Entry List for the Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway is posted, 43 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including: #32-Bliss, #33-Ty Dillon, #34-Moffitt, #62-Gaughan, #83-Dibenedetto.
Since only 43 cars are entered, all drivers will make the race.
See the full entry list on Jayski.com’s Pocono Entry List
Jimmie Johnson wins at Dover:#48-Jimmie Johnson won the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway for his 4th win of the season, 10th win at Dover and 74th career win. Johnson has now lead 2,999 laps at Dover.
#4-Harvick finished 2nd followed by #42-Larson, #5-Kahne, #43-Almirola, #78-Truex, Jr., #1-McMurray, #27-Menard, #15-Bowyer, and #24-Gordon.
The race ended on a green-white-checkered finish after a late caution with 2 laps to go.
Harvick maintains the drivers points lead with 516, 44 points over #78-Truex, Jr.
Pole winner #11-Hamlin lead 118 laps on the day, but was caught in a late race accident and finished 21st.
There were 15 lead changes among 9 drivers. There were 7 cautions for 40X yellow flag laps.
The average speed was 119.547mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Unofficial Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Penalty Report (pdf) and Lap Summary Report (pdf).
(5-31-2015)
Race Fast Facts – Dover:
Jimmie Johnson won the 46th Annual FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks, his 74th victory in 484 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his fourth victory and ninth top-10 finish in 2015.
This is his 10th victory and 20th top-10 finish in 27 races at Dover International Speedway.
Kevin Harvick (second) posted his 13th top-10 finish in 29 races at Dover International Speedway. It is his 12th top-10 finish in 2015.
Kyle Larson (third) posted his second top-10 finish in three races at Dover International Speedway.
Brett Moffitt (28th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Kevin Harvick leads the point standings by 44 points over Martin Truex Jr.
Jimmie Johnson becomes the fifth driver in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history to have 10 or more wins at a single track joining Richard Petty, David Pearson, Darrell Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt.
Jimmie Johnson has led 2,999 laps at Dover International Speedway.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(5-31-2015)
2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup CHASE Standings:
[after Dover, race 13 of 36]
(by wins, then by points standings)
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson [4 wins], 440, -76 (3rd in driver points)
2) #4-Kevin Harvick [2 wins], 516 (1st)
3) #22-Joey Logano [1 win], 440, -76 (4th)
4) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [1 win], 432, -84 (5th)
5) #2-Brad Keselowski [1 win], 414, -102 (6th)
6) #20-Matt Kenseth [1 win], 377, -139 (11th)
7) #11-Denny Hamlin [1 win], 345, -171 (14th)
8) #41-Kurt Busch [1 win], 340, -176 (15th)
9) #19-Carl Edwards [1 win], 338, -178 (16th)
[would be in the Chase via points standings]
10) #78-Martin Truex Jr., 472, -44 (2nd in drivers pts)
11) #1-Jamie McMurray, 390, -126 (7th)
12) #5-Kasey Kahne, 385, -131 (8th)
13) #24-Jeff Gordon, 380, -136 (9th)
14) #43-Aric Almirola, 378, -138 (10th)
15) #27-Paul Menard, 372, -144 (12th)
16) #31-Ryan Newman, 369, -147 (13th)
(ties are broken by wins, 2nds, 3rds, etc)
See the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf) and Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf).
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Race & Points Report (pdf).(5-31-2015)
Dover Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
#34-Brett Moffitt, finished 28th, 11 rookie points
#83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 32nd, 10 rookie points
#26-Jeb Burton, finished 30th, 9 rookie point
#33-Alex Kennedy, did not race
#66-Tanner Berryhill, did not race
See the 2015 Rookie of the Year page for rules, standings and more.(5-31-2015)
Johnson going for 10th Dover win UPDATE: #48-Jimmie Johnson needs a mammoth man cave at home for all of his Dover trophies. Known as the Monster Mile, the Dover winner gets a menacing, red-eyed Miles The Monster trophy that weighs 60 pounds and measures at just under 1 1/2 feet from the base to the top of the hand that clutches a mini car. No active driver owns a track like Johnson does the concrete mile at Dover. Johnson, the defending race winner, holds the track record with nine victories in just 26 starts. Johnson, a six-time Cup champion, will attempt to become just the fifth NASCAR driver with 10 or more wins at a single track in Sunday’s race. Should Johnson win, he would join NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty (Martinsville-15, North Wilkesboro-15, Richmond-13, Rockingham-11, Daytona-10), Darrell Waltrip (Bristol-12, Martinsville-11, North Wilkesboro-10), Dale Earnhardt (Talladega-10) and David Pearson (Darlington-10) as drivers to win 10 races at a single track.(Associated Press)(5-31-2015) UPDATE: Johnson won the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway Sunday for his 4th win of the season and 10th at Dover.(5-31-2015)
Drivers met with NASCAR on Saturday:In a first of its kind, NASCAR met with a group of Sprint Cup drivers for about two hours Saturday night, discussing safety, competition, attendance and more. #11-Denny Hamlin, #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., and #4-Kevin Harvick confirmed they were among about eight drivers in the meeting, which was held in the Kent Room at the Dover Downs Hotel & Casino. It marked the first time that a council of drivers – selected by their peers – had met with NASCAR in such a formal setting. “The drivers got together and organized a vote and all the drivers voted for the guys they wanted on this council,” Earnhardt said before Sunday’s race at Dover International Speedway. “NASCAR asked us to do that so we could get together and just have a better ability to communicate. It’s just a better way to have discussions.” A source told NBC Sports that NASCAR was represented by Mike Helton, vice chairman, and Steve O’Donnell, executive vice president and chief racing development officer, among others. “The drivers, we always talk amongst ourselves anyway, but having that open line of communication to NASCAR has never been this open before,” Hamlin said before Sunday’s race at Dover International Speedway. “You look around the room and you’re like, ‘Wow, this is a monumental time to where you’ve got the powers that be and some of the greatest drivers talking about how we can make this sport better.” The meeting comes after a recent spat of complaints from drivers about the rules and racing. So what was discussed? “There was talk of competition,” Earnhardt said. “What we think about the new package and the direction that they want to go and what we’re doing with tires and testing.” NASCAR recently came out with a rules update eliminating the 2016 tire testing at all Goodyear tire tests until October. Hamlin said safety was a big topic discussed. “We talked about a lot of safety issues we want to see changed at various racetracks,” Hamlin said. “We went racetrack by racetrack, and I feel like we’re going to make our sport better.” NASCAR did not offer details of the meeting. Brett Jewkes, NASCAR senior vice president and chief communications officer, issued a statement: “NASCAR meets with drivers frequently on a wide range of topics. As part of our ongoing commitment to foster dialogue between all stakeholders, we’ve met formally with drivers on several occasions this season, including here at Dover. We’ll meet with them again later in the season as normal course of business. The meetings have been productive and we find the dialogue very valuable.” Hamlin said he’s unsure how often the group will meet but expected it would be “at least a few times a year.”(NBC Sports)(5-31-2015)
Dover International Speedway Notes & Facts – Sunday – race:
· There have been 90 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Dover International Speedway, one race in 1969 and 1970, two races per year since 1971.
· Hendrick Motorsports has the most wins at Dover in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with 17: Jimmie Johnson (nine), Jeff Gordon (five), Geoff Bodine (one), Ken Schrader (one) and Ricky Rudd (one).
· Nine different manufacturers have won in the NSCS at Dover; led by Chevrolet with 36 victories; followed by Ford with 25.
· Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Dover International Speedway was the September 25, 2005 race won by Jimmie Johnson over Kyle Busch with a MOV of 0.08 second.
· There has been one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race resulting with a green-white-checkered finish at Dover International Speedway (Scheduled No. of Laps/Actual No. of Laps): fall of 2005 (400/404).
· Not one of the 90 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Dover International Speedway have been shortened due to weather conditions.
(NASCAR)(5-31-2015)
Bliss still with TriStar: Mike Bliss’ journey at TriStar Motorsports has enabled him to run full-time in the NASCAR XFINITY Series since 2011. With limited sponsorship throughout his time at the organization, Bliss has finished inside of the top 15 in points with TriStar Motorsports over the past four years. But in a world where the economy means so much, the team opted to re-sign Eric McClure for the remainder of the season starting at Iowa. McClure, who brings sponsorship money from Hefty puts the 50-year-old veteran out of a ride. Now, he’s been forced to the sidelines and must search for funding to run a handful of races for the multi-car team. “I’m still with them, of course,” Bliss said. “We might have some races. We might run another entry for some of the bigger races. As of right now, I am still employed by them. I’m kind of helping out with the other drivers. They put Eric McClure with our team and changed the number to the one he was running. He came over from another team and stepped in with the team I was driving for.”(Frontstretch)(5-31-2015)
Morris Distributing extends craft beer sponsorship with Sonoma: Sonoma Raceway fans will enjoy some of Northern California’s most iconic craft beer brands when they visit the track this summer, as Morris Distributing returns as the Official Craft Beer of Sonoma Raceway. The fan-favorite sponsor will have multiple draft locations throughout the facility during the NASCAR, NHRA and INDYCAR event weekends. There will be a draft trailer stationed above Turn 9, the TAPS bar at the north end of the main grandstand and various draft trailers throughout the main paddock area. Race fans can enjoy six different craft beers and ales on tap from some of Northern California’s most popular local breweries, including Bear Republic (Healdsburg), Lost Coast (Eureka), North Coast (Fort Bragg), Black Diamond (Concord), Sudwerk (Davis) and 101 North Brewing (Petaluma). The three-year partnership also includes tickets, signage, at-track promotional space and marketing assets.(Sonoma Raceway)(5-31-2015)
News from May 30, 2015
Final Saturday practice for the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway is over after 55 minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes.
#11-Hamlin 156.087
#19-Edwards 155.602
#27-Menards 155.206
#20-Kenseth 154.979
#18-Busch 154.706
slowest: #32-Bliss 148.988 & #23-Yeley 148.846.
most laps run: McMurray, 56 laps.
notes: There was an early caution after #88-Earnhardt Jr leaked rear end grease onto the track.
See fastest speeds, laps run on the Practice 3 Speeds page (pdf).(5-30-2015)
First Saturday practice for the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway is over after 50 minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes.
#11-Hamlin 156.331
#19-Edwards 156.325
#41-Busch 155.736
#48-Johnson 155.723
#55-Ragan 155.602
slowest: #62-Gaughan 149.328 & #23-Yeley 149.297.
most laps run: #27-Menard & #24-Gordon, 45.
See fastest speeds, laps run on the Practice 2 Speeds page (pdf).(5-30-2015)
Mears hopes to return to Germain Racing next year UPDATE: Casey Mears’ status is uncertain for next season. While the 37-year-old driver of the #13 Geico Chevrolet remains optimistic, Mears expected to have his next contract signed by now. “Honestly, I really don’t know yet,” Mears told motorsport.com on Friday. “We’ve had a lot more speed this year. Obviously, our stuff has gotten better. As far as I know, everything is really positive. We haven’t really dove into those conversations yet. All indications are that we’re moving forward into next year. But some point, we need to have that conversation for sure. I’m surprised that it took so long for someone to mention it because in this day and age, everything happens so early. Definitely, we need to start having conversations and find out when that’s going to be.” Mears has piloted the No. 13 Geico Sprint Cup car for Germain Racing since the Bristol August race in 2010. The team changed manufacturers before last season from Ford to Chevy – along with a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing. While there were rumors that Ty Dillon could end up with the ride next season, it’s more likely that Richard Childress’ grandson would drive the #33 Chevy with support from Bass Pro Shops. Germain Racing declined comment on Mears’ status.(Motorsport)(5-10-2015) UPDATE: Mears and his Germain Racing team are working through the second season of a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing, and that has brought the driver something even more than competitive engines and chassis: It’s brought stability, the ability to focus on fine-tuning instead of starting from scratch. It’s a breath of fresh air for a driver who knows all too well what it’s like not to have that luxury. 2015 is a contract year for Mears. In early May, the driver said that he hoped to return, but there had not been much conversation between him and the team yet, and there were rumors that the ride would go to RCR development driver Ty Dillon. Mears says that he and the team have talked since, and he feels positive about the future. “We definitely have talked about it,” he recalls. “Things sound really good. Nothing’s nailed down yet, but we’re definitely talking about moving forward and nothing really changing, hopefully. I’ve talked to Bob (Germain) and he’s excited about our future. Everybody seems to be on the same page, so we just have to figure it out.” The team has come so far together. It’s climbed from a start-and-park operation that some in the sport ridiculed to a contender that almost everyone respects. Mears and his teammates have done it the hard way, and they’ve done it together. They want to build a future together.(Frontstretch)(5-30-2015)
Ford’s Allison moving to production side of company: Jamie Allison, Ford Racing’s former director of racing, is moving on. While rumblings of Allison’s departure circulated in January, Dave Pericak, who was named director of the newly formed Ford Performance in December, said at that time Allison would remain and oversee the marketing side. Sources tell motorsport.com Allison will remain with Ford, but on the production side of the company. Raj Nair, Ford Group Vice President, Global Product Development, and Chief Technical Officer described the introduction of Ford Performance – and Pericak’s role in overseeing the program was “part of our overall strategy at Ford to ramp up our investment in performance and racing to take advantage of a growing market worldwide for performance vehicles.” Pericak, 43, is a Purdue graduate from Chicago who most recently oversaw the development of the Ford Mustang as chief engineer. But he honed his skills in engineering and product development prior to being selected by Nair for his new role. Pericak reports directly to Nair, which he acknowledged was “not typical in our culture” but understandable considering “how special” Ford Performance is and the importance of executing Nair’s “vision”. As the spotlight moves from the single-focus Ford Racing to a global platform with 12 new performance vehicles through 2020 the emphasis at the top transferred from an emphasis on marketing to engineering. Mark Rushbrook is currently overseeing Ford Performance’s NASCAR program and will continue to provide technical and competition-based information to Pericak.(Motorsport)(5-30-2015)
Hamlin wants to stay at Gibbs long-term: Hamlin’s year to date has been a bit of a roller coaster. The Virginia native scored his first victory of the season at Martinsville Speedway, earning his spot in the 16-driver Chase for the Sprint Cup field. However, he has also recorded six finishes of 22nd or worse. Despite the up-and-down results, Hamlin believes his team is headed in the right direction and the poor finished are not indicative of how his cars are running. After his victory in the All-Star Race, questions were raised about Hamlin’s contract status with Joe Gibbs Racing. However, the driver of the #11 set the record straight, saying this is not a contract year. “I’ve still got some time left on my deal,” he said. “I’ve been with Gibbs for really a lot time. I’d hope to stay with them.” Would Hamlin ever entertain offers from other teams? “As long as the Gibbs family will have me, I’ll stay there,” he said.(FoxSports)(5-30-2015)
Hamlin says exhaust leak contibuted to dehydration: #11-Denny Hamlin fell ill in his car late during the Coke 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway last weekend. He was taken to the infield care center after the race and treated for dehydration. Friday at Dover, he was asked about the incident: What happened with the dehydration you experienced last weekend in Charlotte? Hamlin: “We also had an exhaust leak in the car. We blew a hole in our header and exhaust system that was leaking in the car. That didn’t help at all either. We were also running the XFINITY race the day before — we’re not doing that this week. You just have to be prepared. I felt like I kept up with my fluids pretty well last week, but obviously it wasn’t enough. I’ve got to go above and beyond. The conditions and the car didn’t make things very easy for me. The headache had nothing to do with the dehydration. The migraine that I suffered, what I felt like, was from the exhaust inside the car.”(Toyota Racing)(5-30-2015)
Jack Link’s & Big Machine Records sponsoring Bowyer at Pocono: Jack Link’s and Big Machine Records will co-sponsor Michael Waltrip Racing’s #15 Toyota driven by Clint Bowyer in the June 7 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway. The #15’s black-and-white paint scheme makes its first appearance at the 2.5-mile Pennsylvania track for practice and qualifying on June 5 and 6. “At Jack Link’s, our mission is to ‘Feed Your Wild Side.’ We know that Clint, his crew and NASCAR fans are already experts in that department and we’re thrilled to be on the #15 for the Pocono race!” said Jeff LeFever, vice president of marketing for Jack Link’s. Big Machine is the label home to some of the biggest stars in music including Superstars Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts and more. With a name that is rooted in racing, President & CEO Scott Borchetta is a lifelong racing fan and former championship driver.(Michael Waltrip Racing)(5-30-2015)
Dover International Speedway Notes & Facts – Saturday – drivers:
· 381 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway; 278 in more than one.
· Ricky Rudd leads the series in starts at Dover with 56. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 44 starts; followed by Matt Kenseth with 32.
· 34 different drivers have won at Dover International Speedway, led by Jimmie Johnson with nine wins (2002 sweep, fall 2005, 2009 sweep, 2010 fall, spring 2012, fall 2013 and spring 2014).
· 12 drivers have posted consecutive wins at Dover International Speedway, including three consecutive by David Pearson (fall 1972 and 1973 sweep), Rusty Wallace (fall 1993 and 1994 sweep) and Jeff Gordon (fall 1995 and 1996 sweep).
· Mark Martin leads the series in runner-up finishes at Dover with eight; followed by Dale Earnhardt with five. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with four.
· Mark Martin leads the series in top-five finishes at Dover with 24; followed by Dale Earnhardt with 19. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 18.
· Mark Martin leads the series in top-10 finishes at Dover with 33; followed by Richard Petty and Ricky Rudd with 26 each. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 25.
· Ryan Newman leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Dover with a 9.654.
· Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Dover with an 8.154.
· 11 of the 12 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners at Dover International Speedway participated in at least one or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Jimmie Johnson won at Dover in his first two appearances.
· Among the 12 active NSCS Dover winners Kurt Busch (22) and Matt Kenseth (14) made 10 or more attempts before their first win.
· Kevin Harvick leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Dover without visiting Victory Lane at 28.
· Three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series active drivers have made their first career start at Dover International Speedway: Matt Kenseth (9/20/98), Kurt Busch (9/24/00) and David Ragan (9/24/06).
· Two active drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light pole at Dover International Speedway: Matt Kenseth (06/02/02) and Michael Waltrip (06/03/1991).
· One active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver has posted his first career win at Dover International Speedway: Martin Truex Jr. (06/04/07).
· Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Dover with 2,976 laps led in 26 starts.
· If Jimmie Johnson leads 24 laps or more this weekend he will surpass the 3,000 laps led mark at Dover International Speedway, becoming the seventh driver in series history to lead 3,000 or more laps at a single track. Jeff Gordon is the only other active driver to accomplish the feat (Martinsville – 3,744 laps led).
· Two female drivers have competed at Dover International Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Janet Guthrie and Danica Patrick.
(NASCAR)(5-30-2015)
Chris Buescher wins XFINITY race at Dover: #60-Chris Buescher won the Buckle Up 200 at Dover International Speedway for his 2nd win of the season. He was the only driver able to stretch fuel to the finish and beat #20-Matt Kenseth by more than 11 seconds. The rest of the top 10: #7-Regan Smith, #33-Austin Dillon, #88-Kasey Kahne, #9-Chase Elliott, #62-Brendan Gaughan, #3-Ty Dillon, #54-Erik Jones, and #51-Jeremy Clements.
Smith’s 3rd place finish won him the $100,000 Dash4Cash bonus. The next Dash4Cash race is at Indianapolis. Drivers eligible for the bonus will be Buescher, Smith, Elliott, and Gaughan.
There were 4 cautions for 23 laps and 7 lead changes among 5 leaders. Complete results are on the Dover race results page (pdf).
(5-30-2015)
Dover XFINITY Race Fast Facts:
Chris Buescher won the 34th Annual Buckle Up 200 presented by Click It or Ticket, his third victory in 53 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his second victory and eighth top-10 finish in 2015.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in three races at Dover International Speedway.
Matt Kenseth(i) (second) posted his 13th top-10 finish in 21 races at Dover International Speedway. It is his third top-10 finish in 2015.
Regan Smith (third) posted his fourth top-10 finish in 11 races at Dover International Speedway.
Ross Chastain (16th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Chris Buescher leads the point standings by 15 points over Ty Dillon.
Regan Smith wins the first round of the Dash 4 Cash program. He will take home $100,000.
The four drivers that qualify for the next round of the Dash 4 Cash program are Regan Smith, Chris Buescher, Chase Elliott and Brendan Gaughan.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(5-30-2015)
Darrell Wallace, Jr. on XFINITY pole at Dover: #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr. won the Coors Light pole for the Buckle Up 200 at Dover International Speedway with a speed of 153.991mph.#60-Chris Buescher will start second. The rest of the top 10: #20-Matt Kenseth, #18-Daniel Suarez, #2-Brian Scott, #54-Erik Jones, #88-Kasey Kahne, #33-Austin Dillon, #22-Ryan Blaney, and #7-Regan Smith. Did Not Qualify: None. The starting lineup is posted on the Dover starting lineup page (pdf).(5-30-2015)
Dover XFINITY Qualifying Notes:
Darrell Wallace Jr. won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 34th Annual Buckle Up 200 presented by Click It or Ticket with a lap of 23.378 seconds, 153.991 mph.
This is his second pole in 18 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his first pole and sixth top-10 start in 2015.
This is his second pole in two races at Dover International Speedway.
Chris Buescher (second) posted his fifth top-10 start of 2015 and his third in three races at Dover International Speedway.
Matt Kenseth(i) (third) posted his ninth top-10 start at Dover International Speedway. It is his third in three races this season.
Darrell Wallace Jr. (first) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(5-30-2015)
Hisense sponsoring fall XFINITY race at Dover: Hisense announced it is continuing its partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing as the primary sponsor of the #20 Toyota Camry driven by Denny Hamlin in the 2015 NASCAR XFINITY Series at Dover International Speedway. In conjunction, the consumer electronics manufacturer has also announced it will sponsor the NASCAR XFINITY Series Hisense 200 at Dover International Speedway on Saturday, October 3rd. The brand made these announcements after a successful first half of the season with a win by Denny Hamlin in the #20 Hisense Toyota Camry at Richmond, and entitlements at Atlanta and Charlotte. As part of this entitlement announcement, Dover International Speedway is offering discounted general admission tickets for the October 3 Hisense 200 for just $20 when you purchase using this link. The race will be broadcast live at 3:30pm on NBC Sports Network.(Dover Speedway)(5-30-2015)
Racing will return to Mansfield Speedway: Racing in Mansfield will resurrect this summer. Mansfield Speedway will host six events starting Sunday, June 21, after a lease agreement was struck between track owner Grant Milliron and Sandusky-based K&B Promotions. The half-mile paved oval on the north side last hosted a race in 2010. It’s last full season of racing came in 2008. The facility that used to welcome the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and ARCA as well as other national touring series fell out of use when previous owner Michael Dzurilla ran into financial and tax problems. Milliron, who has no background in racing but is a successful Richland County businessman with Milliron Industries, bought the track for $800,000 at a sheriff’s sale in January, 2013. Last fall it was announced that northern Ohio racing promoter Kevin Ruic would bring events to the track for 2015, but the deal was nixed by Milliron after racist Facebook postings by Ruic were revealed this spring. K&B, which owns regional touring series as well as operates Sandusky Speedway, was scheduled to bring the Midwest Supermodified Association, Buckeye Super Sprints Series and Main Event Racing Series for late models to Mansfield this summer.(Mansfield News Journal)(5-30-2015)
Pocono Raceway announces New Mobile Ticket Delivery System: Pocono Raceway announced its new Mobile Ticket Delivery System, the next step in harnessing ticketing technology. The Mobile Ticket Delivery System is a simple straight-line from click to scan technology that will allow fans to have their ticket delivered to their mobile device (both Android and Apple) and have their ticket scanned at the gate directly from their mobile device. The Mobile Ticket Delivery System was developed by Paciolan, an industry-leading provider of ticketing, marketing automation and fan management solutions to more than 500 live entertainment organizations. Pocono Raceway is the first track to bring this technology to NASCAR fans. This service is immediately available for the Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400, and will roll out shortly for all Pocono Raceway events.(Pocono Raceway)(5-30-2015)
State declares “Darlington Raceway Week” in South Carolina: The week of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500, August 31-September 6, 2015, has been named “Darlington Raceway Week, a Week Too Tough To Tame” after the South Carolina Senate and House of Representatives passed a concurrent Resolution. The famed track’s 66-year history is a major reason that the South Carolina Senate and House of Representatives passed the concurrent Resolution, led by state Senator Gerald Malloy, D-Hartsville. The Resolution outlines the historical significance of Darlington Raceway and addresses the role the track played in building the foundation of what has become one of the largest spectator sports in the country. The Bojangles’ Southern 500 returns to Darlington Raceway on its traditional Labor Day weekend in 2015. The track hosted NASCAR events on Labor Day weekend from 1950-2003. The return has brought a renewed level of excitement to the state, one that is being embraced by the community and its government leaders.(Darlington Raceway)(5-30-2015)
News from May 29, 2015
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway have been made.
Pole sitter #11-Hamlin chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #78-Truex, Jr. took pit stall 10, with an opening in front of it.
#42-Larson, who starts 3rd took the 43rd and final pit stall.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com’s Pit Stall Selection chart.(5-29-2015)
Hamlin wins Dover pole: #11-Denny Hamlin won the Coors Light pole for the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway with speed of 160.121mph for his 1st pole of 2015, 3rd at Dover and 21st of his career.
#78-Truex, Jr. is on the outside pole followed by #42-Larson, #20-Kenseth, #22-Logano, #4-Harvick, #16-Biffle, #19-Edwards, #17-Stenhouse, Jr, and #18-Busch.
Missing the race were: #30-Green, #39-Kvapil.
See the starting lineup, qualifying results round-by-round, qualifying order and more on Jayski.com’s Dover Starting Lineup / Qualifying Page.(5-29-2015)
Qualifying Fast Facts – Dover:
Denny Hamlin won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 46th Annual FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks with a lap of 22.483 seconds, 160.121 mph.
This is his 21st pole in 339 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his first pole and sixth top-10 start in 2015.
This is his third pole in 19 races at Dover International Speedway.
Martin Truex Jr. (second) posted his seventh top-10 start of 2015 and his ninth in 19 races at Dover International Speedway.
Kyle Larson (third) posted his third top-10 start at Dover International Speedway. It is his seventh in 12 races this season.
Jeb Burton (35th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics)(5-29-2015)
Second Round of Qualifying for the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway is over after 10 scheduled minutes.
#11-Hamlin 160.264
#78-Truex, Jr. 160.057
#16-Biffle 159.737
#18-Busch 159.624
#42-Larson 159.560
the rest of the top 12: 22 17 20 19 1 4 3;
out of the top 12 and not advancing to round 3: 41 48 55 88 31 27 2 15 13 43 24 51.
(5-29-2015)
First Round of Qualifying for the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway is over, after 20 scheduled minutes.
#16-Biffle 160.499
#42-Larson 159.957
#78-Truex, Jr. 159.723
#22-Logano 159.624
#11-Hamlin 159.624
the rest of the top 24: 18 48 19 4 17 31 27 1 41 13 43 3 15 20 24 55 51 88 2;
out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 5 14 33 9 47 7 6 38 10 46 26 83 39 35 34 98 23 62 32 30 40
Drivers who will miss the race: #39-Kvapil, #30-Green.
