Special DuPont scheme unveiled: #24-Jeff Gordon helped DuPont unveil a new 20th Anniversary paint scheme on his #24 DuPont Chevy this morning at the headquarters of DuPont Performance Coatings during the 2012 DuPont NASCAR Day celebration. Gordon will drive the new Hot Hues Cosmic Dust Silver Metallic #24 DuPont Chevy in the season finale at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida this November marking his famous long-standing partnership with DuPont. Gordon’s NASCAR Cup Series career started 20 years ago at Atlanta Motor Speedway as the young driver burst onto scene in the rainbow-colored Hendrick Motorsports #24 DuPont Chevy. Twenty years later with four championships and 85 career victories under his belt, Gordon will race the commemorative #24 DuPont Chevry only one time at the last race of the 2012 season. Gordon, Hendrick Motorsports and DuPont are celebrating their 20th full season together – the longest current running driver/owner/sponsor partnership in NASCAR. “I’m very fortunate to have an incredible sponsor like DuPont that has invested so much in me and this #24 Hendrick Motorsports team. To stick with one driver and one team and to still be here with us today celebrating our 20th full season, is really incredible,” said Gordon. DuPont Performance Coatings products have been a constant during the storied career of Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports. The new paint scheme uses the popular DuPont ChromaPremier Pro high performance paint finishes and was designed by NASCAR’s first officially licensed artist Sam Bass.(DuPont PR), see images of the scheme on my #24 Team Schemes page.(5-31-2012)
Special scheme for Hamlin at Dover: When #11-Denny Hamlin takes to the track for Sunday’s “FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway, fans will be treated to a specially designed paint scheme just for the Monster Mile that shows support for Autism Speaks. This will be the second straight year Hamlin has run a special paint scheme for Autism Speaks at Dover, and just another component in the now six-year partnership between Autism Speaks and the track. Also, the first 11,000 fans through the gate at the FedEx 400 will receive a mini-diecast #11 car that also serves as a FedEx Office coupon. Hamlin will be on hand representing FedEx and Autism Speaks the night before his race during the pep rally for the NASCAR Unites Track Walk and Sunoco Free Fuel 5K Run, set to take place immediately after Saturday’s Nationwide Series race. The driver will help rally the walk from the SPEED stage in the FanZone before the event begins.(Dover International Speedway), see an image of the scheme on my #11 Team Schemes page.(5-31-2012)
Dodge says nothing finalized on 2013 teams: Three months after its NASCAR future was thrown into disarray by Penske Racing’s impending departure to Ford, Dodge still seems without a firm plan for Sprint Cup in 2013. Recent reports have linked the manufacturer to an IndyCar team [Andretti Autosport] moving into Cup and suggested Dodge could make an announcement in two weeks at Michigan International Speedway. But a Dodge executive said in a Wednesday statement to USA Today Sports that nothing has been finalized. Aside from not having any teams in its 2013 lineup, Dodge also hasn’t settled on an engine builder. The manufacturer could cut a deal to keep receiving motors from Penske’s shop or could start its own engine room. Current Cup teams without a manufacturer deal for next year include Richard Petty Motorsports, Furniture Row Racing and Front Row Motorsports. Furniture Row and RPM declined to comment. Front Row general manager Jerry Freeze told USA Today Sports his team had informal talks with Dodge “but nothing of substance” since the March 1 announcement of Penske’s switch to Ford. Time is growing short on a decision because of NASCAR’s switch to a new model next year. The car’s bodies will require new templates and pieces, and the team is planning to build chassis starting Oct. 1, several weeks earlier than in past seasons.(USA Today)(5-31-2012)
8-Hour Alert sponsoring Ragan at Dover: David Ragan will bring the colors of MHP to the one-mile Dover International Speedway for this weekend’s 400-mile Sprint Cup Series event. Ragan will debut the companies 8-Hour Alert product on the #34 Ford. Fans are aware of their X-Fit and Power Pak Pudding brands, used weekly by the Front Row Motorsports pit crew, and now will have an opportunity to learn more about 8-Hour Alert. The featured brand on Ragan’s Ford this weekend is a dietary supplement available in tablet form. It is used to support feelings of energy, alertness and awareness for up to 8 hours.(Front Row Motorsports / Breaking Limits), see an image of the car on the #34 team paint schemes page.(5-31-2011)
Robby Gordon starting off-road stadium series: [Wednesday] night media industry, fans and supporters witnessed the first exhibition of Robby Gordon’s commitment to taking off-road racing to the next level in 2013 with the introduction of Robby Gordon’s Stadium Super Trucks Series. Modeled after the former infamous Mickey Thompson Off-Road Race Series, Stadium Super Trucks (SST) will astonish fans with dynamic side-by- side racing excitement that promises to leave them wanting more. “Stadium racing helped Jimmie Johnson, Casey Mears and myself launch our careers,” said Robby Gordon, President of SST. “Bringing off-road racing back to the stadium like Mickey Thompson did has been something that I have wanted to do for a long time, and I am proud to say that we have finally accomplished it. SST offers attractive racing venues, remarkable track designs, substantial purse, and opportunity for network TV a lot like NASCAR because you can visualize the whole track.” SST will kick off the season in April 2013 with a minimum 10-race schedule throughout the country and potentially internationally. There will be two events in San Diego and Los Angeles, and the remainder of the calendar will be announced on July 15, 2012. SST will be a 2-day event. Friday’s events consist of qualifying to ensure local media coverage for Saturday’s events. Action-packed Saturday’s will start off with a fan expo and tailgating, side-by-side ATV heats, Bigfoot heats and finals, SST heats and then on to the main event. Trucks will be modeled after automobile manufacturer replicas and the SST trucks will consist of 600 horsepower V-8 engines, with 20 inches of wheel travel while racing on DOT approved tires exactly like the ones you can purchase and drive on the street. Racers will have the opportunity to win a $60,000 purse each weekend and the overall series champion will be awarded a $500,000 dollar prize at the conclusion of the season.(PR) AND: Gordon, a former off-road champion, put his # 7 Sprint Cup team on hold in March because of a lack of funding. Hoping to fund his racing program through sales of his Speed Energy drink, Gordon has not attempted to qualify for a Cup race since Auto Club Speedway but does plan to compete on the road course at Sonoma in late June (Sporting News)(5-31-2012)
Madagascar featured on the #48: There may be some animals in victory lane if Jimmie Johnson is able to drive his #48 machine there Sunday at Dover International Speedway. Alex, Marty, Gloria and Melman from “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted” are part of a special paint scheme for the #48 Lowe’s/Madagascar Chevy that Johnson will drive in celebration of the release of the third installment of the animated series. Johnson’s record at the 1-mile concrete oval suggests that a visit to victory lane may not be out of the realm of possibility. He has six wins in 20 starts at the Monster Mile and leads in almost every statistical category in NASCAR’s loop data. In fact, Johnson counts the track among his favorites. A winning record surely helps put the track at the top of his list.(Hendrick Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #48 team paint schemes page.(5-31-2012)
Ford sponsoring Kentucky parking areas Ford will team with Ford Dealers in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana to support Kentucky Speedway’s race day traffic management for five 2012 NASCAR events including the Sprint Cup Series “Quaker State 400” by sponsoring 170 new acres of free parking east of the 107,000-capacity venue. Fans arriving at the speedway in Ford vehicles will be directed to park in forward sections of the expansive Ford Parking area. Lots that make up the area will bear the names of Ford models including the Louisville, Ky., built Escape, which will serve as the speedway’s Official Pace Vehicle; Fusion, which races on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series circuit; and F150, which competes on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series tour. A parking lot also is expected to display the name of the brand’s iconic Mustang model, which is featured on the NASCAR Nationwide Series circuit. Ford Parking will combine with repurposed land on the original Kentucky Speedway property to accommodate an estimated 20,000 additional vehicles.(Kentucky Speedway)(5-31-2012)
News from May 30, 2012
McCall Farms signs multi-race sponsorship extension with Front Row: Coming off of a successful foray into NASCAR team sponsorship at Darlington Raceway, McCall Farms has partnered with Front Row Motorsports for six additional races of primary sponsorship in the 2012 season. The sponsorship will feature three McCall Farms brands: Margaret Holmes, Peanut Patch, and Glory Foods. While McCall Farms will continue to utilize #34-David Ragan as the representative for its Margaret Holmes and Peanut Patch brands, the company will also utilize David Gilliland and his #38 Ford to carry the colors of its Glory Foods brand. David Ragan will sport Margaret Holmes colors in three remaining 2012 events: Bristol Motor Speedway (8/25), Atlanta Motor Speedway (9/2), and Charlotte Motor Speedway (10/13). David Gilliland will race the #38 Glory Foods entry for three races as well: Daytona International Speedway (7/7), Talladega Superspeedway (10/7), and Charlotte Motor Speedway (10/13). McCall Farms’ program will feature Front Row Motorsports driver displays at retail, special edition product packaging, driver appearances, client hospitality, in-race-market signage, social media promotions, a national sweepstakes, a significant cause marketing program and an employee appreciation day at the company’s Effingham, S.C. headquarters.(Front Row Motorsports/Breaking Limits)(5-30-2012)
At Dover International Speedway:
• The official opening of Dover International Speedway, then called Dover Downs International Speedway, was in 1969.
• The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on July 6, 1969.
• The first two races at Dover were 300 miles. The race length was changed to 500 miles in 1971.
• The track surface was changed to concrete in 1995.
• The race length was changed to 400 miles beginning with the second race in 1997.
• The track name was changed to Dover International Speedway in 2002.
• There have been 84 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Dover International Speedway since the track opened in 1969.
• There was one race in 1969 and 1970. There has been two-a-year since 1971.
• Richard Petty won the track’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup race.
• There have been 35 different pole winners, led by David Pearson (six).
• David Pearson won the first pole in July 1969.
• Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon and Ryan Newman lead all active drivers, each with four poles.
• 33 different drivers have posted victories led by Bobby Allison and Richard Petty, each with seven.
• Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers, with six victories.
• Hendrick Motorsports has a series-high 13 wins.
• 51 races at Dover have been won from a top-five starting position; 18 races have been won from a starting position outside the top 10.
• 13 drivers have won from the pole. The last to do so was Jimmie Johnson, in the 2010 September race.
• The furthest back in the field a race winner started was 37th, by Kyle Petty in 1995.
• Several active drivers had their first start at Dover: David Ragan (finished 42nd in 2006), Kurt Busch (18th in 2000), Matt Kenseth (sixth in 1998) and Bobby Labonte (34th in 1991).
• In addition, Matt Kenseth (2002) and Michael Waltrip (1991) earned their first pole at Dover. Martin Truex Jr. won his first race there (2007).
• Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dover International Speedway winner: Kyle Busch (06/01/2008 – 23 years, 0 months, 30 days).
• Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dover International Speedway winner: Harry Gant (05/31/1992 – 52 years, 4 months, 21 days).
(NASCAR)(5-30-2012)
Taylor Earnhardt gets married: Taylor Nicole Earnhardt and Brandon Samuel Putnam were married on the 26th of May, 2012 at the Earnhardt Estate in Mooresville, North Carolina. Earnhardt, 23, is a professional rodeo competitor and devotes herself to supporting the Dale Earnhardt Foundation, a charitable organization that is dedicated to children, education and wildlife preservation. She is also the Director of Equestrian Development for Dale Earnhardt Incorporated. She is currently studying in equine business, reproduction and training to use in her future endeavors. She is the daughter of Dale and Teresa Earnhardt of Mooresville, North Carolina. Her father, seven-time NASCAR Champion Dale Earnhardt, was the co-founder of Dale Earnhardt Incorporated. Her mother Teresa is the co-founder and current CEO of Dale Earnhardt Incorporated based in Mooresville, North Carolina. Putnam, 25, is the owner of Hi Tech Incorporated, a grading and trucking company in Charlotte, North Carolina. He also competes in rodeo professionally and is an avid hunter. He graduated from Central Piedmont Community College and received a degree in Fire Science. He is the son of Sam and Julie Putnam of Charlotte, North Carolina. His father Sam is a retired landscape and grading company owner and CEO, and his mother Julie is an accountant and financial manager for several grading and land care companies in Charlotte, North Carolina.(5-30-2012)
Danica featured in ESPN The Magazine: Women in Sports: After a successful run in IndyCar, #10-Danica Patrick began transitioning to NASCAR in 2010 and had a rocky start. She wants to win, but she’s also out to gain some credibility. A lot of haters think she’s only where she is because of how she looks. Is that unfair? Or is it part of racing-perhaps the only sport where connections and money can get you a spot in the competition? In ESPN The Magazine’s first-ever “Women in Sports” issue, on newsstands Friday, Patrick discusses her switch to NASCAR, her fatigue with the “women driver” storyline and why she does those risqu� ads.(ESPN)(5-30-2012)
BB&T; returns to the #31: Jeff Burton’s #31 Chevy will sport the burgundy and gray colors of Winston-Salem, N.C.-based BB&T; this weekend. The #31 BB&T; Chevy paint scheme debuted in March at Bristol Motor Speedway and made appearances this season at Martinsville Speedway, Richmond International Raceway and Darlington Raceway along with a special edition co-branded paint scheme with Caterpillar during NASCAR’s Sprint All-Star Race Weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.(RCR), see an image of the car on the #31 team paint schemes page.(5-30-2012)
Daytona 500 tickets on sale Friday: Tickets to NASCAR’s biggest, richest and most prestigious race – the 55th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 24 – will go on sale Friday, June 1 at 9 a.m. (ET). Tickets for the Daytona 500, which was won earlier this year by Matt Kenseth, start at $65. For the second straight year, the Speedway is offering special youth pricing for the 55th annual Daytona 500. Children 12 and under will receive 50 percent off all Superstretch grandstand seats for the Daytona 500 while supplies last. In addition, children 12 and under are free in the Sprint FANZONE throughout Budweiser Speedweeks. In addition to the 55th annual Daytona 500, tickets for all Budweiser Speedweeks 2013 events will be available for purchase. Race fans can also now pre-purchase weekend infield camping for the Daytona Shootout weekend as well as Rolex 24 At Daytona infield car parking packages.(DIS)(5-30-2012)
Phoenix tickets on sale Friday: Phoenix International Raceway has waived the green flag for fans to purchase tickets to one of the most exciting race weekends of the NASCAR season, featuring the semi-final race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Tickets to the Nov. 8-11 NASCAR event weekend at PIR go on sale June 1 and can be purchased by visiting PhoenixRaceway.com/Tickets or by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223). Last year’s semi-final race at PIR sold out quickly. The capacity crowd witnessed a thrilling race won by Kasey Kahne on PIR’s newly paved track, while Chase points leaders Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart positioned themselves for an historic conclusion to the 2011 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. A number of great individual pricing options are available throughout the event weekend. Tickets to the Sunday, Nov. 11 Chase for the Sprint Cup Series Race begin at $25. Prices start as low as $15 for the opportunity to watch two Saturday (Nov. 10) races, the Great Clips 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series Race and the Casino Arizona 50 NASCAR K&N; Pro Series West Race.(PIR)(5-30-2012)
News from May 29, 2012
Overnight Charlotte TV Ratings: NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing on FOX averaged a 4.1/8 on Sunday night for the Coca-Cola 600 from Charlotte Motor Speedway. That’s up +2% over last year’s 4.0/8 and is the best metered rating for the event since 2008’s 4.4/10. In overnight ratings the Coke 600 tied with the 4.1/11 earned by the Indianapolis 500 earlier in the day on ABC. Heading into the final week of the season, NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing on FOX is averaging a 4.3/9, off -4% from last year’s 4.5/10. See past race TV Ratings, 4-year comparison chart and more on the 2012 TV Ratings page.(5-15-2012)
The Entry List for the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway is posted, 46 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including: Not in top 35 of owners points:
#19-Mike Bliss (47/7)
#23-Scott Riggs (43/12)
#26-Josh Wise (40/12)
#30-David Stremme (38/12)
#33-Stephen Leich (37/12)
#49-J.J. Yeley (39/12)
#52-Mike Skinner (51/2)
#74-Cole Whitt (46/8)
#79-Scott Speed (53/2)
#87-Joe Nemechek (42/12)
#98-Michael McDowell (41/12) In the event that qualifying is cancelled:
the eight who would make it [8]: #’s 33,30,49,26,98,87,23,74
missing the race would be [3]: #’s 19,52, 79
See the full entry list at my Jayski’s Dover Entry List.(5-29-2012)
Vote gives fans say in NASCAR video game cover: NASCAR fans will determine which NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver will grace the cover of the upcoming NASCAR The Game: Inside Line video game in the “Drive for the Cover” campaign. This campaign lets NASCAR fans vote in a bracketed tournament that will be hosted entirely on NASCAR The Game’s Facebook page, and can be easily accessed at NASCARTheGame.com/Vote. Voting has started and will run thru July 15th.(NASCAR)(5-29-2012)
NASCAR teams join together to support Autism Speaks at Dover: In what has become tradition at Dover International Speedway in the six years the track has partnered with Autism Speaks, drivers will again help create autism awareness during the June 1-3, 2012 race weekend by showing their support with a decal on their respective cars. Drivers across all three series have stepped up to raise awareness for the cause during the Dover race weekend by featuring a decal of the Autism Speaks puzzle piece logo on their cars in all three of the June 1 Camping World Truck Series race, the June 2 Nationwide Series race and the June 3 Sprint Cup Series race. In addition, David Gilliland, driver of the #38 Ford for Front Row Motorsports, will feature a special Autism Speaks paint scheme on his car to show his support for the cause during Sunday’s race. Altogether, 15 drivers from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, 16 from the NASCAR Nationwide Series and 13 from the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series are participating. They include: #2-Brad Keselowski, #9-Marcos Ambrose, #14-Tony Stewart, #16-Greg Biffle, #22-A.J. Allmendinger, #27-Paul Menard, #29-Kevin Harvick, #31-Jeff Burton, #34-David Ragan, #38-David Gilliland, #39-Ryan Newman, #43-Aric Almirola, #56-Martin Truex Jr., #78-Regan Smith, #99-Carl Edwards. For the rest of the list of NNS & CWTS drivers, see Doverspeedway.com. NASCAR returns to the Monster Mile on June 1-3, 2012. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 800-441-RACE or visit DoverSpeedway.com.(Dover International Speedway)(5-29-2012)
New and Improved In-Venue Broadcast Service Coming to Dover: With another exciting season of racing underway, Dover International Speedway and FanVision Entertainment, LLC, announced a special offer for Monster Mile fans that will enhance the at-track companion viewing experience, while saving fans money. The FanVision Team-Up promotion offers attendees of the Dover races the chance to rent one FanVision controller at the regular weekend price of $59.99, and get a second controller for � off a savings of $29.99! Both controllers come with a set of racing headphones for listening to the radio scanners, MRN and other in-device sources. To team up with a friend and save, fans simply need to visit any of 11 FanVision or Racing Electronics kiosks or trailers around Dover International Speedway to get their Team-Up Card and rent their FanVision controllers. Additional promotional information is available at these locations. A map of locations can be found at fanvision.com/nascar/event/fedex-400.(DIS)(5-29-2012)
News from May 28, 2012
Rusty would like to see the schedule reduced: Rusty Wallace, recently selected to the NASCAR Hall of Famer, loves plenty of things about the sport. Except maybe the increased schedule. “It’s the classic case of supply and demand,” Wallace said Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “Too much supply and not enough demand.” Wallace won 55 Sprint Cup races in a career that stretched from 1980 to 2005. He thought the series was at its best in the mid-1990s when NASCAR ran 31 or 32 races. This year, drivers will race in 36 events as they’ve done since 2001. “Personally, I wish the schedule were 32 again,” Wallace said. Wallace still believes in NASCAR’s popularity. However, he hopes the sports leaders don’t water down the product with too many races. “I love NASCAR. It’s been good to me, it’s made me a lot of money,” Wallace said. “I think it’s OK for me to give my opinion. I don’t think NASCAR would get upset about that. Maybe take four races off the schedule and increase that demand that means so much.”(Associated Press)(5-28-2012)
2012 inductees named for Georgia Racing Hall of Fame: The 2012 inductees were named for Georgia Racing Hall of Fame: 1970 Daytona 500 champion Pete Hamilton, multi-time Dixie Speedway champion and NASCAR driver Bill Ingram, all-time NHRA Pro Stock Drag Racing winner Warren Johnson, long time dirt track and asphalt ace Doug Kenimer, and sprint car champion Herman Wise. The announcement was made in a special ceremony at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame in Dawsonville, GA. The 2012 Georgia Racing Hall of Fame Induction banquet will be held on Oct. 26, 2012 at 6 pm at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame, located inside the Dawsonville Municipal Complex in Dawsonville, Georgia.(Raceweek Illustrated)(5-28-2012)
News from May 27, 2012
Kahne wins at Charlotte:#5-Kasey Kahne won the Coca Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway for his 1st win of the year, 4th at Charlotte, 3rd Coca Cola 600, his 1st win for Hendrick Motorsports and his 13th career win.
#11-Hamlin finished 2nd followed by #18-Busch, #16-Biffle [led most laps], #2-Keselowski, #88-Earnhardt Jr., #24-Gordon, #29-Harvick, #99-Edwards and #17-Kenseth
Pole sitter, #43-Almirola finished 16th. #10-Danica Patrick finished 30th in her third Sprint Cup start.
There were 5 cautions for 23 yellow flag laps. The race speed average was 156.696mph, the fastest Coca Cola 600 ever.. There were 31 lead changes among 11 drivers.
The estimated attendence was 140,000, down from 145,000 in 2011.
See race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Charlotte Race Results page (pdf) and the official rundown on the Official Race Report. (5-27/28-2012)
Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Dover:
#36 drops to 35th but is 45 points ahead of 36th, and that is a part time #21 team. Rank) Car#-Driver/Team, owners pts, +/-
33) #32-Sorenson/FAS Lane Racing, 172, +56
34) #10-Reutimann-Patrick/Baldwin, 169, +53
35) #36-Blaney/Baldwin,161, +45 ahead of 36th these teams / drivers will need to qualify by speed:
36) #21-Bayne/Wood Bros., 116, -45 from the top 35
37) #33-Leicht/Childress, 110, -51
38) #30-Stremme/Inception, 92, -69
The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
For the owner points standings, see the Owners Points Standings (pdf).(5-27-2012)
Race Fast Facts – Charlotte Motor Speedway:
#5-Kasey Kahne won the 53rd Annual COCA-COLA 600, his 13th victory in 300 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his first victory and sixth top-10 finish in 2012.
This is his fourth victory and ninth top-10 finish in 17 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
#11-Denny Hamlin (second) posted his seventh top-10 finish in 14 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his seventh top-10 finish in 2012.
#18-Kyle Busch (third) posted his 10th top-10 finish in 17 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
#33-Stephen Leicht (39th) was the highest finishing rookie.
#16-Greg Biffle leads the point standings by 10 points over #17-Matt Kenseth.
The 53rd running of the Coca Cola 600 was the quickest-to-date at 3 hours, 51 minutes, 14 seconds. Prior to this event the quickest Coca-Cola 600 was 1995 at 3 hours, 56 minutes, 55 seconds.(NASCAR Statistics)(5-27-2012)
Charlotte Notes-n-Nuggets:
” #5-Kasey Kahne is the third driver to win in his 300th start, joining Rusty Wallace and Ned Jarrett.
” Kasey Kahne is the 16th different driver to win for Hendrick Motorsports; this is the fourth team for which he has won: Evernham Motorsports/Gillett Evernham Motorsports, Richard Petty Motorsports and Red Bull Racing.
” Kasey Kahne scored his fourth win at Charlotte in his 17th start; his third Coca-Cola 600 win ties Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon for most among active drivers.
” Kasey Kahne led six times for 96 laps, including the final 44.
” Hendrick Motorsports scored its 201st career win.
” Hendrick Motorsports has 17 Charlotte wins and 10 in the 600, both most among all organizations.
” Chevrolet has 40 Charlotte wins, most of all manufacturers, 21 in the 600, and five in 2012 (also most among all makes).
” #11-Denny Hamlin (second) posted his sixth top-five finish of 2012 and second consecutive runner-up; it’s his best Charlotte finish in 14 races.
” #18-Kyle Busch (third) posted his ninth top-10 finish in the past 10 Charlotte races; it’s his fifth consecutive top-10 of the season (fourth consecutive top-five).
” #16-Greg Biffle (fourth) led a race-high 204 laps and scored his seventh top-five finish of 2012; he had only three in all of 2011.
” #2-Brad Keselowski (fifth) posted his best Charlotte finish in his sixth start; he recovered from a speeding penalty earlier in the race.
” #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. (sixth) posted his ninth top-10 finish of 2012; he had only 12 in all of 2011.
” #24-Jeff Gordon (seventh) scored only his third top-10 finish of 2012; he ended a four-race streak of finishes of 21st or worse.
” #48-Jimmie Johnson (11th) has finished in the top-12 in all but two races in 2012; he had a removing equipment penalty on Lap 354 while running third.
” The race speed of 155.696 mph set a record for the 600.(Racing Recall/nascar.com)(5-27-2012)
No race wins for pole winners yet in 2012: after 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in 2012, no driver that has won the pole has win the same race. #56-Martin Truex Jr. has the best finish of a 2012 pole sitter with a 6th place finish at Texas. The worst finish by a 2012 pole sitter is #5-Kasey Kahne, who finished 38th at Martinsville. The pole winner for Charlotte was #43-Almirola, who won his 1st career pole but finished 16tt. The last driver to win a race from the pole is #39-Ryan Newman, who won from the pole at New Hampshire in July 2011, 29 races ago. This ties the record of 29, set from 1989 thru 1990. More info and stats on pole on the 2013 Shootout / 2012 Pole winners page and the All-Time pole winners and records page.(5-27-2012)
#21 team wins paint scheme contest: The competition in the NASCAR Sprint Showdown and Sprint All-Star race wasn’t just for the $1 million purse, it also was for top honors in the inaugural 3M Paint with Pride competition. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the 3M PPS System, 3M Automotive Aftermarket held a competition for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams and their car painters to show off their best workand win great prizes. The 3M Paint with Pride selected the car with the best paint scheme that ran in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Showdown Race and All-Star Race under the lights at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The winning team was selected based on paint scheme design, creativity, application and theme. The winner, selected by the judging panel comprised of Al Pearce of AutoWeek, Ray Evernham of ESPN and Doug Rice of Performance Racing Network, was the #21 Good Sam/Camping World Ford driven by Trevor Bayne for Wood Brothers Racing. This is the first time the Wood Brothers have run the paint scheme featuring Good Sam and Camping World. The car was designed with bright reds, blues and yellows to be highly visible under the lights. It was unique in that it was a “make good” from 2011 when the two sponsors were supposed to be on the car and Trevor Bayne wasn’t able to run the race because of his illness. The car design featured Sherwin Williams paint. The paint scheme was designed by Marcus Lemonis, Chairman and CEO of Good Sam/Camping World, and Derek Gigliotti, vice president of creative at Camping World/Freedom Roads. The lead car painter was Mike Smith of Wood Brothers Racing. The team won 3M paint equipment including 3M Spray Gun, 3M PPS Sun Gun Color Matching Light, 3M Mobile Refinish Equipment and 3M painting supplies. In addition, the lead car painter won a gift card for www.Shop3M.com.
Other top finalists included the #17 Fifth Third Ford driven by Matt Kenseth, the first race for new sponsor Fifth Third Bank, bringing a new look for the #17 car. The car featured Sherwin Williams paint and 3M vinyl decals. Also in the top three was the #16 3M American Red Cross Ford driven by Greg Biffle, featuring a special patriotic red, white and blue design with American Red Cross on the hood and the TV panel featuring the names of the top American Red Cross donors from all 50 states. The car design included Sherwin Williams paint and 3M vinyl wrap.(3M PR), see images of the car on my #21 Team Schemes page.(5-27-2012)
Fans Decide First-Ever All-Time Greatest Chip Ganassi Racing Driver: Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (CGRT) announced that Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates driver Juan Pablo Montoya claimed the All-Time Greatest Chip Ganassi Racing Driver title after fans participated in four rounds of voting. Target Chip Ganassi Racing driver Dario Franchitti [who won his 3rd Indy 500 on Sunday] faced Montoya in the Championship round to decide the overall winner of the team’s bracket-style social media promotion. With both the IZOD IndyCar Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series holding two of their largest events of the season during the month of May, CGRT launched their first-ever all-time greatest driver bracket to encourage fans to vote for their All-Time Greatest Chip Ganassi Racing Driver through the team’s social media platforms. Juan Pablo Montoya: “It’s great to see the fans get so involved with the contest and for them to pick me makes it that much better. I was up against some tough competition but my fans and Twitter followers pulled through for me. #TeamMontoya even ended up as a trending topic in Miami and Colombia. That’s pretty cool. Thank you to everyone for the votes!”(EGR)(5-27-2012)
Earnhardt Jr. unveils winning Batman scheme: Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s #88 Chevy went “dark” thanks to fans of The Dark Knight Rises and Mountain Dew. Following a week and a half of voting at DEWCrew.com, Earnhardt revealed which “Dark Knight”-inspired paint scheme will be featured on the hood of his #88 Chevy in Michigan next month [June 17]. In addition to the Bat Shield on the hood, the redesign features Batman and Bane, Gotham City’s newest villain, on either side of the car. The unveiling continues to drive anticipation for Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ The Dark Knight Rises, before the film’s opening day, July 20. “DEW and ‘Dark Knight’ fans have spoken, and it’s pretty cool that the paint scheme they picked is the one I helped create,” remarked Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports. “Now that the winning design has been selected, I can’t wait to see how fans will react to the car on the track in Michigan.” Members of the DEW Crew were given the option of four different paint schemes to vote on, with each capturing a different element featured in the third and final installment of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. The winning design was revealed by Earnhardt and select DEW Crew members at the Hendrick Motorsports Fan Fest in Concord, N.C.(WeberShandwick), see images of the winning scheme on my #88 Team Schemes page.(5-27-2012)
Jimmie Johnson on CBS Sunday Morning: #48-Jimmie Johnson won an unprecedented five consecutive championships on the NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series before he stumbled in 2011 and missed out on a sixth straight title. But, by falling behind, he was able to dig down and put himself in position to win this year, Johnson tells CBS SUNDAY MORNING correspondent Lee Cowan. Racing last year, Johnson tells Cowan, “it seemed like work to me more than ever, and racing’s never been that way. This year, I have the& the energy that I did when I was a rookie coming in.” The change came after some introspection and conversations with his wife, Chandra, on how he can better balance racing and his family life, especially after the birth of their almost two-year-old daughter. “It’s just a tough balance to get that working right,” Johnson says. “But this year things things work right. The balance is there.” Adds Johnson, “I think I’m becoming a better dad and certainly each year, a better husband, I mean it experience is everything. I don’t think it matters if you’re in the car or, you know, in life, in workspace or personal space.” So far, the new attitude has paid off on the track. This season, the driver of the Lowes #48 Chevrolet has won at Darlington and picked up a victory in NASCAR’s prestigious annual All-Star race. Johnson also gives Cowan the first-ever TV peek inside his Charlotte “man-cave,” where he keeps his racing memorabilia. Yet, while at age 36 he’s been incredibly successful, Johnson admits there are moments when he thinks of the sport’s inherent dangers, especially the 2001 death of legend Dale Earnhardt, Sr. in a crash at the Daytona International Speedway. Cowan’s full CBS SUNDAY MORNING interview with Johnson was broadcasted Sunday, May 27 (9:00-10:30 AM ET) the CBS Television Network and can be watched at cbsnews.com.(CBS Sports)(5-27-2012)
Danica would like to run Indy 500, Coca-Cola 600 together next year: Danica Patrick wants to compete in her eighth Indianapolis 500. Her Sprint Cup team owner, Tony Stewart, said before the season he hoped Patrick would be ready to ascend from the Nationwide Series to Sprint Cup full time in 2013. With Patrick unlikely to skip a Cup race as a full-time driver, especially NASCAR’s Coca-Cola-sponsored Memorial Day event and especially after recently joining the brand’s line of endorsers, there is now the highly intriguing possibility of one of sports’ most recognizable figures resurrecting the fabled but fallow Indianapolis-Concord “double.” Charlotte Motor Speedway president Marcus Smith wants to do his part, as do many in motorsports. “That’s a big deal,” he said of Patrick’s aspirations. “She’s a competitor. She’s hungry and she wants to race. I think that’s another piece of the story here, just for her to say that is a big deal. I don’t think she’d say it if she didn’t mean it. Man, if she wanted to do that I definitely would love to help any way we could. We would spring for the helicopter ride to get her from the airplane to the speedway.” Stewart said he would support Patrick if she wanted to attempt both races. “Absolutely. She’s more than welcome to do it,” he said. “I’m sure it would be big.” Patrick’s agent, Mark Dyer, said he is “developing plans” for a possible double bid, “whether it happens next year or not.” Though the pursuit would be highly documented and likely garner mainstream attention, it would not be attempted simply for publicity, he said.(in part from ESPNW)(5-27-2012)
Patriotism of Full Display During Coca-Cola 600 Pre-Race Activities: Charlotte Motor Speedway has always been known for doing things bigger and better. First it was the longest race of the year, then the biggest pre-race show, then largest HDTV screen, and today CMS will also boast the largest free-flying American flag in the world when it is unveiled during the national anthem for Coca-Cola 600.
Charlotte Helicopters will present the flag, which is 65 feet tall and 123.5 feet long, to honor our country’s veterans on this Memorial Day weekend racing celebration. The 8,000-square-foot beauty, which weighs nearly 200 pounds, will be raised and towed by helicopter during pre-race festivities.
“What better way to show our pride and honor our fallen veterans, then to share this maiden flight with the most patriotic fans in America during NASCAR’s homecoming weekend,” said Kevin Haynes, a US Army veteran who spent most of 2011 in Afghanistan as a civilian and is also a pilot for Charlotte Helicopters. “I have lifelong friends buried in our national cemeteries. It’s a privilege to fly this flag in their honor. We too easily forget that these men and women volunteer to die defending our freedoms. I only wish we could do more to honor them.”(CMS)(5-27-2012)
Veteran, Nonprofit to be Honored During Coca-Cola 600 Pre-Race Ceremonies: Even after Dale Beatty lost both of his legs in combat, he refused to let his injuries keep him from serving his country. His continued commitment to helping other wounded veterans through Purple Heart Homes brings him to Charlotte Motor Speedway to be recognized with the Stonewall Jackson Award during the Coca-Cola 600 weekend. Beatty and fellow Iraq veteran John Gallina joined the North Carolina National Guard when the two were friends in high school. They were together in Iraq on Nov. 15, 2004, when an antitank mine exploded under their Humvee, sending the vehicle flying nearly 200 feet through the air before coming to rest upside down. Beatty was trapped, his legs crushed by the weight of the vehicle. At Walter Reed Medical Center, doctors amputated his left leg, then gave Beatty the choice of keeping his right leg and facing years of therapy and a lifetime of pain or amputate it as well. Beatty chose amputation. Back home in Statesville, N.C., the community rallied behind their hero, offering to build him a specially-designed home on his family’s land. Beatty found solace working alongside other community members and invited Gallina, who suffered a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the attack, to join the effort. When the project was complete, the two realized they still had more to offer and formed Purple Heart Homes, an organization that carries out handicapped access projects for injured veterans. Beatty and Gallina founded Purple Heart Homes, a nonprofit organization made up of volunteers from all walks of life who share the desire to give back to veterans who have given so much of themselves in service to their country. Purple Heart Homes helps disabled veterans who are already homeowners with any remodeling or upfit that may be required to help overcome the challenges that may come from the disability. For veterans who are not homeowners, the program helps them into new or existing homes.
Presented annually since 1992, the Stonewall Jackson Award recognizes recipients who have demonstrated, by example, the highest standards of patriotism through personal support of the military and/or by personal service to sacrifice above the call of duty. Beatty said he was honored that Purple Heart Homes was being recognized for the work it has done for disabled veterans and being included among such a distinguished list of past recipients. Beatty said the ceremony will be a reunion of sorts for he and Punch, who was honored last year.(CMS)(5-27-2012)
News from May 26, 2012
Race Coverage of the Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled for Sunday, May 27, 2012. Television (TV): FOX at 6:00 pm/et; Pre-Race show at 5:30 pm/et; green flag approx 6:19pm/et Radio: Performance Racing Network (PRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 90 Scheduled Race Re-Airs: on SPEED, Wednesday, May 30 at 12:00pm/et
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway have been made.
Pole sitter #43-Almirola chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #9-Ambrose took pit stall 15, the first pitstall with an opening in front of it.
#48-Johnson, who starts 3rd took the 22nd pit stall, the 2nd stall with an opening in front of it.
