88-Earnhardt, Jr.
There were 35 lead changes among 15 drivers and there were 9 cautions for 42 yellow flag laps.
The average speed was 132.987mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Unofficial Auto Club Speedway Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Auto Club Penalty Report (pdf).(3-23-2014)
Race Fast Facts – Auto Club Speedway:
Kyle Busch won the 18th Annual Auto Club 400, his 29th victory in 334 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in 2014.
This is his third victory and 12th top-10 finish in 17 races at Auto Club Speedway.
The race included 35 lead changes, which broke the previous track race record of 33 set back in Feb. 2008.
Kyle Larson (second) posted his first top-10 finish in one races at Auto Club Speedway. It is his second top-10 finish in 2014.
Kurt Busch (third) posted his 11th top-10 finish in 21 races at Auto Club Speedway.
Kyle Larson (second) was the highest finishing rookie.
Carl Edwards leads the points standings by 1 points over Dale Earnhardt Jr.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(3-23-2014)
2014 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Championship Points Standings:
[after Auto Club Speedway, race 5 of 36]
1) #99-Carl Edwards [1 win], 186
2) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [1 win], 185, -1
3) #24-Jeff Gordon, 184, -2
4) #2-Brad Keselowski [1 win], 182, -4
5) #20-Matt Kenseth, 179, -7
6) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 165, -21
7) #18-Kyle Busch [1 win], 158, -28
8) #31-Ryan Newman, 150, -36
9) #3-Austin Dillon, 150, -36
10) #22-Joey Logano, 146, -40
Other drivers with a win:
25) #4-Kevin Harvick [1 win], 97, -89
See UNOFFICIAL drivers championship points standings on the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings (pdf).
See the UNOFFICIAL owner points standings on the Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf).
(3-23-2014)
Hamlin to miss Auto Club race; Hornish to fill in: #11-Denny Hamlin developed a sinus infection while in Fontana that has effected his vision. Doctors have advised him not to race. He was taken to the hospital for further treatment. Sam Hornish, Jr will fill in for Hamlin. Missing the race will not impact Hamlin’s Chase changes because he qualified the car and would likely receive a medical exemption from NASCAR if it had been needed. Hornish will start the race from the rear because of the driver change.(3-23-2014)
NASCAR considering reducing horsepower to Cup cars next season: NASCAR is planning on making significant engine package changes in 2015 to extend the life of Sprint Cup powerplants and reduce horsepower. And along with engine changes, there likely will be aerodynamic and tire changes for the Cup cars in 2015 as well. That’s the word from NASCAR Vice President of Competition and Racing Development Robin Pemberton. Pemberton said the sanctioning body has had four meetings so far with representatives from Chevy, Ford and Toyota and race teams about how to implement those changes. No consensus has been reached yet, according to Pemberton, but discussions are ongoing in advance of making the changes for next year. Although Pemberton declined to specify how many horsepower NASCAR is looking to cut, sources familiar with the discussions said the reduction would be in the neighborhood of 75 to 100 horsepower. Currently, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series engines make about 860-900 horsepower at most tracks. Discussions are still in the early stages, Pemberton said, but given the fact that there are so few engine suppliers now, they will need plenty of lead-time to make changes for next year.
Among the options being discussed are reduction in engine displacement and changes to throttle body size. Sources familiar with the discussions say that Chevy and Toyota are pushing for a reduction to 5.0-liter engines, while the Ford camp is pushing for the use of tapered spacers, such as are used in the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series engines. Pemberton said any change in the engine package likely would necessitate other changes as well.
“It’s not fully appreciated the fact that we’ve had the same engine for basically 25 or 30 years and it’s at 850 or 860 horsepower, where it used to be 500,” Pemberton said. “And we are at the same race tracks where we used to run 160 (miles per hour) we’re now qualifying at 190 and running 213 going into the corners. There’s been a lot of engineering and gains made across the board. Goodyear … we have the same tire patch as when we started.(FoxSports)(3-23-2014)
Some teams having tire problems: A Goodyear official said there were 10 incidents with tires during practice at Auto Club Speedway the past two days as some Sprint Cup teams struggled to adapt setups. With new suspension rules leading to increased speeds and downforce, tires were facing more stress than ever on a 2-mile oval whose abrasive surface already causes as much wear as any track in NASCAR’s premier series. “I think everyone is trying to be aggressive and get as much grip as possible,” Goodyear’s director of race tire sales Greg Stucker said after the final session Saturday afternoon for the Auto Club 400. “A couple of guys had more problems than others.”
Team Penske was most affected with five tire problems between the Fords of #22-Joey Logano and #2-Brad Keselowski. Logano will start from the rear of Sunday’s race in a backup car after hitting the wall, as will Furniture Row’s Martin Truex Jr., who suffered a left-rear flat in his # 78 Chevrolet when entering turn 1.
Stucker said teams’ problems predominantly stemmed from left-rear tires that were run under the minimum recommended air pressure of 20 pounds. Teams push the limits on air pressure for better handling and speed, and Stucker said there were other teams that were below the minimum pressure that didn’t have problems. Stucker said the same tire was used the past two seasons at Fontana, and Goodyear believed it was structurally sound for use after teams adjusted to this season’s changes to the Gen 6 car. “It’s not just air pressure, it’s what else is under the car, and that’s what everyone is trying to get a handle on,” Stucker said. “Let’s face it: We have a different race car than last year. I’m confident everyone will adjust.”(USA Today)(3-23-2014)
Drivers scheduled for Darlington Stripe Zone Fan Hospitality: A star-studded lineup of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers has been confirmed for the Darlington Stripe Zone Fan Hospitality. Coca-Cola Racing Family members Tony Stewart, Danica Patrick, and Ryan Newman are all scheduled for 15-minute question and answer sessions in the popular fan hospitality area on Saturday, April 12 prior to the Bojangles’ Southern 500. For fans that have not yet purchased a Stripe Zone hospitality package, this is the perfect opportunity to see NASCAR drivers in person, while enjoying the amenities the all-inclusive Stripe Zone has to offer. For $140 per package (plus the cost of a grandstand ticket), fans receive a pre-race cold pit pass (shirt and shoes required), full meal and snacks, unlimited non-alcohol beverage service until the scheduled race start, four beer coupons to guests 21 years of age and older, a Darlington-branded gift, event program and live entertainment. Combine that with scheduled driver appearances by Stewart, Patrick and Newman and it’s the perfect package for any race fan. In addition to the Stripe Zone, Darlington Raceway continues to offer race fans a hospitality option on Friday, April 11, prior to the Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200. The T4 Zone hospitality package offers a similar all-inclusive experience with scheduled driver appearances by rising stars James Buescher and Ty Dillon.(Darlington Raceway)(3-23-2014)

News from March 22, 2014
Final practice: for the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway is over after 50 scheduled minutes. The top 5, slowest, and notes:
#55-Vickers 185.926
#24-Gordon 185.840
#48-Johnson 184.781
#2-Keselowski 184.743
#88-Earnhardt, Jr. 184.705
slowest: #78-Truex 178.448 & #40-Cassill 177.874.
All 43 drivers have practiced.
Notes: Team Penske has been battling tire troubles. Early on, #2-Keselowski stopped on track after a left rear tire went down. After coming back out, he had another tire go down, then broke an axle or crankshaft. After that, #22-Logano cut a left front tire and made contact with the wall in turn 2. He will have to go to a backup car. In addition, #10-Patrick and #78-Busch also cut a rear tire during the session.
See the speeds, laps run, 10-lap averages on the Auto Club Practice 3 speeds page.(3-22-2014)
First Saturday practice: for the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway is over after 55 scheduled minutes. The top 5, slowest, and notes:
#4-Harvick 186.018
#24-Gordon 185.677
#22-Logano 185.620
#20-Kenseth 185.319
#41-Busch 184.943
slowest: #36-Sorenson 178.359 & #66-Nemechek 178.218.
All 43 driver practiced.
Notes: #14-Stewart smacked the wall, but the team will repaid the car. #78-Truex, Jr. cut a tire and hit the wall in turn 1. He will have to go to a backup.
See the speeds, laps run, 10-lap averages on the Auto Club Practice 2 speeds page.(3-22-2014)
Janssen Pharmaceuticals joins NASCAR as official partner: NASCAR announced that it is teaming up with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., to help make a difference for racing fans who are at risk for or are living with blood clots. Janssen, the maker of XARELTO (rivaroxaban), an important medicine used to treat and help prevent blood clots, is now the Official Cardiovascular Partner of NASCAR. Blood clots have hit close to home for the NASCAR community. Brian Vickers, full-time driver of the #55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, recently overcame his second episode with the condition. Having completed his treatment with XARELTO and being cleared by his physician, Brian is now competing again in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and is currently 18th in points. 900,000 Americans experience blood clots every year2 that result in nearly 300,000 deaths. According to The National Blood Clot Alliance, many factors can increase a person’s risk for developing blood clots, including age; being overweight; having other chronic diseases; immobility; hormones and pregnancy; long air travel; surgery; trauma or injury.(NASCAR)(3-22-2014)
Open wheel split caused Toyota to look to NASCAR: Had the CART-IRL split of the mid-1990s never occurred, Toyota might still be racing open-wheelers instead of having a huge presence in NASCAR. But according to Toyota’s U.S. racing boss, the split diluted the value of Indy car racing so badly that it ceased being of interest to the automaker. “To demonstrate the lack of value … in 2003, we won the Indy 500, we won the race in Japan, we won 13 out of 16 races that year, and that fall, we still had to sell to our management to stay in the sport,” said David Wilson, president and general manager of TRD, U.S.A., the Costa Mesa, Calif.-based racing arm of Toyota. “As much as we loved it from an engineering standpoint, we also starting realizing that there were a lot of empty seats,” said Wilson. “And open-wheel in the United States was not exactly catching fire, so that started our … relationship with NASCAR.”(Fox Sports)(3-22-2014)
Larson wins Nationwide Race at Auto Club: #42-Kyle Larson won the TreatMyClot.com 300 at Auto Club Speedway, fir his 1st Nationwide Series win. #5-Kevin Harvick finished second followed by #54-Kyle Busch, #22-Joey Logano, #11-Elliott Sadler, #9-Chase Elliott, #20-Matt Kenseth, #3-Ty Dillon, #6-Trevor Bayne, and #7-Regan Smith.
There were 4 cautions for 15 laps and 18 lead changes among 6 leaders. Complete results are on the Auto Club race results page (pdf).
(3-22-2014)
Auto Club Nationwide Race Fast Facts:
Kyle Larson(i) won the 16th Annual TreatMyClot.com 300, his first victory in 38 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
This is his first victory and fifth top-10 finish in 2014.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in two races at Auto Club Speedway.
His victory ends the streak of nine consecutive NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Auto Club Speedway by Joe Gibbs Racing drivers.
Kevin Harvick(i) (second) posted his 15th top-10 finish in 18 races at Auto Club Speedway. It is his third top-10 finish in 2014.
Kyle Busch(i) (third) posted his 13th top-10 finish in 16 races at Auto Club Speedway.
Chase Elliott (sixth) was the highest finishing rookie.
Regan Smith leads the point standings by 0 points over Trevor Bayne.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(3-22-2014)
Nationwide Driver standings following Auto Club:
1) #7-Regan Smith 185
2) #6-Trevor Bayne 185
3) #3-Ty Dillon# 179, -6
4) #9-Chase Elliott# 177, 8
5) #11-Elliott Sadler 174, 11
6) #62-Brendan Gaughan 160, -25
7) #2-Brian Scott 160, -25
8) #31-Dylan Kwasniewski# 149, -36
9) #99-James Buescher 145, -40
10) #19-Mike Bliss 125 -60, -60
See complete standings on the driver standings page (pdf).(3-22-2014)
Nationwide Owner Standings following Auto Club are posted (pdf).(3-22-2014)
Sadler on Nationwide pole at Auto Club: #11-Elliott Sadler won the Coors Light Pole for the TreatMyClot.com 300 at Auto Club Speedway with a speed of 176.991 mph. #20-Matt Kenseth will start second. The rest of the top 10: #3-Ty Dillon, #22-Joey Logano, #9-Chase Elliott, #5-Kevin Harvick, #31-Dylan Kwasniewski, #42-Kyle Larson, #2-Brian Scott, and #62-Brendan Gaughan. Did Not Qualify: none. The starting lineup is posted on the Auto Club starting lineup page (pdf).(3-22-2014)
Busch fails Nationwide inspection:Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch may be going for his seventh Nationwide Series victory at Auto Club Speedway, but he’ll have to do so from the rear of the field on Saturday. The #54 Toyota failed to clear NASCAR technical inspection, despite multiple attempts. According to crew chief Adam Stevens, the initial issue was the length of the wheel studs. Once that issue was fixed by the team, NASCAR then determined there was too much skew in the car, and failed the #54 Toyota again. With a limited amount of time to make a qualifying attempt, Busch was never able to get on track and will start Saturday’s Nationwide Series race at Auto Club Speedway in the 39th spot.(Fox Sports)(3-22-2014)
Auto Club Qualifying Notes:
Elliott Sadler won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 16th Annual TreatMyClot.com 300 with a lap of 40.680 seconds, 176.991 mph.
This is his 16th pole in 235 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
This is his first pole and third top-10 start in 2014.
This is his first pole in ten races at Auto Club Speedway.
Joe Gibbs Racing drivers have won the last nine NASCAR Nationwide Series races at Auto Club Speedway, with five of the race winners starting from the pole.
Matt Kenseth(i) (second) posted his fifth top-10 start of 2014 and his eighth in 14 races at Auto Club Speedway.
Ty Dillon (third) posted his first top-10 start at Auto Club Speedway. It is his fourth in five races this season.
Ty Dillon (third) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(3-22-2014)
Sunday’s race a sellout: Auto Club Speedway President Gillian Zucker announced that grandstand tickets for Sunday’s Auto Club 400 have been sold out. Those wishing to purchase standing room only tickets can still join the Auto Club 400 festivities by calling 1-800-944-RACE (7223). “Southern California fans have proven the Auto Club Speedway is the place to be March 23rd,” said Zucker. “Let’s go racing!”(Auto Club Speedway)(3-22-2014)
Hot Dog Eating Championship qualifying to include NASCAR locations: Nathan’s Famous, Inc. has unveiled the official list of sites that will host hot dog eating contests to qualify competitive eaters who will participate in the annual Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest at Nathan’s Famous on Brooklyn’s Coney Island. The Nathan’s Famous qualifying tour stops in four new cities this year. It’s also premiering at NASCAR events, including the annual Speed Street celebration in Charlotte, NC; Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA; and Sonoma Raceway in northern California. Nathan’s Famous will host its first-ever qualifier at Busch Stadium prior to a St. Louis Cardinals game in May. This year’s circuit begins on April 26th in Las Vegas and stops at 12 other cities before the final event takes place on July 4, 2014 at the Nathan’s Famous flagship in Coney Island. The top male and top female finishers from each qualifier will earn a spot to compete in the ESPN-televised finals at the original Nathan’s Famous, a holiday tradition since 1916.(Nathan’s Famous)(3-22-2014)
Family ticket package at Darlington includes Jimmie Johnson Q&A: Darlington Raceway is offering race fans the opportunity to purchase a special family ticket package for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 on Saturday, April 12. The package, which starts at an affordable $48, will feature a question and answer session with six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson in the Darlington Stock Car Museum on race day. It also includes an adult ticket in the Colvin Grandstand and scanner rental. Children’s tickets can also be purchased for $22 each. The special package can be purchased by visiting www.DarlingtonRaceway.com/GoJimmie or by calling 866-459-7223.(Darlington Raceway)(3-22-2014)

News from March 21, 2014
Janssen Pharmaceuticals joins NASCAR as official partner: NASCAR announced that it is teaming up with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., to help make a difference for racing fans who are at risk for or are living with blood clots. Janssen, the maker of XARELTO (rivaroxaban), an important medicine used to treat and help prevent blood clots, is now the Official Cardiovascular Partner of NASCAR. Blood clots have hit close to home for the NASCAR community. Brian Vickers, full-time driver of the #55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, recently overcame his second episode with the condition. Having completed his treatment with XARELTO and being cleared by his physician, Brian is now competing again in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and is currently 18th in points. 900,000 Americans experience blood clots every year2 that result in nearly 300,000 deaths. According to The National Blood Clot Alliance, many factors can increase a person’s risk for developing blood clots, including age; being overweight; having other chronic diseases; immobility; hormones and pregnancy; long air travel; surgery; trauma or injury.(NASCAR)(3-22-2014)
Open wheel split caused Toyota to look to NASCAR: Had the CART-IRL split of the mid-1990s never occurred, Toyota might still be racing open-wheelers instead of having a huge presence in NASCAR. But according to Toyota’s U.S. racing boss, the split diluted the value of Indy car racing so badly that it ceased being of interest to the automaker. “To demonstrate the lack of value … in 2003, we won the Indy 500, we won the race in Japan, we won 13 out of 16 races that year, and that fall, we still had to sell to our management to stay in the sport,” said David Wilson, president and general manager of TRD, U.S.A., the Costa Mesa, Calif.-based racing arm of Toyota. “As much as we loved it from an engineering standpoint, we also starting realizing that there were a lot of empty seats,” said Wilson. “And open-wheel in the United States was not exactly catching fire, so that started our … relationship with NASCAR.”(Fox Sports)(3-22-2014)
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Auto Club 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway have been made.
Pole sitter #20-Kenseth chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #2-Keselowski took pit stall 12a, with an opening in front of it.
#48-Johnson, who starts 3rd took pit stall 43, the final pit stall in pit road
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(3-22-2014)
Kenseth wins Auto Club pole: #20-Matt Kenseth won the pole for the Auto Club 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway with speed of 187.3015mph for his 1st pole of 2014, 1st at Auto Club Speedway and 12th of his career.
#2-Keselowski is on the outside pole, followed by #48-Johnson, #4-Harvick, #15-Bowyer, #24-Gordon, #22-Logano, #9-Ambrose, #99-Edwards, #14-Stewart, #42-Larson, and #78-Truex, Jr.
#24-Gordon was fastest in the second qualifying session with a speed of 187.515mph.
#4-Harvick paced the first qualifying session at 187.975mph
With 43 cars at the track, no drivers missed the race.
See the full starting lineup, qualifying results & order on the Auto Club Starting Lineup / Qualifying Page.(3-21-2014)
Friday practice: for the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway is over after 90 scheduled minutes. The top 5, slowest, and notes:
#48-Johnson 188.664
#24-Gordon 188.5113
#15-Bowyer 187.774
#88-Earnhardt, Jr. 187.740
#2-Keselowski 187.003
slowest: #66-Nemechek 177.607 & #40-Cassill 177.550.
All 43 driver have practiced.
Notes: #1-McMurray spun coming off Turn 4 and slid through the infield, but did not hit anything. #40-Cassill broke something on his car, hit the wall in turn 4 and will have to go to a backup.
Qualifying is this evening at 7:40pm/et and will be shown on FoxSports 1
See the speeds, laps run, 10-lap averages on the Auto Club Practice 1 speeds page.(3-21-2014)
Qualifying Order for the Auto Club 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway is posted. 44 cars/drivers are listed. This is the order drivers can go through inspection.
The first of the drivers listed is #24-Gordon.
The final driver is #27-Crafton.
Fastest in Friday practice, #48-Johnson, is 36th.
Qualifying order is set by a random draw about an hour before the first practice.
See the complete list on the Auto Club Qualifying Page.(3-21-2014)
Final Bristol TV Ratings: FOX aired only a pittance of live NASCAR racing on Sunday, but the numbers still held up well compared to last year. Abbreviated coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Food City 500 from Bristol earned a 4.5 final rating and 7.3 million viewers on FOX, according to Nielsen fast-nationals – down a tick in ratings and 3% in viewership from last year (4.6, 7.5M), and up 2% and flat, respectively, compared to 2012 (4.4, 7.3M). Of course, comparisons to previous years have little value considering that FOX aired less than an hour of live racing. The telecast still ranked as the top sporting event of the weekend on broadcast. Sunday’s race was delayed twice – first before the start and then again after 124 laps. Two hours of rainout coverage earned a 3.7 and 6.1 million viewers on FOX. The race resumed in the evening on Fox Sports 1, which earned 3.2 million viewers for its coverage. The conclusion of the race ranks as the second-most viewed program on FS1 since it rebranded from Speed Channel last August.(Sports Media Watch)(3-21-2014)
Crafton to sub for Menard Friday: Matt Crafton will substitute for #27-Paul Menard in practice and qualifying Friday at Auto Club Speedway as Menard remains in North Carolina with his wife and newborn daughter. Menard, whose daughter was born on Tuesday, will arrive in California in time for practice Saturday and the race on Sunday. He will have to start at the rear of the field because he will miss qualifying. NASCAR requires a driver to either qualify or race the car for every event in order to be eligible for a Chase for the Sprint Cup based on wins. NASCAR officials have indicated that an injury waiver would not be available for a driver for the birth of a child.(Sporting News)(3-21-2014)
SK Hand Tool sponsoring Go FAS Racing in Auto Club 400 SK Hand Tool will sponsor the #32 car and Go FAS Racing team in the Auto Club 400 Sprint Cup Series race this weekend. The #32 car will sport a wrap displaying SK’s well-known Made-in-USA wrench design on the side of the Ford Fusion. The #32 car will continue to be driven by Travis Kvapil. Travis’ background as an automotive technician and career in NASCAR has given Travis a strong appreciation of high quality, dependable tools. SK is proud to offer a hand tool line that is Made in the USA and created by American Craftsmen, for the professional technician.(Go FAS Racing), see an image of the car on the #32 team paint schemes page.(3-21-2014)
Phil Parsons Racing gets Auto Club sponsor: Trench Shoring Company, a leader within the construction industry that provides customers the finest shoring equipment and services, will extend their marketing reach through a strategic partnership with Phil Parsons Racing and driver Josh Wise. The company will serve as the primary sponsor on Wise’s #98 Chevy for this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. This is Trench Shoring Company’s second outing with Phil Parsons Racing this season. The Corona, Calif.-based company also served as an associate sponsor for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Las Vegas. Trench Shoring Company has the largest inventory of shoring equipment within Southern California and Southern Nevada.(Phil Parsons Racing), see an image of the car on the #98 team paint schemes page.(3-21-2014)
Dillon fastest in happy hour: #3-Ty Dillon was quickest during happy hour for the TreatMyClot.com 300 with a speed of 176.462 mph. He was followed by: #9-Chase Elliott, #99-James Buescher, #31-Dylan Kwasniewski, #2-Brian Scott, #54-Kyle Busch, #6-Trevor Bayne, #22-Joey Logano, #5-Kevin Harvick, and #60-Chris Buescher. 38 drivers participated in the session. See complete results on the Auto Club practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(3-21-2014)
Busch fastest in first practice: #54-Kyle Busch was fastest during opening practice at Auto Club Speedway with a speed of 174.157mph. #5-Kevin Harvick was second, followed by: #22-Joey Logano, #20-Matt Kenseth, #6-Trevor Bayne, #9-Chase Elliott, #31-Dylan Kwasniewski, #2-Brian Scott, #98-David Ragan, and #7-Regan Smith. 35 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Auto Club practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(3-21-2014)
ANP Lighting joins Clements: ANP Lighting, a leading producer of lighting fixtures for residential and commercial use, will sponsor Jeremy Clements and the #51 Chevy for Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Auto Club Speedway. ANP Lighting has the manufacturing, engineering and design expertise to create custom lighting that fits everyone’s needs. Their privately owned foundry and experienced in-house engineering department gives the company the ability to fabricate a wide array of custom/replica pieces as well as to inventory standard product, available for immediate delivery. From massive area lighting on the busy streets of Los Angeles, to the custom, laser cut shades creating ambiance in Bass Pro Shop’s restaurant, to custom home designs for a patio, their lighting stands apart with expert workmanship, engineering and design.(JCR)(3-21-2014)
ROUSH Performance Parts to sponsor 10 races for Buescher: ROUSH Performance Parts has announced it will serve as the primary partner on the #60 Ford Mustang piloted by NASCAR Nationwide Series rookie Chris Buescher for 10 races during the 2014 season. RPP will make its debut on Buescher’s Ford Mustang at Auto Club Speedway on Saturday, March 22. Created in 1995, ROUSH Performance Products combines race-proven technologies with advanced automotive engineering to continually provide customers the ultimate driving experience – the perfect combination of racecar and road car. Created as the first specialty-vehicle company to adhere to O.E. standards, RPP offers an extensive line of aftermarket performance parts and vehicles.(RFR)(3-21-2014)
Gresham joins GMS: GMS Racing is pleased to announce the team has signed 2011 K&N Pro Series East Champion Max Gresham to pilot the #23 AmWINS Chevy Silverado for five NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events in 2014. Gresham is coming off his first full NCWTS season, where the 20-year-old captured one top-five and four top-10 finishes. Gresham’s first NCWTS race of 2014 will come at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, followed by Kentucky Speedway in June, Bristol Motor Speedway in August, Martinsville Speedway in October, and Texas Motor Speedway in November. When not behind the wheel, Gresham will attend ARCA Racing Series and NCWTS events, spotting and lending a helping hand to fellow GMS Racing drivers Joey Coulter and Spencer Gallagher.(GMS Racing))(3-21-2014)
Bode & Morgan Miller named hornorary starters in California: Olympic Medalist skier Bode Miller and his wife, AVP pro beach volleyball player, Morgan, will serve as Honorary Starters for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday, March 23. As Honorary Starter, the Millers will wave the green flag to get the Auto Club 400 underway. Miller, who took home a bronze medal in the Olympic Super-G competition recently in the Sochi Olympics in Russia is considered one of the greatest World Cup racers of all time with 33 victories – one of five men to win World Cup events in all five disciplines. He won six medals in the Winter Olympics, the most of any U.S. skier two silvers (Giant Slalom and Combined) in Salt Lake City 2002, a gold (Super Combined), a silver (Super-G) and a bronze (Downhill) in Vancouver 2010 and a bronze (Super-G) in Sochi. Morgan Miller is a professional beach volleyball player and model. As a professional, Miller plays for Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP). In 2010 she was featured in a Nike ad campaign. The Newport Beach, Calif. native honed her skills at the college level at Cal where she was named to the PAC-10 All-Freshman team and was twice an Honorable Mention All-PAC-10 selection.(ACS)(3-21-2014)