(5-29-2015)
Congrats to Landon & Katie Cassill: Hilllman Racing announced that CRC Automotive will be the primary sponsor of the #40 CRC BRAKLEEN Chevy SS this weekend at Dover International Speedway. CRC, a manufacturer of an extensive arsenal of automotive maintenance repair products, will promote its industry-leading CRC Brakleen Brake Parts Cleaner on the Sprint Cup Series entry driven by Landon Cassill in Sunday’s FedEx 400. Cassill, the 25-year-old Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native, has had a busy week, who besides completing a half marathon on Sunday night after the Coca-Cola 600 celebrated the birth of his son, Beckham Bear Alan Cassill, on May 27. “I couldn’t have asked for a better week,” said Cassill. “Both mom and son are doing great and I got Katie’s (wife) blessing to hop on a plane Friday morning to get behind the wheel of the CRC Brakleen car at Dover.”(Hillman Racing)(5-29-2015)
Qualifying Order for the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway is posted. 45 cars/drivers are listed.
The first of the drivers scheduled to go out is #17-Stenhouse, Jr.
The final driver scheduled to go out is #2-Keselowski.
Qualifying order is set by a random draw, held about an hour before the first practice.
See the full qualifying order on Jayski.com’s Dover Qualifying Page.(5-29-2015)
ACME debut for Scott on the #33 at Dover: This weekend at Dover, the #33 Circle Sport team with driver Brian Scott welcomes their partner, Albertsons, for their first Sprint Cup Series endeavor. Albertsons and the Safeway family of stores, the second-largest supermarket chain in North America, has partnered with Richard Childress Racing, Scott and the #2 XFINITY Series and #33 Sprint Cup Series team in 2015. RCR also welcomes Albertsons’ supporting partners Reser’s Fine Foods, Kraft and their products, Kraft Singles and Velveeta Shells and Cheese, and Sanderson Farms.(Circle Sport/RCR), see images of the scheme on the #33 Team Schemes page.(5-29-2015)
Friday practice for the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway is over after 85 minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes.
#48-Johnson 163.867
#11-Hamlin 163.532
#88-Earnhardt, Jr. 163.473
#55-Ragan 163.339
#18-Busch 162.808
slowest: #30-Green 155.797 & #32-Bliss 155.757.
most laps run: #18-Busch, 37.
See fastest speeds, laps run on the Practice 1 Speeds page (pdf).(5-29-2015)
Protection order against Kurt Busch upheld: A Kent County Family Court Judge has upheld a previous decision granting a protection order against NASCAR driver Kurt Busch. In March, Busch’s legal team asked for a Family Court Judge to review Commissioner David Jones’s February decision to grant the protection order earlier this year. Judge William Walls’ decision was issued Thursday morning as NASCAR gears up for race weekend at Dover International Speedway and affirms Jones’ decision to grant the protection order. The incident prompting the protection order filed against Busch occurred during the last time NASCAR was in Dover, a September race weekend. Busch was not charged by the Delaware Attorney General’s Office.(Delaware News-Journal)(5-29-2015)
Charlotte TV Ratings UPDATE: Overnight ratings for NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 were the lowest since the race moved to FOX. NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Charlotte earned a 3.6 overnight rating on FOX Sunday evening, down 8% from last year (3.9), down 12% from 2013 (4.1), and the lowest overnight for the race since it began airing on FOX in 2001. Keep in mind that does not include the 2009 race, which was postponed from Sunday to Memorial Day (3.5). This is the second straight year the race has earned its lowest overnight ever on FOX. It has set or tied a low in four of the past six seasons. The Coca-Cola 600 trailed the Indianapolis 500 by 16% (4.3 to 3.6), the largest gap between the two events since 2005* (6.6 to 5.1). Keep in mind the Indy 500 received an anomalous boost from Danica Patrick that year. The race also trailed the Hawks/Cavaliers NBA playoff game on TNT by 35% (5.5).(Sports Media Watch), see past races, 5-year chart, links and more on the 2015 TV Ratings page.(5-26-2015) UPDATE: For the first time in a decade, NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 was not the highest rated race of Memorial Day weekend. NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Charlotte earned a 3.8 final rating and 6.4 million viewers on FOX Sunday evening, down 7% in ratings and 8% in viewership from last year (4.1, 7.0M), down 12% and 10%, respectively, from 2013 (4.3, 7.1M), and the lowest rated and least-watched edition of the race since it moved to FOX in 2001. That excludes 2009, when it was postponed to Memorial Day due to rain (3.3, 5.3M). The previous lows were a 4.0 and 6.5 million in 2010. Since drawing a 6.1 and 10.2 million viewers ten years ago, ratings and viewership for the race have dropped in seven of nine years – including each of the past four. Carl Edwards’ win drew a lower rating than the Indianapolis 500 earlier in the day (4.1), marking the first time since 2005 – and only the third time since FOX acquired rights – that the Coca-Cola 600 trailed its open wheel rival. The race was able to eke out a slightly larger audience (6.41M to 6.39M), however, continuing a 14-year streak in which it attracted more viewers. Adding to the soft performance, the 3.8 rating tied the fourth-lowest mark for a scheduled Sunday race on FOX – matching Fontana in 2012 and Dover in 2013. Only the Dover races in 2010 (3.7), 2012 (3.7) and 2014 (3.5) earned a lower rating.(Sports Media Watch)(5-2-2015)
Dover International Speedway Notes & Facts – Friday – poles:
· David Pearson won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Dover in 1969 with a speed of 130.430 mph.
· 39 drivers have Coors Light poles at Dover, led by David Pearson with six. Jeff Gordon and Ryan Newman lead all active drivers in poles with four each.
· Nine drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Dover. David Pearson holds the record for most consecutive poles at Dover with three; from 1973 to the spring race of 1974.
· Two active drivers have posted consecutive Coors Light poles at Dover: Ryan Newman (fall 2005 and spring 2006), and Denny Hamlin (fall 2012 and spring 2013).
· 13 of the 90 (14.4%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Dover have been won from the Coors Light pole; the two most recent were Jimmie Johnson in 2009 and 2010.
· The second-place starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (15) than any other starting position at Dover International Speedway.
· 28 of the 90 (31.1%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Dover have been won from the front row: 13 from the pole and 15 from second-place.
· 71 of the 90 (78.8%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Dover have been won from a top-10 starting position.
· Five of the 90 (5.6%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Dover have been won from a starting position outside the top 20 – most recently: Tony Stewart, spring 2013 (22nd-place starting position)
· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Dover was 37th, by Kyle Petty in the spring of 1995.
· Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Dover International Speedway five times: fall of 1984, spring of 2001, fall of 2003, spring of 2005 and spring of 2011.
(NASCAR)(5-29-2015)
Austin Dillon fastest in happy hour: #33-Austin Dillon was quickest during happy hour for the Buckle Up 200 with a speed of 154.261mph. He was followed by: #62-Brendan Gaughn, #18-Daniel Suarez, #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr., #20-Matt Kenseth, #88-Kasey Kahne, #54-Erik Jones, #60-Chris Buescher, #2-Brian Scott, and #9-Chase Elliott. 38 drivers participated in the session. See complete results on the Dover practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(5-29-2014)
Carl Long hits metal from #97 car during practice: Crew chief John Monsam could not do enough after tungsten fell off his car and struck #13-Carl Long’s car causing Long to wreck Friday at Dover International Speedway – the second time in the last month weight has fallen off an Xfinity car. The weight fell off #97-Peyton Sellers’ car Friday morning during Xfinity practice. Long’s car ran over it, destroying the radiator. Water gushed on to Long’s front tires and he had no control, sliding up into the Turn 4 wall. After hitting, the throttle hung until he hit the inside wall. Long was uninjured and working with his crew to prepare his backup car. “I cannot apologize enough,” Monsam said after delivering four shocks to Long and his crew as they took parts from the primary car to put on the backup car. “An error on our part. There’s no excuse for it. All we can be right now is very grateful that Carl did not get hurt. Mistakes happen. Nobody’s perfect. I think it’s just a coincidence that it happened a couple of weeks ago to someone else. All I can say is I will take every step to make sure we’re right with Carl and it will never happen again.” Long was appreciative of Monsam’s apology and help, but the incident put him behind. “It just killed us,” Long said. ‘”It’s the best race car that I’ve got. First time I got a chance to race in a long time. This wasn’t a start and park.”(NBC Sports)(5-29-2015)
Ty Dillon fastest in first practice: #3-Ty Dillon was fastest during opening practice at Dover International Speedway with a speed of 158.033mph. #54-Erik Jones was second, followed by: #2-Brian Scott, #88-Kasey Kahne, #33-Austin Dillon, #20-Matt Kenseth, #18-Daniel Suarez, #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr., #60-Chris Buescher, and #1-Elliott Sadler. All 40 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Dover practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(5-29-2014)
Great Clips sponsoring Michigan XFINITY race: Michigan International Speedway announced a partnership with Great Clips and Paralyzed Veterans of America to sponsor the June 13 NASCAR XFINITY Series race at the track, the Great Clips 250 Benefiting Paralyzed Veterans of America. This innovative partnership continues beyond race weekend. From July 1 through August 8, Great Clips patrons throughout Michigan, Northern Ohio and Northern Indiana will receive a $2 coupon toward a haircut with every $4 donated to Paralyzed Veterans of America. Patrons receive $1 voucher for a haircut with every $2 donation to Paralyzed Veterans of America. While Great Clips has had a presence in NASCAR for years, this marks the first time the organization has sponsored a race at NASCAR’s fastest track. As title sponsor, Great Clips will market its brand through television, radio, print and social mediums on a nationwide scale, all while benefiting paralyzed veterans. Paralyzed Veterans of America is the only congressionally chartered veterans service organization dedicated solely for the benefit and representation of veterans with spinal cord injury or disease. For nearly 70 years, Paralyzed veterans of America has ensured veterans receive the benefits earned through their service to our nation, monitored their care in VA spinal cord injury units and funded research and education in the search for a cure and improved care for individuals with paralysis.(Michigan Speedway)(5-29-2015)
Reddick wins truck race at Dover: #19-Tyler Reddick won the Lucas Oil 200 at the Dover International Speedway on Friday after a late race pass for the lead. #51-Daniel Suarez finished second followed by: #4-Erik Jones, #14-Daniel Hemric, #88-Matt Crafton, #11-Ben Kennedy, #29-Ryan Blaney, #33-Brandon Jones, #98-Johnny Sauter, and #02-Tyler Young.
There were 8 caution flags for 41 laps and 15 lead changes among 8 leaders.
#29-Blaney started the race from the pole after setting a track record during his return to the trucks after moving to the Sprint Cup Series this season. He finished seventh.
Complete results are on the Dover race results page (pdf). (5-29-2015)
Dover Race Fast Facts:
Tyler Reddick won the 16th Annual Lucas Oil 200, his second victory in 23 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his second victory and fifth top-10 finish in 2015.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in two races at Dover International Speedway.
Daniel Suarez(i) (second) posted his first top-10 finish at Dover International Speedway. It is his fifth top-10 finish in 2015.
Erik Jones (third) posted his first top-10 finish at Dover International Speedway.
Erik Jones (third) was the highest finishing rookie.
Matt Crafton leads the point standings by 11 points over Tyler Reddick.
(NASCAR Statistics) (5-29-2015)
Cobb visits with NASCAR officials following Dover incident: NASCAR officials beckoned Camping World Truck Series driver Jennifer Jo Cobb to the infield hauler following an incident in Friday’s Lucas Oil 200 at Dover International Speedway. Cobb was involved in a wreck on Lap 14. It was unclear from TV replays if she made contact with Tyler Reddick or not, but Cobb apparently felt that was the case. On Reddick’s next lap around the one-mile, all-concrete track, Cobb stepped onto the racing surface and appeared to shout at Reddick. NASCAR passed new rules last season that prohibit drivers from stepping onto the racetrack to confront a driver while racing is underway, even under yellow caution situations. The rule change came shortly after Kevin Ward Jr. was killed while walking down on a racetrack when he was struck by NASCAR driver Tony Stewart’s car during a sprint car race in upstate New York last August. Ward appeared as if he wanted to confront Stewart in the belief that Stewart forced Ward to crash into a wall. NASCAR has the option to issue penalties against Cobb for her actions. If that occurs, the penalties would be announced next week, most likely Tuesday or Wednesday.(NBC Sports)(5-29-2015)
Blaney on truck pole at Dover: #29-Ryan Blaney will start from the pole for the Lucas Oil 200 at Dover International Speedway with a speed of 158.465mph, setting a new track record. #4-Erik Jones will start alongside in row one. Current points leader #88-Matt Crafton will start third, followed by: #19-Tyler Reddick, #51-Daniel Suarex, #8-John Hunter Nemechek, #13-Cameron Hayley, #54-Justin Boston, #97-Jesse Little, and #00-Cole Custer.
Fastest in the second round of qualifying was #4-Jones with a speed of 157.267mph.
#88-Crafton was quickest in the opening qualifying session at 157.756mph..
#59-Kyle Martel did not qualify.
See complete lineup on the Starting lineup (pdf) page.(5-29-2015)
Dover Qualifying Notes:
Ryan Blaney(i) won the Keystone Light Pole Award for the 16th Annual Lucas Oil 200 with a lap of 22.718 seconds, 158.465 mph.
This is his fifth pole in 54 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his first pole and first top-10 start in 2015.
This is his first pole in three races at Dover International Speedway.
Erik Jones (second) posted his sixth top-10 start of 2015 and his first at Dover International Speedway.
Matt Crafton (third) posted his sixth top-10 start at Dover International Speedway. It is his third in six races this season.
Erik Jones (second) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(5-29-2015)
Dover removes seats, replaces catchfence during off-season: Race fans and competitors arriving in Dover for the May 29-31, 2015 race weekend may notice the addition, and subtraction, of a few things they saw when they last visited the Monster Mile. The Speedway’s maintenance and operations departments, along with a bevy of outside contractors, have been busy preparing the property for the upcoming spring race weekend. The highlights include the installation of a $2.9 million safety catch fence that encircles the track’s outside retaining walls, and the elimination of 17,500 seats in Turn 2 and Turn 3. Some of the least desirable seating from the areas furthest from the start-finish line were removed, paving the way for future improvements. The reduction of seating is part of a long-term process that will continue to allow the facility to evolve to meet the needs of fans. In between the 2014 race weekends in Dover, contractors began the installation of support structures for the new fence. The day after the fall 2014 race weekend, on Sept. 29, work began to complete the project. Demolition of the old fence began as the construction of the new fence occurred simultaneously. The new fence was installed by Smith Fence, a Florida-based contractor that has performed similar installations at other facilities on the NASCAR circuit. The project incorporates the most up-to-date technologies and stands at 21-feet tall, up from the original fence which stood at 15-feet tall.(Dover International Speedway)(5-29-2015)
Dover to dedicate POW/MIA National Chair of Honor “One Empty Seat”: On Sunday, May 31, Dover International Speedway will dedicate a special POW/MIA memorial as part of their pre-race activities before the “FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The POW/MIA National Chair of Honor “One Empty Seat” is an initiative that was created to help recognize and honor the more than 92,000 American soldiers who are unaccounted for since World War I. These unoccupied seats are dedicated to the memory of the brave men and women and to the sacrifices each made in serving our country. A commemorative stand and plaque are mounted in section 103, Row 1, of the Dover grandstands in front of the empty chair, describing its significance. Before the race, Colonel Len Gratteri with the Delaware National Guard will unveil this meaningful memorial in honor of his uncle, Private First Class John Straley, who has been missing in action since January 1964. The Rolling Thunder group will also participate in a ceremonial parade lap before that race that will include approx. 150 motorcycles. The effort to dedicate the chair at Dover International Speedway was spearheaded by Patrick J. Hughes, who served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. Hughes is a member of Rolling Thunder Inc. National Chapter. A mission of Rolling Thunder is the POW/MIA National Chair of Honor program, “One Empty Seat,” which aims to place chairs in stadiums across the United States to pay respect to those service men and women who are still missing.(Dover International Speedway)(5-29-2015)
DIS adds “We Built Daytona” Partners: Daytona International Speedway announced that Jones Sign Company, Musco Lighting and P&S Paving, Inc. have become the latest partners to join the expanding “We Built Daytona” marketing platform for the $400 million DAYTONA Rising redevelopment project.
” Jones Sign Company, a national specialist in the sign manufacturer and sign installation industry, will provide nearly 3,000 signs and more than 120,000 square feet of graphics for the new injectors/entrances. The company will also produce the DIS “Supersign” LED-lit letters, measuring 13 feet 6 inches tall and 286 feet wide.
” Musco Lighting, a global leader in the design and manufacture of sports-lighting systems, will illuminate the new frontstretch grandstand. In 1998, Musco lighted the speedway using its Mitran system specifically designed to meet the needs of drivers, spectators, and television broadcasts. The new frontstretch of the grandstand will feature more than 700 of Musco’s Green Generation fixtures producing 77 million lumens of light.
” P&S Paving, an asphalt paving, heavy highway contractor based in Daytona Beach, is providing paving and dirt services. During the past year, the company has installed more than 50,000 square yards of temporary asphalt and 13 miles of utility piping.
The “We Built Daytona” platform is designed specifically for partners involved in the construction of DAYTONA Rising and enables them to showcase their involvement through a marketing presence (once their role in the project begins). Following construction, partners can feature products in-use at the new DIS, providing them with a real-time showroom. Additionally, partners will receive special recognition as “We Built Daytona” partners within the facility, along with brand exposure opportunities via digital display boards and corporate hospitality opportunities for entertaining guests during major events.(DIS)(5-29-2015)
News from May 28, 2015
Teams penalized after Charlotte UPDATE: Three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams have been penalized following last week’s event at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The #1 team has been penalized for an infraction occurring during pre-qualifying inspection May 21. The right rear quarter panel wheel opening was modified after qualifying inspection. The infraction is a P2 level penalty and violates the following Sections in the 2015 NASCAR rule book:
12.1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing.
20.4.b: Body; All approved OEM-manufactured body components must be used as supplied except as required to stiffen, or to attach to other vehicle components. Tolerances from CAD surfaces and template tolerances are provided to allow for manufacturing, fabrication, and installation variability. Approved Parts: GM R: NSCS 0786. Part Name: Quarter Panel RS, Effective date Aug. 1, 2012.
20.4.2: Surface Conformance (a). Coordinate measuring machines, scanning equipment, and templates, among other tools, will be used to inspect body surfaces for conformance to the approved OEM and NASCAR CAD files.
As a result of this violation, crew chief Matt McCall has been placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31.
Additionally, two teams — the #48 and #51 — have been assessed P1 level penalties for receiving written warnings in two consecutive events, both at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The #48 team received a warning from the May 16 event and also received one from pre-qualifying inspection from last week’s event. In addition to receiving a warning from the May 16 event, the #51 team also received one from pre-race inspection from last week’s event. Per Section 12.5.3.1 of the NASCAR rule book:
Warnings and P1 penalty options: b. Multiple warnings issued to the same member or team will result in one or more P1 penalties; c. If the same team receives two warnings during the same event or two warnings during two consecutive events, whether the events are championship or non-championship, then this may result in one or more … P1 penalties at NASCAR’s discretion.
As a result of these infractions the #48 and #51 teams will receive the last two choices in the pit selection process, respective to qualifying results, for this weekend’s event at Dover International Speedway.(NASCAR)(5-27-2015) UPDATE: Hendrick Motorsport has appealed their P1 penalty to the #48 team. The pit stall penalty will be deferred until the appeal is heard.(5-28-2015)
Goodyear still working on tires packages: The discussion continues between NASCAR and Goodyear as to what type of tire compound best suits the Generation 6 Sprint Cup car. While the tires were first in the news last weekend for the “Support Our Troops” branding as part of the Goodyear Gives Back program, the focus changed to the tire itself following the Coca-Cola 600. Although many of the teams have acclimated to the right-side multi-zone tires at Charlotte Motor Speedway by reducing camber to increase the contact zone and achieve grip, others are still searching for the right feel. Listening to Sunday’s radio chatter and the consequent conversation on Twitter, it was clear that the current combination was a struggle for many of the competitors. Goodyear provided teams with the same left-side tires at the 1.5-mile track since 2012, the right-side tires were first run at Charlotte in the All-Star Race – as well as in the XFINITY Series race last Saturday. Teams first tested the tire in December with the new rules package for the Gen 6 cars. A confirmation test followed on March 10 performed by Martin Truex Jr., Aric Almirola, Kasey Kahne and J.J. Yeley. Introduced in 2013, the multi-zone tread tire incorporates two different compounds – one as a safety measure, the other for traction. The inside two inches is a more durable compound designed to resist heat. The “endurance zone” compound was used at Texas earlier this season. The outside 10 inches of tire features a tread intended to provide more grip for the drivers, hence the “traction zone”. Still, as NASCAR attempts to solve its aero issues with the 2015 car package – and develop another set of rules for 2016 – the onus has been put on Goodyear to provide a tire that will enhance the competition.
“We have had a lot of discussions with NASCAR over the last couple of weeks and have covered everything from hard tires to super soft tires,” Stu Grant, Goodyear’s general manager of global race tires told Motorsport.com. “There is no clear direction at the moment. I would say it is a work in progress to figure out what the future rule package would be. Everything has been mentioned at one point over the last two weeks. We’re fine as long as it’s in the discussion stages but when it comes down to determining a strategy and a direction for a rules package and you start manufacturing tires and generating data, that’s the long-leadb time item. You can talk all you want to about soft, hard, whatever tire but what we need to do is get some consensus on where we want to go and then say, alright Goodyear, this is where we want to go. But we need to get it finalized.”(Motorsport)(5-28-2015)
ditech on #4 at Dover: For the first time in 2015, the distinctive ditech blue paint scheme will adorn the #4 Chevy for the 400-mile event at Dover International Speedway, which is less than 100 miles from the mortgage company’s headquarters in suburban Philadelphia. Ditech Mortgage provides home loans nationwide through a team of specialists available by phone, online and in-person.(Stewart Haas Racing), see an image of the car on the #4 team paint schemes page.(5-28-2015)
Dover International Speedway Notes & Facts – Thursday – history:
· 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 – won by Richard Petty.
· 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.
(NASCAR)(5-28-2015)
Chassis selections for this weeks race: see the list of many teams [that report or post them] and what chassis were selected by the team to run in the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway on the Charlotte Race Info page – Chassis selection area.
Arrow Uniform featured on the #3 at Michigan: Powered by Richard Childress Racing’s partnership with VF Imagewear, Arrow Uniform, an industry leader an innovator in garment processing and delivery, will be featured on the #3 Chevy Camaro during the NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Michigan International Speedway on June 13, 2015. Family owned and operated for three generations, Arrow Uniform serves more than 20,000 customers nationwide and is a longtime customer of VF Imagewear. Red Kap, a leading workwear brand of VF Imagewear and the official workwear provider of RCR and ECR Engines employees, will also be featured on the #3 Chevy in Michigan.(RCR), see an image of the car on the #3 team paint schemes page.(5-28-2015)
Little Caesars joins Sieg at Dover: Little Caesars, the largest carry out pizza chain in the world has joined forces with RSS Racing as an associate sponsor for the Buckle Up 200 this Saturday in Dover. Uncle Bob’s Self Storage will be the primary sponsor for the event.(RSS Racing)(5-28-2015)
Jones fastest in final practice: #4-Erik Jones was fastest in the one and only practice session for the Lucas Oil 200 at Dover International Speedway with a speed of 155.885mph. He was followed by #00-Cole Custer, #51-Daniel Suarez, #13-Cameron Hayley, #14-Daniel Hemric, #29-Ryan Blaney, #97-Jesse Little, #8-John Hunter Nemechek, #19-Tyler Reddick, and #54-Justin Boston. 33 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Dover practice speeds page (pdf).(5-28-2015)
Buescher uncertain of when he’ll race again UPDATE 2: James Buescher posted a statement on his Facebook page that he is uncertain when he will return to racing this season. The 2012 Camping World Truck Series champion Buescher, was initially listed on the entry list the last two weeks, but replaced by Scott Lagasse behind the wheel of the #31 NTS Motorsports Chevy. “I want to thank all my fans for continuing to stick behind me. I was looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the #31 NTS Motorsports Chevy, but unfortunately plans changed. I want to thank Bob Newberry and everyone at NTS Motorsports for giving me an opportunity early this season; we had a great run going and I was looking forward to seeing how it was going to turn out. At this point I’m not sure when I’ll be back at the track but when I do return I look forward to being a threat to win every single time out.” Buescher has two top-10s in three starts this season.(James Buescher)(5-14-2015) UPDATE: After Thursday night’s final practice, Newberry indicated that Buescher’s time out of the #31 ride was only temporary. “It’s not a departure,” Newberry said. “When we started the season off, we knew that James was going to be a part-time situation. And then there for a little bit, it was looking real exciting, looking like it was going to be a full-time scenario. He’s still going to be in the truck. James will be back in the 31 this season. He’s doing a great job for us and he and I, we stayed in contact all week long, literally all through last night we were still trying to get the deal done and I’d have brought a third truck here if I had to, just to get him in here and run because I think he’s an asset for the team and everything. “I care about James a lot and know he cares about us, so we’re doing our best. We’re working our tails off as well as he is to get him back in the seat.”(NASCAR.com)(5-15-2015) UPDATE 2: After replacing James Buescher at Charlotte due to funding, the #31 Motorsports team did not make the trip to Dover International Speedway for Friday’s Lucas Oil 200 for the season reason. NTS Motorsports team owner Bob Newberry issued a statement regarding the status of the #31 team after it was withdrawn from competition. “We are extremely disappointed that our sponsor for the #31 truck did not come through as originally promised. It has always been NTS Motorsports’ intention to run two full-time trucks this season. However, without a sponsor, it is in the team’s best interest to focus our people and resources on the #14 California Clean Power Silverado at Dover International Speedway. We have drivers and sponsors committed to the #31 for many other races this season, and we plan for the truck to return as competitive as it has always been for those events.” (NTS Motorsports’ Twitter)(5-28-2015)
Adam Sandler named grand marshal at New Hampshire: Mega movie star Adam Sandler will return home on July 19 when he serves as the special 25th Anniversary Grand Marshal for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Sandler, a native of Manchester, N.H., will star in this summer’s action comedy “Pixels”, which will hit theaters July 24. New Hampshire Motor Speedway officials made the Sandler announcement on Wednesday night in front of fans and media at the speedway’s 25th anniversary event with New Englander and Sprint Cup Series driver Joey Logano. Sandler will participate in driver introductions on the Magic Mile frontstretch and attend the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers meeting prior to giving the command for drivers to start their engines, moments before the running of the New Hampshire 301. Adam Sandler, who hails from Manchester and graduated from Central High School, has enjoyed phenomenal success as an actor, writer, producer and musician.(NHMS)(5-28-2015)
Pocono Raceway and Unique Pretzels extend partnership: Pocono Raceway, one of the most ‘unique’ superspeedways in motorsports, and Unique Pretzels, the original producers of a split-open pretzel, have agreed to a multi-year extension of their existing partnership. Unique will continue to serve as the “Official Pretzel of Pocono Raceway” with their products available for race fans at multiple concession areas during Pocono’s three major motorsports events, including the upcoming Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 race weekend, June 5-7. Unique Pretzels, headquartered in Reading, PA, has been owned and operated by the Spannuth family since the early 1800’s. Their wide variety of products include “Splits”, “Shells”, Flavored Shocked “Shells”, Mustard Dips and Chocolate Coated “Splits”. Additionally, they offer specialty gift baskets and tins for any occasion.(Pocono Raceway)(5-28-2015)
News from May 27, 2015
Teams penalized after Charlotte: Three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams have been penalized following last week’s event at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The #1 team has been penalized for an infraction occurring during pre-qualifying inspection May 21. The right rear quarter panel wheel opening was modified after qualifying inspection. The infraction is a P2 level penalty and violates the following Sections in the 2015 NASCAR rule book:
12.1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing.