The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #55-Martin, who starts 6th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(5-26-2012)
Happy Hour practice for the Coca Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over, after 60 scheduled minutes, the top 10:
#2-Keselowski 183.69
#99-Edwards 183.349
#55-Martin 183.231
#48-Johnson 183.231
#20-Logano 182.921
#14-Stewart 182.908
#17-Kenseth 182.82
#22-Allmendinger 182.75
#51 Busch, 182.513
#56-Truex Jr., 182.445
slowest #32-Bell 175.970 and #87-Nemechek 176.783
no speed listed: #30-Stremme, #38-Gilliland and #47-Labonte.
See fastest speeds, best ten-lap averages, laps run and more on the Charlotte Happy Hour Practice Speeds (pdf), no average speeds all laps and NOT changing back to the old way, just posting the pdf’s.(5-26-2012)
First Saturday practice for the Coca Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over, after 55 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and any notes:
#11-Hamlin 186.24
#27-Menard 186.12
#99-Edwards 186.02
#18-Busch 185.97
#56-Truex Jr., 185.90
slowest #30-Stremme and #33-Leicht.
See fastest speeds, best ten-lap averages, laps run and more on the Charlotte Practice 2 Speeds (pdf), no average speeds all laps and NOT changing back to the old way, just posting the pdf’s.(5-26-2012)
Chassis selections for this weeks race: see the list of many teams [that report or post these] and what chassis were selected by the team to run at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the Charlotte Race Info page – Chassis selection area.
Coke 600 Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will run the same Goodyear tire codes at Charlotte this week . . . these are the same tire codes that were run in the Sprint All-Star and Camping World Truck Series races at Charlotte last weekend . . .for Nationwide teams, this is the same left-side tire code they ran at Charlotte last season, but this is a new right-side code . . . compared to what was run at Charlotte last year, this right-side features just a slight construction change . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Charlotte . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire (Goodyear), see full notes, tire codes, number of sets, codes and more on the Charlotte Race Info page – Goodyear section
Part of I-85 to be dedicated to Jeff Gordon UPDATE: On Friday, May 25, 2012, Officials from NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports and the North Carolina Department of Transportation will join together in a ceremony dedicating a 1.6-mile segment of I-85 from the city of Charlotte corporate limits to the Cabarrus County Line as the Jeff Gordon Expressway in honor of Gordon’s 85th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win, along with his outstanding commitment to public service in North Carolina through charitable contributions and the Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital at Carolina’s Medical Center-NorthEast.(NASCAR)(5-24-2012) UPDATE: Transportation Secretary Gene Conti on Friday joined N.C. Board of Transportation member John Collett, Vice Chairman of the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners Jim Pendergraph, NASCAR President Mike Helton and Hendrick Motorsports Team Owner Rick Hendrick to dedicate a 1.6-mile section of I-85 from the city of Charlotte corporate limits to the Cabarrus County line as the Jeff Gordon Expressway. The Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners requested the road naming, and the N.C. Board of Transportation passed a resolution to dedicate the stretch of highway in Gordon’s honor in December 2011. This stretch of I-85 is currently under construction as part of the $125.2 million project to widen 6.8 miles of I-85 from four to eight lanes from south of Bruton Smith Boulevard to north of N.C. 73. Signs naming it the Jeff Gordon Expressway will be constructed once the widening project is complete in November 2013.(NASCAR)(5-26-2012)
PRN adds Wendy Venturini to the booth: The Performance Racing Network, long known for its engaging, fan-friendly broadcasts, is making history this weekend rightfully at the History 300. It will make Wendy Venturini the first-ever female announcer to lead the NASCAR radio broadcast from the booth. PRN is expanding the role for pit reporter Venturini at Charlotte to pair her with PRN president Doug Rice in the booth to announce Saturday’s History 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is the first time in history a female has anchored a NASCAR radio broadcast. Venturini joins the broadcast team of turn announcers Rob Albright and Brad Gillie, pit reporters Steve Richards, Brett McMillan, Jim Noble and Pat Patterson, director Alicia Lingerfeldt and technical director Harrill Hamrick.
Venturini spends most weekends as a reporter for SPEED’s pre-race show, NASCAR RaceDay, and other SPEED programming, in addition to working as a pit reporter for selected races for PRN. Previously, she was a pit reporter in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Venturini is a 2000 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 2007, Venturini was one of the commentators for DIRECTV NASCAR HotPass, making her the first female play-by-play television announcer in auto racing history.
The PRN broadcast of the History 300 airs on local affiliates and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90) beginning at 2:00pm/et on Saturday, May 26. The broadcast also will be available online at www.GoPRN.com. On Sunday, May 27, host Mark Garrow will return to the booth with Doug Rice for the broadcast of the 53rd running of the Coca-Cola 600, beginning at 5:00pm/et.(PRN)(5-26-2012)
Patriotic Paint Schemes on Parade for Coca-Cola 600: As usual, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has numerous cars decked out with special red, white and blue colored paint schemes for the Memorial Day weekend Coca-Cola 600. Among those adorned with patriotic colors are the red, white and blue flag design of the #29 Chevy of Kevin Harvick promoting ‘Folds of Honor’ for sponsor Budweiser. The Miller Lite #2 Dodge of Brad Keselowski features a blue and white with red trim colors. Juan Pablo Montoya also sports a red and white with blue stripe design on his #42 Target Chevy. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has a red, white and blue paint scheme for the National Guard color on his #88 ‘American Salute’ Chevy. His Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Jimmie Johnson, will also drive a patriotic scheme in his #48 Chevy. Others sporting the red, white and blue colors are Bobby Labonte and his #47 Kingsford Charcoal Toyota; Kyle Busch; the #18 M&M;’s Toyota and #56 NAPA Toyota of Martin Truex Jr. Sporting a special blue and white design with stars are the Fastenal Fords of Roush/Fenway teammates #99 Carl Edwards, #17 Matt Kenseth and #16 Greg Biffle. Also featured are the armed forces cars #43 Aric Aimirola in the Air Force sponsored Ford, and the #39 US ARMY Chevy of Ryan Newman. Another driver sporting a special color is the Burger King #83 of Landon Cassill with a pink ‘Real Fruit Smoothies’ Toyota. Jeff Burton also has an orange and black color to his #31 Chevy with Wheaties as sponsor (CMS Pit Notes), see all the images on my Paint Schemes Gallery page.(5-26-2012)
Leicht running for ROTY; Circle Sport debuts as team at CMS: Circle Sport, LLC, announced that 2012 Rookie-of-the-Year Contender Stephen Leicht will drive the #33 Circle Sport Chevy this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the debut effort for the Sprint Cup Series organization. Joe Falk recently acquired the #33 from Richard Childress Racing and formed Circle Sport to operate the fledging organization. Falk, a Virginia businessman who has been a part of the sport since the late 1990s, is making a return to fulltime competition in NASCAR’s top series. Falk previously fielded the #91 Sprint Cup entry for drivers Dick Trickle, Greg Sacks, Kevin Lepage, Mike Wallace and Todd Bodine, which included a top-five finish in 1998 season finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
“When the opportunity was presented to acquire the #33 owner points from Richard Childress Racing, we felt this was the way to build a solid foundation for our emerging Sprint Cup operation,” Falk said. Leicht, the 25-year-old former development driver for Robert Yates Racing and winner of the 2007 Nationwide Series race at Kentucky Speedway in his only fulltime season of NASCAR racing, has been selected to pilot the #33 Circle Sport entry in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600. Leicht enters the weekend event with three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts to his credit with his debut coming for legendary owner and engine builder Robert Yates in 2006. Leicht was recently approved for the NASCAR ROTY program and will be guided by veteran crew chief Tony Glover. Glover the three-time Daytona 500 championship crew chief credited with 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories with drivers Ernie Irvan, Sterling Marlin and Joe Nemechek joins Circle Sport after a longtime leadership role with Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing. Falk’s Little Joe’s Autos has served as a sponsor in the races leading up to the Coca-Cola 600, while Precon Marine, another Virginia-based company that specializes in heavy marine constructions, joined in an associate role. Additionally, Circle Sport welcomes marketing partners new to the sport of NASCAR HotTorque.com and Moon Shine Attitude Attire for this weekend’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.(CircleSport PR)(5-26-2012)
Jeff Gordon, Celebrities and Volunteers Fueled Drive to End Hunger Charlotte 1 Million: As part of the final leg of the Drive to End Hunger Charlotte 1 Million, the pit crew from the #88 Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevy won the Pit Crew Packaging Challenge at Hendrick Motorsports’ Fan Fest by packaging 972 nutritious meals, edging out the #48 Lowe’s Chevy, which finished second with 940 meals. The Charlotte 1 Million event at Hendrick Motorsports’ Fan Fest capped the nearly week-long series of activities organized by AARP Foundation to package and donate 1 million meals for hungry older North Carolinians. Since launching the event earlier this week, more than a thousand volunteers pitched in to package meals that will be directly distributed to food banks throughout North Carolina. All total, the event will package and donate 1 million meals to help feed families all over the state.(AARP)(5-26-2012)
Black Daggers to free fall before Coke 600: The U.S. Army Special Operations Command Parachute Demonstration Team, known as the Black Daggers, is scheduled to perform free fall parachute demonstrations during the Coca Cola 600 pre-race festivities Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Black Daggers are volunteers from throughout the Army special operation forces community, including Rangers, Special Forces, support and signal, psychological operations and civil affairs. As Army special operations global warriors, these soldiers have deployed worldwide with their units and are defenders of the nation in the overseas contingency operations. The Black Daggers use the military variant of ram-air parachutes, which allows a free fall parachutist to jump with more than 100 pounds of additional equipment. In addition to the extra weight, the jumper must also withstand high winds, frigid temperatures and low oxygen levels common at high altitude, requiring the jumper to be highly skilled.(CMS Pit Notes)(5-26-2012)
News from May 25, 2012
The Numbers for the Coca Cola 500:
1 – fewest cars on the lead lap at finish (13 times, most recent 5/24/87)
1 – fewest cautions (10/14/62)
2 – fewest laps led by race winner (Kevin Harvick, 5/29/11)
3 – fewest leaders (twice, most recent 5/21/61)
6 – most wins (Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip, Jimmie Johnson)
6 – fewest caution laps (10/14/62)
6 – number of jet dryers available for track drying this weekend
8 – fewest lead changes (10/16/60)
11 – consecutive poles (David Pearson)
14 – most poles (David Pearson)
14 – wins from the pole (most recent, Jimmie Johnson, 10/17/09)
21 – most leaders (5/29/05)
22 – most cautions (5/29/05)
26 – most cars on lead lap at finish (5/25/09)
39 – different pole winners
42 – most cars running at finish (5/25/09)
44 – different race winners
54 – most lead changes (5/27/79)
113 – most caution laps (5/25/80)
120 minutes – approximate amount of time it takes to dry the 1.5-mile track after a significant rainfall
335 – most laps led by race winner (Jim Paschal, 5/28/67) 2012 Caution Update
1 – fewest cautions this season (Fontana)
4 – races extended beyond scheduled distance (Daytona, Martinsville, Talladega and Darlington)
10 – most cautions this season (Daytona)
61 – number of cautions in the first 11 races of 2012; includes 26 for accidents, 17 for debris and eight for spins
343 of 3,488 – number of laps under caution in 2012
438.071 of 4,233.118 – miles under caution in the first 11 races
(Darnell Communications for SRT Motorsports and Dodge)(5-25-2012)
Dick Berggren celebrates 70th birthday, to retire after Dover: Next week’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover marks the end of an era for NASCAR’s longest-serving TV pit reporter, who celebrates his 70th birthday during Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. After 12 years on NASCAR on FOX, Berggren will give his final pit report for the network at Dover in the same informative and passionate manner he has since first establishing himself in the role 31 years ago. Ironically, Berggren made his NASCAR broadcasting debut at Dover in 1981 alongside Mike Joy, his NASCAR on FOX and SPEED colleague, the only NASCAR broadcaster on-air longer than Berggren. “After the FOX portion of the year ends, I’ve always traveled to local tracks where I still enjoy sitting in the stands with a hot dog in one hand and a beer in the other, watching the local heroes,” Berggren said. “I can’t get enough of local-level racing so I’ll do more of that now.” The Speedway Illustrated founder says that in addition to contributing stories and columns to the publication, he very well may continue to pop up on pit road at NASCAR races periodically. But he also has set in motion lofty goals and projects to which he can dedicate his newfound extra time. The Massachusetts resident has founded a corporation with the intent of building an auto racing museum at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He already has acquired an agreement with the speedway, tax-exempt status from the IRS and the support of a powerful Board of Directors. “Life will be different without FOX,” Berggren expressed. “I’m very proud of having been part of the NASCAR on FOX broadcasts from the beginning. I’m dreading the 2013 Daytona 500 because I won’t be there on pit road as part of that team. That will be hard, but nothing is forever and I understand that. I’m looking forward to walking into the museum on the day it opens. That’s a whole new challenge and one I fully expect to conquer. But it’s time to move on. I’m ready. However, it would be nice to pick up a few TV things here and there. I’d really like that.”(quotes and more at SPEED.com)(5-25-20102)
Could Kurt Busch join brother Kyle at Joe Gibbs Racing? #51-Kurt Busch is a free agent, and his brother, #18-Kyle, already drives a Cup car for Joe Gibbs Racing. While it might sound like a stretch for JGR to employ two brothers as drivers, it’s not out of the question. JGR has room to add a fourth team, and if sponsorship is found, team owner Joe Gibbs wouldn’t rule out the possibility. But he also said it has to be the right sponsor. “We love Kurt, mainly because of Kyle and Kyle has got a strong feeling for him,” Gibbs said following the unveiling of Toyota’s 2013 Sprint Cup car. “Kurt’s kind of going through a process with everything he has got going right now. Everybody throws everything out there. We do have a fourth car possibility at some point. But we haven’t seen that yet (come to fruition).” The older of the two Busch brothers, Kurt is driving for Phoenix Racing in Cup this year and for his brother’s Kyle Busch Motorsports in an 18-race Nationwide schedule. “He could really helps us and lead us in the right direction,” Kyle Busch said. “I’d love to have him over here. It would be great for Joe Gibbs Racing and for us to work together and to be able to make better racecars, faster racecars.” JGR wouldn’t necessarily need a fourth Cup team to add Busch. #20-Joey Logano’s contract is up for renewal after this season in a car co-sponsored by The Home Depot and Dollar General. “He’s 21 years old,” Gibbs said. “He’s one of the youngest guys out there. He’s stepped up this year to 15th in points. That’s been an improvement but he’s still not where our other two cars are. That’s the goalget him to where our other two cars are. & We have a lot invested in Joey. We really like him.”(Sporting News)(5-25-2012)
Stewart suffers cut diving into lake, but is OK: #14-Tony Stewart was sporting a bandage covering a wound on the right side of his forehead Thursday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “I beat my head against the bottom of Lake Norman, unfortunately, on Sunday,” Stewart said after practice Thursday. “I would have been easier on the car, but the lake still won.” Stewart indicated that he hit his head while diving into the lake. The wound did not require stitches. “(The bandage) is to just keep the helmet from rubbing the skin,” Stewart said. “It’s got a road rash up there. The Band-Aid is just to keep the helmet from rubbing it and opening it back up.” He said he was not knocked out during the incident. “I was able to swim,” he said. “I was fine.”(Sporting News)(5-25-2012)
Hendrick Motorsports celebrates 200th win: Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, team employees, families and other special guests joined together the evening of Tuesday, May 22 at The Fillmore in Charlotte, N.C., to celebrate the organization’s 200th victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Country music superstar Brad Paisley played a private show for an audience of more than 1,100, which included past and present Hendrick Motorsports drivers.
Hendrick Motorsports Sprint Cup winners who attended the event: Geoff Bodine, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Terry Labonte, Mark Martin, Jerry Nadeau, Joe Nemechek, Ricky Rudd, Ken Schrader, and Darrell Waltrip. Tim Richmond was represented by his sister, Sandy Welsh.
Current Hendrick Motorsports driver Kasey Kahne was in attendance, along with winning drivers from the Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series: Brett Bodine, Jack Sprague and Tony Stewart.(HMS)(5-25-2012)
Kenseth interviews himself: With no NASCAR official at the podium when he entered the Charlotte Motor Speedway media center Thursday, #17-Matt Kenseth took control of the situation and introduced himself. “Joining us in the media center right now is Matt Kenseth,” he deadpanned. “He comes in second in points. Don’t know where he finished last year. Matt, why don’t you talk about it.” Kenseth scooted from behind the podium microphone to his usual seat at the table and started answering his own question, to the guffaws of a roomful of reporters.(CMS Pit Notes)(5-25-2012)
Kahne to run WoO race tonight: NASCAR driver #5-Kasey Kahne has added his name to the entry list for Friday’s Circle K NOS Energy Outlaw Showdown at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25. A former USAC Midget champion, Kahne has stayed true to his short-track roots, forming a World of Outlaws team with full-time drivers Joey Saldana and Cody Darrah and part-time driver Brad Sweet. All three will compete in Friday’s race, along with Kahne and a full slate of other WoO standouts, including Donny Schatz and Steve Kinser. Reserved seats to the Circle K NOS Energy Outlaw Showdown are $25 for adults and $10 for children 13 and under. For just $15, fans 14 and older can upgrade their ticket to include a pit pass. Spectator gates open at 4 p.m.(CMS Pit Notes)(5-25-2012)
General Sadler to be honored at SCC Gala tonight: On Friday, May 25, retired U.S. Air Force Major General Thomas M. Sadler, executive director of Speedway Children’s Charities (SCC), will be honored at the 32nd annual NRA Foundation Speedway Children’s Charities Gala. Sadler is being recognized for his dedication to Speedway Children’s Charities’ mission of helping children in educational, financial, social and medical need. Mike Joy, principal race announcer for NASCAR on FOX, will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the program. Proceeds from the evening will benefit the grant program of the Charlotte Chapter of SCC and will be awarded to local non-profit organizations that help children in need. For more information on the 32nd annual NRA Foundation Speedway Children’s Charities Gala see charlotte.speedwaycharities.org.(CMS)(5-25-2012)
Vote on “Your Hero’s Name Here” race for Indy race in July: Country music stars, The Band Perry visited one of the most nostalgic venues in motorsports Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) on Saturday [May 19th] to make a special announcement about this summer’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the Brickyard sponsored by Crown Royal. Crown Royal will name the race, to be held at IMS on July 29th, after an everyday American hero through a program called “Your Hero’s Name Here.” The five finalists who were announced by The Band Perry and could have the famous race named after them, are: Dale Beatty, veteran and cofounder of the nonprofit organization Purple Heart Homes from Statesville, N.C.; Lindsey Marquez, ICU nurse from Sun Prairie, Wis.; Curtiss Shaver, Fire Lieutenant and EMT from Troy, Ala.; John Thomas, Deputy Sheriff from Sarasota, Fla.; and Brandon Veatch, veteran and Purple Heart recipient from Bloomfield, Ind. In addition to having their name on all race signage, TV broadcasts and apparel, the winner will experience a true VIP experience from waving the green flag to start the race to delivering the trophy in Victory Lane. Adult consumers can log on to the Crown Royal Facebook page (Facebook.com/CrownRoyal) and click the “Crown Your Hero” tab to vote for the hero they think is most deserving of naming rights to the race. Voting runs through June 28th and the grand prize winner will be announced in early July.(Crown Royal PR)(5-25-2012)
News from May 24, 2012
Almirola wins pole at Charlotte: #43-Aric Almirola won the Coors Light pole for the Coca Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a speed of 192.940mph for his 1st pole of 2012 and 1st career pole. #9-Amrose was 2nd fastest [and makes it an all RPM front row] followed by #48-Johnson, #16-Biffle, #15-Bowyer, #55-Martin, #5-Kahne, #11-Hamlin, #27-Menard and #78-Smith.
#51-Busch wrecked on his first qualifying lap, spinning off turn 2 and nosing in to the inside wall, Busch will start 42nd and go to a backup car, falling to the rear of the field before the start of the race on Sunday. #10-Danica Patrick will start 40th.
The go-or-go homers who made the race (8): #21-Bayne, #74-Whitt, #98-McDowell, #26-Wise, #33-Leicht, #30-Stremme, #95-Speed & #87-Nemechek.
The go-or-go homers who failed to qualify for the race (4): #19-Bliss, #73-Reutimann, #49-Yeley, #23-Riggs.
See qualifying results & starting lineup on the Charlotte Qualifying / Starting Lineup Page.(5-24-2012)
Qualifying Fast Facts -Charlotte Motor Speedway:
#43-Aric Almirola won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 53rd Annual COCA-COLA 600 with a lap of 27.988 seconds, 192.940 mph.
This is his first pole in 47 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his first pole and third top-10 start in 2012.
This is his first pole in one races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
#9-Marcos Ambrose (second) posted his fourth top-10 start of 2012 and his first in seven races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
#48-Jimmie Johnson (third) posted his 19th top-10 start at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his seventh in 12 races this season.
#26-Josh Wise (33rd) was the fastest qualifying rookie. (NASCAR Statistics)(5-24-2012)
Coverage of Qualifying for the Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled for Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 7:10pm/et. Television (TV): SPEED, 7:00pm/et Radio online at:PRN Live Streaming Scheduled Qualifying Re-Air: 10:30pm/et
Qualifying Order for the Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is posted. 47 cars/drivers are listed.
The first of the drivers scheduled to go out is #23-Riggs, slowest in practice.
The final driver scheduled to go out is #9-Ambrose, who WON practice [was fastest in first practice].
Qualifying order is set by the first practice session, with slowest driver going out by speed and the fastest going out last. The non-top 35 drivers are now mixed in with the top-35 in owners points, slowest to fastest.
See the full qualifying order on the Charlotte Qualifying Page.(5-24-2012)
Thursday practice for the Coca Cola 60 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over, after 90 scheduled minutes, the top-5, slowest and any notes:
#9-Ambrose 189.215
#83-Cassill 189.182
#22-Allmendinger 188.409
#16-Biffle 188.344
#15-Bowyer 188.016
slowest: #23-Riggs 181.843 & #49-Yeley 182.822
See fastest speeds, best ten-lap averages, laps run and more on the Charlotte Practice 1 Speeds (pdf), no average speeds all laps and NOT changing back to the old way, just posting the pdf’s.(5-24-2012)
Go-or-go homers rank in practice for the Coca Cola 60 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. These drivers are not in the top-35 of team owners points and must qualify by speed for the race, eight will make the race and four will miss the race.
If things stay the same, these eight drivers would make the race:
#21-Trevor Bayne, 15th fastest overall
#74-Cole Whitt, 29th
#30-David Stremme, 30th
#98-Michael McDowell, 36th
#73-David Reutimann, 37th
#95-Scott Speed, 38th
#33-Stephen Leicht#, 39th
#26-Josh Wise#, 41st
If things stay the same, these four drivers would miss the race:
#19-Mike Bliss, 43rd
#87-Joe Nemechek, 44th
#49-J.J. Yeley, 46th
#23-Scott Riggs, 47th/last
(5-24-2012)
#300 for Kahne: Kasey Kahne is set to make his 300th start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series when he lines up for Sunday’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The driver of the #5 Quaker State Chevy has started every Cup event since making his Series debut at the 2004 Daytona 500, and he ranks 12th among active Cup drivers with 299 consecutive starts. This weekend, Kahne’s Chevrolet will carry a special decal over the door to commemorate the milestone event.(HMS)(5-24-2012)
Memorial Day Weekend Kicks Off At-track Festivities for “NASCAR Unites An American Salute”: Billed as the world’s largest Memorial Day Weekend celebration, the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway kicks off the first at-track activation of “NASCAR Unites An American Salute,” a six-week patriotic initiative uniting the NASCAR industry and fans this summer to celebrate America and support U.S. military families. The weekend’s festivities include a patriotic pre-race military salute, special USO race invitations and host Lieutenant Colonel Greg Gadson as Honorary Commander.
To highlight its pride, NASCAR Nation will be covered from head to toe and from splitter to spoiler in red, white and blue, starting and ending at two traditionally patriotic summer NASCAR events held at Charlotte Motor Speedway (Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day Weekend) and Daytona International Speedway (Coke Zero 400 on Independence Day Weekend).
Teams in all NASCAR series, along with their partners and sponsors, will showcase support for the program in their own individual ways, from displaying the customized logo on their cars and trucks to developing red, white and blue paint schemes. NASCAR has provided specially-designed, patriotic-themed packages that will incorporate the spoiler as well as other common areas of the car.
In honor of our country’s fallen heroes this Memorial Day weekend, NASCAR and the Honor and Remember organization will host several Gold Star families who have each lost loved ones in their service to the United States. NASCAR and The NASCAR Foundation also will host a group of wounded warriors and their families from Ft. Bragg as part of the NASCAR “Troops to the Track” program in partnership with the Armed Forces Foundation. Each of these military families will be welcomed and treated to a VIP NASCAR experience during their visit to Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Both the NASCAR “Troops to the Track” and Gold Star family programs build on a long, consistent and proud history of supporting men and women in uniform and their families at NASCAR races. The “Troops to the Track” program is a year-long initiative and is scheduled to include military families at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dover International Speedway, Pocono Raceway, Michigan International Speedway, Infineon Raceway, Kentucky Speedway, and Daytona International Speedway.
While at the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR fans are invited to participate by filling out postcards with messages of encouragement and appreciation to service men and women as well as signing banners and items that will be shipped to troops actively engaged in combat through the USO’s USO2GO program. The NASCAR Foundation will designate a space for fan participation at the Sam Bass Gallery on Saturday, May 26th from 10am to 3pm and Sunday, May 27 from 11am to 6pm. Fans may also fill out postcards at-track at the Air Force display and Motorsports Authentic Haulers.
Other partners and sponsors participating include: Miss Sprint Cup, who will unveil a never-seen-before patriotic-themed fire suit, Nationwide will run a special red, white and blue windshield application for all NASCAR Nationwide Series races from Charlotte to Daytona and Toyota will incorporate red, white and blue logos on their pace cars and driver intro trucks. Miss Coors Light will don a patriotic fire suit. Goodyear will launch their Goodyear ‘Gives Back Program Benefitting Support Our Troops’ program during the Coke Zero 400. As part of the USO2GO program, partners such as Kraft and Gillette are donating products that will be bundled and delivered to forward deployed troops. K’Nex will donate toys to be packaged with postcards to military children.
Red, white and blue products will also be provided to NASCAR officials, who will be outfitted in NASCAR pit caps by Motorsports Authentics, specially-themed gloves by Mechanix Wear and lanyards by Wincraft. Fans also can show their American pride by gearing up with NASCAR Unites An American Salute apparel, which can be purchased via Motorsports Authentics and Americrown at trackside, Walmart and NASCAR.COM Superstore. Other available products include NASCAR Unites An American Salute die-cast collectibles, headwear, t-shirts, novelties, plush and toys.
To launch the initiative, the NASCAR Unites An American Salute paint scheme for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s #88 National Guard Hendrick Motorsports Chevy was revealed on April 9th in the nation’s capital for the 134th Annual Easter Egg Roll event at the White House.
To learn more about the initiative, visit www.NASCAR.com/Unites. Facebook.com/NASCAR will be honoring service members via an “American Hero Salute.”(NASCAR)(5-24-2012)
Roush Fenway Racing to have three Fastenal sponsored cars: Victory Lane can be an elusive destination for many teams and sponsors, but Fastenal has an advantage Sunday night in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway by sponsoring all three of Roush Fenway Racing’s Sprint Cup entries. RFR has an impressive record at Charlotte, winning the 600-mile race four times and totaling 20 victories there in NASCAR competition. “Everyone on the Fastenal ‘blue team’ has been looking forward to this race all season long,” said Fastenal president and CEO Will Oberton. “When we started out as a sponsor in the truck series six years ago, we never would have dreamed that we’d see the Fastenal name on three of the premier Cup Series cars in a single race.”
The Fastenal “NASCAR Unites” paint schemes will be carried on the #16 of Greg Biffle, the #17 of Matt Kenseth and of course the #99 of Carl Edwards. The three drivers have a combined total of two wins, 15 top-five and 27 top-10 finishes at Charlotte.(Roush Fenway Racing), see images of the schemes on the #16 Team schemes page, #17 Team schemes page and #99 Team schemes page.(5-24-2012)
Coke 600 Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will run the same Goodyear tire codes at Charlotte this week . . . these are the same tire codes that were run in the Sprint All-Star and Camping World Truck Series races at Charlotte last weekend . . .for Nationwide teams, this is the same left-side tire code they ran at Charlotte last season, but this is a new right-side code . . . compared to what was run at Charlotte last year, this right-side features just a slight construction change . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Charlotte . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire (Goodyear), see full notes, tire codes, number of sets, codes and more on the Charlotte Race Info page – Goodyear section.(5-24-2012)
All-Star TV Ratings Down: The 2012 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race suffered a double-digit drop in viewership on SPEED. The NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Race from Charlotte drew 3.751 million viewers on SPEED Channel Saturday night, down 11% from last year (4.228M), and down 1% from 2010 (3.802M). This marks the least-viewed All-Star Race of at least the past five seasons.(Sports Media Watch and TV by the Numbers). See all 2012 TV Ratings for the Sprint Cup races, 4-year race-to-race chart and more on the 2012 TV Ratings page.(5-24-2012)
Part of I-85 to be dedicated to Jeff Gordon: On Friday, May 25, 2012, Officials from NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports and the North Carolina Department of Transportation will join together in a ceremony dedicating a 1.6-mile segment of I-85 from the city of Charlotte corporate limits to the Cabarrus County Line as the Jeff Gordon Expressway in honor of Gordon’s 85th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win, along with his outstanding commitment to public service in North Carolina through charitable contributions and the Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital at Carolina’s Medical Center-NorthEast.(NASCAR)(5-24-2012)
#21 to Honor DAV at Charlotte: Since 1996, Ford Motor Company has donated more than $6.5 million to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) in a relationship that was initiated by Henry Ford in 1922. Ford Customer Service Division and its brands, Motorcraft and Quick Lane, are happy to join the effort, promoting the DAV at the Coca-Cola 600 as part of the “NASCAR Unites-An American Salute” program announced by the sanctioning body in April. “We’re so appreciative for what our military members and their families have done for us and we are more than happy to participate in this program by putting the spotlight on the DAV,” said Mary Lou Quesnell, Marketing Director, Ford Customer Service Division. This weekend driver Trevor Bayne will compete with a special paint scheme on the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion and the DAV logo on the sides of the car to honor sacrifices made by American soldiers and their families. Ron Minter, National Director of Voluntary Services, Disabled American Veterans, will attend the race. The 1.2 million-member DAV is a non-profit charity that ensures those who were injured or disabled as a result of military service and their families receive the benefits, representation and advocacy they deserve. Founded in 1920 by veterans returning from World War I and congressionally chartered, it provides free services to veterans of all eras and helps recently injured heroes transition to meaningful life following their time in uniform. “It’s really an honor for us to run the DAV logo on our car,” said Eddie Wood, of Wood Brothers Racing. “We’re proud to show our appreciation to our military in any way we can. That’s something that’s important to our family and our race team.”(Wood Brothers Racing)(5-24-2012)
ModSpace Returns to Gilliland’s #38 at Charlotte: Modular construction provider ModSpace will once again be featured on the #38 Front Row Motorsports Ford this weekend during the Coca-Cola 600 at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway. It’s the second time that driver David Gilliland will carry the colors as a primary so far this season. The Berwyn, Penn.-based company works closely with team owner Bob Jenkins and his quick-service restaurant company to build new Taco Bell and Long John Silver’s locations. ModSpace provides modular buildings, portable storage and services for temporary or permanent space needs. Building on more than 40 years of experience, ModSpace serves a diverse set of customers and markets – including commercial, construction, education, government, healthcare, industrial/energy and special events – through an extensive nationwide branch network throughout the United States and Canada. ModSpace has constructed buildings for renowned clients ranging from the Professional Golf Association (PGA) to General Motors, IBM and the U.S. Army. For more information on the company and its projects, visit www.ModSpace.com. “ModSpace is very honored to be the primary sponsor on the #38 car this weekend,” stated William Mann, Vice President of Motorsports for ModSpace. “With this race being held on Memorial Day weekend, it is our salute to the troops. This team has worked so hard this season and we hope to see them in Victory Lane Sunday.”(FrontRowMotorsports/Breaking Limits)(5-24-2012)
PRN Set to Broadcast to Worldwide Audience: PRN is prepared to broadcast the events surrounding NASCAR’s greatest test of man and machine, the Coca-Cola 600. PRN will provide live coverage of LiftMaster Pole Night from CMS on Thursday May 24, at 7 p.m., heard exclusively on goprn.com.
PRN will air the HISTORY Channel 300 on Saturday May 26, air time is 2 p.m., the Coca-Cola 600 will air on 400 radio stations including SIRIUS-XM Channel 90. PRN coverage starts at 5 p.m. on Sunday May 27. All PRN race broadcast are available online at PRN affiliate website and also a goprn.com.
The PRN broadcast includes co-anchors Doug Rice and Mark Garrow, turn announcers Brad Gillie, Rob Albright, pit reporters Jim Noble, Brett McMillan, Steve Richards and Pat Patterson.(CMS)(5-24-2012)
Rep. Kissell meets with NC Military Foundation to discuss NASCAR partnership: U.S. Representative Larry Kissell (NC-08) met with members of the North Carolina Military Foundationrecently to discuss the growing partnership between the U.S. military and NASCAR, and ways to continue to move that relationship forward. Kissell was joined by Executive Director Lance DeSpain and Deputy Director Kenneth Ratashak for the discussion. “The links between the motorsports industry and our armed forces are far greater than many think,” said Kissell. “Whether it’s making shared advances in the technologies that help keep both our servicemen and drivers safe during impact, or ways to collaborate on the benefits of cutting edge engine technologies and machinery, there is much for these two entities to talk about. As co-chair of the House Invisible Wounds Caucus, I’m especially interested in the ways we can all come together to best protect individuals from traumatic brain injuries from impact or IED blasts.” Lt. General John F. Mulholland Jr. of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command and NASCAR President Mike Helton announced in February an agreement to work together on advances, along with the N.C. Department of Commerce and other state-wide organizations.(Richmond Daily County Journal)(5-24-2012)
MWR’s Lewis takes 1st in latest Pilot Truck Driver Challenge: On Monday, William “Stump” Lewis, #56 NAPA Racing truck driver, placed first in the second segment of the Pilot Truck Driver Challenge. Out of 28 drivers, Lewis scored the only perfect score of no penalty points. Two more rounds at the Bristol and Charlotte fall events will determine the championship (MWR), more info on the Challenge at pilottruckchallenge.com.(5-24-2012)
Speed Street in Charlotte starts Thursday: A three-day party is about to break out on uptown Charlotte’s streets. Speed Street opens at noon Thursday, with a parade launching a schedule of concerts, NASCAR driver appearances, cooking demonstrations, hands-on racing exhibits, and plenty of food. Several hundred thousand people are expected to visit the events by closing time around midnight Saturday, with activities centered along South Tryon Street but also scattered along cross streets and at the NASCAR Hall of Fame (Charlotte Observer).
See much more info on driver appearances at Speed Street in Charlotte and other appearances on my Driver Appearances page.(5-24-2012)
Firefighters to be honored at CMS on pole day: LiftMaster, the title sponsor of Thursday’s [May 24] LiftMaster Pole Day events, will host members of the Albemarle Fire Department throughout the Coca-Cola 600 weekend. A four-man team from the Albemarle Fire Department won a LiftMaster skills competition, which pitted four area departments against one another in a series of firefighting and NASCAR-related drills, earlier this month.
In addition, LiftMaster donated more than 4,500 tickets to firefighters from departments across the Charlotte region as a ‘thank you’ for their service. The company also organized a parade lap featuring different apparatus from departments across the region before the start of qualifying on pole night.(CMS)(5-24-2012)
Longtime CMS fans being honored: For the fans being honored this week at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, attending NASCAR races is more than a weekend pastime. It’s a lifelong commitment. These fans remember when the speedway entrance was just a field, when drivers picnicked with fans, and when you could take home a used tire as a souvenir. This week, the Charlotte Motor Speedway is celebrating fans who have attended races for at least 50 years, and in some cases since the speedway opened in 1960.