News from March 20, 2014
Congrats to Paul Menard: and his wife Jennifer on the birth of their daughter, Remi Barbara Christine Menard. Remi was born Tuesday night.(3-20-2014)
NASCAR ok with Fox moving Bristol race to FoxSports 1: Fox Sports didn’t break any agreements with NASCAR in moving the rain-delayed race at Bristol to Fox Sports 1 Sunday night. Once the Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway went past 7:00pm/et, Fox had the option of moving the remainder of the event to Fox Sports 1, according to NASCAR. Fox elected to use that option instead of keeping the telecast on network television and pre-empting its Sunday night lineup. The race started about 90 minutes late because of rain and then had a delay of 3 hours, 18 minutes because of more rain that pushed the final 376 laps to after 7:00pm. According to the SportsBusiness Journal, the last three-quarters of the Bristol race on FS1 drew a 1.8 overnight rating. According to the website TV By The Numbers, Fox’s rating for ages 18-49 were 1.1 for Bob’s Burgers, 1.4 for American Dad, 1.9 for the The Simpsons, 2.3 for Family Guy, and 2.0 for Cosmos. “We would prefer to start and finish race coverage on Fox,” Fox Sports spokesman Erik Arneson said in an e-mail Wednesday. “Moving an audience from one channel to another is a disruption to fans, which we take very seriously.”
“It’s great to have broadcast partners who have multiple options so that we have a way to service the fans,” NASCAR spokesman Scott Warfield said.(Sporting News)(3-20-2014)
EcoPower joins Roush; will sponsor Stenhouse, Jr.: Fresh off its one-two finish at Bristol Motor Speedway last weekend, Roush Fenway Racing announced a multi-year team-wide partnership with Safety-Kleen and its premium re-refined motor oil brand, EcoPower. EcoPower will serve as the official oil partner of NASCAR’s winningest team, as well as the primary sponsor for multiple races with the #17 Sprint Cup Ford and driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. The #17 EcoPower Ford Fusion will make its debut at Michigan International Speedway in June. EcoPower re-refined oil helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%. And it requires up to 85% less energy to produce than oil made from virgin crude, because it has already been refined. It also helps reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil. Safety-Kleen is a founding partner of NASCAR Green; an initiative focused on making NASCAR the greenest sport. Safety-Kleen collects all used fluids from the tracks during race weekends – and from most team facilities year round – and then recycles or responsibly disposes of those fluids. The used motor oil collected from all of these sources, including RFR’s race cars, will find its way back into EcoPower.(Roush Fenway Racing)(3-20-2014)
Brooke Werner steps down as Miss Sprint Cup: Miss Sprint Cup Brooke Werner announced Wednesday on her Facebook page that she is resigning as Miss Sprint Cup due to personal reasons. Werner posted the following message on Facebook on Wednesday.
“Hey fans, difficult decisions are always tough to communicate to people you love so much…like you guys. I recently made the hard decision to resign as Miss Sprint Cup for personal reasons (all good!) and hang up my firesuit. It’s been one of the greatest times of my life and I have you all to thank for that. I’ll miss you all very much but I know that you’ll all be excited to meet the new Miss Sprint Cup soon!”
Werner, a former Miss Vermont USA, had filled the role of Miss Sprint Cup with Kim Coon and Madison Martin. This is Martin’s first year in the Miss Sprint Cup program, while it’s Coon’s fourth. Werner was beginning her second season on tour. Miss Sprint Cup serves as the representative for Sprint, entitlement sponsor of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.(Autoweek)(3-20-2014)
“Spring is Calling” on the #48: To commemorate the first day of spring, March 20, Johnson’s #48 Lowe’s Spring Is Calling Chevy SS will have some additional character during the next three NASCAR Sprint Cup weekends. The Lowe’s marketing campaign bird and green accents will adorn the #48 Chevy SS for the races in Fontana, Calif., Martinsville, Va. and Fort Worth, Texas.(Hendrick Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #48 team paint schemes page.(3-20-2014)
Gordon starts year with top 10s: #24-Jeff Gordon finished seventh at Bristol on Sunday, giving him top-10 finishes in each of the first four races of the season. Gordon had never started the year with such a streak until this year.(Motor Racing Network)(3-20-2014)
Wurth debuts on #2 at Auto Club: The #2 Wurth Ford Fusion will make its competition debut this weekend at Auto Club Speedway. Wurth is entering its third year as a partner with Team Penske. The leading supplier of top-quality automotive chemicals, fasteners, hand tools and electrical supplies will be a primary sponsor at a total of four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events this season. (Team Penske), see an image of the car on the #2 team paint schemes page.(3-20-2014)
Time Warner Cable on Kahne’s car at Auto Club: Time Warner Cable will adorn the hood of Kahne’s #5 Chevy SS this weekend at Fontana, Calif., and will be the primary sponsor on the car for four more Sprint Cup Series races this year: Texas Motor Speedway on April 6, Charlotte Motor Speedway’s All-Star Race on May 17, Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27 and New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sept. 21.(Hendrick Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #5 team paint schemes page.(3-20-2014)
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 Auto Club Speedway on the Auto Club Race Info page – Chassis selection area.
Auto Club Speedway Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will run the same tire codes at Fontana this weekend . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that these teams have run at this track since 2012 . . . this right-side tire code (D-4408) has been run at Fontana since 2011, while this left-side tire code (D-4522) was introduced the following year . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Fontana . . . 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 Auto Club Race Info page – Goodyear section.(3-20-2014)
Carter 2 Motorsports ends relationship with Bobby Hamilton, Jr.: Carter 2 Motorsports announced today that the relationship between the ARCA Racing Series team and driver Bobby Hamilton, Jr. has been terminated, effective immediately. Hamilton, Jr., acting on behalf of Precision MotorSports Limited, had signed a contract to drive for the team in February 2014, but was unable to uphold the financial terms of the agreement. Hamilton, Jr. along with his sponsor, St. Louis based Cherokee Charcoal, were equal partners in Precision MotorSports Limited. Carter 2 Motorsports has been in negotiations with representatives of Cherokee Charcoal this week in hopes of modifying the original agreement. Those negotiations were terminated and Trussville, Ala. native Dustin Knowles has been named to drive the number 40 Carter 2 Motorsports Dodge Charger at the March 22nd “ARCA Mobile 200” at Mobile International Speedway (Ala.).(Carter 2 Motorsports)(3-20-2014)
Shakey’s Pizza Parlor on board with Earnhardt: Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, one of the country’s most popular pizza restaurants, has joined JD Motorsports with Gary Keller and driver Jeffrey Earnhardt for Saturday’s Nationwide Series race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. Shakey’s will be prominently displayed on the team’s #4 Chevy for the TreatMyClot.com 300, the fifth race of the Nationwide season. Shakey’s, based in Alhambra near Los Angeles, has 60 locations, most in southern California. Shakey’s also has restaurants in Washington, Hawaii and Alabama. The restaurant, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary, is sponsoring a NASCAR team for the first time.(JDM)(3-20-2014)
K1 Speed joins JDM: K1 Speed, which operates the nation’s leading go-kart racing facilities, has joined JD Motorsports with Gary Keller as a key sponsor for Nationwide Series races at Auto Club Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. K1 Speed colors will debut on the team cars, driven by Landon Cassill and Jeffrey Earnhardt, in Saturday’s TreatMyClot.com 300 at Auto Club Speedway in the fifth race of the Nationwide season. K1 also will be a team partner for the Nationwide race at Texas April 4. K1 operates 20 kart racing locations, with more scheduled to open this year. K1 has tracks in California, Texas, Washington, Arizona, Illinois and Florida and plans expansion into Indiana, North Carolina, Colorado and Georgia. K1, which is based in Irvine, Calif., has a track in Ontario, Calif., near Auto Club Speedway. The company’s tracks are indoors, and the karts are 100-percent emission-free electric vehicles. Saturday’s race will mark K1’s first association with a national-series NASCAR team.(JDM)(3-20-2014)
Texas unveils “Big Hoss” TV: Talk about a Texas-sized TV. Texas Motor Speedway unveiled the world’s largest high-definition video board Wednesday night, with the flip of a switch on a huge remote control setting off fireworks before the screen lit up with highlights from past races and events at the track. The screen is 218 feet wide and about 95 feet high. It is about 125 feet above ground level in the middle of the backstretch at the 1 1/2-mile track. The screen measures 20,633 square feet, surpassing the size of a 200-foot by 85-foot board at Charlotte, another SMI track owned by Bruton Smith. Both video boards are a partnership with Panasonic. About 8,000 people sat in the infield on a chilly night for the free public debut, which included showing of the new episode of “Duck Dynsasty.” The board weighs 108 tons. Panasonic executive Richard Ballard said construction of the video board and its support structure were completed in a condensed four-month schedule. While not being specific, TMS president Eddie Gossage said there were other potential developers attending Wednesday night as they consider such boards. He also said the Texas board could open the door to other kinds of events outside of racing at his track. Asked how much the screen cost, Gossage would only say, “a lot.”(Associated Press)(3-20-2014)
Pia Toscano to sing National Anthem at Auto Club 400: Critically-acclaimed recording artist Pia Toscano, will sing the National Anthem prior to the start of the Auto Club 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, March 23 at Auto Club Speedway. Toscano will also perform ‘God Bless America’ during Auto Club Speedway’s “Tribute to Unions and the American Worker” during pre-race festivities. Toscano has made a name for herself as a vocalist with a rich, emotionally transparent voice, clearly influenced by the likes of Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Etta James and Luther Vandross. Performing since the age of four, Toscano was widely considered one of American Idol’s Season 10 frontrunners thanks to her powerhouse vocal ability and dark-haired beauty. She has performed on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Ellen, The White House, Dancing With The Stars, So You Think You can Dance The Disney Channel, and is currently known as the “Voice of the LA KINGS” singing the National Anthem at their home games at the Staples Center.(ACS)(3-20-2014)
Iowa Legislative panel approves tax breaks for Speedway: A plan to extend a tax break provided last year to the Iowa Speedway at Newton has moved forward in the Iowa House. The proposal received preliminary approval Wednesday from a House Ways and Means subcommittee. It will now be subject to committee-level review. The racetrack in Newton receives a state sales tax rebate under current law, but the rebate is limited to sales occurring before January 1, 2016. The proposal seeks to extend the rebate by 10 years to sales occurring before January 1, 2026. Racetrack officials say the tax break extension is needed not only to grow auto racing in Newton, but also to shine a spotlight on what central Iowa has to offer. The Iowa Speedway, which opened in 2006, was bought by NASCAR last year.(KCRG)(3-20-2104)

News from March 19, 2014
Vickers bringing awareness to blot clots with special scheme: Brian Vickers has overcome blood clots twice in his life. He’s taking steps to make sure others are just as fortunate. The Michael Waltrip Racing driver will pilot the #55 TREATMYCLOT.com Aaron’s Toyota in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway. He’ll also kickoff Blood Clot Awareness Month with Janssen to enhance the public’s understanding about the problem that twice sidelined his racing career. Vickers missed most of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season recovering from blood clots in his legs and around his lungs. He returned to competition in 2011 and earned his third career victory driving the Aaron’s Dream Machine in July 2013. In October, the discovery of a blood clot in his right calf, after wearing a walking boot, sidelined him for the final four races. He’s returned full-time in 2014 on a mission to win races and help race fans know the warning signs and treatment for blood clots. Brian Vickers: “I want people to be mindful of what the signs and symptoms are. Visit www.TREATMYCLOT.COM to learn about the warning signs and if you experience any of the signs or symptoms talk to your doctor. That’s the best thing to do. I’m always mindful and take precautions. When you’re taking long flights, you stand up and you walk around. That’s not just for me, everyone should do that. Obviously I keep an eye out for signs and symptoms, but my last incident was a provoked incident. I had to wear an ankle brace for a month, which is known to create clots. In those situations in the future, I will be more mindful and probably more careful and maybe try to get ahead of it. Other than that I just live my life and go racing.”(Michael Waltrip Racing), see an image of the car on the #55 team paint schemes page.(3-19-2014)
Auto Club Speedway adds SAFER barrier: When #11-Denny Hamlin returns to Auto Club Speedway this week, he’ll find more of the SAFER barrier in the area where he crashed last year. The Southern California facility has added an additional 1,000 feet of the Steel and Foam Energy Reduction barrier inside Turn 4, according to a track spokesman. The change was made in September, six months after Hamlin sustained a broken back vertebra after crashing into an unprotected area of the wall in the track’s Sprint Cup Series event last March. In the wake of the accident, NASCAR officials said experts would reevaluate that section of the wall and recommend changes if necessary. SAFER barriers are typically first installed along the parts of track walls where impacts are most likely to occur, but it’s not uncommon for the barriers to be added or altered in reaction to accidents. A Jeff Gordon hit at Las Vegas, an Elliott Sadler incident at Pocono and a Jeff Fuller accident at Kentucky each resulted in changes being made to walls or barriers at those facilities.(NASCAR.com)(3-19-2014)
3M Aerospace Honors Military on Biffle’s car: 3M’s Aerospace Division will make its racing debut this Sunday at Auto Club Speedway onboard Greg Biffle’s #16 Ford Fusion. Aerospace products from 3M are used in a wide range of applications, from commercial airlines to business jets to military aircraft. Biffle’s Ford will proudly show 3M’s thanks to those men and women serving the U.S. Armed Forces with a Salute to the Armed Forces. Many of 3M’s employees are proud veterans or actively serve in the guard or reserves. The 3M Ford Fusion hood will showcase the five medallions of the different branches of military service, while the car will feature a vehicle wrap in camo design from 3M Commercial Solutions. Many 3M products are used in military applications. Polyurethane tapes help protect rotor blades from damage caused by rain, sand and debris during landing. Wings sealed with 3M’s polysulfide sealants, a lighter-weight sealant, allow for a more fuel efficient aircraft. 3M’s E-A-R brand thermal acoustic products increase cabin comfort by decreasing noise levels inside the plane. 3M Aviation Window Restoration Systems by Clearfix help the military to repair polycarbonate and acrylic windows in theater, allowing aircraft to return to a mission-ready-status faster.(Roush Fenway Racing), see an image of the car on the #16 team paint schemes page.(3-19-2014)
BK Racing partners with Aerodynamics, Inc for airline transportation: BK Racing announced a partnership with Aerodynamics Inc., a leader in full-service shuttle operations. Aerodynamics Inc. will serve as an official transportation partner for BK Racing for the remainder of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Aerodynamics Incorporated, operationally based in Atlanta GA., has multiple operating bases in the U.S. and is a certified FAA 121/135 Air Carrier offering large aircraft flight operations. Long recognized for its core value of operational excellence, ADI has served the industry for 54 years without incident or accident, one of only two companies operating Regional Jets in the supplemental 121 on-demand regime able to make this claim. “This is a very exciting partnership in multiple ways,” said team owner Ron Devine. “Efficient travel is very important to a successful race team and ADI will be a fabulous partner for our team to travel to and from the races throughout the year.”(BK Racing)(3-19-2014)
Milestone starts for Kvapil at Auto Club: #32-Travis Kvapil will attempt to reach two milestones in one this weekend at Auto Club Speedway. It will be his 250th NASCAR Sprint Cup starts and 400th NASCAR national series starts.(NASCAR)(3-19-2014)
Best Foods to sponsor Smith in California: Best Foods, a sister brand to Hellmann’s under the Unilever umbrella, is featured on Regan Smith’s #7 Chevy at California this weekend. This marks the only race for Best Foods this season, which is sold exclusively in locations west of the Rockies. The Hellmann’s brand will be back on board the #7 when the series returns to the east coast races at Richmond International Raceway and will partner with the #5 at Daytona International Speedway.(JRM)(3-19-2014)
Warbirds to perform flyover at Martinsville: The Warbirds will offer up an encore flyover performance for the STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway, repeating their amazing effort from last fall. The Warbirds, a group of five former military pilots flying vintage post-World War II-type aircraft, will present the pre-race flyover for the STP 500 on March 30. The Warbirds have performed since 2009 at other sporting events, including the 2013 CokeZero 400 at Daytona International Speedway, the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins football games, and the Players Championship golf tournament. The Warbirds’ team is led by Henry K. “Hoot” Gibson, a former Naval aviator and Gulf War veteran.(Martinsville Speedway)(3-19-2014)

News from March 18, 2014
Kwikset to sponsor Newman at Kansas: Kwikset, a leading brand of the Hardware and Home Improvement division of Spectrum Brands Holdings, continues to engage with consumers through strategic partnerships by sponsoring Richard Childress Racing and driver Ryan Newman during the Sprint Cup Series Season. As part of the partnership, Kwikset will be the primary sponsor and paint scheme for Newman’s car during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Kansas Race in Kansas City on May 10, and will have its logo on Newman’s #31 car for every race during the 2014 Sprint Cup Series in an associate capacity. As a leader in innovation and home security, the company views NASCAR as a sport that aligns with its values and serves as a natural way to reach its passionate fan base. Kwikset had a similar partnership with RCR in 2013. This is the first year Kwikset will work with Newman, who is one of the sport’s top veterans.(RCR), see an image of the car on the #31 team paint schemes page.(3-18-2014)
Bristol TV Ratings down: Rain led to another decline for NASCAR on FOX. Abbreviated coverage of Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Food City 500 from Bristol earned a 4.1 overnight rating on FOX, down 7% from last year (4.4) but up a tick from 2012 (4.0). FOX aired only 45 minutes of live race coverage. The remainder of the race, according to Sports Business Daily, earned a 1.8 overnight on Fox Sports 1.(Sports Media Watch)(3-18-2014)
Commercial breakdown and links related to the 2014 Food City 500: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, here is the breakdown for Sunday’s rain delayed/rain interrupted race. Began recording the times at the Invocation of the race at 2:36 PM, stopped for a rain delay at 3:51 PM; resumed at 7:06 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 9:27 PM (all times are EST). Fox was the broadcast team for this event.
Total number of commercials: 93
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 50
Number of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 12
Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast: 44
Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 4 min. 50 sec.
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 2:36 PM
Rain delay: 3:51 PM
Resumed at: 7:06 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 9:27 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 216
Minutes of race broadcast: 177
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 39
Minutes of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials (split-screen): 8
Number of missed restarts: 1
Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 1
Total race brdcst time 177 Total comm. brdcst time 39
See past races, links, more info on the 2014 TV Commercials page(3-18-2014)
Top 10 Driver Ratings at Auto Club Speedway:
#48-Jimmie Johnson………….119.6
#18-Kyle Busch……………..109.2
#20-Matt Kenseth……………105.5
#14-Tony Stewart……………102.0
#99-Carl Edwards……………98.5
#24-Jeff Gordon…………….96.2
#16-Greg Biffle…………….95.8
#29-Kevin Harvick…………..95.5
#5-Kasey Kahne……………..92.9
#15-Clint Bowyer……………91.4
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2013 races(15 total) among drivers at Auto Club Speedway.
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)(3-18-2014)
Auto Club Speedway News & Notes:
• Groundbreaking for California Speedway, as Auto Club Speedway originally was known, took place in November 1995.
• The first race was a NASCAR K&N Pro Series, West race won by Ken Schrader on June 21, 1997.
• The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on June 22, 1997 and won by Jeff Gordon.
• September 2004 was the first night race and that also was the first year both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide Series ran two races in a season there.
• The track name was changed to Auto Club Speedway (ACS) in February 2008.
• There have been 24 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Auto Club Speedway, the track hosted one NSCS race a season from 1997-2003, then two races per season from 2004-2010. In 2011 the track returned to a single-race season.
• 128 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club; 106 in more than one.
• Three drivers have participated in all 24 races: Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, and Bobby Labonte.
• Joe Nemechek won the inaugural Coors Light pole (1997) with a speed of 183.015 mph (39.341 secs.).
• 15 drivers have poles at Auto Club Speedway, led by Denny Hamlin and Kurt Busch with three each.
• Denny Hamlin (2011, 2012), Kurt Busch (2006 sweep) and Jamie McMurray (2010 sweep) are the three drivers to win consecutive poles at Auto Club Speedway. Hamlin has won the last two poles at ACS and could become the first in series history to win three-in-a-row at Auto Club.
• 14 different drivers have won at ACS, led by Jimmie Johnson (five). Three other drivers have multiple wins: Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth each have three wins, Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch each have two.
• Hendrick Motorsports leads the series in wins at Auto Club Speedway with nine, followed by Roush Fenway Racing with seven and Stewart Haas Racing with two.
• California-native Jimmie Johnson became the first and only driver to win from the pole at Auto Club Speedway in 2008.
• Only two ACS races have been won from the front row both by six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, fall of 2008 (pole); and the fall of 2007 (second-place).
• Nine of the 24 (37.5%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Auto Club Speedway have been won from a top-five starting position.
• 13 of the 24 (54.2%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Auto Club Speedway have been won from a top-10 starting position.
• Seven of the 24 (29.2%) races have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
• The deepest in the field that a race winner has started was 31st, by Matt Kenseth in the spring of 2006.
• The most proficient starting position at ACS is pretty random. Three starting positions (third, ninth and 24th have produced three winners each.
• Jimmie Johnson leads the series in runner-up finishes at Auto Club Speedway with five; followed by his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon with four.
• Jimmie Johnson leads the series in top-five finishes at Auto club Speedway with 12; followed by Jeff Gordon (10), Matt Kenseth (eight) and Carl Edwards (eight).
• Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth lead the series in top-10 finishes with 14; followed by Carl Edwards (13) and Tony Stewart (12).
• Jimmie Johnson leads the series in average finish at ACS with a 5.737.
• Jimmie Johnson (5.7) and Carl Edwards (8.4) are the only two only active drivers with an average finish in the top 10 at Auto Club Speedway.
• There have been two green-white-checkered finishes at Auto Club Speedway: 2005 (250/254) and 2006 (250/251).
• Carl Edwards posted his first NSCS Coors Light pole at Auto Club Speedway on September 4, 2005. Kyle Busch won his first pole (2/27/05) and first series win (9/4/05) at ACS in 2005.
• Greg Biffle (4/28/02) and J.J. Yeley (9/5/04) made their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career starts at Auto Club Speedway.
• Jimmie Johnson posted his first series career win at Auto Club Speedway on April 28, 2002.
• Jimmie Johnson is the only driver to win consecutive races at Auto Club Speedway (fall of 2009 – spring of 2010).
• 12 of the 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers who have won at Auto Club Speedway participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Jeff Gordon (1997 – inaugural event) and Jimmie Johnson (2002) are the only drivers to win at ACS in their first appearance.
• Tony Stewart competed at Auto Club Speedway 18 times before winning in the fall of 2010; the longest span of any the 14 winners. Only Stewart (18) and Kevin Harvick (17) have made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Auto Club Speedway.
• Jeff Burton and Bobby Labonte lead the series with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Auto Club Speedway without visiting Victory Lane at 24.
• Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Auto Club Speedway was the (3/27/2011) race won by Kevin Harvick with a MOV of 0.144 second over Jimmie Johnson.
• Three reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions have gone on to win at Auto Club Speedway the following season: Tony Stewart (2012), Jeff Gordon (1999) and Jimmie Johnson – the only one to do it multiple times (2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010).
• Two drivers have won and Auto Club Speedway race and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship in the same season: Jeff Gordon (1997) and Jimmie Johnson (2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010).(NASCAR)(3-18-2014)
Team penalized following Bristol: The #99 team that competes in the NASCAR Nationwide Series has been penalized as a result of a rules violation committed during the event at Bristol Motor Speedway. During the race on March 15, the #99 car committed a P3 level penalty by violating Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 20A-2.3A (added car weight; improperly attached weight; loss of weight during the event) of the 2014 NASCAR rule book. As a result, crew chief Chris Rice has been fined $10,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. In addition, car chief John Guerra has also been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.(NASCAR)(3-18-2014)
Charter Communications on board with Armstrong: For the second week in a row the #43 Ford Mustang will have a new look. Long time Richard Petty Motorsports partner, Charter Communications, will make its debut on the #43 Ford. The communication company is the fourth-largest cable operator in the United States.(RPM),see an image of the #43 car on the #43 team paint schemes page.(3-18-2014)
Dollar General with KBM for four races: Kyle Busch Motorsports announced today Dollar General, the nation’s largest small-box discount retailer, will be the primary sponsor of the #51 Tundra in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for four races in 2014. Owner-driver Kyle Busch will be behind the wheel for three of the events with Erik Jones driving the fourth. Dollar General will sponsor the #51 Toyota Tundra in the following races: Kentucky (June) with Kyle Busch, Bristol (Aug.) with Kyle Busch, Chicagoland (Sep.) with Kyle Busch, and Phoenix (Nov.) with Erik Jones.(KBM)(3-18-2014)
Teams to test Martinsville: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams are scheduled to test at Martinsville Speedway on Wednesday and Thursday in preparation for next weekend’s Kroger 250. Participating teams include HAAS Racing, Red Horse Racing, DGM Racing, Win-Tron Racing, and NTS Motorsports.(Martinsville Speedway)(3-18-2014)
Matt Rogers to sing National Anthem prior to Auto Club Nationwide race: Auto Club Speedway officials announced that Arcadia’s Matt Rogers, TV personality, singer/songwriter and currently the host of GSN’s culinary reality series “Beat The Chefs” will perform the National Anthem prior to Saturday’s TREATMYCLOT.COM 300 NNS race at Auto Club Speedway, March 22. Rogers is best known for hosting “Coming Home,” a poignant reality docu-series on Lifetime, which followed the surprise reunions of military members and their loved ones, as they returned home from active duty. Rogers put his songwriting experience into play, by writing and performing the theme song for “Coming Home” titled “I’m Coming Home” which has since resonated and served as a voice for the experience of military families around the country.(Auto Club Speedway)(3-18-2014)

News from March 17, 2014
Entry List for the Auto Club 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway is posted, 45 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including: #32-Kvapil, #33-Scott, #35-Reutimann, #44-Yeley, #66-Nemechek, #77-Blaney. With 45 cars entered, 2 drivers will miss the race. The drivers who must qualify via speed are: #44-Yeley & #77-Blaney.
See the full entry list at my Jayski’s Auto Club Entry List
Human error caused final caution at Bristol: A long and bizarre day came to an unusual finish Sunday night when the caution lights were accidentally turned on from the flag stand and rain then prevented an attempt for a green-white-checkered finish. A person in the flag stand leaned on the manual override switch, turning on the caution lights on lap 499, according to Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. Six seconds after the lights were turned on, the flag man – seeing the lights on – waved the yellow flag, according to NASCAR’s review of the finish. Pemberton said that the flag man can wave the caution flag without a call from series officials in the tower if they see a proper reason. The rain then arrived before the race could be restarted, giving Carl Edwards the victory.
The caution snafu did cause NASCAR to change the finishing order. NASCAR went back to when the caution lights flashed and froze the field. Pemberton said NASCAR only had to adjust three positions – placing Denny Hamlin sixth, Jeff Gordon seventh and Kasey Kahne eighth. Pemberton said NASCAR will work to make sure the incident is not repeated.(Motor Racing Network), for the transcript of Pemberton’s comments, see the NASCAR Press Conference transcript page.(3-17-2014)
Austin Dillon still needs sponsorship for some races: Companies that want in on Richard Childress Racing driver Austin Dillon bringing the iconic #3 back to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series still have a chance. While brands such as Dow, Cheerios and American Ethanol have stepped in to fund most of the season, there is still inventory available, RCR Chief Marketing Officer Ben Schlosser told Newsday on Friday. “We still have a few races open toward the back half of the year, but we don’t go public with exactly how many races are left,” said Schlosser. Schlosser added that RCR is talking to both current sponsors and “a few interested parties” outside the current sponsorship group to fill out the schedule. Unsold races in NASCAR don’t necessarily equate to problems finding sponsorship. Daytona 500 winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. currently has almost a third of his season unsold — because car owner Rick Hendrick has made it clear he’s not discounting the price to sponsor Junior.(Newsday)(3-17-2013)
Bristol Driver Intro Songs: For several years, Sprint Cup drivers have chosen the song that is played when they are introduced to the crowd prior to the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Here is this year’s list for all drivers:
#1-Jamie McMurray: Crazy Train/Ozzy Osborne
#2-Brad Keselowski: Everlong/Foo Fighters
#3-Austin Dillon: Cowboy/DJ Silver
#4-Kevin Harvick: Happy/Pharrell Williams
#5-Kasey Kahne: Bottom’s Up/Brantley Gilbert
#7-Michael Annett: Standing Outside the Fire/Garth Brooks
#9-Marcos Ambrose: This Is How We Roll/Florida Georgia Line
#10-Danica Patrick: Timber/Ke$ha & Pitbull
#11-Denny Hamlin: My Name Is/Eminem
#13-Casey Mears: Do I Wanna Know?/Arctic Monkeys
#14-Tony Stewart: Back in the Saddle Again/Aerosmith
#15-Clint Bowyer: Boys Round Here/Blake Shelton
#16-Greg Biffle: Good Times, Bad Times (remix)/Godsmack
#17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: The South/The Cadillac Three (featuring Florida Georgia Line and Dierks Bentley)
#18-Kyle Busch: Can’t Hold Us/Macklemore
#20-Matt Kenseth: Guitars, Gangsters & Cadillac Blood/Volbeat
#22-Joey Logano: Fuel/Metallica
#23-Alex Bowman: Counting Stars (Longarms Dubstep Remix)/One Republic
#24-Jeff Gordon: Best Day of My Life/American Authors
#26-Cole Whitt: God’s Not Dead/Newsboys
#27-Paul Menard: Clean My Wounds/Corrosion of Conformity
#30-Parker Kligerman: Don’t Push Me/50 Cent
#31-Ryan Newman: Down Home Boys/Cole Swindell
#32-Travis Kvapil: Ace of Spades/Motorhead
#33-Timmy Hill: Thunderstruck/AC/DC
#34-David Ragan: C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train)/Quad City DJ’s
#35-David Reutimann: Still Counting/Volbeat
#36-Reed Sorenson: Man of the Year/School Boy Q
#38-David Gilliland: Strokers Theme/Charlie Daniels Band
#40-Landon Cassill: Money in the Bank/Lil Scrappy ft. Young buck
#41-Kurt Busch: Ring of Fire/Johnny Cash
#42-Kyle Larson: Kashmir/Led Zeppelin
#43-Aric Almirola: Outsiders/Eric Church
#47-AJ Allmendinger: Bouncin’ Back (Bumpin’ Me Against the Wall)/Mystikal
#48-Jimmie Johnson: Radioactive/Imagine Dragons
#51-Justin Allgaier: War of Change/Thousand Foot Krutch
#55-Brian Vickers: Beast of Burden/Rolling Stones
#66-Joe Nemechek: Beer With Jesus/Thomas Rhett
#78-Martin Truex Jr.: Flyin Down a Back Road/Justin Moore
#83-Ryan Truex: Crave You (Adventure Club Remix)/Flight Facilities
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Man of Action/Matthew Good Band
#95-Michael McDowell: I Am/Crowder
#98-Josh Wise: Intro/The XX
#99-Carl Edwards: Kickstart My Heart/Motley Crue
(NASCAR.com)(3-17-2014)
Entry List:There are 41 cars on the preliminary entry list for Saturday’s Treatmyclot.com 300 at Auto Club Speedway. A few notes:
Jason White in the #00;
Derek White in the #13;
Joey Logano in the #22;
Jeff Green in the #91;
David Ragan in the #98;
(3-17-2014)
See the complete list on the Auto Club entry list page.
RAB partners with olloclip for Auto Club race: RAB Racing and olloclip are proud to announce a new partnership for the March 22nd NASCAR Nationwide Series Event at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Based in nearby Huntington Beach, CA, olloclip offers innovative and easy-to-use mobile photography accessories for smartphones and mobile devices that make capturing life experiences more spontaneous, creative and fun. The relationship between RAB Racing and olloclip was the result of a trial utilizing the olloclip 4-in-1 lens in the rigorous and demanding field of NASCAR. The results and quality of the content produced by simply utilizing the olloclip was a surprise for RAB Racing. The positive results of the trial introduced a new and unique partnership between RAB Racing and olloclip.(RAB)(3-17-2014)
Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff joins RCR: Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff will serve as a primary sponsor for five races this season with NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers Brian Scott and Brendan Gaughan. Scott and his #2 team will wear the company’s colors at Iowa Speedway on May 18, Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, Richmond International Raceway on September 6 and Kansas Speedway on October 4. Gaughan and the #62 team will support the tobacco-free smokeless brand at Texas Motor Speedway on November 1. In addition to the five-race primary sponsorship, Smokey Mountain will also have an associate-sponsorship presence on both the #2 and #62 Camaros throughout the 2014 season. Known as America’s original and best-selling, tobacco-free smokeless snuff, Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff can be found in retailers across the country. Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff is notably the world’s largest tobacco-free smokeless company. An industry leader and inventor, the tobacco-free and nicotine- free chew, is an option for consumers who are looking to quit or reduce their consumption.(RCR)(3-17-2014)
NTS announces addition of Pistone: Chase Pistone inks new deal to race fourteen NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races in 2014 in the #9 ChevySilverado. Pistone is set to make his debut for NTS Motorsports in the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29th. Pistone will be testing with his #9 NTS Motorsports team on March 18th and 19th at the half-mile along with NTS teammate Gray Gaulding. Pistone’s schedule will go on to include NASCAR’s return to Gateway Motorsports Park, Kentucky Speedway on June 26th, Iowa Speedway, Pocono Speedway and the remainder of the 2014 NCWTS season with the exceptions of Eldora Speedway, Canadian Tire Motorsports Park and Homestead-Miami Speedway where a driver is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Pistone’s #9 Chevy Silverado will be led by veteran crew chief Gere Kennon.(NTS)(3-17-2014)
Sad News – Gary Bettenhausen: Officials with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway say race car driver Gary Bettenhausen has died. He was 72. Bettenhausen was a member of a famous racing family and a veteran of open-wheel competition who drove in 21 Indianapolis 500s between 1968 and 1993. His best finish was third in 1980. He led 138 laps of the 1972 race and was the top qualifier in 1991. Bettenhausen’s father, Tony, also was an Indianapolis 500 veteran who was killed in a practice crash at the speedway in 1961. Speedway president J. Douglas Boles issued a statement Monday, noting Gary Bettenhausen’s success in many types of cars and calling him “the perfect definition of a race car driver of his time.”(Associated Press/ESPN), Bettenhausen ran eight career NASCAR Sprint Cup races.(3-17-2014)
Auto Club Speedway Kids Club releases storybook app: Auto Club Speedway, already the leader in youth initiatives in the motorsports industry, will add yet another feather to its cap with the launch of Lefty & The Radtastic Road Rally interactive storybook app, available for iPad, the racing world’s first storybook app specifically targeting young readers. The storybook app is available free-to-play through the Apple App Store. With the app, produced by Bento Box Interactive and designed by Emmy-winning artist Bob Boyle (The Fairly Odd Parents and Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!), readers will get a front row seat to the action as Lefty Turner and his pit crew get ready for race day, which comes alive with animation, music and sound effects. Who will win the race and survive treacherous obstacles including the dreaded Motorcar Monkey Pirates? Will it be the studious Lefty or his hasty rival Righty McRightson? Features of the app include reading highlighted words along with the narrator, beautifully illustrated and animated pages, touch and swipe interactive pages and a high quality musical score. Lefty & The Radtastic Road Rally is free-to-play for iPad devices available through the Apple App Store.(Auto Club Speedway)(3-17-2014)