20.4.b: Body; All approved OEM-manufactured body components must be used as supplied except as required to stiffen, or to attach to other vehicle components. Tolerances from CAD surfaces and template tolerances are provided to allow for manufacturing, fabrication, and installation variability. Approved Parts: GM R: NSCS 0786. Part Name: Quarter Panel RS, Effective date Aug. 1, 2012.
20.4.2: Surface Conformance (a). Coordinate measuring machines, scanning equipment, and templates, among other tools, will be used to inspect body surfaces for conformance to the approved OEM and NASCAR CAD files.
As a result of this violation, crew chief Matt McCall has been placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31.
Additionally, two teams — the #48 and #51 — have been assessed P1 level penalties for receiving written warnings in two consecutive events, both at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The #48 team received a warning from the May 16 event and also received one from pre-qualifying inspection from last week’s event. In addition to receiving a warning from the May 16 event, the #51 team also received one from pre-race inspection from last week’s event. Per Section 12.5.3.1 of the NASCAR rule book:
Warnings and P1 penalty options: b. Multiple warnings issued to the same member or team will result in one or more P1 penalties; c. If the same team receives two warnings during the same event or two warnings during two consecutive events, whether the events are championship or non-championship, then this may result in one or more … P1 penalties at NASCAR’s discretion.
As a result of these infractions the #48 and #51 teams will receive the last two choices in the pit selection process, respective to qualifying results, for this weekend’s event at Dover International Speedway.(NASCAR)(5-27-2015)
Dover Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in all three NASCAR series in action at Dover this week will run the same combination of left- and right-side tires . . . this right-side tire code (D-4440) has been run at Dover since 2012 . . . this is the first time these teams have run this left-side tire code (D-4392) at Dover . . . compared to what was run at Dover last year, this left-side has compound, construction and mold shape changes for more grip and to bring it into line with what is run at other speedways . . . this particular left-side code has been run at Texas on the Sprint Cup and Xfinity cars earlier this season; and at Chicagoland, Darlington (Sprint Cup and Xfinity), Homestead and Texas last season . . . Goodyear confirmed this tire set-up in a test at Dover on May 11-12 . . . drivers participating in that test were A.J. Allmendinger, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Danica Patrick . . . Dover is unique among NASCAR ovals one mile or less in length, in that inner liners are required on all four tire positions . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.(Goodyear), see tire codes, tire pressures, set limits and more on the Dover Race Info page.(5-27-2015)
Many teams running Autism Speaks puzzle piece at Dover: Many NASCAR drivers will once again proudly display the Autism Speaks puzzle piece decal on their vehicles during the May 29-31, 2015 NASCAR race weekend at Dover International Speedway. The weekend of events will be highlighted by the May 31 “FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Cares Toyota, will also include Autism Speaks artwork on his car’s primary FedEx Cares paint scheme. Drivers in all three series – the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series – will all show their support for the cause throughout the weekend. This marks the ninth straight year that the Monster Mile is partnering with Autism Speaks, and the fifth year in a row that FedEx has been involved as the entitlement partner of the FedEx400 benefiting Autism Speaks. Autism Speaks is the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, to help raise funds and awareness for the cause throughout the weekend. In total, 27 drivers from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, 16 drivers from the NASCAR XFINITY Series and 20 drivers from the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series are participating. Cup teams include: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Jamie McMurray – #1 Cessna Chevy
Austin Dillon – #3 DOW Chevy
Kevin Harvick – #4 DiTech Chevy
Alex Bowman – #7 Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevy
Sam Hornish Jr. – #9 Twisted Tea Ford
Danica Patrick – #10 GoDaddy Chevy
Denny Hamlin – #11 FedEx Freight/Autism Speaks Toyota
Tony Stewart – #14 Code 3 Associates/Mobil 1 Chevy
Clint Bowyer – #15 AAA Insurance Toyota
Greg Biffle – #16 Safety-Kleen Ford
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – #17 Ford Ecoboost Ford
Kyle Busch – #18 Skittles Toyota
Matt Kenseth – #20 Dollar General Toyota
JJ Yeley – #23 Dr. Pepper Toyota
Jeb Burton – #26 Maxim Fantasy Sports Toyota
Kurt Busch – #41 Haas Automation Chevy
Kyle Larson – #42 Target Chevy
Aric Almirola – #43 Smithfield Ford
Michael Annett – #46 Pilot Flying J Chevy
AJ Allmendinger – #47 SCOTT Products Chevy
Justin Allgaier – #51 Fraternal Order of Eagles/AccuDoc Solutions Chevy
David Ragan – #55 Aaron’s Toyota
Martin Truex Jr. – #78 Furniture Row Chevy
Matt Dibenedetto – #83 Burger King Toyota
(Dover International Speedway)(5-27-2015)
Stewart’s Darlington throwback scheme unveiled: As part of the throwback program at Darlington Raceway on September 6, Tony Stewart will pilot a vintage-inspired, #14 Bass Pro Shops Chevy that recreates the brand’s first fish-ready complete boat motor and trailer package – the Bass Tracker – which was introduced in the late 1970’s. Featuring an old-school design and a 1970s-era logo on the hood.(SHR / Lionel Racing), see images of the scheme on the #14 Team Schemes page.(5-27-2015)
International Speedway Corp partners with AEG Live: International Speedway Corporation announced an extension of their strategic partnership with leading sports and entertainment presenters AEG. The relationship further solidifies two organizations focused on facility ownership and management, sporting properties, live event promotion, and media production and distribution. The new partnership will include AEG’s live-entertainment division, AEG Live, as ISC examines opportunities to develop music and other live events at many of its 13 motorsports entertainment facilities throughout the U.S. AEG Facilities, a stand-alone division of AEG that operates and consults with preeminent venues worldwide, will continue to advise ISC on its latest development projects including DAYTONA Rising, the $400 million renovation of Daytona International Speedway set to open in January 2016, and ONE DAYTONA, a premier retail and entertainment destination planned across from the legendary Speedway.(ISC)(5-27-2015)
Robin Johnson named VP of Business Development for RCR: Richard Childress Racing has named Robin Johnson as its new Vice President of Business Development to oversee sponsorship sales and partnership expansion, effective immediately. Johnson brings more than 20 years of combined legal and business development leadership to the multi-championship NASCAR team. He most recently served as the General Counsel for the S.C. State Treasurer’s Office. Prior to that position, the South Carolina native served in similar business development roles at Front Row Motorsports and Roush Fenway Racing, where he helped build what was arguably one of the most respected sponsorship bases in professional sports during his tenure. Johnson is an honor graduate of The Citadel (class of 1986) earning his B.S. degree in business administration. He is also an honor graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law and is licensed in South Carolina and New York. Robin is married to Emily Linder Johnson of Bennettsville, SC, and they have three children – Erin, Lachlan and Jake.(RCR)(5-27-2015)
Top 10 Driver Ratings at Dover
#48-Jimmie Johnson 122.3
#20-Matt Kenseth 108.3
#18-Kyle Busch 105.5
#99-Carl Edwards 99.2
#16-Greg Biffle 97.4
#24-Jeff Gordon 96.5
#42-Kyle Larson 93.0
#15-Clint Bowyer 92.5
#2-Brad Keselowski 92.1
#41-Kurt Busch 91.0
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2014 races (20 total) among active drivers at Dover International Speedway.
Formula combining the following categories: Win, Finish, Top-15 Finish, Average Running Position while on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.
See an explanation how the Driver Rating is calculated at NASCAR.com.(NASCAR)
Dillon, Smith, Wallace And Suarez Will All “Dash 4 Cash” At Dover: NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers #3-Ty Dillon, #7-Regan Smith, #6-Darrell Wallace Jr. and #18-Daniel Suarez earned their chance to compete for $100,000 this weekend at Dover International Speedway in the seventh running of the “Dash 4 Cash” program. For the first time, Charlotte Motor Speedway hosted the “Dash 4 Cash” qualifier last weekend, which determined the four eligible drivers that will compete this weekend at Dover for one of four $100,000 payouts throughout the season. The best finishing driver among Dillon, Smith, Wallace and Suarez at Dover will take home the cash and also become eligible to win a total of $1 million dollars at the end of the season. An additional $600,000 will be awarded if one driver wins the first three “Dash 4 Cash” awards and then wins the final race outright at Darlington Raceway, bringing their total winnings to $1,000,000. The three tracks joining Dover (May 30) in the Dash 4 Cash program are Indianapolis Motor Speedway (July 25), Bristol Motor Speedway (August 21) and Darlington Raceway (September 5). At Dover, the winner of the first round and top three finishers who are eligible to receive NASCAR XFINITY Series driver points will qualify for the second round of the “Dash 4 Cash” at Indianapolis.(NASCAR)(5-27-2015)
US 13 Grill and Catering joins Cope at Dover: Derrike Cope Racing announces an associate sponsor for Dover with US 13 Grill and Catering located at 1115 S Governors Ave. in Dover, just 4 miles down the street from Dover Downs Speedway. US 13 Grill also is announcing the opening of their second location, the Speedway Café conveniently located right at the track. Both restaurants are renowned for their Greek entrees but serve a huge variety of menu items as well as breakfast all day.(Derrike Cope Racing)(5-27-2015)
Justin Marks in the #42 for 2 races: HScott Motorsports with Chip Ganassi announced that road-course racing veteran Justin Marks will be behind the wheel of the #42 Chevy Camaro for two NASCAR XFINITY Series events this season. He will compete for HSMCG at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio on Aug. 16 and Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisc. on Aug. 29. Marks, 34, has competed in many forms of road-course racing as well as in all three of NASCAR’s national series, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He was also part of the winning team in the 2009 Rolex 24 At Daytona in the GT division of the TUDOR United Sports Car Championship. Marks competed at both Road America and Mid-Ohio in 2014 and scored his XFINITY Series best career finish, coming home in sixth place at Mid-Ohio.(HScott Motorsports)(5-27-2015)
Closing for Nashville Superspeedway extended again: The closing deadline on the sale of Nashville Superspeedway in Wilson County by Dover Motorsports Inc. to NeXovation Inc. has been extended for a seventh time to July 27. NeXovation Inc. announced in May 2014 an agreement to purchase the race track from Dover Motorsports and its subsidiary Nashville Speedway U.S.A. Inc. for nearly $46 million – $27 million in cash and the assumption of about $18.8 million in bond obligations owed to Wilson County. NeXovation made a nonrefundable $400,000 payment for the most recent extension, according to a recent filing by Dover Motorsports to the Securities and Exchange Commission. A prorated amount can be applied against the purchase price depending on when closing takes place, according to the filing. NeXovation also agreed to replenish the escrow by depositing $1.5 million as earnest money by June 1. The previous deadline extension was set for May 27, which NeXovation had referred to as a final closing period when it was made in March. Efforts to reach representatives of NeXovation were unsuccessful. NeXovation has now invested about $2.9 million in the racetrack.(Tennessean)(5-27-2015)
Kip Moore to perform pre-race concert for Coke Zero 400: Country music singer/songwriter Kip Moore will perform an hour-long pre-race concert prior to the 57th annual Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday night, July 5 at Daytona International Speedway. Multi platinum selling singer songwriter Kip Moore’s debut album Up All Night spawned three #1 smash hits including “Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck,” “Beer Money” and “Hey Pretty Girl.” Moore recently released “I’m To Blame,” which was the second most added song during its debut week on country radio, marking Moore’s biggest first week for a new single, ahead of his upcoming sophomore album. Earning critical acclaim for his “high energy” (Rolling Stone) live show, this summer Moore will join Dierks Bentley’s 2015 Sounds of Summer Tour. A limited quantity of VIP ticket packages are available for race fans to get special access to Moore’s 60-minute pre-race concert that will be staged at the exit of pit road. VIP Ticket Packages start at $150 and include: A reserved ticket for the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola; Pre-Race/Sprint FANZONE access; Admission to the VIP viewing area in front of the stage for the pre-race concert. Fans that have already purchased a Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola race ticket can upgrade their experience with a VIP Ticket Package for $70.(Daytona International Speedway)(5-27-2015)
News from May 26, 2015
Charlotte TV Ratings: Overnight ratings for NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 were the lowest since the race moved to FOX. NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Charlotte earned a 3.6 overnight rating on FOX Sunday evening, down 8% from last year (3.9), down 12% from 2013 (4.1), and the lowest overnight for the race since it began airing on FOX in 2001. Keep in mind that does not include the 2009 race, which was postponed from Sunday to Memorial Day (3.5). This is the second straight year the race has earned its lowest overnight ever on FOX. It has set or tied a low in four of the past six seasons. The Coca-Cola 600 trailed the Indianapolis 500 by 16% (4.3 to 3.6), the largest gap between the two events since 2005* (6.6 to 5.1). Keep in mind the Indy 500 received an anomalous boost from Danica Patrick that year. The race also trailed the Hawks/Cavaliers NBA playoff game on TNT by 35% (5.5).(Sports Media Watch), see past races, 5-year chart, links and more on the 2015 TV Ratings page.(5-26-2015)
Charlotte Race and Commercial Breakdown of the 2015 Coca-Cola 600: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, here is the breakdown for Sunday’s race. Began recording the times at the Invocation of the race at 6:00 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 10:24 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: 176
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 87
Number of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 169
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 84
Number of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 7
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 6
Number of times Fox utilized ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during this broadcast: 1
Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast (including company logos ‘floating’ in corners of the screen): 85
Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 5 min. 50 sec.
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 6:00 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 10:24 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 264
Minutes of race broadcast: 189
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 75
Number of missed restarts: 0
Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 0
Total race brdcst time 189 Total comm. brdcst time 75
See full reports, sponsor links, much more details at CawsnJaws.com.(5-26-2015)
Special scheme for Dillon at Dover: This weekend Austin Dillon will pilot this special patriotic #3 Team Chevy which honors over 350 The Dow Chemical Company veterans at Dover International Speedway.(RCR Facebook Video) see an image of the car on the #3 Team Schemes page.(5-26-2015)
2015 Top-5’s, Top-10’s: #4-Harvick leads all drivers in 2015 with 8 top-fives followed by #88-Earnhardt Jr. and #48-Johnson with 7.
#78-Truex Jr. and #4-Harvick lead all drivers in 2015 with 11 top-Ten finishes. #22-Logano is next with 9
Six drivers have ran all the races in 2015 and do not have a top-10 finish: #43-Almirola, #38-Gilliland, #6-Bayne, #35-Whitt, #46-Annett, #40-Cassill.(5-26-2015)
Raceline TV to air on MAV-TV:Raceline TV, the nation’s longest-running TV Show covering NASCAR Racing, has reached an agreement with MAV-TV to carry the show weekly. Starting the first week of June. Raceline will air on Saturdays at 9AM and again at noon EST, 52-weeks a year. Raceline also returns to FOX SportSouth and Root Sports SouthWest and will be adding several other west coast networks soon. Joe Moore, President and Host of Raceline, also co-host for Motor Racing Network, started the show in 1993 on a local TV Station in the Norfolk, VA market. Moore purchased the show in 2000, expanding distribution and covering NASCAR Sprint Cup, Xfinity Series and NASCAR Camping World Series racing. Raceline features one -on-one interviews with the top drivers and crew chiefs in the sport and employs two veteran field reporters in Steve Post and Jeff Taylor, who work in the Charlotte bureau.(PR)(5-26-2015)
Man Airlifted to Hospital after Speedway Accident UPDATE: A man was airlifted to the hospital after he was hit by a car at Charlotte Motor Speedway. An eyewitness said the man was sitting on the back of a tow bar between a camper and another vehicle being towed. The camper turned, he fell off, and was run over by the towed vehicle. No word on the condition of the man who was hit.(Fox Charlotte)(5-25-2015) UPDATE: Concord Police have identified the man who was hit Monday, May 25, around 12:32 a.m. at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Daniel Wayne Delk,34, was airlifted to the hospital after he was hit by a car at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The incident occurred at the infield area approaching the tunnel exit of Gate 26. An eyewitness said Delk was sitting on the back of a tow bar connecting a motor home pulling a sports utility vehicle. The camper turned, Delk fell off, and was run over by the towed vehicle. He was dragged about 98 ft. on asphalt, according to police. According to police, Timothy Blair Clontz, 35, driver of the motor home found out about the incident from a friend an hour later. He called Concord Police to give his information and reported he never realized someone was behind his motor home. Clontz will not be charged with any offenses. Delk has sustained non-life threatening injuries and remains hospitalized at CMC.(Fox Charlotte)(5-26-2015)
Entry list: There are 34 trucks on the preliminary entry list for Friday’s Lucas Oil 200 at Dover International Speedway. A few notes:
Cole Custer is in the #00;
Caleb Roark in the #0;
Ryan Ellis in the #1;
Ryan Blaney in the #29;
Kyle Martel in the #59;
Austin Hill in the #82;
Timmy Hill in the #94;
Jesse Little in the #97;
(5-23-2015) UPDATE: Michael Affarano has been added in the #03 and Tim Viens has been added in the #74;
(5-26-2015)
See the complete list on the Dover entry list page.
Pierce to drive for MB at Eldora: Dirt Late Model racer Bobby Pierce will make his series debut on the dirt track at Eldora Speedway in July with MB Motorsports. 18-year-old Pierce is no stranger to the Ohio track. He led every lap at Eldora last year in the DIRTcar Fall Nationals en route to the DIRTcar Late Model championship.(STL Motorsport Magazine)(5-26-2015)
Boston looking for strong run at home track courtesy team history: Every driver looks forward to racing at their “home track,” and that is true for Justin Boston as well. The Baltimore native has had the Dover race circled on his calendar since the season began and now carries the momentum of three consecutive top-10 finishes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series along with him. Boston has never raced a truck at the Monster Mile, but this will not be his first time racing on the concrete one-mile oval. Last year he competed in the fall XFINITY race for Joe Gibbs Racing, where he started 11th and finished 12th in his first-ever start in the series. In 2013 Boston ran the K&N East race resulting in a second-place finish. This time he hopes to better the K&N finish by one position. Boston is with the right team to capture a victory at his home track. KBM drivers have collected three wins, two poles, 630 laps led, three top-five and five top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 9.6 across nine starts at Dover. Owner-driver Kyle Busch has collected all three of the team’s wins, including victories the last two seasons. KBM drivers have led more laps at Dover than any other track. ROK Mobile will sponsor Boston’s Toyota Tundra again this weekend at Dover. ROK Mobile, co-founded by entrepreneursJohn Paul DeJoria (Patron Tequila and Paul Mitchell) and Jonathan Kendrick (serial entrepreneur), is a prepaid, contract-free mobile and music service.(Kyle Busch Motorsports0(5-26-2015)
Little to run Dover UPDATE 2: Jesse Little posted on his Instagram. that he will make his Camping World Truck Series debut in May at Dover International Speedway. Little was the 2013 K&N Pro Series Rookie of the Year and is NASCAR Next member, currently competing in the K&N Pro Series.(3-13-2014) UPDATE: Team Little Racing and Jesse Little have reached an agreement with Sandusky, Ohio-based ThorSport Racing that will allow the 18-year old to compete in a part-time schedule during the 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. ThorSport Racing will provide engineering support as Little prepares for his NCWTS debut on May 29 at Dover International Speedway driving a Toyota Tundra. Little, a member of the NASCAR Next program is a third-generation driver who also competes in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series for Larry McReynolds Racing. Leading Little’s team on the NCWTS will be veteran crew chief, Harold Holly. The relationship between Holly and the Little family extends back to the crew chief’s leadership of Jesse’s father, Chad, where he led the Spokane, Wash. native’s NASCAR Sprint Cup and Xfinity Series teams. Holly has amassed 20 victories as a crew chief in NASCAR’s top-3 divisions including a 2012 NCWTS win with Joey Coulter as his driver.(Team Little Racing)(5-1-2015) UPDATE 2: The Carolina Nut Co., which specializes in unique flavored nuts, flavored peanuts, spicy nuts and candied nuts, will adorn the #97 Toyota Tundra of NASCAR Next driver, Jesse Little in his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Dover International Speedway in Friday’s Lucas Oil 200.(See an image of the truck on the #97 team paint schemes page)(ThorSport Racing)(5-26-2015)
Autism Speaks puzzle piece decals return to NASCAR cars for Dover: Many NASCAR drivers will once again proudly display the Autism Speaks puzzle piece decal on their vehicles during the May 29-31, 2015 NASCAR race weekend at Dover International Speedway. The weekend of events will be highlighted by the May 31 “FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.
Drivers in all three series – the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will all show their support for the cause throughout the event weekend. This marks the ninth straight year that the Monster Mile is partnering with Autism Speaks, and the fifth year in a row that FedEx has been involved as the entitlement partner of the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks. Autism Speaks is the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, to help raise funds and awareness for the cause throughout the weekend. In total, 23 drivers from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, 12 drivers from the NASCAR XFINITY Series and 20 drivers from the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series are participating. Truck teams include: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Ryan Ellis – #1 MAKE Motorsports Chevy
Tyler Young – #2 Randco Industries/Young’s Building Systems Chevy
Erik Jones – #4 Special Olympics World Games Toyota
John Wes Townley – #5 Zaxby’s Chevy
Norm Benning – #6 Norm Benning Racing Chevy
Ray Black, Jr. – #7 Green Light Racing Chevy
Korbin Forrister – #8 Green Light Racing Chevy
John Hunter Nemechek – #8 SWM-NEMCO Motorsports Chevy
Jennifer Jo Cobb – #10 POWMIA Chevy
Ben Kennedy – #11 Local Motors Toyota
Cameron Hayley – #13 Cabinets by Hayley Toyota
Daniel Hemric – #14 California Clean Power Chevy
Timothy Peters – #17 Red Horse Racing Toyota
Tyler Reddick – #19 Broken Bow Records Ford
Ryan Blaney – #29 Cooper Standard Ford
Travis Kvapil, – #50 Burnie Grill Chevy Burnie Grill Chevy
Daniel Suarez – #51 Arris Toyota
Justin Boston – #54 ROK Mobile Toyota
Matt Crafton – #88 RipIt/Menards Toyota
Johnny Sauter – #98 Smokey Moutain Herbal Snuff/Curb Records Toyota
(Dover International Speedway)(5-26-2015)
News from May 25, 2015
Kyle Busch feels good after 600 miles: #18-Kyle Busch finished 11th in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It was his first points race back since the XFINTIY Series accident at Daytona in February. Busch missed 11 races. Busch started the race in 17th position, running in the top-10 most of the race running as high as second on lap 295. But the handling went away just a bit for Busch following his lap-329 pit stop, and he dropped back to fifth with 33 laps remaining in the 400-lap race. Busch pitted for the final time for four tires and fuel with 21 laps to go, but the aforementioned six cars made it the rest of the way on fuel, turning Busch’s possible fifth-place finish into an 11th place finish. Busch Discusses the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte:
“I feel pretty good. All in all, I felt like that was a great race for us with our Skittles Camry. We ran really strong. We ran up front, and we showed we had some speed. You know, it certainly is frustrating to finish where we did. That’s disappointing. But sometimes you do win these things by fuel mileage races, so congratulations to our teammates, Carl (Edwards) and Matt (Kenseth). They finished up front there. But all in all, I can’t say enough about everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing and just all of our partners that have stuck behind me, with Skittles here and M&M’s Crispy, SNICKERS, Pedigree, Interstate Batteries and Toyota. Everyone pulling for me and cheering for me and helping me get back into this racecar, and to get out there and have a strong run means a lot. I’m really proud of my guys. Adam Stevens (crew chief) made some great calls tonight and got ourselves in some really good spots and up toward the front. We raced up toward the front. We battled side-by-side, door-to-door with guys for a little while and it felt good.”(JGR/TrueSpeed)(5-25-2015)
Cassill completes Memorial Day double: Landon Cassill completed a double of his own on racing’s busiest day, driving the #40 Snap Fitness Chevrolet in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, then turning around and jogging through the night to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. That journey of 13.92 miles took 1 hour, 41 minutes and 49 seconds — a pace of 7 minutes, 19 seconds per mile — and ended at 12:58 a.m. on Memorial Day. Cassill accepted a hug and kiss from his wife, Kaitlan, rubbed his dog, Indie, and thanked those who came out to watch the end of his run — a group that included some of his crew members, as well as team owner Mike Hillman. All told, it was a 576.42-mile evening for the 25-year-old driver, who completed 375 laps (out of 400) at Charlotte, then stretched in the garage before starting his run. The event raised money for the Folds of Honor Foundation, through a partnership with Snap Fitness. For every 30-day trial pass purchased between Memorial Day and Labor Day, Snap Fitness will donate $1 to the foundation that provides scholarships to families of service members killed or disabled in active duty.(NASCAR.com)(5-25-2015)
Man Airlifted to Hospital after Speedway Accident: A man was airlifted to the hospital after he was hit by a car at Charlotte Motor Speedway. An eyewitness said the man was sitting on the back of a tow bar between a camper and another vehicle being towed. The camper turned, he fell off, and was run over by the towed vehicle. No word on the condition of the man who was hit.(Fox Charlotte)(5-25-2015)
Hamlin dehydrated, taken to infield care center, is OK: Late in the race, #11-Denny Hamlin reported feeling ill in his car (finished 8th) at Charlotte and complained of a severe headache. He was taken to the infield care center after the race, and team owner Joe Gibbs said his driver was dehydrated, was given an IV and was feeling better after the treatment.(NASCAR Wire Service) AND comments from Hamlin: Q) How are you feeling after visiting the infield care center after the race? Hamlin: “A lot better now. I knew when my knee was sore afterwards that it was probably fluids. My off-day was 36 holes of golf and a full tennis match. Probably over did it a little bit this weekend. I think the dehydration led to a migraine and just felt nauseous the last 100 laps or so. Thank goodness, that didn’t cost us the win. Just the bad end of that strategy and what not, but still proud of our FedEx Office team for really giving me a car that could contend for a win. This is a good sign and congrats to Carl (Edwards), this is an awesome two weeks really for our organization.” Q) Was it difficult to finish the race feeling like you did?