To honor their loyalty and commitment, Charlotte Motor Speedway created a longtime fan program that rewards the fans that keep coming back to the Greatest Place to See the Race. The nearly 30 fans who have attended races at Charlotte Motor Speedway for 50 years or more will receive a granite plaque with their name and photo and will be honored at a ceremony at 10 am on Saturday, May 26. In addition, they will receive a gold lanyard and photo hard card, a special decal and inclusion on the Charlotte Motor Speedway website, in the souvenir program and on the world’s largest HDTV.(Charlotte Observer/CMS)(5-24-2012)
Tix for Coke 600 still available: Tickets to the Coca-Cola 600 are still available through the Charlotte Motor Speedway Ticket Office. Fans can get four adult tickets, four Coca-Cola soft drinks and four hotdogs for $39.75 per person. For even more great ticket offers, call 1-800-455-FANS (3267) or visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.(CMS)(5-24-2012)
Charlotte Smart Phone App: Just in time for race fans headed to the track for the Coca-Cola 600, Charlotte Motor Speedway has launched a new smart phone app for iPhone and Android. Fans can get all the latest news from the track, view maps and schedules and even purchase tickets, all from their smart phones. While they are at the track, fans can also log on to the Charlotte Motor Speedway Facebook and Twitter pages directly from the app.(CMS)(5-24-2012)
Garage Swap: Sprint Cup Series to take Center Stage at NHMS: The north end garage at New Hampshire Motor Speedway has been the home of NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series for nearly two decades. But when stock car racing’s premier circuit returns to Loudon for the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 on July 15, they will have a new home in the infield center garage, a move that is expected to make life easier for teams and fans alike.
Fans will now have a garage that’s far more accessible than previous years, while still providing teams more maneuverability which is crucial given pre-race pit pass distribution has increased by nearly 300 percent. “The increase brings a lot more fans close to the pit-road activities,” said Zudell of the spike in pre-race pit passes. “We’ve added two more crossover gates on the frontstretch that will give us more capacity to get people in and out in the rush just prior to the race.”
The switch in garage locations not only benefits fans, but the teams as well. The center garage, which sits directly behind victory lane, will lessen the time it takes to get from pit road back to the garage, and vice versa. The NASCAR Nationwide Series will now use the north end garage. The process of preparing the infield for the garage swap also included a project to level the cold pit road. In recent years, pit stalls 1-28 had been level with pit road, while pits 29-43 were perched near the top of the pit wall. This meant for pits south of victory lane crews had to go up and over for a pit stop, while the others merely needed to jump down off the wall. In essence, leveling pit road has leveled the playing field for all teams. A new pedestrian sidewalk through the tunnel beneath turn 2 will also contribute to infield accessibility.
For more details and ticket information on events at New Hampshire Motor Speedway or to purchase tickets to the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 and SYLVANIA 300 NASCAR weekends, stop by thee Ticket Office, visit the speedway website at www.nhms.com, or call our Ticket Hotline at (603) 783-4931.(5-24-2012
News from May 23, 2012
The 2013 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class: was named Wednesday, May 24, 2012:
Herb Thomas, first two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup series champion, 1951, ’53.
Leonard Wood, former crew chief for Wood Brothers, revolutionized pit stops.
Rusty Wallace, 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup series champion.
Cotton Owens, driver-owner, won 1966 owner championship with David Pearson.
Buck Baker, first driver to win consecutive Sprint Cup series titles (1956-57).
NASCAR announced today the 2013 class of inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The five-person class, which will be officially inducted in a ceremony on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C., consists of Buck Baker, Cotton Owens, Herb Thomas, Rusty Wallace and Leonard Wood.
Members of the 54-member NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel met today in a closed session in Charlotte, N.C., to vote on the induction class of 2013. The announcement was made by NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France in the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s “Great Hall.”
Next year’s class was determined by votes cast by the Voting Panel, which included representatives from NASCAR, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, track owners from major facilities and historic short tracks, media members, manufacturer representatives, retired competitors (drivers, owners, crew chiefs), recognized industry leaders and a nationwide fan vote conducted through NASCAR.COM. The accounting firm of Ernst & Young presided over the tabulation of the votes.
Voting for this year’s class was as evenly distributed as any previous NASCAR Hall of Fame induction class.
Herb Thomas and Leonard Wood each garnered 57% of the vote, followed by Rusty Wallace (52%), Cotton Owens (50%) and Buck Baker (39%).
For the first time in Voting Day history, there was a tie for the fifth and final induction spot. Voting Panel members chose Baker over Fireball Roberts after a re-vote between the two nominees. The next top vote getters were Roberts, Jerry Cook and Tim Flock.
Results for the NASCAR.COM Fan Vote, in alphabetical order, were Benny Parsons, Fireball Roberts, Wendell Scott, Rusty Wallace and Leonard Wood. Class of 2013 Inductees: Buck Baker
Elzie Wylie “Buck” Baker established himself as one of NASCAR’s early greats, becoming the first driver to win consecutive NASCAR premier series championships. His repeat performance in 1956-57 was the highlight of an incredible four-year span; in 1955 and ’58 Baker finished as the series championship runner-up. His career victory total of 46 ranks tied for 14th all-time. Cotton Owens
Everett “Cotton” Owens enjoyed success as both a driver and owner in NASCAR. Behind the wheel, he won nine times in NASCAR’s premier series competition, including the 1957 Daytona Beach road course. He nearly won the 1959 championship, finishing second to NASCAR Hall of Famer Lee Petty. But as an owner, Owens stood out as one of the greats of NASCAR’s early eras. His eye for talent was unmatched. He hired NASCAR Hall of Famer Junior Johnson in 1962, the same season in which he began a future championship relationship with another NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson. Owens won 38 races as an owner. Herb Thomas
Herb Thomas was truly one of NASCAR’s first superstars. He was the first to win two NASCAR premier series championships (1951, ’53). He finished second in the points standings in 1952 and 1954 giving the North Carolina veteran top-two championship finishes in four consecutive seasons. He finished outside the top two in the championship only once (fifth in 1955) between 1951 and 1956. Thomas won both his championships driving self-owned cars. Rusty Wallace
Russell William Wallace Jr., the 1989 NASCAR premier series champion, won his first of 55 races in 1986, capturing the checkered flag at Bristol Motor Speedway. His 55 victories rank ninth all time. He was especially adept on the circuit’s short tracks winning 25 times at Bristol, Martinsville, North Wilkesboro and Richmond. His influence on the sport continued after his retirement, as an analyst on ESPN. Leonard Wood
The Wood Brothers team is renowned as the innovator of the modern pit stop. Leonard Wood, brother of Glen and Delano Wood, was front and center in its development as chief mechanic (crew chief) for the Stuart, Va.-based team. As crew chief, Wood amassed 96 wins and 117 poles in 990 races.(NASCAR)(5-23-2012)
NASCAR Adds Media Excellence Award To Annual Hall Of Fame Honors: Following the announcement of the 2013 NASCAR Hall of Fame class tonight, NASCAR announced the creation of a new award to honor the contributions of media to the success of the sport. This award, which will become part of the annual NASCAR Hall of Fame ceremonies beginning in February 2013, will bear the names of the first two award winners, legendary broadcasters Ken Squier and Barney Hall, and be called the Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence.
A special exhibit will be created as part of the existing media section within the NASCAR Hall of Fame to recognize the careers of Squier and Hall, as well as honorees in the years to come.
“Media have played an important role in the growth and popularity of NASCAR over the years by telling the stories of legendary drivers, championship moments and week-to-week action to millions of fans across the world,” said Brian France, NASCAR chairman and CEO. “The voices of Ken Squier and Barney Hall are an indelible part of our sport’s history and we couldn’t be more pleased to recognize their long and outstanding careers.” Squier, one of NASCAR’s original broadcasters, carved a massive footprint during NASCAR’s formative broadcast years. Beginning with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) in 1970, Squier’s golden voice took NASCAR to a national audience thirsting for live coverage. He is perhaps best-known for his work during the 1979 Daytona 500, a milestone moment for the entire sport, as Squier’s voice on CBS welcomed millions to the first live flag-to-flag coverage of “The Great American Race” a moniker he coined. Following that signature moment, including his call of the post-race fight between Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison, Squier proceeded to call races for CBS and TBS until 1997 before shifting to the studio as host for NASCAR broadcasts until 2000. Squier continues to enlighten NASCAR fans to this day, mostly through special appearances on SPEED. Hall began his career in the 1950s working at local radio stations in North Carolina and served as Bristol Motor Speedway’s first public address announcer when the track opened. He called his first Daytona 500 in 1960, and has missed only three broadcasts in the 54-year history of The Great American Race. He joined MRN as an original announcer at the network’s inception in 1970, first as a turn announcer and then moving to the booth in the late 70s where he has been a fixture ever since at race tracks from coast to coast. The Elkin, North Carolina, native who is widely known for his calm voice and unmatched storytelling, was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Hall of Fame in 2007. Hall has called a number of the sport’s milestone moments, including the landmark 1979 Daytona 500, Richard Petty’s 200th-career victory in 1984 and Dale Earnhardt’s 1998 victory in the Daytona 500. Still active, Hall led the MRN broadcast of last week’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Each year, five nominees will be selected by a panel made up of NASCAR executives, NASCAR Hall of Fame staff, and the president of the NMPA, among others. From there, a voting panel will select an annual winner of the Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence, beginning with the third honoree (Squier and Hall are the first two) in 2013. It is anticipated the annual award winner will be announced in June, approximately one month after the Hall of Fame inductees are announced. Squier-Hall Award winners will remain eligible for NASCAR Hall of Fame induction. Likewise, current and future inductees who made significant contributions as a member of the media will be eligible to win the Squier-Hall Award. The 2013 NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremonies will be held Feb. 8, 2013.(NASCAR)(5-23-2012)
ESPN shooting NASCAR ad in Kannapolis NC: Film crews from ESPN are taking advantage of race week in Cabarrus County to shoot a commercial featuring NASCAR drivers. Officials were setting up at the Gem Theatre in Kannapolis on Tuesday morning, gearing up for the film shoot. Officials said a crew of more than 60 were working on the commercials, which would feature several NASCAR drivers. Officials declined to elaborate on the plot of the commercial or which drivers would be used, but did confirm the commercial was for ESPN. Kannapolis Police Department blocked of the street in front of the Gem Theatre, which rentral trucks and other vehicles hauling camera equipment blocking off West 1st Street, Kannapolis. The film crew were also filming at First Baptist Church, using a room in the church to double as a press conference meeting (Independent Tribune)(5-23-2012)
Air Force joins Almiola for the Coca Cola 600: Aric Almirola and the #43 Richard Petty Motorsports team will carry the colors of the U.S. Air Force this weekend as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series marks the Memorial Day holiday and pays tribute to the nation’s fallen military. Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway is the first of two primary sponsorship races [the other is Daytona in July] for the Air Force, which is also an associate sponsor on the #43 Ford for the entire 2012 season. In addition to his on-track activities this weekend, Almirola will also participate in Richard Petty Motorsports’ third annual Fan Appreciation Day on Thursday from 7 am to noon at the RPM shop in Concord, N.C. The first 200 fans in line who donate a nonperishable food item to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina will receive a commemorative ticket allowing them access to the shop and an autograph session with Richard Petty, Almirola and his teammates, Marcos Ambrose and Michael Annett (RPM), see images of the car/scheme on the #43 Team Schemes page.(5-23-2012)
SealWrap extends sponsorship with #36:SealWrap Repair Tape will extend their eight-race partnership with Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR). The Indiana-based company will support Dave Blaney and the #36 Chevy in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. SealWrap Repair Tape, a self-fusing rubber tape, will join TBR for NASCAR’s longest race this weekend after supporting the team at Bristol, Richmond and Darlington. SealWrap Repair Tape is designed for use in automotive repair, plumbing and electrical. It fixes and protects leaks or penetration from environmental elements. It is great for all those minor, do-it-yourself jobs around the house and garage. SealWrap Repair Tape uses a stretch-and-wrap technology that makes repairing irregular forms and shapes easy. “We are pleased that SealWrap is coming on board for the Coca-Cola 600,” explained Tommy Baldwin. “SealWrap has been a good partner for us. Between the Cup and Nationwide team, they have seen a good return on their investment. Finding a good return on investment is our goal for each partner, and we are pleased that we have succeeded with SealWrap.”(Tommy Baldwin Racing)(5-23-2012)
JTG & JGR also re-sign with Toyota: Joe Gibbs Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing and JTG Daugherty Racing announced new multiyear extensions with Toyota on Tuesday. Lee White, the president of Toyota Racing Development, said all three teams will be with Toyota “for a long time to come.” The announcement was made at TRD’s Salisbury, N.C., shop where the re-designed 2013 Camry was introduced. It came amid speculation that Dodge, which loses anchor Penske Racing to Ford after this season, might target JGR. White admitted that one of Toyota’s organizations was “ripe for the picking by one of our fellow manufacturers.” “All have agreements with Toyota and TRD that extend beyond two more years,” White said. “Rest assured, we enjoy our partners, we value our partners, and we expect to be competing with our partners on this dance floor for a long time.” JGR owner Joe Gibbs said he never had conversations with Dodge.(ESPN)(5-23-2012)
Scorpion and Al’s Liner on #34 This Weekend: #34-David Ragan will once again carry the scheme of Al’s Liner and Scorpion Protective Coatings this weekend during the Coca-Cola 600. The company has been impressed with Ragan and Front Row Motorsports in 2012 and has increased its presence with the team since debuting in Daytona. In addition to Scorpion, Ragan will also host Craig Krenzel, quarterback of the 2002 National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes. Krenzel is now a principal with Arthur, Krenzel, Lett Insurance Group, which will be an associate sponsor on the car this weekend (FRM), see images of the car/scheme on the #34 Team Schemes page.(5-23-2012)
added all the car schemes for the Sprint All-Star Race and the Sprint Showdown. See the images, race-by-race chart, links to the images and more on the Paint Scheme Gallery
Red, White & Blue for the #29 in six races: The #29 Budweiser Folds of Honor Chevy of Kevin Harvick will don a special red, white and blue patriotic paint scheme for six races this summer starting with Sunday’s 600-mile event at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The paint scheme reflects the special “Red, White and Blue Summer” packaging featured on the iconic Budweiser bottles and cans as part of a summer initiative in which the brand will contribute a portion of all sales from May 20 July 7 to help raise as much as $2.5 million for the Folds of Honor Foundation*, which provides post-secondary educational scholarships for families of U.S. military personnel killed or disabled while serving their country. The Folds of Honor logo will also be featured on the TV panel of the #29 Chevy. In addition to Sunday’s race, Harvick’s Budweiser ride will feature the “Red, White and Blue Summer” paint scheme for NSCS races at Michigan (June 17), Kentucky (June 30), Daytona (July 7), Pocono (Aug. 5) and Watkins Glen (Aug. 12). (*Maximum donation of $2.5 million includes $5,000 for every walk-off in select 2012 professional baseball games and a portion of sales for every case of Budweiser sold, 5/20-7/7.)(Budweiser/RCR), see images of the scheme on the #29 Team Schemes page.(5-23-2012)
RWB M&M;’s on the #18 at CMS: The special Red, White and Blue M&M;’S paint scheme on the #18 Toyota of Kyle Busch will sport for the Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway is in support of the limited-edition Red, White and Blue-only bags of M&M;’S now in stores. The new patriotic blend is designed to be the perfect snack for fans during the summer holidays of Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. Busch will also carry the patriotic scheme in late June at Kentucky Speedway in lead-up to the Fourth of July to be celebrated the following week (JGR), see images of the scheme on the #18 Team Schemes page.(5-23-2012)
News from May 22, 2012
2013 NASCAR Toyota Camry Introduced, images posted: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (TMS) and TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development) formally introduced the new 2013 Toyota Camry that will compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) beginning next season at TRD’s Salisbury, N.C. facility. The introduction of the new 2013 Camry for NASCAR competition marked the culmination of an aggressive redesign to provide the 2013 Camry with an updated and more-unique identity. TRD worked together with Calty Design, part of Toyota’s global network design team, to create an on-track Camry that incorporates design elements which give America’s best-selling car its distinct character.
A new front grill-area that matches the production model, distinct character lines down the side of the vehicle and an updated rear bumper make the redesigned 2013 Camry stock car more relevant than ever before to its showroom sibling. The new 2013 Toyota Camry will make its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at Daytona International Speedway’s ‘Speedweeks’ in February.(Toyota Racing Development), see the full PR and images of the car on the Toytota Manufacturer News and Links page.(5-22-2012)
Michael Waltrip Racing, Toyota Racing Extend Partnership: Michael Waltrip Racing announced a multi-year contract extension with TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development) to keep the organization in the Toyota camp for years to come. MWR and Toyota entered Sprint Cup Racing – NASCAR’s premier division – together in 2007. MWR currently fields three NASCAR Sprint Cup teams and is enjoying its best season with Martin Truex Jr. and Clint Bowyer in the top 10 in NASCAR Sprint Cup driver points and all three of its cars in the top 12 in owner points. MWR Toyotas have earned three poles and seven top-fives in the first 11 races in 2012. “Toyota has been the cornerstone of MWR,” said co-owner Michael Waltrip. “They took a chance on us in 2007 and together we have matured into who we are today. It was an honor to be part of the freshman class. Knowing we will be with Toyota for the next several years gives our drivers, our team members and our sponsors a sense of stability and confidence. MWR will be able to continue its competitive rise because we are insured Toyota’s tier one level resources. Toyota is a partner in the truest sense of the word.” TRD will continue to provide MWR engines from its facility in Costa Mesa, Calif., as well as chassis engineering support from its state-of-the-art facility in Salisbury, N.C.(MWR)(5-22-2012)
Team Target to Support NASCAR Unites with a Special Paint Scheme: NASCAR Unites An American Salute will bring the NASCAR industry together in support of military families starting Memorial Day race weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In conjunction with this new campaign, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates’ Team Target will run a special patriotic paint scheme on the #42 Chevy during the Coca Cola 600. The #42 Target Chevrolet driven by Juan Pablo Montoya will sport a patriotic red, white and blue paint scheme at Charlotte in support of the six-week initiative. Montoya will join fellow NASCAR drivers Carl Edwards, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Greg Biffle, Tony Stewart, Danica Patrick and Brad Keselowski who will all sport special paint schemes (EGR). See an image of the scheme on the #42 Team Schemes page.(5-22-2012)
Special scheme for Martin in Coke 600: The #55 Aaron’s Dream Machine will sport a special Armed Forces Foundation patriotic paint scheme this weekend supporting NASCAR Unites An American Salute. Mark Martin will drive the red, white and blue #55 as Aaron’s and MWR’s way of saying thank you to the men and women as well as their families serving or who have served in the United States military. The NASCAR Unites Military Family Fund will benefit the USO, Armed Forces Foundation, and support Our Troops. NASCAR launched the platform on April 9 at the White House’s 134th annual Easter Egg Roll event (MWR). See an image of the scheme on the #55 Team Schemes page.(5-22-2012)
#56 Over-The-Wall Crew wins pit crew award: The #56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota over-the-wall crew members have won the first-quarter Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award, which is determined by a vote of each team’s crew chief and given quarterly to the top-performing pit crew in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The #56 crew’s performance during the season’s first-quarter cemented driver Martin Truex Jr.’s solid start to the 2012 season. Truex Jr. has mounted four top fives, seven top 10s and an average finish of 10.7 through 11 races. “The NAPA Know How pit crew has done a great job this year,” said Truex Jr. “They’ve been very fast, but most importantly, they’ve been consistent. Anytime I come in on green or yellow flag conditions, I can count on those guys to hold their own and make no mistakes.” Crew chief Chad Johnston’s over-the-wall pit crew consists of Brian “Hootie” Chase (jackman), Eric Maycroft (front tire changer), Craig Curione (front tire carrier), Brandon Hopkins (rear tire changer), Adam Mosher (rear tire carrier), and Wes Evans (gas man). Greg Miller is the team’s pit crew coach. The NAPA Know How pit crew was presented its award prior to Saturday night’s NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.(NASCAR)(5-22-2012)
Jeffrey Earnhardt to make MMA Cage Debut: On Tuesday night, NASCAR driver and grandson of Dale Earnhardt, Jeffrey Earnhardt, will trade in driving gloves for a pair of MMA fight gloves. Earnhardt makes his MMA debut during Speedweek. “I’ve been using MMA as my training regimen so I�’m excited to show the fans that race car drivers are athletes just like in other professional sports. I’ve been preparing for this fight since December and think I’m ready. My next race is in a few weeks [Daytona, July 6th] so I felt comfortable that now was a good time.” The fight is scheduled for Tuesday evening May 22. The Internet card starts at 8:30pm/et and can be viewed live online at www.jeimma.com, its $15 for the pay per view.(PR)(5-22-2012)
Stats & Facts Charlotte Motor Speedway:
� Construction began on Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1959.
� The track’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on June 19, 1960.
� The track was repaved midseason in 1994.
� The track name changed from Charlotte Motor Speedway to Lowe’s Motor Speedway in 1999. It changed back to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the 2010 season.
� The track was re-paved again before the 2006 season.
� There have been 106 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points races at Charlotte Motor Speedway, two races per year since the track opened in 1960. In 1961, there were two 100-mile qualifying points races held the week before the May race. The first six fall races at Charlotte were 400-mile events (1960-65).
� 39 drivers have posted poles, led by David Pearson with 14.
� Fireball Roberts won the pole for the first race, in 1960.
� David Pearson posted 11 straight poles at Charlotte from the fall of 1973 through 1978.
� Ryan Newman leads all active drivers in poles, with nine. Jeff Gordon has eight.
� Jeff Gordon won five straight poles for the spring races between 1994 and 1998.
� 44 drivers have won races, led by Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip and Jimmie Johnson, with six each.
� Joe Lee Johnson won the first race, in 1960.
� There have been 13 back-to-back victories, including three consecutive by Fred Lorenzen (fall 1964 and both 1965) and four straight by Jimmie Johnson (both in 2004 and 2005).
� A NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race/Coca-Cola 600 sweep has occurred seven times: Darrell Waltrip (1985), Davey Allison (’91), Dale Earnhardt (’93), Jeff Gordon (’97), Jimmie Johnson (2003), Kasey Kahne (’08), Kurt Busch (’10).
� 14 races have been won from the pole, the last by Jimmie Johnson (October, 2009).
� Jimmie Johnson won the 2003 Coca-Cola 600 from the 37th starting position, the furthest back a race winner has started.
� Joey Logano is the only driver with more than two Charlotte races to average top-10 finish (8.2).
� A number of active drivers earned their first win at CMS: Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte, Jamie McMurray, Casey Mears and David Reutimann. Inactive drivers David Pearson, Buddy Baker and Charlie Glotzbach also got their first series win at Charlotte.
(NASCAR)(5-22-2012)
NASCAR Signs Memorandum Of Understanding With The EPA: NASCAR and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that provides a framework to encourage greater environmental awareness and adoption of green products and solutions with NASCAR fans and the entire industry. The MOU is a voluntary partnership around education and awareness. The agreement denotes some core areas NASCAR and the EPA will collaborate on moving forward including the following programs: E3: Economy, Energy and Environment; and Design for the Environment (DfE) labeled consumer and commercial products. The MOU, which can be accessed at bit.ly/EPA-NASCAR-mou(pdf), will pave the way for other opportunities and areas of focus for EPA and NASCAR such as sourcing more sustainable concessions at NASCAR events, expanding the use of DfE-labeled chemical products, conserving water, and continuing to grow the promotion and practice of all applicable types of recycling. Through E3, NASCAR and the EPA will work together to foster the adoption of green approaches, address sustainability challenges, and seize opportunities. A continuously greener sport and NASCAR’s supplier network will have positive economic and environmental impacts that extend far beyond the race track in the communities that NASCAR and the EPA serve.(NASCAR)(5-22-2012)
News from May 21, 2012
The Entry List for the Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is posted, 47 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including:
Danica Patrick is back in the #10 Chevy, Reutimann moves to the #73
T.J. Bell is in the #32 this week. Not in top 35 of owners points:
#19-Mike Bliss (47/6)
#21-Trevor Bayne (37/4)(2011 race winner)
#23-Scott Riggs (43/11)
#26-Josh Wise (40/11)
#30-David Stremme (38/11)
#33-Stephen Leicht (36/11)
#49-J.J. Yeley (39/11)
#73-David Reutimann (54/1)
#74-Cole Whitt (46/7)
#87-Joe Nemechek (42/11)
#95-Scott Speed (53/2)
#98-Michael McDowell (41/11) In the event that qualifying is cancelled:
the eight who would make it [8]: #’s 21,33,30,49,26,98,87,23
missing the race would be [4]: #’s 74,19,95,73
See the full entry list at my Jayski’s Charlotte Entry List.(5-21-2012)
Presbyterian Healthcare Partners with #98 team IMAGE added: Presbyterian Healthcare announced it will partner with Michael McDowell, driver of the #98 Ford Fusion. As part of the sponsorship, McDowell’s car will exclusively sport the Presbyterian Healthcare logo during the Coca-Cola 600 race weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Presbyterian is using the partnership as an opportunity to promote to a wide audience the importance of regular health screenings to save lives. The back of McDowell’s car will publicize a Presbyterian website (www.HealthPitStop.org). The site helps people better understand which screenings they should have based on their ages and health history and how to access the screenings through Presbyterian Healthcare/Novant Health’s programs. To formally announce the partnership, Presbyterian Healthcare, Phil Parsons Racing and Michael McDowell will host a news conference with a show car unveiling on May 21 at 1:00 pm/et at Presbyterian Hospital. After the news conference, McDowell will visit children at Presbyterian’s Hemby Children’s Hospital. The community can view the car at Presbyterian Hospital from 2-7 pm. The car will also be on display at Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville on May 22 from 2-7 p.m. and at Presbyterian Hospital Matthews on May 23 from 2-7 p.m. “Michael, who lives in Huntersville [NC], believes in what Presbyterian Healthcare is doing to help make our communities healthier. He has used Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville for care several times so this partnership is more personal for him,” said Mark Billings, president and CEO of Presbyterian Healthcare.(Breaking Limits)(5-17-2012) IMAGE see an image of the car on the #98 Team Schemes page.(5-21-2012)
Green Smoke to Sponsor T.J. Bell in Coca-Cola 600:Green Smoke, a leading producer of electronic cigarettes enjoyed around the globe, announced that it will be the primary sponsor of T.J. Bell in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Bell will be at the helm of the #32 Ford Fusion fielded by FAS Lane Racing. In addition, to help celebrate the sacrifices of our service men and women on Memorial Day weekend, Green Smoke is hosting Jay Carrey, a 14-year military veteran who was injured on duty, through its support of the HERO organization. Green Smoke is a proud advocate of the HERO (Helping Early Responders Organization) organization and the 32 million Americans that put on a uniform every day to serve and protect us. Green Smoke’s first NASCAR sponsorship was aboard Bell’s car in the 2011 Coca-Cola 600. Since then, it has served as a primary and associate sponsor for several vehicles in NASCAR’s top-three series. Green Smoke is a full-time associate sponsor of FAS Lane Racing in 2012 and plans to run at least four primaries this year with Bell behind the wheel.(Green Smoke/Breaking Limits)(5-21-2012
BK Racing to Field Third Car for David Reutimann: BK Racing announced Monday its plans to run a third car for David Reutimann in eight NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) events, including this week’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Reutimann will pilot the #73 Burger King/Dr Pepper Toyota in each NSCS race that he doesn’t drive for Tommy Baldwin Racing [#10 Chevy, Danica Patrick drives in 8 more races]. Landon Cassill will remain in the #83 car and Travis Kvapil will remain in the #93 car for the rest of the season. Reutimann has run two events with BK Racing this season driving the #93 car, the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway and the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
“Everyone at BK Racing is excited to solidify a third car on our team for David Reutimann,” said Scott Gunderson, president of BK Racing. “I know that he will strengthen our organization with the talent and experience that he brings to the table. Reutimann has been a big part of BK Racing this year and we look forward to working with him for the rest of the season. I want to thank Burger King and Dr Pepper for helping make this happen.”
BK Racing’s #73 team has entered one event this season, the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Kvapil was behind the wheel. Because the team runs a limited schedule, it was outside the top-35 in the owner point standings and had to qualify into the race on time. Kvapil made the show, qualifying 33rd and finishing 32nd, following a fuel pressure issue. Four cars failed to make the race.
“The 73 team has already proven to be a contender,” Reutimann said. “BK Racing has great equipment and personnel. They’ve shown that they can get the job done and I’m really excited to continue racing with them. We’re already off to a good start and the team is continuing to improve. Travis and Landon are terrific teammates and I think having a third car among us will give us better information and more resources to keep strengthening.”(Breaking Limits/BK Racing)(5-21-2012)
Race and Commercial Breakdown of the 2012 Bojangles’ Southern 500: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, or wonder how often your driver was focused on, here is the breakdown for Saturday’s race. Began recording the times at the Invocation of the race at 7:00 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 11:03 PM (all times are EST). Did not keep records for the pre- and post-race coverage. Fox was the broadcast team for this event.
Total number of commercials: 128
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 89
Number of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 116
Number of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 12
Number of times Fox utilized ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during this broadcast: 3
Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast: 34 Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 4 min. 5 sec.
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 7:00 PM End time to record race/commercial periods: 11:03 PM Total minutes of broadcast: 243 Minutes of race broadcast: 194 Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 51 Minutes of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials (split-screen): 5 Number of missed restarts: 0 Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 2 Total race brdcst time 194 Total comm. brdcst time 51 See past races, links and more on my 2012 TV Commercials page.(CawsnJaws)(5-21-2012)
International Motorsports Hall of Fame Announces Top-24 Finalists: The field has been narrowed and only 24 finalists remain for possible induction into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame‘s Class of 2013. There is a five-way tie for 20th. The final inductees getting 51% of the votes at the end of this voting session will be the 2013 Inductees. “Practically every form of racing, from stock cars to open wheel to motorcycles to airplanes are represented. They are drivers, car builders, engine builders, owners, pilots, pioneers and innovators,” states Executive Director, Grant Lynch. The Top 24 Finalists for the Class of 2013: Zora Arkus-Duntov, Ted Horn, Erwin “Cannonball” Baker, Dale Inman, Raymond Beadle, Joe Leonard, Clint Brawner, Tommy Milton, Bloys Britt, Danny Ongais, Joie Chitwood, Marvin Panch, Pete DePaolo, Les Richter, Rene Dreyfus, Pedro Rodriquez, Harvey Firestone, Don Schumacher, Rick Hendrick, Lee Shepherd, Tommy Hinnershitz, Ronnie Sox, David Hobbs and Rusty Wallace. The Class of 2013 will be announced this summer, 2012.(IMHOF)(5-21-2012)
Homestead to host Season Finales, now with new Race Names: Ford Motor Company and Homestead-Miami Speedway today announced that NASCAR’s season-ending championship races in South Florida will be named the Ford EcoBoost 200, Ford EcoBoost 300 and Ford EcoBoost 400 for 2012. The races, which crown season champions in NASCAR’s top three national series, are set for this fall:
The Camping World Truck Series Ford EcoBoost 200 Friday, November 16
The Nationwide Series Ford EcoBoost 300 Saturday, November 17
Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 Sunday, November 18
Formerly known as the Ford 200, Ford 300 and Ford 400, the three contests comprise Ford Championship Weekend. This fall’s events will mark the 11th consecutive year that Homestead-Miami Speedway has hosted NASCAR’s championship races in all three series and under the Ford banner. The race entitlements at Homestead-Miami Speedway will cap a year-long campaign for Ford EcoBoost in racing, which includes a presence in NASCAR, GRAND-AM, World Rally Car (WRC) and National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). Specific to NASCAR, Ford EcoBoost serves as the primary sponsor on the Sprint Cup Series cars of #99-Carl Edwards and #17-Matt Kenseth for select races. Ford EcoBoost also appears for select races on the Mustang race cars of defending Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse and Trevor Bayne. Tickets for Ford Championship Weekend went on sale to the general public earlier this month. They are available at www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com or by calling 866.409.RACE.(Homestead-Miami Speedway)(5-21-2012)
Bristol Motor Speedway Modification Project reaches halfway point: The starter has given the field the crossed-flags as the historical track-modification project at Bristol Motor Speedway reaches the halfway point. The milling of the upper groove in Turns 3 and 4 of the World’s Fastest Half-Mile is complete and the construction, or destruction, crew has relocated the equipment to Turns 1 and 2. Work resumed late Thursday (May 17). “It’s been an interesting process,” said BMS General Manager Jerry Caldwell. “We are asking this machinery to do something it wasn’t designed to do in unique conditions. We intended for this surface to last 15 to 18 years and now after five we are tearing up a large part of it and it isn’t giving up without a fight. We have had to replace a few machine parts doing it, but things are going well and the project will be complete in time for Goodyear’s tire test in mid-June.”(BMS PR)(5-21-2012)
News from May 20, 2012
Chevy not to reveal race car until later in the year: While Ford unveiled the Fusion in January and its prototype actually made laps at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Dodge had its coming-out party for the Charger in Las Vegas, it could be awhile before the public sees the final Chevrolet reveal, said Jim Campbell, the company’s US vice president, performance vehicles and motorsports. “We’re determining that right now, but it will be a number of months yet before we reveal the car,” Campbell said. “It will be much, much later this year.” On Thursday, Chevrolet announced that its new Cup car will be branded under the Chevrolet SS nameplate and that a limited production version will be available in showrooms at the end of next year. The manufacturer also released a photo of the Cup prototype.(FoxSports)(5-20-2012)
Stewart honored at special ceremony: #14-Tony Stewart was honored Saturday afternoon in a special ceremony held by Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Stewart was presented a magnificent 7-foot tall bronze statue of a wild turkey created by renowned artist Stefan Savides to commemorate his driving the #14 Bass Pro Shops/Wild Turkey Federation Chevy in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star Race on May 19th. Bass Pro Shops donated its sponsorship of the car as a salute to the National Wild Turkey Federation for all the organization does for wildlife habitat conservation across America and as thank you for their long-standing partnership with Bass Pro Shops. The presentation was also held to honor Stewart for being named the honorary chairman of the 2012 National Hunting and Fishing Day. Congress established National Hunting and Fishing Day to recognize hunters and anglers for their leadership in fish and wildlife conservation. Stewart joins an elite fraternity of other celebrities that have served as honorary chairs, including Travis Tritt, Jeff Foxworthy, Arnold Palmer, and Terry Bradshaw among others. National Hunting and Fishing Day events, classes and workshops will be held Saturday, September 29th at communities and businesses all over America.(Bass Pro Shops)(5-20-2012)
NASCAR Joins Beyond Sport To Promote Cause-Related Impact: NASCAR announced it has accepted an invitation to join Beyond Sport, a global organization that promotes, develops and supports the use of sport to create positive social change. NASCAR joins a coalition of leagues that includes Major League Baseball (MLB), Major League Soccer (MLS), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Football League (NFL), the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) as part of Beyond Sport’s wider global network. NASCAR becomes the first motorsports organization to align with Beyond Sport.
Through Beyond Sport, NASCAR joins a movement led by a network of sports leagues that allows the sanctioning body to exchange best practices on community involvement, and to promote the numerous efforts of drivers, race teams, track operators and others within the industry to improve communities and the lives of people. It also provides NASCAR the opportunity to highlight the initiatives of the NASCAR Foundation, NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity and NASCAR Green while networking with leagues and their partners around the world.
As a founding supporter of Beyond Sport United, NASCAR Chairman and CEO, Brian France, will join Commissioners from the other major North American leagues as part of the Commissioners’ Roundtable at the Beyond Sport United annual gathering, November 13, 2012, at Yankee Stadium in New York. NASCAR also will have a significant presence in London this July, one week prior to the start of the Summer Olympic Games, as a participant in the annual Beyond Sport Summit & Awards, a gathering of global sports, political and business leaders to share ideas and honor the contributions of sport to society.(NASCAR)(5-20-2012)
News from May 19, 2012
Johnson wins the Sprint All Star race: #48-Jimmie Johnson won the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the third time, tying Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Jeff Gordon for most all-time. Johnson won $1,071,340 for the win. #2-Keselowski finished 2nd followed by #17-Kenseth, #18-Busch [pole sitter], #88-Earnhardt Jr. [winner of the Sprint Showdown], #29-Harvick, #9-Ambrose, #51-Busch, #5-Kahne and #39-Newman. Johnson won the first 20-lap segment which earned him the right to lead the field to pit road before the final 10-lap dash. Kenseth won the second segment, Keselowski won the third segment over #5-Kahne by .006 seconds. Earnhardt won segment No. 4. So after segment 4, Johnson, Kenseth, Keselowski and Earnhardt entered pit road in that order, took no tires or gas and came out in those same top four positions for the final 10-lap run. Sprint Fan Vote winner, #47-Bobby Labonte finished 19th. There were no accidents and only two cars failed to finish the race, #16-Biffle and last years winner #99-Edwards, both with engine failures.
See segment results. notes and much info on my Sprint All Star Race & Sprint Showdown Info page.(5-19-2012)
Sprint All Star Race Notes:
All Star Race winner: #48-Johnson
Segment 4 winner: #88-Earnhardt Jr.