News from March 16, 2014
Edwards wins at Bristol: #99-Carl Edwards won the Food City 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway for his 1st win of 2014, his 3rd at Bristol and his 22nd career win.
#17-Stenhouse, Jr. finished 2nd for his best career finish. The rest of the 10 were #43-Almirola, #14-Stewart, #9-Ambrose, polesitter #11-Hamlin, #24-Gordon, #5-Kahne, #55-Vickers, and rookie of the year candidate #42-Larson.
#88-Earnhardt, Jr., who came into the race as the points leader, finished the race in 24th.
The race started nearly 2 hours late because of morning rain and there was a 3 hour an 20 minute red flag just after 100 laps, again for rain. Then with just over 2 laps remaining in the race, a bank of caution lights malfunctioned and came on automatically. Realizing the problem, NASCAR called for a full course caution and it then began to rain. The race finished under caution.
Keselowski now has the points lead by 10 points over Earnhardt, Jr.
There were 20 lead changes among 12 drivers and there were 12 cautions for 95 yellow flag laps.
The average speed was 84.051mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Unofficial Bristol Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Bristol Penalty Report (pdf).(3-9-2014)
Race Fast Facts – Bristol:
Carl Edwards won the 54th Annual Food City 500, his 22nd victory in 341 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his first victory and third top-10 finish in 2014.
This is his third victory and eighth top-10 finish in 20 races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (second) posted career-best finish and first top-10 finish in three races at Bristol Motor Speedway. His previous best finish was third, at Talladega in October of 2013. It is his second top-10 finish in 2014.
Aric Almirola (third) posted his career-best finish and second top-10 finish in ten races at Bristol Motor Speedway. His previous best career finish was fourth (at Homestead in 2010 and Martinsville-2 in 2012).
Kyle Larson (10th) was the highest finishing rookie.(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(3-16-2014)
2014 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Championship Points Standings:
[after Bristol, race 4 of 36]
1) #2-Brad Keselowski [1 win], 163
2) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [1 win], 153, -10
3) #99-Carl Edwards [1 win], 152, -11
4) #24-Jeff Gordon, 152, -11
5) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 143, -20
6) #22-Joey Logano, 141, -22
7) #11-Denny Hamlin, 140, -23
8) #20-Matt Kenseth, 138, -25
9) #31-Ryan Newman, 125, -38
10) #17-Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., 122, -41
Other drivers with a win:
21) #4-Kevin Harvick [1 win], 89, -74
See UNOFFICIAL drivers championship points standings on the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings (pdf).
See the UNOFFICIAL owner points standings on the Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf).
.(3-16-2014)
Rain expected Sunday at Bristol; race could be held Monday: The National Weather Serviceforecast for Sunday calls for rain, mainly after 8:00am with a high near 48. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Sunday night the rain will continue, mainly before 5:00pm, then periods of drizzle. Low around 37. Chance of precipitation 80%. The forecast for Monday looks better but there is still a 50% chance of rain early.
See more weather info and links on the Bristol race page – weather section.
Bristol Motor Speedway general manager Jerry Caldwell said, “By now, nearly everyone has seen Sunday’s weather forecast and expressed questions regarding plans. NASCAR has a nearly 70-year history of working with tracks to get races in on the scheduled date. In Bristol Motor Speedway, we have a track that dries in less than an hour, equipment here to do it, and lights that allow us to go well into the evening. We are very hopeful and fully intend to run the Food City 500 tomorrow. If by chance that does not happen, we are prepared to race Monday at noon. But that is a backup plan we hope to not need.”(3-16-2014)
Cassill gets Bristol sponsor: CRC Industries announced that the company will be the primary sponsor of the #40 Hillman Racing Chevy SS this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. CRC, a manufacturer of an extensive arsenal of automotive maintenance products, will promote its industry-leading CRC Brakleen Brake Parts Cleaner on the Sprint Cup Series entry driven by Landon Cassill. Cassill, who garnered attention for his 12th-place finish in the season-opening Daytona 500, will pilot the #40 CRC BRAKLEEN Chevy in Sunday’s Food City 500.(PR), see an image of the car on the #40 team paint schemes page.(3-16-2014)
Kenseth suggests satellite teams helping Penske: #95-Michael McDowell calls #20-Matt Kenseth’s suggestion that McDowell has tested for Team Penske’s benefit a matter of “sour grapes.” Kenseth raised the issue after qualifying Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway when asked about Penske’s success this season. Penske drivers #2-Brad Keselowski and #22-Joey Logano have started no worse than the second row in the last three races and Keselowski swept last week’s Nationwide and Sprint Cup races at Las Vegas. Kenseth pointed to McDowell and Leavine Family Racing with helping Keselowski and Logano. “Without opening a can of worms, it’s my understanding that they (Team Penske) got to do a lot of testing – I think they’ve been to all three tracks with their ‘satellite teams’ – Michael McDowell and cars like that I think in the Penske trailer,” Kenseth said.
Leavine Family Racing, a Ford team, purchases chassis and parts from Team Penske. That’s a new arrangement. Leavine Family Racing bought its cars from Roush Fenway Racing the past three years. McDowell and Leavine Family Racing have used two of their four allotted tests at Cup tracks at Phoenix and Bristol this season. “What was he really suggesting or saying that somebody had an unfair advantage?” car owner Bob Leavine said of Kenseth. “They could go out and do what they want to do.”
McDowell noted the relationship between Joe Gibbs Racing and Michael Waltrip Racing for Toyota. “This sport, the way it is, as fast as it is developing, you have to be aligned with a manufacturer that is working with all the teams,” McDowell said. “The reality is there might be some sour grapes there because they haven’t been able to align themselves with an organization that can help them to do some of those things like RCR, Hendrick and Stewart-Haas and all the other teams have.”(Motor Racing Network)3-16-2014)
Hamlin, Logano feud still lingers: Their feud started with some Twitter posts about the closing laps of the Daytona 500 and it heightened three weeks later at Bristol Motor Speedway, where an on-track spin nearly led to post-race fisticuffs. Things took a turn for the worse between #11-Denny Hamlin and #22-Joey Logano a week later at Fontana when the two drivers refused to give an inch while attempting to win. It led to a crash, a broken vertebra for Hamlin and a destroyed relationship between the former teammates. As they return this weekend to Bristol a year later, Hamlin has finally put his malevolent feelings toward Logano aside.
“We’re OK,” Hamlin said. “We don’t talk or anything like that more than we should and really no less than we should, I would say. You can hold grudges all you want, but it’s not going to make you any faster and it’s not going to get you any closer to a championship. I’m bitter in ways, and in other ways it’s been so long ago and there’s so many trials and tribulations between then and now, that I think I’m a better person now and I think I’m a better driver now.”
Said Logano: “I feel like we’re fine. A year is a long time. It’s over now. I feel like we’ve moved on. Obviously, people were talking about it this week because it’s the one-year anniversary of the whole fiasco,” Logano said. “But you move on and forget about things. You’re supposed to forgive and forget and that goes both ways, so we both knew what we had to do and I feel like we’ve moved on and we’re going from there.”
“As far as my relationship with him, I treat him with respect on the race track, as I should,” said Hamlin, who chooses to limit his conversations with Logano because “what do you say? How can you express how upset you are with someone without punching them?”(Associated Press)(3-16-2014)

News from March 15, 2014
Final practice: for the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway is over after 60 scheduled minutes. The top 5, slowest, and notes:
#13-Mears 125.906
#2-Kenseth 125.815
#99-Edwards 125.683
#2-Keselowski 125.486
#41-Busch 125.469
slowest: #36-Sorenson 122.185 & #66-Nemechek 121.167
All 43 drivers have practiced.
Notes: #40-Cassill broke a rear end housing, causing the left rear tire and wheel to come off, sending him into the wall hard. He is ok, but will have to go to a backup.
See the speeds, laps run, 10-lap averages on the Bristol Practice 3 speeds page.(3-15-2014)
First Saturday practice: for the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway is over after 50 scheduled minutes. The top 5, slowest, and notes:
#31-Newman 127.081
#4-Harvick 126.863
#41-Busch 126.687
#20-Kenseth 126.670
#27-Menard 126.545
slowest: #66-Nemechek 121.213 & #33-Hill 120.150
All 43 drivers have practiced.
See the speeds, laps run, 10-lap averages on the Bristol Practice 2 speeds page.(3-15-2014)
Rain expected to be an issue at Bristol Sunday: While Saturday’s weather at Bristol Motor Speedway looks good with only a slight change of rain and a high of 64, Sunday NASCAR may not be so lucky. The National Weather Service forecast for Sunday calls for a 100% chance of rain after 9:00am with a high of 53 degrees. Sunday night the chance of precipitation only drops to 90%. Monday’s forecast is for a 60% chance of rain with a high of only 45 degrees. Bristol has lights and Air Titan would help dry the short track even faster than usual, so NASCAR is likely to wait as long as they can Sunday to get the race in, if possible.
See more weather info and links on the Bristol race page – weather section.(3-15-2014)
Drivers pleased with change to qualifying: Qualifying [at Bristol] went without a hitch. No wrecks, no traffic jams, no apparent problems with cars cooling their engines. Drivers universally praised NASCAR’s decision this week to permit cool-down boxes on pit road, eliminating the need for cars to cruise the lower apron of the track at slow speeds in an attempt to cool their engines.
“That rule change has removed danger and replaced it with opportunity,” #2-Brad Keselowski said. “Being able to go out there and make multiple runs is a lot more plausible because of that scenario (with additional cooling capability). That rewards the teams and the fans as well.”
Asked about the changes, #24-Jeff Gordon, put his hands together as if in prayer and looked toward the heavens. “That’s a great move and I think we’re all very thankful,” he said.
His Hendrick Motorsports teammate #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. agreed. “Great move by NASCAR,” said Earnhardt Jr., who was 14th fastest in the first qualifying round, failing to make the 12-car transfer spot in the knockout format. “Just being able to use the cool boxes, guys weren’t out there riding around. I think it’s still exciting, still a good format and much safer.”
“This is way better,” said #9-Marcos Ambrose, who qualified fifth. “I don’t miss going out there and shutting myself off and having a car blow by me at full speed. I commend NASCAR for stepping up and making changes.”(NASCAR Wire Service)(3-15-2014)
Final ratings down for Las Vegas: For the third straight week, ratings and viewership dropped for NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series. Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Kobalt Tools 400 from Las Vegas drew a 4.5 final rating and 7.2 million viewers on FOX, down 4% in ratings and viewership from last year (4.7, 7.5M), and down 14% and 15%, respectively, from 2012 (5.2, 8.5M). The 4.5 rating is the third-lowest in the history of the race (dates back to 1998), ahead of only 2010 (4.4) and 2000 (4.0). So far this season, all three Sprint Cup telecasts have had declines in ratings and viewership compared to last year. The races have each fallen to multi-year lows. As is typical, NASCAR was the top sporting event of the weekend. The final round of golf’s WGC-Cadillac Championship was a distant second (2.8, 4.1M).(Sports Media Watch)(3-15-2014)
NASCAR launches ‘NASCAR Connect’ app: Prediction: NASCAR fans are already thinking about which driver will be visiting Victory Lane at the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway this Sunday. Fact: NASCAR fans will be able to put their prediction skills to the test – against other fans in real time – when OneUp Sports launches a brand new predictive gaming app, NASCAR Connect, on iOS devices this weekend. NASCAR Connect will allow fans to compete against each other using live event predictions. As the race unfolds, players can win game tokens by selecting tiles with race action descriptions that predict what happens next on the track. The game will be operational for all NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events beginning this weekend’s race in Bristol, Tenn. With the launch, OneUp Sports will add NASCAR to a sports portfolio that includes the NFL, MLB, the NBA, the NHL and the PGA Tour.(NASCAR)(3-15-2014)
Jimmie Johnson Foundation, Blue Bunny Ice Cream Announce $25,000 Grant Opportunities:Six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson announced Friday the launch of the 2014 edition of the Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope campaign, which this year includes new criteria for being named one of the five $25,000 grant recipients. Johnson, along with Mike Wells, president and CEO of Wells Enterprises, maker of Blue Bunny Ice Cream, revealed that not-for-profit (501c3) organizations supporting K-12 public education will be eligible to compete for one of the five available grants of $25,000 – an increase in the individual grant amount from 2013. The Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope program, which began in 2008, allows fans and consumers across the country to nominate their favorite education-focused charities, including Parent/Teacher Associations, to receive a $25,000 grant, a Blue Bunny ice cream party, and special recognition on Johnson’s race helmet. Nominations will be accepted at www.helmetofhope.org through April 4. Ten semifinalists will be selected from these nominations. The public vote to choose the final five grant recipients will take place April 17 through 24. To date, the program has contributed more than $560,000 to 71 different charities.(Jimmie Johnson Foundation)(3-15-2014)
Busch wins at Bristol: #54-Kyle Busch won the Drive to Stop Diabetes 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway. #42-Kyle Larson finished second followed by #5-Kevin Harvick, #22-Ryan Blaney, #20-Matt Kenseth, #3-Ty Dillon, #62-Brendan Gaughan, #6-Trevor Bayne, #9-Chase Elliott, and #7-Regan Smith.
There were 7cautions for 47 laps and 7 lead changes among 3 leaders. Complete results are on the Bristol race results page (pdf).
Bristol Race Fast Facts:
Kyle Busch won the 32nd Annual Drive to Stop Diabetes 300 presented by Lilly Diabetes, his 65th victory in 274 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
Busch now has 16 NASCAR national series points race wins at Bristol, which is more than any driver at any track in NASCAR national series history. The breakdown: 5 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series; 7 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series; 4 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
This is his second victory and fourth top-10 finish in 2014.
This is his seventh victory and 16th top-10 finish in 20 races at Bristol Motor Speedway. It is his third consecutive win at Bristol.
Kyle Larson (second) posted his third top-10 finish in three races at Bristol Motor Speedway. It is his fourth top-10 finish in 2014.
Kevin Harvick (third) posted his 20th top-10 finish in 25 races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Ty Dillon (sixth) was the highest finishing rookie.
Regan Smith leads the point standings by 1 point over Trevor Bayne.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(3-15-2014)
Driver standings following Bristol:
1) #7-Regan Smith, 151
2) #6-Trevor Bayne, 150, -1
3) #3-Ty Dillon, 143 -8
4) #9-Chase Elliott, 138 -13
5) #11-Elliott Sadler, 135 -16
6) #62-Brendan Gaughan, 131 -20
7) #2-Brian Scott, 127 -24
8) #99-James Buescher, 117 -34
9) #31-Dylan Kwasniewski, 116 -35
10) #01-Landon Cassill, 105 -46
See complete standings on the driver standings page (pdf).(3-15-2014)
Owner Standings following Bristol are posted (pdf).(3-15-2014)
Larson on pole at Bristol: #42-Kyle Larson won the Coors Light Pole for the Drive to Stop Diabetes 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway with a speed of 124.476 mph. #54-Kyle Busch will start second. The rest of the top 10: #20-Matt Kenseth, #2-Brian Scott, #22-Ryan Blaney, #5-Kevin Harvick, #7-Regan Smith, #99-James Buescher, #3-Ty Dillon, and #19-Mike Bliss. Did Not Qualify: #76-Willie Allen. #31-Dylan Kwasniewski hit the wall in the final session of qualifying, will drop to the rear after repairs. The starting lineup is posted on the Bristol starting lineup page (pdf).(3-15-2014)
Bristol Qualifying Notes:
Kyle Larson won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 32nd Annual Drive to Stop Diabetes 300 presented by Lilly Diabetes with a lap of 15.415 seconds, 124.476 mph.
This is his first pole in 37 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
This is his first pole and fourth top-10 start in 2014.
This is his first pole in three races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Kyle Busch (second) posted his fourth top-10 start of 2014 and his 13th in 20 races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Matt Kenseth (third) posted his seventh top-10 start at Bristol Motor Speedway. It is his fourth in four races this season.
Ty Dillon (ninth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(3-15-2014)
Mindy Kaling to drive pace car at Auto Club Speedway: Mindy Kaling will be behind the wheel of the Official NASCAR 2014 Toyota Camry Pace Car as she leads the field of 43 stock cars before the start of the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday, March 23. Emmy Award-nominated Mindy Kaling is a quadruple-threat to be reckoned with. Kaling is an actor, writer, producer and director. She wears all these hats on the critically acclaimed series The Mindy Project. Kaling also starred as “Kelly Kapoor” on the Emmy Award-winning comedy “The Office.” Initially hired in 2004 as a writer and performer for the American version of the British cult hit, she wrote more than 18 episodes of the series, including “Niagara,” which scored her an Emmy nod.(Auto Club Speedway)(3-15-2014)

News from March 14, 2014
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Food City 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway have been made.
Pole sitter #11-Hamlin chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #2-Keselowski took pit stall 23, the last pit stall on the backstretch.
#20-Kenseth, who starts 3rd took the 20th pit stall, the last pit stall on the frontstretch.
The first pit stall on the backstretch was taken by #9-Ambrose, who starts 5th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(3-14-2014)
Hamlin wins Bristol pole: #11-Denny Hamlin won the pole for the Food City 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway with a TRACK RECORD speed of 129.991mph for his 1st pole of 2014, 2nd at Bristol and 18th of his career.
#2-Keselowski is on the outside pole, followed by #20-Kenseth, #22-Logano, #9-Ambrose, #24-Gordon, #18-Busch, #16-Biffle, #31-Newman, #5-Kahne, #48-Johnson, and #99-Edwards.
#22-Logano was fastest in the first qualifying session with a speed of 129.369
Missing the race were: #35-Reutimann & #77-Blaney.
See the full starting lineup, qualifying results & order on the Bristol Starting Lineup / Qualifying Page.(3-14-2014)
Qualifying Fast Facts – Bristol:
Denny Hamlin won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 54th Annual Food City 500 with a track qualifying record lap of 14.761 seconds, 129.991 mph. Kyle Busch held the previous record with 129.535 mph/14.813 seconds.
This is his 18th pole in 295 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. He is now tied with Lee Petty, Joe Weatherly and Donnie Allison for 38th on the all-time list.
This is his first pole and second top-10 start in 2014.
This is his second pole in 17 races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Brad Keselowski (second) posted his third top-10 start of 2014 and his fifth in nine races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Matt Kenseth (third) posted his 12th top-10 start at Bristol Motor Speedway. It is his second in four races this season.(NASCAR Statistics)(3-14-2014)
Friday practice: for the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway is over after 90 scheduled minutes. The top 5, slowest, and notes:
#41-Busch 129.789
#24-Gordon 129.421
#11-Hamlin 129.351
#99-Edwards 129.317
#9-Ambrose 129.238
slowest: #30-Kligerman 123.300 & 33-Hil 119.010.
#51-Allgaier was the only driver to not complete a full lap.
Notes: Five minutes into practice, #10-Patrick got loose off turn 2 and slid into #30-Kligerman. Patrick will go to a backup car. Other drivers making contact with the wall and going to backups: #51-Allgaier, #18-Busch, #16-Biffle. #20-Kenseth and #17-Stenhouse, Jr. also got in to wall but suffered only minor damage.
Qualifying is this afternoon at 4:40pm/et and will be shown on FoxSports 1
See the speeds, laps run, 10-lap averages on the Bristol Practice 1 speeds page.(3-14-2014)
Qualifying Order for the Food City 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway is posted. 45 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 #17-Stenhouse, Jr.
The final driver scheduled to go out is #78-Truex, Jr.
Fastest in Friday practice, #41-Busch, is scheduled to qualify 14th.
Qualifying order is set by a random draw, held about an hour before the first practice.
See the full qualifying order on the Bristol Qualifying Page.(3-14-2014)
Goodyear schedules tire tests: As the weather warms come springtime, it marks the unofficial start of testing season for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s NASCAR racing program. “It’s been a long, tough winter across the country, so we’re happy spring has arrived, which gives us the chance to begin our tire testing,” said Greg Stucker, Goodyear’s director of race tire sales. “The tracks we currently have on the test schedule cover a variety of conditions – a couple ovals that have been repaved relatively recently, a couple that have not been paved in awhile, both asphalt and concrete surfaces, and a road course.” Goodyear’s upcoming testing schedule includes:
March 25-26 — Sonoma Raceway – Teams: #9 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford, #14 Stewart Haas Racing Chevrolet, #20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, #55 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota.
April 8-9 – Michigan International Speedway – Teams: #15 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota, #16 Roush Fenway Ford, #21 Wood Brothers Ford, #88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, #31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet.
April 14 – Kansas Speedway – Teams: One team per organization.
May 6-7 – Dover International Speedway — Teams: #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, #99 Roush Fenway Ford, Chevrolet team TBD, as well as teams from the Nationwide, Camping World Truck and K&N Series.
May 20-21 – Kentucky Speedway – Teams: Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series lineup TBD.
June 10-11 – Chicagoland Speedway – Teams: TBD.
“We have a multitude of goals at these upcoming tests, including keeping up with changing track surfaces and staying in tune with NASCAR and the teams on car development under the 2014 rules package,” said Stucker. “Further expansion of our multi-zone technology will be an element for evaluation at several of these tests. As always, our primary focus will be to come out of these tests with a durable race package while giving teams the appropriate amount of grip.”(Goodyear)(3-14-2014)
Teams to test at Martinsville: Motor Racing Network’s Dustin Long, reported that #7-Michael Annett and #36-Reed Sorenson of Tommy Baldwin Racing will be testing with #47-A.J. Allmendinger and the JTG Daugherty Racing team next Tuesday and Wednesday at Martinsville Speedway.(3-14-2014).
Special scheme for Newman: Quicken Loans is hosting the Billion Dollar Bracket Challenge. The Detroit-based mortgage lender is offering a chance to win a billion dollars to any eligible participant who enters the contest and predicts the winners of every game in this March’s men’s college basketball championship. Plus, Quicken Loans will be awarding a total of $2 million dollars for the 20 best “imperfect” brackets. The entry period for the contest is now through March 20th. For more information, and to register, visit: www.quickenloansbracket.com. To further promote the contest, Quciken Loans will run a special scheme on the #31 Chevy of Ryan Newman this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway.(RCR), see an image of the car on the #31 team paint schemes page.(3-14-2014)
Kyle Busch looking to lead 10000 laps: #18-Kyle Busch is approaching a major series milestone, one that could come this Sunday at Bristol. With 140 laps led – something he’s done four times at Bristol – Busch will become the 15th driver in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history with 10,000 laps led.(NASCAR)(3-14-2014)
Edwards’ team hosts Motley Crew member at Vegas: Last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway the #99 team showed the rest of the garage that they could ‘run’ with the best of them when they hosted Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil as an honorary crew member. Neil, a Vegas resident and lead singer of the multi-platinum selling band Motley Crue, participated in a variety of track activities throughout the day including a visit to the Sprint Experience with Roush Fenway Racing driver Carl Edwards and comedian Carrot Top. He continued to shadow Edwards during the day making his way to the driver meeting and introductions before heading to pit road to watch Edwards and the ‘crue’ turn in a strong fifth-place finish. The team was first introduced to the legendary rocker earlier this year during a testing run at Nashville. Neil spent the day with all three Roush Fenway Racing teams and the #99 boys were determined to have him back when they made it out to Sin City.(Roush Fenway)(3-14-2014)
Elliott fastest in happy hour: #9-Chase Elliott was quickest during happy hour for the Drive to Stop Diabetes 300 with a speed of 124.154 mph. He was followed by: #42-Kyle Larson, #20-Matt Kenseth, #7-Regan Smith, #2-Brian Scott, #31-Dylan Kwasniewski, #54-Kyle Busch, #6-Trevor Bayne, #60-Chris Buescher, and #22-Ryan Blaney. 42 drivers participated in the session. #67-Tommy Joe Martins withdrew after he was unable to get up to speed following an accident in the first practice session. See complete results on the Bristol practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(3-14-2014)
Busch fastest in first practice: #54-Kyle Busch was fastest during opening practice at Bristol Motor Speedway with a speed of 123.079 mph. #20-Matt Kenseth was second, followed by: #42-Kyle Larson, #5-Kevin Harvick, #33-Cale Conley, #9-Chase Elliott, #2-Brian Scott, #99-James Buescher, #3-Ty Dillon, and #7-Regan Smith. 39 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Bristol practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(3-14-2014)
Red Horse owner’s pit school now licensed: Retired Mobil executive Tom DeLoach’s affinity for racing didn’t end when the Statesboro, Ga., native left the company in 2000. He simply channeled his passion for the sport in a different direction. A year after retiring, DeLoach realized the over-the-wall crews were attaining a new level of professionalism and a training facility was needed for those seeking that type of motorsports career. The Mooresville resident partnered with NASCAR championship crew chief Jeff Hammond, who had recently accepted a TV analyst job with FOX Sports, and together they implemented the training facility the personable DeLoach envisioned. They purchased the pit crew school known as 5 Off 5 On, created the Performance Instruction and Training facility, and constructed a state-of-the-art complex in Mooresville. Earlier this month, school officials were notified they were now licensed by the North Carolina Board of Community Colleges, an objective that took at least five years to achieve. Four years after DeLoach retired from Mobil, PIT opened its 33,000-square-foot facility on slightly more than five acres in Mooresville. The facility includes a 24,000-square-foot building, a 9,000-square-foot garage and a quarter-mile track. Pit Crew U, an eight-week course that involves classroom and hands-on training, recently graduated its 98th class. In addition to learning pit stop choreography and each of the six positions on an over-the-wall crew, the students studied race-day preparation, equipment maintenance and selection, and pit road rules. Those who excel in that course receive an invitation into PIT’s 5 Off 5 On Race Team Performance program. In that program the person receives athletic training, skills coaching and the opportunity to serve on an over-the-wall crew in stock car racing.(Lake Norman News)(3-14-2014)
The Great Gonzo is grand marshal for the Auto Club 400: Already a daredevil in his own right, the Great Gonzo will spend Sunday, March 23 among his peers in NASCAR, just two days after his new movie, “Muppets Most Wanted,” hits the big screen. The poultry-loving daredevil and plumbing aficionado will give the command “Drivers, Start Your Engines” to NASCAR’s own field of 43 daredevils as Grand Marshal for the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway. “Going around in circles as fast as possible is how I got my start,” said Gonzo, who counts NASCAR racing among his favorite sports. “So it’s a real honor to be named Grand Marshal of this year’s Auto Club 400! For me, it’s right up there with sword-juggling, bog-snorkeling and competitive dentistry.” Gonzo stars in the upcoming Disney movie “Muppets Most Wanted,” which takes the entire Muppets gang on a global tour, selling out grand theaters in some of Europe’s most exciting destinations, including Berlin, Madrid, Dublin and London. But mayhem follows the Muppets overseas, as they find themselves unwittingly entangled in an international crime caper headed by Constantine-the World’s Number One Criminal and a dead ringer for Kermit the Frog-and his dastardly sidekick Dominic, aka Number Two, portrayed by Ricky Gervais.(Auto Club Speedway)(3-14-2014)
Chicagoland Tickets on sale: Tickets for the 2014 NASCAR race weekends at Chicagoland Speedway are on sale. To purchase tickets, call 888-629-RACE (7223) or visit www.ChicagolandSpeedway.com. The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup will return for a fourth consecutive year in 2014, Sept. 12-14, with a triple-header weekend of action. The Speedway will also welcome back Saturday night racing with the NASCAR Nationwide Series on Saturday, July 19. Tickets for the first race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup start at just $50 with advanced pricing and flexible payment plans are available to all fans. Chicagoland Speedway fans will not only have access to the best prices of the year beginning on February 23rd, but customers will also have the opportunity to explore the greater variety of pricing options now available. Those options will be available with ticket renewal information, which will be mailed out to 2013 customers by early January. Advanced pricing ends on April 1st, so be sure to check your mailboxes and take advantage of the lowest prices of the season. Additional details around the two summer weekends of NASCAR racing at Chicagoland Speedway in 2014 will be announced in the coming weeks and months.(Chicagoland Speedway)(3-14-2014)