“It’s tough, I was borderline throwing up trying to race for the lead. You just try to power through it and of course when you run well, you always feel a little bit better, but when the race is over and everything comes to a stop you realize how bad you feel. A lot better now with fluids and everything. It was directly related to hydration.” Q) Was it challenging to come back from the loose wheel? Hamlin: “That part of it stunk a little bit, but the 78 (Martin Truex Jr.) came back and passed us anyway. When he came back out, he had fresher air than what I did. I came out kind of middle of the pack and just couldn’t run the lap times I needed to. Those guys ended up on the bad end of the strategy anyway.”(Toyota Racing)(5-25-2015)
What happened to Johnson at Charlotte: #48-Jimmie Johnson was sidelined on Lap 275 in the Coca Cola 600 ay Charlotte Motor Speedway in single car spin & crash. The team made repairs, and Johnson returned to the competition on lap 331. Finished 40th, some Q&A’s: Q) WHAT WAS GOING ON OUT THERE? Johnson: “For us the car was just really loose. It was fast, but as soon as I would get close to somebody else my car would bug out and get so edgy. Lost it twice, about had it saved both times. Once we would get in clean air and get strung out I could fly up through the field and went from last to fifth there. Then I had a lap car on the outside and a car I had been stalking on the bottom and then I tried to roll into the top behind the lap car. The thing just bugged out in the dirty air and around it went again. A tough day to try to get the balance right in the car.” Q) HOW SURPRISED WERE YOU THE BALANCE WAS SO OFF? Johnson: “Well I think it looked the same for a lot of people in traffic. Vegas, Atlanta, Texas, whatever was going on there the cars balance was advantage in traffic. The split from clean air to dirty air wasn’t as evil and last week at Kansas and All-Star and here I don’t know if it’s the tire versus the track. There is some other component there, at least for our car; it has been pretty wicked in traffic. Unfortunately bit us today.” Q) CAN YOU TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM TONIGHT THAT CAN HELP YOU MOVING FORWARD? Johnson: “Yeah, we came in here tonight swinging for the fences. We are locked in the Chase, it doesn’t matter. Chad (Knaus, crew chief) told me he either wanted it on a hook or the trophy. Unfortunately we got the hook.” Q) ON THE TWO SPINS: Johnson: “We just had a really loose racecar. We came in with an aggressive mindset to bring an aggressive set-up in the car, drive aggressively and take chances. We just don’t have anything to loose. Unfortunately we didn’t get long enough into the race for the aggressive set-up to come into play. Another 30/40 laps we would have had the car right where we wanted it. I just didn’t make it there. I could have driven a little easier and tried not work so hard through traffic, but we said we were going to come in and swing for the fences. We did and I hit the fence.” Q) DID THE TRANSITION FROM DAY TO NIGHT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE AT ALL? Johnson: “It was slowly coming to me. That is how we went from tail end of the longest line up to fifth. We just drove through there. The car was coming around. I was trying to set the No. 88 (Dale Earnhardt, Jr.) up in (Turns) 3 and 4 and rolled in behind a lap car. I had just kind of gotten lulled into a comfort zone thinking I could roll in behind someone and be fine because I made a couple of moves like that earlier. As soon as I turned off in the corner I knew I was going around. I fought it as long as I could and unfortunately caught the inside wall.” Q) YOU HAVE SAVED SO MANY SPINS IS IT JUST A SICK FEELING WHEN YOU KNOW IT’S NOT GOING TO BE SAVED? Johnson: “Yeah, I thought I had that one saved too. I got a little occupied on pointing it down pit road and driving off. I should have just let it spin all the way out. I had that one I just lost it at the end.” Q) YOU HIT THE SAFER BARRIER THAT HAS BEEN ADDED SINCE OCTOBER. DID YOU KNOW THAT? HOW CLOSE DID YOU COME TO HITTING THE OPENING ON PIT ROAD? Johnson: “I could see the SAFER barrier and I could see that opening and I could see the No. 2 (Brad Keselowski) pit. I was frightened I was going to get through that hole. It wouldn’t have been pretty for me, but to have teams and stuff there that was something I was staring at sliding for a long ways. I was very thankful the SAFER barrier was there and wish we could find a way to extend a wall out and redirect the car away from that opening or close that opening up.”(Team Chevy)(5-25-2015)
Ty Dillon to run another full season in XFINITY Series: In preparation for an eventual move to full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing, Ty Dillon will increase his presence in NASCAR’s top series next year, pending sponsorship. Dillon will spend another year running for the XFINITY Series championship in 2016. He currently is second in the series standings behind leader Chris Buescher. “We’re kind of working on it now,” said Richard Childress, Dillon’s grandfather and team owner. “It sort of depends on the sponsorship and all, but we want to get him set up for the XFINITY Series next year, and if we can get him going in the Cup [Series], that’s kind of our plan.”(NASCAR Wire Service)(5-25-2015)
Bud Moore turns 90 years old…Happy Birthday: On Monday, Memorial Day [May 25, 2015], as people across America pause to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country, a truly outstanding member of the Greatest Generation celebrates a milestone birthday. Walter “Bud” Moore, World War II hero and NASCAR legend, turns 90 years old on Monday. Moore, a life-long resident of Spartanburg, S.C., is like many a member of America’s Greatest Generation. He grew up during the Depression, went off to war as a young man to fight for the United States in World War II, then returned home and built a thriving business. Moore was the second-oldest child in a family of ten and was the son of a farmer in the grocery business. As soon as Moore finished high school, Uncle Sam came calling. “I got out of school on June 1, 1943, and I got my draft papers on June 2,” Moore said last week as he took a break from mowing the pastures on his cattle farm. When Moore returned home, he and long-time friend Joe Eubanks went into the used-car business. Before long, they traded a 1939 Ford for a race car, and the rest is NASCAR history. In 37 years as a car owner in NASCAR’s elite series, Moore’s cars won 63 races, 43 poles and two championships of the series now known as Sprint Cup. He also won numerous sports car races and was the crew chief for Buck Baker’s championship run in 1957. In 2011, he was inducted into the second class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Among the people who have come to know and respect Moore over the years are several generations of the Wood Brothers racing team. Eddie Wood said the greatest thing Moore has given him, and everyone else today, is his service in World War II. “Hearing what Bud Moore has said about his experiences at Normandy really makes you think how lucky we all are that people like him did what they did,” he said, adding that there really should have been a movie made about Moore’s life. If they had ever made a movie, there’s only one actor who could have done him justice, and that’s John Wayne.” See the full article at Wood Bothers Racing.(5-25-2015)
Ty Dillon could move to Cup in 2016 UPDATE: When Austin Dillon wrapped up his 2013 NASCAR XFINITY Series championship run, he’d run two full-time Camping World Truck seasons (winning a title in his second) another two at the XFINITY level and had a ride with the sport’s most famous number – 3 – waiting for him in the Sprint Cup Series. Austin’s brother, Ty, is well on his way to his own XFINITY Series championship – in his second campaign after two full-time seasons in the Truck Series, no less – as the points leader after the season’s first nine races. Only difference is, with Richard Childress Racing’s three-car stable occupied by Austin, Ryan Newman and Paul Menard, there’s no clear option for Ty to advance to. That doesn’t mean Ty and his grandfather and RCR team owner, Richard Childress, aren’t coming up with a plan. “We’ve definitely talked about (my Cup plans for 2016) and I think it’s our goal,” Ty said Saturday at Iowa Speedway. “It’s my goal and my grandfather and I have talked about it a lot, (running) in Cup next year. Still working on things, but that’s next year. I think if we win the championship this year, it’ll make plans easier to come by.”(NASCAR.com)(5-17-2015) UPDATE: In preparation for an eventual move to full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing, Ty Dillon will increase his presence in NASCAR’s top series next year, pending sponsorship. Dillon will spend another year running for the XFINITY Series championship in 2016. He currently is second in the series standings behind leader Chris Buescher. “We’re kind of working on it now,” said Richard Childress, Dillon’s grandfather and team owner. “It sort of depends on the sponsorship and all, but we want to get him set up for the XFINITY Series next year, and if we can get him going in the Cup [Series], that’s kind of our plan.”(NASCAR Wire Service)(5-25-2015)
News from May 24, 2015
Carl Edwards wins at Charlotte:#19-Carl Edwards won the Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway for his 1st win of the season, 1st win at Charlotte and 24th career win. Edwards last win was 31 races ago at Sonoma Raceway in June 2014.
#16-Biffle finished 2nd followed by #88-Earnhardt Jr., #20-Kenseth, #78-Truex Jr., #31-Newman, #2-Keselowski, #11-Hamlin, #4-Harvick and #41-Busch.
Harvick maintains the drivers points lead with 473, 41 points over #78-Truex Jr.
Pole winner #20-Kenseth led 27 laps, fell down 1 lap with an unscheduled pit stop for a loose wheel, got the lucky dog pass and finished 4th.
#48-Johnson spun twice, recovering the 1st time, but not the 2nd time, hitting the inside SAFER wall. After repairs, Johnson came back on the track and finished 40th, down 30 laps. Only four drivers failed to finish the race.
There were 22 lead changes among 9 drivers. There were 8 cautions for 39 yellow flag laps.
The average speed was 147.803mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Unofficial Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Penalty Report (pdf) and Lap Summary Report (pdf).
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Race & Points Report (pdf).(5-24-2015)
Race Fast Facts – Charlotte:
#19-Carl Edwards won the 56th Annual COCA-COLA 600, his 24th victory in 385 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in 2015. Edwards breaks a 31-race winless drought with the victory.
This is his first victory and 14th top-10 finish in 21 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Edwards’ previous best Charlotte finish was third, three times.
#16-Greg Biffle (second) posted his ninth top-10 finish in 25 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his second top-10 finish in 2015.
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. (third) posted his 12th top-10 finish in 31 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
#4-Kevin Harvick leads the point standings by 41 points over #78-Martin Truex Jr.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(5-24-2015)
2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup CHASE Standings:
[after Charlotte, race 12 of 36]
(by wins, then by points standings)
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson [3 wins], 393, -80 (5th in driver points)
2) #4-Kevin Harvick [2 wins], 473 (1st)
3) #22-Joey Logano [1 win], 407, -66 (3rd)
4) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [1 win], 401, -72 (4th)
5) #2-Brad Keselowski [1 win], 381, -92 (6th)
6) #20-Matt Kenseth [1 win], 372, -101 (7th)
7) #41-Kurt Busch [1 win], 327, -146 (14th)
8) #11-Denny Hamlin [1 win], 321, -152 (15th)
9) #19-Carl Edwards [1 win], 312, -161 (16th)
[would be in the Chase via points standings]
10) #78-Martin Truex Jr., 432, -41 (2nd in drivers pts)
11) #1-Jamie McMurray, 353, -120 (8th)
12) #24-Jeff Gordon, 346, -127 (9th)
13) #5-Kasey Kahne, 345, -128 (10th)
14) #31-Ryan Newman, 343, -130 (11th)
15) #43-Aric Almirola, 339, -134 (12th)
16) #27-Paul Menard, 336, -137 (13th)
(ties are broken by wins, 2nds, 3rds, etc)
See the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf) and Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf).
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Race & Points Report (pdf).(5-24-2015)
Charlotte Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
#34-Brett Moffitt, finished 31st, 11 rookie points
#83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 34th, 10 rookie points
#33-Alex Kennedy, finished 36th, 9 rookie points
#26-Jeb Burton, failed to qualify, 1 rookie point
#66-Tanner Berryhill, did not race
See the 2015 Rookie of the Year page for rules, standings and more.(5-24-2015)
Race Coverage of the Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled for Sunday, May 24, 2015. Television (TV): FOX at 6:00 pm/et; Pre-Race show at 5:30pm/et; green flag approx. 6:19pm/et Radio: Performance Racing Network (PRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 90 Scheduled Race Re-Airs: Monday, May 25 at 10:00am/et on FS1
Charlotte Pre-Race Schedule: (eastern time)
— 4:00:00pm: NSCS Driver/Crew Chief Meeting
— 4:40:00pm: Military Appreciation
— 5:20:00pm: NSCS Drivers Introductions (43 Service members will introduce the drivers from a mic on stage and walk off behind driver.)
— 5:43:30pm: “God Bless America” by: Danielle Johnson, Speedway Superstar
— 5:50:00pm: Armed Forces Service Medley Performed by: Central Church of God Choir
— 6:00:00pm: Presentation of Colors by: 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade Color Guard Ft. Bragg
— 6:00:20pm: Invocation by: Douglas Carver, Executive Director of Chaplaincy for the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board
— 6:00:45pm: Amazing Grace by: Charlotte Fire Department Pipe Band
— 6:02:05pm: “21 Gun Salute”: Fort Bragg Firing Party
— 6:02:35pm: Taps by: Bugler from Fort Bragg
— 6:03:40pm: National Anthem: 82nd Airborne Division All-American Chorus
— 6:05:00pm: Fly-by: 4 F-18’s from VFA 103, Naval Air Station Oceana, VA
— 6:09:30: Command to start engines by: Dr. JD Crouch II, USO President and GM Dawn Seif, wife of Andrew Seif Silver Star winner and USO Marine of the year in 2013
— 6:18:30pm: Start of the Coca-Cola 600
eastern time (NASCAR.com)
Jeff Gordon: no plans to race after this season: #24-Jeff Gordon, Official Pace Car driver for the 99th Indianapolis 500, met with members of the media prior to leading the field to the green flag. Below is the press conference transcript in part: Q). Jeff, I know you’ve said as a boy growing up in Pittsboro, your dream was to start the Indianapolis 500. In some ways, do you feel this is starting the Indianapolis 500? JEFF GORDON: I guess in a way, yes. In some ways it’s even greater. To be honored as the pace car driver, again, it’s just kind of blowing me away right now that this whole experience is happening. This whole year has just been incredible from the fan interaction, racetracks, this phone call, this moment. This is a very, very special year. I mean, there’s no doubt in my mind that one thing that maybe I feel like I’ve accomplished more than I ever expected or hoped to in racing, but the one thing that did kind of did allude me and we pursued – I say ‘we’, my dad, my mom, and myself – when we were trying to go to the next level, was getting a chance to race here in the Indianapolis 500. I’ve said this many times, I still believe it. Winning the inaugural Brickyard 400, to me, fulfilled that dream. Now I’ve had a chance to win it four more times. This is a special place for me. I love getting a chance to race here. Would I have liked to have at least run one Indy 500, know what it’s like? Sure, I would have. It won’t be happening, but I would have liked to have known what that was like. But as far as being honored to a whole ‘nother level, this today is it. Q. What about next year? JEFF GORDON: I’ll be in the FOX booth next year (laughter). I’m so glad that deal worked out because I wouldn’t have a better excuse for you. Q. Jeff, you’ve talked about you’re not going to be driving next year full-time. Have you picked the races you might drive part-time and would Indianapolis be one of them? JEFF GORDON: The way I set that up is because I’ve known too many drivers that I respect and have raced with that, you know, said, Okay, I’m retiring, stepping away, then they come back. I’m not quite ready, want to run a few more races. That’s why I didn’t say this is my final year of ever competing at a single event. But it really, truly is. It really is. As I get further into the year, as things come together, I don’t see myself doing any races. If I do a race, maybe a Martinsville or a short track. There’s so much that goes into preparing a car and a team at Hendrick Motorsports, which is the only car I would ever do it with, and team, that would take away from their performance. Why would I really be doing it? I’ll be in the booth. I’m going to fulfill my desire to be a part of the sport by being in the booth. I can go do some racing with my kids hopefully, some other ways. I don’t plan on doing any racing. I have no set plans to do any after Homestead.(Team Chevy)(5-24-2015)
Coca-Cola extends partnership with Speedway Motorsports: The Coca-Cola Company has extended their long-term partnership with Speedway Motorsports, Inc. through 2020, ensuring that race fans across the country can continue to cheer on their favorite Coca-Cola Racing Family drivers at premier motorsports facilities with ice cold, delicious Coca-Cola refreshment. For more than 30 years, Coca-Cola and Speedway Motorsports have brought race fans together, enhancing event experiences and providing countless wonderful memories. The partnership renewal celebrates the longevity of their partnership as Coca-Cola and Speedway Motorsports continue to create the ultimate race day experience for fans across the country. In the renewed agreement, Coca-Cola, along with an array of sparkling and still beverage options, will continue as the “Official Soft Drink,” “Official Sparkling Beverage,” “Official Water, “Official Sports Drink” and “Official Enhanced Water” for seven Speedway Motorsports facilities (Atlanta, Charlotte, Sonoma, Kentucky, Las Vegas, New Hampshire and Texas). The agreement retains all non-alcoholic beverages at Atlanta, Charlotte and New Hampshire. The renewal also includes title sponsorship of the Coca-Cola 600, the longest continuous sponsorship of any race in NASCAR, at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Coca-Cola, along with Speedway Motorsports, will ensure all of these tracks remain premier destinations for NASCAR fans across the nation for years to come.(CMS)(5-24-2015)
Only Three Birthday winners: Cale Yarborough, Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth are the only NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers to ever win a points paying race on their birthday. Yarborough, birthday March 27, in 1977 at North Wilksboro Speedway and a second time in 1983 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Kyle Busch won at Richmond on May 2, 2009, to become only the 2nd driver EVER to win on their birthday, and only the third time ever.
Matt Kenseth won at Las Vegas on March 10, 2012, to become only the 3rd driver EVER to win on their birthday, and only the 4th time ever. Why Post This? today is #22-Joey Logano’s 25th birthday. Logano will start 6th in the Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In 112 point races at Charlotte, the winner has come from the 6th spot five times If he wins the race, he will be the fourth driver to win on their birthday for the fifth time.(5-24-2015)
Jeff Gordon: no plans to race after this season: #24-Jeff Gordon, Official Pace Car driver for the 99th Indianapolis 500, met with members of the media prior to leading the field to the green flag. Below is the press conference transcript in part: Q). Jeff, I know you’ve said as a boy growing up in Pittsboro, your dream was to start the Indianapolis 500. In some ways, do you feel this is starting the Indianapolis 500? JEFF GORDON: I guess in a way, yes. In some ways it’s even greater. To be honored as the pace car driver, again, it’s just kind of blowing me away right now that this whole experience is happening. This whole year has just been incredible from the fan interaction, racetracks, this phone call, this moment. This is a very, very special year. I mean, there’s no doubt in my mind that one thing that maybe I feel like I’ve accomplished more than I ever expected or hoped to in racing, but the one thing that did kind of did allude me and we pursued – I say ‘we’, my dad, my mom, and myself – when we were trying to go to the next level, was getting a chance to race here in the Indianapolis 500. I’ve said this many times, I still believe it. Winning the inaugural Brickyard 400, to me, fulfilled that dream. Now I’ve had a chance to win it four more times. This is a special place for me. I love getting a chance to race here. Would I have liked to have at least run one Indy 500, know what it’s like? Sure, I would have. It won’t be happening, but I would have liked to have known what that was like. But as far as being honored to a whole ‘nother level, this today is it. Q. What about next year? JEFF GORDON: I’ll be in the FOX booth next year (laughter). I’m so glad that deal worked out because I wouldn’t have a better excuse for you. Q. Jeff, you’ve talked about you’re not going to be driving next year full-time. Have you picked the races you might drive part-time and would Indianapolis be one of them? JEFF GORDON: The way I set that up is because I’ve known too many drivers that I respect and have raced with that, you know, said, Okay, I’m retiring, stepping away, then they come back. I’m not quite ready, want to run a few more races. That’s why I didn’t say this is my final year of ever competing at a single event. But it really, truly is. It really is. As I get further into the year, as things come together, I don’t see myself doing any races. If I do a race, maybe a Martinsville or a short track. There’s so much that goes into preparing a car and a team at Hendrick Motorsports, which is the only car I would ever do it with, and team, that would take away from their performance. Why would I really be doing it? I’ll be in the booth. I’m going to fulfill my desire to be a part of the sport by being in the booth. I can go do some racing with my kids hopefully, some other ways. I don’t plan on doing any racing. I have no set plans to do any after Homestead.(Team Chevy)(5-24-2015)
Coca-Cola extends partnership with Speedway Motorsports: The Coca-Cola Company has extended their long-term partnership with Speedway Motorsports, Inc. through 2020, ensuring that race fans across the country can continue to cheer on their favorite Coca-Cola Racing Family drivers at premier motorsports facilities with ice cold, delicious Coca-Cola refreshment. For more than 30 years, Coca-Cola and Speedway Motorsports have brought race fans together, enhancing event experiences and providing countless wonderful memories. The partnership renewal celebrates the longevity of their partnership as Coca-Cola and Speedway Motorsports continue to create the ultimate race day experience for fans across the country. In the renewed agreement, Coca-Cola, along with an array of sparkling and still beverage options, will continue as the “Official Soft Drink,” “Official Sparkling Beverage,” “Official Water, “Official Sports Drink” and “Official Enhanced Water” for seven Speedway Motorsports facilities (Atlanta, Charlotte, Sonoma, Kentucky, Las Vegas, New Hampshire and Texas). The agreement retains all non-alcoholic beverages at Atlanta, Charlotte and New Hampshire. The renewal also includes title sponsorship of the Coca-Cola 600, the longest continuous sponsorship of any race in NASCAR, at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Coca-Cola, along with Speedway Motorsports, will ensure all of these tracks remain premier destinations for NASCAR fans across the nation for years to come.(CMS)(5-24-2015)
Charlotte Motor Speedway Notes & Facts – Sunday – race:
· There have been 112 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).
· Hendrick Motorsports has the most wins at Charlotte in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with 18: Jimmie Johnson (seven), Jeff Gordon (five), Darrell Waltrip (two), Ken Schrader (one), Terry Labonte (one), Casey Mears (one) and Kasey Kahne (one).
· Eight different manufacturers have won in the NSCS at Charlotte; led by Chevrolet with 43 victories; followed by Ford with 29. Chevrolet also has the most Coca-Cola 600 wins at 23.
· There have been three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races resulting with a green-white-checkered finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but only once for the Coca-Cola 600 (Scheduled No. of Laps/Actual No. of Laps): fall of 2005 (334/336), fall of 2007 (334/337) and the 2011 Coca-Cola 600 (400/402).
· Five of the 112 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway have been shortened due to weather conditions; the most recent was the 2009 Coca-Cola 600 won by David Reutimann and Michael Waltrip Racing. Four of the five races shortened were the 600-mile events (1968, 1997, 2003 and 2009).
· Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway was the May 29, 2005 race won by Jimmie Johnson over Bobby Labonte with a MOV of 0.027 second.
(NASCAR)(5-24-2015)
Goodyear Gives Back” program – Support Our Troops: For the sixth straight year, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, exclusive tire supplier of NASCAR’s three major national series, is rallying NASCAR fans to support members of the U.S. Armed Forces through its “Goodyear Gives Back” charitable program benefitting the Support Our Troops organization. To kick off the program, Goodyear will once again transform its NASCAR race tires by replacing the “Eagle” sidewall design with “Support Our Troops” messaging on all tires used during Memorial Day weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. This effort coincides with the launch of Goodyear’s charity auction at www.Goodyear.com/GivesBack, which features autographed NASCAR memorabilia, VIP race experiences and rides on the Goodyear Blimp. Proceeds benefit Support Our Troops, a nonprofit nationwide organization that works to bolster the morale and well-being of America’s troops and their families. To-date, Goodyear Gives Back has generated nearly $1 million in cash and product donations to support the cause. Fans can get involved by visiting www.Goodyear.com/GivesBackthrough July 6, 2015 to bid on unique NASCAR autographed items, Support Our Troops tires and VIP experiences, purchase Support Our Troops® merchandise, or make a direct donation.(Goodyear)(5-24-2015)
McDowell and Leavine Family Racing to run patriotic scheme at CMS: A patriotic paint scheme will adorn the #95 Thrivent Financial Ford of Michael McDowell this weekend for the Coca-Cola 600. In addition, the team is participating in the “600 Miles of Remembrance” NASCAR program. Leavine Family Racing is proud to honor two of our own who have served in the U.S. military. Car Chief, Kenneth Roettger Jr. served Active U.S.M.C. 1993-97 and Bob Moore, Parts Requisition for LFR, served Active Army 1976-80. Charlotte Hornets Power Forward Cody Zeller will be a guest of Leavine Family Racing at the Coca-Cola 600 this Sunday. Zeller attended his first NASCAR race last fall at Charlotte Motor Speedway on behalf of the #95 team and “live-tweeted” the Daytona 500 cheering on the #95 earlier this season.(LFR), see images of the car on the #95 Team Schemes page.(5-24-2015)
Honor and Remember returns to the #33 for Charlotte: Circle Sport’s Alex Kennedy will once again represent Honor and Remember in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series when he gets behind the wheel of the #33 Honor and Remember Chevy this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway during the Memorial Day Weekend’s Coca-Cola 600. Proudly displaying the emblem of remembrance on the hood of Kennedy’s #33 as part of the overall scheme, the national non-profit organization Honor and Remember, Inc., is using the event to promote the national symbol honoring all fallen service members and their families. This weekend, NASCAR together with Honor and Remember, Inc., will display specially prepared Honor and Remember flags representing those who have died in service to our country from each of the 50 United States throughout the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage at Charlotte Motor Speedway.(Circle Sport), see images of the car on the #33 Team Schemes page.(5-24-2015)
Fans choose Amp scheme for Michigan: After weeks of voting on Facebook, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s paint scheme for the June 14 race at Michigan International Speedway has been determined. The #88 Chevrolet SS will feature AMP ENERGY Passion Fruit.(HMS)(5-24-2015)
Linda Vaughn wins first Honorary Jim Chapman Award: Linda Vaughn, who as Miss Hurst Golden Shifter and “The First Lady of Auto Racing” became one of the sport’s greatest world-wide ambassadors, was announced as the first recipient of an honorary Jim Chapman Award for excellence in motorsports public relations. The Chapman Award, established in 1991, is considered by many in the industry as the highest honor in racing public relations. It is named in memory of Chapman, the legendary PR executive and innovator, who worked with Babe Ruth, Dan Gurney, Bobby Unser, Mario Andretti, Bill France Sr. and Avis Rent-a-Car founder Warren Avis among many others. Chapman, named Indy Car racing’s “most influential man” of the 1980s, died in 1996 at age 80. The announcement was made at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the annual American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association breakfast meeting. Michael Knight, chairman of the selection committee and one of Chapman’s closest friends, made the presentation. This first-ever honorary Chapman Award is the result of several suggestions and endorsement of the Chapman family and approval of members of the national media selection committee. Vaughn has earned PR awards from NHRA and SEMA and is in several Halls of Fame. Established in 1991 by media and publicists within the CART series, the Chapman Award originally focused on achievement in CART. After a hiatus of several years, the award was resumed in 2004, with eligibility expanded to anyone working in racing PR.(SpinDoctor500)(5-24-2015)
News from May 23, 2015
Happy Hour practice for the Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over, after 50 minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes.
#41-Busch 188.653
#5-Kahne 187.052
#27-Menard 186.987
#16-Biffle 186.942
#20-Kenseth 186.780
slowest: #33-Kennedy 178.998 & #23-Yeley 180.475
most laps run: #1-McMurray with 54
Best 10 consecutive lap average: #5-Kahne 184.632
notes: Erik Jones ran a few laps in the #18 for Kyle Busch and will be on call as a relief driver if needed Sunday night.
See fastest speeds, laps run, best 10 consecutive lap average on the Happy Hour Practice Speeds page (pdf).(5-23-2015)
Saturday first practice for the Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over, after 55 minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes.
#41-Busch 192.644
#20-Kenseth 191.680
#48-Johnson 190.813
#55-Ragan 190.550
#2-Keselowski 190.496
slowest: #23-Yeley 182.667 and #33-Kennedy 182.964
most laps run: #88-Earnhardt Jr. with 49
notes: Erik Jones got fitted in the #18 Skittles Toyota, just in case Kyle Busch needs relief since it will be his first points race back in the car after his injury. #55-Ragan spun off turn 4 late in the practice and spun thru the front stretch grass, but no damage to the car.
See fastest speeds, laps run on the Practice 2 Speeds page (pdf).(5-23-2015)
Charlotte Motor Speedway Notes & Facts – Saturday – drivers:
· 527 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points paying race at Charlotte Motor Speedway; 378 in more than one. 441 drivers have competed in the Coca-Cola 600; 287 in more than one.
· NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the series in starts at Charlotte with 64. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 44 starts; followed by Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart with 31. Richard Petty and Bill Elliott have made the most Coca-Cola 600 starts with 31 each; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in 600 starts with 22.
· 45 different drivers have won at Charlotte Motor Speedway, led by Jimmie Johnson with seven wins including four Coca-Cola 600 wins – 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2014.