Segment 3 winner: #2-Keselowski
Segment 2 winner: #17-Kenseth
Segment 1 winner: #48-Johnson
cars out: #99-Edwards (engine); #16-Biffle (engine)
Earnhardt Jr. wins the Sprint Showdown: #88-Earnhardt Hr, led all 40 laps to win his first Sprint Showdown at Charlotte Motor Speedway to transfer into the Sprint All Star Race. #22-Allmendinger, who started on the pole, finished 2nd after having a flat left front tire at the start of the race. Allmendinger will also transfer into the All Star race. #1-McMurray finished 3rd after starting from the rear due to an unapproved adjustment after qualifying, followed by #56-Truex Jr., #42-Montoya, #20-LOgano, #43-Almirola, #31-Burton, #83-Cassill and #93-Kvapil. #47-Bobby Labonte, the 2000 Sprint Cup Champion, finished 12th but won the Sprint Fan Vote and will race in the Sprint All-Star Race. There were no accidents and seven cars took their cars to the garage before the end of the race.
See results and notes from each segment on my Sprint All Star Race & Sprint Showdown Info page.(5-19-2012)
added all the car scheme for the Sprint SHowdown and many from the Sprint All-Star practice. See the images, race-by-race chart, links to the images and more on the Paint Scheme Gallery
Update on All-Star Fan vote UPDATE Labonte wins the vote: Nearly 2 million votes have been cast in the 2012 Sprint Fan Vote for one driver to gain entry into the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on Saturday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The five drivers leading the Sprint Fan Vote standings (in alphabetical order) are: A.J. Allmendinger, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Bill Elliott, Bobby Labonte and Joey Logano. Voting will continue until 5:00pm/et Saturday. Fans can vote by visiting Sprint.com/Speed, using the NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile application on Sprint Android devices, or by texting “VOTE” to 229466 on any wireless carrier (standard text messaging and data rates apply).(Charlotte Observer) UPDATE: As voting neared completion for tonight’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, over 2.34 million votes had been registered. The top five drivers receiving votes (in alphabetical order) were A.J. Allmendinger, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Bobby Labonte, Joey Logano and Martin Truex Jr.(CMS Pit Notes) UPDATE 2: #47-Bobby Labonte, the 2000 Sprint Cup Champion, finished 12th but won the Sprint Fan Vote and will race in the Sprint All-Star Race. (5-19-2012)
Bowyer Wins Pennzoil Victory Burnout Challenge: During pre-race activities for Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Pennzoil held its fifth annual Pennzoil Victory Burnout Challenge, which included five NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers. When the smoke cleared, #15-Clint Bowyer won his first competition, after having competed in the previous four. The four other NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers competing in the competition were Shell/Pennzoil driver #22-A.J. Allmendinger, #2-Brad Keselowski, and former Pennzoil Victory Burnout Challenge winners #5-Kasey Kahne and #20-Joey Logano. Each driver took a turn in a different Richard Petty Driving School Pennzoil race car. Fans voted for the top two burnouts before a panel of three celebrity judges voted Bowyer the winner. The judges were Miss Sprint Cup, Jaclyn Roney; Colby Donaldson, a veteran of television’s “Survivor” and host of “Top Shot;” and Kim Spradlin, 2012 winner of the “Survivor.” Bowyer is donating the $10,000 first place check to his charity, the Employee Community Foundation in his hometown of Emporia, Kan.(CMS Pit Notes)(5-19-2012)
NASCAR and Twitter team up: NASCAR and Twitter announced a unique digital partnership that will create a new way for the sport’s millions of fans to experience what happens inside NASCAR and its teams on race day. Built to support the live race broadcast, this new experience will give fans a complementary insider’s view of the action as it unfolds on the track and on Twitter. During a race, when fans click on #NASCAR, search for #NASCAR on Twitter.com or visit twitter.com/#NASCAR, they’ll reach a new Twitter experience where they will see the most relevant tweets from their favorite NASCAR drivers, NASCAR families, teams, commentators, celebrities and other racing fans and personalities. NASCAR is the first organization to team with Twitter to create an enhanced live event experience on the Twitter platform. Twitter.com/#NASCAR will be available starting with the Pocono Raceway race weekend and will be most active on Sunday, June 10 in conjunction with TNT’s first of six television broadcasts of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. More details surrounding this new partnership and the June 10 product launch will be available in the days and weeks ahead from Twitter, NASCAR and TNT.(NASCAR), check out Jayski.com’s twitter at @jayski_nascar. (5-19-2012)
Things at NASCAR Hall of Fame looking better: As the NASCAR Hall of Fame turned two this month, the racing museum had some rare good news: It has recently seen its attendance stabilize compared with the same months a year earlier. The hall is still losing money and is far short of original attendance projections. But the better turnstile numbers have hall officials believing they are on the right track. “There is a series of different things that we have learned have worked,” said executive director Winston Kelley, noting that reduced-price tickets for locals in February and March helped boost attendance. Kelley and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority projected 800,000 people would attend but only 272,000 came, including 12,000 for a free week in January 2011. The hall lost $1.4 million. The hall’s second year began poorly. After projecting higher attendance, attendance was down more than 30% in the summer of 2011 compared with the same months of the previous year. But in late 2011, the NASCAR hall’s attendance began to stabilize. For instance, the hall attracted 16,270 people in March compared with 15,882 a year earlier. February attendance this year was 12,989 compared with 13,091 in 2011. The hall is entering one of its most crucial periods the stretch between the All-Star Race May 19 and the Coca Cola 600 on May 27. The hall is running shuttles between Charlotte Motor Speedway and the museum for those who have an admission ticket to the hall. Through March, nine months into the fiscal year, the hall had lost $1.31 million. But that loss has been mitigated by a subsidy from the city of Charlotte, which helps pay for the maintenance of the hall building, which it owns. That subsidy which comes from a special hotel/motel tax devoted to the hall has reduced the attraction’s official deficit for the year to $684,000. That money must be covered by the CRVA, a taxpayer-supported group that operates the NASCAR hall.(Charlotte Observer)(5-19-2012)
Dale Jr. talks about a bill that could ban military spending in sports: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. met with members of the media at Charlotte Motor Speedway and discussed many things including Military sponsorships in the sport, the transcript in part: Q) THERE’S A BILL THAT JUST PASSED THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE THAT INCLUDES AN AMENDMENT TO BAN MILITARY SPENDING FOR SPORTS SPONSORSHIPS. AS SOMEBODY THAT REPRESENTS A MILITARY BRAND, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THOSE IN CONGRESS THEY SHOULD BE LOOKING AT OR THINKING ABOUT AS OPPOSED TO BOTTOM-LINE ISSUES? Earnhardt Jr.: “I think the Republican from Georgia that is heading the bill hasn’t even been to a NASCAR race. At least it states that in the article today. I would encourage them to do more homework, get more facts, understand the situation a little more. I know just talking to the (National) Guard, and we went through this before, and talking to them, they can’t express to me enough about how much this program helps their recruiting. They are committed to the belief it has a profound effect on their recruiting and their ability to recruit. It’s important for them to be visible and to push their brand, and work on their brand giving people an opportunity to learn more about how to get involved in the military. I think their NASCAR sponsorship is a great way to reach a lot of people. We are one of the biggest sports. We’ve got more people attending races and attending our sport than a lot of other avenues they could be going. I think it’s good and healthy for them to be here. I think it works for them or they wouldn’t be a part of it.” Q) WOULD YOU INVITE THAT REPUBLICAN FROM GEORGIA TO A RACE? Earnhardt Jr.: “Yeah, just because he’s a Republican from Georgia he should have seen a NASCAR race by now (laughter).” Q) WHAT WOULD YOU WANT HIM TO SEE? Earnhardt Jr.: “He could come along and visit with the Guard and talk with the Guard. Talk to the people that are at the particular races and see what the experience is like for them. See how the guard utilizes their program and they’re marketing within the sport. If he hasn’t been to a race, he’s not seen it firsthand. Then he can make his decision.”(Team Chevy)(5-19-2012)
Kurt Busch discusses incident at Darlington: #51-Kurt Busch met with members of the media at Charlotte Motor Speedway and discussed many things including last week’s incident with Ryan Newman, the transcript in part: Q) YOU AND (RYAN) NEWMAN DIDN’T HAVE AN ISSUE ON TRACK (LAST WEEKEND IN DARLINGTON) SO WHY DID YOU BUMP HIM AFTER THE RACE? Busch: “That is where everybody checked-up coming in the garage. I was taking my helmet off so I didn’t have a problem with (Ryan) Newman. I didn’t have a problem with his crew guys. Then things just really got out of control in a hurry.” Q) WHAT HAPPENED WHEN YOU LEFT PIT ROAD? Busch: “I was just trying to beat the pace car out. I didn’t think anything of it other than we have put up a good fight this whole year. Trying to just work as hard as we’ve worked, trying to complete the day and get those top-10 finishes. These guys work harder than anybody else in this garage. This No. 51 Phoenix Racing team, I love them to death. They have my back, I’ve got theirs and we just wanted to finish on the lead lap. I was trying to get off pit road as quick as I could. Newman, he left his pit, I don’t know, a good 10 seconds before us. I didn’t think there was any reason to think that any crew guys were in danger. One guy has a problem with it and it just escalated from there.” Q) DID YOU FEEL LIKE THE FINE WAS JUSTIFIED? Busch: “The fine is what it is. There was the problem of me not lining-up properly when NASCAR told me to get to be the last car on the track. You have to do that when you pit too soon. That is just a normal penalty that you have to adhere to. I was, but everybody kept waving me by. When everybody is waving you by and NASCAR is yelling in your ear to go to the back. It’s like I’m confused on where I’m supposed to line-up. Whether it was pit road, whether it was not lining up where I was supposed to be, whether it was the incident on pit road when everybody checked-up and I was taking my helmet off. Which (Ryan) Newman said that he thought that was a lie, that is the honest truth. Newman and I were friends. We were great teammates. He needs to check his trophy case on the Daytona 500 trophy that I helped him get years ago. We have always been great friends. There was no need for his comments afterwards. He knew that his Southern 500 didn’t go the way that he wanted it to. At the end of the nigh everybody is hot, pissed off. The Daytona 500 is a big race; Darlington is just as big of an event. A lot of people get excited for it. I wanted to finish in the top-10 and we didn’t get that top-10 finish. It was a tough night that all went bad in a hurry. For that I apologize to NASCAR for them to have to make a decision on penalizing me. It is what it is, I will move on. Is my strike zone bigger than others? Yeah, it might be a little bigger than others but I don’t have a problem with it. I’ve got a great group of guys here that I’m working with on this Phoenix team to go there and put together the results that we can. We need to get those good solid finishes like we know we are capable of.” Q) HOW DO YOU TAKE RYAN’S (NEWMAN) COMMENTS AFTERWARDS WHERE HE MADE THE COMMENT ABOUT CHEMICAL IMBALANCE? Busch: “Yeah, we’re friends. He was agitated just like I was after a good day gone bad. He was just in the emotion of it. With him making the comments that he did, he was a little out of line as well for the heat of the moment. ” Q) NO LONGER FRIENDS NOW OR DO YOU NEED TO TALK WITH HIM? Busch: “Well I think that we are both looking at the same scenario coming up here in these next few summer months.” Q) SINCE YOU AND RYAN (NEWMAN) ARE BOTH UNSETTLED RIGHT NOW FOR 2013, DO YOU THINK WITH HIS COMMENTS HE CAN DISCREDIT YOU IN THE PUBLIC MARKET? Busch: “This is good for our sport. This is WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) type action.” Q) ARE THERE THINGS YOU WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY? Busch: “I would have done my best to keep the car off the wall and not get that flat tire and to bring out car home 10th. That was a tough race for us to race in the top-five like we did for a little while we were a seventh to eighth place car genuinely all night. Pit stops put us back to 15th a few times, but I wasn’t upset about that when that happened.” Q) WHAT ABOUT POST RACE? Busch: “Those things happen because of what happen during the race. I’m passionate about what I do and I want to complete those days when we are running well. Just like when we were at Talladega. To get spun out with just a few laps to go, it’s like man what else can happen to us in the last few laps of a race.” Q) DO YOU PERSONALLY PAY THE $50,000 OUT OF YOUR POCKET? Busch: “Absolutely, I have all through my career. I’ve been fined probably the most out of any driver and I’ve probably paid it out of my pocket more than any driver.” Q) WERE YOU SURPRISED AT WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE CREW GUY BECAUSE RYAN (NEWMAN) HAS ALREADY COME OVER TO THE CAR AND WALKED AWAY? Busch: “Yeah, it was surprising that guy was just as excited as anybody else. That is the passion that all of us have in this sport. Did I mean to drive through their pit box? Heck there could have been 42 other guys pitted next to us, but it just happened to be the guy that spun around in our same incident. It wasn’t anything that I tried to do and he was just excited about things. I was trying to be the man and get my car back to the garage. Instead I could have walked away like (Ryan) Newman walked away.” Q) DID YOU FEEL LIKE YOU DROVE THROUGH THEIR PIT BOX RECKLESSLY? THAT IS WHAT NASCAR FINED YOU FOR. Busch: “No, not at all. They fined us for a multitude of things.”(Team Chevy)(5-19-2012)
News from May 18, 2012
Race Coverage of the Sprint Showdown & Sprint All Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, May 19, 2012. Television (TV): SPEED at 7:00 pm/et; Pre-Race show at 4:00 pm/et; green flag approx 7:46pm/et Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 90 Scheduled Race Re-Airs: on SPEED, Friday, May 25th at 12:00pm/et
Kyle Busch wins pole for Sprint All Star race: #18-Kyle Busch won the pole (and $50,000) for the Sprint All Star Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a time of 119.112 seconds. #39-Newman will start 2nd followed by #11-Hamlin, #16-Biffle, #29-Harvick, #48-Johnson, #27-Meneard, #24-Gordon, #14-Stewart and #78-Smith.
#21-Bayne will start 11th followed by #15-Bowyer, #99-Edwards, #34-Ragan, #17-Kenseth (X), #55-Martin (X), #51-Busch (X), #9-Ambrose (X), #2-Keselowski (X) and #5-Kahne. #5-Kahne wrecked on his final lap and will go tp the rear of the field on Saturday night in a backup car. (X) = penalty.
For qualifying speed see Sprint All Star Race Qualifying Results page (pdf) and for the lineup, see the Sprint All Star Race Starting Lineup page (pdf).(5-18-2012)
Allmendinger wins pole for Sprint Showdown #22-A.J. Allmendinger won the pole for the Sprint Showdown Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a speed of 192.465mph. #56-Truex Jr. will start 2nd followed by #88-Earnhardt Jr., #31-Burton, #43-Almirola, #83-Cassill, #42-Montoya, #47-Labonte, #93-Kvapil and #30-Stremme.
#13-Mears will start 11th, followed by #10-Reutimann, #20-Logano, #33-Leicht, #95-Speed, #38-Gilliland, #19-Bliss, #49-Yeley, #1-McMurray, #87-Nemechek, #26-Wise and #36-Raines.
For qualifying speed see Sprint Showdown Qualifying Results page (pdf) and for the lineup, see the Sprint Showdown Starting Lineup page (pdf).(5-18-2012)
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Sprint All Star Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway have been made.
Winner of the Sprint Pit Crew Challenge, #48-Johnson chose pit stall 2, the first available stall.
The rest of the stalls were chosen by finishing order of the Sprint Pit Crew Challenge.
The last three stalls are for the winner and 2nd place drivers from the Sprint Showdown and the Sprint Fan Vote winner.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(5-18-2012)
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Sprint Showdown at Charlotte Motor Speedway have been made.
The pole winner, #22-Allmendinger chose pit stall 1.
#88-Earnhardt Jr. who starts 2nd, took pit stall 20, just before the start/finish line.
#31-Burton, who starts 3rd, took pit stall 35.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart page.(5-18-2012)
Monster Energy Sponsors Kurt Busch in All-Star Race: It was announced that Monster Energywill sponsor Kurt Busch and the #51 Chevy of Phoenix Racing in Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “The association with Monster Energy has been beyond great, and it’s fun being a part of the Monster Energy Team of Athletes,” said Busch, winner of the 2010 All-Star Race. “When we started the relationship with Monster Energy we had talked about doing some Sprint Cup Series races together. What better race to do that than an event like the All-Star Race with all of that energy and excitement? It was just the perfect opportunity and I’m really looking forward to having that Monster claw on the hood of the #51 Chevrolet Saturday night.” In March, Busch was added to the Monster Energy Team of Athletes. The 2004 Sprint Cup champion shares the driving duties of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with his younger brother Kyle, who serves the dual role of driver/owner with Kyle Busch Motorsports. Kurt scored the first win of the 2012 season for Monster Energy when he won the April 27 race at Richmond.
“Monster Energy supports Kurt Busch because of his passion for racing and his passion for winning,” said Mitch Covington, director of motorsports for Monster Energy. “The Monster Energy Team of Athletes is a group of determined, fearless and committed individuals and we support our athletes 100 percent. Kurt has gone the extra mile for us not only in representing our brand but also with everything he does behind the scenes with our employees and customers. The Sprint All-Star Race is a great race for us to showcase our brand and commitment to our athletes.”(True Speed Communication)(5-18-2012)
Andretti to NASCAR…with Dodge? UPDATE: Multiple sources have told FOXSports.com that one of the latest candidates for Dodge Motorsports could be Michael Andretti, owner of Andretti Autosport. With Roger Penske’s departure from Dodge at the end of the 2012 season, the door is open for new organizations to enter the fold. In addition to Andretti, Richard Petty Motorsports and Furniture Row Racing are the top contenders to field Dodges in 2013. An announcement regarding Dodge’s lineup, as well as its engine building plans, could come as early as the weekend of the NASCAR races at Michigan, June 15-17. Andretti currently fields three full-time teams in the IndyCar Series with drivers Marco Andretti, Ryan Hunter-Reay and James Hinchcliffe. It is unlikely that Andretti would use open-wheel talent for a NASCAR venture. Two names mentioned as possibilities to drive for the team are Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch, both of whom have established relationships with Dodge.(FoxSports)(5-18-2012) UPDATE: No one with Andretti nor Dodge would confirm the talks but neither would deny the possibility when contacted in the past several weeks as rumors spread through the NASCAR community of Andretti’s interest. “Andretti Autosport is a business designed to always be open to new opportunities as a race team and as a sports marketing company,” said Jade Gurss, director of corporate communications for Andretti Autosport. A Dodge spokesman said the manufacturer was still in the process of evaluating opportunities for next season and could not comment.(Sporting News)(5-18-2012)
Military sponsorships could go away..if: The sponsorships of #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [National Guard] and #39-Ryan Newman [U.S. Army] (as well as the Air Force deal with #43-Aric Almirola) could be in jeopardy as military sponsorships of motorsports have come into question in the U.S. House of Representatives. The House Appropriations Committee approved an amendment Thursday to the 2013 defense appropriations bill that would prohibit funding of sponsorships of professional sports or sporting events. The amendment, passed by a voice vote and sponsored by Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) and Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), states that: “None of the funds made available in this act may be used to sponsor professional or semiprofessional motorsports, fishing, wrestling or other sports.” The bill still needs to be passed by the House and then the provision would have to make it through any negotiations with leaders from the Senate and its defense appropriations bill. Last year, McCollum introduced an amendment banning motorsports sponsorships on the House floor and it was voted down 281-148.(Sporting News and USA Today)(5-18-2012)
Different look for Burton in Sprint Showdown: Jeff Burton’s #31 Chevy will sport a special black and silver edition co-branded paint scheme with Caterpillar and BB&T; during the Sprint All-Star Race Weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway (RCR), see an image of the car on the #31 Team Schemes page.(5-18-2012)
Rheem & Bud team up for All-Star race on #29: Rheem will return for their fourth appearance of the 2012 season and join Budweiser as co-primary sponsors on Kevin Harvick’s #29 RCR Chevy this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the All-Star race.(RCR)(5-18-2012)
News from May 17, 2012
Kurt Busch to RCR? replace Burton? denied but: While the latest rumor has #51-Kurt Busch headed to Richard Childress Racing, possibly replacing #31-Jeff Burton, RCR officials have indicated that the team and sponsor Caterpillar are happy with Burton and anticipate no changes. Burton and Caterpillar signed contract extensions last year, and Burton is 17th in the standingsnot where he wants to be but better than 20th, where he finished a year ago. Caterpillar also has not had a history of hiring controversial drivers or spokesmen. But RCR shouldn’t be counted out of the Busch sweepstakes, as many consider him among the most talented drivers in the sport and Busch met with Childress during the offseason to talk about opportunities (Sporting News)(5-17-2012).
Johnson’s team wins Sprint Pit Crew Challenge: Jimmie Johnson’s #48 team won the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge, avenging last year’s loss in the finals to Denny Hamlin’s #11 team. Hamlin’s team was the two-time defending champions coming into the event and cruised into the finals, but lost to Johnson’s team by three-tenths of a second. Johnson’s six-member team changed four tires, put in gas and pushed the car 40 yards in 22.3 seconds without a penalty to earn the $80,675 first-place prize and their choice of the top pit stall in Saturday night’s All-Star race. Johnson’s team included gas man Brandon Harder; front tire changer Dave Collins and carrier R.J. Barnette; rear tire changer Calvin Teague and carrier Matt Tyrrell; and jack man T.J. Ford. Their crew chief was Chad Knaus.(Associated Press)(5-17-2012)
Red Cross Honors Blood Donors with Special Paint Scheme: #16-Greg Biffle salutes Red Crossblood donors during the May 19 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. The #16 Ford Fusion will sport a “Saluting Our All-Stars” patriotic paint scheme, highlighting 33 blood donors listed on the car, while honoring thousands across the country. Red Cross blood donors provide more than 40% of the nation’s blood supply helping the Red Cross ensure that life-saving blood and blood products reach patients across the country. Eligible donors can give blood once every 56 days at Red Cross blood drives and donor centers. Biffle, a member of the Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet, also is a regular blood donor. The American Red Cross celebrates the fifth year of the Red Cross Racing partnership with 3M and Roush Fenway Racing. The #16 Ford also will sport a Red Cross paint scheme during the June 30 race in Kentucky, thanks to the generous donation from 3M and support by Greg Biffle. For more information about the American Red Cross, visit redcross.org.(RFR), see images of the car on my #16 Team Schemes page.(5-17-2012)
Presbyterian Healthcare Partners with #98 team: Presbyterian Healthcare announced it will partner with Michael McDowell, driver of the #98 Ford Fusion. As part of the sponsorship, McDowell’s car will exclusively sport the Presbyterian Healthcare logo during the Coca-Cola 600 race weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Presbyterian is using the partnership as an opportunity to promote to a wide audience the importance of regular health screenings to save lives. The back of McDowell’s car will publicize a Presbyterian website (www.HealthPitStop.com). The site helps people better understand which screenings they should have based on their ages and health history and how to access the screenings through Presbyterian Healthcare/Novant Health’s programs. To formally announce the partnership, Presbyterian Healthcare, Phil Parsons Racing and Michael McDowell will host a news conference with a show car unveiling on May 21 at 1:00 pm/et at Presbyterian Hospital. After the news conference, McDowell will visit children at Presbyterian’s Hemby Children’s Hospital. The community can view the car at Presbyterian Hospital from 2-7 pm. The car will also be on display at Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville on May 22 from 2-7 p.m. and at Presbyterian Hospital Matthews on May 23 from 2-7 p.m. “Michael, who lives in Huntersville [NC], believes in what Presbyterian Healthcare is doing to help make our communities healthier. He has used Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville for care several times so this partnership is more personal for him,” said Mark Billings, president and CEO of Presbyterian Healthcare.(Breaking Limits)(5-17-2012)
Holden to export of the Commodore to U.S. as Chevy SS UPDATE to NASCAR – image: Holden will announce tomorrow an export program for the Commodore, which will see the Adelaide [Australia] made car become a race and showroom star in the United States. Though sales of the Elizabeth-produced sedan continue to slide in Australia, a Commodore V8 will be exported to America where it will be sold with the Chevy SS Performance badge. In that guise, it would also star for the heartland brand in the NASCAR stock car racing series, which runs second only to Formula One in global popularity. Holden has been testing left-hand drive cars on public roads in Victoria in recent weeks and running it head-to-head with one of its strongest potential rivals, the Dodge Charger, as it finalises its end of the important new deal. Motorsport sources in the USA hint that an announcement of the Chevy SS program is imminent, including the Holden connection. The coming VF Commodore as the donor car for the program ticks the boxes for American muscle car fans, and NASCAR stock car racing as well, thanks to its V8 engine, large body and rear-wheel drive. Former GM Holden president Mark Reuss, now the head of GM operations in the US and a known fan and supporter of the Commodore, dodged Carsguide’s questions on a link between the SS program and the Commodore. Holden chairman Mike Devereux also refused to comment on the strengthening rumours in the US, which were triggered by the announcement. Full-scale testing of the racer is expected to begin soon, and the bodywork expected to be revealed at the same time.()(5-16-2012) UPDATE: Holden has announced a new export program, confirming that Commodore will return to North America in late 2013 as the new Chevrolet SS performance sedan. The limited production derivative of the yet to be launched VF Commodore will arrive in North American showrooms late next year. It will be the first time in 17 years that Chevrolet will offer a rear-wheel-drive sedan for sale in the US. The SS will also become Chevrolet’s next NASCAR Sprint Cup racecar debuting next year in its race configuration at the world renowned Daytona 500. Based on the much anticipated Australian-built car, the Chevrolet SS will benefit from significant technology advances including innovations in light weighting and fuel efficiency. Mark Reuss, GM President of North America said as a passionate race fan and performance enthusiast he was thrilled with today’s announcement. “I am delighted to say that Chevrolet will deliver a true rear-wheel-drive NASCAR racecar in the SS that very closely links the performance sedan that will be available for sale,” Reuss said. “The Chevrolet SS is a great example of how GM is able to leverage its global product portfolio to deliver a unique performance experience that extends well beyond the track and I am personally looking forward to driving it.”(Holden/General Motors) AND Chevrolet announced the return of a V-8 powered, rear-wheel-drive performance sedan to the U.S. lineup, the Chevrolet SS. The SS will also be Chevrolet’s next NASCAR Sprint Cup racecar and will debut in its race configuration at the 2013 Daytona 500. The limited production version of the Chevrolet SS will be a 2014 model and will arrive in dealer showrooms in late 2013. It is the first time in 17 years that Chevrolet will offer a rear-wheel-drive sedan for sale in the United States.(Team Chevy PR), see an image of the car on the Chevy Manufacturer News page.(5-17-2012)
All-Star Race & Sprint Showdown Entry Lists: The Entry Lists for the Sprint All-Star Race and the Sprint Showdown at Charlotte Motor Speedway are posted, 20 for the All-Star race and 22 entries for the Sprint Showdown are listed. The winner of the showdown, along with the second place driver and the driver voted in by the fans, will move to the Sprint All-Star race. See the complete list on the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Challenge race page
Stewart hopes to re-sign Newman: #14-Tony Stewart would like Stewart-Haas Racing to have three full-time teams in 2013, but has not yet signed driver #39-Ryan Newman to a new deal. Newman agreed to drive for the team when Stewart became co-owner starting with the 2009 season. Newman is not yet signed for 2013. Danica Patrick is expected to drive for the team full time next season in the #10 GoDaddy.com Chevy after a 10-race Cup schedule this year. “I want him back next year,” Stewart said Tuesday. “Obviously we’re working on sponsorship to make sure we have got the funding to keep that going. Ryan and I are on the same page. He knows what we’re trying to do and I have every intention of keeping him for next year.”(Sporting News)(5-17-2012)
Childress & Rudd inducted into NMPA Hall of Fame: NASCAR team owner Richard Childress and former NASCAR driver Ricky Rudd were inducted into the National Motorsports Press AssociationHall of Fame Tuesday night at a gala event in Concord, NC. “It’s is a great honor for me to carry the banner for all of the talented people who have made RCR what it’s become over the past 40-plus years,” said Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “To go into the National Motorsports Press Association with Ricky Rudd is very special for me personally because of his important contributions to both RCR and the sport of NASCAR racing as a whole. I had a dream as a kid of winning races and championships but I never thought it would take me to the places it has in my life.” The National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame is located on the grounds of Darlington Raceway. The inaugural class was inducted in 1965 which has become a Who’s Who in the world of NASCAR. Childress and Rudd were the 79th and 80th inductees.(RCR)(5-17-2012)
Central Michigan Wins Spring Edition of NASCAR Kinetics: After competing among 18 talented colleges and universities from across the nation, Central Michigan University has won this semester’s NASCAR Kinetics: Marketing in Motion case study competition, earning them a grand prize trip to attend the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway this Saturday night. Throughout the semester, teams were required to develop two case studies and host a viewing party for a pre-determined NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The case studies included generating marketing ideas for Fathead and Camping World and the viewing parties featured M&M;’S newest spokescandy Ms. Brown. After finishing in the top three on the first and second case studies, the CMU NASCAR Kinetics team placed first on the viewing party segment of the competition. They took the event to an entirely new level, staging a classic car show that added to the festive Ms. Brown NASCAR viewing party atmosphere. The result was a well-attended party drawing a crowd of more than 300 guests from CMU and the local community that showcased the NASCAR and M&M;’S brands in a fun and exciting way for those in attendance. While in Charlotte, the CMU NASCAR Kinetics team will meet with industry professionals from NASCAR, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and various Official Partners, licensees, teams and agencies. The team will also get a behind-the-scenes look at the production of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, in addition to taking tours of NASCAR-related organizations based in the Charlotte/Concord area away from the race track. The CMU NASCAR Kinetics team is comprised of the following five students: David Connolly (White Lake, Mich.), Beau Kingsbury (Manchester, Mich.), Aaron Lanctot (Sterling, Mich.), Samantha Reed (East Grand Rapids, Mich.), and Sarah Slachta (Freeland, Mich.)(NASCAR)(5-17-2012)
Sam Bass Shows Off Latest Souvenir CMS Program Covers: NASCAR artist Sam Bass has long left his mark on the races at Charlotte Motor Speedway by bringing the covers of the souvenir programs to life with his unique vision and grasp of motorsports. Bass, the official artist of NASCAR, has been designing program covers for Charlotte Motor Speedway since 1985, and was on hand Wednesday to unveil his latest designs. Once again, Bass’ covers for both the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race “Throwdown at Charlotte” and the Coca-Cola 600 “Let Freedom Race” programs are a can’t-miss keepsake for fans, whether their coming to their very first race or have been longtime fans. For more great ticket offers and promotions for any Charlotte Motor Speedway events, visit charlottemotorspeedway.com or call the ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267).(CMS)(5-17-2012)
Kansas Speedway repave update: This week as the construction crews continue work on the Kansas Speedway road course and continue to work on the banking as crews begin to cut the slope in Turns 3 and 4 to create the new variable banking and the first strip of test asphalt has been put down on pit road.(Kansas Speedway)(5-17-2012)
2013 Ford Escape named the Official Pace Vehicle of Kentucky Speedway: #17-Matt Kenseth presented the 2013 Ford Escape as the official pace vehicle of Kentucky Speedway’s June 28-30 “Quaker State 400” tripleheader race weekend during a visit to the Ford Motor Co., Louisville Assembly Plant. Kenseth enjoyed a plant tour before unveiling two Kentucky Speedway themed Escapes. Tickets, campsites and daily infield Fan Zone passes can be purchased through the “Tickets” pages of kentuckyspeedway.com, by calling (859) 578-2300.(Kentucky Speedway)(5-17-2012)
Marlee Scott to Perform National Anthems at Watkins Glen:Marlee Scott will perform the American and Canadian National Anthems live on ESPN prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at The Glen race on Sunday, August 12. Scott, a Big Ride Entertainment artist and Toronto, ON native currently residing in Nashville, will also perform at Friday Night’s FREE Red Cat Summer Stage Concert on the infield of Watkins Glen International. Scott has previously performed at the ACC Football Championship, the Breeders’ Cup and at a number of Major League Baseball games including the Chicago White Sox, Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds. Tickets for the 2012 race season at Watkins Glen International are on sale now! Fans may purchase tickets and camping by contacting the WGI ticket office at 866.461.RACE(7223) or logging on to the official website, TheGlen.com.(WGI)(5-17-2012)
News from May 16, 2012
NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge Official Entry List Announced: Entering its eighth year of competition, the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge will feature 24 of the top NASCAR Sprint Cup SeriesTM pit crews in a head-to-head competition at 7:00 pm/et Thursday, May 17 at Time Warner Cable Arena.
Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased online at www.pitcrewchallenge.com or by calling Time Warner Cable Arena box office at (800) 745-3000. SPEED’s broadcast of the event begins at 8:00pm/et.
The 20 teams eligible for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 19 automatically qualified for the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge. The remaining four positions were assigned to the car owners ranked highest in the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series owner point standings as of May 14, 2012, who were not otherwise eligible for this event. See the entry list on the 2012 Pit Crew News and Awards page.(5-16-2012)
Different look for McMurray in Sprint Showdown: The #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevy of Jamie McMurray will have a special look for the Sprint Showdown at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Instead of the usual orange, the #1 will be white and camouflage with an orange number.(EGR)(5-16-2012)
All-Star Race & Sprint Showdown Entry Lists: The Entry Lists for the Sprint All-Star Race and the Sprint Showdown at Charlotte Motor Speedway are posted, 20 for the All-Star race and 22 entries for the Sprint Showdown are listed. The winner of the showdown, along with the second place driver and the driver voted in by the fans, will move to the Sprint All-Star race. See the complete list on the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Challenge race page
Darrell Wallace Jr. to make Nationwide Series debut at Iowa for JGR: Since winning his first NASCAR K&N; Pro Series East race at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in 2010 at the record age of 16 years, five months, 19 days, Darrell Wallace Jr. has been on his way to the bright lights of NASCAR’s national series stage. His ascension to the national series officially begins Sunday at Iowa Speedway, where he’ll make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut for Joe Gibbs Racing. Wallace is the first African-American in NASCAR K&N; Pro East history to visit Victory Lane. Wallace’s Greenville-Pickens win was the first of six to date, including a successful defense at the North Carolina track. In 25 NASCAR K&N; Pro East races since 2012, Wallace also has 11 top fives, 19 top 10s and three poles to complement his trips to Victory Lane.(NASCAR)(5-16-2012)
Holden to announce export of the Commodore to U.S. as Chevrolet SS: Holden will announce tomorrow an export program for the Commodore, which will see the Adelaide [Australia] made car become a race and showroom star in the United States. Though sales of the Elizabeth-produced sedan continue to slide in Australia, a Commodore V8 will be exported to America where it will be sold with the Chevrolet SS Performance badge. In that guise, it would also star for the heartland brand in the NASCAR stock car racing series, which runs second only to Formula One in global popularity. Holden has been testing left-hand drive cars on public roads in Victoria in recent weeks and running it head-to-head with one of its strongest potential rivals, the Dodge Charger, as it finalises its end of the important new deal. Motorsport sources in the USA hint that an announcement of the Chevrolet SS program is imminent, including the Holden connection. The coming VF Commodore as the donor car for the program ticks the boxes for American muscle car fans, and NASCAR stock car racing as well, thanks to its V8 engine, large body and rear-wheel drive. Former GM Holden president Mark Reuss, now the head of GM operations in the US and a known fan and supporter of the Commodore, dodged Carsguide’s questions on a link between the SS program and the Commodore. Holden chairman Mike Devereux also refused to comment on the strengthening rumours in the US, which were triggered by the announcement. Full-scale testing of the racer is expected to begin soon, and the bodywork expected to be revealed at the same time.()(5-16-2012)
Earnhardt Jr. to run Batman scheme at Michigan; fans to vote: When Dale Earnhardt Jr. roars to a start at Michigan International Speedway on June 17, his #88 Diet Mountain Dew Chevy will feature one of four paint schemes inspired by the highly anticipated final film in Christopher Nolan’s “Batman” trilogy. From now until the end May 25th, fans will be able to vote for one of four “The Dark Knight Rises” paint schemes via Diet Mountain Dew’s “Dew Crew” Facebook page. The paint scheme that gets the most votes will be the car that Earnhardt takes to Michigan International Speedway – the track where he clinched his last victory. Lionel NASCAR Collectables is offering all four of the “The Dark Knight Rises” car designs as 1:24 die-cast. The car that wins the fan vote will be made in a 1:24 ARC Platinum and ELITE version. All four cars are also being offered in a 1:64 scale set.(LNC Pit Box), see images of the scheme on my #88 Team Schemes page or LNC Pit Box.(5-16-2012)
Jimmy Spencer to retire, move back to PA: Jimmy Spencer, a former NASCAR driver and current television personality who goes by the nickname “Mr. Excitement,” has never backed down from speaking his mind. And at Darlington, he wasn’t about to change. His subject wasn’t racing, religion, politics or anything of the sort. It was much more personal. “I am going retire. That’s it. I am going to put my house up for sale and move back to Pennsylvania where I was raised,” said Spencer, who won twice in 478 Sprint Cup starts with such team owners as Bobby Allison, Junior Johnson and Travis Carter. Spencer also competed on several other NASCAR circuits. His record includes 12 Nationwide Series wins and 15 victories on the Modified Tour. “I love Pennsylvania,” Spencer added. “My dad has dementia but he’s still alive and so is my mother-in-law. I want to go home and spend time with them. My house is right up there off exit 28 (from Interstate 77 at Lake Norman). Wanna buy it?” Spencer, from Berwick, Pa., isn’t leaving North Carolina simply to re-unite with relatives. Hardly. His plans are more far-reaching than that. “I love gardening,” Spencer said. “So I am going to build a small farm near home, off of Mayes Road up there. I’ll get to do some gardening, but that isn’t all I am going to do. I am going to start traveling. I want to go to Germany and I’m going to Switzerland. And I’m going to take the train up in Canada.(see full story at MotorsportsUnpluged)(5-16-2012)
MWR rewards crew with helmet stickers: Few weeks in the 10-month NASCAR Sprint Cup season put as great of a spotlight on pit crew members as the next two weeks at Charlotte Motor Speedway. At Michael Waltrip Racing, success is measured on the crew helmets. This year MWR began awarding helmet stickers like college football teams. The #55 helmets carry Aaron’s Lucky Dog stickers, the #15 crew earns 5-hour ENERGY bottle decals and the #56 team receives NAPA Battery logos. “I’m a big fan of Ohio State football and have always liked the way the coaches reward big plays with buckeye stickers on the helmets,” said MWR’s pit coach Greg Miller. “We wanted to do something to reward the guys when they do something special on the crew.” Miller awards stickers to each crew member for the following:
� A race with all stops under 13.49 seconds.