News from March 13, 2014
Kenseth lines up standby drivers if needed: #20-Matt Kenseth’s wife, Katie, is due to give birth in about two weeks. It will be the couple’s third girl. After racing at Bristol this weekend, NASCAR will run at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. Kenseth said that if has to leave the track, Sam Hornish Jr., would drive his Nationwide car, and Jeff Burton would be available to drive his Cup car. Hornish is set to drive seven Nationwide races that Kyle Busch won’t run for Joe Gibbs Racing. Burton is running select Cup races for fellow Toyota team Michael Waltrip Racing. Also, Paul Menard’s wife, Jennifer, was due to give birth to the couple’s first child earlier this week but had not as of Wednesday afternoon.(Motor Racing Network)(3-13-2014)
Grillin’ Beans on the #47: This weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway, the #47 JTG Daugherty Chevy will have a different look with a Bush’s Grillin’ Beans black paint scheme. “We have Bush’s Grillin’ Beans front and center on our #47 Chevy SS at Bristol Motor Speedway,” AJ Allmendinger said. “I like nothing better than to get together with family and friends, hang out and grill out. We grill some chicken and I have the hookup to bring some Bush’s Grillin’ Beans.”(JTG Daugherty Racing), see an image of the car on the #47 team paint schemes page.(3-13-2014)
Patrick helping Go Daddy customers “get found”: While #10-Danica Patrick and the GoDaddy team have “found” speed, they’ll also be helping GoDaddy customers “get found” online through the next four races. A special GoDaddy/Get Found logo will appear on the green Chevy at upcoming races at Bristol, Auto Club Speedway, Martinsville Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. GoDaddy, the world’s largest technology provider dedicated to small businesses, expanded its product portfolio in late January with the introduction of Get Found, which helps small businesses attract new customers via popular destinations including Google, Yahoo, Facebook and Yelp. Using GoDaddy Get Found, businesses can publish critical information like location, phone number, hours of operation, as well as service lists, menus and photos on search engines, social media, top local sites and mobile apps. Additionally, having updated and accurate information across various popular websites increases a customer’s visibility in search engine results. Get Found is an evolution of the Locu product, which GoDaddy acquired in August 2013.(Stewart Haas Racing / TrueSpeed Communications)(3-13-2014)
Newman’s Rescue Ranch featured on “Tanked”: Animal Planet’s “Tanked” stars Wayde King and Brett Raymer head to Statesville, N.C., to help transform Richard Childress Racing driver Ryan Newman’s and his wife Krissie’s animal rescue facility, Rescue Ranch. In this episode, the dynamic duo brings to life a functional aquatic desk for the entrance of the ranch. For this pet-passionate couple, King and Raymer customize a multi-piece desk freshwater tank on site with handmade animal sculptures and coral alongside an array of exotic fish. To pinpoint the theme, the duo recreates a variety of animals that can be found at the center including a Bulldog, Golden Labrador, rabbits, turtles and snakes, as well as a life-like NASCAR helmet taking center stage that incorporates the sporty side of Newman.The Newman’s great love for animals was the key reason Rescue Ranch, a non-profit animal welfare organization, was opened. Formed in January 2012, this one-of-a-kind facility strives to end pet overpopulation and associated suffering with protection and humane care. Tune in on Friday, March 14, at 10:00pm/et for the reveal of the NASCAR star’s Rescue Ranch tank.(Discovery)(3-13-2014)
Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Kenseth, Ragan running in Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown:NASCAR stars #18-Kyle Busch and #20-Matt Kenseth are joining host Denny Hamlin as headliners for the celebrity-laden Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown scheduled for South Boston Speedway on April 24. The three teammates at Joe Gibbs Racing have a combined 82 NASCAR Sprint Cup series wins among them. Defending champion Busch is the only three-time winner of the Short Track Showdown. Fellow NASCAR Sprint Cup driver David Ragan also confirmed his participation in the charity event. Like Hamlin, another group of drivers is returning to South Boston Speedway, the track referred to as SoBo that served as a major springboard for their entry into NASCAR. Elliott Sadler, Hermie Sadler, Timothy Peters, Jeb Burton and Drew Herring are scheduled to race the 200-lap Short Track Showdown along with many of the top Late Model racers in the region. Elliott Sadler, Peters and Herring each won track championships at South Boston. Scheduled as a weekday prelude for the weekend NASCAR races at Richmond International Speedway, the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown raises awareness and funding for the Denny Hamlin Foundation, which supports and funds Cystic Fibrosis research and new therapies in the region. Advance tickets to the Short Track Showdown are available by calling the track ticket hotline at 1-877-440-1540. General admission is $20 Advance/$25 Race Day for Adult; $10 Advance/$15 Race Day for Youth (ages 12-17); and Free for Children ages 11 and under (with an Adult ticket purchase). Season passes are not honored for this special event.(Denny Hamlin Foundation)(3-13-2014)
Bristol Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will run the same tire codes at Bristol this week . . . this is the first time NASCAR teams have run this tire combination at Bristol, though they did run this left-side tire code (D-4564) at New Hampshire last season . . . this tire set-up came out of a Goodyear test at Bristol last September 17 . . . teams participating in that test were the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (Paul Menard) from the Sprint Cup Series and the No. 6 Roush Fenway Ford, No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet and No. 54 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota from the Nationwide Series . . . compared to what was run at Bristol last year, this left-side tire features both compound and construction changes to give the cars more grip, while this right-side tire features just a slight compound change . . . Bristol is unique among NASCAR ovals one mile or less in length . . . normally, inner liners are not run on short tracks, though teams will run them in their right-side tires only at Bristol . . . 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 Bristol Race Info page – Goodyear section.(3-13-2014)
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 Las Vegas Motor Speedway on the Bristol Race Info page – Chassis selection area.
Kenseth lines up standby drivers if needed: #20-Matt Kenseth’s wife, Katie, is due to give birth in about two weeks. It will be the couple’s third girl. After racing at Bristol this weekend, NASCAR will run at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. Kenseth said that if has to leave the track, Sam Hornish Jr., would drive his Nationwide car, and Jeff Burton would be available to drive his Cup car. Hornish is set to drive seven Nationwide races that Kyle Busch won’t run for Joe Gibbs Racing. Burton is running select Cup races for fellow Toyota team Michael Waltrip Racing. Also, Paul Menard’s wife, Jennifer, was due to give birth to the couple’s first child earlier this week but had not as of Wednesday afternoon.(Motor Racing Network)(3-13-2014)
FedEx, Autism Speaks and Dover again join forces for “FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks”:For the fourth straight year, FedEx Corp. , Autism Speaks and Dover International Speedway have joined forces, as FedEx will return as the title sponsor of the “FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, June 1, 2014. The announcement of the renewed sponsorship is coupled with the news that for the third straight year, the Autism Speaks Day at the Races event will be part of the June 1 race. This unique event provides those on the autism spectrum, and their families, with the opportunity to attend a NASCAR race in a comfortable environment. The special ticket package provides seating in a sensory friendly area within the air-conditioned grandstands at the Monster Mile, which offers great views of the race along the backstretch of the track; pre-race appearances by NASCAR drivers and personalities; brief presentations by educational speakers in the morning; food and drink; and much more. Tickets for the Autism Speaks Day at the Races cost $88 for adults and $20 for children ages 14 and younger. The $88 price point is symbolic – an estimated one in 88 children in the U.S. is on the autism spectrum, a 78 percent increase in six years that is only partly explained by improved diagnosis. A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit Autism Speaks.(Dover Speedway)(3-13-2014)
Pocono honored for economic impact to Pennsylvania: Pocono Raceway was honored at a ceremony in the Rotunda of the State Capital Building in Harrisburg, PA for the economic impact that the Raceway provided the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 2013. Governor Tom Corbett and leaders of the State Senate and House of Representatives acknowledged the $257,500,000 economic stimulus resulting from the events held at the Raceway last year. The economic impact analysis, prepared by East Stroudsburg University, shows exactly what Pocono Raceway means to tourism in the Pennsylvania. Over 55% of the Raceway fans come from out of state- some coming as far as out of country- and visit for 3-5 days. They fill hotels rooms, camp, fish, shop, gamble, dine and enjoy everything northeast Pennsylvania has to offer. The Raceway generated over $15M in state tax revenue and put another $15M into the local economy. This is in addition to generating over $1M in hotel tax, revenue that is earmarked to support tourism promotion and advertising statewide by the DCED and in Northeast Pennsylvania by the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau.(Pocono Raceway)(3-13-2014)
Auto Club Speedway names official craft beer: Hangar 24 Craft Brewery, founded on a true passion for good beer, the absolute love of flying and the pure enjoyment of being around great friends, will serve as “The Official Craft Beer” of Auto Club Speedway for 2014. Located in nearby Redlands, Hangar 24 products as well as other craft beers, will be served on race day in the FanZone and throughout the facility during Auto Club 400 Race Weekend, March 21-23. Hangar 24 will also be available in the VONS Infield Store. Hangar 24 Craft Brewery was founded in 2008 across from the Redlands, California airport. Widely known for their flagship beer, Orange Wheat, the brewery takes its name from the hangar in which Founder and Master Brewer Ben Cook and his fellow pilots would meet up with family and friends for a day of flying.(Auto Club Speedway)(3-13-2014)

News from March 12, 2014
NASCAR involved in new online network UPDATE: A new online-only network that will focus on some of NASCAR’s lower-tier series, as well as similar series in sports car and motorcycle racing, will make its debut this Wednesday, March 12. FANSCHOICE.TV, whose motto is “My Series, My Track, My Choice,” is partly owned by NASCAR and will feature live streaming of racing on the K&N Pro Series and Modifieds from across the country, as well as AMA Pro motorcycle racing and various sports car series. Right now, programming on the new website will be free for viewers, supported by advertising and sponsorship dollars. It will only be available online, although one has to wonder if it takes off the way its backers hope, whether it will eventually wind up on TV and be part of a subscription package.(NBC Sports)(3-9-2014)
UPDATE: Motorcycle races at Daytona. Sports cars at Watkins Glen. Modifieds at Langley. For race fans, if they couldn’t make it to the track and the event didn’t have television coverage, there hasn’t been an option to watch all the action. Until now. AMA Pro Racing, IMSA and NASCAR announced the launch of FansChoice.tv, a ground-breaking collaborative digital platform that will live stream various races not covered by broadcast television, giving fans new opportunities to follow their favorite series. It also will enhance fans viewing experience at the track with the ability to watch multiple cameras on their tablet or mobile device, and access archived broadcasts on demand. FansChoice.tv will be the official home for AMA Pro Road Racing and AMA Pro Flat Track events in 2014. The site also will provide coverage of selected IMSA and NASCAR’s touring and weekly series events.
Several NASCAR Whelen All-American Series tracks already have committed to live streaming their weekly events, including Langley Speedway in Hampton, Va., Lake County Speedway in Painesville, Ohio, and Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash. Fans will have the ability to select from multiple cameras positioned around the tracks during these events. FansChoice.tv will also carry select NASCAR K&N Pro Series, NASCAR Whelen and Whelen Southern Modified Tour races, as well as off-track events such as the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Awards and NASCAR Night of Champions Touring Series Awards in December. More tracks and events are expected to be announced at a later date.(NASCAR)(3-12-2014)
New look, special guest for #34 team: Dockside Logistics returns for 2014 this weekend at Bristol on the #34 Ford with a new black and red paint scheme. Driver David Ragan says, “We’ll have some celebrity help bringing us some luck this week. For those who watch ‘Shipping Wars’ on A&E, we’ve got Jennifer Brennan joining us for the race on Sunday. She’s a big race fan and she’s super excited to come to one of the coolest tracks on the schedule.”(Front Row Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #34 team paint schemes page.(3-12-2014)
Kenseth puts home for sale: #20-Matt Kenseth has listed his 7,259-square-foot Mooresville, North Carolina, mansion for $2,799,000, reports the Realtor. Built in 2006, the custom home sits on a three-quarter-acre lot and is located just 45 minutes away from the Charlotte Motor Speedway. It offers an ‘Old World’ elegance coupled with modern amenities. The two-story European-style mansion of the 2003 Sprint Cup champion includes five bedrooms, five full and three half bathrooms and a large living room, in addition to a gourmet kitchen. The kitchen boasts custom cabinetry and sophisticated appliances. The kitchen leads to a spacious and an open breakfast area. The lower level of the building features two master suites, a media room with a bar, and an exercise room. According to the property listing, the exteriors of this mansion-estate gives a more relaxed feeling and comes with a large swimming pool, a spa, a wood-burning fireplace, a private pier, and a second-floor terrace that offers an excellent view of Lake Norman. The property comes with two garages – a one-car garage and a three-car garage. It also includes a fenced yard, a ground gas grill, and central heating and cooling systems.(Realty Today)(3-12-2014)
McDowell attempting 150th race: Michael McDowell, who will run the #95 Leavine Family Racing Ford this weekend at Bristol, will attempt to make his 150th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start.(NASCAR)(3-12-2014)
Top 10 Driver Ratings at Bristol:
#18-Kyle Busch 101.8
#20-Matt Kenseth 101.8
#24-Jeff Gordon 101.2
#2-Brad Keselowski 94.9
#16-Greg Biffle 94.8
#78-Kurt Busch 92.0
#48-Jimmie Johnson 91.4
#11-Denny Hamlin 90.3
#29-Kevin Harvick 89.8
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. 89.3
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2013 races(18 total) among drivers at Bristol Motor Speedway.
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)(3-12-2014)
Sad News – Jackie Gaughan: Las Vegas casino pioneer Jackie Gaughan, grandfather of NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Brendan Gaughan, passed away Wednesday at age 93. Mr. Gaughan lived out his final years in an apartment high atop the El Cortez Hotel and Casino – even after selling the property to new owners – and was such an icon on the Las Vegas Strip that the new owners allowed him to remain in the apartment with 24-hour care. At one time, he controlled an estimated 25 percent of the city’s downtown gaming revenue, and owned all or part of such legendary casinos as the Golden Nugget, Showboat, Gold Spike, Union Plaza, Boulder Club, Las Vegas Club, Western and El Cortez. His passing drew tributes from giants of the industry and state government. (Godfather Motorsports)(3-12-2014)
AND: Funeral services are pending. In lieu of flowers, the Gaughan family asks that donations be made to Bishop Gorman High School. The El Cortez said it would hold a celebration of Gaughan’s life on Tuesday at 2 p.m. in The Parlour Bar with champagne and cake. The event is open to the public. (Las Vegas Review- Journal)(3-12-2014)
Elliott, Keselowski have issues post race in Las Vegas UPDATE: According to the NASCAR Nationwide Series Twitter, the #9 Chevy of Chase Elliott failed post-race inspection at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for being too low in the left front. Elliott finished fifth on Saturday in the Boyd Gaming 300. NASCAR also took the right rear shock from the #22 Ford of race winner Brad Keselowski. Penalties are expected early next week. According to the new 2014 penalty system, the team could lose up to 10 points and/or receive a fine spanning $5,000 to $12,500, along with the potential for a suspension or probation.(3-8-2014)
UPDATE: Three NASCAR Nationwide Series teams have been penalized as a result of rules violations committed at the recently completed event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. During opening day inspection on March 6, the #11 car violated Sections 12-4.3 (P3 penalty) and 20A-2.3A (weight attached in unapproved location) of the 2014 NASCAR rule book. As a result, crew chief Chris Gayle has been fined $10,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. In addition, car chief Todd Brewer has also been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. The #9 car violated Sections 12-4.2 (P2 penalty) and 20A-12.8.1B (car exceeded minimum front height). This violation was discovered during post-race inspection on March 8 and crew chief Greg Ives has been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. The #22 car violated Sections 12-4.2 (P2 penalty) and 20A-12.3S (shock absorber exceeded maximum gas pressure). The violation was discovered during post-race inspection on March 8 and crew chief Jeremy Bullins has been fined $5,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.(NASCAR)(3-12-2014)
Charlie’s Soap on board with Cope in Bristol: Derrike Cope is happy to announce that Charlie’s Soap is sponsoring the #70 NNS team in Bristol this weekend. Originally, a three race deal, Cope is trying to keep the relationship on-going with the family-owned detergent business from Mayodan, NC. “Thus far, the fan reaction to the Charlie’s Soap brand has been very rewarding to our newest partners and we are trying our very best to introduce a great biodegradable detergent to the millions of race fans and race enthusiasts across the USA and Canada,” added Cope.(Derrike Cope)(3-12-2014)
Reaume debut delayed: 23 year-old Redlands, CA native Josh Reaume will have to wait just a little bit longer for his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut. In a mutual decision, Reaume has moved out of the #23 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet for this Saturday’s event at Bristol Motor Speedway with former series Rookie of the Year Timmy Hill taking the controls. The move comes after a rough start in 2014 with the team falling out of the top 30 in owner’s points, a critical threshold which guarantees a starting position. Reaume’s debut in the NASCAR Nationwide Series will be postponed to April 25 at Richmond International Raceway as part of a multi-race program with Rick Ware Racing.(RWR)(3-12-2014)
Team Fastrax Skydiving Team to perform at Auto Club Speedway: Team Fastrax, America’s Skydiving Team, will perform its renowned patriotic aerial flag display above Auto Club Speedway on March 23, prior to the Auto Club 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Southern California’s premier motorsports facility. Made up of military veterans from the Rangers, Special Forces and Airborne units, Team Fastrax has totaled over 300,000 skydives including several NASCAR events as well as displays over Ground Zero in New York City, Independence Hall in Philadelphia and the Pentagon in Washington, DC. Formed in 2002, they have also performed internationally in Moscow, Russia and Normandy, France.(ACS)(3-12-2014)

News from March 11, 2014
NASCAR to allow cooldown units during qualifying: NASCAR notified its teams this afternoon that effective immediately the following modifications apply to all elements of its national series qualifying including the breaks:
• One cool down unit connected through either the left side or right side hood flap/cowl flap is allowed to cool the engine
• The hood must continue to remain closed
• Plugging in the generator will not be allowed
• Two crew members will be allowed over the wall to support the car and driver
• No cool down laps will be permitted
NASCAR instituted a new group qualifying format for its three national series in January and has continued to evaluate the process through the first three races of the season. The new format has been well-received by fans, competitors, race tracks and other key stakeholders. NASCAR believes that the modifications announced today should help make the qualifying even better and more compelling.
“The qualifying is new to all of us and as we have said over the past several weeks, we are looking at it from all aspects,” said Robin Pemberton, vice president of competition and racing development. “Following discussions, both internally and with others in the garage area, we moved quickly to make a few revisions that will be effective starting with our two national series events at Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend. We believe this will only enhance and improve what has demonstrated to be an exciting form of qualifying for our fans, competitors and others involved with the sport. Moving forward we will continue to look at it and address anything else that we may need to as the season unfolds.”(NASCAR)(3-11-2014)
Images: added several images from Las Vegas, including #3 Cheerios, #9 DeWalt/Stanley, #10 Aspen Dental, #11 Fed Ex Ground, #16 Red Cross, #17 Zest, #20 Dollar General, #23 Dr Pepper,#27 Quaker State, #30 Swan Energy, #32 Ask More, Get More, #33 Circle Sport, #34 Dockside Logistics, #36 Tommy Baldwin Racing, #43 Farmland, #47 Kingsford, #66 Toyota, #88 Mt Dew Kickstart.(3-11-2014)
Las Vegas overnight TV ratings: The 2014 Sprint Cup season has not gotten off to a great start on FOX. Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Kobalt Tools 400 from Las Vegas drew a 4.1 overnight rating on FOX, down 11% from last year (4.6), down 23% from 2012 (5.3), and tied with 2010 as the lowest overnight ever for the race since it moved to FOX in 2001. Overnights have declined for the first three Sprint Cup telecasts this season. The numbers have not just declined, but in fact have hit historic lows. Final ratings for the Daytona 500 were the lowest ever, and the final rating for Phoenix was the lowest for the second race of the season since FOX acquired rights. Keep in mind that Sunday’s final rating could still end up surpassing the FOX low of 4.4 set in 2010. Despite the lower numbers, the race earned the highest overnight of the weekend for a sporting event on broadcast.(Sports Media Watch via Sports Business Daily)(3-11-2014)
Sony trying to shut down “Talladega Nights” themed restaurant: According to Sony Pictures, there’s a sports-themed restaurant in Fort Worth, Texas where the waitresses are known as “Smokin’ Hotties” and wear midriff- and cleavage-bearing crop tops and short skirts. The name of this establishment is “Ricky Bobby Sports Saloon & Restaurant,” which is of concern to the studio behind the 2006 Will Ferrell comedy Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. On Thursday, Sony filed a trademark lawsuit in Texas federal court. The lawsuit cites a July 29, 2013 article in the Dallas Observer as evidence that reps for the saloon company used “Ricky Bobby” as a direct reference to the film. One official is cited by the newspaper as saying that proper names can’t be trademarked — which Sony says is an “erroneous belief.” But the studio’s complaint is mostly built upon making the case that Rick’s Cabaret is misleading consumers about the source of origin for the Ricky Bobby Sports Saloon. According to the lawsuit, Sony wasn’t asked permission by Rick’s Cabaret. Sony has licensed Talladega rights to others. For example, Sony says it authorized NASCAR driver Kurt Busch to use an “image and likeness” of Ricky Bobby’s “Me” car in 2012 and then a Wonder Bread-sponsored car the following year. Sony demands an injunction, the restaurant’s profits, forfeiture of web domain names and unspecified punitive and exemplary damages.(Hollywood Reporter)(3-11-2014)
Bristol News & Notes:
• Groundbreaking for Bristol International Speedway, as Bristol Motor Speedway was originally known, took place in 1960. The track was an exact half-mile in length.
• First NASCAR Sprint Cup race was July 30, 1961; Jack Smith won the event (with relief from Johnny Allen).
• In the fall of 1969, the track was reshaped and re-measured to .533-miles.
• The name changed to Bristol International Raceway in 1978.
• The first night race was held in the fall of 1978.
• The surface was changed from asphalt to concrete in 1992.
• The name changed to Bristol Motor Speedway in May 1996.
• The track was resurfaced between races in 2007, and the turns were ground down in 2012 to eliminate part of the progressive banking.
• There have been 106 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Bristol Motor Speedway since the first race in 1961, two races each season.
• All races have been scheduled for 500 laps, except for both races in 1976 and the second in ’77, which were 400 laps.
• 423 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol; 295 in more than one.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the series in starts at Bristol with 60. Terry Labonte leads all active drivers with 58 starts.
• Fred Lorenzen won the inaugural Coors Light Pole with a speed of 79.225 mph.
• 47 different drivers have poles at Bristol, led by Mark Martin and Cale Yarborough with nine each. Martin swept both poles at Bristol in 2009.
• The race winner has started from the pole 22 times, the most productive starting position. The last driver to win from the pole was Carl Edwards, in the night race of 2008.
• Four drivers have won from the pole position multiple times: Bobby Allison (1972 twice), Cale Yarborough (1973, 1977 twice, 1980), Darrell Waltrip (1981 twice, 1982) and Rusty Wallace (1991, 1993, 1999, 2000).
• 10 different drivers have posted consecutive poles at Bristol Motor Speedway; Mark Martin is the only of the 10 to win four consecutive poles at Bristol: Fireball Roberts (swept 1962), Fred Lorenzen (swept 1963), Richard Petty (1967-’68), Bobby Allison (swept 1972), Cale Yarborough (swept 1973; swept 1977; swept 1980), Darrell Waltrip (swept 1981), Geoff Bodine (swept 1986), Mark Martin (swept 1995-1996- all four races; and swept 2009); Rusty Wallace (swept 1998) and Jeff Gordon (swept 2002).
• Jeff Gordon leads (active drivers) the series in average starting position at Bristol with a 7.476.
• 41 different drivers have won at Bristol, led by Darrell Waltrip (12). Kurt Busch, Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch each have five wins, the most among active drivers.
• Junior Johnson leads the series in car owner wins at Bristol with 16; Rick Hendrick, Roger Penske and Jack Roush are tied among active car owners for the most wins at Bristol with 10 each.
• 12 drivers have won consecutive races at Bristol led by Darrell Waltrip with seven consecutive victories from 1981-1984. The other 11 are Fred Lorenzen (1963-1964 sweep), David Pearson (1968 sweep), Bobby Allison (1972 sweep), Cale Yarborough did it twice (1974 sweep and four straight from 1976-1977), Richard Petty (1975 sweep), Dale Earnhardt also did it twice (1985 sweep and 1987 sweep), Alan Kulwicki (1992 sweep), Rusty Wallace (2000 sweep), Kurt Busch (2003 sweep and 2004 spring race), Kyle Busch (2009 sweep), and Brad Keselowski (2011 fall-2012 spring).
• Eight different manufacturers have won in the NSCS at Bristol; led by Chevrolet with 43 victories; followed by Ford with 33. Toyota is ranked fifth among Manufacturers with six wins at Bristol.
• 85 of the 106 (80.1%) races have been won from a top-10 starting position; including 53 from the first four spots.
• 35 of the 106 (33.0%) races at Bristol have been won from the front row: Pole position (22 wins); second-place (13 wins).
• Five of the 106 (4.7%) races have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
• The deepest in the field that a race winner has started was 38th, by Elliott Sadler; in 2001.
• Richard Petty leads the series in runner-up finishes at Bristol with 10; Kevin Harvick and Terry Labonte lead all active drivers with four each.
• Darrell Waltrip and Richard Petty lead the series in top-five finishes at Bristol with 26 each. Terry Labonte leads the series among active drivers with 19 followed by Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin (16).
• Richard Petty has 37 top-10 finishes, more than any other driver. Terry Labonte leads the series among active drivers in top-10 finishes with 33; followed by Jeff Gordon with 23.
• Kyle Busch leads the series (active drivers) in average finish at Bristol with a 9.889.
• Seven of the last nine races have ended with a Margin of Victory of less than a second at BMS.
• There has been three green-white-checkered finishes at Bristol – all three were the spring race: 2007 (500/504); 2008 (500/506); 2009 (500/503).
• Two of the 106 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Bristol Motor Speedway have been shortened due to weather conditions; the most recent was the event on 3/31/1996.
• Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Bristol Motor Speedway three times; most recently August 25, 2012.
• Kurt Busch posted his first series career win at Bristol (2002), and Joey Logano won his first pole at Bristol (2010).
• All 15 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers who have won at Bristol Motor Speedway participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane – among the active winners Kurt Busch won in the fewest starts (third) at Bristol.
• Jeff Burton competed at Bristol Motor Speedway 28 times before winning (2008 spring race); the longest span of any the 15 active winners. Burton is the only active driver to have made 20 or more attempts before his first win at BMS. Kasey Kahne, who won in the spring of 2012 made 18 previous starts before his win at BMS.
• Bobby Labonte leads the series (active drivers) with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Bristol without visiting Victory Lane with 42.
• Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Bristol was the 3/25/2007 race won by Kyle Busch with a MOV of 0.064 second.(NASCAR)(3-11-2014)
Sad News – Joyce Hutcherson: Mrs. Joyce Ann Martin Hutcherson, 66, of Statesville, NC died Sunday March 9, 2014 at her residence. Joyce was the wife of Ron Hutcherson. Former owner of Hutcherson-Pagan Enterprises. Born April 10, 1947 in Keokuk, Iowa she was a daughter of the late Leo Richard Martin and Ruth Evelyn Thews Martin. Mrs. Hutcherson was a retired realtor with Prudential Realty and co-owner of Benchwarmers Sports Complex in Mooresville, NC. She had a tremendous love for animals, loved spending time in their mountain home and traveling around the country in their motor coach. Funeral services will be conducted 1:00 p.m. Thursday, March 13, 2014 in the Chapel of Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home. The family will receive friends 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday evening at the Funeral Home. Graveside services will be conducted 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 15, 2014 at Comers Rock Cemetery in Elk Creek Virginia. She leaves to cherish her memory her husband, Ronald Dean Hutcherson; son, Rick Hutcherson of Mooresville; daughter, Roni Hutcherson of Denver, NC; grandsons, Josh, Travis, Austin; brothers, Leo Richard Martin Jr and James Dale Martin of Eldon, Missouri; sister, Rose Miller of Mooresville, NC and several nieces and nephews. Memorial Contributions may be made to Iredell County Hospice, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625 or Levine & Dickson Hospice House, 11900 Vanstory Drive, Huntersville, NC 28078. Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Huntersville NC is assisting the family. Friends may offer condolences to the family at www.raymerfh.com.(3-11-2014)
NASCAR to allow cooldown units during qualifying: NASCAR notified its teams this afternoon that effective immediately the following modifications apply to all elements of its national series qualifying including the breaks:
– One cool down unit connected through either the left side or right side hood flap/cowl flap is allowed to cool the engine
– The hood must continue to remain closed
– Plugging in the generator will not be allowed
– Two crew members will be allowed over the wall to support the car and driver
– No cool down laps will be permitted
NASCAR instituted a new group qualifying format for its three national series in January and has continued to evaluate the process through the first three races of the season. The new format has been well-received by fans, competitors, race tracks and other key stakeholders. NASCAR believes that the modifications announced today should help make the qualifying even better and more compelling.
“The qualifying is new to all of us and as we have said over the past several weeks, we are looking at it from all aspects,” said Robin Pemberton, vice president of competition and racing development. “Following discussions, both internally and with others in the garage area, we moved quickly to make a few revisions that will be effective starting with our two national series events at Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend. We believe this will only enhance and improve what has demonstrated to be an exciting form of qualifying for our fans, competitors and others involved with the sport. Moving forward we will continue to look at it and address anything else that we may need to as the season unfolds.”(NASCAR)(3-11-2014)
Fresh from Florida to sponsor Armstrong for three races: Dakoda Armstrong will have a new look this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. Fresh from Florida will make their 2014 debut on the #43 Ford Mustang for their first of three primary races this season. They will also be featured at the Charlotte race in May and the Daytona race in July.(RPM), see an image of the car on the #43 team paint schemes page.(3-11-2014)
Custer set for Martinsville debut: NASCAR K&N Pro Series East regular Cole Custer will attempt to make his first start in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, Mar. 29. He will arrive in Martinsville on a hot streak after winning the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West event at Phoenix International Raceway on Feb. 27. In Phoenix, Custer edged truck series regular Brennan Newberry for his third series victory. Custer, son of Stewart-Hass Racing Executive Vice President Joe Custer, will compete in a total of nine races in the series this season. In addition to both races at Martinsville Speedway, Custer will also compete in events at Dover, Gateway, Iowa, Bristol, Canada, Loudon and Phoenix.(NASCAR)(3-11-2014)
Co-Grand Marshals Announced For Food City 500: While not scheduled to meet in the infield at Bristol Motor Speedway until September 10, 2016, the coaches for two of the nation’s tradition-rich football programs get together at the start/finish line for the March 16 Food City 500. University of Tennessee football coach Butch Jones and Virginia Tech head man Frank Beamer, whose teams meet in the Battle at Bristol in two years, serve as co-Grand Marshals for NASCAR’s Sprint Cup stop in Bristol this week. Beamer served as honorary starter for the 2005 Food City 500 and Jones was in Bristol last spring as grand marshal. Tickets for Sunday’s Food City 500 start at just $70 and weekend packages for all three races are available for as low as $89. Fans may call (855) 580-5525 or visit BristolTix.com to experience this spring’s battle on the high banks of the Last Great Colosseum.(BMS)(3-11-2014)
Billy Ray Cyrus to perform before Auto Club 400: The multi-Grammy nominated, award winning, American singer-songwriter and actor Billy Ray Cyrus will get race day started in country/rock style at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday, March 23 when he performs a pre-race concert beginning at 10:00am on the O’Reilly Auto Parts Fan Zone main stage. Cyrus has sold more than 25 million albums internationally; he has also had three #1 hit singles. Over the course of 12 studio albums since 1992, Cyrus has earned nearly 30 chart singles, including 15 Top 40 hits. Cyrus has also received major music awards including American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards and Country Music Association Awards.(ACS)(3-11-2014)