· 30 different drivers have won the Coca-Cola 600, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip with five; Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers with four; followed by teammates Jeff Gordon and Kasey Kahne with three each.
· Nine drivers have posted consecutive wins at Charlotte Motor Speedway, including three consecutive by NASCAR Hall of Famer Fred Lorenzen (fall 1964 and both 1965) and four straight by Jimmie Johnson (2004 and 2005 sweeps).
· A season sweep at Charlotte has occurred eight times, including each season from 2004-2007.
· Seven times from seven different drivers has the winner of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star race gone on to win the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway: Darrell Waltrip (1985), Davey Allison (1991), Dale Earnhardt (1993), Jeff Gordon (1997), Jimmie Johnson (2003), Kasey Kahne (2008) and Kurt Busch (2010).
· Richard Petty leads the series in runner-up finishes at Charlotte with nine. Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne and Matt Kenseth lead all active drivers with three.
· Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth lead all active drivers in runner-up finishes in the Coca-Cola 600 with two.
· NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Bobby Allison are tied for the series most top-five finishes at Charlotte with 23. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 17. Richard Petty leads the series in top fives in the Coca-Cola 600 with 12; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with seven.
· Richard Petty leads the series in top-10 finishes at Charlotte with 31. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 24. Darrell Waltrip, Ricky Rudd and David Pearson lead the series in top 10s in the Coca-Cola 600 with 15 each; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 12.
· Joey Logano leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Charlotte with a 10.000. Carl Edwards leads all active drivers in average finish in the Coca-Cola 600 with a 9.000.
· Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Charlotte without visiting Victory Lane at 30; followed by Ryan Newman with 28.
· Seven NASCAR Sprint Cup Series active drivers have made their first career start at Charlotte Motor Speedway: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (5/30/99), Jimmie Johnson (10/7/01), Brian Vickers (10/11/03), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (5/29/11) and Kyle Larson (10/12/13).
· Four active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers have posted their first career win at Charlotte Motor Speedway: Jeff Gordon (5/29/94), Matt Kenseth (5/28/00), Jamie McMurray (10/13/02) and Casey Mears (5/27/07).
· Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Charlotte with 1,733 laps led in 27 starts.
· Two female drivers have competed at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Janet Guthrie and Danica Patrick.
(NASCAR)(5-23-2015)
Biffle to Make 450th Career Sprint Cup Start in Coca-Cola 600: Greg Biffle will make his 450th career Sprint Cup start in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600. Biffle made his Sprint Cup debut in 2002 at Auto Club Speedway driving for Jack Roush. Over his 14 years in the series he has earned 19 wins, 88 top-five and 169 top 10 finishes while qualifying for the Chase for the Championship in six of the last seven years. “It’s kind of amazing how fast the time goes by,” said Biffle. “I remember my 300th start; we did a deal at Martinsville a few years back. It seems like it was last year or the year before, but it was 150 starts ago and that is a long time. It amazes you how fast it goes and I’ve got a lot of great memories, wins, close races and fun times. Some highlights that standout for me over the years are finishing second in points, winning four races in Michigan and winning Ford’s 1,000th win on Father’s Day. My 450th start falls on the perfect weekend, Memorial Weekend for the Coca-Cola 600 while honoring my Mom’s cousin with his name across the windshield of our Ortho Ford.” The 1,000th win for Ford on Father’s Day in 2013 was one of Biffle’s biggest victories and one of the most memorable since his daughter Emma was able to celebrate with him. Other career highlights for Biffle include a NASCAR XFINITY Championship in 2002 and a Truck Series Championship in 2000. Biffle also claimed rookie of the year honors in XFINITY and Trucks in 1998 and 2001.(Roush Fenway Racing)(5-23-2015)
Colorado Freedom featured on the #78 at CMS: the Colorado Freedom Memorial will be featured on the quarter panels of Martin Truex Jr.’s #78 Furniture Row Racing Chevy in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.(Furniture Row Facebook), see an image of the decal on the #78 Team Schemes page.(5-23-2015)
Larson could run the Indy 500 one day: Team owner [#1, #42] Chip Ganassi is leaving the door open for rising NASCAR star #42-Kyle Larson to someday compete in the Indianapolis 500. The 22-year-old Larson was signed by Ganassi as a developmental driver in 2012, shot through the Truck Series and Xfinity Series, and began racing full-time in the Sprint Cup Series last year. He has also raced for Ganassi in the 24 Hours of Daytona. Ganassi said Friday that he spoke with Larson “just yesterday” about eventually racing in the Indy 500. Ganassi has won the race four times, and has five cars in Sunday’s edition. Asked how the conversations with Larson go, Ganassi replied: “They go good all the time. We haven’t said no to him. We haven’t said yes, either.”(Associated Press)(5-23-2015)
Dale Earnhardt Jr., sister Kelley receive key to Mooresville: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his sister, Kelley Earnhardt Miller, received a ceremonial key to the town of Mooresville on Friday on behalf of JR Motorsports, the racing shop they co-own in Talbert Pointe Business Park. “All these years, I never thought we’d be getting a key to the city,” Dale Jr. said after he and his sister received the award from Mooresville Mayor Miles Atkins and town commissioners. Earnhardt Jr. brought his 5-month-old Irish setter, Gus, to the ceremony at JR Motorsports. The town presented the key in part for JR Motorsports driver Chase Elliott winning the 2014 Nationwide Series title. At 18, Elliott became the youngest champion ever of a NASCAR national series. The town also recognized JR Motorsports for having grown from just a couple of employees to more than 100.(Charlotte Observer)(5-23-2015)
Kasey Kahne Foundation Reaches $1 Million Milestone: The Kasey Kahne Foundation (“KKF”), a 501(c) 3 committed to raising awareness and funds for charities supporting chronically ill children and their families, announced today that the charitable organization surpassed $1 million in donations distributed since being founded. NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne, KKF staff and hundreds of fans celebrated the giving milestone at the annual Fan Day event at Kasey Kahne Racing shop in Mooresville, NC.(KKF)(5-23-2015)
NASCAR Race Hub dedicates Charlotte studio to Steve Byrnes: Steve Byrnes always carried a huge presence around the FOX Sports studios in Charlotte, North Carolina. From his tireless preparation, to helping those around the office and offering a word of advice to anyone that asked, Byrnes was integral to success of FOX Sports 1, “NASCAR Race Hub” and everyone around him. While Steve passed away on April 21 after a long battle with cancer, his presence will remain a permanent fixture in the Charlotte office. On Thursday, FOX Sports “NASCAR Race Hub” studio was dedicated to the memory of Steve Byrnes. After comments from FOX Sports executive vice president Steve Craddock, a moving story by FOX Sports digital content producer Branden Williams about Steve’s willingness to help a young kid, and more kind words from FOX Sports president Erick Shanks, Steve’s son Bryson helped unveil the plaque that will sit in the studio honoring his late father. The plaque includes a picture of Steve, with the following inscription: “This studio is dedicated in memory of and in upmost appreciation for the time Steve Byrnes spent not only within its four walls, but in our lives. A FOX Sports broadcaster whose career spanned three decades, Byrnes consistently led by example both on the air and off. Garnering a rare profound respect and admiration of every competitor he covered and countless colleagues he encountered. Few put more passion into their work, honesty into their friendships or effort into mentoring others than Byrnes. “His legacy of hard work, integrity and professionalism, humility, fairness and faith served as an inspiration to his thousands of friends and extended to the millions of viewers who watched him over the years. Byrnes became a tangible example of strength, courage and fortitude to all who witnessed his cancer battle and his inspiring personal campaign to be present in every moment of his family members’ lives. For his FOX Sports family, his family is forever present in this studio and in our hearts.” The commemorative plaque ends with the signoff Byrnes would always end his shows with, “Have an awesome night.”(FoxSports)(5-23-2015)
XFINITY Entry List:There are 38 cars on the preliminary entry list for Saturday’s Buckle Up 200 at Dover International Speedway. A few notes:
BJ McLeod is back in the RWR #15;
Jeff Green stays in the #19 for TriStar;
Matt Kenseth will drive the JRG #20;
Ryan Blaney remains in the Penske #22;
CJ Faison will be in the #26 for JGL;
Brennan Poole is back in the #42;
Erik Jones will drive the #54 for Gibbs;
Kasey Kahne will be in the #88 for JR Motorsports;
Morgan Shepherd is entered in his #89.(5-23-2015)
See the complete list on the Dover entry list page.
Austin Dillon wins XFINITY race at Charlotte: #33-Austin Dillon won the Hisense 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. #54-Denny Hamlin finished second, followed by #5-Kasey Kahne, #7-Regan Smith, #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr., #18-Daniel Suarez, #3-Ty Dillon, #9-Chase Elliott, #1-Elliott Sadler, and #22-Ryan Blaney.
There were 3 cautions for 22 laps and 9 lead changes among 7 leaders. Complete results are on the Charlotte race results page (pdf).
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Charlotte Race & Points Report (pdf).(5-23-2015)
Charlotte XFINITY Race Fast Facts:
Austin Dillon won the 34th Annual Hisense 300 , his fourth victory in 87 NASCAR XFINITY Series races. All four of Dillon’s victories have been from the pole.
This is his second victory and seventh top-10 finish in 2015.
This is his first victory and third top-10 finish in five races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Denny Hamlin (second) posted his sixth top-10 finish in ten races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his fourth top-10 finish in 2015.
Kasey Kahne (third) posted his sixth top-10 finish in 21 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Darrell Wallace Jr. (fifth) was the highest finishing rookie.
The four drivers who have qualified for the Dash 4 Cash at Dover: Regan Smith, Darrell Wallace Jr., Daniel Suarez and Ty Dillon.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(5-23-2015)
XFINITY Driver standings following Charlotte:
1) #60-Chris Buescher 401
2) #3- Ty Dillon 397, -4
3) #9-Chase Elliott 373, -28
4) #6- Darrell Wallace Jr. # 371, -30
5) #7-Regan Smith 360, -41
6) #1-Elliott Sadler 352, -49
7) #2-Brian Scott 350, -51
8) #16- Ryan Reed 320, -81
9) #18-Daniel Suarez # 320, -81
10) #62-Brendan Gaughan 309, -92
See complete owner and driver standings on the driver standings(pdf) and owner standings page (pdf).(5-23-2015)
Austin Dillon on XFINITY pole at Charlotte: #33-Austin Dillon won the Coors Light pole for the Hisense 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a speed of 184.615mph. #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr. will start second. The rest of the top 10: #2-Brian Scott, #54-Denny Hamlin, #42-Kyle Larson, #98-Aric Almirola, #20-Erik Jones, #5-Kasey Kahne, #3-Ty Dillon, and #16-Ryan Reed. Did Not Qualify: #70-Derrike Cope & #74-Mike Harmon. The starting lineup is posted on the Charlotte starting lineup page (pdf).(5-23-2015)
Charlotte XFINITY Qualifying Notes:
Austin Dillon won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 34th Annual Hisense 300 with a lap of 29.250 seconds, 184.615 mph.
This is his 14th pole in 87 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his fourth pole and eighth top-10 start in 2015.
This is his second pole in five races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Darrell Wallace Jr. (second) posted his fifth top-10 start of 2015 and his first in one races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Brian Scott (third) posted his eighth top-10 start at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his ninth in 11 races this season.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(5-23-2015)
News from May 22, 2015
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 #20-Kenseth chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #22-Logano took pit stall 2, right behind Kenseth.
#19-Edwards, who starts 3rd took the 15th pit stall, the first pit stall with an opening in front of it.
The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #2-Keselowski, who starts 6th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com’s Pit Stall Selection chart.(5-22-2015)
Penske wants to run Blaney full time in 2016 UPDATE: Roger Penske wants Ryan Blaney to run a full NASCAR Sprint Cup season in 2016 with the Wood Brothers. Blaney, a Team Penske development driver, has been farmed out to the Wood Brothers for about 18 Cup races this year. Blaney has made four starts so far this season and finished a career-best fourth at Talladega three weeks ago. A lack of available seats has made it difficult for Penske to give Blaney many opportunities, and the Wood Brothers alliance has worked well for both sides. “This is a partnership really with Woods’ people and ours,” Penske said before Saturday night’s All-Star race. “We’ve got the technology and the ability to build the right pieces for them. It’s like a brother-in-law.” Penske said he’s not interested at this time in expanding his Cup program to three cars, but would like Blaney to run the full schedule in the #21 Ford assuming funding is found for the 21-year-old. “I’d hope there can be an extension – we’re going to run him in about 18 races, so if we can get sponsorship for him, that gives him a chance to take a look at extending that through a full season next year. That would be our goal,” Penske said.(Associated Press)(5-17-2015) UPDATE: Officials with Wood Brothers Racing said Thursday that the legendary team could run a full 36-race schedule today in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series, something the team hasn’t done since 2006. But, said co-owner Len Wood at Charlotte Motor Speedway, “you’ve got to pay for it. We could go run ’em all (now), but it wouldn’t be pretty. And with that being said, I don’t think you could keep a sponsor like that either.”(NASCAR.com)(5-22-2015)
Charlotte Motor Speedway Notes & Facts – Friday – history:
· Construction began on Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS) in 1959.
· The track’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on June 19, 1960 – won by Joe Lee Johnson.
· 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.
(NASCAR)(5-22-2015)
Johnson shocked over warning: #48-Jimmie Johnson, met with members of the media at Charlotte Motor Speedway and was asked about the warning NASCAR gave the team over the flared skirts. Q) WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO THE WARNING YOUR TEAM RECEIVED FOR THE ISSUE WITH THE SIDE SKIRTS IN THE ALL-STAR RACE? Johnson: “The warning…we were very shocked to even hear that there was an issue with the side skirts. I think leaving the racetrack NASCAR was upset and thought there was a lot more intent and something going wrong with the side skirt being pulled out. Then as video became available and they looked through it and watched and saw what was done, it calmed down. We were shocked to hear that there was an issue and actually we had crash damage on the right-side of the car. Then it certainly turned out that way.”(Team Chevy)(5-22-2015)
Documents: Kurt Busch’s ex-girlfriend used veterans’ charity as bank: An ESPN Outside the Lines investigation has found several questionable practices at the Armed Forces Foundation charity under Patricia Driscoll’s (CEO) direction in the past decade. Driscoll is the former girlfriend of NASCAR driver #41-Kurt Busch. The couple made headlines last year when Driscoll accused Busch of strangling her and smashing her head into a wall during an argument. Driscoll was recognized as president of the Armed Forces Foundation, a charity aligned with NASCAR and various sports-related entities that aims to help veterans in need. Documents show the Armed Forces Foundation has, in effect, been repeatedly used as a bank to lend money for or pay various personal expenses, including bills for a private company Driscoll owns. The foundation claims it spends 95 cents of every dollar raised on directly supporting service members and their families, but analysis of documents shows the figure is closer to 72 cents. Outside the Lines has learned, on Thursday morning a representative of a former foundation employee contacted the FBI in Washington, alleging that Driscoll broke laws while running the foundation.(see full story at ESPN.com)(5-22-2015)
NASCAR racers notice IndyCar’s safety team: The quick response of the IndyCar Series safety team in saving James Hinchcliffe from suffering catastrophic blood loss in his accident Monday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway demonstrated the critical role the series-hired safety team plays in driver care. NASCAR doesn’t have its own safety team, instead relying on the tracks to hire the doctors and emergency medical technicians who treat the drivers. While NASCAR requires an emergency response plan, holds an annual safety worker summit as well as weekly meetings at the tracks hosting each event and can dictate staffing requirements to the tracks, NASCAR’s traveling medical staff consists primarily of nurses who keep driver files and know their medical histories. Drivers talked with NASCAR after Kyle Busch’s accident earlier this year about the week-to-week staffing levels and training. Busch suffered a broken right leg and broken left foot in an accident Feb. 21 at Daytona International Speedway in one of the most crushing wrecks in recent years.
“NASCAR is adamant that having true ER folks that every single day fight in the ER room to save people’s lives are the best people to have in place here on a weekend for us,” six-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson said Thursday. “In my heart, I feel like there is maybe a hybrid version where, yes, we have those EMTs here, but we also have people that are very sharp and NASCAR-specific, car-specific, know the drivers, know our cockpits. I know that NASCAR briefs them and works with them on all that.” With the tracks primarily owned by two companies, it is not unusual for doctors and first responders to work at multiple tracks.
“Once [NASCAR] explained the process and how the doctors and things were chosen was definitely kind of eye-opening as to how much money and time were spent to make sure they have the right people at every race track — and really the longevity of the staff,” Kevin Harvick said.(full story at ESPN)(5-22-2015)
Hill returns to Empire for Dover: Georgia Racer Austin Hill who was inducted into the NASCAR NEXT class for the second straight season returns to Empire Racing Group once again to run the NCWTS at Dover International Speedway in the Lucas Oil 200 race Friday night, on May 29th, 2015. Hill sits second in the K&N Pro Series East championship standings (just three markers from the points lead) through the opening three races this season.(Empire Racing Group)(5-22-2015)
News from May 21, 2015
Kenseth wins Charlotte pole: #20-Matt Kenseth won the Coors Light pole for the Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway with speed of 194.252mph for his 2nd pole of 2015, 1st at Charlotte and 15th of his career.
#22-Logano is on the outside pole followed by #19-Edwards, #16-Biffle, #11-Hamlin, #2-Keselowski, #55-Ragan, #4-Harvick, #42-Larson, #78-Truex Jr., #3-Dillon and #14-Stewart.
All five Hendrick Motorsports [5,24,25,48,88] entries failed to advance to the final round of knockout qualifying.
Missing the race were: #26-Burton, #32-Bliss, #39-Kvapil, #30-Green and #62-Gaughan.
See the starting lineup, qualifying results round-by-round, qualifying order and more on Jayski.com’s Charlotte Starting Lineup / Qualifying Page.(5-21-2015)
Qualifying Fast Facts – Charlotte:
#20-Matt Kenseth won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 56th Annual COCA-COLA 600 with a lap of 27.799 seconds, 194.252 mph.
This is his 15th pole in 556 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his second pole and eighth top-10 start in 2015. Kenseth’s first pole of the season came at Bristol.
This is his first pole in 32 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. His previous best start at Charlotte was second in October 2011.
#22-Joey Logano (second) posted his 10th top-10 start of 2015 and his third in 13 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
#19-Carl Edwards (third) posted his seventh top-10 start at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his sixth in 12 races this season.
(NASCAR Statistics)(5-21-2015)
Rookie of the Year Candidates Qualifying Results:
#26-Jeb Burton, DNQ
#33-Alex Kennedy, starts 43rd
#34-Brett Moffitt, starts 40th
#83-Matt DiBenedetto, starts 42nd
Second Round of Qualifying for the Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over after 10 scheduled minutes.
#4-Harvick 193.819
#20-Kenseth 193.764
#14-Stewart 193.327
#19-Edwards 193.175
#55-Ragan 193.029
the rest of the top 12: 78 11 22 16 2 3 42;
out of the top 12 and not advancing to round 3: 48 41 88 21 18 24 31 10 43 1 27 15
(5-21-2015)
First Round of Qualifying for the Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over, after 20 scheduled minutes.
#20-Kenseth 193.458
#4-Harvick 193.119
#55-Ragan 192.905
#24-Gordon 192.898
#2-Keselowski 192.857
the rest of the top 24: 14 18 19 1 41 16 42 11 78 21 88 31 3 10 48 27 22 43 15;
out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 95 9 6 25 17 47 7 40 5 13 51 46 35 98 26 38 32 39 34 23 83 30 33 62
Drivers who will miss the race: #26-Burton, #32-Bliss, #39-Kvapil, #30-Green and #62-Gaughan .
(5-21-2015)
Coverage of Qualifying for the Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled for Thursday, May 21, 2015 at 7:15pm/et. Television (TV): FS1, 7:00pm/et Radio: Live online at Performance Racing Network (PRN) Scheduled Qualifying Re-Air: Friday, May 22 at 4:30am/et on FS1 and 11:30am/et on FS1.
Qualifying Order for the Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is posted. 48 cars/drivers are listed.
The first of the drivers lined up on pit road is #41-Kurt Busch
The final driver lined up on pit road is #83-Matt DiBenedetto.
Pit road lineup order is set by a random draw, held about an hour before the first practice.
See the full qualifying order on Jayski.com’s Charlotte Qualifying Page.(5-21-2015)
Thursday practice for the Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over, after 85 minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes.
#19-Edwards 192.273
#48-Johnson 191.673
#5-Kahne 191.639
#4-Harvick 191.442
#55-Ragan 191.435
slowest: #62-Gaughan 180.060 & #33-Kennedy 181.855
most laps run: #42-Larson with 19
See fastest speeds, laps run on the Practice 1 Speeds page (pdf).(5-21-2015)
Jeff Gordon joins the NASCAR Sprint Cup Broadcast booth in 2016: Jeff Gordon joins FOX NASCAR fulltime in 2016 as race analyst for its 16th year of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series coverage, teaming with three-time champion Darrell Waltrip to offer seven championships’ worth of expertise. Gordon, currently competing in his 23rd and final fulltime Sprint Cup Series season, served as race analyst for FOX Sports’ coverage of three NASCAR XFINITY Series races this year. He has agreed to a multi-year contract that begins this season with in-race reporting from the #24 Chevy during select Cup Series races, and segues to an analyst role that commences with Daytona Speedweeks in February 2016. “NASCAR has provided me so many incredible memories, experiences and opportunities throughout my 23 years as a driver, and I can’t wait to start a new chapter in racing with this new relationship with FOX and to be in the booth with Mike (Joy) and Darrell,” said Gordon. “I feel so lucky to be a part of a sport that I’m very passionate about, and now I get the opportunity to share that passion to millions of race fans from a whole new perspective.”
Gordon will call all NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, practice and qualifying sessions for FOX Sports alongside play-by-play announcer Mike Joy and NASCAR Hall of Famer and analyst Darrell Waltrip. Chris Myers hosts the network’s coverage alongside analysts Larry McReynolds and Michael Waltrip.
“Jeff is not only a champion but an icon of a racing generation,” said Eric Shanks, FOX Sports President, COO & Executive Producer. “We are thrilled he has chosen to become a part of the FOX Sports family and pair his experience with Darrell. Each is credited with helping elevate NASCAR to the popularity it attained in his respective era, and alongside Mike Joy, this duo will treat fans to unmatched insights each and every week.”
FOX Sports, which began its FOX NASCAR coverage in 2001, currently is in the first of a 10-year media rights agreement with NASCAR. In 2013, FOX Sports extended its agreement with NASCAR, ensuring the FOX family of networks’ broadcast of the first 16 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races each season beginning in 2015, as well as the first 14 NASCAR XFINITY Series races of the season and all NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events, through 2024.(FOX)(2-21-2015)
Charlotte Motor Speedway Notes & Facts – Thursday – poles:
· Fireball Roberts won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway (World 600) in 1960 with a speed of 133.904 mph.
· 42 drivers have Coors Light poles at Charlotte, led by David Pearson with 14. Ryan Newman and Jeff Gordon lead all active drivers in poles at CMS with nine.
· David Pearson and Ryan Newman are tied for the series most Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Sprint Cup Coors Light poles with six each; followed by Jeff Gordon with five.
· 12 drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Charlotte. David Pearson holds the record for most consecutive poles at Charlotte with 11; from the fall of 1973 through 1978.
· Jeff Gordon won five straight Coca-Cola 600 poles at Charlotte between 1994 and 1998.
· Four active drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway: Jeff Gordon (10/10/93), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (5/28/00), Ryan Newman (5/27/01) and Aric Almirola (5/27/12).
· 15 of the 112 (13.3%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Charlotte have been won from the Coors Light pole; the most recent was Jimmie Johnson in 2014 (Coca-Cola 600).
· The second-place starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (17) than any other starting position at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
· 32 of the 112 (28.5%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Charlotte have been won from the front row: 15 from the pole and 17 from second-place.
· 85 of the 112 (75.8%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Charlotte have been won from a top-10 starting position.
· Nine of the 112 (8.0%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Charlotte have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Charlotte is 37th, by Jimmie Johnson in the Coca-Cola 600 of 2003.
· Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Charlotte with a 7.630.
· Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway twice; the fall race of 2002 and the fall race of 2008.