� Action “above and beyond” the normal job.
� A pit stop that moves the car into the top 10.
� Car retains the lead during a pit stop.
� At least two spots gained on pit lane while in the top 20.(MWR)(5-16-2012)
Kentucky Speedway boss confident traffic, parking woes solved: Mark Simendinger, general manager of Kentucky Speedway, might be looking forward to the June 30 NASCAR Sprint Cup Quaker State 400 more than anyone else in the state. Even at a feel-good event, Tuesday’s unveiling of the new 2013 Ford Escape pace vehicles built at Louisville’s Ford Assembly Plant, even with Daytona 500 champ Matt Kenseth on hand to hype the event, the talk eventually turned to traffic. “I cannot wait,” Simendinger said. “I used to play sports a lot. I played a lot of baseball, and there were certain pitchers that I couldn’t hit, and I wasn’t too thrilled about going up and facing those guys. But when I knew I was going to be able to hit somebody, I couldn’t wait to get up. And that’s the way I feel right now because we are ready to go.” Last year’s traffic debacle at the speedway’s inaugural Sprint Cup event is well-documented. In fact, the traffic and parking nightmare quickly came to be synonymous with the venue, which in turn has been its own nightmare for track officials as they seek to get back on the lead lap with customers. Over the past 10 months the state widened the I-71 ramp at Ky. 35 and widened the state road to seven lanes. The track bought 173 acres across the street for parking, converted 50 more acres on site to parking and constructed a 42-foot pedestrian tunnel to connect the new parking area to the speedway.
Speedway officials also hired a new parking service to run race-day traffic and increased the number of trams and interior roadways at the track, while also constructing an overpass to its infield tunnel to separate tram and infield traffic. “We’ve spent a lot of money and time and preparation,” Simendinger said. “We’ve done all this computer simulation modeling, so I know it works, but all you can do is open up the doors and let everyone see for themselves. And we can’t wait to do that. … I’m excited. Things are starting to build up and the focus is building to the racing, as it should be.” As the 2012 race draws closer, Simendinger and everyone at Kentucky Speedway hopes the attention turns to that kind of traffic detail instead of the kind that made headlines last year. But they know that until they get the race crowd in and out, the shadow still will be there. Some tickets remain for the race. For the first time, fans will be allowed to bring their own coolers into the grandstand (14 by 14 inches, no alcoholic beverages).(Courier-Journal) AND Kentucky Speedway and the state have spent millions to expand parking and improve infrastructure and access after heavy traffic and parking problems kept thousands from attending the inaugural Sprint Cup Series race last summer. Last week, a team of top NASCAR officials visited the speedway to survey the improvements. “From our standpoint, I thought it was a very good meeting,” Kentucky Speedway general manager Mark Simendinger said Tuesday. “I appreciated them coming in and taking the time to see all the hard work that we put in.”(Cincinnati Enquirer)(5-16-2012)
News from May 15, 2012
NASCAR Issues Fines And Probation For Violations at Darlington: NASCAR has fined Kurt Busch, driver of the #51 car in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, $50,000 and placed him on NASCAR probation until July 25 for his actions during the May 12 race at Darlington Raceway. Kurt Busch violated Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing; reckless driving on pit road during the race; involved in an altercation with another competitor after the completion of the race) of the 2012 NASCAR Rule Book. Additionally, Craig Strickler, a crew member for the #51 team, has been fined $5,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31 for violating Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing; interfering with a member of the broadcast media).
Tony Gibson, crew chief for the #39 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team, has been placed on NASCAR probation until June 27 for violating Section 12-1 and Sections 12-4G and 9-4A (Crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of his team members). Andrew Rueger, a crew member for the #39 team, has been fined $5,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until June 27 for violating Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing; failure to comply with a directive from a NASCAR official). Both of these violations occurred post-race.(NASCAR)(5-15-2012)
Tommy Baldwin Racing to Run Sprint Showdown: Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) will compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) Sprint Showdown this weekend. Looking for some important track time, TBR will utilize the weekend to continue to build the team’s 1.5-mile program. Due to commitments to his NASCAR K&N; Pro Series team at Iowa Speedway, regular #36 driver Dave Blaney will not compete in the event. Tony Raines will get behind the wheel of the #36 Chevy and help the team get practice time at the 1.5-mile speedway. David Reutimann will also return to the #10 Chevy for the event. “As we grow as a team, it is extremely important that we take any time we can to gain information for our program,” said Tommy Baldwin. “Originally, we were going to take the week off to catch up in the shop, but we feel that we are in a position to gain more from running the race.” Blaney will return to the #36 TBR Chevy for the Coca-Cola 600.(TBR)(5-15-2012)
Al’s Liner to sponsor Gilliland in Sprint Showdown: After serving as the primary sponsor of David Ragan’s #34 Ford at Daytona and Texas, Al’s Liner will now serve as the primary sponsor of Front Row Motorsports’ #38 Ford driven by David Gilliland, in Saturday’s Sprint All-Star Showdown. Clayton Tomasino, President and Owner of Al’s Liner and Scorpion Coatings commented on his company picking up an additional race, saying, “NASCAR has been a great B2B tool for us so far. Front Row Motorsports is a terrific partner for our Al’s Liner and Scorpion Brands. We will be pulling for David Gilliland to race his way into the All-Star Race and join teammate David Ragan.” Racing into the All-Star Race is the goal for Gilliland, who finished eighth in last year’s Showdown. “Being a part of the All-Star Race would be very special to me. I’m happy to have.(Front Row Motorsports)(5-15-2012)
Ragan gets sponsor for All-Star race: David Ragan will pilot the #34 U.S. Shredder Ford in this Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Ragan is glad to be racing at Charlotte once again, a track where he has posted three career top-10 finishes, including a victory in last season’s Sprint All-Star Showdown and an 8th place effort in last year’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. The race will mark U.S. Shredder’s first foray into NASCAR. The company, which headquarters its sales team in Trussville, AL noticed Ragan’s strong run two weeks ago at Talladega and decided to come on-board. “We saw David and Front Row Motorsports running well, and we saw there was space available on David’s car, so we decided to contact Front Row Motorsports and see if we could work something out,” said President, Bill Tigner. U.S. Shredder is one of the world’s leading suppliers of equipment and parts to the Scrap Industry. The company supplies equipment, parts, castings, wear parts and service to essentially any aspect of the Scrap Metal Recycling Industry throughout the world. The industry is a $180 billion dollar per year industry and directly employs over 137,000 workers. The company is a member of the ISRI, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, which U.S. Shredder has invited to share space on the hood of the #34 car. Fans looking for a reference point on just how big the scrap recycling industry is should note that each day in the United States, enough steel is recycled to build the Eifel Tower 25 times over. The company believes strongly in giving back to the community. Each October, it promotes the “Castings for a Cure” program, donating a portion of all casting sales to the cause of breast cancer research and awareness (FRM), see an image of the scheme on the #34 Team Schemes page.(5-15-2012)
New sponsor for Almirola on the #43: Richard Petty Motorsports continues to introduce new partners to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2012. The latest company to unite with the legendary organization is Transportation Impact who will make their NASCAR debut as the primary sponsor of the #43 team and driver Aric Almirola during the Pocono 400 at the Pocono Raceway on June 10. The company is a parcel spend management firm headquartered in Emerald Isle, NC. A fast-growing, small business founded in 2008, Transportation Impact comes into the sport for the first time with Petty to help high-volume parcel shippers reduce cost through innovative audit and negotiation services, helping companies large and small identify and obtain savings they can then use to fund new initiatives, retain employees or hire new ones. The company was co-founded by Travis Burt and Keith Byrd. Co-owners Burt and Byrd are also anxious to work with the team. “When people see the Richard Petty brand, the first things that come to mind are being the best and doing so with integrity,” said Burt. “As a business owner, I always want my company to be the best, but only as long as success doesn’t interfere with doing the right thing.”(RPM)(5-15-2012)
Stewart and Bass Pro Shops to honor National Wild Turkey Federation:The National Wild Turkey Federation’s flying turkey logo will appear this weekend on Stewart-Haas Racing’s Bass Pro Shops sponsored #14 Chevy driven by Tony Stewart in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Richard Childress Racing’s #3 Chevy Silverado driven by Ty Dillon in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Stewart will be going for a win in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star Race on Saturday, May 19th at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC. Dillon will be trying to win the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series’ North Carolina Education Lottery 200 race Friday, May 18th also at the speedway. The salute to the NWTF is a part of the Conservation Fund’s “Racing for America’s Wildlife” program. The program is designed to engage the NASCAR community in conserving America’s hunting and fishing heritage through habitat protection, restoration, education, and outreach.
“We are very proud to partner with our good friends at Stewart-Haas Racing and Richard Childress Racing in this tribute to the NWTF and their work in conservation and education,” said Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris. “All of us at Bass Pro Shops, SHR and RCR are happy to donate these special paint schemes as a tribute to this great conservation organization and their thousands of grassroots volunteers who are also NASCAR fans.”
The NWTF is the leader in upland wildlife habitat conservation in North America. A nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving the wild turkey and preserving our hunting heritage, the NWTF, its volunteers and partners have raised and spent more than $331 million to conserve nearly 16 million acres of habitat. Wild turkeys and hundreds of other species of upland wildlife, including quail, deer, grouse, pheasant and songbirds, benefit from this improved habitat.(Bass Pro Shops) see image of Stewart’s scheme on the #14 Team Schemes page.(5-15-2012)
Overnight Darlington TV Ratings: FOX’s third and final Saturday night NASCAR Sprint Cup Race averaged a 3.5/7 [5.716 viewers] for the race from Darlington Raceway. Though that’s down -8% from last year’s 3.8/9 for the race from Dover on the same weekend, it’s flat with last year’s Darlington race. Through 11 races, NASCAR Sprint Cup racing on FOX is averaging a 4.3/9, down -4% from last year’s 4.5/10. See past race TV Ratings, 4-year comparison chart and more on the 2012 TV Ratings page.(5-15-2012)
Roush, Kenseth working on new contract: Despite sponsorship issues, #17-Matt Kenseth’s future is secure at Roush Fenway Racing. Team owner Jack Roush said Monday that the 2003 Sprint Cup champion, in the final year of his current contract, will have a ride with RFR as long as he wants one. “Matt Kenseth is a cornerstone of Roush Fenway and he’ll be part of it as long as I am, as long as he wants to be,” Roush said. “He certainly has a place here as long as I’m able to stay at the head of it.” RFR president Steve Newmark said Kenseth’s No. 17 car still has eight to 10 unsponsored races. While sponsorship remains an issue for 2013 as well, Newmark echoed Roush’s comments on negotiating a new deal for Kenseth. “It is my hope, expectation and desire that Matt continue with Roush,” Newmark said. “I expect to see him retire (at Roush). He is an integral part of the organization. When you think of Matt you think of Roush. When you think of Jack you think of Matt Kenseth.” Newmark said the sponsorship focus at RFR, not only for Kenseth but the entire organization, is on 2013 and getting back to four full-time Cup cars and one full-time Nationwide Series car. The organization shrank to three Cup cars this season when sponsorship couldn’t be found for the #6 and David Ragan. The anticipation is Nationwide Series points leader Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will move into the #6 Cup car in 2013 and Trevor Bayne will drive Nationwide full time.(ESPN)(5-15-2012)
Jim Hunter inducted in South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame: He was loyal and compassionate and tough, a teacher and counselor and promoter, one of the rare who influenced so many in a positive way. Those words describe the late Jim Hunter, who, yes, in his younger days, walked on the wild side, too. But more than nouns or adjectives or verbs can say, he was Darlington. Yes, that Darlington, the race track that annually stages one of the state’s oldest and most captivating sports spectacles. The timing is perfect: Another Southern 500, this one the first sponsored by Bojangles’, unfolded Saturday night at Darlington – Jim Hunter’s Darlington – and 48 hours later he will be among the inductees into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in ceremonies [Monday night]. Hunter’s career included stops at Columbia and Atlanta newspapers, public relations director for Darlington and Talladega speedway and in NASCAR administration before the International Speedway Corporation sent him to oversee the company’s new purchase, Darlington Raceway. Eventually, the racing powers needed Hunter more at headquarters than at one race track and brought him to Daytona Beach as vice-president for communications. Essentially, he became the face of NASCAR.(The State)(5-15-2012)
Sprint All-Star Race…numbers and stats: • There have been 27 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Races.
• The first NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race was in 1985.
• 26 have been held at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In 1986, the event was held at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and won by Bill Elliott. That season was also the first year for what is now known as the Sprint Showdown.
• 86 drivers have run in at least one all-star race.
• There have been 19 different winners of the all-star race.
• Mark Martin has participated in 22 races, more than any other driver.
• The race has featured a field that ranged from 10 drivers in 1986 to 27 in 2002.
• Dale Earnhardt (1987, 1990 and 1993) and Jeff Gordon (1995, 1997 and 2001) are the only three-time winners of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
• There have been eight different winners in the last eight NASCAR Sprint All-Star Races.
• Davey Allison (1991 and 1992), Terry Labonte (1988 and 1999), Mark Martin (1998 and 2005) and Jimmie Johnson (2003 and 2006) are the only other drivers to post multiple victories in the all-star races. Allison is the only driver to ever win consecutive all-star events.
• Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2000) and Ryan Newman (2002) are the only drivers to win the all-star race in their rookie season.
• Jeff Gordon is the youngest winner of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at 23 years, 9 months and 18 days (1995). Mark Martin is the oldest at 46 years, 4 months and 12 days (2005).
• In two starts Joey Logano leads the series with an average finish of 5.5 in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race; followed by Matt Kenseth with a 6.5 average finish in 11 appearances and Tony Stewart with a 7.1 average finish in 13 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race appearances.
• The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race has been won from the pole position four times; the first three came in consecutive years: Dale Earnhardt (1990) and Davey Allison (1991 and 1992). Kurt Busch posted the fourth win from the pole in 2010.
• The deepest in the field an all-star race winner has started was 27th, by Ryan Newman in 2002.
• Hendrick Motorsports drivers have won six all-star races: Jeff Gordon (three), Jimmie Johnson (two) and Terry Labonte (one).
• Five drivers have won the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship in the same year: Darrell Waltrip (1985), Dale Earnhardt (1987, 1990, 1993), Rusty Wallace (1989), Jeff Gordon (1995, 1997, 2001) and Jimmie Johnson (2006).
• The record for lead changes in a NASCAR Sprint All-Star race is 10 in 2004. The most different leaders is nine in 2002.(NASCAR)(5-15-2012)
Iowa Speedway forms Fan Council: Iowa Speedway officials have announced a brand new fan initiative to continually improve the overall fan experience – the 2012 Fan Advisory Council. The 2012 Fan Advisory Council will be the first of its kind at Iowa Speedway. Doug Fritz, CEO of Iowa Speedway, said nothing was off limits with the Fan Advisory Council. “Members of our 2012 Fan Advisory Council include general season ticket holders, campers, suite holders, and Newton Club members. We want them to take notes on everything all while enjoying the events taking place.” Leading the Fan Advisory Council will be Iowa Speedway’s director of ticketing, Jason Christofferson. The 2012 Fan Advisory Council’s first meeting will be held Saturday, May 19 in conjunction with the first race weekend at Iowa Speedway.(Iowa Speedway)(5-15-2012)
News from May 14, 2012
Sprint Showdown Entry List: The Entry List for the Sprint Showdown at Charlotte Motor Speedway is posted, 22 entries are listed. The winner of the showdown, along with the second place driver and the driver voted in by the fans, will move to the Sprint All-Star race. See the complete list on the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Challenge race page.(5-14-2012)
New sponsor for Kenseth? number? UPDATE 2: Roush Fenway Racing is scheduled to make announcement at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Monday, May 14th for an announcement regarding the new number on Matt Kenseth�s #17 Sprint Cup Ford Fusion, as well as a new multi-year partner for RFR and Kenseth. Kenseth and team co-owner Jack Roush will be on hand for the event.(Roush Fenway Racing), NOTE: the PR doesn’t say Kenseth will have a new car number but a new number on the car. And it could be a special number for the All-Star race like last season when Jimmie Johnson ran the #5 in the event.(RFR PR)(5-10-2012) UPDATE: Remember that advisory about the announcement of a “new number” on the two-time Daytona 500 winner’s Sprint Cup Series Ford Fusions? “They did what they wanted to do,” Kenseth said Friday from Darlington, S.C. “They created a big buzz. That’s for sure.” Kenseth, a Cambridge, Wis., native who won the 2003 Cup title, said he read the news release like everyone else. Just more carefully than most. “Everybody’s kind of worked up about it,” he said. “I just read the release at the same time everybody else did, and I didn’t read anything in there that said we were changing our car number.” An explanation of the “new number” and an announcement of a “new multi-year partner” — notice it didn’t say anything about a full-time primary sponsor — are scheduled for Monday morning at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(5-12-2012) UPDATE 2:Fifth Third Bancorp announced a multi-year marketing partnership with Roush Fenway Racing, beginning this season with four races as the primary sponsor of Matt Kenseth’s #17 Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. A similar number of races for the following years will be announced at a later date.
Fifth Third will be the primary sponsor of Kenseth’s Ford at four Sprint Cup Series races in 2012 including:
Sprint All Star Race in Charlotte, NC on May 19
Quaker State 400 in Sparta, KY on June 30
Crown Royal’s “Your Hero’s Name Here” race in Indianapolis, IN on July 29
Pure Michigan 400 in Brooklyn, MI on August 19
“Fifth Third Bank is excited to partner with Roush Fenway Racing and Matt Kenseth on this Sprint Cup Series sponsorship,” said Greg Carmichael, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Fifth Third Bancorp. “Our organizations share many common values including a focus on teamwork and a desire to challenge the status quo to be the best at what we do. We are looking forward to working with the Roush Fenway Racing organization, and Matt Kenseth, to help drive our business and build the Fifth Third Bank brand.” The partnership between Fifth Third Bank and Roush Fenway Racing was announced Monday, May 14th at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte where the paint scheme for the Fifth Third Ford Fusion was also unveiled.(4-traders.com / RFR), see an image of the car on the #17 Team Schemes page.(5-14-2012)
Pocono test will end early for Prelude to the Dream: #14-Tony Stewart’s annual charity race, The Prelude to the Dream at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, is scheduled for June 6. So is an afternoon of Sprint Cup testing at newly repaved Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. The two tracks are 480 miles apart, and many Cup drivers participate in Stewart’s dirt late model race, won last year by #15-Clint Bowyer. To help with scheduling, NASCAR moved the start of the Pocono test session from 1 p.m. to noon ET. The test will conclude at 4 p.m. instead of 5 p.m., allowing drivers plenty of time to fly to Eldora before the start of the Prelude.(NASCAR Wire Service)(5-14-2012)
Newman, Busch incident after Darlington race: UPDATE: Several of #39-Ryan Newman’s crewmen confronted #51-Kurt Busch on Saturday night at Darlington Raceway following an ill-advised decision by Busch to do a burnout through Newman’s pit box. After Busch had a flat tire and crashed with six laps remaining – an incident which also collected Newman – the Phoenix Racing driver lost his cool and began yelling on the team radio. When Busch completed his pit stop to fix damage shortly after the wreck, he & did a loud, angry burnout while leaving his pit box. The burnout startled fans in the stands and put up a huge plume of smoke, an expression of Busch’s frustration at a promising night gone bad. But while doing the burnout, Busch drove through Newman’s pit box as well – and several Newman crew members were still over the wall after recently completing service on the #39 car. Among the angry crewmen was Newman’s gas man, Andy Rueger, who went to the #51 hauler to await Busch’s arrival. Rueger planned to confront Busch immediately after the race. But Busch’s team knew Newman’s crew was upset, and so crew chief Nick Harrison instructed Busch to stop at the entrance of pit road and leave the car there instead. The driver was livid on the radio and had been screaming obscenities during the final few laps, and the team felt it would be a good idea for him just to get off the track. Words were exchanged between the crewmen and Busch, and a NASCAR official fell onto Busch’s hood in the process. Though contact with Rueger sparked the official’s tumble, NASCAR’s Robin Pemberton said the official just lost his footing. It’s unclear whether NASCAR will issue any penalties in this situation. If NASCAR feels its official tumbled onto the hood on his own, then Newman’s gas man could go unpunished.(SB Nation) AND: #39-Ryan Newman had strong words for #51-Kurt Busch after their incident Saturday night. Here’s what Newman told [Dustin Long] in a one-on-one conversation about the incident: (WHAT HAPPENED?)
“I’m not sure what happened. It’s easy to see and it’s easy to say that Kurt blew a fuse again. I’m not sure why he did it and tried to run over our guys and NASCAR officials. And nobody is. I think the chemical imbalance speaks for itself. Kurt drilled me in pit lane and said that he was taking his helmet off and he didn’t see where he was going, which I’m pretty sure there were 42 other guys that are taking their helmets off and doing whatever for the last 10 years and that’s the first time that’s happened to me. Circumstances I think are that he lied and was so frustrated that he doesn’t know how to deal with his anger. (WHAT NOW?)
“From my standpoint, that’s the second offense on Kurt when he did retaliation on (teammate Tony) Stewart’s crew and the officials there. I can voice my opinion on what they should do to him but that’s not going to solve anything. (YOU WENT IN TO NASCAR HAULER VOLUNTARILY?)
“No. They asked me to come in because they didn’t know everything that happened on pit road. They just really wanted to know my side of that story. That was it. They said you’re good to go. (HE SAID HE JUST HIT YOU ON PIT ROAD)
“He said he was taking his helmet off, which I think was a lie. (ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT HIM AS A DRIVER)
“Everybody has for the last 10 years. He’s proven that. When you can’t keep a job, it’s pretty obvious.”(Posted to Twitter by Dustin Long)(5-13-2012) UPDATE: NASCAR is reviewing the fracas to see if penalties are warranted, said vice president of competition Ryan Pemberton. A Sprint Cup official fell back on Busch’s car, but Pemberton didn’t think it was an aggressive move toward the official. “We’re looking at film, we’re still getting all the facts straight,” Pemberton said after the race. “We haven’t talked to Kurt; we talked to Ryan a little bit. He talked to Kurt afterwards and he told him he didn’t mean to hit him, he was taking his helmet off and looked up and he’d run into the back of him. So right now that’s really all the facts that we have.” Busch did not talk to reporters following the Southern 500.(Associated Press/ESPN)(5-14-2012)
NextEra plans wind turbines at Watkins Glen: NextEra Energy, the company that’s planning a $200 million wind farm project across Schuyler and Chemung [MY] counties, has reached a deal with a high-profile landowner – Watkins Glen International. NextEra – one of the largest power providers in the country – plans to locate multiple wind turbines, 400 feet tall, on the 1,832 acres that surround the historic race track in Schuyler County, officials announced recently. The turbines at the race track would be among 50 to 75 scattered across the towns of Dix, Catharine and Hector in Schuyler County, and Catlin in Chemung County. NextEra hopes to begin building access roads, laying connecting lines and assembling the giant turbines in 2014 or 2015, and says the project will create about 200 construction jobs and 8 to 10 permanent jobs. The project will take six to nine months to complete. Michael Printup, WGI president, says the land lease will be the “first step of many” in the relationship between the two companies. “I think there’s nothing like clean energy that can move the little needle, and with us and the popularity of NASCAR, and we have 5 or 6 million people watching us on TV, that’s the crux of this relationship,” Printup said. There’s already a relationship between WGI’s parent company, the International Speedway Corp., and NextEra. They have deals involving renewable energy credits, marketing and sponsorships at ISC’s two tracks in Florida, Daytona International Speedway and Homestead Miami Speedway. WGI would not be able to draw power directly from the turbines. Rather, the turbines feed power into the local grid.(Corning Leader)(5-14-2012)
Nationwide ticket holders can get on track at Dover: After a highly successful inaugural event in 2011, 5-hour ENERGY and Dover International Speedway are again providing fans with the opportunity to get a close-up look at the Monster Mile with the June 2, 2012 “5-hour ENERGY Open Track” session. On Saturday, June 2 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. ticket holders for that day’s “5-hour ENERGY 200” NASCAR Nationwide Series race will have the chance to enter the track at Gate 18 and roam the frontstretch of the Monster Mile. In addition, Clint Bowyer, new driver of the #15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota, and his team owner Michael Waltrip will participate in a free question-and-answer session for fans in attendance. The 5-hour ENERGY show car will also be on display on the track for photo opportunities. All fans must have their June 2 “5-hour ENERGY 200” NASCAR Nationwide Series tickets with them, which will be scanned upon entry to and exit from the track, to permit reentrance for the race later in the day.(Dover Speedway)(5-14-2012)
News from May 13, 2012
Newman, Busch called to NASCAR hauler after Darlington race: Several of #39-Ryan Newman’s crewmen confronted #51-Kurt Busch on Saturday night at Darlington Raceway following an ill-advised decision by Busch to do a burnout through Newman’s pit box. After Busch had a flat tire and crashed with six laps remaining – an incident which also collected Newman – the Phoenix Racing driver lost his cool and began yelling on the team radio. When Busch completed his pit stop to fix damage shortly after the wreck, he & did a loud, angry burnout while leaving his pit box. The burnout startled fans in the stands and put up a huge plume of smoke, an expression of Busch’s frustration at a promising night gone bad. But while doing the burnout, Busch drove through Newman’s pit box as well – and several Newman crew members were still over the wall after recently completing service on the #39 car. Among the angry crewmen was Newman’s gas man, Andy Rueger, who went to the #51 hauler to await Busch’s arrival. Rueger planned to confront Busch immediately after the race. But Busch’s team knew Newman’s crew was upset, and so crew chief Nick Harrison instructed Busch to stop at the entrance of pit road and leave the car there instead. The driver was livid on the radio and had been screaming obscenities during the final few laps, and the team felt it would be a good idea for him just to get off the track. Words were exchanged between the crewmen and Busch, and a NASCAR official fell onto Busch’s hood in the process. Though contact with Rueger sparked the official’s tumble, NASCAR’s Robin Pemberton said the official just lost his footing. It’s unclear whether NASCAR will issue any penalties in this situation. If NASCAR feels its official tumbled onto the hood on his own, then Newman’s gas man could go unpunished.(SB Nation) AND: #39-Ryan Newman had strong words for #51-Kurt Busch after their incident Saturday night. Here’s what Newman told [Dustin Long] in a one-on-one conversation about the incident: (WHAT HAPPENED?)
“I’m not sure what happened. It’s easy to see and it’s easy to say that Kurt blew a fuse again. I’m not sure why he did it and tried to run over our guys and NASCAR officials. And nobody is. I think the chemical imbalance speaks for itself. Kurt drilled me in pit lane and said that he was taking his helmet off and he didn’t see where he was going, which I’m pretty sure there were 42 other guys that are taking their helmets off and doing whatever for the last 10 years and that’s the first time that’s happened to me. Circumstances I think are that he lied and was so frustrated that he doesn’t know how to deal with his anger. (WHAT NOW?)
“From my standpoint, that’s the second offense on Kurt when he did retaliation on (teammate Tony) Stewart’s crew and the officials there. I can voice my opinion on what they should do to him but that’s not going to solve anything. (YOU WENT IN TO NASCAR HAULER VOLUNTARILY?)
“No. They asked me to come in because they didn’t know everything that happened on pit road. They just really wanted to know my side of that story. That was it. They said you’re good to go. (HE SAID HE JUST HIT YOU ON PIT ROAD)
“He said he was taking his helmet off, which I think was a lie. (ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT HIM AS A DRIVER)
“Everybody has for the last 10 years. He’s proven that. When you can’t keep a job, it’s pretty obvious.”(Posted to Twitter by Dustin Long)(5-13-2012)
NASCAR to implement new rules for less downforce: Trying to reduce downforce and the chance of cars becoming airborne, NASCAR will implement a pair of rules changes for Sprint Cup teams that may also produce more passing. One change will go into effect starting next week at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The side skirts-the body of the car between the wheels-will be higher above the ground, meaning more air will run underneath the car. Currently, the skirts must be 3 to 4.5 inches off the ground on both sides of the car. Starting next week, they must be 4 to 4.5 inches off the ground on the right side and 4.5 to 5 inches on the left side. Teams tested with the shorter side skirts during recent Goodyear tire tests. For tracks 2 miles or larger, NASCAR will use its longer “shark fin”-a panel that runs alongside the rear window and decklid of the car-that has been used at Daytona and Talladega to keep cars from getting airborne. On the short tracks, it will remain a minimum 17 inches long while they must reach all the way from the top of the car to the spoiler on tracks 2 miles or longer. This also will decrease the potential of car liftoff, which could have been an issue at some of the most recently repaved tracks-the 2.5-mile track at Pocono and 2-mile track at Michigan.(Sporting News)(5-12-2012) UPDATE: Tuesday’s [NASCAR technical] bulletin, which contained a laundry list of rule changes in eight areas, was significant enough that crew chiefs immediately began booking wind tunnel time. Of greatest interest was the shortening of the side skirts on the Cup cars, designed to create greater ground clearance. NASCAR also has mandated use of superspeedway-sized stationary air deflectors (commonly known as “shark fins”) on all tracks of two miles or more. According to Robin Pemberton, NASCAR’s vice president of competition, the rule changes were inspired by work on the 2013 car, with an eye toward raising the speeds at which a car will lift off and become airborne. One byproduct of the shortening of the side skirts will be a loss of downforce and a possible decrease in the stability of the cars in traffic. Just how much downforce the Cup cars will lose is an open question, and there’s no firm consensus among crew chiefs as to what the number will be, even though several teams already have tested the changes in wind tunnels and during a Goodyear tire test at New Hampshire earlier this week. There’s also a consensus that the changes to the side skirts will force changes to the suspensions of the cars — particularly to the rear suspensions — as crew chiefs try to recreate the “seal” (or close proximity) between the side skirts and the pavement as a method to recover downforce.(NASCAR Wire Service)(5-13-2012)
May 15 celebrity softball game between Dover and Pocono: The celebrity softball game between Dover International Speedway and Pocono Raceway is set for Tuesday, May 15 at 4 p.m. at Campbell’s Field, home of the Camden Riversharks. The rosters for each team have been announced, with Carl Edwards captaining Team Dover and Jeff Burton at the helm for Team Pocono. Tickets to the game are free with the purchase of a ticket to that evening’s 7:05 p.m. baseball game between the Camden Riversharks and Lancaster Barnstormers. Children ages 16 and younger that wear their NASCAR gear get in free. In addition, the United Way of Camden County offers free admission for any child that wears the uniform of the little league team they play for to the game. Edwards and Burton will be joined on their respective teams by members of the local media and the tracks they are representing. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Cale Gale, as well as Nationwide Series driver Donnie Neuenberger, will play alongside Edwards with Team Dover. ARCA driver Brandon McReynolds, son of NASCAR on Fox analyst Larry McReynolds, and Ron Karkovice, former Major League Baseball catcher and current bench coach for the Camden Riversharks, will support Burton with Team Pocono.(Dover Speedway)(5-13-2012)
News from May 12, 2012
Johnson wins at Darlington:#48-Jimmie Johnson won the Bojangles’ Southern 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway for his 1st win of the year, 3rd at Darlington, his 56th career win, and the 200th Sprint Cup Series win for car owner Rick Hendrick. He took the lead with 42 laps remaining and held the lead the rest of the way, including one green white checker finish.
#11-Hamlin finished 2nd followed by #14-Stewart, #18-Busch, #56-Truex, Jr., #17-Kenseth, #99-Edwards, #5-Kahne, #9-Ambrose, and #20-Logano.
There were 8 cautions for 38 yellow flag laps. The race went green for the first 171 laps. There were 22 lead changes among 8 drivers.
The estimated attendence was 63,000, up from 61,000 last year.
See race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Darlington Race Results page (pdf) .(5-12-2012)
Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Charlotte:
#83 remains in 35th but is now 49 points ahead of the #33 team. Rank) Car#-Driver/Team, owners pts, +/-
32) #32-Sorenson/FAS Lane Racing, 159, +54
33) #36-Blaney/Baldwin, 157, +52
34) #10-Reutimann-Patrick/Baldwin, 155, +50
35) #83-Cassill/BK Racing, 154, +49 ahead of 36th these teams / drivers will need to qualify by speed:
36) #33-Leicht/Childress, 105, -49 from the top 35
37) #21-Bayne/Wood Bros., 96, -58
38) #30-Stremme/Inception, 86, -68
The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
For the owner points standings, see the Owners Points Standings page (pdf).(5-12-2012)
Race Fast Facts – Darlington Raceway:
Jimmie Johnson won the 63rd Annual Bojangles’ Southern 500, his 56th victory in 374 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his first victory and eighth top-10 finish in 2012.
This is his third victory and 10th top-10 finish in 14 races at Darlington Raceway.
This is Hendrick Motorsports’ 200th victory. Hendrick is only the second team to accomplish the feat (Petty Enterprises, 268 wins).
Denny Hamlin (second) posted his sixth top-10 finish in seven races at Darlington Raceway. It is his sixth top-10 finish in 2012.
Tony Stewart (third) posted his 11th top-10 finish in 20 races at Darlington Raceway.