News from March 10, 2014
Entry List for the Food City 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway is posted, 46 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including: #32-Kvapil, #33-Hill, #35-Reutimann, #44-Yeley, #66-Nemechek. With 46 cars entered, 3 drivers will miss the race. 2014 owners points will be used the rest of the year so this week drivers who must qualify via speed are: #35-Reutimann, #44-Yeley, #77-Blaney.
See the full entry list at my Jayski’s Bristol Entry List
Reutimann in the #35 at Bristol: Front Row Motorsports announced on Twitter Monday morning that David Reutiman will be behind the wheel of the #35 this weekend at Bristol – “We’ll have three Davids to take on Goliath at @BMSupdates. Welcome, David Reutimann, to the #35 MDS Ford for this weekend.”(3-10-2014)
Earnhardt Jr. off to hot start: According to MRN’s Dustin Long, #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr joins Richard Petty (1969, 1974), Cale Yarborough (1977), Dale Jarrett (1996) and Jimmie Johnson (2006) as drivers to start the season with three straight top-two finishes.(3-14-2013)
Commercial breakdown and links related to the 2014 Kobalt Tools 400: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, here is the breakdown for Sunday’s race. Began recording the times at the Invocation of the race at 3:00 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 5:53 PM (all times are EST). Fox was the broadcast team for this event.
Total number of commercials: 109
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 63
Number of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 14
Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast: 354
Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 3 min. 50 sec.
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 3:00 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 5:53 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 173
Minutes of race broadcast: 130
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 43
Minutes of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials (split-screen): 8
Number of missed restarts: 0
Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 1
Total race brdcst time 130 Total comm. brdcst time 43
See past races, links, more info on the 2014 TV Commercials page.(3-10-2014)
Richard Petty Museum completes move back to Level Cross: Richard Petty is going back home to Level Cross, N.C. – the Richard Petty Museum, that is. Ribbon cutting ceremonies and an open house will take place Wednesday evening at the Petty compound in Level Cross. The relocated museum holds much of what NASCAR’s winningest driver has ever won or achieved in his legendary career. It will now be housed in the site of the original Petty Enterprises and Petty Engineering facilities, the same facility where The King developed many of the cars that led him to a record seven Grand National and Winston Cup championships and 200 career wins. The Petty museum has been housed in nearby Randleman, N.C. since 2003. But a few years ago, it was decided to bring it back within the Petty family compound in Level Cross, where it began in 1988 by Richard’s wife Lynda. The team’s performance headquarters, Richard Petty Motorsports, will remain in Concord, N.C.(NBC Sports)(3-10-2014)
Sad News – William Clay Ford Sr.: William Clay Ford Sr., the owner of the Detroit Lions, has died at the age of 88. Ford Motor Co. said in a statement Sunday that Ford died of pneumonia at his home. He was the last surviving grandson of automotive pioneer Henry Ford and owned the Lions since 1964. Away from football, Ford worked for Ford Motor Co. for 57 years and was the chairman of the company’s design committee from 1957 until 1989. He was instrumental in the design decisions of many of Ford Motor’s cars in that span. In 1978, he was named the chairman of the executive committee of Ford. Funeral services will be private, and Ford locations across the United States will lower Ford and American flags to half-staff for 30 days.(ESPN)
NASCAR Statement: “On behalf of the France family and everyone at NASCAR, our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Ford family on the passing of William Clay Ford Sr.,” said Brian France, NASCAR Chairman and CEO. “He was a worthy successor not only to a great company but also a legacy – and he served both exceptionally well. The grandson of Henry Ford will be remembered as a man of style, for both the automobiles he built and the life he led. He was a giant … who forever will be missed.”(NASCAR)(3-10-2014)
Entry List:There are 41 cars on the preliminary entry list for Saturday’s Drive to Stop Diabetes 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway. A few notes:
Kevin Harvick is in the #5;
Ryan Blaney is in the #22;
Josh Reaume is in the #23;
Jason White is in the #24;
Kelly Admiraal 3is in the #29;
Cole Conley is in the #33;
Will Kimmel III is in the #44;
(3-10-2014)
See the complete list on the Bristol entry list page.
Blaney returns to Penske seat in Bristol: Ryan Blaney will return to the seat of the #22 Discount Tire / SKF Ford Mustang for the first time since winning his first-career NASCAR Nationwide Series race last season at Kentucky Speedway. Blaney made three NNS starts last year at Iowa, Kentucky and Homestead (in the #48 Ford); earning top-10 finishes in each start. The Bristol start will be the first of what will be a big year for Blaney in 2014. The third-generation driver will compete in 15 NNS races with Team Penske and will also make his debut in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS), running at least two events with the first coming at Kansas Speedway in May all in addition to his full NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule with Brad Keselowski Racing.(Team Penske)(3-10-2014)
Admiraal gets Swan Rentals backing in debut with RAB: NASCAR K&N West standout Kelly Admiraal will make his first start with RAB Racing for 2014 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday, March 15th driving the #29 Swan Rentals Toyota Camry. 18 year-old Admiraal, a native of Edmonton, Alberta Canada will make just his second NASCAR Nationwide Series start, the first coming at Phoenix International Raceway in November of 2013. Admiraal plans to compete in multiple races in the #29 Swan Rentals Toyota Camry for RAB Racing throughout the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series season. Swan Rentals is a premier provider of equipment rental solutions to the Energy and Commercial Construction Industries in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. They supply rental equipment such as matting, tank farms, oilfield equipment, construction and rig mats. Admiraal, who most recently competed in the K&N West race at Phoenix International Raceway, was running in the third position with just a small handful of laps remaining until a flat right-front tire relegated the Canadian native to a 19th place finish. In just seven starts in the NASCAR K&N West Series, Admiraal has two top-ten finishes, coming at Phoenix and Sonoma in 2013.(RAB)(3-10-2014)
Okuma to sponsor Conley for Bristol, Dalington: An Okuma paint scheme car will run on the Richard Childress Racing #33 entry in two NASCAR Nationwide Series races in the spring of 2014. They are the Drive to Stop Diabetes 300 on March 15 at Bristol Motor Speedway, and the VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 on April 11 at Darlington Raceway. The RCR #33 Chevy Camaro will be driven by Cale Conley, who is making his Nationwide Series debut at Bristol following a full-time ride in the 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East where he finished with four top-fives, five top-10s and one pole award. The new paint scheme car celebrates a longstanding, productive partnership between Okuma and RCR. Okuma CNC machines are used for precision machining of complex race car parts which are produced at the RCR/Okuma Technology Center.(RCR)(3-10-2014)
Black joins SS for six races: SS Green Light Racing is pleased to announce that Florida late model standout Ray Black Jr. has joined the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. Black will make a minimum of six starts for the veteran team beginning with the Kroger 250 at the Martinsville Speedway on March 29th. Having enjoyed racing on video games, Ray decided to give the real thing a try at age 14 in the Florida Mini Cup Racing Association. After a couple seasons he progressed through the asphalt ranks running in the Advance Auto Parts Pro Truck series and various late model series throughout the Southeastern United States over the last six years. Black will continue to run his Team Scuba super late model through 2014 when not competing in the SS Green Light Racing Silverado in the NCWTS. Black is a life-long scuba diver and his 2014 NCWTS entries will run with support from a variety of diving related entities including ScubaLife, the CDA Technical Institute and the National Academy of Scuba Educators.(SS Green Light Racing)(3-10-2014)
Crawford now working as crew chief: Team Stange Racing owners John and Ashley Stange have announced they have hired Rick Crawford as crew chief for Team Stange for the 2014. Effective immediately, Crawford will be taking on duties of crew chief for Team Stange and their driver Maryeve Dufault in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. Crawford, a veteran of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series began his racing career as a short-track racer in the southeastern United States. As a Mobile, Alabama native, he accumulated several championships at local area tracks including Five Flags Speedway and Mobile International Speedway and collecting sixty-one-top 10’s, and five victories in the Slim Jim All Pro Series. In 1997, Crawford made the move to the Craftsman Truck Series now known as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series racking up five wins, six poles, seventy five-top 5’s and one hundred sixty-top 10’s and currently holds the record for the most starts (336) in the series.(Team Strange)(3-10-2014)
NHMS, Toyota Renew Partnership: If there’s a company that knows how to “win on Sunday and sell on Monday” at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, it’s Toyota. Speedway officials announced recently that it has renewed its relationship with the popular manufacturer, retaining Toyota as the speedway’s “official vehicle” through 2016. Toyota has been the speedway’s partner since 2011, and has enjoyed tremendous success both on the track and throughout the Boston region marketplace. Drivers have piloted Toyota Camrys into victory lane in three straight NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races dating back to 2012, while the manufacturer continues to be a leader in American automotive production, maintaining 10 manufacturing plants throughout the United States. Last year, Toyota used the Magic Mile as its host site to launch the new redesigned 2014 Tundra with local New England dealerships. The agreement provides Toyota with the ability to use the track for annual events, new product launches, owner’s events and other activities throughout the year. In addition, Toyota vehicles will be used as the “official” pace vehicle for all speedway events, including the Camping World RV Sales 301 (July 10-13) and OSRAM SYLVANIA 300 (Sept. 18-21) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekends. For more details and ticket information on events at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, or to purchase tickets to the July Camping World RV Sales 301 or September OSRAM SYLVANIA 300 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekends, please stop by our Ticket Office, visit the speedway website at www.nhms.com, or call our Ticket Hotline at (603) 783-4931.(NHMS)(3-10-2014)

News from March 9, 2014
Keselowski wins at Las Vegas: #2-Brad Keselowski won the Kobalt Tools 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for his 1st win of 2014, his 1st at Las Vegas and his 11th career win.
#88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was leading on the final lap, but ran out of gas on the backstretch to finish 2nd. He now has a win and two 2nd place finishes in the first 3 races of the season. They were followed by #27-Menard, polesitter #22-Logano, #99-Edwards, #48-Johnson, #31-Newman, #5-Kahne, #24-Gordon, and #20-Kenseth.
After running near the front through much of the race, Phoenix race winner #4-Harvick lost a front left hub and finished 41st.
The top rookie of the race was #3-Dillon, who finished 16th.
#88-Earnhardt, Jr. continues to hold the points lead, 1 point ahead of #2-Keselowski.
There were 20 lead changes among 10 drivers and there were 4 cautions for 18 yellow flag laps.
The average speed was 154.633mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Unofficial Las Vegas Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Las Vegas Penalty Report (pdf).(3-9-2014)
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Las Vegas Race & Points Report (pdf)
Race Fast Facts – Las Vegas:
Brad Keselowski won the 17th Annual Kobalt 400, his 11th victory in 164 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his first victory and third top-10 finish in 2014.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in six races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (second) posted his eighth top-10 finish in 15 races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It is his third top-10 finish in 2014.
Paul Menard (third) posted his third top-10 finish in eight races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Austin Dillon (16th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the point standings by 1 points over Brad Keselowski.
Brad Keselowski becomes the first driver to sweep both the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the same weekend since Jeff Burton did it in 2000. Burton and Keselowski are the only two drivers to accomplish the feat at LVMS.(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(3-9-2014)
2014 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Championship Points Standings:
[after Las Vegas, race 3 of 36]
1) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [1 win], 133
2) #2-Brad Keselowski [1 win], 132, -1
3) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 117, -16
4) #22-Joey Logano, 116, -17
5) #24-Jeff Gordon, 115, -18
6) #99-Carl Edwards, 105, -28
7) #20-Matt Kenseth, 105, -28
8) #11-Denny Hamlin, 101, -32
9) #31-Ryan Nemwan, 97, -36
10) #18-Kyle Busch, 95, -38
14) #4-Kevin Harvick [1 win], 83, -50
See UNOFFICIAL drivers championship points standings on the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings (pdf).
See the UNOFFICIAL owner points standings on the Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf).
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Las Vegas Race & Points Report (pdf).(3-9-2014)
Drivers say qualifying format creates dangers UPDATE: NASCAR’s new knockout qualifying format has been universally hailed as more exciting and interesting than the old single-car system. But for the second week in a row, drivers also said it’s extremely dangerous. Since the only legal way for teams to cool their cars is to drive slowly around the track, there’s a dramatic speed difference between drivers making qualifying runs and those driving as if they’re in a construction zone.
“Riding around the bottom – we’ve got to do it, it’s the only way to keep the engine cool – but that has got to be the most dangerous thing I’ve ever done in racing,” #55-Brian Vickers said after Friday’s session at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. “(#36-Reed Sorenson) went by me at 170 mph faster than I was going. Had he slipped or hit me, I’d be done. It would be so bad.”
Teams need to cool their engines between attempts at fast laps in order to keep their cars from overheating. Teams are not allowed to cool their cars on pit road in between runs because it would require opening the hood to attach a cooling box. NASCAR does not want teams to make adjustments on pit road during the knockout sessions and since policing every open hood would be difficult, it is not permitted. As a result, the disparity in speed created some dicey situations – several of which occurred again Friday.
#15-Clint Bowyer, who qualified third, said he nearly collided with #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. during one run and called for a change due to the “dangerous” difference in speed. “We’ve got to stop that,” he said. “…I about smoked him. That’s not the guy you want to hit at a 140 mph deficit. (A collision is) going to hurt me and it might hurt Dale Jr., and that would be bad for business.”
#1-Jamie McMurray, who was among the drivers to raise the safety issue at Phoenix, said he texted NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton a few days ago and was told, “Let’s give it a couple weeks and just see what plays out.” [NASCAR spokesman Kerry] Tharp echoed that sentiment in a statement to USA TODAY Sports on Friday. “We’re only two race weekends in with the new qualifying format,” he said. “It’s something new and it’s something that will take time to get used to. We will continue to look at it.”(USA Today)(3-8-2014)
UPDATE: NASCAR officials say they don’t expect to make any changes to the new qualifying process before NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams arrive in Bristol next week for the Food City 500 race weekend. Several drivers expressed concerns about close calls with slower cars idling around on the apron to cool their engines during Friday’s qualifying here at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. “We’re going to sit for a while, field all the questions and see what happens,” Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition and racing development, said Saturday morning. “It’s a very small snapshot of qualifying so far.” Pemberton said officials had spoken with drivers that voiced concerns about the process. “We’re listening,” he said. “We told them it’s too early to tell (if tweaks are necessary). “Other than the cars running around on the bottom and you had one or two complain that it was a close call … again, we’re listening to them, but we want to take a better snapshot of it.”(NASCAR.com)(3-9-2014)
NASCAR involved in new online network: A new online-only network that will focus on some of NASCAR’s lower-tier series, as well as similar series in sports car and motorcycle racing, will make its debut this Wednesday, March 12. FANSCHOICE.TV, whose motto is “My Series, My Track, My Choice,” is partly owned by NASCAR and will feature live streaming of racing on the K&N Pro Series and Modifieds from across the country, as well as AMA Pro motorcycle racing and various sports car series. Right now, programming on the new website will be free for viewers, supported by advertising and sponsorship dollars. It will only be available online, although one has to wonder if it takes off the way its backers hope, whether it will eventually wind up on TV and be part of a subscription package.(NBC Sports)(3-9-2014)
Kwasniewski joins CGR developement program: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates announced today that 18-year-old Dylan Kwasniewski, a full-time driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Champion has been added as the team’s newest development driver. The Las Vegas resident made his NNS debut at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 22, 2014, after winning the pole position and finishing eighth in his first start in one of NASCAR’s top-three national touring series. Kwasniewski also became the youngest NNS pole-sitter in Daytona history, and will be competing full-time in the NNS with Turner Scott Motorsports.(CGR)(3-9-2014)
Third-Annual Dover vs. Pocono Softball Game April 30: Dover International Speedway and Pocono Raceway take their yearly rivalry on to the field for the for the Third Annual Celebrity Softball Game, featuring NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Kasey Kahne and Jamie McMurray. The game will be played on Wednesday, April 30 at the home of the York Revolution in York, Pa. Kahne, driver of the #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy SS, will captain Team Pocono, while McMuray, who pilots the #1 Ganassi Racing Chevy SS, will lead Team Dover. The softball series is currently tied at one game a piece, with Team Pocono coming from behind to win the inaugural game in 2012 and Team Dover evening the score with a walk-off victory last year. Access to the celebrity softball game is free with a ticket to that night’s baseball game. Tickets for the York Revolution game start at just $8, and all children ages 12 and younger that wear their NASCAR gear receive free admission. For tickets, call 717-801-4478 or visit www.YorkRevolution.com. In addition to Kahne and McMurray, the rosters from each team will be made up of members of national and local motorsports media, as well as other local media personalities, and a few other special guests.(Pocono Raceway)(3-9-2014)