(NASCAR)(5-21-2015)
Special scheme at Charlotte for Bowyer: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series continues its “home” visit in Charlotte this weekend. The sport’s longest race of the year is a Memorial Day tradition at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Another tradition is honoring those who serve and have served. Clint Bowyer’s #15 Cherry 5-hour ENERGY Toyota will be outfitted in red, white and blue colors with a special decal for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation again this weekend. A portion of sales from a special cherry 5-hour ENERGY bottle now through July 31 goes to the organization that supports the military’s special operations forces and their families through college scholarships, family services, and financial stipends. Bowyer’s windshield also honors the service of his paternal grandfather, Dale E. Bowyer. The special windshield decal is a part of NASCAR’s 600 Miles of Remembrance, honoring military service members and their families. Dale E. Bowyer is Clint Bowyer’s paternal grandfather and was a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Army. He won the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism while fighting the armed enemy in Germany during World War II.(MWR), see images of the scheme on the #15 Team Schemes page.(5-21-2015)
Special Military scheme for the #38 at Charlotte: Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores gives a personal look at how “The Unknown Soldier” was chosen for the windshield name decal on David Gilliland’s #38 Ford for the Coke 600. Charles “Wahoo” Sampson’s main job each week for the Front Row Motorsports team is to get the Love’s #38 driven by David Gilliland to its racetrack destination on time. The car he delivers to the Charlotte Motor Speedway days before the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend will be extra special. And it will have his imprint on the windshield. In honor of those killed in service of the United States, NASCAR is displaying the names of fallen soldiers on race cars, the specifics of which were up to the teams, sponsors and drivers. Front Row looked to their 47-year-old team member, a Marine who has served many tours of duty and who lost a number of brothers during that time. Wahoo picked “The Unknown Soldier,” dedicated to all soldiers of all ranks and all branches and dates of service who made the ultimate sacrifice for America. Wahoo said he couldn’t identify just one person to remember. Wahoo prefers not to go into detail about his time in combat, only noting that he’s immensely grateful to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.(Loves Travel Stops), see images of the scheme on the #38 Team Schemes page.(5-21-2015)
Hamlin Tries To Become Eighth Driver To Sweep May Charlotte Races: #11-Denny Hamlin led the final 10 laps of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race after beating the field off pit road for the Segment 5 restart to give Joe Gibbs Racing its first victory in the event since entering the NSCS in 1992. Hamlin’s triumph was JGR’s first on a 1.5-mile track since he won the 2013 season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. If Hamlin can parlay his weekend success into a win in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, he will become the eighth driver to sweep the Charlotte May races, joining Darrell Waltrip (1985), Davey Allison (1991), Dale Earnhardt (1993), Jeff Gordon (1997), Jimmie Johnson (2003), Kasey Kahne (2008) and Kurt Busch (2010).(NASCAR)(5-21-2015)
Son delivers Byrnes’ NASCAR Hall of Fame vote: As the esteemed NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel gathered Wednesday in Charlotte to deliberate on who will be selected for the 2016 NASCAR Hall of Fame class, an equally esteemed single ballot arrived to be counted among the votes. Completing that ballot was one of the last things longtime broadcaster Steve Byrnes did before passing away from cancer on April 21. His 12-year-old son Bryson and wife Karen made the surprise special delivery. Then the voting panel, which includes the sport’s legends such as NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty, Junior Johnson and Ned Jarrett, posed with Bryson in honor of the sixth-grader’s father — a beloved member of the NASCAR family and highly respected member of the media.(NASCAR.com)(5-21-2015)
Monsam named crew chief for #97 team: NASCAR veteran John Monsam has been named the new crew chief for Obaika Racing and the #97 car. Monsam, a native of Connecticut has worked in K&N, ARCA, Truck and Xfinity during his racing career and has won 8 races with 5 different drivers in the Truck Series. He was the 1994 runner up crew chief in points for the Sprint Cup. John Monsam: “I am looking forward to the opportunity to develop a young up-start team into a top tier organization. After speaking with Mr. Obaika, I was impressed with the goals he has set forth for this team. I look forward to being a part of those goals and helping to achieve them. I look forward to working with Peyton Sellers.”(Obaika Racing)(5-21-2015)
Long, Affarano Motorsports part ways: From the Affarano Motorsports Facebook page, “Johanna Long is no longer driving for Affarano Motorsports. After careful consideration and conversations back and forth with Johanna, all parties involved decided that us releasing her from her contract with us was for the best. While this is certainly not an outcome we wanted and, though we have some very lofty goals, there is no mistake that we are a very small and limited funded team and we in no way want to hamper Johanna’s pursuit of her own goals and career. We sincerely wish nothing but the best for Johanna and hope that she achieves the goals that she has set for herself, while we continue to actively work hard in pursuing our own.”(5-21-2015)
Anderson’s Maple Syrup on the #7: A new sponsor for JR Motorsports this season is Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup, a family-owned company that has been producing pure maple syrup for more than 85 years. The company colors will fly from the #7 Chevrolet driven by Regan Smith, and will again in July at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup is available at discerning grocery stores around the country.(JR Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #7 team paint schemes page.(5-21-2015)
Ty Dillon fastest in happy hour: #3-Ty Dillon was quickest during happy hour for the Hisense 300 with a speed of 181.068mph. He was followed by: #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr., #62-Brendan Gaughan, #33-Austin Dillon, #22-Ryan Blaney, #5-Kasey Kahne, #1-Elliott Sadler, #20-Erik Jones, #98-Aric Almirola, and #9-Chase Elliott. All 42 drivers participated in the session. See complete results on the Charlotte practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(5-21-2014)
Darrell Wallace, Jr. fastest in first practice: #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr. was fastest during opening practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a speed of 180.536Xmph. #33-Austin Dillon was second, followed by: #2-Brian Scott, #60-Chris Buescher, #20-Erik Jones, #22-Ryan Blaney, #9-Chase Elliott, #42-Kyle Larson, #20-Denny Hamlins, and #3-Ty Dillon. 40 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Charlotte practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(5-21-2014)
News from May 20, 2015
2016 NASCAR Hall Of Fame Class Announced: NASCAR announced the inductees who will comprise the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2016. The five-person group – the seventh in NASCAR Hall of Fame history – consists of Jerry Cook, Bobby Isaac, Terry Labonte, O. Bruton Smith and Curtis Turner. In addition, NASCAR announced that Harold Brasington won the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. Next year’s Induction Ceremony is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. The NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel met today in a closed session in Charlotte to debate and vote upon the 20 nominees for the induction class of 2016 and the five nominees for the Landmark Award. NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France and NASCAR Vice Chairman Mike Helton announced the class and Landmark Award winner, respectively, this evening in the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Great Hall.
The Class of 2016 was determined by votes cast by the Voting Panel, including 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, a nationwide fan vote conducted through NASCAR.com and, for the second year, the reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion (Kevin Harvick). In all, 57 votes were cast, with two additional Voting Panel members recused from voting as potential nominees for induction (Jerry Cook and Robert Yates). The accounting firm of Ernst & Young presided over the tabulation of the votes. Voting was as follows: O. Bruton Smith (68%), Terry Labonte (61%), Curtis Turner (60%), Jerry Cook (47%) and Bobby Isaac (44%).
The next top vote-getters were Red Byron, Benny Parsons and Rick Hendrick. Results for the NASCAR.com Fan Vote, in alphabetical order, were Buddy Baker, Alan Kulwicki, Terry Labonte, Mark Martin and Benny Parsons.
The five inductees came from a group of 20 nominees that included, in addition to the five inductees chosen: Buddy Baker, Red Byron, Richard Childress, Ray Evernham, Ray Fox, Rick Hendrick, Harry Hyde, Alan Kulwicki, Mark Martin, Hershel McGriff, Raymond Parks, Benny Parsons, Larry Phillips, Mike Stefanik and Robert Yates.
Nominees for the Landmark Award included Brasington, H.Clay Earles, Raymond Parks, Ralph Seagraves and Ken Squier. It is awarded to competitors or those working in the sport who have acted as a NASCAR ambassador through a professional or non-professional role. Anne B. France won the inaugural award last year. Class of 2016 Inductees: Jerry Cook made his name in modifieds, winning six NASCAR Modified championships, including four consecutively from 1974-77. All the while, he was vying with another driver from his hometown of Rome, New York, nine-time champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Richie Evans, for supremacy in NASCAR’s open-wheel realm. After retiring from racing in 1982, Cook stayed with the sport and helped shape the series known today as the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Cook served as the series’ director when it began in 1985 and remains with NASCAR as competition administrator. Bobby Isaac’s uncanny skill at drawing speed from a race car puts him on a short list of NASCAR legends. His 49 career poles ranks 10th all time. Maybe more impressive: Isaac captured 19 poles in 1969, which still stands as the record for poles in a single season. Isaac began racing in NASCAR’s premier series in 1961. He finished runner-up in the series standings in 1968 behind NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson. In 1969, he finished sixth in the standings after posting 17 wins and those 19 poles. In 1970, Isaac won the championship posting 11 victories, 32 top fives and 38 top 10s in 47 starts. Isaac won 37 races in NASCAR’s top series, ranking 19th on the all-time list. Terry Labonte is a two-nickname NASCAR star. Early in his career he was known as the “Iceman” for his coolness under pressure. But his demeanor belied his determination. Later in his career he became known as the sport’s “Iron Man” thanks to 665 consecutive starts in NASCAR’s premier series, a record which stood until 2002. Winning two premier series championships, in 1984 and ’96, is impressive; the 12-year gap distinguishes Labonte further. No other driver has won his first two championships that far apart and Labonte is one of only six drivers with championships in two decades. Labonte’s stellar career is tucked between perfect bookends – his two Southern 500 wins, in 1980 and 2003. His 361 top-10 finishes ranks 10th all time. O. Bruton Smith, executive chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc., promoted his first stock car race in Midland, North Carolina at the age of 18. Smith’s early endeavors included operating the National Stock Car Racing Association – seen as an early competitor to NASCAR – and building Charlotte Motor Speedway. CMS became the foundation of Speedway Motorsports Inc., which currently owns eight NASCAR tracks hosting 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events, the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and additional high-profile motorsports activities. Smith took SMI public in 1995, the first motorsports company to be traded at the New York Stock Exchange. He was inducted into the North Carolina Business Hall of Fame and National Motorsports Press Association’s Hall of Fame, both in 2006; and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2007. Curtis Turner, called by some the “Babe Ruth of stock car racing,” was among the fastest and most colorful competitors in the early years of NASCAR premier series racing. Turner competed in NASCAR’s first “Strictly Stock” race in 1949 in Charlotte and was the only driver to win a NASCAR premier series race in a Nash. He posted his first of 17 career victories in only his fourth start on Sept. 11, 1949, at Langhorne (Pennsylvania) Speedway. Although many of Turner’s victories came on short tracks and dirt ovals – much of his career pre-dated NASCAR’s superspeedway era – he won the 1956 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway and the first American 500 at Rockingham Speedway in 1965. He remains the only series driver to win two consecutive races from the pole leading every lap. He also won 38 of 79 races in which he competed in the NASCAR Convertible Division. Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR: Harold Brasington, a South Carolina businessman, believed in Bill France’s fledgling NASCAR business, created the sanctioning body’s first superspeedway – a one-of-a-kind egg-shaped oval, paved on an old cotton and peanut field. Expecting 10,000 fans to show up at Darlington Raceway’s first competition on Labor Day of 1950, 25,000 spectators showed up for the inaugural Southern 500 – NASCAR’s first 500-mile race. Darlington’s success inspired Brasington to extend his reach north — to North Carolina. He employed his track building and promoting expertise, helping in the creation of Charlotte Motor Speedway and building North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham, NC.(NASCAR)(5-20-2015)
Top 10 Driver Ratings at Charlotte
#48-Jimmie Johnson 111.6
#18-Kyle Busch 106.7
#5-Kasey Kahne 100.8
#20-Matt Kenseth 95.5
#11-Denny Hamlin 92.8
#24-Jeff Gordon 91.6
#19-Carl Edwards 89.6
#16-Greg Biffle 88.7
#22-Joey Logano 88.4
#2-Brad Keselowski 86.5
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2014 races (19 total) among active drivers at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Formula combining the following categories: Win, Finish, Top-15 Finish, Average Running Position while on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.
See an explanation how the Driver Rating is calculated at NASCAR.com.(NASCAR)
Tommy Baldwin Racing Welcomes CULER Aboard: Tommy Baldwin Racing welcomes CULERaboard the #7 Chevrolet at the Coca-Cola 600. CULER space coolers can drop the air temperature as much as 30 degrees. Made in the USA and featuring multi-patented technology, CULER products provide industry-leading effectiveness and efficiency. The home sized space coolers operate on as much energy as a 40-watt lightbulb. This is CULER’s first time sponsoring a car in NASCAR, but their products have been involved within the midway at NASCAR events in the past. “It’s great to see CULER want to become further involved in NASCAR,” said team owner Tommy Baldwin. “Many race fans are familiar with their product from seeing them at the track and now will be able to associate a name with the innovative cooling technology.”
“CULER is very proud and excited to support Tommy Baldwin Racing and driver Alex Bowman for the Memorial Day weekend race at Charlotte,” said Jeff Badovick, Chief Executive Officer of CULER. “Our CULER associates wish Alex and TBR a solid run and great finish.”(TBR), see an image of the scheme on the #7 Team Schemes page.(5-20-2015)
Twisted Tea Adds Races with Hornish and #9 Team: After serving as the primary sponsor of the #9 Ford Fusion team for select races beginning in 2014, Twisted Tea Brewing Company has once again increased their partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) by adding two additional races to their 2015 schedule. The Twisted Tea colors will return to the #9 Ford beginning this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600 and the following weekend at Dover International Speedway for the FedEx 400 Benefiting Autism Speaks. It was announced earlier this year that the hard iced tea company will serve as the primary sponsor for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway in July. They also opened the season as the primary sponsor during Hornish’s debut with RPM (in the Daytona 500). “We’ve received a strong response from our drinkers and NASCAR fans regarding our relationship with Richard Petty Motorsports and Sam Hornish Jr.,” said Robert Vail, member of the Twisted Tea team. “The Coca-Cola 600 falls on a unique weekend when we take time to honor our nation’s military and those that serve. It also happens to be one of the biggest weekends for motorsports and the unofficial kick-off of summer. It will be great to have the Twisted Tea colors back on the No. 9 car this weekend as well as next weekend at Dover.”(RPM), see images of the scheme on the #9 Team Schemes page.(5-20-2015)
Congrats – Brad Keselowski: #2-Brad Keselowski and his girlfriend, Paige White, welcomed a baby girl into the world on Twitter on Wednesday morning.(NASCAR.com)(5-20-2015)
A second team for Furniture Row Racing? #78-Furniture Row Racing is enjoying its most successful start to a season in the 10-year history of the organization. Martin Truex Jr. has piloted the #78 Chevy to 10 top-10 finishes in the first 11 races of the year, and sits second in driver standings. This has come with a single-car operation based in Denver, CO. However, Furniture Row general manager Joe Garone says that may change. “Long-term, we’re constantly looking for sponsorships to come on the 78 with Furniture Row and also to start a second team down the road to help support the overall effort,” Garone said. A single-car team for the entirety of its existence, Furniture Row Racing has finally started to see success under that setup. However, Garone believes if funding was found, there would be few reservations about expanding to a second car. “Being a single-car for so long and now feeling like we’re getting it to work really well, you feel like now is the time to go ahead and look at bringing something else on,” Garone said. “You feel like you don’t have to go through all the learning processes that you go through building a single-car team; you’ve kind of gone through that. We look forward to going through that process. Again, it all comes down to raising the money,” he said. Another key part of the equation would be finding a driver. Garone said the team is not that far along in the process and needs to focus on finding the funding before searching for drivers. “Generally in that process there are companies that have their eye on a driver and the team has an eye on a driver and you kind of combine that together,” he said. “When that bridge is crossed, we’ll figure it out then.” With Barney Visser owning both the team and the sponsor, the organization has been able to field the #78 without an additional major primary sponsor, but Garone says doing that for a second driver would be a challenge.(FoxSports)(5-20-2015)
Charlotte Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Xfinity Series will run the same Goodyear tire codes at Charlotte this week . . . all tires will be branded with “Support Our Troops” as part of the Goodyear Gives Back program . . . while these teams have run this left-side tire code at Charlotte since 2012, last weekend at Charlotte was the first time NASCAR teams raced on this right-side code . . . this right-side is a Goodyear multi-zone tread tire, which incorporates two distinct compounds on the same tire — one for endurance and heat resistance on the inboard two inches of the tread and one for traction on the outboard 10 inches . . . this inboard (Endurance Zone) features the same compound that was run on the same zone at Texas, while this outboard (Traction Zone) features the compound run at Charlotte last year . . . this tire set-up was first tested at Charlotte in December, and was confirmed in a March 10 tire test at the track with drivers #43-Aric Almirola, #5-Kasey Kahne, #78-Martin Truex Jr. and #23-J.J. Yeley . . . 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’s “Spirit of Innovation” will be in the air over Charlotte Motor Speedway this Saturday and Sunday . . . this airship is based out of Pompano Beach, Fla., and will provide images for Fox Sports’ broadcasts of the NASCAR Xfinity and Sprint Cup races.(Goodyear), see tire codes, tire pressures, set limits and more on the Charlotte Race Info page.(5-20-2015)
Car owners get access to new NASCAR Media Group data: Sports Business Journal reports that car owners have gained access to some of NASCAR Media Group’s data, including an overview of its operations and some top-line financial information. Sports Business Journal, citing multiple sources, said in a story Monday that MWR co-owner Rob Kauffman discussed sharing information related to NASCAR Media Group to a larger group of team principles with Brent Dewar, NASCAR chief operating officer, to gain a better understanding of the unit. Kauffman, chairman of the Race Team Alliance, told Sports Business Journal: “There’s definitely been an increase in communication. It’s in everyone’s interest because we’re all in the sport together. There’s been a better understanding between NASCAR and the teams of, ‘Where are the costs? What are the big cost drivers? What are the revenue drivers? Where are there opportunities to save and grow?’ And the only way you get that is by having fairly open dialogue. … We’re trying to work together to address an issue.”(Sports Business Journal)(5-20-2015)
Cope names Charlotte Sponsors: Derrike Cope Racing #70 has a completely locally sponsored race car for the Charlotte Xfinity Race on May 23rd. In honor of the homegrown hard working business owners in the Lake Norman area, DCR welcomes primary sponsor Gravely with The Power Outlet, and associates Circle Track Warehouse, E and R Commercial Tire, Carolina Pie Company, and Davino’s Pizza and Wings. The Power Outlet offers quality outdoor equipment products and service for the homeowner, as well as for the professional landscaper and lawn maintenance companies with two locations to serve you in Mooresville and Huntersville. Locally owned and operated E & R Commercial Tires sells new, used, and retread tires as well as road calls and fleet service. Circle Track Warehouse of Mooresville buys, sells, trades and consigns new and used race parts. Carolina Pie Company at 136 Stutts Rd in Mooresville serves up fresh homemade pies from scratch every day. Offering dozens of pies from fruit to custard and chess pies some of Derrike Cope’s family favorites are coconut cream, strawberry, peach crumble and chocolate peanut butter. Davino’s Queens Pizza (across from Lowe’s) in Mooresville makes everything from scratch from their New York style pizza dough, to sauces, and even grinding their own cheese daily.(Derrike Cope Racing)(5-20-2015)
Kyle Fowler in the #26 at Charlotte: JGL Racing announced Kyle Fowler will pilot the team’s #26 PowerAll Toyota for the running of the Hisense 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway this Saturday. This will mark Fowler’s 16th career start in the NASCAR XFINITY Series but the first with JGL Racing. Fowler has four previous NASCAR XFINITY Series starts at the Concord, North Carolina track with a best finish of 23rd. He also competed in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at the track last weekend where he came home with a 20th place finish. The #26 Toyota will be joined by primary sponsor PowerAll this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. PowerAll is the award winning #1 selling lithium battery power jump starter in North America, South America, Asia, Australia and Africa. Based in Los Angeles, California – PowerAll is an ISO 9001 and ISO/TS 16949 certified manufacturer of automotive and lithium battery products.(JGL Racing / Integrity Sports Marketing)(5-20-2015)
Dash 4 Cash kicks off at Charlotte: A $1 million prize is on the line again for the NASCAR XFINITY Series. In its seventh consecutive year, the “Dash 4 Cash” program is back and new tracks highlight its schedule. For the first time, Charlotte Motor Speedway will host the “Dash 4 Cash” qualifier, which will determine the four eligible drivers that will compete for one of four $100,000 payouts throughout the season. Following Saturday’s Hisense 300, the four Dash 4 Cash events will include: Dover (May 30), Indianapolis (July 25), Bristol (August 21) and Darlington (September 5). At Charlotte, the top four finishers who are eligible to receive NASCAR XFINITY Series driver points will qualify for the first Dash 4 Cash race at Dover.(NASCAR)(5-20-2015)
Lt. Governors, Military Families To Honor Veterans at Coca-Cola 600: Two lieutenant governors, the head of the USO and the wife of a military hero will serve as race officials for the 2015 Coca-Cola 600, the nation’s largest Memorial Day Weekend celebration. Dawn Seif, wife of fallen Marine SSgt. Andrew Seif, will be Grand Marshal; USO CEO & President J.D. Crouch II will be Co-Grand Marshal; West Virginia Senate President Lt. Gov. Bill Cole will serve as Honorary Starter; and North Carolina’s Lt. Gov. Dan Forest will serve as Honorary Race Director for the 56th running of NASCAR’s only 600-mile race at the famed Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 24.
As race officials, Cole and Forest will be honored at a pre-race event, attend the official drivers meeting, address the crowd of nearly 100,000 fans, participate in the pre-race spectacular and present the trophy to the winning driver in Victory Lane. As Co-Grand Marshal, Crouch will introduce Seif as the Grand Marshal. Seif will give the race command, while Cole will wave the green flag over the 43-car field to start NASCAR’s most challenging race. As Honorary Race Director, Forest will ride in an official pace car.
Dawn Bredeweg and SSgt. Andrew C. Seif of Holland, Michigan, were married on Sept. 18, 2010. Tragically, SSgt. Seif was one of 11 service members killed in March of this year when their helicopter crashed during a training mission near Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. He was a Combat Engineer based out of Camp Pendleton and Twentynine Palms, California from 2006 until 2009. He then joined Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) based out of Camp Lejeune. During his career, he served one tour of duty in Iraq and two in Afghanistan. SSgt. Seif was a decorated Marine. In July 2012, he faced enemy fire to save a mortally wounded friend in Afghanistan. For his heroism, SSgt. Seif was a recipient of the USO’s 2013 Marine of the Year Award and earned the Silver Star.
Crouch was elected by the USO Board of Governors to become the 23rd President and Chief Executive Officer of the United Service Organizations (USO) in 2014. Crouch has a long history of public service, including numerous military honors and a service as U.S. Ambassador to Romania.
Cole is a fifth generation West Virginia businessman. In January 2015, he became the first Republican to lead the West Virginia Senate in more than 80 years. He and his wife, Brownie, live in Bluefield, West Virginia and have four children.
Forest is the first Republican Lieutenant Governor to be elected in North Carolina in more than 20 years, and only the second since 1897. Dan is an architect. He and his wife, Alice, reside in Raleigh with their four children, ages 8 to 20.
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 captivating performance will showcase ground exercises with troops from Fort Bragg, featuring Humvees, Howitzers, a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and more. Rope teams from Fort Campbell will descend from Black Hawk helicopters. The high-powered pre-race show will also include a 21-gun salute from the Fort Bragg firing squad and vintage war bird air parade and sky-diving members of Team Fastrax descending into the infield. There will also be a musical element to the pre-race show with performances including Rock and Roll Hall of Famers ZZ Top and Lee Greenwood.
Great seats are still available for the Coca-Cola 600 and all rest of the 10 Days of NASCAR Thunder, with weekend passes starting at just $99. To purchase tickets and camping day upgrades, fans should call the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267) or shop online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.(CMS)(5-20-2015)
Work begins on safety initiatives at Daytona: As construction continues on the Daytona Rising project, which is designed to provide a different race-day experience for fans, work began Monday to provide a safer race-day experience for the drivers. Daytona International Speedway officials announced work has started on safety initiatives that include additional “soft wall” coverage as well as asphalt in one area formerly covered with grass. The addition of new Steel and Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) Barrier became a hot topic in the aftermath of Kyle Busch’s Feb. 21 wreck, in an XFINITY Series race the day before the Daytona 500, that left him with a broken leg and foot. Daytona’s next event is on Fourth of July weekend, the XFINITY Series’ Subway Firecracker 250 on July 4 and the Sprint Cup Series’ Coke Zero 400 on July 5. The current work is expected to be completed before then. Other than acknowledging the start of the new efforts, the Speedway declined to offer any information beyond what it addressed in a March 11 news release. The specifics of the work: The inside retaining wall, inside Turn 1 and beginning with the exit from the infield road course, will be realigned and fitted with the SAFER Barrier. 20,000 square feet of asphalt will be put down to replace the grass in that area of the track – the lack of traction on grass adds to the inability to slow or possibly control a wrecking car. During his deconstruction of his February wreck, Busch spoke of the inability to get tire grip and possibly save his car from its eventual hit into the wall. Installation of SAFER Barrier on the retaining wall at the exit to pit road. Installation of SAFER Barrier between the exit of Turn 4 and the pit entrance, on the section of the inside retaining wall presently uncovered. Additional coverage of the outside wall of the backstretch with SAFER Barrier. After the July 5 Coke Zero 400, the Speedway will continue covering SAFER coverage of existing concrete walls.(Daytona Beach News-Journal)(5-20-2015)
News from May 19, 2015
#48 team may face penalty for all-star race violation UPDATE: NASCAR officials are investigating #48-Jimmie Johnson’s Hendrick Motorsports team for a possible rules violation during the Sprint All-Star Race on Saturday night. A NASCAR official said after the race that a Johnson crewman was being investigated for modifying the side skirt on Johnson’s car during the race. NASCAR implemented new rules prior to this season preventing teams from modifying the side skirts during a race. NASCAR also has new video cameras monitoring pit road, making such rules violations easier to detect. Any possible penalties would be announced next week.(Sporting News)(5-17-2015) UPDATE: NASCAR will issue a warning but won’t penalize the Hendrick Motorsports team of Jimmie Johnson for pulling out a side skirt body panel Saturday night during the Sprint All-Star Race. At the start of the year, NASCAR announced it wouldn’t allow the flaring out of fenders and body panels near the wheel wells, something that occurred with regularity over the last half of the 2014 season. The penalty is that a team must come in under green to fix it or, if the repair is done while under caution, then the driver must do a pass-through penalty (driving down pit road at pit-road speed) under green. Anyone found involved in such modifications, on first offense, gets a warning.(ESPN.com)(5-19-2015)
NMPA honors Steve Byrnes with First Quarter Spirit Award: The National Motorsports Press Association has awarded Steve Byrnes the NMPA Spirit Award for the first quarter of 2015. The award, voted on by members of the NMPA, is designed to recognize character and achievement in the face of adversity, sportsmanship and contributions to motorsports. Byrnes covered motorsports for 32 years, working for CBS, TNN, WTBS and Fox networks. March’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway was named the “Food City 500 In Support of Steve Bynres & Stand Up To Cancer” to honor Byrnes’ battle with head and neck cancer. He passed away two days after the race. Byrnes is survived by his wife Karen and son Bryson. The Spirit Award is given quarterly and then an overall winner is announced after the end of the year. Lynda Petty, wife of seven-time champion Richard Petty, was the 2014 Spirit Award winner. Quarterly winners last year were Lynda Petty, Martin Truex Jr., Junie Donlavey and brothers Darrell and Michael Waltrip.(NBC Sports)(5-19-2015)
Bayne to run Pocono ARCA race: #6-Trevor Bayne, is set to make his first laps around the 2.5-mile Pocono Raceway for Cunningham Motorsports in the #22 AdvoCare Ford in the ARCA Racing Series Pocono 200 on June 6. Bayne has made 69 career NSCS starts since 2010. In addition, Bayne has 151 NASCAR XFINITY Series starts with two wins and 24 top-five finishes; however, he has yet to make a start at Pocono. As a Roush Fenway ARCA Racing Series driver development team, Cunningham Motorsports is an ideal fit for Bayne to gain valuable experience at the triangular track. Bayne will pilot the Paul Andrews-led Ford in his first career ARCA start. Andrews has a strong racing resume, as he was the NSCS championship winning crew chief for Alan Kulwicki in 1992. During the 2015 season, Bayne is concentrating all of his efforts on the NSCS. With limited tests available to the NSCS drivers, the Roush Fenway driver will gain valuable seat time running the ARCA race on Saturday, prior to his NSCS Pocono debut on Sunday. The Pocono ARCA 200 will be televised live on Fox Sports 2.(Cunningham Motorsports)(5-19-2015)
Congrats – Kyle Busch: from Kyle Busch’s Facebook: “Samantha Busch and I are happy to announce the birth of our son Brexton Locke Busch. Born 5/18 at 9:45pm weighing 7lbs 10oz and 21 inches long. Mom and baby are doing great!”(5-19-2015)
Cassill to run Snap Fitness “Snap Serves” scheme at Charlotte: As America’s Fitness Brand, Snap Fitness will pay homage to Memorial Day in a special way: by featuring thousands of club owners, personal trainers, and members as the backdrop on Landon Cassill’s #40 Hillman Racing entry as it kicks off a company-wide charitable initiative this weekend. Cassill will pilot the #40 Snap Fitness “Snap Serves” Chevy in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600, the longest and most grueling race on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule. “For the first time ever, thousands of people will be riding with Landon as he speeds around the race track,” Steele Smiley, Chief Officer responsible for brand strategy, said. “Snap Nation will be supporting him on all sides.”