Greg Biffle leads the point standings by 2 points over Matt Kenseth.(NASCAR Statistics)(5-12-2012)
Hendrick Motorsports 200th Cup Win: With Jimmie Johnson’s win Saturday night in the #48 Lowe’s Kobalt Tools Chevy at Darlington Raceway, Hendrick Motorsports recorded its 200th points-paying victory in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition, marking a major milestone for the organization and car owner Rick Hendrick. STAT LEADER: When it comes to NASCAR’s modern era (1972-present), Hendrick Motorsports leads all Sprint Cup teams in wins (200), top-five finishes (818), top-10s (1,352) and pole positions (181). Hendrick is NASCAR’s all-time leader in poles and top-10s, while ranking behind only Petty Enterprises in Cup wins. The Petty team recorded 268 Cup victories in more than half a century of competition. Hendrick Motorsports’ first season was 1984. MILESTONE WINS: Hendrick Motorsports’ first win came April 29, 1984, at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway with Geoff Bodine at the wheel. Jeff Gordon notched the team’s 50th on March 24, 1996, at Darlington Raceway and its 100th on June 10, 2001, at Michigan International Speedway. Jimmie Johnson scored the 150th Cup win for Hendrick Motorsports on March 11, 2007, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. FIRST-TIME WINNERS: Eight drivers recorded their first career Cup wins while driving for car owner Rick Hendrick: Bodine, Kyle Busch, Gordon, Johnson, Casey Mears, Jerry Nadeau, Ken Schrader and Brian Vickers. Gordon and Johnson have raced for Hendrick for their entire Cup careers. DRIVERS AND TRACKS: Since being founded in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports has sent 15 Cup drivers to Victory Lane at 25 different racetracks (see full lists below). The organization has scored double-digit Cup wins at nine tracks, including a team record 18 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Hendrick has won at four inactive Cup racetracks: Nashville, Tenn., North Wilkesboro, N.C., Riverside, Calif., and Rockingham, N.C. WINNING WAYS: Hendrick Motorsports has posted at least one Cup-level win in 28 straight seasons (1986-2012), the longest active streak in NASCAR. The streak began Feb. 16, 1986, when Bodine won Hendrick’s first Daytona 500. Bodine won three races in 1984 before scoring three runner-up finishes but no wins in 1985. TWO LEFT: There are only two active tracks on the Sprint Cup circuit where Hendrick Motorsports has yet to reach Victory Lane. Those venues are Homestead-Miami Speedway, which hosts the Sprint Cup season finale, and the newly added Kentucky Speedway.(Hendrick Motorsports)(5-12-2012)
No wins for pole sitters yet in 2012: after ten NASCAR Sprint Cup races in 2012, no driver that has won the pole has win the same race. #56-Martin Truex Jr. has the best finish of a 2012 pole sitter with a 6th place finish at Texas. The worst finish by a 2012 pole sitter is #5-Kasey Kahne, who finished 38th at Martinsville. The average finish of the 2012 Coors Light pole winners is 17.9. The pole winner for Darlington is Greg Biffle, who won his 11th career pole. In ten previous pole starts, Biffle has never won a race from the pole. The last driver to win a race from the pole is #39-Ryan Newman, who won from the pole at New Hampshire in July 2011. More info and stats on pole on the 2013 Shootout / 2012 Pole winners page and the All-Time pole winners and records page.(5-12-2012)
TMone joins FAS Lane at Darlington: FAS Lane Racing announced that TMone has once again increased their sponsorship involvement with the team’s #32 entry in the Sprint Cup Series and will serve as Associate Sponsor for this weekend’s running of the Bojangles Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. The leading Inside Sales Company, headquartered in Iowa City, IA will continue to feature their TMone.com Cup program on the #32 Ford this weekend.(Integrity Sports Marketing)(5-12-2012)
NASCAR to implement new rules for less downforce: Trying to reduce downforce and the chance of cars becoming airborne, NASCAR will implement a pair of rules changes for Sprint Cup teams that may also produce more passing. One change will go into effect starting next week at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The side skirts-the body of the car between the wheels-will be higher above the ground, meaning more air will run underneath the car. Currently, the skirts must be 3 to 4.5 inches off the ground on both sides of the car. Starting next week, they must be 4 to 4.5 inches off the ground on the right side and 4.5 to 5 inches on the left side. Teams tested with the shorter side skirts during recent Goodyear tire tests. For tracks 2 miles or larger, NASCAR will use its longer “shark fin”-a panel that runs alongside the rear window and decklid of the car-that has been used at Daytona and Talladega to keep cars from getting airborne. On the short tracks, it will remain a minimum 17 inches long while they must reach all the way from the top of the car to the spoiler on tracks 2 miles or longer. This also will decrease the potential of car liftoff, which could have been an issue at some of the most recently repaved tracks-the 2.5-mile track at Pocono and 2-mile track at Michigan.(Sporting News)(5-12-2012)
New sponsor for Kenseth? number? UPDATE: Roush Fenway Racing is scheduled to make announcement at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Monday, May 14th for an announcement regarding the new number on Matt Kenseth�s #17 Sprint Cup Ford Fusion, as well as a new multi-year partner for RFR and Kenseth. Kenseth and team co-owner Jack Roush will be on hand for the event.(Roush Fenway Racing), NOTE: the PR doesn’t say Kenseth will have a new car number but a new number on the car. And it could be a special number for the All-Star race like last season when Jimmie Johnson ran the #5 in the event.(RFR PR)(5-10-2012) UPDATE: Remember that advisory about the announcement of a “new number” on the two-time Daytona 500 winner’s Sprint Cup Series Ford Fusions? “They did what they wanted to do,” Kenseth said Friday from Darlington, S.C. “They created a big buzz. That’s for sure.” Kenseth, a Cambridge, Wis., native who won the 2003 Cup title, said he read the news release like everyone else. Just more carefully than most. “Everybody’s kind of worked up about it,” he said. “I just read the release at the same time everybody else did, and I didn’t read anything in there that said we were changing our car number.” An explanation of the “new number” and an announcement of a “new multi-year partner” — notice it didn’t say anything about a full-time primary sponsor — are scheduled for Monday morning at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(5-12-2012)
Dawsonville Pool Room seized: The Georgia Department of Revenue has seized the Dawsonville Pool Room due to unpaid taxes and fees. According to state officials, the downtown Dawsonville eatery owes more than $84,000 in unpaid taxes, fees and penalties stemming from as long ago as April 2008. According to the Dawsonville Pool Room’s Facebook page, an account has been set up at First Citizens Bank of Georgia in an effort to reopen the historic downtown restaurant. The Pool Room is described as “ground zero” for auto racing and is covered with racing memorabilia from Dawson County native Bill Elliott’s NASCAR career.(AccessNorthGa)(5-12-2012)
Tim McGraw to announce top 10 qualifiers at Coca-Cola 600: Tim McGraw will join a star-studded weekend as he announces the Top 10 qualifying drivers in the 53rd running of the Coca-Cola 600 on May 27 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The country superstar will introduce the Top 10 drivers based on qualifying times from LiftMaster Pole Day on May 24. In addition, McGraw, a brand ambassador for Pennzoil, will help shed light on the company’s Long Live Cars campaign. As part of the campaign, Pennzoil will donate $100,000 over the next two years to Paralyzed Veterans of America’s Mission: ABLE, which retrofits vehicles for handicapped veterans. It is a mission that closely aligns with Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Let Freedom Race theme throughout the Coca-Cola 600 race weekend. Fans can show their support for military service men and women throughout the Coca-Cola 600 Let Freedom Race weekend, with weekend packages starting at just $99. To purchase tickets, contact the Charlotte Motor Speedway Ticket Office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267) or log on to www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.(CMS)(5-12-2012)
Albemarle Fire Dept wins LiftMaster Skills Competition at CMS: Charlotte-area fire departments went head-to-head in the LiftMaster Skills Competition at Charlotte Motor Speedway Tuesday, May 8th, battling for bragging rights and a garage door system overhaul for their department as part of an event highlighting similarities between firefighting and motorsports. Four-man teams from Charlotte, Kannapolis, Albemarle and Mt. Holly fire departments competed in two timed skills competitions – a 75-foot aerial climb in full turnout gear and a 150-foot hose drag – as NASCAR motorsports analyst Jeff Hammond emceed the day’s event. After the timed competitions, teams went head-to-head in two elimination rounds, executing NASCAR pit stops with instruction from NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jamie McMurray and his Earnhardt Ganassi Racing pit crew. In the final elimination round, the Albemarle Fire Department completed its pit stop one second faster than second-place Kannapolis, to win the inaugural LiftMaster Skills Challenge. LiftMaster also invited the winning team to watch the Coca-Cola 600 on May 27 in the LiftMaster suite and announced that McMurray, who drives the #1 LiftMaster Chevy, and his pit crew will wear the winning team’s firehouse number and logo on their helmets during the race. Also during the event, LiftMaster announced plans to recognize firefighters across the Charlotte region during LiftMaster Pole Day on Thursday, May 24 [7:00pm/et], with a special parade lap showcasing some of the departments’ finest trucks. In addition, more than 4,500 regional firefighters will be given complimentary tickets to Pole Day. Tickets are still available for all the races at CMS including the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 19 and the Coca-Cola 600 on May 27. To purchase tickets, visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or call 1-800-455-FANS (3267).(CMS)(5-12-2012)
News from May 11, 2012
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway have been made.
Pole sitter #16-Biffle chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #48-Johnson took pit stall 21, the first pitstall behind the start finish line.
#5-Kahne, who starts 3rd took the 7th pit stall, the 1st stall with an opening behind it.
The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #1-McMurray, who starts 11th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(5-11-2012)
Biffle wins pole at Darlington: #16-Greg Biffle won the pole for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway with a speed of 180.257mph for his 2nd pole of 2012 and 11th career pole. #48-Johnson was 2nd fastest followed by #5-Kahne, #39-Newman, #18-Busch, #56-Truex, Jr., #99-Edwards, #11-Hamlin, #78-Smith, and #31-Burton.
The go-or-go homers who made the race (8): #79-Speed, #30-Stremme, #73-Kvapil, #26-Wise, #52-Skinner, #74-Whitt, #87-Nemechek, #49-Yeley.
The go-or-go homers who failed to qualify for the race (4):#23-Riggs, #98-McDowell, #33-Leicht, #19-Bliss.
See qualifying results, order, pole progression, go-or-go homers & starting lineup on the Darlington Lineup / Qualifying Page.(5-11-2012)
Qualifying Fast Facts – Darlington Raceway:
Greg Biffle won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 63rd Annual Bojangles’ Southern 500 with a lap of 27.281 seconds, 180.257 mph.
This is his 11th pole in 341 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his second pole and eighth top-10 start in 2012.
This is his second pole in 12 races at Darlington Raceway. His first pole at the track came in May 2008. Biffle led 95 laps in that race, but finished 43rd after engine trouble.
Biffle started in the top 10 in both of his Darlington wins, third in 2005 and ninth in 2009.
Jimmie Johnson (second) posted his sixth top-10 start of 2012 and his seventh in 14 races at Darlington Raceway.
Kasey Kahne (third) posted his eighth top-10 start at Darlington Raceway. It is his 10th in 11 races this season.
Josh Wise (30th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.(NASCAR Statistics)(5-11-2012)
Sad News – Caroll Shelby: Carroll Hall Shelby, the Texan who created the famous Shelby Cobra and uncounted other high-performance machines that turned the auto world on its ear, and made it a whole lot more fun for 50 years, died in Dallas Thursday night at age 89. He had been hospitalized for pneumonia. Shelby, who affected the aw-shucks demeanor of the chicken farmer he once was, said, “I never made a damn dime until I started doing what I wanted.” What he wanted was, if you will, power for the people, automotively speaking. Beyond just his efforts in the small world of hot-rodding, Shelby influenced how Detroit automakers thought about high-performance, and he proved that hard work and bit of guile can make a hero. The litany of significant cars he created is long, running from the original 1962 AC Cobra – small British sports car with a big (for the times) Ford engine – through a sojourn at Chrysler and a stint with GM via a failed Oldsmobile-powered car, back to Ford. He was involved with development of Ford’s GT 500 Mustang, the 2013 version of which is certified as the most-powerful regular-production car in the world. Rumors began circulating about a health problem when the affable auto man failed to appear as scheduled at the New York auto show in early April to promote his latest creations, the 950-horsepower Shelby 1000 and the 1,100-hp Shelby 1000 S/C. Shelby published an update on his Facebook page in late April to say, in the vein of Mark Twain’s “the reports of my death are greatly exaggerated,” that he had been hospitalized for pneumonia, but was “resting comfortably with family and working on getting better.”(USA Today)(5-11-2012)
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s #88 will feature Dale Jr. Foundation at All-Star race: The Dale Jr. Foundation will commemorate its five-year anniversary with a special paint scheme on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s #88 Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevy for the Sprint Cup All-Star race weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. This marks the fourth consecutive year that Earnhardt Jr.’s primary sponsors, Diet Mountain Dew and National Guard, have donated its primary space on the #88 Chevy to The Dale Jr. Foundation. This year the #88 car will feature orange, black and white colors with TDJF’s theme, “Driven to Give: 5 Years of Giving” on the hood. “What The Dale Jr. Foundation has been able to accomplish since we started in 2007 has exceeded my expectations,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “Thanks to the generosity of many people, we’ve been able to make a difference and donate to a lot of great foundations. I’m especially grateful to the folks at Diet Mountain Dew and National Guard who have given the Foundation this paint scheme again. It means a lot to me to have their support.”(JR Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #88 team paint schemes page.(5-11-2012)
Happy Hour Practice for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway isover after 45 scheduled minutes, the top five fastest, slowest and notes:
#22-Allmendinger 175.022
#16-Biffle 174.730
#99-Edwards 174.099
#48-Johnson 174.087
#73-Kvapil 173.626
slowest: #34-Ragan 168.250 & #32-Sorenson 167.027.
See fastest speeds, best ten-lap averages, laps run and more on the Darlington Happy Hour Practice Speeds (pdf), no average speeds all laps and NOT changing back to the old way, just posting the pdf’s.(5-11-2012)
Go-or-Go Homers final practice for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway.
the final practice rank for the go-or-go homers (drivers not in the top 35 of current owners points) These drivers would make the race if things stay the same:
#73-Travis Kvapil, 5th fastest
#26-Josh Wise, 8th
#98-Michael McDowell, 9th
#30-David Stremme, 10th
#79-Scott Speed, 21st
#23-Scott Riggs, 24th
#49-J.J. Yeley, 30th
#87-Joe Nemechek, 31st These drivers would miss the race if things stay the same:
#19-Mike Bliss, 32nd
#74-Cole Whitt, 33rd
#33-Stephen Leicht, 34th
#52-Mike Skinner, 35th
(5-11-2012)
Coverage of Qualifying for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway is scheduled for Friday, May 11, 2012 at 5:10pm/et. Television (TV): SPEED, 5:00pm/et Scheduled Qualifying Re-Air: none scheduled
Qualifying Order for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway is posted. 47 cars/drivers are listed.
The first of the drivers scheduled to go out is #10-Patrick, slowest in practice.
The final driver scheduled to go out is #29-Harvick, who was fastest in first practice.
Qualifying order is set by the first practice session, with slowest driver going out by speed and the fastest going out last. The non-top 35 drivers are now mixed in with the top-35 in owners points, slowest to fastest.
See the full qualifying order on the Darlington Qualifying Page.(5-11-2012)
1st Friday Practice for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway is over after 120 scheduled minutes, the top five fastest, slowest and notes:
#29-Harvick 177.090
#16-Biffle 176.290
#51-Busch 175.993
#99-Edwards 175.760
#14-Stewart 175.647
slowest: #52-Skinner 169.438 & #10-Patrick 167.997.
notes: #43-Almirola looped his car coming off turn four on his second lap. He didn’t hit anything.
Drivers with Darlington stripes: #48-Johnson, #33-Leicht, #38-Gilliland, #56-Truex, Jr, #43-Almirola, #10-Patrick.
This practice will set the order for qualifying Friday at 5:10pm/et on SPEED.
See fastest speeds, best ten-lap averages, laps run and more on the Darlington 1st Practice Speeds (pdf), no average speeds all laps and NOT changing back to the old way, just posting the pdf’s.(5-11-2012)
Go-or-Go Homers first practice for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway.
the first practice rank for the go-or-go homers (drivers not in the top 35 of current owners points) These drivers would make the race if things stay the same:
#73-Travis Kvapil, 29th
#98-Michael McDowell, 30th
#26-Josh Wise, 33rd
#30-David Stremme, 36th
#74-Cole Whitt, 37th
#19-Mike Bliss, 40th
#79-Scott Speed, 41st
#23-Scott Riggs, 42nd These drivers would miss the race if things stay the same:
#49-J.J. Yeley, 43rd
#87-Joe Nemechek, 44th
#33-Stephen Leicht, 45th
#52-Mike Skinner, 46th
(5-11-2012)
Race and Commercial Breakdown of the 2012 Aaron’s 499: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, or wonder how often your driver was focused on, here is the breakdown for Sunday’s race. Began recording the times at the Invocation of the race at 1:29 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 5:04 PM (all times are EST). Fox was the broadcast team for this event.
Total number of commercials: 118
Number of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 109
Number of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 9
Number of times utilized ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during this broadcast: 3
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 64
Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast: 37
Total number of companies or entities advertised in brief promos or crawlers: 24
Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 3 min.
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 1:29 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 5:04 PM
Total minutes of race broadcast: 215
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 161
Minutes of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials (split-screen): 54
Number of missed restarts: 0
Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 0
Total race brdcst time 161 Total comm. brdcst time 54
For additional info and past races see the 2012 TV Commercials page.(5-11-2012)
Danica gets new spotter: UPDATE: #10-Danica Patrick will have a new spotter for Saturday’s Sprint Cup race at Darlington Raceway in Tab Boyd, a former spotter for Juan Pablo Montoya and an employee at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. Boyd will replace Mark Robertson as Patrick makes her second Cup start of the season. “That was definitely something that I’ve been thinking a lot about the last couple of months,” Patrick said Thursday during a promotion for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “As a driver you just need to have someone on the radio that you click with. Everybody needs something different. For me, I need someone … I’m going to say, almost drive the car. Like, tell me you’re turning in too early, tell me be patient with the throttle; OK, pick it up. I need somebody that is familiar with those patterns, because I’m not.” Patrick will remain with Truck Series driver Rick Carelli as her Nationwide spotter. Carelli spotted for Regan Smith last year when he won the Cup race at Darlington.(ESPN), no word on Montoya’s new spotter.(5-10-2012) UPDATE: Boyd spotted for Juan Pablo Montoya the past few seasons but was replaced on the stand by Jeff Dickerson at the start of the season.(Fox Sports)(5-11-2012)
Newman surprised Stewart wasn’t fined: #39-Ryan Newman doesn’t see any difference between his 2010 comments about the racing at Talladega Superspeedway that resulted in him being fined and what Tony Stewart said on Sunday. NASCAR has said Stewart will not be fined. “I guess there’s a difference when you hold a straight face versus when you don’t hold a straight face,” Newman said during a Thursday promotion for the upcoming Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “I’m not sure exactly how that all works. I get criticized for being blah and straight-faced and all that stuff. I didn’t know that saved you money.” Stewart, in what the post-race transcript said was a tongue-in-cheek interview, went on for almost five minutes taking sarcastic shots at the racing at Talladega. In 2010, Newman was secretly fined for saying, “If they want to have these races for the fans, just let us do this, but don’t let it affect our championship because it’s not racing. We should be here for the Talladega Event Marketing, or something like that.”(ESPN)(5-11-2012)
Go Green Racing honoring “Team Kyle” at Darlington:Go Green Racing will make their second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series attempt of the season this upcoming weekend at Darlington Raceway for the Bojangles’ Southern 500. Driving the #79 Go Green Racing Ford Fusion will Scott Speed. The team will be honoring seven-year old Kyle St. Clair of Scarborough, ME. Kyle was born seven weeks early and has spent much of his life at hospitals in Maine, Boston, and Columbus. Kyle has had over 45 surgeries and suffers from lung disease and severe immobility. Recently, his family has been able to bring him home on hospice. “I had the chance to meet Kyle and his family a couple weeks back and he is truly an amazing boy,” said Archie St. Hilaire, Go Green Racing Team Owner. “The strength and love he has is contagious. I hope we can get our car into the race and put on a good show for Kyle.” Fans are encouraged to show your support for Kyle by following “Team Kyle” on Facebook. AND: Bebida Beverage Comapny, a developer, manufacturer and marketer of liquid relaxation products, announced the company has made a deal with Go Green Racing to be the primary sponsor on their Sprint Cup series Ford. The fastest-growing relaxation drink in the world, KOMA UNWIND, will join Go Green Racing and their driver Scott Speed for this week’s installment at the “Too Tough to Tame” Darlington Speedway for the Bojangles Southern 500.(BeBevCo)(5-11-2012)
Southern Pride Trucking sponsoring FAS Lane at Darlington: Southern Pride Trucking will serve as primary sponsor to the FAS Lane Racing #32 entry in the Sprint Cup Series for this weekend’s running of the Bojangles Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Southern Pride Trucking, in business for over 40 years, continues their commitment to FAS Lane Racing team owner Frank Stoddard and his team and is proud to be a part of NASCAR. Reed Sorenson returns to pilot the #32 Southern Pride Trucking Ford at the track known as “The Lady In Black”. Southern Pride Trucking, the nationwide industry leader specializing in transporting aircraft engines, parts and ground support equipment, is currently expanding its operations with the opening of a new facility in central Florida and is hiring owner/operators.(Integrity Sports Marketing)(5-11-2012)
Shana Mayfield files for bankruptcy: In a move that will allow Jeremy Mayfield to delay the sale of his foreclosed-on property, Mayfield’s wife, Shana Sessions Mayfield, has filed for bankruptcy. The move was not a surprise as the Mayfields have seen the bills stack up ever since Mayfield was suspended by NASCAR for what NASCAR officials said was a May 2009 positive drug test for methamphetamines. Mayfield’s wife filed the Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition Wednesday in U.S Bankruptcy Court in North Carolina. She lists assets (not including any exempt property) of under $50,000 and liabilities of between $1 million and $10 million. The Mayfields’ property of more than 400 acres in Catawba County was auctioned off for $1.725 million last week to Carolina Farm Credit, which held the mortgage. Because it came within 10 days of the auction and in the time permitted for any additional bids or for Mayfield to pay off the mortgage balance, the bankruptcy filing would put on hold the closing of the sale and allow the Mayfields to at least temporarily remain in their home. Shana Mayfield said in an email Thursday that the filing was “a natural step in the process of trying to rebuild” and allows her and her husband to delay the foreclosure.(Sporting News)(5-11-2012)
Chassis selections for this week’s race: see the list of many teams [that report or post these] and what chassis were selected by the team to run at Darlington Raceway on the Darlington Race Info page – Chassis selection area.
Race officials for Coca-Cola 600 named: One governor and one governor-hopeful, a military hero and a Hollywood star will be on hand for the nation’s largest Memorial Day celebration as they serve as race officials for the 2012 Coca-Cola 600. West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin will be Grand Marshal, North Carolina Gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory will serve as Honorary Starter, Col. Gregory Gadson will give the race command, and Battleship star and Charlotte native Brooklyn Decker will be Honorary Race Director for the 53rd running of NASCAR’s only 600-mile race at the famed Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 27. As race officials, Tomblin and McCrory will be honored at a pre-race event, attend the official drivers meeting, address the crowd of 140,000 fans, participate in the pre-race spectacular and present the trophy to the winning driver in Victory Lane. As Grand Marshal, Governor Tomblin will lead off the pack of drivers in the official pace car, while governor-hopeful McCrory will wave the green flag over the 43-car field to start NASCAR’s most challenging race. As Honorary Race Commander, Col. Gadson will give the command “gentleman start your engines” and as Honoray Race Director, Miss Decker, will ride in an official pace car. Continuing its tradition as the biggest Memorial Day Weekend celebration in America, the Coca-Cola 600 pre-race show will pay tribute to veterans and active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The pre-race show will include military musical performances by the 2nd Division Marine Band from Camp Lejeune and 82nd Airborne Chorus, plus a rendition of Amazing Grace by the Charlotte Fire Department Pipe Band. Courtesy of LongHorn Steakhouse, country music superstar Darius Rucker will perform a 45-minute pre-race show concert and the national anthem. Six hundred soldiers from Fort Bragg will participate in ground activities during pre-race ceremonies while the U.S. Army Black Daggers parachute team will descend from the skies. The show will also include a 21-gun salute by the Fort Bragg Firing Squad, a flyover by a B-52 Bomber from Barksdale Air Force Base and a duel burnout on pit road by 8,000 horsepower, Army sponsored NHRA top fuel dragsters driven by Tony Schumacher and Antron Brown.(CMS)(5-11-2012)
News from May 10, 2012
New sponsor for Kenseth? number? Roush Fenway Racing is scheduled to make announcement at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Monday, May 14th for an announcement regarding the new number on Matt Kenseth�s #17 Sprint Cup Ford Fusion, as well as a new multi-year partner for RFR and Kenseth. Kenseth and team co-owner Jack Roush will be on hand for the event.(Roush Fenway Racing), NOTE: the PR doesn’t say Kenseth will have a new car number but a new number on the car. And it could be a special number for the All-Star race like last season when Jimmie Johnson ran the #5 in the event.(RFR PR)(5-10-2012)
Third BK Racing car at Darlington: UPDATE: BK Racing will field a third Toyota at Darlington Raceway for Travis Kvapil to run the Bojangles’ Southern 500. The car will run Dr. Pepper colors and use the #73. Kvapil usually drives BK Racing #93 Burger King / Dr Pepper Toyota, but David Reutimann is in that car for Darlington and other races in 2012. Kvapil will have to race his way into the field as the car has no owners points and since it looks to be a late entry will not receive any drivers/owners points as a post entry.(Travis Kvapil Facebook)(5-10-2012) UPDATE: BK Racing announced that Travis Kvapil will drive the #73 Dr Pepper Toyota in Saturday’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Kvapil’s car will be a third entry fielded by BK Racing and will run in addition to the organization’s #83 Toyota, driven by Landon Cassill, and #93 Toyota, driven by David Reutimann. This will be BK Racing’s first attempt to field three cars for an event. Ben Leslie will serve as Kvapil’s crew chief. Kvapil will return to the #93 car for the Sprint All-Star Showdown next week at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “I’m really excited to be racing at Darlington,” Kvapil said. “I want to thank Dr Pepper and BK Racing for putting this together. It’s a big step for BK Racing to field a third car. We didn’t open our doors until February and we’ve managed to make every race and stay inside the top-35 in points. Now we’re fielding a third entry. That says a lot about our progress and this team’s determination.(Breaking Limits/BK Racing)(5-10-2012)
Danica gets new spotter: #10-Danica Patrick will have a new spotter for Saturday’s Sprint Cup race at Darlington Raceway in Tab Boyd, a former spotter for Juan Pablo Montoya and an employee at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. Boyd will replace Mark Robertson as Patrick makes her second Cup start of the season. “That was definitely something that I’ve been thinking a lot about the last couple of months,” Patrick said Thursday during a promotion for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “As a driver you just need to have someone on the radio that you click with. Everybody needs something different. For me, I need someone … I’m going to say, almost drive the car. Like, tell me you’re turning in too early, tell me be patient with the throttle; OK, pick it up. I need somebody that is familiar with those patterns, because I’m not.” Patrick will remain with Truck Series driver Rick Carelli as her Nationwide spotter. Carelli spotted for Regan Smith last year when he won the Cup race at Darlington.(ESPN)(5-10-2012)
Bowyer sued by motorcycle company: A Mitchell-based motorcycle company is suing NASCAR driver #33-Clint Bowyer. Klock Werks Kustom Cycles is alleging Bowyer, 32, failed to pay $30,788.45 for the customization of a motorcycle conducted by the company in late 2008 and early 2009. In its complaint, dated Nov. 23, 2011, and filed May 2 with the Davison County clerk of courts, Klock Werks says Bowyer contacted the company on or about Nov. 11, 2008, and hired it to customize a 2009 Harley-Davidson motorcycle. After the work was performed at Klock Werks’ Mitchell facility, it was delivered to Bowyer in Daytona Beach, Fla., on or about Feb. 15, 2009, the date of the 2009 Daytona 500 NASCAR race. In Bowyer’s answer, which has not been officially filed but was obtained Wednesday by The Daily Republic, he denies he agreed to pay money for the bike. Instead, Bowyer says he agreed to provide Klock Werks with “certain promotional services and special accommodations within NASCAR and related publications.” Bowyer then claims he fulfilled that obligation, barring Klock Werks from any further compensation. (in part from the Mitchell Daily Republic)(5-10-2012)
Danica Patrick joining Coca-Cola Racing Family: #10-Danica Patrick will be introduced as the first female member of the Coca-Cola Racing Family during a Thursday news conference at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The 30-year-old fulltime Nationwide Series driver and part-time Sprint Cup driver joins current CCRF members Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, Denny Hamlin, Bobby Labonte, Joey Logano, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart. Patrick will be directly branded with Coke Zero. Among her first promotional appearances wil be at the Coca-Cola 600 weekend at CMS to promote the adventure movie “Battleship” with one of the movie’s stars, Brooklyn Decker. She also will compete in the 600 as the third of her 10 Cup races this season. “To be with Coca-Cola is one of those things you only dream about as a driver,” Patrick told ESPN.com. “A lot of legendary drivers have been a part of the Coke family, so I feel very fortunate.”(ESPN)(5-10-2012)
Darlington is final points race to get into All Star Race: Saturday night’s race at Darlington Speedway marks the final points race before the May 19 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. That means it’s the final opportunity for drivers not already locked into the field to do so. In a way. In actuality, after this weekend’s race, those not already locked into the all-star field can do so by finishing either first or second in the Sprint Showdown or winning the Sprint Fan Vote. But no driver wants that kind of pressure. The Sprint Showdown is blink-of-an-eye quick (two 20-lap segments), so anything but a fast start likely spells trouble. And with some fan-favorite names on the Sprint Fan Vote ballot (i.e. #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.), it’s not wise to rely on that. So, Darlington it is. Those thoughts swirl in the heads of some huge names, namely Earnhardt, #56-Martin Truex Jr., #20-Joey Logano, #1-Jamie McMurray, #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, #31-Jeff Burton and #22-AJ Allmendinger. All sit in the top 20 of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points standings, and all are currently without an all-star nod.(NASCAR)(5-10-2012)
Waltrip transport driver honoring brother in Darlington hauler parade: Michael Waltrip Racing’s #15 5-hour ENERGY transport driver Al Nelson, a native of Long Island, N.Y., will get the special opportunity on Thursday night in Darlington to honor his brother Peter Allen Nelson. Peter Nelson was a firefighter in FDNY Rescue 4 killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Members of the Remembrance Rescue Project, a not-for-profit created by firefighters to restore, preserve and operate Rescue 4 and Rescue 5 from 9/11 as educational tools, historical artifacts and memorials, reached out to Al Nelson last month. The group informed Nelson that former FDNY Rescue 4 will be in Darlington at the same time as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events and asked if he would be willing to drive the Rescue 4 truck in the Darlington Car Hauler Parade on Thursday night. Nelson agreed and will now drive the Rescue 4 truck in Thursday night’s festivities. Michael Waltrip Racing’s #15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota will also run a special Remembrance Rescue Project decal on the lower rear quarter panel throughout the race weekend at Darlington.(MWR)(5-10-2012)
Tire test at New Hampshire May 8-9: UPDATES: The best way to win races is to be prepared. That’s why a number of NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers will be in New Hampshire next week, testing new tires for this season’s races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company announced a tire test with five Sprint Cup teams May 8-9. The fans are encouraged to watch from the grandstands free of charge. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers scheduled for this test session include; #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Chevy), #99-Carl Edwards (Ford), #47-Bobby Labonte (Toyota), #78-Regan Smith (Chevy), and #27-Paul Menard (Chevy). Grandstands will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8 and Wednesday, May 9. The infield will be closed during the test.(NHMS)(5-4-2012) UPDATE: Rain washed out testing on Tuesday. The forecast for Wednesday is better, but there is still a change of scatter showers and thunderstorms.(5-9-2012) UPDATE 2: Mother Nature pulled back the curtain of fog and an armada of track dryers got “The Magic Mile” ready for a special tire test with five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers. Carl Edwards, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Bobby Labonte, Paul Menard and Regan Smith waited out the showers before putting on a show for the fans at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. technicians took over the speedway for the day to test new tire compounds for mile-track setups. It looked like the weather might spoil the fun, but the clouds lifted and the lights went green just before 2:00 p.m.(NHMS), rain returned later in the day, but cars were able to get in 4-5 hours of testing.(5-10-2012)
BB&T; returns to the #31: Jeff Burton’s #31 Chevy will sport the burgundy and gray colors of Winston-Salem, N.C.-based BB&T; this weekend. The #31 BB&T; Chevrolet paint scheme debuted in March at Bristol Motor Speedway and made appearances this season at Martinsville Speedway and Richmond International Raceway. After this weekend, BB&T; will be the primary sponsor at Dover International Speedway in June along with a special edition co-branded paint scheme with Caterpillar next weekend during NASCAR’s Sprint All-Star Race Weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.(RCR), see an image of the car on the #31 team paint schemes page.(5-10-2012)
NASCAR Hall of Fame exhibit focuses on grassroots: The NASCAR Hall of Fame kicks off a new exhibition in the Great Hall, “Grassroots Racing: Where NASCAR Heroes are Born” on Monday. The exhibition is included in general admission. “Grassroots Racing: Where NASCAR Stars are Born” tells the story of hometown racetracks, affectionately called “grassroots,” where many NASCAR drivers began their careers racing every Friday and Saturday night. “It’s a vital part of our mission to preserve, uphold and be a resource for the sport and its history,” said Winston Kelley, executive director of the facility. “This is the eighth new Great Hall exhibition since opening in May 2010 and it is with these exhibitions the Hall continues to present new chapters in the history book” of NASCAR. The exhibit explores four race tracks historically known and recognized to be the beginnings of NASCAR racing – Greenville Pickens Speedway in Greenville, S.C., Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C., Hickory Motor Speedway in Hickory, N.C. and South Boston Speedway in South Boston, Va. Highlighting the exhibition are historic race cars – David Pearson’s Ford Modified (1937), Richard Childress’ Plymouth Modified (1937), Dale Jarrett’s Busch Series Pontiac LeMans (1986) and Denny Hamlin’s Late Model Chevrolet (2003). Tickets to the NASCAR Hall of Fame can be purchased by calling 877-231-2010 or at NASCARHall.com.(NASCAR Hall of Fame)(5-10-2012)
The Numbers for the Bojangles’ Southern 500:
0 – fewest cautions (9/2/63)
1 – fewest cars on lead lap at finish (24 times, most recent 9/3/79)
1 – fewest laps led by race winner Ricky Craven, 3/16/03)
2 – fewest leaders (5/9/64)
4 – fewest lead changes (9/4/50)
6 – number of jet dryers available for track drying this weekend
10 – most wins by driver (David Pearson)
12 – fewest cars running at finish (9/2/74)
17 – most cautions (5/9/09)
17 – most leaders (9/6/82)
19 – wins from the pole; 35 from the front row
23 – most cars on lead lap at finish (9/1/02)
41 – most lead changes (9/6/82)
41 – most running at finish (twice, most recent 5/10/08)
45 – different race winners
47 – different pole winners
101 – most caution laps (9/2/74)
120 minutes – approximate amount of time it takes to dry the 1.366-mile track after a significant rainfall
351 – most laps led by race winner (Johnny Mantz, 9/4/50) Key Darlington Dates
1949 – Harold Brasington, a retired racer, purchased 70 acres from Sherman Ramsey and started construction of the race track. (The egg-shaped design was necessary because Brasington promised Ramsey the track wouldn’t disturb his minnow pond on the west side of the property).
1950 – First race on Labor Day, a 75-car field for the 500-mile event on what was then a 1.250-mile track
1951 – Field of 82 cars started the race
1953 – Track was re-measured to 1.375 miles
1959 – Last convertible race (won by Fireball Roberts)
1965 – Cale Yarborough, of nearby Timmonsville, crashed with his car sailing over the guard rail and off the track. He was unhurt and the mishap was used as an introduction to ABC’s Wide World of Sports for several years.