News from March 8, 2014
Final practice: for the Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is over after 64 minutes. The top 5, slowest, and notes:
#1-McMurray 186.942
#3-Dillon 186.896
#15-Bowyer 186.851
#5-Kahne 186.793
#4-Harvick 186.458
slowest: #33-Hill 178.968 & #26-Whitt 175.718.
All 43 cars practiced.
Notes: #30-Kligerman blew an engine at the end of the session. He will have to start the race from the rear of the field.
See the speeds, laps run, 10-lap averages on the Las Vegas Practice 3 speeds page.(3-8-2014)
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Kobalt Tools 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway have been made.
Pole sitter #22-Logano chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #2-Keselowski took pit stall 15, with an opening front of it.
#15-Bowyer, who starts 3rd took the 31st pit stall, also with an opening in front of it.
The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #1-McMurray, who starts 7th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(3-8-2014)
First Saturday practice: for the Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is over after 50 scheduled minutes. The top 5, slowest, and notes:
#55-Vickers 188.950
#15-Bowyer 188.350
#2-Keselowski 187.976
#48-Johnson 187.741
#1-McMurray 187.656
slowest: #7-Annett 182.322 & #33-Hill 180.886.
All 43 cars have practiced.
See the speeds, laps run, 10-lap averages on the Las Vegas Practice 2 speeds page.(3-8-2014)
Final Phoenix TV Ratings: Though the numbers were not bad, last week’s NASCAR race from Phoenix was the lowest rated second race of the season in 14 years. Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup “The Profit on CNBC 500” from Phoenix earned a 5.3 final rating and 8.8 million viewers on FOX, down 5% in ratings and 3% in viewership from last year (5.6, 8.8M), and down 5% in both measures from 2012 (5.6, 9.2M). The 5.3 rating is the lowest for the second NASCAR race of the season since 2000, when the Dura-Lube/Kmart 400 from Rockingham had a 3.9 U.S. rating on TNN. The 5.3 is also the lowest rating for the spring Phoenix race since it moved to the second week of the season in 2010. Sunday’s race finished only slightly behind the Daytona 500, which earned a record low 5.6 and 9.3 million viewers. Of course, the Daytona 500 had an unusually poor performance due to factors beyond NASCAR’s control – a lengthy rain delay and competition from the Olympics. Despite the lower numbers, NASCAR on FOX was easily the top sporting event of the weekend on any network. In a distant second was the final round of the PGA Tour Honda Classic on NBC (2.6, 3.8M). (Sports Media Watch)(3-8-2014)
Drivers say qualifying format creates dangers: NASCAR’s new knockout qualifying format has been universally hailed as more exciting and interesting than the old single-car system. But for the second week in a row, drivers also said it’s extremely dangerous. Since the only legal way for teams to cool their cars is to drive slowly around the track, there’s a dramatic speed difference between drivers making qualifying runs and those driving as if they’re in a construction zone.
“Riding around the bottom – we’ve got to do it, it’s the only way to keep the engine cool – but that has got to be the most dangerous thing I’ve ever done in racing,” #55-Brian Vickers said after Friday’s session at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. “(#36-Reed Sorenson) went by me at 170 mph faster than I was going. Had he slipped or hit me, I’d be done. It would be so bad.”
Teams need to cool their engines between attempts at fast laps in order to keep their cars from overheating. Teams are not allowed to cool their cars on pit road in between runs because it would require opening the hood to attach a cooling box. NASCAR does not want teams to make adjustments on pit road during the knockout sessions and since policing every open hood would be difficult, it is not permitted. As a result, the disparity in speed created some dicey situations – several of which occurred again Friday.
#15-Clint Bowyer, who qualified third, said he nearly collided with #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. during one run and called for a change due to the “dangerous” difference in speed. “We’ve got to stop that,” he said. “…I about smoked him. That’s not the guy you want to hit at a 140 mph deficit. (A collision is) going to hurt me and it might hurt Dale Jr., and that would be bad for business.”
#1-Jamie McMurray, who was among the drivers to raise the safety issue at Phoenix, said he texted NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton a few days ago and was told, “Let’s give it a couple weeks and just see what plays out.” [NASCAR spokesman Kerry] Tharp echoed that sentiment in a statement to USA TODAY Sports on Friday. “We’re only two race weekends in with the new qualifying format,” he said. “It’s something new and it’s something that will take time to get used to. We will continue to look at it.”(USA Today)(3-8-2014)
Goodyear named recipient of 2014 “Driving Business Award”: For the past 60 years The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company has been a fixture at the track each race weekend, developing and supplying tires for the most demanding drivers in the world to face the grueling conditions of NASCAR. Goodyear’s success in the sport has not been limited to its efforts on the track. [Friday] in a ceremony hosted at the NASCAR Fuel for Business (NFFB) meeting in Las Vegas, NASCAR Chief Operating Officer Brent Dewar officially presented Goodyear with the “Driving Business Award.” The annual award is bestowed to the Official NASCAR Partner that demonstrates extraordinary leadership and results through its participation in the NFFB Council. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the NFFB Council is a business-to-business platform that brings together an exclusive group of more than 50 Official NASCAR Partners to buy and sell products and services. Since its inception in 2004, the quarterly meetings have facilitated more than 1,000 “speed meeting” sessions where Official NASCAR Partners meet and do business with one another. Goodyear has been a proud member of the NFFB Council since 2008, and currently conducts business with nearly half of the companies in the council. As a result, Goodyear has formed a number of key marketing and promotional relationships with Official NASCAR Partners that help drive retail traffic and sales.(NASCAR)(3-8-2013)
Memorial planned for Dick Trickle: Green Bay has Earl Louis “Curly” Lambeau and Vince Lombardi; Madison has speedskater Eric Heiden. Rudolph [WI] has racing legend Dick Trickle, and now friends are working to build a memorial in Trickle’s former stomping grounds. Trickle, 71, died May 16 in Iron Station, N.C. “Dick deserves it,” said longtime friend and fellow racer Tom Reffner, 73, of Rudolph. “He did the best of anybody from our area by far, and I just think it’s the right thing to do, and I think it’s the right thing to do for Rudolph itself.” Family members are supportive of the efforts. Trickle is survived by Delores Iwanski of Waukesha, Chuck Trickle of Las Vegas, Sue Trickle of Minneapolis, and Duaine Trickle of Plover. Memorial plans include a statue of Trickle with ceramic tiles featuring photos of Trickle and his cars. Aluminum frames will have descriptions of the cars, owners, sponsors and the years Trickle drove the car. The project kickoff date is May 18 at the Rudolph Community Park on the west side of highways 13 and 34 in Rudolph. Reffner didn’t have any cost estimates; the project still in in the planning stages, and no numbers are set in stone, he said.(Wisconsin Rapids Tribune), donations can be made to: Dick Trickle Memorial, 6846 Meadow View Lane, Rudolph, WI 54475. Or money can be sent via PayPal to: [email protected].(3-8-2014)
Kyle Busch would also like to try the double someday: Someday in the future, #18-Kyle Busch would love to emulate his older brother’s attempt to run the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in the same day. He just doesn’t think he should do the double until he’s got a NASCAR series championship in his trophy case. “I’ve thought about doing that for years,” Kyle Busch said Friday at his hometown Las Vegas Motor Speedway. “I’ve always said that I wouldn’t do it until I’ve gotten a Cup championship, which obviously Kurt has (but) I don’t have. I’ve always put it on the back-burner and not really worried about it, but I think it’s good. I hope he has fun with it. Hope he don’t get too wore out.” He understands the challenges faced May 25 by Kurt Busch, who won his series championship in 2004. The double requires about 580 miles of plane travel in between several hours of grueling driving in IndyCar’s biggest event and NASCAR’s longest race.(Associated Press)(3-8-2014)
Keselowski wins Nationwide Race at Las Vegas: #22-Brad Keselowski won the Boyd Gaming 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. #54-Kyle Busch finished second followed by #42-Kyle Larson, #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., #9-Chase Elliott, #20-Matt Kenseth, #2-Brian Scott, #6-Trevor Bayne, #9-Chris Buescher, and #7-Regan Smith.
There were 5 cautions for 27 laps and 11 lead changes among 5 leaders. Complete results are on the Las Vegas race results page (pdf).
Las Vegas Race Fast Facts:
Brad Keselowski(i) won the 18th Annual Boyd Gaming 300, his 28th victory in 208 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
This is his first victory and third top-10 finish in 2014.
This is his first victory and third top-10 finish in eight races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway .
Kyle Busch(i) (second) posted his third top-10 finish in 11 races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway . It is his third top-10 finish in 2014.
Kyle Larson(i) (third) posted his first top-10 finish in two races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway .
Chase Elliott (fifth) was the highest finishing rookie.
Regan Smith leads the point standings by 3 points over Trevor Bayne.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(3-8-2014)
Nationwide Driver standings following Las Vegas:
1) #7-Regan Smith, 117
2) #6-Trevor Bayne, 114, -13
3) #11-Elliott Sadler, 108 -9
5) #3-Ty Dillon, 105 -12
4) #9-Chase Elliott, 103 -14
6) #2-Brian Scott, 97 -20
7) #62-Brendan Gaughan, 94 -23
8) #31-Dylan Kwasniewski, 87 -30
9) #99-James Buescher, 86 -31
10) #19-Mike Bliss, 81 -36
See complete standings on the driver standings page (pdf).(3-8-2014)
Nationwide Owner Standings following Las Vegas are posted (pdf).(3-8-2014)
Dillon on Nationwide pole at Las Vegas: #3-Ty Dillon won the Coors Light Pole for the Boyd Gaming 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a speed of 182.278 mph.#22-Brad Keselowski will start second. The rest of the top 10: #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., #42-Kyle Larson, #2-Brian Scott, #20-Matt Kenseth, #54-Kyle Busch, #31-Dylan Kwasniewski, #9-Chase Elliott, and #7-Regan Smith. Did Not Qualify: none. The starting lineup is posted on the Las Vegas starting lineup page (pdf).(3-8-2014)
Las Vegas Qualifying Notes:
Ty Dillon won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 18th Annual Boyd Gaming 300 with a lap of 29.625 seconds, 182.278 mph.
This is his first pole in 15 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
This is his first pole and second top-10 start in 2014.
This is his first pole in two races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway .
Brad Keselowski(i) (second) posted his second top-10 start of 2014 and his fifth in eight races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway .
Dale Earnhardt Jr (third) posted his second top-10 start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway . It is his first in two races this season.
Ty Dillon (first) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(3-8-2014)
Elliott, Keselowski have issues post race in Las Vegas: According to the NASCAR Nationwide Series Twitter, the #9 Chevy of Chase Elliott failed post-race inspection at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for being too low in the left front. Elliott finished fifth on Saturday in the Boyd Gaming 300. NASCAR also took the right rear shock from the #22 Ford of race winner Brad Keselowski. Penalties are expected early next week. According to the new 2014 penalty system, the team could lose up to 10 points and/or receive a fine spanning $5,000 to $12,500, along with the potential for a suspension or probation. (3-8-2014)
Harr joins anti-bullying campaign: Daryl Harr, driving the #87 Chevy at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this week for JD Motorsports with Gary Keller, has teamed with Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Famer Nick Lowery in a campaign against bullying. Harr becomes the first NASCAR driver to become involved in a major campaign to fight bullying. Lowery leads perhaps the country’s and the NFL’s best program against bullying. A Harvard Masters graduate, he knows all about making a difference. He helped launch the Points of Light Foundation and Americorps for Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton and is the recipient of the NFL’s foremost humanitarian award, the Justice Byron Whizzer White Award. Plasmacar has come on board in the cause to fight against bullying. Plasmacar, which is manufactured by PlaSmart, is an innovative ride-on toy that harnesses the natural forces of inertia, centrifugal force, friction and kid power. It will be featured on the hood of the #87 car at the Las Vegas track.(JDM)(3-8-2014)
Daytona Rising March Update: In addition to hosting successful events during Budweiser Speedweeks 2014 and the 56th annual DAYTONA 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, Daytona International Speedway continued momentum related to the DAYTONA Rising project. The Speedway is now gearing up for DAYTONA 200 Week (March 7-15). Here is a recap of key construction activities since the last update in February:
• Steel installation and steel detailing in east and west ends of the project
• Stair installation in east and west ends of the project
• Footing installation near Injector 1 on the west end of the project; Poured wall for Injector 2
• Poured concrete onto decks near west end of project and continued masonry work on the east end near Injector 4, which is also known as the Toyota Injector.
Other recent project milestones:
• Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) U.S.A., Inc. became the first Founding Partner of DAYTONA Rising. Beginning in 2015, the 11-year agreement will provide Toyota with naming rights for one of five fan injector entrances, a presence in the new “World Center of Racing” zone as well as other sponsorship rights.
• Kingspan Insulated Panels, a market leader in sustainable building product technology based in DeLand Florida, will become the first partner in the “We Built Daytona” platform for DAYTONA Rising. Following construction, the three-year marketing agreement will allow Kingspan to feature its building panel products in-use at the new Speedway, providing them with a real-time showroom.(DIS)(3-8-2014)
Press-Enterprise to sponsor pole day at Auto Club Speedway: The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, Calif. has partnered with Auto Club Speedway as the title sponsor of NASCAR’s Pole Day on March 21. NASCAR’s new “knockout” elimination qualifying will set the pole sitter for the Auto Club 400 scheduled to run Sunday, March 23. In addition to title sponsor of NASCAR’s Pole Day, The Press-Enterprise becomes the “Official News Media Partner”, “Official News Media Partner of Auto Club Dragway” and “Official Printing Partner of Lefty’s Kids Club.” The newspaper will handle all of the printing of all Kids Club and Reading Challenge materials and will also distribute papers to all of the hospitality facilities as well as to all infield RV guests during race weekend.(ACS)(3-8-2014)

News from March 7, 2014
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Kobalt Tools 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway have been made.
Pole sitter #22-Logano chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #2-Keselowski took pit stall 15, with an opening front of it.
#15-Bowyer, who starts 3rd took the 31st pit stall, also with an opening in front of it.
The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #1-McMurray, who starts 7th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(3-8-2014)
Logano wins Las Vegas pole: #22-Joey Logano won the pole for the Kobalt Tools 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with TRACK RECORD speed of 193.278mph for his 1st pole of 2014, 1st pole at Las Vegas and 8th of his career.
#2-Keselowski is on the outside pole, followed by #15-Bowyer, #3-Dillon, #48-Johnson, #17-Stenhouse, Jr., #1-McMurray, #43-Almirola, #55-Vickers, #31-Newman, #99-Edwards, and #78-Truex, Jr. Logano was also fastest during the second session with a speed of 192.905mph
The fastest driver during the first session was #55-Vickers at 192.995mph.
Missing the race were: #35-Koch, #40-Cassill, #77-Blaney, #87-Nemechek, #44-Yeley.
See the full starting lineup, qualifying results & order on the Las Vegas Starting Lineup / Qualifying Page.(3-7-2014)
Qualifying Fast Facts – Las Vegas:
Joey Logano won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 17th Annual Kobalt 400 with a lap of 27.939 seconds, 193.278 mph.
This is his eighth pole in 186 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his first pole and second top-10 start in 2014.
This is his first pole in six races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Brad Keselowski (second) posted his second top-10 start of 2014 and his second in six races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Clint Bowyer (third) posted his third top-10 start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway . It is his first in three races this season.
Austin Dillon (fourth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.(NASCAR Statistics)(3-7-2014)
Realtree and Bad Boy Buggies to sponsor Dillon: Realtree and Bad Boy Buggies are joining the effort to support Austin Dillon’s rookie campaign in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series by announcing primary partnership of the #3 Chevy SS for the March 16 race at Bristol Motor Speedway. The partnership unites Realtree, the world’s leading camouflage designer, marketer, and licensor with Bad Boy Buggies, inventor of the dual-motor, fully electric 4WD vehicle, a machine that combines unparalleled off-road ability with quiet, emissions-free operation- the ideal hunting vehicle. Bad Boy Buggies vehicles are designed and manufactured by E-Z-Go, a Textron Inc. company. The race will mark the first time that Bad Boy Buggies enjoys primary placement on a Sprint Cup Series car driven by Dillon. Realtree and Bad Boy Buggies will both serve as major associate sponsors throughout the 2014 season, joining Dow, Cheerios, American Ethanol and the University of Northwestern Ohio as RCR supporters associated with the #3 Sprint Cup Series entry this season.(RCR), see an image of the car on the #3 team paint schemes page.(3-7-2014)
Qualifying Order for the Kobalt Tools 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is posted. 48 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 #11-Hamlinr.
The final driver scheduled to go out is #9-Ambrose.
Fastest in Friday practice, #99-Edwards, can go out 30th.
Qualifying order is set by a random draw, held about an hour before the first practice.
See the full qualifying order on the Las Vegas Qualifying Page.(3-7-2014)
Changes to Indy 500 qualifying will impact Busch: The new qualifying format for the Indianapolis 500 will include three rounds over two days, with the pole-winner emerging from a “Fast Nine Shootout” on what used to be Bump Day. Qualifying for the Indy 500 this year will begin on May 17 when the fastest 33 cars are locked into the field. All entries will be guaranteed at least one four-lap attempt to qualify, and the fastest nine drivers will move into the shootout. On Sunday, the previous days’ times will be erased and entries 10 through 33 will complete another four-lap qualifying attempt to determine their starting position. The fastest nine drivers from Saturday will then make one four-lap attempt to determine the prestigious pole winner and starting front row.
It makes life a little more difficult for NASCAR driver Kurt Busch, who will attempt to become the first driver in 10 years to run both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Busch will now have to qualify in Indianapolis on Saturday, fly to Charlotte, N.C., for NASCAR’s All-Star race that evening, then return to Indianapolis to determine his starting spot in Sunday’s qualifying session. Under the old format, had Busch locked himself into the field on Saturday, he would not have necessarily have needed to return to Indianapolis following the All-Star race unless he was in danger of being bumped out.(Associated Press)(3-7-2014)
Teams test intermediate track rules package at Las Vegas: Forty-eight drivers from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series turned laps at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Thursday to further build upon the 2014 intermediate-track rules package that was formalized late last year. Serving as the first official NASCAR test with the new 2014 rules package in place, the four-hour session allowed teams to prepare for Sunday’s Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – the series’ first visit to a 1.5-mile track in 2014 – and beyond.
Included in the new intermediate track rules package are various physical changes to the car that were determined after much collaboration between NASCAR, the teams and the manufacturers. Based in part on two lengthy test sessions at Charlotte Motor Speedway in October and December, NASCAR implemented chassis and aerodynamic adjustments into the setup specifications to encourage more green-flag passing and side-by-side racing. Changes to the package include statically setting the race car ride height, a square leading edge on the splitter, side skirt and rear fascia adjustments and an eight-inch rear spoiler. A 43-inch by 13-inch radiator pan rounded out changes for 2014.(NASCAR). See the speeds, laps run, and 10-lap averages from the test on the Las Vegas test speeds page.(3-7-2014)
Red Cross and Biffle ask people to give blood: The #16 American Red Cross Ford Fusion sports the first of two #ImProud2Give paint schemes at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway this Sunday, March 9. The #16 hood is covered with a larger-than-life Red Cross blood donor sticker, advertising Your Name Here and launching a campaign asking blood donors to make an online appointment at redcrossblood.org. The month-long campaign concludes at Darlington Raceway with one lucky blood donor adding their name to the #16 Red Cross Ford Fusion hood on April 12. Eligible whole blood donors can give blood once every 56 days at Red Cross blood drives and blood donation centers throughout the country. Appointments can be made online at redcrossblood.org.(Roush Fenway), see an image of the car on the #16 team paint schemes page.(3-7-2014)
Go FAS sponsor signs on for Las Vegas: Go FAS Racing announced that Michael Alden was so happy with the response he received for his new book “Ask More Get More” that he decided to sponsor the #32 driven by Travis Kvapil in this week’s Kobalt Tools 400. “This was a pleasant last minute surprise for the team, and we all appreciate Michael’s support”, said team owner Archie St Hilaire.(Go FAS Racing)(3-7-2014)
Sad News – Gary Cross: Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on Friday at the Wasko Funeral Home in Campbell for Gary Robert Cross, 76, formerly of Youngstown, who passed away on March 1, 2014, at 4:30 p.m. at Catawba Valley Medical Center in Conover. Mr. Cross was born April 30, 1937, in Youngstown, the son of William P. and Lois E. Leonard Cross. He resided in the Youngstown area until he relocated to Daytona Beach in 1993. Gary was employed by NASCAR for 20 years. He started his employment as a tour guide at Daytona International Speedway. He transferred to the mail room and then worked his way up to Transportation Manager in Daytona Beach, Fla. and Conover. The Cross family has entrusted their loved one to the care of the Wasko Funeral Home, 216 Coitsville Road in Campbell and will receive family and friends from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 6. Visit www.waskofamily.com to view this obituary and send Gary’s family condolences.(3-7-2014)
Dillon fastest in happy hour: #3-Ty Dillon was quickest during happy hour for the Boyd Gaming 300 with a speed of 179.485 mph. He was followed by: #9-Chase Elliott, #60-Chris Buescher, #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., #42-Kyle Larson, #2-Brian Scott, #33-Matt Crafton, #54-Kyle Busch, #62-Brendan Gaughan, and #20-Matt Kenseth. 40 drivers participated in the session. See complete results on the Las Vegas practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(3-7-2014)
Crafton fastest in first practice: #33-Matt Crafton was fastest during opening practice at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a speed of 177.637mph. #54-Kyle Busch was second, followed by: #3-Ty Dillon, #42-Kyle Larson, #9-Chase Elliott, #2-Brian Scott, #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., #20-Matt Kenseth, #22-Brad Keselowski, and #6-Trevor Bayne. 40 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Las Vegas practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(3-7-2014)
NAPA sponsoring both JRM cars in Las Vegas: JR Motorsports teammates Chase Elliott and Regan Smith will be in good company this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for Saturday’s Boyd Gaming 300. NAPA AUTO PARTS, as usual, will ride with Elliott on his #9 Chevy as the rookie looks to capitalize on his first career top-10, while Smith will carry NAPA Synthetic Motor Oil on his #7 Chevy. Smith, who has one top-10 at Las Vegas in four attempts, will be gunning for his second win of the 2014 season. NAPA Synthetic Motor Oil, which will be featured prominently on the #7 Camaro all weekend, is a specially blended version of Valvoline Racing Oil and available at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.(See an image of the car on the #7 team paint schemes page)(JRM)(3-7-2014)
Las Vegas to have “most interesting grand marshal in the world”: Jonathan Goldsmith, widely known as The Most Interesting Man in the World, will add to his remarkable list of accomplishments when he serves as grand marshal of the Kobalt 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. “When it comes to NASCAR races, I prefer Las Vegas Motor Speedway,” said Goldsmith of his upcoming appearance where he will arrive in style Sunday with his helicopter pilot in tow. Veteran stage, film and television Jonathan Goldsmith portrays the debonair Most Interesting Man in the World in the highly popular, award winning TV commercials that debuted in 2006. Goldsmith will be at LVMS on Sunday to give the 43 drivers the command to start their engines prior to the start of the 17th annual Kobalt 400. Goldsmith, 75, going on 30, began his acting career in the 60’s appearing in more than 25 feature films, including “Hang ‘Em High,” “Ice Station Zebra” and “The Shootist” with John Wayne. He also has appeared in more than 45 television series, including recurring roles on “Gunsmoke,” “Dynasty” and the original “Dallas.”(LVMS)(3-7-2014)
Vons to provide infield service during Auto Club 400 weekend: Southern California supermarket Vons, will be on site during NASCAR’s Auto Club 400 Weekend to provide an array of grocery needs to infield guests. And if that news isn’t good enough, Vons will be on site during NASCAR Weekends for the next three years. Parent company Safeway, one of the largest supermarket companies in the U.S., will be the official grocery partner of Auto Club Speedway. Vons currently boasts 275 stores that serve millions of Southern Californians. The 5,000-square foot store will open its doors on Thursday, March 20 and will be open every day throughout race weekend. The store will also be open on Monday, March 24 for campers to pick up any last-minute items before they return home. Race fans will be able to find all of their camping and cooking needs in the store, from charcoal to food and groceries, as well as ice, beer, snacks and other campground favorites. The store will also serve as the unofficial social hub of the campground as race fans start each day with coffee, donuts, breakfast burritos and the morning paper.(ACS)(3-7-2014)

News from March 6, 2014
Thursday test session at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is over after 4 hours. The top 5:
#4-Harvick 190.148
#3-Dillon 189.540
#21-Bayne 188.620
#31-Newman 188.403
#10-Patrick 188.245
Slowest: #36-Sorenson 177.713 & #44-Yeley 174.441. All 48 drivers were on track.
See the speeds, laps run, 10-lap averages on the Las Vegas test speeds page.(3-6-2014)
Smoke is the Bandit: Mobil 1, the Official Motor Oil of NASCAR, has partnered with Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Mobil 1/Bass Pro Shops Chevy SS, to bring back to life one of the great car-and-chase films, Smokey and The Bandit, in a new video series affectionately dubbed Smoke is the Bandit with Mobil 1. Starring Stewart in the title role of “The Bandit” as he humorously encourages friends and colleagues to participate in his vision, the series features NASCAR legends, drivers and TV personalities, including Darrell Waltrip, Ricky Craven, Hermie Sadler, Jeff Hammond and Nicole Briscoe. The video series is available for fans to watch on the Mobil 1 YouTube channel at www.YouTube.com/Mobil1 and on the Mobil 1 Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/Mobil1. Two new episodes of the series will be released bi-weekly, beginning with the release of Episode 1, “The Challenge,” March 6. Along with posting new episodes each week, the Mobil 1 Facebook page will serve as a destination for fans to get behind-the-scenes access to photos from the Smoke is the Bandit with Mobil 1 set and exclusive information about the video shoot with many NASCAR legends and personalities. “Smokey and the Bandit is still my all-time favorite movie,” said Stewart. “Bringing this legendary movie back to the screen – with the Bandit’s black Trans Am and all – has been an absolute blast and I hope the fans have just as much fun watching the videos.”(Weber Shandwick / Mobil 1)(3-6-2014)
Cup teams testing at Vegas Thursday: On-track action will start a day earlier than usual this week, with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series testing the 2014 rules package on the cars on Thursday. Testing will run from 3:00-7:00pm/et. Changes to the rules package include statically setting the race car ride height and eliminating the pre- and post-race front height rules and inspections. Additionally, the 2014 package includes a square leading edge on the splitter, side skirt and rear fascia adjustments and an eight-inch rear spoiler. Finally, a 43-inch by 13-inch radiator pan will round out changes for 2014.(NASCAR) There will be no TV coverage.(3-6-2014)
Jeff Burton’s first race with MWR UPDATE: #66 Let’s Go Places Toyota Camry driver Jeff Burton will make his first start of the 2014 season Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Burton and Michael Waltrip will drive the #66 for Michael Waltrip Racing in a limited number of races in 2014. A newly formed partnership between MWR and Jay Robinson Racing will allow the #66 to compete in all NASCAR Sprint Cup races with Joe Nemechek as the primary driver.(Michael Waltrip Racing), see an image of the car on the #66 team paint schemes page.(3-5-2014)
UPDATE: Jeff Burton will leave the television studio this weekend to make his first start of the season. The 21-time Cup winner left Richard Childress Racing at the end of last season and initially announced a deal as a test driver for Michael Waltrip Racing with only one guaranteed race – Sunday at Las Vegas. He’s since been named an analyst for NBC Sports Group’s coverage of NASCAR. Although Las Vegas is the only announced race to date, Burton said he feels more races are coming. “There are other ones we feel pretty sure about that we’re going to run, but we haven’t really talked about it yet so we might change our mind,” he said. “We got to run where it make sense to run and not just run because we want to run. It’s got to be part of a plan and if it’s not, we’re making a mistake.”(Associated Press)(3-6-2014)
Kurt Busch moving personal foundation to Armed Forces Foundation: Last week, Busch announced that he was merging his personal foundation into the Armed Forces Foundation, where his girlfriend, Patricia Driscoll, is the executive director. Busch’s project within the foundation will focus on PTSD and he will use his Memorial Day double to help raise funds. “That is the battle that is unseen. There are the ones with the invisible wounds from the traumatic brain injury and the PTSD side and those are the ones that you have to open up a little bit, spend more time with and put your arm around them,” Busch said Friday. “Patricia does a great job with her foundation to show them the way, to give them the support.” Busch heavily participates in the “troops to the track” program to help give military members a raceday experience. “I can help with just putting a smile on their face or diverting their focus for the day to have some fun,” Busch said.(Sporting News)(3-6-2014)
Special scheme for Earnhardt, Jr.: #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will sport a Mountain Dew Kickstart paint scheme and firesuit this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to introduce two new flavors – Black Cherry and Limeade. These beverages combine the great taste of Mountain Dew with 5 percent real fruit juice, electrolytes for taste and just the right amount of kick to get you ready for whatever the night will bring.(Hendrick Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #88 team paint schemes page.(3-6-2014)
New sponsor for Patrick at Vegas: For this weekend’s Kobalt 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, #10-Danica Patrick’s car will sport the blue and white colors of Aspen Dental, one of the largest and fastest-growing networks of dental care providers in the U.S. with more than 430 locations in communities across 27 states, providing millions of Americans with access to quality, affordable dental care. Every Aspen Dental practice offers a full range of dental services – including comprehensive exams, cleanings, extractions, dentures, fillings, periodontal treatment, whitening, oral surgery, crown and bridge work. Patrick is driving the No. 10 Aspen Dental Chevy SS at both Las Vegas this weekend and on Labor Day weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It’s part of Patrick shining a spotlight on an often overlooked healthcare issue – oral health. She’s teamed up with Aspen Dental to support the Healthy Mouth Movement, a community-giving initiative designed to deliver free dental care to thousands of people in need in communities across the U.S., and oral health education to millions more.(TrueSpeed Communications / Stewart Haas Racing), see an image of the car on the #10 team paint schemes page.(3-6-2014)
Axalta paint scheme debuts on the #24: The 2014 #24 Axalta Chevy SS paint scheme will make its first on-track appearance this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The Brilliant Flames scheme features a blaze of neon-colored flames on a brilliant black background and was designed by renowned motor sports artist Sam Bass. (Hendrick Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #24 team paint schemes page.(3-6-2014)
WRL General Contractors on the #95: The WRL General Contractors logo will adorn the hood this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Team owner Bob Leavine is also the owner of WRL General Contractors Ltd., which has been in operation for more than over 35 years. WRL General Contractors Ltd. work includes the construction of commercial, institutional, and industrial projects.(Leaving Family Racing)(3-6-2014)
Las Vegas Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will run the same Goodyear tire codes at Las Vegas this weekend . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that these teams have run at Las Vegas since 2012 . . . this is the only track at which these two tire codes are scheduled to be run in 2014 . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Las Vegas . . . 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 Las Vegas Race Info page – Goodyear section.(3-6-2014)
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 Las Vegas Motor Speedway on the Las Vegas Race Info page – Chassis selection area.
Lepage to drive for Harmon: Kevin Lepage will be behind the wheel of the #74 Dodge this weekend in Las Vegas. The 2014 season marks Lepage’s 20th season in NASCAR competition. “Over the years I have raced for some great team owners and sponsors, and made a lot friends along the way. I’m not sure what my race schedule will be for the rest of this year, all I know (is) it’s been a great ride,” Lepage said.(Kevin Lepage PR)(3-6-2014)
Sad News – Mike Martin: Lafourche Parish Assessor Mike Martin, who held the office for more than 13 years, died Tuesday at Terrebonne General Medical Center. Martin’s exact cause of death hasn’t been determined, according to his father, Leroy Martin. Mike quit breathing at his home Feb. 23 as he and his wife prepared to travel to Birmingham, Ala., for a doctor’s visit related to Mike’s kidney transplant, Leroy said. “She tried to give him CPR and called 911 … they stabilized him and sent him to Terrebonne General,” Leroy said. Mike, unable to breath on his own, remained hospitalized and connected to machines until Tuesday, when his family made the decision to remove him from life support. Leroy said his son was already brain dead, and his condition wasn’t going to change. In addition to his father, Mike Martin leaves behind his wife, Tammy, and son, Hal, 28. Hal Martin races in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and his dad was one of his biggest fans from early on. “He loved to watch him race and would go where he would race. He followed him everywhere he went,” Leroy said. Mike Martin was an attorney, and he served as a Lafourche Parish assistant district attorney before following in the footsteps of his father as assessor in 2001. He also served as president of the Louisiana Assessor’s Association earlier in his tenure. The funeral is set for 11 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of Prompt Succor in Golden Meadow.(Daily Comet)(3-6-2014)
Efland joins RCR as race engineer: Danny Efland posted on his Facebook page that he has joined Richard Childress Racing as an engineer.”For those who didn’t know, I am now working for Richard Childress Racing as the team 33 engineer. We are running a part-time Cup and Nationwide schedule. It was tough to commit to a position outside the driver seat but it’s also a great opportunity to learn from and work with the best racers in the industry. I look forward to what’s ahead of me and appreciate everyone’s support thus far,” he explained. Efland ran six Nationwide Series races last season.(3-6-2014)
Park and Ride options at Bristol: Decisions for race fans and guests of Bristol Motor Speedway on where to park and how to get in and out are a bit easier to make with park and ride shuttle options in the region. Two options, one in Tennessee and one in Virginia, give fans various choices to let someone else do the driving to the NASCAR events at Bristol Motor Speedway March 15 and 16. Current locations are: Sullivan Central High School at Tennessee Exit 66 — 113 Shipley Ferry Road in Blountville, Tenn., — and Sugar Hollow Park in the Exit 7 area of Bristol, Va. At least one more location at Exit 7 is expected to be added soon. “This is an expansion of the program we have had for two or three years now,” said Jerry Caldwell, executive vice president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway. “One of the main questions new fans ask is ‘where do I park,’ and one of the main issues we have heard from locals is traffic. By offering various locations in the area, guests can let someone else deal with parking and traffic. They just ride.”. See complete route information at Bristol Motor Speedway’s website.(3-6-2014)
Pocono Raceway Simplifies Grandstand Seating Layout: Pocono Raceway announced they have simplified the way fans will find their Grandstands seats while attending NASCAR and INDYCAR events at “The Tricky Triangle.” This announcement comes one year after the Raceway introduced way-finding signage throughout their facility. During this simplification process, the actual location of previously purchased and/or available Grandstand tickets will not change.
The Grandstands have been split into three towers with Petty Tower, named after inaugural NASCAR race winner and NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty, France Tower, named after the founding father of NASCAR Bill France, Sr., and Donohue Tower, named after inaugural open-wheel race winner Mark Donohue.
The Grandstands have also been divided into three levels starting with a lower, 100-level closest to the racing action on the track, moving to the 200-level in the middle of the Grandstands and to the highest, 300-level with shaded seating and optimal views of the entire Raceway.
“One of the biggest issues we have had over the years was getting fans inside the track, through the gates and, eventually, to their seats,” said Pocono Raceway President/CEO Brandon Igdalsky. “Phase one of this way-finding project began last year with new signs both inside and outside the facility. As part of the second phase, we will simplify the way our Grandstand seating is arranged. The best part about this change is nothing really changes for the fan. Seats have not been moved and the prices of tickets stay the same. The only difference now, it will be easier to find your seats. Especially, if you are a first time fan.”
Historically, Grandstand sections were assigned an alpha-numeric name. Now, Grandstand sections will more simply be referred to by number. For example, section N-24 will now be referred to as section 146 and section S-22 will now be referred to as section 101. The easiest way to follow this new logic is keep in mind high section numbers are located closer to Turn 3 and decrease, in order, as they move across the Grandstands in race direction towards Turn 1. For instance, using the 100 Level as an example, section 146 is located closest to Turn 3 in the Petty Tower, while section 101 is located closest to Turn 1 in the Donohue Tower. Accordingly, section 123 is located at the Start/Finish Line in the France Tower. The 200 and 300 levels follow this same logic, so, sections 201 and 301 are closest to Turn 1 in the Donohue Tower.
The new seating map, depicting the changes mentioned, and more information regarding this simplification process can be found at www.poconoraceway.com/2014seats.(Pocono Raceway)(3-6-2014)