Snap Fitness is also giving back in a big way this summer. Memorial Day marks the beginning of its “Snap Serves” summer campaign, which honors those who have served in the military and encourages people around the country to start their fitness journey. All summer long, Snap Fitness is offering 30-day trial passes for $8.95, giving individuals 24/7 access to 1,500 locations across the United States. For every 30-day trial pass purchased between Memorial Day and Labor Day, America’s Fitness Brand will donate $1 to Folds of Honor, a foundation that provides scholarships to the families of soldiers killed or disabled in active duty. “Giving back is an integral part of our brand at every level. Our summer campaign recognizes an incredible group of men and women who have dedicated their lives to protecting our country,” Smiley said. “That, coupled with helping people start their fitness journey, makes for an exciting summer for America’s Fitness Brand.”(Mike Hillman Racing), see image of the scheme on the #40 Team Schemes page.(5-19-2015)
Steve Byrnes’ son totes $1 million prize around Charlotte track: NASCAR lost one of its favorite sons when FOX analyst Steve Byrnes died last month. So at Saturday’s All-Star Race, it was only right to share it with another favorite son. Byrnes’ 12-year-old son, Bryson, was invited to partake in some prerace festivities, and he got the sweetest assignment of the night: toting the $1 million prize money around the Charlotte Motor Speedway track with Michael Waltrip. It was a lot of money to entrust to a boy, but Bryson showed remarkable financial restraint as he teased the drivers who wanted to grab the cash.(vidoe at FoxSports)(5-19-2015)
All-Star Race TV Ratings: The NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Race drew a 2.1 overnight rating on Fox Sports 1 Saturday night, up 24% from last year (1.7) and up a tick from 2013 on Speed Channel (2.0). Overnights prior to 2013 were not available. The 2.1 also marks a 40% increase over rain-delayed racing from Kansas on FS1 the previous week (1.5). (Sports Media Watch / ShowBuzz Daily), see past races, 5-year chart, links and more on the 2015 TV Ratings page. UPDATE: According to Nielsen Media Research, Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race scored 3,840,000 viewers, making it the most-watched All-Star Race since 2011.(FOX)(5-19-2015)
Haas center opens in Danville VA: One of NASCAR’s biggest names and the state’s Chief Executive were in town Friday to cut the ribbon on a local educational venture. The Gene Haas Center for Integrated Machining on the campus of the Institute in Danville will be a progressive precision machining training model to meet industry needs for a highly skilled 21st century workforce. Governor Terry McAuliffe says this is exactly the type of partnership we need in Virginia. The Center will provide a third-year of high-end instruction for students who have completed the two-year Machining program at Danville Community College. They’ll be able to earn national credentials while working on state-of-the-art equipment. Gene Haas says their million-dollar gift will be money well-spent…for the community and his company. Many of those who train on those machines learn to operate equipment that Haas manufactures. The Center got over $1 million in commitments from leading global technology companies and will partner with the Precision Machine Training Program at Danville Community College, offering graduates a third year of study on state-of-the-art equipment.(wakg.com)(5-19-2015)
Penalty for 4 team UPDATE: The #4 team that competes in the NASCAR XFINITY Series has been penalized for a rules infraction committed during a May 16 practice at Iowa Speedway. The infraction is a P3 level penalty and violates the following Sections in the 2015 NASCAR rule book:
12.1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing
20.17.2.1: Overall vehicle weight
B. Any and all ballast added to the vehicle must be bolted inside an added ballast container, inside the main frame rails, and/or inside the front sway bar mounting tube. Weight affixed improperly.
As a result of this violation, crew chief Gary Cogswell has been fined $15,000 and placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31. Additionally, car chief Charles Kent has been placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31.(NASCAR) UPDATE: Statement from owner Johnny Davis: “We understand the severity of the violation, and we accept NASCAR’s decision. We have investigated the incident on our end and made changes to ensure that a similar event does not occur again. We would like to thank NASCAR for its fair decision-making and the care they show for all teams in the Xfinity Series. We are ready to move forward and continue to improve as an organization. We have expressed our concerns about the incident to Jamie Dick and the Viva Motorsports organization and are certain our groups can move forward, compete aggressively and continue the great racing for which the series is known.”(JD Motorsports)(5-19-2015)
JGL Racing Teams Up With Big Barrel Country Music Festival: JGL Racing announced Big Barrel Country Music Festival has signed on as primary sponsor for the team’s #28 Toyota driven by JJ Yeley for the running of The Buckle Up 200 at Dover International Speedway on May 30th. NASCAR fans are invited to come back to The Woodlands of Dover International Speedway for the June 26-28 festival to see Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood and more than 40 of today’s top country music stars perform. In addition to three days of country music’s top performers, attendees will be introduced to a wide variety of attractions within the festival and campgrounds. Highlights include, but are not limited to, a large-scale Dance Hall featuring a saloon, BBQ area, a marketplace with a variety of western goods and products, as well as a family-friendly area. Three-day passes for Big Barrel Country Music Festival are still available at the attainable price of $99 for general admission. On May 27th, the cost of a three-day, general admission pass increases to $149. VIP seating and standing options are also available at the price of $499. Guests may purchase passes at BigBarrel.com.(JGL Racing / Integrity Sports Marketing), see an image of the car on the #28 team paint schemes page.(5-19-2015)
Special scheme for Conley at Charlotte: Cale Conley and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) reveal a new paint scheme on the #14 IAVA Toyota Camry for Memorial Day weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. IAVA, the leading post-9/11 veteran empowerment organization (VEO) with the most diverse and rapidly growing membership in America, began their annual #GoSilent campaign this month with the purpose of bringing the real meaning back to Memorial Day. As most Americans are spending Monday, May 25th at barbeques, at the beach, or seeking out the best holiday sales, IAVA is encouraging everyone to take one moment out of their day to #GoSilent in honor of our nation’s fallen. The hope is that every American will pledge to stop what they’re doing at 12:01pm/et and join IAVA for a national moment of silence to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The time coincides with IAVA’s wreath laying before the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. Pledges to #GoSilent can be made at www.iava.org/go-silent.(TriStar Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #14 team paint schemes page(5-19-2015)
Jimmy Means Racing gets Charlotte sponsor: Joey Gase and Jimmy Means Racing announce Agri Supply will be the hood sponsor for the Hisense 300 this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Agri Supply started over 50 years ago providing tractor parts and accessories and quickly expanded to farm machinery replacement parts. They have added cookware and cooking supplies as a part of a huge outdoor cooking department along with a large stock of hunting gear. Agri Supply also sells over quarter of a million lawnmower blades and mower parts as part of the core lawn and garden department. Visit one of their eight stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia or online at www.agrisupply.com.(Joey Gase Racing)(5-19-2015)
Penalty for JRM team following Charlotte: The #00 team that competes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has been penalized for a rules infraction discovered during post-race inspection on May 15 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The infraction is a P2 penalty and violates the following sections in the 2015 NASCAR rule book:
12.1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing 20.17.3.3.2: Top Splitter Shelf Heights. Vehicle did not meet the minimum post-race splitter height.
As a result of this violation, crew chief Joe Shear Jr. has been fined $6,000 and placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31. Additionally, owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been docked 10 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship owner points.(NASCAR)(5-19-2015)
News from May 18, 2015
NASCAR to Honor Fallen Service Members with Windshield Tribute at Coca-Cola 600: When NASCAR drivers start their engines for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, fans will see familiar names like “Harvick,” “Kenseth” and “Almirola” replaced on car windshields with “SGT Mracek,” “HM3 Layton” and “CPT Argel” – United States Armed Forces members who have fallen in service to their country. All 43 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers will participate in “600 Miles of Remembrance” on Memorial Day Weekend to honor military service members and their families, and commemorate the launch of NASCAR: An American Salute, the industry’s collective expression of reverence, respect and gratitude for those who have served and continue to defend our nation today. Fans can follow stories around the seven-week platform and share their personal expressions of thanks to the military using #NASCARSalutes on social media.
“The NASCAR community rallying to honor the U.S. Armed Forces, past and present, has long been part of our sport’s heritage,” said Brent Dewar, NASCAR chief operating officer. “As part of NASCAR: An American Salute, 600 Miles of Remembrance represents a special moment in time as we pay tribute to service members who have sacrificed dearly for our freedom.”
Many of the service members whose names will be displayed on the race cars were chosen by the teams, and some have unique connections to the fallen. Private Dean Van Dyke, who was killed in the Vietnam War, was a relative of #16 Roush Fenway Racing driver Greg Biffle. Army First Lieutenant Daniel Hyde, killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom, served alongside Chris Clayton, tire changer on the #83 BK Racing team. Many of the families of the service members being recognized will be in attendance on Sunday, and will be introduced alongside the drivers during driver introductions. In addition, Charlotte Motor Speedway will host more than 6,000 active military members at the Coca-Cola 600 in honor of Memorial Day.
NASCAR: An American Salute will feature various on- and off-track activities from tracks, teams and partners that show appreciation and support for the troops, and will culminate Independence Day Weekend with the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway. This weekend, NASCAR together with Honor and Remember, Inc., will display specially prepared Honor and Remember flags representing those who have died in service to our country from each of the 50 United States throughout the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Throughout the campaign, NASCAR will host military families at each NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race as part of NASCAR Troops to the Track” Presented by Bank of America.
Toyota will also honor the names of fallen service members on its pace cars for the Coca-Cola 600 as part of 600 Miles of Remembrance. Later in the program, both Chevrolet and Ford will feature patriotic branding on the pace cars for races at Pocono and Michigan, respectively. Many NASCAR Official Partners have mobilized to support NASCAR: An American Salute with military-themed activations, including:
· For the sixth straight year, Goodyear is rallying NASCAR fans to support members of the U.S. Armed Forces through its “Goodyear Gives Back” charitable program benefitting the Support Our Troops organization. To kick off the program, Goodyear will once again transform its NASCAR race tires by replacing the “Eagle” sidewall design with “Support Our Troops” messaging on all tires used during Memorial Day weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. This effort coincides with the May 21 launch of Goodyear’s charity auction at www.Goodyear.com/GivesBack, which features autographed NASCAR memorabilia, VIP race experiences and rides on the Goodyear Blimp.
· Bank of America is the presenting partner of NASCAR Troops to the Track – a season-long program that honors members of the military and their families for their services, and treats them to a NASCAR race experience. This program is an extension of Bank of America’s long-standing commitment to the military, focused on helping veterans and service members’ transition to civilian life.
· NASCAR, Coca-Cola, Mars Chocolate North America and 3M have collaborated to engage shoppers in over 180 military commissaries. On Tuesday, May 19, there will be all-day activation at Fort Bragg Commissary South featuring an appearance by Coca-Cola Racing Family Member Joey Logano, who will be giving away tickets to the Coca-Cola 600. From May 18 to July 8, commissary shoppers can enter the 2015 Champion’s Week Sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to Las Vegas for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week by texting “NASCARSALUTE” to 313131 or by visiting www.championsweek2015.com.
· M&M’s will introduce a national letter-writing campaign, in partnership with Operation Gratitude, encouraging fans to send messages of thanks and appreciation to military members. The notes will be included in more than 100,000 Operation Gratitude Care Packages which will be assembled and shipped to Troops deployed in harm’s way and to New Recruits upon their graduation from Boot Camp.
· During Daytona International Speedway’s Coke Zero 400, all active duty military, veterans and their families can enjoy the Troops Welcome Center Presented by M&M’s. The center, which will be located in the midway, will be fully equipped with food and beverages, allowing service members to take a break and meet NASCAR drivers throughout the weekend.
· In honor of the military, Miss Sprint Cup will wear NASCAR: An American Salute fire suits at the Coca-Cola 600 and Coke Zero 400.
This Sunday, NASCAR drivers will discuss 600 Miles of Remembrance on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (channel 90) during a special military tribute show airing at 1:00pm/et. The Dialed In Salute to the Troops special, hosted by Claire B. Lang, will feature interviews with several drivers as well as service men and service women from different branches of the military.
During the Coca Cola 600 pre-race broadcast (5:30 pm/et, FOX), FOX Sports will recognize all service members who have lost their lives in the past year by displaying their names and branch of service on a graphic scroll. This will be FOX’s fifth year in a row dedicating the pre-race show to service members that have fallen in the line of duty. To learn more about NASCAR: An American Salute, visit www.NASCAR.com/Salute.
See images of the United States Armed Forces members who have fallen in service to their country at NASCAR.com.(NASCAR)(5-18-2015)
All-Star Race an earlier start next year?: Could the Sprint All-Star Race have a different starting time next season? Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer, said Monday on SiruisXM NASCAR Radio’s “The Morning Drive” that series officials will consider that matter for next year. Saturday’s All-Star race didn’t begin until 9:42pm/et. The second segment took the green flag at 10:02 p.m. The third segment began at 10:23 p.m. The fourth segment started at 10:43 p.m., and the mandatory pit stop before the start of the final pit stop took place at 11:03 p.m. The event featured no cautions other than the breaks between each segment. Thus, if there had been debris cautions or accidents or such, the start of each segment could have been pushed back significantly. Here’s what O’Donnell said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio about the start time for the All-Star race: “I think it is something we want to look at. … I’ve got kids who like watching sports earlier, and I hear the same thing. I think that is something we’ll sit down and address and look at and see if we can’t get it off a little earlier.”(NBC Sports)(5-18-2015)
NASCAR Hall Of Fame Class Of 2016 To Be Announced: The NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2016 and winner of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR will be announced following a vote by the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel on Wednesday, May 20 at 6:00pm/et at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte. The five NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees will be selected from the list of 20 nominees: Buddy Baker, Red Byron, Richard Childress, Jerry Cook, Ray Evernham, Ray Fox, Rick Hendrick, Harry Hyde, Bobby Isaac, Alan Kulwicki, Terry Labonte, Mark Martin, Hershel McGriff, Raymond Parks, Benny Parsons, Larry Phillips, O. Bruton Smith, Mike Stefanik, Curtis Turner and Robert Yates.
The second Landmark Award recipient will be chosen from the list of five nominees: Harold Brasington, H. Clay Earles, Raymond Parks, Ralph Seagraves and Ken Squier. The announcement will air live on NBCSN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and NASCAR.com.(NASCAR)(5-18-2015)
Todd Gilliland becomes youngest ARCA winner in history: Todd Gilliland briefly doubted himself Sunday afternoon during the closing laps of the Menards 200 at Toledo Speedway. Any doubts he had were quickly erased, however, when the 15-year-old sailed to the win in the ARCA Racing Series race. In doing so, he became the youngest winner in ARCA Racing Series history – the win coming just two days after his 15th birthday. “Wow, I can’t believe this is happening,” Gilliland said following the race. “Just, wow.” He eclipsed the youngest race winner mark previously held by Kyle Benjamin. Gilliland – the son of NASCAR Sprint Cup driver #38-David Gilliland – was making his ARCA debut. He took the lead for the first time on lap 197 of the 200 lap race and beat Tom Hessert and Josh Williams to the finish line. Hessert held on for second with Williams trailing in third. A.J. Fike finished fourth and Kyle Weatherman finished fifth. Gilliland was fastest in Saturday’s practice session and qualified fifth. He stayed near the front all day Sunday, surviving two red flags, one for a brief rain shower and the other for a late-race accident involving the leaders. Austin Wayne Self finished sixth, Brian Finney a career-best seventh, Bobby Hamilton Jr. eighth, David Levine ninth and Matt Wallace 10th in his ARCA debut.(ARCA Racing)(5-18-2015)
PRN’s Doug Rice Set to Make History with Double Broadcast: Memorial Day weekend has long been synonymous with motorsports tradition. Two crown-jewel races in their respective series, the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600, have enticed many to attempt the 1,100 mile marathon known as the double. John Andretti, Tony Stewart, Robby Gordon and Kurt Busch have all done it, but not like this. Doug Rice, president of the Performance Racing Network, is set to become the first broadcaster to complete the double, covering the Indy 500 from pit road at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the IMS Radio Network and co-anchoring the Coca-Cola 600 for the Performance Racing Network from Charlotte Motor Speedway that same evening. With logistical support from Shell Oil Company, Rice will be able to attempt what no other broadcaster in the history of the two major events has done. “We are very happy to help Doug and our friends at PRN make this happen,” said Heidi Massey-Bong, Sr. Business Advisor – NASCAR Sponsorship, Shell Oil Company. “This effort with Doug along with other activities taking place over the Memorial Day race weekend are going to help us showcase some exciting news for Shell.” Though this will not present the same challenges Andretti and other drivers have faced, Rice knows doing anything for 1,100 miles is going to be a challenge, whether it’s wheeling a race car or calling the action. “I’ve always been in awe of the drivers who were able to survive the impact of the double,” said Rice. “And even though this will be different kind of double, it will still be a challenge. I’m betting on energy and adrenaline to keep me going through the day in Indy and during the night for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte.”(PRN)(5-18-2015)
Charlotte XFINITY Entry List:There are 42 cars on the preliminary entry list for the Hisense 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. A few notes:
Kasey Kahne will drive the #5 for JR Motorsports;
The RWR #15 is TBA;
Jeff Green is in the #19;
Ryan Blaney is back in the #22 for Penske;
The #26 is TBA;
The #40 is TBA;
Denny Hamlin returns to the #54 for Gibbs;
Chad Boat returns with the #84 team;
Aric Almirola will drive the #98.(5-16-2015) UPDATE: Kyle Fowler will be in the #26. Timmy Hill will drive the #40.(5-18-2015)
See the complete list on the Charlotte entry list page.
Indianapolis officials planning to renovate track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Officials are planning to renovate the historic track in time for the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 next May. That doesn’t leave a lot of time, given that there are races scheduled at the Brickyard in July and August and the construction won’t begin until after those are run. “It’s intensive,” Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles said. “There’s some things that we can do in the beginning stage to get ready, but basically all of this work has to be done from the end of this racing season this year before May of 2016. It’s a lot of work to do.” The next phase of this roughly $90 million project will improve gateway entrances, grandstand seating, and the overall fan experience. It’s all part of a broader plan to modernize the facilities. Upgrades started last offseason with the installation of large, high-definition video boards and a new LED scoring pylon on the main straightaway – all part of the track’s historic image that officials are trying to preserve. Now the plan is to replace the upper-deck bench seating in the front straight with seats with backs and add better wireless internet capabilities. An estimated five elevators will be added, too, for better handicapped accessibility to the sections overlooking the area between the start-finish line and the first turn of the 2.5-mile oval. Miles also said there are plans to change some suites near the fourth turn to give them a more club-level feel. The track’s entrance gateways will receive a makeover, too, including the gate between the first turn and the street outside the ticket office. Both entrances will have large, colored pylons and a structural look that gives the entrance a historic feel.(Associated Press)(IMS)(5-18-2015)
News from May 17, 2015
Entry List for the Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is posted, 48 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including: #18-Kyle Busch, #21-Ryan Blaney, #25-Elliott, #30-Jeff Green, #32-Bliss, #33-Kennedy, #39-Kvapil (3rd time on an entry list, withdrew last 2 times), #95-McDowell.
Drivers who need to be in the top-36 in speed and have no provisional available to them (lowest in owners points): #26-Burton (44th in owners pts), #62-Gaughan (45th), #25-Elliott (46th), #30-Green (49th), #39-Kvapil (none).
Drivers who would miss the race if qualifying is canceled (least race attempts): #95-McDowell (7 attempts), #30-Green (5), #21-Blaney (4), #25-Elliott (2), #39-Kvapil (0).
See the full entry list with sponsors and more on Jayski.com’s Charlotte Entry List
Sprint All-Star Race and Commercial Breakdown: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, here is the breakdown for Saturday’s race. Began recording the times at 7:00 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 11:15 PM (all times are EST). FS1 was the broadcast team for this event.
Total number of commercials: 130
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 61
Number of times FS1 utilized ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during this broadcast: 0
Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 2 min. 25 sec.
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 7:00 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 11:15 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 255
Minutes of race broadcast: 193
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 62
Number of missed restarts: 0
Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 0
Total race brdcst time 193 Total comm. brdcst time 62
See past races, links and more at CawsnJaws.com.(5-17-2015)
Did Denny Hamlin jump the final restart of All-Star Race? #41-Kurt Busch and #4-Kevin Harvick weren’t exactly sore losers Saturday night, but they did accuse winner #11-Denny Hamlin of bending the rules to win the Sprint All-Star Race. Both Busch and Harvick said Hamlin jumped the final restart of the 110-lap race. Hamlin won the final race off pit road, putting him in the lead for the final 10-lap segment. He jumped out to a quick lead on the final restart while Harvick passed Busch for second. Harvick tried to run Hamlin down over the final 10 laps, but Hamlin was able to hold him off for his first all-star victory. Busch and Harvick said Hamlin took off too soon on the final restart.
“We’ll have to go to the tape to see if Denny went too soon,” said Busch, who finished third. “His car went two car lengths before (the line), in my mind. I was asleep at the wheel.”
Harvick, who finished second, also said it appeared Hamlin may have restarted too soon. “It just depended on how everything shook out on the restart,” Harvick said. “Denny sped up, slowed down and took off way early.”
Hamlin admitted he might have restarted just a bit early, but not enough to matter.(Sporting News)(5-17-2015)
Keselowski comments about speeding penalty:From a NSCS Notes and Quotes by Ford Performance regarding #2-Brad Keselowski’s speeding penalty on the last pit stop between segment 4 & 5 at the NASCAR Sprint All-Star race: Q) WOULD YOU HAVE HAD ANYTHING FOR THE 11 IF YOU HADN’T GOT THE SPEEDING PENALTY? Keselowski: “Oh no. Whoever gets the clean air with this format and this rules package is gonna drive away. We’ve seen that for the last three years and with this particular car it’s probably even more so. I thought the 41 and the 4 were probably two or three tenths faster than everybody without clean air and it doesn’t matter. I knew when I came out of my pit stall and the 11 was pulling out with me that I either beat him to that line or lose the race, and the penalty was I was three-tenths of a mile an hour over the speed limit, but I told my crew chief I’d rather go down swinging than take a strike and wonder what might have been. I swung and missed. The 11 team did a great job. Congrats to Denny. Their pit stops were phenomenal. They easily won him this race, but they’ve got a lot to be proud of and so does my team. We’ve just got to keep working to be better.” Q) EVEN IF YOU COME OUT SECOND YOU DON’T THINK YOU WIN THAT? Keselowski: “No. Harvick and Kurt were two or three tenths faster than the 11 car and myself. With this rules package you’re not gonna pass in clean air because clean air is worth two or three tenths. I was probably maybe a half-tenth faster than the 11, which wasn’t enough to make up the difference with starting second.” Q) SO YOU’RE LITERALLY THINKING AS YOU’RE GOING YOU HAVE TO BEAT HIM TO THE LINE? Keselowski: “I have to beat him to that line or don’t win the race. I’ll take the penalty and strike out, but that was the race.” IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS CLEAN AIR PROBLEM ? Keselowski: “Always. You’ve just got to go to work.” Q) YOU’LL HAVE LONGER RUNS IN THE 600 THAT SHOULD CREATE SOME COMING AND GOING, RIGHT? Keselowski: “Yeah, it always does, but that’s part of it.”(Ford Performance)(5-17-2015)
What happened to Danica in the All-Star Race: A mechanical failure left Danica Patrick and the #10 Mobil 1/Aspen Dental Chevy team for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) with a 20th-place finish in Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte. Patrick qualified sixth for the event, but she had to drop to the rear of the field prior to the start of the race because the team changed engines following Friday’s Sprint Showdown. In the first All-Star segment, Patrick raced her way up to the 17th position. She reported that the car was over-rotating a bit too much, so crew chief Daniel Knost called for a four-tire stop with packer, wedge and air pressure adjustments when the field hit pit road. Patrick started the second segment from the 19th position and worked her way up to 16th before the caution flag waved at lap 50. The team changed four tires and added fuel between segments, and Patrick lined up in the 14th position when the field took the green flag for the third segment. A left-front wheel hub failure sent Patrick to the garage a few laps into the third segment. The team replaced the hub and Patrick rejoined the field at lap 88. She completed the remainder of the race and was credited with a 20th-place finish. “Overall, I feel positive about tonight,” Patrick said. “You obviously never want to have a mechanical failure like we did, but my guys busted their butts to get me back out, and we were able to get a few more laps in to help us prepare for next weekend. You’d never turn down nearly 25 extra laps of practice, and we were able to get back out there and see what the Mobil 1/Aspen Dental Chevrolet would do. I feel like we made some good changes tonight and were able to gain experience and information that should help us for next weekend.”(SHR)(5-17-2015)
#48 team may face penalty for all-star race violation: NASCAR officials are investigating #48-Jimmie Johnson’s Hendrick Motorsports team for a possible rules violation during the Sprint All-Star Race on Saturday night. A NASCAR official said after the race that a Johnson crewman was being investigated for modifying the side skirt on Johnson’s car during the race. NASCAR implemented new rules prior to this season preventing teams from modifying the side skirts during a race. NASCAR also has new video cameras monitoring pit road, making such rules violations easier to detect. Any possible penalties would be announced next week.(Sporting News)(5-17-2015)
Ty Dillon could move to Cup in 2016: When Austin Dillon wrapped up his 2013 NASCAR XFINITY Series championship run, he’d run two full-time Camping World Truck seasons (winning a title in his second) another two at the XFINITY level and had a ride with the sport’s most famous number – 3 – waiting for him in the Sprint Cup Series. Austin’s brother, Ty, is well on his way to his own XFINITY Series championship – in his second campaign after two full-time seasons in the Truck Series, no less – as the points leader after the season’s first nine races. Only difference is, with Richard Childress Racing’s three-car stable occupied by Austin, Ryan Newman and Paul Menard, there’s no clear option for Ty to advance to. That doesn’t mean Ty and his grandfather and RCR team owner, Richard Childress, aren’t coming up with a plan. “We’ve definitely talked about (my Cup plans for 2016) and I think it’s our goal,” Ty said Saturday at Iowa Speedway. “It’s my goal and my grandfather and I have talked about it a lot, (running) in Cup next year. Still working on things, but that’s next year. I think if we win the championship this year, it’ll make plans easier to come by.”(NASCAR.com)(5-17-2015)
Penske wants to run Blaney full time in 2016: Roger Penske wants Ryan Blaney to run a full NASCAR Sprint Cup season in 2016 with the Wood Brothers. Blaney, a Team Penske development driver, has been farmed out to the Wood Brothers for about 18 Cup races this year. Blaney has made four starts so far this season and finished a career-best fourth at Talladega three weeks ago. A lack of available seats has made it difficult for Penske to give Blaney many opportunities, and the Wood Brothers alliance has worked well for both sides. “This is a partnership really with Woods’ people and ours,” Penske said before Saturday night’s All-Star race. “We’ve got the technology and the ability to build the right pieces for them. It’s like a brother-in-law.” Penske said he’s not interested at this time in expanding his Cup program to three cars, but would like Blaney to run the full schedule in the #21 Ford assuming funding is found for the 21-year-old. “I’d hope there can be an extension – we’re going to run him in about 18 races, so if we can get sponsorship for him, that gives him a chance to take a look at extending that through a full season next year. That would be our goal,” Penske said.(Associated Press)(5-17-2015)
Hendrick enshrined in North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame: Friday night [May 15] in Raleigh, North Carolina, Rick Hendrick was honored as a Hall of Famer. Along with nine other inductees, the owner of Hendrick Motorsports and Hendrick Automotive Group was enshrined in the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. “It’s such an honor for me to be here tonight,” Hendrick said on stage after being introduced by fellow North Carolina Sports Hall of Famer Woody Durham. Joining Hendrick in the Class of 2015 were Jeff Bostic, Joe Bostic, John Clougherty, Freddie Combs, Gene Littles, Jerry McGee, Lenox Rawlings, Charlotte Smith and Andrea Stinson. “Congratulations to all the inductees here tonight,” Hendrick said. “I feel kind of humbled, because most of you folks have earned your status on your own. You are great ball players, great referees, and with me, I take a team. I have to rely on a lot of people.” He then asked his “teammates” from both Hendrick Automotive Group and Hendrick Motorsports to stand and be recognized. Under his leadership, Hendrick Motorsports has grown from five employees to more than 600, while Hendrick Automotive Group has expanded from nine employees to 10,000.(HMS)(5-17-2015)
Cassill Hits the Road to the NASCAR Hall of Fame: #40-Landon Cassill announced that he will run 14 miles to the NASCAR Hall of Fame immediately after competing in the Coca-Cola 600 May 24 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway to inspire fans to get active with Snap Fitness and help support a worthy cause. Between his run and NASCAR race during Memorial Day weekend, Cassill will log over 600 miles by car and foot that day with America’s Fitness Brand supporting him every step of the way. “I’m honored to have the opportunity to combine my passion for running with encouraging others to embrace a healthy lifestyle while recognizing those who have dedicated their lives to protecting our country,” Cassill said. “My goal with this post-race run is to motivate the sport’s fan base to get up and make fitness a priority this summer.” Cassill’s run to the NASCAR Hall of Fame will kick off Snap Fitness’s “Snap Serves” summer campaign, which honors those who have served in the military and encourages people around the country to start their fitness journey. All summer long, Snap Fitness is offering 30-day trial passes for $8.95, giving individuals 24/7 access to 1,500 locations across the United States. For every 30-day trial pass purchased between Memorial Day and Labor Day, America’s Fitness Brand will donate $1 to Folds of Honor, a foundation that provides scholarships to the families of soldiers killed or disabled in active duty. Cassill, who regularly competes in triathlons, credits the guidance he’s received from his neighborhood Snap Fitness club in helping transform his lifestyle – something everyone can achieve with America’s Fitness Brand.(Snap Fitness)(5-17-2015)
Brandon McReynolds Wins K&N Race at Iowa: Brandon McReynolds earned his first NASCAR victory in the Casey’s General Store 150, the first of two annual combination races between the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West. He joins a list that includes defending NASCAR XFINITY Series champion Chase Elliott, Cole Custer and Brandon Jones as drivers who have won their first NASCAR race in the K&N Pro Series on their way up to the national series at Iowa. McReynolds, driving the #16 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota for Bill McAnally Racing, became the second West driver in 12 races to win the combination race at Iowa. He led twice for 22 laps, including the final eight. It was the 34th career series start for the Mooresville, North Carolina, driver. McReynolds, the son of NASCAR on FOX announcer Larry McReynolds, is an alum of the NASCAR Next program.(Popular Speed)(5-17-2015)
Poole parked by NASCAR at Iowa: Iowa Speedway’s showcase event of its first race weekend was not without road rage. #42-Brennan Poole, a 24-year-old making his seventh career Xfinity Series start, was parked by NASCAR after intentionally wrecking #28-J.J. Yeley during the 3M 250. Poole forced his #42 Chevy into Yeley’s bumper after a restart on lap 152, sending the #28 Toyota’s front end into the wall. And, as you might guess, both upset drivers had their own interpretation of events. Poole thought he had been dumped by Yeley, 38, a driver Poole called a “hero” just 10 laps into the scheduled 250 laps. Yeley called the first incident “unintentional,” saying he accidentally clipped Poole trying to tuck into line. The second incident, NASCAR and Yeley clearly viewed as deliberate. Yeley, who has made 446 career starts in NASCAR’s three national series, said he would follow up with Poole.(USA Today)(5-17-2015)
Chris Buescher wins XFINITY race at Iowa: #60-Chris Buescher won the 3M 250 at Iowa Speedway. The race ended after one green-white-checkered attempt. It is Buescher’s second career win. #9-Chase Elliott finished second, followed by #20-Erik Jones, #2-Brian Scott, #22-Ryan Blaney, #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr., #88-Ben Rhodes, #33-Brandon Jones, #1-Elliott Sadler, and #62-Brendan Gaughan.