1970 – Track re-configured to 1.366 miles following the spring race
1982 – International Speedway Corporation (ISC) acquires Darlington Raceway
1995 – Track repaved
1997 – Frontstretch and backstretch switched
2000 – All cars pit on same side for first time
2005 – First Saturday night race at Darlington
2008 – Track repaved prior to 2008 race 2012 Caution Update
1 – fewest cautions this season (Fontana)
3 – races extended beyond scheduled distance (Daytona, Martinsville, Talladega)
10 – most cautions this season (Daytona)
53 – number of cautions in the first 10 races of 2012; includes 24 for accidents, 14 for debris and five for spins
305 of 3,120 – number of laps under caution in 2012
386.163 of 3,730.430 – miles under caution in the first 10 races
(Darnell Communications for SRT Motorsports and Dodge)(5-10-2012)
Darlington Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will run the same tire codes at Darlington this weekend . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that teams in these two series ran at Darlington last season . . . these teams have also run each of these two tire codes separately at other tracks in the past, including this left-side code (D-4392) at Texas last month . . . additionally, last season, they ran this left-side code at Texas, Nashville (Nationwide only), Chicagoland and Homestead; and this right-side code (D-4430) at Charlotte . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Darlington . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire. See tire codes, pressures and more on the Darlington Race Info page – Goodyear section.(5-10-2012)
Tony La Russa named Grand Marshal of Toyota/Save Mart 350: Tony La Russa, one of the greatest managers in the history of Major League Baseball, has been named Grand Marshal of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend at Infineon Raceway, June 22-24. La Russa will be honored on Friday, June 22, of race weekend at the Children’s Champions Grand Marshal’s Banquet at beautiful Cline Cellars in Sonoma. The gala is a fundraiser for the Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities. He will also take part in pre-race activities on Sunday, June 24, and participate in the official command of, “Gentlemen, Start Your Engines.” La Russa, who still calls the Bay Area home, posted three World Series victories during his 33-year managerial career, one coming with the Oakland Athletics (1989) and two with the St. Louis Cardinals, most recently in 2011. His other world championship with the Cardinals came in 2006. He retired after the 2011 season.(Sonoma Raceway)(5-10-2012)
News from May 9, 2012
Postal worker wins $1 million from Mayfield in dog attack: On Wednesday, a Forsyth County judge ordered former NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield to pay $1 million to a Catawba [NC] postal carrier attacked last year by Mayfield’s five pitbulls. This is the latest salvo against Mayfield, whose home was auctioned off for failing to pay about $3 million he owed on the property. He also faces drug-possession, larceny and stolen goods charges in three North Carolina counties and was suspended from NASCAR in 2009 for testing positive for methamphetamine. Judge William Z. Wood of Forsyth Superior Court awarded Mary E. Bolton $1 million. Bolton, who lives in Catawba County, filed a lawsuit against Mayfield and his wife, Shana Mayfield, in June in Forsyth Superior Court. The suit was filed in Forsyth because Bolton’s attorney, Marc Madonia, is based in Winston-Salem, NC. Bolton alleged that the Mayfields were negligent in allowing the dogs, pitbull/Labrador mixes, to run loose on their property in Catawba County. She was delivering mail the morning of April 21, 2011, and had a package too large for the mailbox outside the Mayfields’ gate. She drove through the gate, past “No Trespassing” and “Beware of Dogs” signs, to deliver the package and encountered the dogs that attacked her. Mayfield heard the commotion, shouted at the dogs to scatter them and carried Bolton into the house. He and his wife called 911, and Bolton was taken to Catawba Medical Center for treatment. Animal control confiscated the dogs from Mayfield, but no criminal charges were filed against him. The dogs were later euthanized. Bolton suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and has nerve damage, Madonia said.(in part from the Morganton News Herald)(5-9-2012)
Carl Edwards to join ESPN for two Nationwide races: #99-Carl Edwards will move from the cockpit of his race car to the broadcast booth as he becomes an analyst for ESPN on two upcoming telecasts of NASCAR Nationwide Series races. Edwards will make his debut during ESPN2’s live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Darlington Raceway on Friday night, May 11, at 6:30 p.m. ET. Edwards also will serve as an analyst for the June 29 event at Kentucky Speedway. For the Darlington race telecast, Edwards will join lap-by-lap announcer Allen Bestwick and analyst Andy Petree in the booth. While Edwards has never called a race, he has worked closely with ESPN the past two years during ESPN’s portion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule by doing post-race analysis for SportsCenter. “I am humbled by this opportunity to broadcast for ESPN and be part of their team,” said Edwards. “This Friday in Darlington, I will hop out of my Sprint Cup Car and trade my firesuit for a suit and tie to see the Nationwide race from a totally different perspective. I am honestly a little nervous as it will be my first time being part of the broadcast,” he said. “ESPN has been a great partner for everyone in NASCAR and I hope I can add some insight for the fans.” Edwards, who drives for Roush Fenway Racing, stopped competing in NASCAR Nationwide Series races this season after racing fulltime in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series the past seven years. He was the Nationwide Series driving champion in 2007, and earned the 2011 series owner’s championship for Roush Fenway Racing, but decided to concentrate his efforts on the Sprint Cup Series this season. “Having a past NASCAR Nationwide Series champion and active NASCAR Sprint Cup driver in the booth will certainly bring some unique perspective to our viewers,” said Rich Feinberg, ESPN vice president, motorsports, production. “We have a very strong on-air team for NASCAR and this addition makes it even stronger.”(ESPN)(5-9-2012)
Gravely Mowers turn the #43 red at Darlington: Aric Almirola and the No. 43 Ford team plan to mow down the competition at Darlington Raceway this week with a new partner: Gravely Professional Mowers. The maker of commercial lawn and garden equipment will see its bright red paint scheme on the team’s Sprint Cup Series car for one of NASCAR’s most historic races – Saturday night’s Bojangles’ Southern 500. The NASCAR partnership is the first for Gravely, which has been a power equipment workhorse since 1916. Gravely is part of Ariens Company, a fourth-generation, family-owned company based in Brillion, Wis., and sells a complete line of professional mowers and outdoor power equipment, including the legendary Sno-Thro, through a national dealer network. The company’s partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports will also include endorsements of Gravely products by team owner and racing legend Richard “The King” Petty in sales displays and advertisements.(Richard Petty Motorsports)(5-9-2012)
Hamlin honoring Yarborough at Darlington: Adding to the history surrounding the #11 team this weekend at Darlington Raceway, Denny Hamlin will take it a step further as he steps out in a retro firesuit and pilots a retro Sport Clips Toyota. The special Sport Clips Toyota retro paint scheme will honor Cale Yarborough and his induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Of the 199 wins for the #11 car, Yarborough leads all drivers with 55 of those wins. Hamlin has earned 19 wins in the #11 car.(JGR), see an image of the car on the #11 team paint schemes page.(5-9-2012)
Tire test at New Hampshire May 8-9: UPDATE” The best way to win races is to be prepared. That’s why a number of NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers will be in New Hampshire next week, testing new tires for this season’s races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company announced a tire test with five Sprint Cup teams May 8-9. The fans are encouraged to watch from the grandstands free of charge. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers scheduled for this test session include; #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Chevy), #99-Carl Edwards (Ford), #47-Bobby Labonte (Toyota), #78-Regan Smith (Chevy), and #27-Paul Menard (Chevy). Grandstands will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8 and Wednesday, May 9. The infield will be closed during the test.(NHMS)(5-4-2012) UPDATE: Rain washed out testing on Tuesday. The forecast for Wednesday is better, but there is still a change of scatter showers and thunderstorms.(5-9-2012)
Hendrick in longest winless streak since 2002: More than a decade has passed since Hendrick Motorsports slogged through this kind of drought. Back in 2001, Hendrick went the final eight races without a win. Then in 2002, the squad went the first nine winless. That 17-race drought ranks as the team’s sixth-longest in an NSCS history that began in 1984. The seventh longest? This one. Right here, right now. Sixteen races have passed since Hendrick’s last win, but one of its top tracks awaits – Darlington Raceway. Hendrick has 13 victories at The Track Too Tough To Tame, most by any owner all-time. On Hendrick’s personal wins list, Darlington ranks tied for third with Dover behind only Martinsville (18) and Charlotte (16).(NASCAR)(5-9-20120)
Reutimann moves to the #93 at Darlington: David Reutimann will return behind the wheel of the #93 BK Racing Toyota this week at Darlington Raceway for the Bojangles’ Southern 500. Reutimann raced the season-opening Daytona 500 with BK Racing, but has driven the balance of 2012 events with Tommy Baldwin Racing. Travis Kvapil will return to drive the #93 Burger King/Dr Pepper car next week at Charlotte. Reutimann has five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Darlington. He scored his best finish (11th) in 2010. In NASCAR Nationwide Series competition, Reutimann has three starts, with a best finish of third (2008).(Breaking Limits/BK Racing)(5-9-2012)
Semi-finalists announced for 2012 Georgia Racing Hall of Fame class: The Georgia Racing Hall of Fame in Dawsonville, Georgia has moved one step closer to being able to name the 2012 class of inductees this week, when they announced the “Fast 15” semi-finalists. The five new GRHOF inductees will be chosen by a panel of voters to make up this year’s class. The 2012 semi-finalists include Charles Barrett [Sprint Cp driver] of Cleveland, GA, Dick Brannon of Dawsonville, GA, Charlie Burkhalter of Athens, GA, Frank Christian [Sprint Cup team owner] of Dahlonega, GA, Tommie Clinard of Macon, GA, Pete Hamilton [Daytona 500 Champ] of Buford, GA, Bill Ingram [Cup driver] of Woodstock, GA, Bobby Johns [Cup driver] of Miami, FL, Warren Johnson of Sugar Hill, GA, Jabez Jones of Toccoa, GA, Doug Kennimer of Dahlonega, GA, Ethel Flock Mobley [Cup driver, Flock sister] of Atlanta, GA, Huston Platt of Buford, GA, Louise Smith [Cup driver/owner] of Barnesville, GA, and Herman Wise of Toccoa, GA. The announcement of the 2012 Georgia Racing Hall of Fame inductees will be made during the Hall of Fame’s 10th anniversary celebration event, scheduled for Saturday, May 26 at the Hall of Fame in Dawsonville, GA.(Raceweek Illustrated)(5-9-2012)
Cargill to Host “Darlington Signature Burger Event” Darlington Raceway and Cargill Beef are asking fans to submit recipes for the “Track Too Tough to Tame’s” new signature hamburger. Fans will submit their favorite and most unique hamburger recipes, with the selected entries being prepared by Miss Sprint at an old fashioned race-day cook out on Saturday at the track prior to the Bojangles’ Southern 500. The burgers will then be judged and a winner chosen by track president Chris Browning. “I’m excited for the opportunity to select the winner of this contest and see what kind of hamburger recipes our fans come up with,” Browning said. “A hamburger is a staple with any camping or tailgating experience at a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekend at Darlington. As we all know, there are many different styles and varieties of hamburgers that are unique so it will be fun to see on Saturday what our fans can bring to the table.” Fans can submit recipes to [email protected]. The winners will receive a family four-pack tailgate package at either next year’s Darlington race, or the fall race at Martinsville Speedway on October 28, 2012. On Friday, May 11 the top-20 recipes from the submissions will be selected and sent to Cargill to narrow down to the final four. Then on Saturday, May 12 at 12:30pm, Miss Sprint will prepare the top-four burger recipes for the judges and the winner will become the new “signature hamburger” of Darlington Raceway. The event will take place in the infield behind the west concession stand, just inside Gate 11B.(Darlington Raceway)(5-9-2012)
News from May 8, 2012
Overnight Talladega TV Ratings: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing from Talladega Superspeedway drew a 4.7/11 for NASCAR on FOX coverage of the Aaron’s 499. Sunday’s 4.7/11 is +34% better than the 3.5/7 FOX earned for racing from Darlington Raceway on the comparable 2011 weekend, and it’s +2% better than the 4.6/11 the Talladega race delivered last year when it fell two weeks earlier. For the entire season, NASCAR On FOX trails last year’s pace by -4% (4.4/9 vs. 4.6/9). See past race TV Ratings, 4-year comparison chart and more on the 2012 TV Ratings page.(5-8-2012)
Fallen police officers to be honored by Ragan at Darlington There will be a lot of decals on #34-David Ragan’s Ford May 11 for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 at the Darlington Raceway, but none more important than ones honoring fallen Aiken Public Safety officers Scotty Richardson and Sandy Rogers. Ragan’s team, Front Row Motorsports, will pay tribute to the officers who were gunned down in a span of 39 days. Ragan lived in Aiken as a child before moving to Unadilla, Ga. The team decided more than a month ago to honor the fallen officers. [It has] picked up sponsorship from Effingham, S.C.’s, McCall Farms, but it won’t change how Ragan and Front Row Motorsports plan to bring attention to Richardson and Rogers. With a weekly cost of nearly $400,000 to operate a race team, every inch on Ragan’s No. 34 Ford is valuable. The team didn’t announce how much McCall Farms will spend to promote its canned boil peanuts, but it probably won’t cover all the costs. Even if more money becomes available, the team said the space reserved for Richardson and Rogers isn’t for sale. Richardson was killed Dec. 20 when he and partner Travis Griffin stopped a car suspected to be involved in a drive-by shooting. Both officers were shot during the stop. Richardson died and the partner was saved by his bulletproof vest. Aiken’s Stephon M. Carter, 19, has been charged with murder and attempted murder. Rogers was approaching a car on Jan. 28 following a shooting that left another woman dead when she was gunned down. She is the first woman in South Carolina state history to be killed in the line of duty. Joshua Tremaine Jones of Augusta has been charged with killing Rogers and 21-year-old Cayce Vice of Augusta.(Augusta Chronicle)(5-8-2012)
Stewart won’t be penalized for Talladega post race comments: Sarcasm, when used correctly, can be a clever tool for making a point. It also can be harmful when overused. #14-Tony Stewart’s news conference following Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway was full of both. It bordered from brilliant to a violation of Section 12-4-A of the NASCAR rulebook, which covers everything “detrimental to the sport.” In one of the most bizarre postrace transcripts you’ll ever read, the three-time Cup champion made a mockery of one of the sport’s biggest races. He did it in such a sarcastic way that you may want to read twice just to catch the surgeon-like precision in which he ripped the race and governing body apart. The note accompanying the transcript says the interview was “tongue-and-cheek.” According to several reporters there, Stewart never let on that he was joking and some left confused by what they heard. But Stewart’s point was well made: NASCAR needs to change a few things before the sport returns to the 2.66-mile track for the Chase. To Stewart’s point, as great as #2-Brad Keselowski’s move to escape #18-Kyle Busch on the final lap of the green-white-checkered finish was for the win, several issues must be addressed. The overheating that ended the day early for #48-Jimmie Johnson and Stewart teammate #39-Ryan Newman with blown engines has to be fixed even if it means the return of tandem racing. So does the issues that caused cars to run out of fuel early. Catastrophe can’t be avoided when that happens while running three-wide in packs at 200 mph.(ESPN)
According to Jenna Fryer of the Associate Press, no penalty will be given to Stewart. NASCAR said, “In NASCAR’s opinion, these comments were made by a driver who clearly was not pleased with how his day finished. They were not disparaging given the context in which he delivered them nor were they a direct shot at the sport.”
See video of a portion of Stewart’s interview as broacasted on ESPN’s NASCAR now, here, see the full transcript here.(5-8-2012)
Patrick to be 3rd woman to run Cup at Darlington: With David Reutimann’s 22nd-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway, Danica Patrick and the #10 car have officially made the field for Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. The #10 car, which sits 33rd in owner points after Talladega, secures Patrick in the field based on NASCAR automatically giving the top 35 cars a spot in the starting field without having to race their way in on qualifying time. Patrick will be just the third woman to ever compete in a NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Darlington Raceway, joining Shawna Robinson in 2002 and Janet Guthrie in 1977. Robinson and Guthrie finished 42nd and 16th in those races, respectively. Patrick will also make her debut at Darlington on Friday in the NASCAR Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200.(Darlington Raceway)(5-8-2012)
At Darlington Raceway…numbers and stats:
• Built as a 1.25-mile paved superspeedway in 1949-50, Darlington Raceway hosted the first 500-mile race in NASCAR history and the first on asphalt on Sept. 4, 1950.
• The track was re-measured to 1.375 miles in 1953.
• The track was re-configured to 1.366 miles following the spring race in 1970.
• The track was repaved in 1995.
• The 2005 race was the first Saturday night race at Darlington.
• The track was repaved again prior to the 2008 season.
• There have been 108 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Darlington Raceway since the track opened in 1950.
• There was one race per year in 1950, 1951, from 1953-1959, and again every year since 2005. Darlington held two races a season in all other years.
• Curtis Turner won the first pole, in 1950.
• Johnny Mantz won the first race, in 1950.
• 47 drivers have posted poles at Darlington.
• David Pearson leads all drivers with 12 poles at Darlington.
• 45 drivers have won races at Darlington; 25 drivers have won more than once there.
• David Pearson leads all drivers with 10 victories, followed by Dale Earnhardt with nine.
• Jeff Gordon is third overall and leads all active drivers with seven victories.
• Hendrick Motorsports has won 13 races at Darlington, more than any other organization.
• 19 races at Darlington have been won from the pole, the most productive starting position. Dale Jarrett was the last driver to win from the pole in 1997.
• The deepest in the field that a race winner has started was 43rd, in the track’s inaugural race in 1950 by Johnny Mantz. That race had a 75-car field.
• Darlington is the site of one of the closest race finishes in NASCAR history. Ricky Craven edged Kurt Busch by 0.002 seconds on March 16, 2003 – which is tied with Talladega (April 17, 2011) as the two smallest margins of victory since NASCAR instituted electronic timing in 1993.
• Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Darlington Raceway winner: Kyle Busch (05/10/2008 – 23 years, 0 months, 8 days).
• Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Darlington Raceway winner: Harry Gant (05/06/1991 – 51 years, 7 months, 22 days)(NASCAR)(5-8-2012)
Sunoco Helps Drive Out Hunger at Dover Speedway: Sunoco, Inc. is holding a major food drive for Philabundance and the Food Bank of Delaware at the Dover International Speedway from June 1 to June 3 during the upcoming NASCAR race weekend. Sunoco’s food drive comes during a time when hunger relief organizations are seeing a record number of people coming to them for food. Throughout the weekend, NASCAR fans are encouraged to donate food and monetary donations to volunteers located at various locations on Speedway grounds. Each day of the race weekend, Sunoco is raffling off a $100 gas gift card for those who donate. Donations will be equally split between Philabundance and the Food Bank of Delaware. “We are excited to partner with Philabundance and the Food Bank of Delaware in this major effort to collect food and raise awareness for hunger relief in the Delaware valley,” said Ruth Clauser, president of the Sunoco Foundation. “With tens of thousands of fans expected to visit Dover International Speedway for three separate race days June 1 through June 3, we hope to raise a significant amount of food supplies.”(Dover PR)(5-8-2012)
News from May 7, 2012
The Entry List for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway is posted, 46 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including:
Danica Patrick is back in the #10 Chevy, Kvapil is still listed in the #93, but Reutimann is expected to drive. Not in top 35 of owners points:
#19-Mike Bliss (46/5)
#23-Scott Riggs (43/10)
#26-Josh Wise (40/10)
#30-David Stremme (38/10)
#33-Stephen Leicht (36/10)
#49-J.J. Yeley (39/10)
#52-Mike Skinner (54/1)
#74-Cole Whitt (47/6)
#79-Scott Speed (55/1)
#87-Joe Nemechek (42/10)
#98-Michael McDowell (41/10) In the event that qualifying is cancelled:
the eight who would make it [8]: #’s 33,30,49,26,98,87,23,74
missing the race would be [3]: #’s 19,52,79
See the full entry list at my Jayski’s Darlington Entry List.(5-7-2012)
Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week Returns To Las Vegas for next 3 years: NASCAR announced that the annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards – and all of Champion’s Week – will return to Las Vegas, Nev., and remain there for the next three years. For the fourth-consecutive season, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards will take place at Wynn Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 30, a culmination of a week-long celebration for the series champion – and NASCAR fans. As in past years, fans can expect the traditionally exciting and interactive week of activities.
“Experience tells us that Las Vegas creates the perfect backdrop for our sport and our fans to join us in celebrating a NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship,” said Steve Phelps, chief marketing officer for NASCAR. “Returning Champion’s Week and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards to Vegas for the next three years will help our loyal fans crystallize their plans to join us in putting the finishing touches on the season that was with a series of intriguing events across the city.”
From 1981 until 2008, NASCAR held its year-ending premier series awards show in New York City before moving to Las Vegas in 2009. Since then, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards has been held at the Wynn Las Vegas, and has grown in stature and prestige with each passing year.
Fans can count on another star-studded and entertainment-filled week, culminating in the highly-anticipated NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards. During last year’s official crowning of Tony Stewart as champion, Sprint announced its renewed commitment to the sport through 2016, and renowned multimedia superstar Reba hosted and singer-songwriter and musicianKid Rock performed for members of the NASCAR industry and fans.
A full lineup of activity during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week will be announced at a later date.(NASCAR)(5-7-2012)
Rockwell Tools to sponsor Kahne at Darlington: Through its Rockwell Tools brand, Positec Tool Corp., a global company that manufactures and markets power tools and lawn and garden equipment, will serve as primary sponsor of the #5 Chevy driven by Kasey Kahne for the Sprint Cup race at Darlington Raceway. It will mark Rockwell Tools’ first sponsorship of a Sprint Cup team. Rockwell Tools recently sponsored Kahne’s Camping World Truck Series entry when NASCAR returned to Rockingham Speedway for the first time since 2004.(Hendrick Motorsports)(5-7-2012)
Jeff Hammond reports break in: NASCAR broadcaster and former championship winning crew chief has reported a break in, larceny, and vandalism to a truck at his shop in western Rowan County. According to a report at the sheriff’s office, Jeff Hammond, who works as part of the Fox Network crew covering NASCAR races, reported that a 1988 truck at his shop on Phifer Road in Cleveland was broken into at some point over the last couple of weeks. Among the items reported missing was a hydraulic tank valued at $300, and one set of copper lines valued at $100. Another set of copper lines and a set of hoses were damaged. Vandalism to the Ford truck was also reported. The sheriff’s office is investigating.(WBTV)(5-7-2012)
Sad News – Wayne Mosser Wayne R. Mosser, father of Amy Mosser (who works for Sprint Cup Driver #34-David Ragan) peacefully passed away at his home on Wednesday, May 2, 2012 surrounded by his loving wife of 50 years, family and friends. Born March 21, 1940, in Grantsville, he was the son of the late Carl E. and Alberta L. (Kahl) Mosser. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn M. (Blake) Mosser; one son, two daughters, two brothers, four sisters, three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and relatives. Newman Funeral Homes, P.A., 179 Miller St., Grantsville, is in charge of arrangements. Expressions of sympathy may be directed to the Accident Volunteer Fire Department, Northern Garrett County Rescue Squad or Hospice of Garrett County.(5-7-2012)
Darlington Week in South Carolina: The week of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 has once again been named “Darlington Raceway Week in South Carolina” after the South Carolina House of Representatives and Senate passed a concurrent Resolution. “This is a tremendous honor for everyone at Darlington Raceway,” said Darlington Raceway President Chris Browning. “The Bojangles’ Southern 500 brings people to South Carolina from all 50 states and several foreign countries and it is a great time to showcase our state with a worldwide television audience watching.” The famed track’s 63-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.(Darlington Raceway)(5-6-2012)
News from May 6, 2012
Keselowski wins at Talladega:#2-Brad Keselowski won the Aaron’s 499 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway for his 2nd win of the year, 2nd at Talladega and his 6th career win. There was one green-white-checker attempt at the end after a couple late race cautions.
#18-Busch finished 2nd followed by #17-Kenseth, #5-Kahne, #1-Biffle, #15-Bowyer, #34-Ragan, #21-Bayne, #88-Earnhardt, Jr., and #31-Burton.
Polesitter #24-Jeff Gordon was caught in a wreck on lap 143 and finished 33rd.
There were 5 cautions for 24 yellow flag laps. There were 34 lead changes among 17 drivers. The race started about 30 minutes late after morning rain showers fell at the track.
The estimated attendence was 108,500, down from 115,000 in the Spring 2011 race.
See race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Talladega Race Results page (pdf).(5-6-2012)
Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Darlington:
#10 team jumps up to 33rd, #36 falls to 34th and #83 falls to 35th. #33 team is 36th, now 30 points out. Rank) Car#-Driver/Team, owners pts, +/-
31) #38-Gilliland/Front Row, 165, +60
32) #32-Labonte/FAS Lane Racing, 145, +40
33) #10-Reutimann-Patrick/Baldwin, 142, +35
34) #36-Blaney/Baldwin, 140, +35
35) #83-Cassill/BK Racing, 135, +30 ahead of 36th these teams / drivers will need to qualify by speed:
36) #33-Raines/Childress, 105, -30 from the top 35
37) #21-Bayne/Wood Bros., 96, -39
38) #30-Stremme/Inception, 81, -54
The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
For the owner points standings, see the Owners Points Standings page (pdf).(5-6-2012)
Race Fast Facts – Talladega Superspeedway:
Brad Keselowski won the 43rd Annual Aaron’s 499 , his sixth victory in 99 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his second victory and fifth top-10 finish in 2012.
This is his second victory and fifth top-10 finish in seven races at Talladega Superspeedway.
This is Dodge’s first win at Talladega since August 8, 1976 (Dave Marcis).
Kyle Busch (second) posted his third top-10 finish in 15 races at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his fifth top-10 finish in 2012.
Matt Kenseth (third) posted his seventh top-10 finish in 25 races at Talladega Superspeedway.
Greg Biffle leads the point standings by 7 points over Matt Kenseth.(NASCAR Statistics)(5-6-2012)
Wheeler, Smith dispute idea of lights at Charlotte: Speedway Motorsports Inc. chairman Bruton Smith and ex-employee associate H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler are at war again. When Charlotte Motor Speedway sent out a press release on Tuesday promoting the 20th anniversary of the first race under the lights at a superspeedway and called it Smith’s idea, his former president and general manager of CMS responded strongly. Wheeler said the idea to install lights at CMS for the 1992 All-Star race was his idea and his alone. “I usually let Bruton spiel on, but this one got me,” Wheeler said. “He would take credit for the sun and moon if he could!” In fairness to Smith, he didn’t write the press release or suggest that he be given credit in it. But when asked who came up with the idea for lights at CMS and what he thought of Wheeler’s comments, he didn’t smooth the waters. “I’m not going to comment on anything about him at all,” Smith said. “I don’t pay attention to what he [Wheeler] thinks. He’s a former employee. I can’t possibly think about anything about him, period.” Wheeler and Smith have been at odds since Wheeler claimed Smith pushed him out of his job earlier than he wanted in 2008 after a 33-year relationship.(ESPN)(5-6-2012
Freightliner Trucks Run Smart Hauler Challenge: The first round of the 2012 Freightliner Trucks Run Smart Hauler Challenge took place at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March. Ken Pitcher, driver of the #36 hauler for Tommy Baldwin Racing, claimed top honors with a perfect score. This year, 43 hauler drivers signed up for the Challenge, which is open to all full-time Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series NASCAR hauler drivers. Pitcher won $250 for his first round victory. While 32 hauler drivers advanced onto the next round at Talladega Super Speedway, the 11 eliminated drivers aren’t done just yet. This year Freightliner has given the fans the power to vote one driver back into the competition. Be sure to check out the Freightliner Trucks Facebook page to cast your vote to send one eliminated hauler driver back into the competition after each round. The final round will take place at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC before the Bank of America 500 on the weekend of October 13, with the winner taking home the grand prize of $30,000. More info at freightlinertrucks.com)(5-6-2012)
TMone joins Reutimann at Dega: TMone will go superspeedway racing with David Reutimann and Tommy Baldwin Racing at Talladega Superspeedway. The U.S. Call Center Insourcing firm will have associate placement on the #10 TBR Chevrolet in the Aaron’s 499. TMone partnered with the TBR #36 Chevy in Daytona and Texas this season. TMone has been one of Inc. Magazine’s Fastest Growing Private Companies for the last five years. Since its inception in 2003, TMone’s diverse capabilities, operational expertise and results driven culture provide clients with best in class infrastructure while addressing the cost pressures associated with complex business processes such as account management and inside business-to-business sales services.(Tommy Baldwin Racing)(5-6-2012)
Bristol providing more camping spaces for fans: A week after responding to fan requests by making major changes to the track surface, Bristol Motor Speedway General Manager Jerry Caldwell announced the next BMS fan initiative. Attacking the continuing economic challenges facing guests, Caldwell revealed a bold plan to arrange access to enough area property to expand BMS camping options by 700 spaces. Caldwell said it was an easy choice when deciding the Speedway’s next fan project. A limited amount of camping spots remain on BMS property, but Caldwell said his goal is to have many of the 700 additional sites in place before current supply is gone. The August race week at BMS kicks off Aug. 22 with a doubleheader, which features the Camping World Truck Series race and the UNOH Perfect Storm 150 Whelen Modified event. On tap Aug. 24 is the Food City 250 Nationwide Series race, followed by the IRWIN Tools Night Race Sprint Cup event Aug. 25.(BMS)(5-6-2012)
News from May 5, 2012
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Aaron’s 499 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway have been made.
Pole sitter #24-Gordon chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #22-Allmendinger took pit stall 17, the next pitstall with an opening in front of it.
#9-Ambrose, who starts 3rd took the 29th pit stall, the next stall with an opening in front of it.
The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #55-Waltrip, who starts 9th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(5-5-2012)
Gordon pole extends streak: #24-Jeff Gordon won the pole for the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway, his 71st career pole, 3rd all time. It is the 20th straight season [every season he has been full time in Cup] that Gordon has won a pole, tying the record of 20, held by David Pearson [1962-1981]. Gordon has also won 19 races from the pole, 6th all time, one behind Bobby Allison. Richard Petty holds that record at 61 followed by Pearson at 37.(5-5-2012)
Waltrip to run sticker in tribute to Junior Seau: Michael Waltrip will carry a tribute to the late NFL star Junior Seau in Sunday’s Aaron’s 499 at Talladega The MWR #55 Toyota driver was a fan of the All-Pro player and touched by his death reportedly by suicide earlier this week. Waltrip happened to be in San Diego when news of Seau’s death was reported. Waltrip is piloting the car that has been primarily driven by Mark Martin this year. Sunday’s start is one of a handful the team owner and television analyst plans to make this season for his organization.(CBS Sports)(5-5-2012)
Gordon wins pole at Talladega: #24-Jeff Gordon won the pole for the Aaron’s 499 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway with a speed of 191.623mph for his 1st pole of 2012, 3rd at Talladega and 71st of his career. #22-Allmendinger was 2nd fastest followed by #9-Ambrose, #43-Almirola, #5-Kahne, #16-Biffle, #99-Edwards, #14-Stewart, #55-Waltrip, and #17-Kenseth
The go-or-go homers who made the race (8): #21-Bayne, #26-Wise, #30-Stremme, #98-McDowell, #97-Elliott, #87-Nemechek, #23-Richardson, #33-Raines.
The go-or-go homer who failed to qualify for the race (1): #49-Yeley.
See qualifying results, order, pole progression, go-or-go homers & starting lineup on the Talladega Lineup / Qualifying Page.(4-27-2012)(5-5-2012)
Qualifying Fast Facts – Talladega Superspeedway:
Jeff Gordon won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 43rd Annual Aaron’s 499 with a lap of 49.973 seconds, 191.623 mph.
This is his 71st pole in 663 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. Gordon ranks third on the all-time series poles list.
Gordon has now won at least one pole in 20 consecutive seasons, tying David Pearson for the longest streak all-time. His first pole came in 1993 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
This is his first pole and fourth top-10 start in 2012.
This is his third pole in 39 races at Talladega Superspeedway.
AJ Allmendinger (second) posted his fourth top-10 start of 2012 and his second in eight races at Talladega Superspeedway.
Marcos Ambrose (third) posted his first top-10 start at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his third in ten races this season. (NASCAR Statistics)(5-5-2012)
Good Sam/Camping World to sponsor Wood Brothers #21 Ford: The Wood Brothers’ #21 Ford Fusion and their driver Trevor Bayne will carry the colors of Good Sam and Camping World for four races this season, beginning with the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte. The #21 Ford Fusion will also represent Good Sam/Camping World in Sprint Cup races at Atlanta in September, Chicago in September and Charlotte in October. The pairing isn’t the first for the two companies. Bayne drove the Good Sam/Camping World #21 Ford Fusion in last year’s Aaron’s 499 at Talladega. The latest deal with Good Sam/Camping World extends the Wood Brothers’ 2012 schedule from 12 to 16 races. “I’m excited to be back with Good Sam and Camping World,” Bayne said. “Getting to run more races is good for me as a driver and good for our race team.” Bayne also feels like he has some unfinished business with Good Sam and Camping World. He was supposed to race for them in last year’s All-Star race but was unable to because of an illness. Now; in addition to getting to run the All-Star race, he will have the opportunity to add three intermediate tracks to his schedule. “Atlanta’s one of my favorite tracks,” he said. “I love running at Charlotte in the fall, and Chicagoland will be good too.” For team co-owner Eddie Wood, it’s especially nice to add races at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which is just a couple of miles from the team’s shop in Harrisburg, and at Atlanta, where the Woods lead all others in race victories with 12. “We’d like to thank Marcus Lemonis of Good Sam/Camping World for supporting us in these 4 races. “We’re really excited to get the opportunity to run the two races right here at Charlotte, and it’s great for our team to be returning to Atlanta and Chicago,” Wood said. “Donnie Wingo and the crew have built some really fast race cars lately, so the timing is perfect to add races to our schedule.”(Wood Brothers Racing)(5-5-2012)
Phoenix Racing, Busch to announce sponsor: UPDATES: Tuesday, #51-Kurt Busch posted the following message to Twitter, “Big sponsor announcement Friday for @PhoenixRacing51 — be on the look out”.(5-2-2012) UPDATE: per Kurt Busch’s Facebook, he will run a Ricky Bobby “ME” scheme from Talladega Nights at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend. The car will also carry the logo of the Armed Forces Foundation along with a message on the decklid “Text AFF to 50555 to donate $5”. See images of the car on his Facebook page, twitter or my #51 Team Schemes page.(5-4-2012) UPDATE 2: Getting permission to bring the movie car to life was no easy task. Busch’s girlfriend, Patricia Driscoll, is the head of the Armed Forces Foundation and approached team owner James Finch with an idea to run a Talladega Nights car while raising awareness for her organization, which does charitable work with armed services members suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. Driscoll worked behind the scenes for two months to get approval for the car, which was far more complicated than you might imagine. After lower-level execs at Sony Pictures rejected the idea, Driscoll pulled some strings and finally got the studio’s president on the phone. “He was like, ‘Yes! This is an awesome idea. Let’s do this!'” she said. But even after Sony approved, there were still others who had to sign on. For example:
• The picture of the cougar on the car is actually “Karen,” the cougar who co-starred in the movie. Because Busch’s car needed to use the photo, Driscoll had to get permission from Karen’s handler – and the photographer who took the picture for the hood.
• Every company whose logo appeared on the movie car had to agree not to be on the real-life version.
• Will Ferrell’s people had to agree to Busch’s use of the car.
And finally, Finch had to agree as well. It took until Monday to get the team owner to sign off on the idea after some initial hesitation. Busch and his crew plan to drop lines from the movie over the team radio all weekend, which will include referring to crew chief Nick Harrison as “Lucius Washington.” Driscoll joked about Busch’s often-vitriolic radio communications by saying it was the one time where he would actually WANT fans to listen.(SB Nation)(5-5-2012)
Furniture Row has talked to Kurt Busch about second team: UPDATE: #78-Furniture Row Racing general manager Joe Garone confirmed today that talks have taken place between the team and driver Kurt Busch, but said those conversations are not a result of dissatisfaction with the team’s current driver, Regan Smith. “I have talked to Kurt Busch,” said Garone, “but it was about a team we don’t even have yet. We are working diligently on getting a second (Sprint Cup) car for next year, and I’m trying to get my hands around some of the guys that will be available going onto 2013. I wanted to make an introduction to Kurt, and just let him know what our plans are for the future.” Garone said he believes Smith and Busch would make good teammates, saying, “Kurt and Regan have worked well together on the superspeedways in the past. They have drafted well together and talked well back and forth. Adding a second team would be a major boost for Furniture Row Racing, and we’re all working hard to try and make that happen.”(Godfather Motorsports)(5-3-2012) UPDATE: Furniture Row Racing has met with Kurt Busch, but not in an effort to replace driver Regan Smith. “I met with Kurt about starting a second team for next year,” said Joe Garone, FRR’s general manager. Since FRR made its debut in 2005, it became clear to team owner Barney Visser that the Denver-based organization would eventually have to expand to two teams to compete with the NASCAR powerhouses. “It’s nice that people want to talk and that they’re showing interest in me driving for them. And there have been other teams interested. It’s very early. (Phoenix Racing team owner James) Finch knows and the rest of the team knows that I’m a free agent. But I’m committed to racing the entire year here at Phoenix Racing and (will) talk with whoever wants to talk about racing in the future.” said Busch. Although an investor expressed interest in partnering with FRR, that deal fell through. However, Furniture Row has been mentioned as one of the top candidates for the Dodge Motorsports program. The sticking point in finalizing the deal appears to be which company will build the Dodge engines. Roger Penske currently builds Dodge engines for his teams. However, with Penske Racing moving to Fords for 2013, it’s unclear what the future of Dodge’s engine program will be. What is missing from the Dodge equation, however, is a marquee driver. Certainly, Busch would fill that void.(Fox Sports)(5-5-2012)
Warmer temperatures could force pack racing at Dega: Heat on Sunday & could be an issue not just for the drivers, but for the race cars as well. Engines overheating are a concern because NASCAR has mandated changes to the cooling systems to prevent tandem-style drafting, just as they did for the Daytona 500 in February. “I don’t think you can stay together at all,” #18-Kyle Busch said after practice. “We’re running 230, 240 [degrees water temperature] just pack drafting and then once you get pushed from behind or you have somebody close to you, it kind of moves you forward a little bit to the car that’s in front of you. You’re already 245, 250. That’s already border line for our engines. With temperatures being as hot as they are, the ambient track temp being way up from what it was in Daytona, it’s just a lot harder to keep your car cool enough and not let it get heat soaked that you have an amount of time that you can push. You’re just kind of limited on what you can do based off water temp.” Without tandem racing, that means pack racing will be back at Talladega just as it was at Daytona. That suits many in the garage. “To be honest, I really enjoy the pack racing a lot better,” #56-Martin Truex Jr. said. “I feel like your destiny is in your own hands a little bit more. There’s still a lot of risks out there with things happening, which always is at plate tracks. I just never was a fan of having to have somebody push you, having to rely on somebody all the time to stick with you and make the right moves.(NASCAR.com)(5-5-2012)
Junior Johnson continues to recover: Only when he lies flat on his back does Junior Johnson feel no pain. He can walk for a little more than 10 minutes before he begins to feel winded. Food does not taste good and he has trouble swallowing. Nevertheless, Johnson, the 81-year-old former NASCAR driver and team owner, does not complain. He’ll tell you it is better than the alternative. “Reckon the Lord thought it wasn’t my time yet,” said Johnson, a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s inaugural class of inductees, “for which I am grateful.” Johnson came to the brink of death after contracting a raging staph infection at a North Carolina hospital. Johnson takes a daily regimen of medication to keep the infection at bay. Johnson said his plans for the immediate future remain unaltered. He and his family will move to Charlotte in June, where they have already bought a house and will become neighbors to such NASCAR notables as team owners Rick Hendrick and Felix Sabates. Johnson said he feels better each day, but, obviously, he will require more medical attention – none of which he can receive until it’s certain he no longer has the infection. Johnson admits he needs, and wants, a pacemaker.(Motorsports Unplugged)(5-5-2012)
McReynolds son wins ARCA race at Talladega: Twenty years after Larry McReynolds stood in Victory Lane at Talladega Superspeedway with driver Davey Allison, he returned on Friday to celebrate the victory of his son, Brandon McReynolds, in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250. Brandon McReynolds picked up his first victory in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards by passing Matt Lofton coming through the tri-oval on the final lap. McReynolds had helped push Lofton past leader Chad Hackenbracht five laps earlier, then McReynolds used a similar push from Hackenbracht to pass Lofton on the high side of the track just before the finish line. “That kid amazes me,” said Larry McReynolds, who was the crew chief when Allison won the May Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway in 1992. “I don’t know where he gets this driving talent. I can promise you it doesn’t come from me. Evidently he gets that from his godfather, Davey Allison. That’s the only thing I can figure out.”(full story at the TSS site)(5-5-2012)
Kris Allen to sing national anthem at Dover: RCA recording artist Kris Allen, the season 8 winner of “American Idol,” will perform the National Anthem prior to the start of the June 3 “FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway. Since skyrocketing to stardom when winning “American Idol” in 2009, Kris Allen has enjoyed five singles on the Billboard charts. His self-titled debut album featured his hit single, “Live Like We’re Dying,” which has a combined digital sales of more than 1.7 million. His second brand new album, “Thank You Camellia,” is slated for release on May 22, 2012 on 19 Recordings/RCA Records, and features the hit lead single “The Vision of Love.”(Dover Speedway)(5-5-2012)
News from May 4, 2012
Happy Hour Practice for the Aaron’s 499 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is over after 60 scheduled minutes, the top five fastest, slowest and notes:
#43-Almirola 196.725
#17-Kenseth 196.685
#16-Biffle 196.105
#11-Hamlin 195.692
#78-Smith 195.620
slowest: #23-Richardson 185.219 & #83-Cassill 185.108.
notes: #88-Earnhardt, Jrs team changed the clutch on the car. 34 drivers practiced during the session.