News from March 5, 2014
Crafton to be on standby for Menard: When #27-Paul Menard’s Chevy SS race car rolls off the hauler this Thursday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the Quaker State paint scheme will make its 2014 debut. For Menard, it will be the 27th time he has lined up for the start of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event with Quaker State colors. Menard will have reigning NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion and good friend Matt Crafton on standby for the weekend, as Menard and his wife await the birth of their first child. For Crafton, being on alert to step in for Menard is almost as nerve-racking as the baby watch is for Menard. “It’s tough, because you just don’t know when or even if it will happen, but kind of like that backup quarterback, you have to be ready at any time,” said Crafton. “Paul and I have been good friends going back to 2001. We’ve raced together and I actually spotted for him early in his career. For him to have the confidence in me to get the job done if he has to head back home – that’s awesome.”(Sport Dimensions)(3-5-2014)
Xxxtreme motorsports making 2014 debut: Heading to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, #44-Xxxtreme Motorsport is preparing for their 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut with driver JJ Yeley. Joining Xxxtreme Motorsport for a multi-race deal throughout the 2014 season, Phoenix Warehouse of New Jersey and California is a first-time sponsor to NASCAR. Phoenix Warehouse is a full-service logistics warehouse and distribution company founded in 1976. Their clear objective has been and remains, “Provide comprehensive and superior logistic services to a myriad of industries.”(Xxxtreme Motorsports / 140 Buzz), see an image of the car on the #44 team paint schemes page.(3-5-2014)
Timmy Hill to be back in car at Las Vegas UPDATES: 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)
UPDATE 2:
Bedgood: How many races are you planning on running this year with [Circle Sport]?
Hill: I don’t have an exact number for you. I know Brian Scott is going to drive a few more, and they’ll probably have someone else driving road courses. I know we’re going to Vegas and Bristol. I know Brian Scott is driving California. So, I don’t have an exact number for you but it’s going to be quite a few, though.
Bedgood: Is the official schedule dependent upon sponsorship?
Hill: Yes, exactly.
Bedgood: So how was the decision made to begin the season at Vegas?
Hill: They’re running the #33 car all season. Brian Scott was scheduled to run the 500 and Phoenix, but he wanted to focus on his Nationwide season and they didn’t have a driver from Vegas on. Like I said, I spoke with them over the offseason, I got a lot of experience in the Sprint Cup car last year and I was the best candidate for Las Vegas.(Frontstretch)(3-5-2014)
Jeff Burton’s first race with MWR: #66 Let’s Go Places Toyota Camry driver Jeff Burton will make his first start of the 2014 season Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Burton and Michael Waltrip will drive the #66 for Michael Waltrip Racing in a limited number of races in 2014. A newly formed partnership between MWR and Jay Robinson Racing will allow the #66 to compete in all NASCAR Sprint Cup races with Joe Nemechek as the primary driver.(Michael Waltrip Racing)(3-5-2014)
Truex, Jr. to make 300th start: #78-Martin Truex Jr. will make his 300th career Sprint Cup Series start in Sunday’s Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Truex, a two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion (2004 & 2005), started his first Cup race on Oct. 31, 2004 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He became a full-time Cup driver in 2006. Truex’s career starts to date include 117 with Dale Earnhardt Inc., 36 with Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing, 144 with Michael Waltrip Racing and two with Furniture Row Racing. His statistical totals include: two wins, 31 top-fives, 90 top-10s, seven poles and 1,889 laps led.(Furniture Row Racing)(3-5-2014)
Gilliland hiking the Grand Canyon before Vegas: David Gilliland will take a detour — on foot — on his way to Las Vegas Motor Speedway this week. The driver of the #38 Love’s Travel Stops Ford will be part of a group hiking more than 20 miles of trails through the Grand Canyon Tuesday and Wednesday. Gilliland purchased about 40 pounds of gear to carry on the hike, during which he will sleep in a sleeping bag and tent on the canyon floor. “Even though I grew up out west, I’ve never seen the Grand Canyon and I’ve always wanted to. This way I’ll be able to see it all at once. It’s going to be hard. I’ve done three smaller hikes before but nothing like this. I’m going to have a yellow (rookie) stripe on my backpack for sure.” said Gilliland. “We’re going down the hardest trail, too. It’s about eight and a half miles in, and then we have a 13-and-a-half-mile hike out. I’m going to be wishing that Love’s Travel Stops had a store on the bottom of the Grand Canyon.”(Front Row Motorsports)(3-5-2014)
JTG Daugherty signs associate sponsor: JTG Daugherty Racing has some of the greatest household brand names in their stable sponsoring AJ Allmendinger’s #47 Chevy. Now they welcome associate sponsor Southeastern Mills’ branded products in efforts to promote Shore Lunch Premium Soup Mixes and Southeastern Mills Gravy Mixes at select NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events this season. Southeastern Mills is a fourth generation, professionally managed food company headquartered in Rome, Georgia. Southeastern Mills serves the world’s largest grocers, restaurants and food manufacturers across North America.(JTG Daugherty Racing)(3-5-2014)
Neuenberger to return to the track with students: NASCAR Nationwide part-timer Donnie Neuenberger has announced his intent to race at The Texas Mile on March 21-23. The Texas Mile is the nation’s fastest standing mile land speed event. Neuenberger’s team is a little different than a lot of the other professional racing teams out there. His crew chief, car chief, and entire crew is made of students from Chavez High School. Donnie partnered with the school in 2013 and raced their Pontiac GTO to a top speed of 175.5 mph. All students in the program are part of the engineering program at Chavez High School. he select group of students spend their afternoons and weekends learning about aerodynamics, super chargers, and fabricating all of their own custom parts. This program is also very meaningful for the driver as he was an engineering student at The University of Maryland before entering professional racing. Donnie Neuenberger last appeared in NASCAR Nationwide competition at the September 2013 Dover event driving the #23 Cancun Cantina Ford for Rick Ware Racing. Last year a record was set by a Ford GT at The Texas Mile with a top speed of 278.8 mph.(Chavez Motorsports)(3-5-2014)
Interstate Batteries on board with Sadler in Las Vegas: This weekend’s race will be an anniversary of sorts for Elliott Sadler as it commemorates the second time he’s been paired with one of JGR’s founding partners in Interstate Batteries. Sadler raced his way to a fifth-place finish beneath the Interstate colors at Las Vegas one year ago.(JGR)(3-5-2014)
Ellis joins SR2: SR2 Motorsports, which fields two entries in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, made the announcement Monday that they signed Ryan Ellis to the team. Not only will he race, but will also serve as a testing driver within the organization. Starting this weekend at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Ellis will run the #24 Toyota Camry. He will have sponsorship backing from Superlite Cars. The number of races with SR2 Motorsports will depend on sponsorship coming to the team throughout the 2014 season. Ellis will be entered throughout the year in both the #00 and the #24 as the racing season moves forward. Ellis is no stranger to the SR2 Motorsports team, as he made five starts with them in 2013, debuting at Richmond International Raceway in the #24 Toyota in September.(SR2)(3-5-2014)
Fan Enhancements ready for launch at Talladega: Watching 43 cars pack race three- and four-wide at 200 mph around NASCAR’s biggest and most competitive race track – Talladega Superspeedway – has always been a “Must See” event. But now, thanks to a valuable video enhancement initiative launched by International Speedway Corporation (ISC) for 2014, it’s going to be much easier to take in the view of views in NASCAR, beginning with the Aaron’s Dream Weekend set for May 2-4.
Talladega Superspeedway will serve as a test track for the new ISC program, which will strategically place four large Sprint Vision Digital High-Definition video screens along Talladega’s frontstretch. The new video boards will offer all fans in every grandstand unbelievable views of the incredible content to be projected throughout the event weekend. The screens will almost double the size of former Sprint Vision screens, and the high-definition picture will be crisper, clearer and brighter.
With Talladega leading the way, the multi-phase project plans to implement the video boards at all ISC facilities over the next few years. Initially the screens will be temporarily put into place, allowing facilities to listen to fan feedback to create the best digital experience possible. Eventually, permanent digital board locations will be installed as part of the ongoing phase of the initiative.
The view will be extra special for kids 12 and under, who will get in free to all grandstands for Saturday’s full day of activity. On Sunday kids receive $50 off the regular price of grandstand seating. In addition to the new video boards and kids “free” opportunity, other fan-friendly changes at Talladega Superspeedway in 2014 include:
· SMOKE FREE throughout the grandstands; designated smoking areas will be set up under the grandstands and towers.
· Driver Introductions Pit Pass Upgrade; the $50 Pre-Race Pit Pass can now be upgraded to include access to driver introductions for an additional $25.
· Reserved Saturday Grandstands; all grandstand seating will be reserved on Saturday instead of General Admission to allow fans to find their perfect spot ahead of time.
NASCAR returns to Talladega Superspeedway in 2014 with the Aaron’s Dream Weekend, which is set for May 2-4. The NASCAR Nationwide 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. For ticket information, log onto www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(TSS)(3-5-2014)
Kick It With Matt Kenseth in Fan Hospitality at RIR: Have you ever wanted to know the one thing Matt Kenseth can’t live without? Are you curious about what the former NASCAR champion does on a day off? Dying to find out which driver he’d choose as a tag-team wrestling partner? Well, here’s your chance to find out. Kick it with former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth, driver of the Joe Gibbs Racing #20 Dollar General Toyota Camry, on Saturday, April 26, in Richmond International Raceway’s 3-Wide fan hospitality, prior to the TOYOTA OWNERS 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. In addition to the exclusive Q&A, be sure to stroll up and down Pit Road for an up close and unforgettable visit to the pavement all of your favorite drivers will be racing on just a few hours later. The 3-Wide experience is $80 per person, and includes: 3 beer or wine tickets for fans 21 years of age & older with a valid ID. Unlimited sodas & water will also be available; Walk down Pit Road with an exclusive Pre-Race Pit Pass (2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., time and weather permitting), Interactive Q&A session with NASCAR personalities, including Kenseth; Dine on appetizers from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. & a buffet dinner from 3:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.; Enjoy music, games, a complimentary souvenir event program, and a chance to win a trip to Pre-Race & Gatorade Victory Lane ceremonies. Take advantage of the only opportunity to obtain a Saturday Pre-Race Pit Pass with a single-day ticket and purchase today.(RIR)(3-5-2014)

News from March 4, 2014
Phoenix TV Ratings down: After a record-low at Daytona, overnight ratings did not bounce back for the second race of the season. Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup “The Profit on CNBC 500? from Phoenix earned a 4.8 overnight rating on FOX, down 9% from a 5.3 last year, and down 4% from a 5.0 in 2011. The 4.8 is the lowest overnight for the second Sprint Cup race of the season since FOX began airing coverage in 2001. The 4.8 is also the lowest overnight for the spring Phoenix race since it moved to its current date in 2010. Despite the lower numbers, Sunday’s race was easily the top sporting event of the weekend on broadcast.(Sports Media / via Sports Business Daily)(3-4-2014)
Kurt Busch to run Indy 500 with Andretti Autosport: It has been over a decade since it was last completed, but this May NASCAR Champion Kurt Busch will endeavor to become only the fourth driver in history to contest the “Double” – competing in IndyCar’s historic Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s 600-mile race in the same day. Busch will make his first career Indianapolis 500 qualifying attempt behind the wheel of an Andretti Autosport Indy car. His entry will complete a stable of five for Michael Andretti’s championship winning IndyCar team. It is not the first pairing of Busch and Andretti Autosport, however, as in 2013 Busch completed a test day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with the team and in the process passed the mandated Rookie Orientation program effectively setting the possibility of the “Double” into motion.
What lies in front of Busch is a grueling challenge, not only on the race day itself – scheduled for Sunday, May 25th when Busch will race 1,100 miles in two races, in two cities, in two totally different cars, but in practicing and qualifying his Andretti Autosport Indy car in addition to competing in three NASCAR race weekends around Indianapolis 500 activities. The 35-year old American will start the two week Indy 500 stretch in Indianapolis May 11th, fresh from the NASCAR race in Kansas. After spending the week testing the Honda-powered Indy car, Busch will log some serious air miles traveling between Indianapolis and Charlotte so he can qualify for the 500-mile race and practice and qualify for the NASCAR All-Star race and that Series’ 600-mile race. In total Busch will likely make more than ten trips between the cities – the most important and time sensitive being race day. Race day will place Busch in Indianapolis in the morning for the 12:00pm/et start time of the Indianapolis 500 before he makes the trip to Charlotte for the 6:00pm/et green flag.
While the “Double” will be a new experience for Busch, it will actually be Andretti Autosport’s second time participating in the feat. Robby Gordon (who along with John Andretti and Tony Stewart are the three previous drivers to contest the “Double”) competed in both races in 2003, filling in at Indianapolis for an injured Dario Franchitti who at the time drove for Andretti Autosport. Busch, an advocate for and representative of The Armed Forces Foundation, will be dedicating his Memorial Day mission to those who continue to inspire him each day – the men and women serving around the world in the United States Military. Fans can show their support by texting AFF to 50555 to pledge $10 to the cause. Fans will have the opportunity to follow Busch through his action-packed month of May on AndrettiTV.com, with details coming soon. For more information visit AndrettiAutosport.com or KurtBuschDouble.com.(Andretti Autosport)(3-4-2014)
Commercial breakdown and links related to the 2014 Profit on CNBC 500(k): For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, here is the breakdown for Sunday’s race. Began recording the times at the Invocation of the race at 3:00 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 6:09 PM (all times are EST). Fox was the broadcast team for this event.
Total number of commercials: 114
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 60
Number of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 11
Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast: 54
Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 5 min. 35 sec.
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 3:00 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 6:09 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 189
Minutes of race broadcast: 142
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 47
Minutes of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials (split-screen): 6
Number of missed restarts: 0
Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 3
Total race brdcst time 142 Total comm. brdcst time 47
See full report, race brdcast times, commercials during race broadcast, TV Previews/Promos, past races and more at CawsnJaws.com(3-4-2014)
Kyle Petty Charity Ride announces course: The Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America announced the course for its 20th Anniversary Ride. From Saturday, May 3 through Saturday, May 10, 2014, more than 175 riders will embark on the cross-country motorcycle trek, which begins in Carlsbad, Calif. and travel more than 2,800 miles before reaching Daytona Beach, Fla. Founded by former NASCAR driver and racing analyst Kyle Petty, the Ride raises funds and awareness for Victory Junction, a Camp created to enrich the lives of children with chronic or life threatening illnesses. “What began as just a few friends having a good time riding track to track has turned into what we have today, which is an incredible event that provides thousands of life changing experiences for children,” said Petty. “This is the first year we’ve traveled straight from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, and I’m looking forward to experiencing it with friends, while meeting our fans and generous supporters along the way.” This year NASCAR Hall of Famer and seven time champion Richard Petty, NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth, former NASCAR driver and Bo-Dyn Olympic bobsled founder Geoff Bodine, NASCAR legends Harry Gant and Donnie Allison, former NFL great Herschel Walker, Fox News contributor and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives Col. Allen West, and co-host of History Channel’s Top Gear America and NASCAR personality Rutledge Wood plan to participate in all or part of the 20th Anniversary Ride. In the past 10 years, more than 7,730 children with health issues that would typically prevent them from attending Camp have attended Victory Junction at no cost to their families, thanks to the Kyle Petty Charity Ride. Since its inception by the Petty family in 2004 in honor of their late son Adam, the Camp has served as the Ride’s primary beneficiary.(Kyle Petty Charity Ride), See more information and the complete route on the Racing Charities – Victory Junction news page.(3-4-2014)
Richard Petty receives North Carolina Winner’s Circle Award: Governor Pat McCrory and the NC Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development announced the recipients of the Winner’s Circle awards, given annually since 2004 to people who have made significant and continuing contributions to the growth and success of North Carolina’s tourism industry. The 2014 honorees include: Richard Petty, charter member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Horace Holden, Aurelia Kennedy and Payson Kennedy, founders of the Nantahala Outdoor Center, and Ron Kimble, Charlotte Deputy City Manager. Gov. McCrory participated in the Winner’s Circle awards luncheon in Charlotte Monday as part of the three-day Governor’s Conference on Tourism. The state’s largest gathering of the tourism industry brings together nearly 500 leaders from resorts, attractions, destination marketing organizations, hotels/motels, real estate rental companies, restaurants and retail outlets each year to learn about the latest trends and issues facing the travel industry.(Breaking Limits)(3-4-2014)
Top 10 Driver Ratings at Las Vegas:
#48-Jimmie Johnson………………112.3
#24-Jeff Gordon…………………103.8
#14-Tony Stewart………………..103.4
#16-Greg Biffle…………………103.0
#18-Kyle Busch………………….102.8
#99-Carl Edwards…………………98.8
#20-Matt Kenseth…………………98.7
#29-Kevin Harvick………………..94.8
#Mark Martin…………………….90.1
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr…………….88.2
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2013 races(9 total) among drivers at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
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)(3-4-2014)
Las Vegas Notes & Facts:
• The construction to build the superspeedway known today as Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) began in 1995. Speedway Motorsports Inc. acquired the property in 1998.
• The first NASCAR race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was a NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race won by Ken Schrader on Nov. 2, 1996.
• The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was held on March 1, 1998, won by Mark Martin.
• In 2006, the track was reconfigured to include progressive banking.
• There have been 16 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
• 128 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Las Vegas; 97 in more than one.
• Four drivers have participated in all 16 races: Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte and Mark Martin.
• Dale Jarrett won the inaugural pole with a speed of 168.224 mph (32.773 secs.).
• 10 drivers have poles at LVMS, led by Kasey Kahne, who posted his third last season (2004, 2007 and 2012).
• Kyle Busch is the only driver to win consecutive poles at LVMS from (2008-’09).
• Nine different drivers have won at LVMS, led by Jimmie Johnson (four). Three other drivers have multiple wins at Las Vegas: Matt Kenseth (three), Jeff Burton, Carl Edwards (each have two).
• Roush Fenway Racing leads the series in wins at Las Vegas with seven, followed by Hendrick Motorsports with five.
• Las Vegas-native Kyle Busch became the first and only Only two LVMS races have been won from the front row: Kyle Busch, 2009 (pole); and Carl Edwards, 2008 (second-place).
• Three of the 16 races (18.7%) have been won from a top-five starting position at Las Vegas.
• Seven of the 16 (43.7%) races have been won from a top-10 starting position at Las Vegas.
• Four of the 16 races (25%) at Las Vegas have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
• The deepest in the field that a race winner has started was 25th, by Matt Kenseth in 2004.
• Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart lead the series in runner-up finishes at Las Vegas with two each.
• Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart lead the series in top-five finishes at Las Vegas with six each.
• Mark Martin has 10 top-10 finishes, more than any other driver. His average finish is 13.4.
• Jimmie Johnson leads the series in average finish at LVMS with a 9.5; Carl Edwards (9.6) is the only other active driver with an average finish in the top 10.
• There has been one green-white-checkered finish at Las Vegas: 2006 (270/267).
• Kyle Busch made his first start and Kasey Kahne won his first pole at Las Vegas, in the same event (2004).
• Aric Almirola made his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2007.
• Three drivers have won consecutive races at Las Vegas: Jeff Burton (1999, 2000); Matt Kenseth (2003, 2004) and Jimmie Johnson is the only one of the three to win three consecutive races (2005, 2006 and 2007).
• Eight of the nine NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers who have won at Las Vegas participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Mark Martin (1998; inaugural event) is the only driver to win at Las Vegas in his first appearance.
• Tony Stewart competed at Las Vegas Motor Speedway 13 times before winning (2012); the longest span of any of the nine winners. Stewart is the only driver to have made 10 or more attempts before his first win at LVMS.
• Bobby Labonte leads the series (active drivers) with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Las Vegas without visiting Victory Lane with 16.
• Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Las Vegas was the March 12, 2006 race won by Jimmie Johnson with a MOV of 0.045 second.
• No driver has won the first three races of the season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The five drivers that have won the first two events of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season are: Matt Kenseth (2009), Jeff Gordon (1997), David Pearson (1976), Bob Welborn (1959) and Marvin Panch (1957).
• Three reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions have gone on to win at Las Vegas the following season: Matt Kenseth (2004), Jimmie Johnson is the only one to do it multiple times (2007, 2010) and Tony Stewart (2012).
• Three drivers have won at Las Vegas and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship in the same season: Jeff Gordon (2001), Matt Kenseth (2003) and Jimmie Johnson (2006, 2007 and 2010).(NASCAR)(3-4-2014)
NASCAR reinstates crew members: NASCAR has reinstated Ryan Hess, a former crew member in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and Curtis Martin Jr., a former crew member in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, upon their successful completion of NASCAR’s Substance Abuse Policy Road to Recovery Program. On June 18, 2013, Hess was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 19 (violation of the NASCAR substance abuse policy) of the NASCAR Rule Book. On Nov. 19, 2013, Martin also was found to have violated Sections 12-1 and 19.(NASCAR)(3-4-2014)
Zippo renews sponsorship of Nationwide race at Watkins Glen: Zippo Manufacturing Company recently signed their multi-year renewal of the Zippo 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series entitlement at Watkins Glen International. Zippo has been a premier partner of The Glen since 1993, and is currently the longest continuous sponsor of Watkins Glen International. Now in its tenth year, the Zippo 200 is the third longest running Nationwide Series race under the same name and sponsorship. This season marks the 10th anniversary of Zippo’s entitlement of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race during The Glen’s traditional NASCAR race weekend in August. Zippo Manufacturing Company is located in nearby Bradford, PA, approximately two hours to the southwest of the historic racetrack. Zippo has unveiled many of their new products at WGI during the NASCAR weekends, including the award-winning Zippo refillable handwarmer.(WGI)(3-4-2014)
Crafton to make rare NNS start in Las Vegas: This weekend, Matt Crafton returns to the seat of the #33 Trackett Flooring/Menards car. This marks his fourth-career Nationwide Series start, having made impressive runs at Kentucky Speedway and Chicagoland Speedway last year. In his 2013 series efforts, the Tulare, Calif. native qualified inside the top eight and earned two third-place finishes and three top-10 finishes behind the wheel of the #33 entry.(RCR)(3-4-2014)
Daytona Nationwide TV Ratings: ESPN earned a 1.8 U.S. rating and 2.7 million viewers for last Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series Drive4COPD 300, down 18% in ratings and 19% in viewership from last year (2.2, 3.4M), and down 38% in both measures from 2012 (2.9, 4.4M). Compared to the last time the race aired opposite the Winter Olympics (2010), the race still declined 36% in ratings (2.8 to 1.8) and viewership (4.3M to 2.7M). (Sports Media Watch / Sports Business Daily)(3-4-2014)
Pawn Stars, Clements team up for Vegas race: Las Vegas is known for its exciting and unique casinos, fine dining and electric night life. But it is also home of Rick Harrison, star of “Pawn Stars” and the World Famous Gold and Silver Pawn Shop. Jeremy Clements Racing announced today that they will partner with Rick Harrison again as Primary Sponsor of the Jeremy Clements Racing #51 Chevy for the Boyd Gaming 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 8, 2014.This will be the fourth time the two companies have worked together since 2011.(Jeremy Clements Racing)(3-4-2014)
Phillips one win away from record: Eric Phillips stands on the verge of history. One more victory, and he’ll be the all-time winningest crew chief in the 20-year history of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Phillips called the shots for Kyle Busch’s season-opening win at Daytona International Speedway to give him 28 for his career, tying Rick Ren for the most wins in series history. Eighteen of Phillips’ 28 wins have come while working at Kyle Busch Motorsports, and his list of drivers who have won with him is quite impressive. Dennis Setzer picked up four of his 18 career wins with Phillips and former series champions Mike Skinner (3) and Travis Kvapil (2) have also scored wins with Phillips. Current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Clint Bowyer, Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne and Brian Scott have each scored a NCWTS win with Phillips. Phillips’ most prolific driver? Not surprisingly, it’s Kyle Busch (15). Phillips will try and have the record all by himself when he leads Erik Jones in the #51 Toyota at Martinsville on March 29. If Jones can pick up his second win in as many starts, he would become the ninth different driver to win a race with Phillips on the pit box.(NASCAR)(3-4-2014)
Zippo renews sponsorship of Nationwide race at Watkins Glen: Zippo Manufacturing Company recently signed their multi-year renewal of the Zippo 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series entitlement at Watkins Glen International. Zippo has been a premier partner of The Glen since 1993, and is currently the longest continuous sponsor of Watkins Glen International. Now in its tenth year, the Zippo 200 is the third longest running Nationwide Series race under the same name and sponsorship. This season marks the 10th anniversary of Zippo’s entitlement of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race during The Glen’s traditional NASCAR race weekend in August. Zippo Manufacturing Company is located in nearby Bradford, PA, approximately two hours to the southwest of the historic racetrack. Zippo has unveiled many of their new products at WGI during the NASCAR weekends, including the award-winning Zippo refillable handwarmer.(WGI)(3-4-2014)
Martinsville Speedway Offers Great Family, Youth Prices For STP 500: Martinsville Speedway’s family-friendly philosophy runs right through the ticket office. Tickets prices at the historic Virginia track have always been low, but track officials have always made the extra effort to make sure families can afford to come and watch their favorite drivers compete. With the Family Four Pack, a family of four can attend the STP 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race on March 30 for less than $100. The Family Four Pack includes two adults seats and two youth 12 and under seats in the Clay Earles Tower, rows 6-14 for just $90. Youth 12 and under tickets in the Clay Earles Tower for the STP 500 are $10 with teens 13-17 for $25 and adults only $57. Youth 12 and under are admitted free to the Kroger 250 NASCAR Camping World Series race on March 29 and to Pole Day on March 28. Adult ticket prices for the STP 500 start at $37. Seats in the Bill France Tower are only $42. The STP 500 weekend at Martinsville Speedway is scheduled for March 28-30. The Kroger 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race is scheduled for March 29 and Pole Day on March 28.(Martinsville Speedway)(3-4-2014)
Talladega Superspeedway Tickets On Sale: Advanced Price tickets are on sale to the May 2-4 Aaron’s Dream Weekend at NASCAR’s Most Competitive Track-Talladega Superspeedway. The Advanced Price tickets, which are available from February 24 to April 3, save fans money at nearly every ticket option, and for this highly anticipated race weekend the savings don’t stop there-for the first time ever kids have opportunities for “free” seating in the track’s exhilarating frontstretch grandstands. Saturday kids’ tickets – for 12 and under – are free in every section of the grandstands and in multiple locations on Sunday. The remaining locations are reduced a minimum of $50 for Sunday kids’ tickets. This unbelievable ticket offer has never been made at this historic NASCAR venue and is available even beyond the Advanced Price Ticket period. Advanced Price tickets offer fans $10 off regular pricing for the weekend’s headliner, the Aaron’s 499 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on May 4, and $5 off Saturday’s quadruple header that includes two races (ARCA’s International Motorsports Hall of Fame 200, Aaron’s 312 Nationwide race), Sprint Cup’s new pack racing qualifying format and the traditional Saturday Night Infield Concert (must have a Sunday ticket for admission). Two-day tickets for both Saturday and Sunday start at $50.
Fan enhancements have been ramped up in 2014, starting with NASCAR’s pre-season announcements about qualifying and the Chase. Qualifying for the Aaron’s 312 and Aaron’s 499 will now consist of three elimination rounds where drivers take to Talladega’s high banks in groups, competing just like it’s a race. The changes made to the Chase place practically any race winner into the Championship, and given the Aaron’s 499’s unpredictable nature, it’s going to be a battle like never before. Talladega Superspeedway has also put into place some serious fan enhancements that include the free kids’ ticket initiative, new large Sprint Vision screens, smoke-free grandstands and the Driver Introductions Pit Pass Upgrade. Info on all of this and more can found at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(TSS)(3-4-2014)