See fastest speeds, best ten-lap averages, laps run and more on the Talladega Happy Hour Practice Speeds (pdf), no average speeds all laps and NOT changing back to the old way, just posting the pdf’s.(5-4-2012)
Go-or-Go Homers final practice for the Aaron’s 499 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway.
the final practice rank for the go-or-go homers (drivers not in the top 35 of current owners points) These drivers would make the race if things stay the same:
#21-Trevor Bayne, 15th fastest overall
#30-David Stremme, 18thd
#26-Josh Wise, 19th
#98-Michael McDowell, 26th
#97-Bill Elliott, 27th, past champ
#87-Joe Nemechek, 28th
#33-Raines, 29th
#49-Yeley, 32nd These drivers would miss the race if things stay the same:
#23-Robert Richardson, Jr., 34th, slowest
(5-4-2012)
Qualifying Order for the Aaron’s 499 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is posted. 44 cars/drivers are listed.
The first of the drivers scheduled to go out is #33-Raines, slowest in practice.
The final driver scheduled to go out is #43-Almirola, who was fastest in first practice.
Qualifying order is set by the first practice session, with slowest driver going out by speed and the fastest going out last. The non-top 35 drivers are now mixed in with the top-35 in owners points, slowest to fastest.
See the full qualifying order on the Talladega Qualifying Page.(5-4-2012)
1st Friday Practice for the Aaron’s 499 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is over after 45 scheduled minutes, the top five fastest, slowest and notes:
#43-Almirola 199.172
#55-Waltrip 198.343
#17-Kenseth 197.986
#24-Gordon 197.843
#29-Harvick 197.725
slowest: #93-Kvapil 184.242 & #33-Raines 183.612.
notes: drivers started the session by running in a large pack.
This practice will set the order for qualifying Saturday at 12:10pm/et on SPEED.
See fastest speeds, best ten-lap averages, laps run and more on the Talladega 1st Practice Speeds (pdf), no average speeds all laps and NOT changing back to the old way, just posting the pdf’s.(5-4-2012)
Go-or-Go Homers practice for the Aaron’s 499 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway.
the first practice rank for the go-or-go homers (drivers not in the top 35 of current owners points) These drivers would make the race if things stay the same:
#21-Trevor Bayne, 29th fastest overall
#26-Josh Wise, 32nd
#30-David Stremme, 33rd
#97-Bill Elliott, 35th, past champ
#87-Joe Nemechek, 37th
#49-J.J. Yeley, 38th
#23-Robert Richardson, Jr., 39th
#98-Michael McDowell, 41st These drivers would miss the race if things stay the same:
#33-Tony Raines, 44th/last
(5-4-2012)
Phoenix Racing, Busch to announce sponsor: UPDATE: Tuesday, #51-Kurt Busch posted the following message to Twitter, “Big sponsor announcement Friday for @PhoenixRacing51 — be on the look out”.(5-2-2012) UPDATE: per Kurt Busch’s Facebook, he will run a Ricky Bobby “ME” scheme from Talladega Nights at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend. The car will also carry the logo of the Armed Forces Foundation along with a message on the decklid “Text AFF to 50555 to donate $5”. See images of the car on his Facebook page, twitter or my #51 Team Schemes page.(5-4-2012)
Black Cat Fireworks sponsoring Raines at Talladega: Black Cat Fireworks is celebrating its 60th Anniversary in the US in 2012 and what better way to celebrate than to go racing. Black Cat Fireworks and Tony Raines have teamed up again for this weekend’s Sprint Cup Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway. Tony will be driving the #33 owned by Joe Falk. “I’m excited to be teamed up with Black Cat Fireworks again this year and about our opportunity this weekend.” said Raines.(Black Cat)(5-4-2012)
Indiana Wholesale Offices joins Blaney as associate sponsor: Indiana Wholesale Offices will team up with Tommy Baldwin Racing this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. The Indiana-based company will be featured on the #36 Golden Corral Chevy driven by Dave Blaney. Indiana Wholesale Offices host wholesale car dealers in the state of Indiana. The Merrillville-based company consults individuals on how to receive a wholesale license that will allow that dealer to operate anywhere in the United States. Indiana Wholesale Offices is a state approved hosting facility that exceeds the state of Indiana’s requirements. The company provides entrepreneurs the ability to create a business with low startup costs and monthly overhead. Indiana Wholesale Offices partnered with TBR for last season at Michigan International Speedway and Kansas Speedway.(TBR)(5-4-2012)
Kahne featured in public service advertisements about texting: Sixty percent of young adult drivers (16-24) said they have texted while driving, according to a national survey released by the Ad Council. To educate young adult drivers about the dangers of texting while driving, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the State Attorneys General and Consumer Protection Agencies, and the Ad Council revealed new public service advertisements featuring #5-Kasey Kahne. NHTSA reports that distracted driving is the number one killer of American teens. In 2010, more than 3,000 people were killed and an additional 416,000 were injured due to distracted driving, which includes texting while driving. Created pro bono by advertising agency RPA, the television, radio and digital PSAs remind young adult drivers that it is dangerous to do anything that takes your attention away from the road and serve as a reminder to leave the risky driving to the professionals. The PSAs direct audiences to StopTextsStopWrecks.org, a website where teens and young adults can find facts about the impact of texting while driving and tips for how to curb the behavior.(PR)(5-4-2012)
“Color Your Way” scheme for Waltrip: Two-time Daytona 500 champion Michael Waltrip gets help this weekend from nine-year-old Emery Beavis of Dyersburg, Tenn., who designed the #55 Toyota’s paint scheme. Beavis won the grand-prize in the Aaron’s “2012 Color Your Way to Talladega” contest. She and three guests will attend the Aaron’s Dream Weekend in Talladega to watch Waltrip drive her design in Sunday’s Aaron’s 499 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Sunday marks Waltrip’s 52nd Cup Series start on the 2.66-mile Alabama track. The 49-year-old driver owns one win (2003), seven top-five and 15 top-10 finishes. Waltrip on his special paint scheme: “I love the paint scheme Emery Beavis colored for me. It’s a happy paint scheme, and I am a happy person so it suits me just fine. When I see that colorful paint scheme it just makes me smile.”(MWR)(5-4-2012)
Tire test at New Hampshire May 8-9: The best way to win races is to be prepared. That’s why a number of NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers will be in New Hampshire next week, testing new tires for this season’s races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company announced a tire test with five Sprint Cup teams May 8-9. The fans are encouraged to watch from the grandstands free of charge. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers scheduled for this test session include; #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Chevy), #99-Carl Edwards (Ford), #47-Bobby Labonte (Toyota), #78-Regan Smith (Chevy), and #27-Paul Menard (Chevy). Grandstands will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8 and Wednesday, May 9. The infield will be closed during the test.(NHMS)(5-4-2012)
Tire test at New Hampshire May 8-9: The best way to win races is to be prepared. That’s why a number of NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers will be in New Hampshire next week, testing new tires for this season’s races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company announced a tire test with five Sprint Cup teams May 8-9. The fans are encouraged to watch from the grandstands free of charge. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers scheduled for this test session include; #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Chevy), #99-Carl Edwards (Ford), #47-Bobby Labonte (Toyota), #78-Regan Smith (Chevy), and #27-Paul Menard (Chevy). Grandstands will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8 and Wednesday, May 9. The infield will be closed during the test.(NHMS)(5-4-2012)
Kasey Kahne ticket deal at Pocono: Pocono Raceway added Kasey Kahne, driver of the #5 Farmers Insurance Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports, to its list of driver ticket packages being offered for the Pocono 400 race weekend occurring June 8-10. This is the third NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver added to the Raceway’s lineup, joining the “Jeff Gordon 24 Experience” and the “Jimmie Johnson 48 Family Package.” The “Kasey Kahne 5 Experience” will give race fans access to Kahne’s exclusive, 15-minute question and answer session on Sunday, June 10, a Terrace Vista Grandstand ticket for the Pocono 400, a Commemorative Pocono Raceway Genuine Track Medallion, automatic entry to win an autographed piece of Pocono Raceway’s former track surface signed by Kahne and access to the Pocono Raceway’s Tricky Triangle Club. The Tricky Triangle Club includes a Pre-Race Pit/Paddock Pass, four beer tickets (for those 21 years of age or older), food and beverage, an Official Pocono 400 Souvenir Program and Welcome Bag and access to additional 15-minute question and answer sessions with NASCAR drivers and personalities.(Pocono Raceway)(5-4-2012)
News from May 3, 2012
Furniture Row has talked to Kurt Busch about second team: #78-Furniture Row Racing general manager Joe Garone confirmed today that talks have taken place between the team and driver Kurt Busch, but said those conversations are not a result of dissatisfaction with the team’s current driver, Regan Smith. “I have talked to Kurt Busch,” said Garone, “but it was about a team we don’t even have yet. We are working diligently on getting a second (Sprint Cup) car for next year, and I’m trying to get my hands around some of the guys that will be available going onto 2013. I wanted to make an introduction to Kurt, and just let him know what our plans are for the future.” Garone said he believes Smith and Busch would make good teammates, saying, “Kurt and Regan have worked well together on the superspeedways in the past. They have drafted well together and talked well back and forth. Adding a second team would be a major boost for Furniture Row Racing, and we’re all working hard to try and make that happen.”(Godfather Motorsports)(5-3-2012)
Golden Corral returns to sponsor Blaney at Superspeedways: Golden Corral will come back on board the Tommy Baldwin Racing #36 Chevy for the superspeedway races this season. Dave Blaney will drive the #36 Golden Corral/Camp Corral Chevrolet this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway as well as at Daytona International Speedway in July and Talladega in October. The Raleigh, N.C., company will once again run the Top-10 Kids Eat Free promotion for all three events. Golden Corral and Camp Corral will adorn the #36 Chevy in the Aaron’s 499 this weekend. Golden Corral sponsored the team in 21 events last season. This summer the company will focus on spreading the word about Camp Corral, as well as running the Top-10 Kids Eat Free promotion.(Tommy Baldwin Racing)(5-3-2012)
Fastenal to sponsor all 3 Roush cars in Coca-Cola 600: Fastenal will sponsor all three Roush Fenway Racing entries in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 27. The Fastenal paint schemes for #99-Carl Edwards, #16-Greg Biffle and #17-Matt Kenseth will also incorporate the “NASCAR Unites – An American Salute” red, white and blue theme. This is not the first time Fastenal has sponsored the RFR fleet. Last year all three RFR Nationwide Series Fords displayed the Fastenal colors at the Charlotte race in May. The Blue Team placed first (Kenseth), second (Edwards) and fourth (Ricky Stenhouse Jr.).(Roush Fenway Racing)(5-3-2012)
Childress to serve as grand marshal of Talladega ARCA race: Richard Childress will serve as the grand marshal of the May 4 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega Superspeedway. The 14-time championship-winning team owner will be inducted the night before into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.(RCR)(5-3-2012)
Bowyer honoring Alabama National Championship: #15 Aaron’s/Alabama National Champions Toyota driver Clint Bowyer races at Talladega Superspeedway in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race with a special paint scheme honoring the 2011 University of Alabama’s BCS National Championship football team. Bowyer will even sport an Alabama firesuit and a specially designed helmet honoring legendary football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. The Alabama paint scheme combined with his recent performance on the 2.66-mile track-winning two of the last three races-should make Bowyer the center of attention at the Aaron’s 499. This is the third consecutive Talladega spring race Aaron’s Inc. has honored a national championship football team from the state of Alabama. Sunday also marks the only race 5-hour ENERGY will not be the primary sponsor on the #15.(MWR), see an image of the car on the #15 team paint schemes page.(5-3-2012)
Rheem returns to the #29 at Dega: After serving as primary sponsor on the #29 Chevy earlier this season in Phoenix and Kansas, Rheem will return for their third appearance of the 2012 season this weekend in Talladega. Rheem is privately held with headquarters in Atlanta and U.S. operations in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Indiana, Minnesota and North Carolina. In its 86th year of operation, the company manufactures a full-line of eco-friendly, technologically advanced residential and commercial heating and cooling systems; tank, tankless, solar and hybrid heat pump water heaters; whole-home standby generators, controls, swimming pool and spa heaters; indoor air-purification products; and commercial boilers throughout North America and world markets.(RCR)(5-3-2012)
The Numbers for Talladega Superspeedway:
0 – fewest cautions for a Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway (three times, most recent 10/6/02)
1 – fewest laps led by race winner (twice, most recent 4/26/09 – Brad Keselowski)
1 – fewest cars on the lead lap at finish (twice, most recent 5/6/79)
6 – cautions in last year’s spring race
7 – races won from starting spot outside top 20
8 – most poles (Bill Elliott)
10 – most wins (Dale Earnhardt Sr.)
11 – number of jet dryers available for track drying this weekend
11 – most cautions (4/25/04)
13 – wins from the pole; 33 from the front row
14 – fewest running at finish (7/27/86)
23 – races won from a starting spot outside the top 10
29 – most leaders (4/25/10)
35 – different pole winners
40 – most cars running at finish (4/22/01)
41 – different drivers have posted wins at Talladega
62 – most caution laps (5/7/72)
88 – most lead changes (twice, most recent 4/17/11)
153 – most laps led by race winner (Pete Hamilton, 8/23/70)
120 minutes – approximate amount of time it takes to dry the 2.66-mile track after a significant rainfall 2012 Caution Update
1 – fewest cautions this season (Fontana 3/25/12)
2 – number of races extended beyond scheduled distance in 2012 (Daytona and Martinsville)
10 – most cautions this season (Daytona, 2/27/12)
48 – number of cautions in the first nine races of 2012
281 of 2,926 – number of laps under caution in 2012
322.323 of 3,214.390 – miles under caution in the first nine races
(Darnell Communications for SRT Motorsports and Dodge)(5-3-2012)
Talladega Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will run the same tire codes at Talladega this weekend . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that teams in these series ran at Daytona earlier this season . . . they also ran this tire combination at both Daytona and Talladega last season . . . this left-side code (D-4138) has been run by Sprint Cup teams at Talladega since 2009 . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Talladega . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire. See tire codes, pressures and more on the Talladega Race Info page – Goodyear section.
Federated Auto Parts to sponsor fall Richmond race: Virginia-based Federated Auto Parts announced a partnership with Richmond International Raceway. Joining RIR as the entitlement sponsor for the Saturday, September 8, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, the Federated Auto Parts 400 is one of the most important races on the series schedule, as the “One Last Race to Make The Chase” sets the field for the 2012 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. In addition to the entitlement partnership, Federated Auto Parts, which has hosted hundreds of guests in hospitality and suites for more than 10 years at RIR, also announced it has signed on as the track’s Official Auto Parts Supplier. Federated Auto Parts is no stranger to NASCAR. Now in its 17th year in the sport, Federated has served as the primary sponsor for Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace, as well as the entitlement partner at Nashville Superspeedway prior to its announcement that it would not seek any 2012 race sanctions. Tickets for the Federated Auto Parts 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race go on sale Friday, June 1.(RIR)(5-3-2012)
News from May 2, 2012
Seeing double at Talladega: NASCAR fans may think they’re seeing double during the Aaron’s 499 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway. The paint scheme that has adorned the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevy moswt of the season will be shared with the Stewart-Haas Racing’s Bass Pro Shops sponsored #39 Chevy driven by Ryan Newman for the Talledega race as a salute to men and women across America who enjoy the outdoor traditions of hunting, shooting sports, fishing, boating, camping and hiking. “Both Ryan and Jamie love to hunt and fish so we felt like this would be a great time to thank all the outdoor enthusiasts out there who love the outdoors and continue to pass on these traditions to future generations,” stated Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris. In addition, Bass Pro Shops wants to emphasize the outdoors is a great way to get away from our hectic fast-paced world and escape to the sights and sounds of nature.(Bass Pro Shops), see images of the schemes on the #1 Team schemes page and the #39 Team schemes page.(5-2-2012)
Jimmy Pardue’s First Win To Be Honored: On Friday, May 4th, Southside Speedway will recognize the 50th anniversary of NASCAR driver Jimmy Pardue’s first “Cup” win. Pardue, from racing rich Wilkes County, NC; was a driver on the rise in the early 1960’s. During the night’s program a presentation will be made to the Pardue family. Many of today’s fans may not realize that back in the early 60’s, NASCAR’s premiere division raced at the historic Southside Speedway. In addition to Pardue; Junior Johnson, Jim Paschal and Ned Jarrett all won on the tight bull ring. Richard Petty, Buck and Buddy Baker, Wendell Scott, Joe Weatherly, Elmo Langley, Rex White and other stars of the era made appearances at Southside during the early 60’s. It was the first of only two wins for Pardue (the 2nd coming in July 1963 in Moyock, NC). On September 22nd, 1964, while testing tires at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Pardue was killed in an accident. Despite missing the final seven races of the season; Pardue finished 5th in the final 1964 point standings.(5-2-2012)
Skinner joins Hamilton Means Racing: The #52 Hamilton Means Racing Toyota will have Mike Skinner as the driver going forward in the 2012 Sprint Cup season. Skinner is scheduled to make his debut for the team at Darlington Raceway in the Bojangles’ Southern 500. HMR’s Kelly Owen said “we are incredibility excited to have Mike come on board, he will certainly bring a great deal of knowledge and wisdom to our team’s efforts for the remainder of the season. Best of all he brings stability so that we can make our plans knowing that we a commitment from an experienced driver that can get the job done.” The #52 will be sponsored by Crusader’s Staffing at Darlington.(HMR PR)(5-2-2012)
Ragan and McCall Farms Team Up in Darlington: History, superstition and common logic would all advise against placing green and peanuts on a racecar, however when David Ragan takes the green flag at Darlington Raceway on Saturday, May 12, he will be doing both of those things. Ragan, a native of Unadilla, Georgia, will have support from Effingham, South Carolina’s McCall Farms for the event. The driver, who holds a career best finish of 5th at Darlington, will be carrying the colors of “The South’s Favorite Snack” – Peanut Patch Boiled Peanuts during the historic, Bojangles’ Southern 500. While the #34 Sprint Cup Series car will primarily feature the Peanut Patch Brand, it will also feature associate branding from McCall’s Margaret Holmes and Glory Foods brands as well. While McCall Farms is a family-run business, they are no small outfit. The company employs over 550 people in the Darlington area and their products can be found in many retail locations in the southeast, including: Wal-Mart, Kroger, Bi-Lo, Publix, Piggly Wiggly, Food Lion, I.G.A. and Harris Teeter. McCall Farms will receive primary branding on Front Row Motorsports’ #34 Ford, driven by David Ragan for the Darlington race, as well as associate rights for the remainder of the season and official partner status with the team. Starting May 7th, 2012 fans can visit the Front Row Motorsports Facebook page and enter to win a David Ragan Peanut Patch T-Shirt via the “Go Nuts for David Ragan” promotion. A David Ragan Peanut Patch T-Shirt and Hat will be made available for online purchase once the team hosts its paint scheme unveiling.(Front Row Motorsports)(5-2-2012)
Edwards questions penalty on late race restart: UPDATE: That #18-Kyle Busch won his fourth consecutive spring race at the .75-mile oval was overshadowed by the fact that #99-Carl Edwards and #14-Tony Stewart both thought a possible win was ripped from their clutches. Edwards felt he was incorrectly penalized for jumping a restart with 82 laps to go. A black flag forced him to pass through the pits at 40 mph, dropping him from second to 15th. “I don’t think it’s right. I don’t agree with it,” said Edwards, who wound up 10th. Stewart, meanwhile, thought a debris caution that ultimately cost him the lead on the race’s final restart with nine to go wasn’t necessary. “When the caution is for a plastic bottle on the backstretch, it’s hard to feel good losing that one,” said Stewart, who settled for third. For Edwards, the flap was anything but welcome. He was told by his crew that his #99 Ford was the leader – something the RIR infield scoring tower (and Fox TV’s scrawl) validated in real-time – and said he reacted as such on the restart, even though he was starting on the unpreferred outside lane with Stewart on the inside. “They told my spotter Jason (Hedlesky) three times, ‘The 99’s the leader.’ At that point, I’m thinking it’s my job to start this race,” said Edwards, who at the time thought NASCAR had made a mistake in not letting him pick the inside lane as the leader. “I think NASCAR then saw the restart, they didn’t like what they saw for some reason, and they black-flagged us. Which I don’t think they should’ve done.” The Roush Fenway Racing driver, crew chief Bob Osborne and Hedlesky were summoned to NASCAR’s hauler after the race, and they emerged disappointed. What was said? “I’d rather not say,” Edwards said. NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton was steadfast about two things: Stewart’s #14 Chevy was the leader, and Edwards jumped the restart. “All of the above,” he reiterated. Pemberton said the automated scoring system probably tallied Edwards as the leader under caution, even though he said NASCAR made teams aware that the starting order wa Stewart then Edwards. Even if Edwards was leading, Pemberton said he would have been black-flagged for starting before reaching the designated restart zone, which was Edwards’ main point of contention.(USA Today)(4-29-2012) UPDATE: NASCAR’s vice president for competition says there is radio communication supporting that Carl Edwards was second behind Tony Stewart when Saturday night’s Sprint Cup race was restarted with 81 laps remaining. Edwards argued his spotter was told by a NASCAR official that he was the leader just before the restart when explaining why he was black-flagged for jumping the restart. “The confusion was on their part,” NASCAR’s Robin Pemberton said on Tuesday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “That’s something they have to work on in their communication. We work with the crew chiefs, and if the crew chief thought there was something, the crew chief would have radioed us. But multiple times during that last lap it was repeated 14-99 (Stewart-Edwards) from more than one source.” Edwards met with officials after the race to further argue that spotter Jason Hedlesky “told me I was the leader” as they came to the box where the leader by rule restarts the race. Pemberton said that was a mistake by the spotter. “We weren’t confused, and they weren’t confused,” Pemberton said at a promotion featuring the 1992 All-Star race at CMS, the first race run under the lights here. “We have audio of them and more than once (Edwards) was told by their spotter they were in second place. Just before the restart, he (spotter) came over the radio and said, ‘You’re the leader,’ for whatever reason. If he was confused because of the scoreboard, that could have been the only thing.” On another somewhat controversial issue, Pemberton said there was an aluminum object — “a beer can or something” — on the track in addition to the water bottle that Stewart said brought out the final caution with 14 laps to go.(ESPN)(5-2-2012)
Phoenix Racing, Busch to announce sponsor: Tuesday, #51-Kurt Busch posted the following message to Twitter, “Big sponsor announcement Friday for @PhoenixRacing51 — be on the look out”.(5-2-2012)
Charting The Chase: More and more, the 2012 run up to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup is looking a lot like the season past.
• Eight of the current top 10 following last weekend’s Richmond race were 2011 Chase qualifiers. A year ago, nine of the top 10 exiting the season’s ninth race made the Chase.
• The only newcomers, with 17 races remaining until the post-season cut-off, is points leader #16-Greg Biffle and #56-Martin Truex Jr., whose Michael Waltrip Racing organization continues to seek its first Chase qualifier.
• Drivers highest ranked for a Wild Card berth – Richmond winner #18-Kyle Busch (11th) and #2-Brad Keselowski (13th) – qualified for last year’s playoffs.
Busch and Keselowski aren’t safe by any stretch of the imagination, but they do have wins. So does 10th-place #39-Ryan Newman, who could qualify via Wild Card if displaced from the top 10.
Busch and #15-Clint Bowyer, who finished a solid seventh in Richmond, trail Newman by 13 and 14 points, respectively. Keselowski, stung by mechanical failures during several recent races, rebounded with a top-10 performance (ninth) in the Capital City 400 and stands 26 points behind Newman.
Every driver ranked 14th through 20th has scored a win at some point of their careers, including four-time champion #24-Jeff Gordon, who easily qualified for last year’s Chase with three victories but stands 17th. Gordon is in better shape than Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kasey Kahne, who nailed his first top-five (fifth) since joining HMS. Kahne, however, is 23rd and lacks top-20 standing to qualify for a Wild Card.(NASCAR)(5-2-2012)
NASCAR Media Group wins Sports Emmy In “Outstanding Live Event Turnaround”: NASCAR Media Group, the full-service video and digital production company of NASCAR, received a Sports Emmy Award for “Inside the Headsets,” a television program which aired on SPEED the night after the annual NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Race last May. The win was the second in three years for “Inside the Headsets” and the fourth win overall in the last six years in the “Outstanding Live Event Turnaround” category. “Inside the Headsets,” which aired on SPEED on May 22, 2011, captured a wide array of all the action that was the NASCAR Sprint All-Star race, including exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, in-car communication, crew chief sound, exclusive interviews and even a rare glimpse inside NASCAR Race Control with cameras embedded at the competition nerve center. The program aired less than 24 hours following the conclusion of the race.(NASCAR)(5-2-2012)
Casey Weston to perform National Anthem at Darlington: Casey Weston, Nashville-based recording artist and former finalist on the popular TV show, “The Voice,” will perform the National Anthem for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Saturday, May 12. Weston, originally from Naples, Fla., began her performing career six years ago with both original songs and covers. Both originals and covers were well received and her audiences continue to grow. In 2009, Weston released her first album, 10 songs on the self-titled “Casey Weston.” Following the successful release of her first album, Weston auditioned on the popular show “The Voice” and was one of eight finalists in the inaugural season for the TV show sensation. Following her success on the “The Voice” Weston continues to stay in touch with her friend and coach Adam Levine, front man for Maroon 5. Tickets to the upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 on May 12 and Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 on Friday, May 11 can be purchased by calling 866-459-7223 or by visiting DarlingtonRaceway.com. Remember, kids 17 and under are half off for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 and FREE for the VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200.(Darlington Raceway)(5-2-2012)
News from May 1, 2012
Energy Transfer Partners to merge with Sunoco: UPDATE: Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. and Sunoco, Inc. announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement whereby ETP will acquire Sunoco in a unit and cash transaction valued at $50.13 per share, or a total consideration of approximately $5.3 billion, based on ETP’s closing price on April 27, 2012. This combination will create one of the largest and most diversified energy partnerships in the country by expanding ETP’s geographic footprint and strengthening its presence in the transportation, terminalling and logistics of crude oil, NGLs and refined products. By acquiring Sunoco, ETP will also own Sunoco’s general partner interest and the incentive distribution rights (IDRs) in Sunoco Logistics Partners, as well as Sunoco’s 32.4 percent interest in Sunoco Logistics Partners’ limited partner units and Sunoco’s branded retail business, which generates additional stable cash flows from a portfolio of approximately 4,900 retail locations in the U.S. Sunoco’s logistics and retail businesses will continue to maintain headquarters in the Philadelphia area consistent with their current operating presence. In addition, under the merger agreement, Sunoco will continue its plans for exiting its refining business as previously announced, as well as continue its plans for the proposed refinery joint venture being discussed by Sunoco and The Carlyle Group. The transaction has been approved by each company’s board of directors and is expected to close in the third or fourth quarter of 2012, subject to approval of Sunoco shareholders and customary regulatory approvals.(in part from a pdf PR at sunocoinc.com), no word on how or if this will affect the sponsorship of NASCAR and use of Sunoco Racing Fuel in NASCAR.(4-30-2012) UPDATE: Bob Owens, Sr. VP of Marketing for Sunoco, has published a letter to distributors indicating: “This corporate ownership change should be transparent and seamless. The iconic Sunoco brand, and our support of NASCAR will continue, as we strive to ‘keep people moving’.”(5-1-2012)
Overnight TV Ratings for Richmond: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing on FOX averaged a 3.4/6 on Saturday night for the race from Richmond International Raceway. That’s flat with last year’s performance of a 3.4/7 for the same race. Through nine races, NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing on FOX is averaging a 4.4/9 in the meters, off -6% from last year’s 4.7/10. See TV Ratings from all the 2012 races as well as the 4 year comparison chart on the 2012 TV Ratings page.(4-30-2012)
Brian Keselowski’s future plans up in the air: #92-Brian Keselowski, posted the following message to Facebook, Monday evening, “sorry everyone, but it looks like a no go on [Talladega] this weekend. Not sure where we go from here, but its not looking good right now. Im looking for work in and out of the sport, and hope to get things back going soon.”.(5-1-2012)
Bank buys Mayfield’s home at foreclosure: Despite losing his home Monday, former race car driver Jeremy Mayfield could still be forced to pay more than $500,000 on it. For now, he has 10 days to move out of the house. On the steps of the Catawba County Courthouse, Mayfield’s foreclosed property went up for auction. A small group gathered to hear the details of the 400-acre property, but in the end, there was just one bid. Carolina Farm Credit, the same bank that loaned Mayfield millions of dollars to buy the property in 2006, won the auction. The bank bid less than the $2.3 million Mayfield owed on the home, meaning the bank could still go after the former NASCAR driver for the difference. Records show Mayfield had mortgage payments of $19,000 a month, but had not paid a bill since April 2011. The winning bid kicks of a 10-day upset period, where another buyer could come forward and make an offer. If not, Mayfield has until May 10 to leave the home. Mayfield was not at the auction. In a text message, his wife, Shana, only offered one comment: “It is what it is.”(WSOC)(5-1-2012)
NASCAR announces hires for development of digital platform: With the launch of the new NASCAR.COM digital experience scheduled for Jan. 1, 2013, NASCAR Digital Media announced today a key hire with the addition of Colin Smith. Formerly Raycom Sports’ vice president, new media and distribution, Smith was named managing director, digital platform for the sanctioning body’s digital properties. Smith, a veteran digital media executive, will report to Marc Jenkins, vice president of NASCAR Digital Media. Smith will be responsible for the business of NASCAR’s digital platform which includes NASCAR.COM as well as the tablet and mobile experience. Under Smith’s purview will be e-commerce, subscription products, site optimization and content development. NASCAR Digital Media also announced that John Martin, who joined NASCAR Media Group in 2007 from Turner and has worked with NASCAR’s media division in some capacity since 2000, will lead the operations group of the NASCAR Digital Platform as managing director of digital operations. Earlier this year NASCAR and Turner Sports announced that the sanctioning body will manage business and editorial operations for its digital platforms beginning in 2013. Under this new partnership, NASCAR will assume operational control in 2013 of all of its interactive, digital and social media rights including technical operations and infrastructure of all NASCAR digital platforms.(NASCAR)(5-1-2012)
Facts about Talladega Superspeedway:
• Construction began on what was then known as the Alabama International Motor Speedway on May 23, 1968.
• The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on Sept. 14, 1969.
• The name changed to Talladega Superspeedway in 1989.
• Fourth repaving completed on Sept. 19, 2006.
• There have been 85 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Talladega Superspeedway since the track opened in 1969; two a year every year except the inaugural season, which had just one.
• Richard Brickhouse won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race.
• Bobby Isaac won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup pole in September 1969. Isaac won the first three poles there.
• 35 different drivers have won poles. Bill Elliott leads all drivers with eight poles.
• 41 different drivers have posted victories, led by Dale Earnhardt Sr. (10). Twenty drivers have won more than once.
• Jeff Gordon leads all other active drivers in victories, with six. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is second among active drivers in victories with five.
• Richard Childress Racing has won more than any other organization at Talladega with 12 wins.
• 33 of 85 races have been won from a top-two starting positions, including 13 from the pole; 23 have been won from a starting position outside the top 10. The most recent driver to win from the pole was Jeff Gordon in 2007 (spring).
• The furthest back in the field a race winner started was 36th, by Jeff Gordon in 2000.
• Mark Martin’s pace in the 1997 spring race set an all-time NASCAR Sprint Cup record for the fastest race ever. He won the caution-free race with an average speed of 188.354 mph and covered the 500-mile distance in two hours, 39 minutes and 18 seconds.
• The 2010 spring race set the all-time and track records for lead changes (88) and lap leaders (29). Last season’s spring race tied the 2010 record for most lead changes with 88 (amongst 26 lap leaders). The previous highs were 75 lead changes (set on May 6, 1984) and 28 lap leaders (set on Oct. 5, 2008). Both previous records also were set at Talladega.
• Dale Earnhardt Jr. had four consecutive victories (October 2001 through April 2003), the most ever by a driver there. Buddy Baker (three – May 1975 through May 1976) is the only other driver to win more than two consecutive races there.
• Since the inception of electronic scoring in 1993, every race that has ended under green has had a margin of victory under half a second.
• The 2011 spring race tied the 03/16/2003 Darlington race won by Ricky Craven for the all-time record of the closest series finish (0.002 seconds) since the inception of electronic scoring.
• Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Talladega Superspeedway winner: Bobby Hillin Jr. (07/27/1986 – 22 years, 1 month, 22 days).
• Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Talladega Superspeedway winner: Harry Gant (05/06/1991 – 51 years, 3 months, 26 days).(NASCAR)(5-1-2012)
Homestead tickets on sale Tuesday: Tickets for NASCAR’s Ford Championship Weekend go on sale to the general public Tuesday (May 1) at 9:00 a.m. EST. This fall will mark the 11th consecutive year champions will be crowned in South Florida for NASCAR’s top three national series – the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series- the weekend of November 16-18. Tickets are available online at www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com and by calling 866.409.RACE. Prices start at $55 for the NASCAR Sprint Cup season-ending race. Fan amenities continuing this year include:
• Exclusive benefit for Three-day Package – Fans purchasing a three-day package will have on-track access for post-race celebrations for all three championship races.
• Kid’s Pricing – Kids 12 and under are free in general admission sections to both Friday’s Camping World Truck Series Championship and Saturday’s Nationwide Series Championship. Youngsters 12 and under will be admitted for half-price in reserved grandstands to Sunday’s Sprint Cup Championship.(HMS)(5-1-2012)