News from March 3, 2014
Entry List for the Kobalt Tools 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is posted, 48 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including: #21-Bayne, #33-Hill, #35-Koch, #44-Yeley, #66-Jeff Burton, & #87-Nemechek. With 48 cars entered, 5 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. Four drivers must qualify via speed and do not have a provisional available: #26-Whitt, #44-Yeley, #77-Blaney, and #95-McDowell. See the full entry list at my Jayski’s Las Vegas Entry List
New Chase format making drivers take more risks? Just two races into the Sprint Cup season, NASCAR’s emphasis on winning has made an impact. #22-Joey Logano was more aggressive on a late-race restart, and Daytona 500 winner #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. was more comfortable with a fuel gamble during Sunday’s race at Phoenix International Raceway. “It’s all about the win, right?” Logano said after his daring restart backfired. Yes it is. It always has been that way but now there’s more incentive for drivers and teams to take risks. “Third place really doesn’t mean anything,” Logano said. “Last year, you may have taken a third place and the points, but this year it’s like, “hey, go for it.’ ”
Harvick’s dominance didn’t keep others from trying different strategies. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was going to be short on fuel after his last pit stop before all the cautions but crew chief Steve Letarte told his driver not to worry about saving fuel. “We’re here to try to win,” Letarte told Earnhardt on the radio. “The gamble was not as nerve-racking and not as a big a gamble for us considering the circumstances,” said Earnhardt, who finished second. “The new system definitely allowed us to be more carefree about that and not have to really think it over.”
Now Harvick and crew chief Rodney Childers will have the opportunity to gamble over in the next 24 races since they have a victory. “It allows (Childers) to stretch fuel windows and do things and do a few things,” Harvick said. “For the guys in the shop, it allows them to really broaden their horizons. You can really get aggressive on really everything.”(Motors Racing Network)(3-3-2014)
Patrick, Allgaier talk after race: #10-Danica Patrick and #51-Justin Allgaier had a discussion in the garage about an incident they had during The Profit on CNBC 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. The caution waved on Lap 172 when Patrick, Allgaier and #32-Travis Kvapil got together. Patrick was upset on her radio about Allgaier, blaming him for the incident. Afterward, she went to Allgaier’s garage stall and they talked. Patrick did not talk to media afterward, but Allgaier did. “She was just upset because she got involved in the crash that we had,” said Allgaier, who finished 30th in a backup car after crashing during qualifying Friday. “She says she’s been through this and that she felt like I needed to settle down at that point. I explained my position on why everything happened. I think she understood where I was coming from. It doesn’t fix either one of our racecars. It doesn’t fix either one of our days. Unfortunately, we were both having pretty decent days.”
So, how did Allgaier explain the incident to Patrick? “I just explained the situation,” he said. “We went into the corner and I went to the outside and I think it was her and (David Ragan) and got by both of them and was just trying to get back in line and get going. Unfortunately, the end result was what it was.”(Motor Racing Network)(3-3-2014)
Entry List:There are 38 cars on the preliminary entry list for Saturday’s Boyd Gaming 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. A few notes:
Jeff Green in the #10;
Matt Crafton in the #33;
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in the #88;
David Ragan in the #98;
(3-3-2014)
See the complete list on the Las Vegas entry list page.
Kentucky state police say Speedway hasn’t paid for security UPDATE: 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)
UPDATE: The Kentucky Speedway on Friday paid a long overdue bill of nearly $300,000 to Kentucky State Police for providing security on the track’s grounds during four major race weeks in 2012 and 2013. Speedway Motorsports, which owns the track in Gallatin County, sent a check for $299,125.86 by express mail from its corporate headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, said State Police Commissioner Rodney Brewer. The payment was received one day after The Courier-Journal reported that the state police had been pressing the track since last August for the payment. “We’re glad the issue is resolved. We’re glad to have the money and will certainly put it to good use,” Brewer said Saturday.(Louisville Courier-Journal)(3-3-2014)
Martinsville Speedway’s Party Plaza getting bigger: The party in Martinsville Speedway’s Party Plaza keeps getting bigger for the morning of the STP 500 on March 30. NASCAR Hall-of-Fame members and race Grand Marshals Richard Petty and Dale Inman are the latest to join the Party Plaza lineup for March 30. Also new to the Party Plaza are Sprint Cup driver Marcos Ambrose, retired Sprint Cup star Ken Schrader, Miss Sprint Cup and Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell. Sprint Cup drivers Matt Kenseth and Kasey Kahne had committed to Party Plaza appearances earlier. In addition to celebrities, there will be loads of fun and excitement in the Party Plaza. There will be four NASCAR show cars and trucks, plus racing simulators and lots of games for all ages with plenty of prizes to giveaway. A live DJ will be featured with music all morning long. Vendors will be selling food and Pepsi products. There will be a beer garden offering an assortment of beer. Admission to the Party Plaza, which also includes a Pre-Race Track Pass to walk along the front-stretch of Martinsville Speedway, is just $30.(Martinsville Speedway)(3-3-2014)

News from March 2, 2014
Harvick wins at Phoenix: #4-Kevin Harvick won The Profit on CNBC 500(k) Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway for his 1st win of 2014, his 5th at Phoenix and his 24th career win. He dominated much of the race, leading 224 of the 312 laps.
Daytona 500 winner #88-Earnhardt, Jr. finished 2nd followed by pole sitter #2-Keselowski, #22-Logano, #24-Gordon, #48-Johnson, #31-Newman, #99-Edwards, #18-Busch, and #1-McMurray.
The top rookie of the race was #42-Larson, who finished 20th.
Earnhardt, Jr. continues to hold the points lead, 6 points ahead of Keselowski.
There were 14 lead changes among 8 drivers and there were 8 cautions for 38 yellow flag laps.
The average speed was 109.229mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Unofficial Phoenix Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Phoenix Penalty Report (pdf).(3-2-2014)
Race Fast Facts – Phoenix:
Kevin Harvick won the 10th Annual The Profit on CNBC 500 presented by Small Business Fueling America, his 24th victory in 468 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his fourth race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in which he led more than 200 laps; he led a race-high 224 laps.
This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in 2014.
This is his fifth victory and 12th top-10 finish in 23 races at Phoenix International Raceway. His five victories at Phoenix International Raceway leads all drivers.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (second) posted his 11th top-10 finish in 24 races at Phoenix International Raceway. It is his second top-10 finish in 2014.
Brad Keselowski (third) posted his fourth top-10 finish in ten races at Phoenix International Raceway.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the point standings by 6 points over Brad Keselowski.(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(3-2-2014)
2014 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Championship Points Standings:
[after Phoenix, race 2 of 36]
1) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [1 win], 90
2) #2-Brad Keselowski, 84, -6
3) #24-Jeff Gordon, 80, -10
4) #4-Kevin Harvick [1 win], 79, -11
5) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 78, -12
6) #22-Joey Logano, 75, -15
7) #20-Matt Kenseth, 70, -20
8) #11-Denny Hamlin, 68, -22
9) #99-Carl Edwards, 65, -25
10) #16-Greg Biffle, 64, -26
11) #13-Casey Mears, 64, -26
12) #1-Jamie McMurray, 64, -26
See UNOFFICIAL drivers championship points standings on the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings (pdf)
See the UNOFFICIAL owner points standings on the Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf).(3-2-2014)
Keselowski’s crew chief to miss Phoenix UPDATE: One day after helping his driver, #2-Brad Keselowski, earn the pole for Sunday’s The Profit on CNBC 500 with a record-setting performance, crew chief Paul Wolfe will not be atop Keselowski’s pit box for the race itself. Wolfe flew back on Keselowski’s jet to his North Carolina home early Saturday to be with wife Aleia for the birth of the couple’s first child. Keselowski tweeted Saturday morning, “Gonna miss having my crew chief Paul Wolfe this Sunday. Best wishes to him and his wife Aleah on the pending birth of their first child.” It’s expected that Brian Wilson, team engineer for Keselowski’s #2 Ford Fusion, will split crew chief duties with Greg Erwin in Sunday’s race.(NBC Sports)(3-1-2014)
UPDATE: Congrats to Paul and Aleia Wolfe on the birth of Caden Paul Wolfe, 7 pounds, 10 ounces. Caden was born early Sunday morning.(3-2-2014)
2014 Daytona 500 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 1:12 PM, stopped for the rain delay at 2:19 PM, restarted at 8:33 PM, then stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 11:18 PM (all times are EST). Fox was the broadcast team for this event.
Total number of commercials: 132
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 75
Number of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 12
Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast: 40
Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 4 min.
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 1:12 PM
Rain Delay stoppage: 2:19 PM
Restart: 8:33 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 11:18 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 232
Minutes of race broadcast: 173
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 596
Number of missed restarts: 0
Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 0
Total race brdcst time 173 Total comm. brdcst time 59
See full report, race brdcast times, commercials during race broadcast, TV Previews/Promos, past races and more at CawsnJaws.com(3-2-2014)
Keselowski partners with Paralyzed Veterans of America for National Program: Paralyzed Veterans of America announced that Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford Fusion and 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion, will be partnering with Paralyzed Veterans to help raise awareness about the organization’s vehicle donation program – Wheels Helping Warriors. Keselowski will serve as an honorary spokesperson and be featured in two public service announcements about the program. Keselowski has long supported veterans through the work of his Checkered Flag Foundation, whose mission is to support veterans and those who have served and sacrificed. Officially launched in November 2013, Wheels Helping Warriors marks Paralyzed Veterans’ first nationwide vehicle donation program. Paralyzed Veterans has partnered with the Donation Division of Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc. (IAA), the leading live and live-online salvage auto auction company, to help with the donation process. IAA’s Donation Division provides nonprofit organizations with complete donation processing services – a key differentiator in the marketplace that creates a simplified approach for participants. IAA assists with title issues, vehicle pickup, auction services and receipts all donors following the auction. Wheels Helping Warriors accepts all types of vehicles for donation including motorcycles, motorhomes, cars, trucks, boats, etc. – regardless of the condition. To learn more about the program or to donate a vehicle, please visit www.wheelshelpingwarriors.org or call 855-744-0782.(Team Penske)(3-2-2014)
Bowman continues relationship with Arizona company: Innovative Green Technologiesannounced a new agreement to continue their relationship with Alex Bowman, driving the #23 BK Racing Toyota Camry for the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. As an Arizona based company, IGT is excited about the opportunity to continue their relationship with Tucson native, Alex Bowman, a vocal supporter of their innovative fuelxx technology, having experienced its cost-saving benefits first-hand. fuelxx is a patented technology that processes diesel fuel creating a more complete and cleaner burn reducing its detrimental environmental impact and significantly reducing the fuel cost of long-haul diesel engines.(Innovative Green Technologies)(3-2-2014)
Seahawks quarterback visits Kahne at Phoenix: After finishing 11th in Saturday’s final practice session at Phoenix International Raceway, Kasey Kahne shifted his focus to another role: Playing tour guide. Kahne escorted his friend Russell Wilson – the quarterback of Kahne’s beloved Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks – on a tour of the Sprint Cup Series garage and showed Wilson the detailed interior of the # 5 Chevy. The Washington-born Kahne is teaming with Wilson for a charity golf event and concert called “The Drive” (June 23-24) that will raise money for a Seattle-area Boys and Girls Club. Several NASCAR drivers and NFL players are expected to attend. “With Kasey being from the Washington area and all that, he’s a big Seahawks fan and we have a connection,” Wilson told USA TODAY Sports. “We wanted to do (the charity event) together. It’s kind of cool. We’re in different sports worlds, but at the same time, we have a great appreciation for each other. It’s really exciting.” Wilson, in the Phoenix area to attend spring training with the Texas Rangers beginning Monday, watched practice from the top of a hauler and then spent time with Kahne afterward.(USA Today)(3-2-2014)
Camping World to extend title sponsorship UPDATE: Camping World, which has sponsored NASCAR’s truck series since 2009, will announce in about a month an extension to its original seven-year deal, company chairman Marcus Lemonis said Sunday. Lemonis, whose reality television show “The Profit” was the sponsor of the Sprint Cup race Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway, revealed the plans when talking about the company’s involvement in NASCAR. The original contract went through 2015.”In about a month, we’ll be announcing a significant extension to that contract,” Lemonis said. “It’s been great for us.” Last year, Lemonis said he wanted to see how Fox Sports 1, the network rebranded from the former Speed network and the channel that now handles truck telecasts, treats the series. The network has more viewers but also more sports. “I’m happy enough with what I’ve seen and NASCAR has reassured me they’re going to stay very involved in that process,” Lemonis said. “Week 1 of ratings for the truck series down in Daytona were up 11 percent. “I was told it was going to be closer to 40-50 percent, so the jury is still out. But the coverage I thought was fantastic.”(Sporting News)(3-2-2014)
UPDATE: “We are interested in extending our agreement with Camping World and we know the company is as well. While we don’t have a signed agreement yet, we are very pleased with the direction in which our discussions are headed. We love our partnership with Camping World and as soon as we have news to share, we will let you know.”(NASCAR)(3-2-2014)
Colt Ford headlines Food City 500 Pre-Race concert: Known for an eclectic blend of music centered around small town Saturday nights, fishing from the tailgate and mom’s home cooking, Colt Ford’s brand of music embodies Southern culture and this March his sound collides with another Southern tradition when he plays on Bristol’s Food City 500 pre-race stage. For his part, Ford is eager to rock the Food City 500 pre-race stage. Fans wanting front row seats for the party can upgrade their Sunday ticket to a SuperPass, which includes stage-side access to the pre-race concert and Bristol’s famed driver intros as well as a self-guided track tour, for just $80 or $40 for iBelong members. Tickets options are also still available for the March race weekend, with Sunday tickets starting at just $65 or $99 for weekend packages. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (855) 580-5525 or visit www.BristolTix.com.(3-2-2014)
Martinsville Speedway Ticket Office Now Open on Saturday: With the STP 500 just weeks away, the Martinsville Speedway ticket office is open on Saturdays to give fans more opportunity to drop by the track and pick out the seats they would like for the March 30 race. The speedway ticket office will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. The Martinsville Speedway ticket office is open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fans have many great deals to choose from for the STP 500, including: The Family Four Pack: With the Family Four Pack, a family of four can attend the STP 500 for less than $100. The Family Four Pack includes two adult seats and two youth 12 and under seats in the Clay Earles Tower, rows 6-14 for just $90.
Youth And Teen Prices: Tickets for youth 12 and under are just $10 in the Clay Earles Tower, rows 15-52. Teen tickets (ages 13-17) in the same area are $25. Youth and teen ticket prices are good with the purchase of an adult ticket. Youth 12 and under are admitted free to the Kroger 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on March 29 and to Pole Day on March 28. Adult ticket prices for the STP 500 start at $37. Seats in the Bill France Tower are only $42. Tickets to the STP 500 on March 30, the Kroger 250 on March 29 and Pole Day on March 28 can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway)(3-2-2014)

News from March 1, 2014
Final practice: for The Profit on CNBC 500(k) at Phoenix International Raceway is over after 50 scheduled minutes. The top 5, slowest, and notes:
#4-Harvick 136.960
#42-Larson 136.596
#39-Newman 136.508
#41-Busch 136.503
#24-Gordon 136.374
slowest: #66-Nemechek 133.146 & #36-Sorenson 131.492
41 of 43 cars practiced. No speed: #35-Koch & #87-Shepherd.
Notes: #36-Sorenson spun early, after contact from #9-Ambrose, but only suffered minor damage to the car.
See the speeds, laps run, 10-lap averages on the Phoenix Practice 3 speeds page.(3-1-2014)
Keselowski’s crew chief to miss Phoenix: One day after helping his driver, #2-Brad Keselowski, earn the pole for Sunday’s The Profit on CNBC 500 with a record-setting performance, crew chief Paul Wolfe will not be atop Keselowski’s pit box for the race itself. Wolfe flew back on Keselowski’s jet to his North Carolina home early Saturday to be with wife Aleia for the birth of the couple’s first child. Keselowski tweeted Saturday morning, “Gonna miss having my crew chief Paul Wolfe this Sunday. Best wishes to him and his wife Aleah on the pending birth of their first child.” It’s expected that Brian Wilson, team engineer for Keselowski’s #2 Ford Fusion, will split crew chief duties with Greg Erwin in Sunday’s race.(NBC Sports)(3-1-2014)
First Saturday practice: for The Profit on CNBC 500(k) at Phoenix International Raceway is over after 48 minutes. The top 5, slowest, and notes:
#4-Harvick 137.757
#1-McMurray 136.830
#42-Larson 136.830
#88-Earnhardt, Jr. 136.664
#2-Keselowski 136.638
slowest: #87-Nemechek 131.728 & #51-Allgaier 128.265
42 of 43 cars have practiced. No speed: #66-Nemechek.
Notes: The session started a few minutes late after NASCAR finished drying the track after morning showers. Joe Nemechek was in the #87, rather than Shepherd, during the session.
See the speeds, laps run, 10-lap averages on the Phoenix Practice 2 speeds page.(3-1-2014)
Weather expected to be an issue Saturday: A weather system moving into Arizona is expected to cause problems with on track activities Saturday at Phoenix International Raceway. According to the National Weather Service the forecast calls for:
Saturday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 69. Breezy, with a southwest wind 13 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Saturday Night: A 40% chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight.
Sunday: A 20% chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming west southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
See more weather info at the Weather Channel and find more weather links on the Phoenix Race page – weather section.(3-1-2014)
Drivers want NASCAR to let teams cool cars during qualifying: NASCAR’s new knock-out qualifying format is more interesting than its former single-car qualifying format. But it’s definitely still a work in progress. For example, one of the more notable instances from [the] session was drivers turning slow laps and cutting their motors on the track in an attempt to cool their cars down enough for one more hot lap. Under the rules of the new format, teams are not allowed to cool the cars down on pit road. The slow laps made for a bit of a lull in the session, but more importantly, they’re a potential safety issue. #1-Jamie McMurray, who qualified third on the inside of Row 2 for Sunday’s event, believed that the sanctioning body should consider allowing the teams to be able to cool their cars in the pits. Logano, perhaps noting the down time in the session, chimed in as well: “The cars would also go out more often. It takes so long to cool, so if you can do it in five minutes and go back out, there would be more cars on the race track to do a hot lap.”
As for NASCAR’s viewpoint, vice president of competition Robin Pemberton said that the reason for not having cool-down units used was to ensure that the hoods would stay closed and illegal adjustments to the car would not be made. “Like everything we’ve been able to do the last 4-6 months, we’ll continue to talk to the drivers and teams, and solicit feedback on how, if anything, we can improve,” he said. “We heard some of the same [feedback] and we also heard drivers within the last 30 minutes stop by and say, ‘Don’t let anybody talk you into hooking up the cool-down units.’ Because they feel it’s part of the strategy of how much tape you run, how many laps you run, how many times you run in the entire session. There are a whole menu of things that people want to work on and not work on.”(NBC Sports)(3-1-2014)
Harvick says Daytona needs more SAFER barriers: From #4-Kevin Harvick’s media availability on Friday:
ARE YOUR SORE AT ALL FROM LAST WEEK? I SAW YOUR TWEETS AND AM CURIOUS IF YOU’VE GOTTEN ANY REACTION?
Harvick: “The tracks, for the most part, don’t listen to really anything unless it’s profitable for their shareholders. So, when you see somebody spending $400 million dollars on their track and they don’t have soft walls around the inside, maybe they could spend $403 million to go ahead and finish the inside of the superspeedway there at Daytona. Yeah, I was sore all week. And, just today feel good enough to do what I need to do. So, it was just a weird situation. The car didn’t have any brakes or any steering and the throttle was partially hung coming off the wall and going through the wet grass and then into no safer barrier at the end of pit road there. So, it was a hard shot. It’s a little bit frustrating because it really shouldn’t even be a debate. I know they have data that shows where the most frequently hit spots are but we wear all this safety equipment and do all the things that we do to these race tracks for that one freak incident to keep things from happening like happened back in 2001. So, it’s shouldn’t even be a debate. It’s just one of those things I guess that you just wait around for something else to happen and then they’ll fix it.”(Chevy PR)(3-1-2014)
Earnhardt, Jr. to have different spotter this week UPDATE: 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)
UPDATE: “TJ is good,” Earnhardt replied when asked about his spotter’s health. “He had some issues with his intestines last year that caused him to miss the Atlanta race. Some of those issues cropped back up – just a small infection. He’s back home now. He’s out of the hospital, so he’s fine. He just hates having to miss it. He’s a huge part of our team. We have such great chemistry. It’s going to be a difficult situation not having him, but we’ve got Bill Elliott, of all people, (who) is going to fill in during practice. That’s going to be pretty awesome.”(NASCAR Wire Service)(3-1-2014)
Formula One expected to make decision on Haas UPDATE: 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)
UPDATE: The FIA has delayed its decision on a future Formula One team entry, which was due [Friday]. The governing body has written to the candidates, but apparently did not give a reason for the delay, nor an alternative deadline. However, it’s worth speculating that FIA president Jean Todt and F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone might have different ideas about which team should get the nod. It’s believed that only one slot is up for grabs, although there is no reason why the field could not be extended to 26 cars, and that may be one of the factors behind the delay. There’s also the question of whether all the existing teams will survive over the next couple of years. It seems that Gene Haas is aiming for a 2016 start. The Romanian project is ready to kick off in 2015, and should it be given the go ahead.(Autoweek)(3-1-2014)
Most Popular Driver voting to start in May: As the fan-driven National Motorsports Press Association’s Most Popular Driver program launches for its 62nd season, the NMPA announced on Friday that the program will undergo changes for the 2014 season. Voting opens for the Most Popular Driver Award in May and will officially close at midnight on Sunday, Nov. 16. An official launch date will be announced in the near future. Once the program launches, fans will have the opportunity to vote by logging onto www.mostpopulardriver.com throughout the remainder of the season. The NMPA will release the official launch date for the program in the near future.(NASCAR.com)(3-1-2014)
Busch wins at Phoenix: #54-Kyle Busch won the Blue Jeans Go Green 200 at Phoenix International Raceway after rain forced NASCAR to shorten the race 32 laps from the finish. #88-Kevin Harvick finished second followed by #22-Brad Keselowski, #42-Kyle Larson, #20-Matt Kenseth, #11-Elliott Sadler, #6-Trevor Bayne, #7-Regan Smith, #9-Chase Elliott, and #3-Ty Dillon.
There were 4 cautions for 24 laps and 4 lead changes among 3 leaders. Complete results are on the Phoenix race results page (pdf).
Phoenix Race Fast Facts:
Kyle Busch(i) won the 10th Annual Blue Jeans Go Green 200 presented by Cotton, The Fabric of Our Lives, his 64th victory in 272 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
This is his third consecutive victory in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Phoenix International Raceway.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in 2014.
This is his seventh victory and 13th top-10 finish in 17 races at Phoenix International Raceway.
Kevin Harvick(i) (second) posted his 18th top-10 finish in 22 races at Phoenix International Raceway. It is his first top-10 finish in 2014.
Brad Keselowski(i) (third) posted his ninth top-10 finish in 15 races at Phoenix International Raceway.
Chase Elliott (ninth) was the highest finishing rookie.
Regan Smith leads the point standings by 5 points over Trevor Bayne. (NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(3-1-2014)
Driver standings following Phoenix:
1) #7-Regan Smith, 83
2) #6-Trevor Bayne, 78 -5
3) #11-Elliott Sadler, 77 -6
4) #3-Ty Dillon, 71 -12
5) #31-Dylan Kwasniewski, 67 -16
6) #62-Brendan Gaughan, 66 -17
7) #9-Chase Elliott, 64 -19
8) #2-Brian Scott, 60 -23
9) #99-James Buescher, 60 -23
10) #28-Mike Wallace, 55 -28
See complete standings on the driver standings page (pdf).(3-1-2014)
Owner Standings following Phoenix are posted (pdf).(3-1-2014)
Lucky Dogs – Who got a lap back on each caution at Phoenix: (and their finish)
Caution 1: #52-Joey Gase, 24th
Caution 2: #42-Kyle Larson, 4th
Caution 3: #60- Chris Buescher, 15th
Caution 4: None; rain delayed, and eventually ended the race.
(3-1-2014)
Keselowski on pole at Phoenix: #22-Brad Keselowski won the Coors Light Pole for the Blue Jeans Go Green 200 at Phoenix International Raceway with a speed of 134.053 mph. #2-Brian Scott will start second. The rest of the top 10: #54-Kyle Busch, #20-Matt Kenseth, #3-Ty Dillon, #11-Elliott Sadler, #88-Kevin Harvick, #7-Regan Smith, #42-Kyle Larson, and #6-Trevor Bayne. Did Not Qualify: None. The starting lineup is posted on the Phoenix starting lineup page (pdf).(3-1-2014)
Phoenix Qualifying Notes:
Brad Keselowski(i) won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 10th Annual Blue Jeans Go Green 200 presented by Cotton, The Fabric of Our Lives with a lap of 26.855 seconds, 134.053 mph.
Keselowski swept the weekend with two poles; he also will start on the pole in the NSCS race. The last person to sweep a weekend of poles was Denny Hamlin in October 2013 when he won the poles for both the NSCS and NCWTS races.
This is his 15th pole in 207 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
This is his first pole and first top-10 start in 2014.
This is his first pole in 15 races at Phoenix International Raceway.Brian Scott (second) posted his first top-10 start of 2014 and his fourth in ten races at Phoenix International Raceway.
Kyle Busch(i) (third) posted his 15th top-10 start at Phoenix International Raceway. It is his second in two races this season.
Ty Dillon (fifth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(3-1-2014)
Daytona Launches Fancam of 2014 DAYTONA 500: Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s second career victory in the DAYTONA 500 this past Sunday is the talk of the sporting world. Starting Friday, the tens of thousands of fans who were at Daytona International Speedway to witness this epic race can go online to http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/fancam and tag their image in the Fancam photo. The DAYTONA 500 Fancam is a photo technology that transforms a high-definition, 360 degree crowd image of Daytona International Speedway, the largest image ever take at a live sporting event, into a social media fan engagement experience. During last Sunday’s 56th annual DAYTONA 500, the Fancam captured high-definition images of the crowd all the way down to the seat level. The images were then ‘stitched’ together and uploaded to a custom landing page where fans can tag themselves and share on Facebook, Twitter and e-mail.(DIS)(3-1-2014)
LVMS expects smooth traffic flow for March 6-9 NASCAR Weekend: Las Vegas Motor Speedway officials are expecting another year of smooth vehicle flow for the upcoming NASCAR Weekend. “Thanks to the efforts of our local officials and law enforcement agencies, we once again expect smooth traffic flow each day during our NASCAR Weekend,” said LVMS president Chris Powell. One major change will be a greater emphasis on egress from the Lucky 7 Preferred parking lot. This is the only paid lot on the LVMS property, and speedway officials have added an additional dedicated exit gate from this lot to allow for three exit lanes following the races on Saturday and Sunday. “We have a commitment to people who purchase a premium parking pass to expedite their exit as quickly as possible,” Powell said. “For those who are concerned about making a quick exit, we recommend either purchasing a Lot 7 pass or using one of the various means of mass transportation.” For the second consecutive year, Race Day Shuttles will service the event. Race fans may contact Race Day Shuttles at www.racedayshuttles.com or (702) 362-0264. For those wishing to take a private charter to the races, LVMS recommends Key Tours. Key Tours has been providing service to the speedway for several years. Key Tours can be contacted at www.keytourslv.com or (800) 261-2691. Buses and taxis will have dedicated exit lanes following the events. A major point of emphasis also will be placed on illegally parked cars along Hollywood Boulevard. Cars parked on the sides of Hollywood in areas designated with no parking signs will be relocated to lots throughout the Las Vegas area. The speedway will continue to crack down on the fraudulent use of handicapped placards. Speedway security will be checking the validity of handicapped passes on each vehicle. The speedway has a video feature to assist drivers. Videos depicting the preferred entry and exit from the speedway may now be found online at www.lvms.com. The speedway also will give traffic updates via Twitter and KDWN AM-720 will provide traffic reports as well. Tickets for all events, Neon Garage passes and Lucky 7 parking permits are on sale at www.lvms.com or by calling (800) 644-4444. Follow LVMS on Facebook and Twitter.(LVMS)(3-1-2014)

March 2014 News Archives

News from March 31, 2014

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