There were 9 cautions for 54 laps and 9 lead changes among 5 leaders. Complete results are on the Iowa race results page (pdf).
(5-17-2015)
Iowa XFINITY Race Fast Facts:
Chris Buescher won the 5th Annual 3M 250, his second victory in 51 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his first victory and seventh top-10 finish in 2015.
This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in three races at Iowa Speedway.
Chase Elliott (second) posted his third top-10 finish in three races at Iowa Speedway. It is his eighth top-10 finish in 2015.
Erik Jones(i) (third) posted his first top-10 finish in one races at Iowa Speedway.
Daniel Suarez (18th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Chris Buescher leads the point standings by 8 points over Ty Dillon.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(5-17-2015)
XFINITY Driver standings following Iowa:
1) #60-Chris Buescher 368
2) #3-Ty Dillon 360, -8
3) #9-Chase Elliott 337, -31
4) #6-Darrell Wallace Jr 331, -37
5) #2-Brian Scott 326, -42
6) #7-Regan Smith 320, -48
7) #1-Elliott Sadler 317, -51
8) #16-Ryan Reed 288, -80
9) #62-Brendan Gaughan 283, -85
10) #18-Daniel Suarez #281, -87
See complete owner and driver standings on the driver standings(pdf) and owner standings page (pdf).(5-17-2015)
Ty Dillon could move to Cup in 2016: When Austin Dillon wrapped up his 2013 NASCAR XFINITY Series championship run, he’d run two full-time Camping World Truck seasons (winning a title in his second) another two at the XFINITY level and had a ride with the sport’s most famous number – 3 – waiting for him in the Sprint Cup Series. Austin’s brother, Ty, is well on his way to his own XFINITY Series championship – in his second campaign after two full-time seasons in the Truck Series, no less – as the points leader after the season’s first nine races. Only difference is, with Richard Childress Racing’s three-car stable occupied by Austin, Ryan Newman and Paul Menard, there’s no clear option for Ty to advance to. That doesn’t mean Ty and his grandfather and RCR team owner, Richard Childress, aren’t coming up with a plan. “We’ve definitely talked about (my Cup plans for 2016) and I think it’s our goal,” Ty said Saturday at Iowa Speedway. “It’s my goal and my grandfather and I have talked about it a lot, (running) in Cup next year. Still working on things, but that’s next year. I think if we win the championship this year, it’ll make plans easier to come by.”(NASCAR.com)(5-17-2015)
AMS files request for new NASCAR race date: After losing its Labor Day race date and being moved to the second race of the season, Ed Clark, president of Atlanta Motor Speedway, confirmed he has filed a formal request as part of NASCAR’s schedule realignment process to move its race date to a different spot on the schedule. “Ideally, I’d like to be later and we’ve talked about that,” Clark told Kickin’ the Tires. “But I am not somebody who advocates somebody who has a good date giving up their date just to help me. It needs to be good for whatever you do. In an ideal world, I would love to see them go to the West Coast and come back to us. The way it works, they (NASCAR) send all the tracks a letter saying, ‘if you desire to change your date, we need to have a formal request back” so, I did that. I didn’t ask for a specific date. I just asked NASCAR to look at it. Marcus (Smith, general manager) and Bruton (Smith, CEO) pretty much handle all of that but they knew I was doing it.” Clark said from a selfish standpoint he wants his track’s race in a better place on the schedule. Once that happens, he said he hopes they can stick with that date to build momentum but there is no way he would want any track operator to lose a date they like. “I’ve always said that if I could handpick my dates, I would run the last week of April and the last week of September,” Clark said. “They are beautiful weather conditions there. But we are roughly 120 miles from Talladega and you can’t get those two events close together. If it was all done in a vacuum, I would never in a million years advocate taking somebody’s date that they are happy with just to help us. If there was a win-win situation then, yeah, it would make sense.” In the days following the Atlanta race weekend [March 1st], there was speculation and jokes the track was in a downward spiral. Speculation by some was it might lose its lone Sprint Cup Series date because of poor attendance – that caused Clark to bristle. He said Atlanta coming off the schedule has not been discussed. “Anything is a possibility but there has been no talk of it,” Clark said. “And I can’t see NASCAR pulling out of a traditional market, you know, that was one of the markets that built NASCAR and has so many sponsors headquartered there. There’s a bunch.”(Kickin’ the Tires)(5-17-2015)
RIR Recognized During National Travel and Tourism Week: As part of a celebration during National Travel and Tourism Week (May 4 – 8, 2015), Richmond International Raceway was recognized with the Dedicated Partner Award for its ongoing efforts to enhance the richness and quality of life in the Richmond Region for not only visitors, but residents as well. RIR was selected solely by the staff of Richmond Region Tourism for its outstanding partnership and continued collaboration within the tourism industry. “Our NASCAR race weekends are not only a big deal to Richmond International Raceway, but to Henrico County and the entire Richmond region,” said Dennis Bickmeier, RIR President. “From fans to teams, people are staying in local hotels, eating in local restaurants and shopping at local stores. We’re proud to be a long-standing tourism catalyst for the region.” Not only does RIR serve as an economic driver for tourism, the track is often recognized for its involvement in the community. In April 2015, Richmond was named as one of the “Top 10 Best Cities for Relocation” by the Huffington Post. RIR was listed specifically as one of the reasons why moving to the River City should be at the top of your list. With Richmond’s unique culture, ideal weather, and decadent food paired with RIR’s rich NASCAR history and short track racing – the RVA has something for everyone.(RIR)(5-17-2015)
News from May 16, 2015
Hamlin wins Sprint All-Star Race: #11-Denny Hamlin won the Sprint All-Star Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway for his first All-Star win, the first All-Star race win for Joe Gibbs Racing and first Toyota team to win the All-Star race. #11-Hamlin is the fourth driver to win from race from the pole and the fifth time it has happened. #11-Hamlin beat #2-Keselowski off pit road during the final pit stops between segment 4 & 5, but Keselowski sped off pit road and had to restart at the rear on the restart. Hamlin held off #40Harvick who put on a charge early in the final segment before fading and finishing 2nd.
#4-Harvick finished 2nd (for the 2nd year in a row) followed by #41-Busch, #24-Gordon, #20-Kenseth, #18-Busch, #5-Kahne, #22-Logano, #2-Keselowski and #88-Earnhardt Jr.
The three drivers who transferred into the race via the Sprint Showdown, #15-Bowyer (finished 12th), #16-Biffle (finished 13th) and #10-Patrick (finished 20th/last, had engine problems).
See the results for each segment Jayski.com’s 2015 All-Star Race Page.(5-16-2015)
Sprint All-Star Race Fast Facts:
#11-Denny Hamlin won the 31st Annual NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, his first victory in the annual non-points race.
This was Hamlin¡¦s ninth start in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. His previous best finish was fourth, in 2009 and 2010.
This is the first win in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race for Joe Gibbs Racing. The organization¡¦s previous best finish was second, four times (1997, ¡¦98, ¡¦99, 2011).
This is Toyota¡¦s first victory in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.(NASCAR Statistics)(5-16-2015)
Sprint All-Star Race Final Results (110 of 110 laps completed:
1) #11-Denny Hamlin (1), FedEx Express Toyota, led 26 laps
2) #4-Kevin Harvick (20), Hunt Brothers Pizza Chevy
3) #41-Kurt Busch (16), Haas Automation Chevy, 24 lap led
4) #24-Jeff Gordon (9), Axalta Chevy
5) #20-Matt Kenseth (17), Dollar General Toyota
6) #18-Kyle Busch (19), M&M’s Red Nose Day Toyota
7) #5-Kasey Kahne (5), Time Warner Cable Chevy, led 11 laps
8) #22-Joey Logano (11),Shell Pennzoil Ford
9) #2-Brad Keselowski (3), Miller Lite Ford, 49 laps led
10) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.(7), Mountain Dew Baja Blast Chevy
11) #47-AJ Allmendinger (13), Kingsford Chevy
12) #15-Clint Bowyer (4), Cherry 5-Hour Energy Toyota
13) #16-Greg Biffle (2), Ortho Ford
14) #43-Aric Almirola (8), Smithfield Ford
15) #48-Jimmie Johnson (12), Lowe’s Patriotic Chevy
16) #1-Jamie McMurray (14), Bass Pro Shops Chevy
17) #19-Carl Edwards (10), ARRIS Toyota
18) #31-Ryan Newman (18), Cat/Quicken Loans Chevy
19) #14-Tony Stewart (15), Bass Pro Shops/Arctic Cat Chevy
20) #10-Danica Patrick (6), Mobil1 / Aspen Dental Chevy, -32 laps
starting spot in parens.
See other segments on 2015 All-Star Race Page
Race Coverage of the Sprint All-Star Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2015. Television (TV): 9:00pm/et; Pre-race 8:30pm/et; approx green flag 9:16pm/et. Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 90 Scheduled Race Re-Airs:
Sunday, May 17 at 11:30am/et on FS1;
Sunday, May 17 at 9:30pm/et on FS2;
Monday, May 18 at 11:00am/et on FS1
Hamlin wins Sprint All-Star Race pole: #11-Denny Hamlin won the pole for the Sprint All-Star Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a time of 111.227 seconds for his first All-Star Race pole. Qualifying was different from normal, with three timed laps, including one four-tire pit stop and no pit road speeding penalty for the four-tire pit stop. Aggregate total time in seconds.
#16-Biffle will start 2nd followed by #2-Keselowski, #15-Bowyer, #5-Kahne, #10-Patrick, #88-Earnhardt Jr., #43-Almirola, #24-Gordon and #19-Edwards.
The three drivers who transferred into the race via the Sprint Showdown, #15-Bowyer, #16-Biffle and #10-Patrick, all qualified in the top six.
#10-Patrick will have to fall to the rear of the field before the start as the team changed the engine after the Sprint Showdown.
See the starting lineup and qualifying results on Jayski.com’s 2015 All-Star Race Page – lineup section.(5-16-2015)
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Sprint All-Star Race Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway have been made.
The selections were set by how the drivers qualified, so #11-Hamlin gets the first stall.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall are, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com’s 2015 All-Star Race Page.(5-16-2015)
NASCAR SPRINT ALL-STAR RACE:
Garage Opens: Friday, May 15 at 7 a.m.; Saturday, May 16 at 1 p.m.
Final Practice: Friday, May 15 at 1:45-3:15 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1
Pit Road Practice: Friday, May 15 at 3:15 p.m.-3:25 p.m. on FOX Sports 1
Qualifying: Saturday, May 16 at 7:10 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1
Three timed laps, including one four-tire pit stop
There will be no pit road speeding penalty enforced for the four-tire pit stop. Aggregate total time will set the starting lineup for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
A five-second penalty will be enforced for the following violations: too many crew members in contact with the pit service area; crew members over the wall too soon; throwing equipment; removing equipment; uncontrolled tire; running over equipment.
Pitting outside the box will be a disqualification. Race: Saturday, May 16 at 9 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1
Five segments.
Segments 1 through 4 will be 25 laps each.
Segment 5 will be 10 laps.
Teams may enter pit road during the yellow flag period between segments 1 through 4, but will not retain their running position.
All laps (green flag and yellow flag) will count during Segments 1 through 4.
Only green flag laps will count during segment 5.
The running order at the completion of the fourth segment will be repositioned based on the average finish for the first four segments. Ties in average finish will be broken by finishing position in the fourth segment.
All cars must then enter pit road for a mandatory four-tire pit stop.
The order of cars returning to the track will determine the starting order of the fifth segment.
Crews will be permitted to work on the cars if the race is stopped due to a red flag. However, all work must be performed on pit road or garage area only.
All-Star Race Pre-Race Schedule:(eastern time)
6:57:50: Invocation by Monty Self, Chaplain, Motor Racing Outreach
6:58:30: God Bless America by Rachel Travis, Speedway Superstar
6:59:30: Team FasTrax lands at end of God Bless America
7:00:00: FOX Sports 1 on air
7:10:00: NSCS Sprint All-Star Race Qualifying (3 laps w/ pit stop & a 4 tire change)
8:47:00: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All Star Race, Driver & Crew Intros
9:14:20: Invocation by Joe Gibbs
9:15:00: National Anthem by Cassadee Pope
9:21:30: “Drivers, Start Your Engines” by Grand Marshal & Honorary Pace Car Driver Guy Fieri
9:30:30 Start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star Race
(NASCAR.com)
Sprint All-Star Race Top-Five Finish Prediction:
1) #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (10/1)
2) #48 Jimmie Johnson (5/1)
3) #78 Martin Truex Jr. (18/1)
4) #4 Kevin Harvick (7/2)
5) #22 Joey Logano (7/1)
(Vegas Insider)(5-16-2015)
Coverage of Qualifying for the Sprint All-Star Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled for Satruday, May 16, 2015 at 7:00pm/et. Television (TV): FoxSports1 (FS1), 7:00pm/et; Radio: Live online at Motor Racing Network (MRN) Scheduled Qualifying Re-Air: none.
Qualifying Order for the Sprint All-Star Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is posted. 20 cars/drivers are listed.
The first of the drivers scheduled to go out is #35-Whitt.
The final driver scheduled to go out is #48-Johnson.
Qualifying order is set by a random draw, held about an hour before the first practice.
See the full qualifying order on Jayski.com’s 2015 All-Star Race Page.(5-16-2015)
“Support Our Troops” returns on Goodyear Tires at Charlotte: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series will run the same Goodyear tire codes at Charlotte this week . . . throughout the two race weeks at Charlotte, all tires will be branded with “Support Our Troops” as part of the Goodyear Gives Back program . . . while NASCAR teams have run this left-side tire code at Charlotte since 2012, this is the first race weekend on this right-side code . . . this right-side is a Goodyear multi-zone tread tire, which incorporates two distinct compounds on the same tire — one for endurance and heat resistance on the inboard two inches of the tread and one for traction on the outboard 10 inches . . . this inboard (Endurance Zone) features the same compound that was run on the same zone at Texas, while this outboard (Traction Zone) features the compound run at Charlotte last year . . . this tire set-up was first tested at Charlotte in December, and was confirmed in a March 10 tire test at the track with drivers #43-Aric Almirola, #5-Kasey Kahne, #78-Martin Truex Jr. and #23-J.J. Yeley . . . 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 tire codes, pressure, set limits and more on the 2015 All-Star Race Info page – Tire Notes section.
Kyle Busch Happy to Return, Waits on Baby Busch: #18-Kyle Busch was happy to return to the seat of his race car on Friday as practice was held for Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. It didn’t take long for Busch to get back to form, but he was just as intently preparing for the birth of wife Samatha’s first child. “I was optimistic about coming back and getting in some laps here at Charlotte Motor Speedway,” said Busch. “Our car was fast. It was good to see all my guys, and just kind of get things to fall back in. You know, just trying to get a feel for the seat since I hadn’t been behind the wheel in a while. As far as I was concerned, everything went according to plan. We made some adjustments to get in that mock qualifying run. We were able to put a fast time up, but I’m not sure everybody else made that kind of effort. I was definitely excited to see that seat.”
Busch noted the biggest adjustment was getting acclimated back to the car. “I think the biggest thing was just getting back the feel of the race car,” said Busch. “These race cars have been changing quite honestly. Just trying to get a feel for what all was going on there and what I had to drive. The seat was an adjustment for me. I’m not used to the carbon seat at all; I have never run one. We had to tinker with it a little bit there and tinker with it now to just try and make it a little bit better for me for the long haul, especially for next week.”
Charlotte was also a goal for Busch to return to competition. “There were some nervous days in Daytona where I was counting the weeks,” said Busch. “And I was like, ‘I could probably come back at Talladega,’ and that would definitely be pushing it. And then I thought that wouldn’t be very smart of me to come back at Talladega. And then Kansas was the next one. And I thought, you know what, I don’t know if I want that one either, so Charlotte looks really good. And so far it seems to be a good choice coming back here. I think it was always kind of a goal, just depended on how hard we pushed getting ready for it.”
Busch also is excited about soon becoming a father. “Samantha and I got up together like we always do and had breakfast.” said Busch, “I told her she better keep her legs crossed and do whatever she had to do today and tomorrow, so we could keep baby Busch inside for 48 more hours. Besides that, it was a nice moment as I was getting ready and what we had is all over with all the trials and tribulations, and learning how to walk again, it was all over. We could now get back to our normal routine.”(CMS Pit Notes)(5-16-2015)
France defends NASCAR decision about waiver for Kyle Busch: NASCAR CEO and Chairman Brian France defended NASCAR’s decision to waive the 26-race rule on Wednesday and allow Kyle Busch to be eligible for the Chase. Although the sanctioning body granted the waiver, it doesn’t mean the Joe Gibbs racer will automatically qualify for the playoff. That’s where France says the challenge lies. “The real beauty in the way the championship is now decided, you have a little bit of flexibility to crown your champion,” France said. “As opposed to the old days, when it was an accumulation of all the points. Now, you’re resetting it any way. You still have to get into the Chase with a win. Once you get there, that’s when the real work begins – those final 10 races and to survive that. I think the flexibility the format adds we’re still rewarding the best driver in a given year is helpful for us and allows us when things like Kyle Busch happens or something else that are out of a driver’s control we at least have a tool left in our tool kit so we can put them back in.” Although France acknowledged that Busch’s absence for nearly one-third of the Sprint Cup season played into NASCAR’s decision-making process, with the new Chase format, the main emphasis is qualifying for and performing in the playoffs.
“What we determined in this case is you still have to finish strong in the remaining events leading up to the Chase, you have to win a race and you have to perform in the final 10 when it matters the most any way,” France added. “There is plenty of merit if Kyle, in this case, is able to accomplish all that, then he will be a fine champion.”(Motorsport / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)(5-16-2015)
Fans, Hornish and SHOP.COM Send 10 Campers to Victory Junction: Sam Hornish Jr. and the #9 SHOP.COM/Victory Junction Ford team put in a great effort during Friday night’s Sprint Showdown with a 14th-place finish in the first 20-lap segment and a fourth-place finish in the second 20-lap segment. Hornish was one of the fastest cars in the second segement. Although Hornish and the #9 SHOP.COM/Victory Junction Ford team did not find Victory Lane, they still leave Charlotte Motor Speedway as winners. Earlier this month, Richard Petty Motorsports partner SHOP.COM announced a campaign surrounding the Sprint Fan Vote and Hornish. For every Sprint Fan Vote that Hornish received, SHOP.COM donated $5 to Victory Junction and $10 for every shared vote on Facebook and Twitter up to $25,000. Through the support of SHOP.COM and the NASCAR community, Hornish received enough fan votes to reach the $25,000 goal to send 10 campers to Victory Junction.(RPM)(5-16-2015)
NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Stats- Poles:
· Terry Labonte won the inaugural Coors Light pole for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star race in 1985.
· 16 drivers have won Coors Light poles for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star race, led by Bill Elliott with four. Kyle Busch leads all active drivers with three. Carl Edwards has won the last two consecutive poles for the Sprint All-Star Race (2013, 2014).
· Four drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star race: Davey Allison (1991, 1992) Bill Elliott (1997, 1998), Kyle Busch (2011, 2012) and Carl Edwards (2013, 2014).
· 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 front row starting positions and fourth-place are the three most proficient starting positions in the field, producing more winners (four each) than any other starting positions in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
· Eight of the 30 (26.7%) NASCAR Sprint All-Star races have been won from the front row: four from the pole and four from second-place.
· 17 of the 30 (56.7%) NASCAR Sprint All-Star races have been won from a top-five starting position.
· 21 of the 30 (70%) NASCAR Sprint All-Star races have been won from a top-10 starting position.
· Two of the 30 (6.7%) NASCAR Sprint All-Star races have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
· The deepest in the field a NASCAR Sprint All-Star race winner has started was 27th, by Ryan Newman in 2002.
(NASCAR)
Dick Trickle Memorial emerging: The beginnings of the Dick Trickle Memorial at the Rudolph Community Park (Wisconsin) are slowly beginning to emerge from the grassy field, thanks to the hard work of those dedicated to preserving the racing legend’s memory. Trickle, a central Wisconsin resident and stock car racer, died by suicide May 16, 2013, in Iron Station, NC at the age of 71. His former central Wisconsin racing buddies choose to focus on Trickle’s life and contributions to the racing community. Less than a year after Trickle’s death, friends joined together to build a memorial in Trickle’s boyhood home of Rudolph. This weekend not only marks the second anniversary of Trickle’s death, but also the second annual Dick Trickle Memorial Celebration at the Rudolph Community Park, the site where the building of the memorial is underway. Sunday’s event also kicks off a summer of 12 race event appearances by committee members to raise awareness and funds for the memorial. More information at icktricklememorialproject.com.(Wisconsin Rapids Tribune)(5-16-2015)
Sponsorship All-Stars in NASCAR: With a quarter of the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season in the books and ahead of this weekend’s Sprint All-Star Race, certain drivers and brands are emerging as sponsorship all-stars. The 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion #4-Kevin Harvick is leading the way. Not only has he led the most laps, but Harvick tops all drivers in providing his team’s sponsors the most time-on-screen during 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race broadcasts. With nearly 7 ½ hours of television time in the first quarter of the season, Harvick’s sponsors combined to receive 10% more exposure time than the next closest competitor. Harvick’s primary car sponsor, Jimmy John’s, has acquired the most media value among primary car sponsors through the first quarter of the season, followed by Lowe’s, Shell-Pennzoil, Nationwide, Haas Automation, Target, FedEx, Dollar General, Furniture Row and Miller Lite. Repucom Executive Vice President Peter Laatz said, “Performance is one of the more prominent indicators for car sponsor exposure in NASCAR as evidenced by the brands you see with the highest media value to date. Eight of the top 10 cars have made at least one trip to victory lane.”
Furniture Row is a newcomer to the top 10 primary car sponsor list tracked by Repucom. Due to outstanding performance this season by Martin Truex, Jr. and the No. 78 team, Furniture Row has received more media value to date than it did in the entire 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Truex is the only driver besides Harvick to have 10 top-10 finishes this season. The top overall brands in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series during live-race broadcasts are Sprint, Chevrolet, Toyota, Ford and Nationwide. Nationwide moved from a NASCAR series entitlement sponsor to become the primary car sponsor of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in 2015. Nationwide has also received extensive brand exposure through broadcast sponsorship segments and on-air graphics during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.(Repucom)(5-16-2015)
Todd Gilliland to make ARCA Debut at Toledo: Todd Gilliland, the son of current NASCAR Sprint Cup driver #38-David Gilliland, will make his ARCA Racing Series racing debut with Venturini Motorsports (VMS) at Toledo Speedway on Sunday, May 17th during the Menards 200 presented by Federated Auto Care. Todd Gilliland will make his ARCA debut behind the wheel of his #55 Core Power-Hostetler Almonds Toyota. Veteran Crew Chief, Jeff McClure, will be atop the pit box for VMS at Toledo. Gilliland, who will celebrate his 15th birthday just two days before his first ARCA start, will also become age eligible to compete the same day under ARCA’s minimum age requirement. In doing so Gilliland will become the youngest driver in series history to start a race. In preparation for Toledo, Gilliland tested at Motor Mile Speedway (Radford, Va.) last week alongside VMS teammate and ARCA series veteran Frank Kimmel. After years of success in the quarter midgets ranks Gilliland has transitioned to Late Models and Super Late Model racing under the David Gilliland Racing (DGR) driver development banner. Earlier this year, Gilliland won his first Late Model race at Southern National Motorsports Park in the CARS Late Model Series.(VMS)(5-16-2015)
NASCAR requires pit crews wear fire-retardant gear: NASCAR will mandate all pit crew members who service the car on pit road to wear fire-retardant head socks, underwear, socks and gloves beginning in June. NASCAR sent an email to the teams this week detailing the new rules, a NASCAR spokesman confirmed. Previously, only the fuel man had to wear a fire-retardant head sock, which protects much of the face and neck. Now all the over-the-wall crewmen will have to wear the head socks as well as fire-retardant underwear, gloves and socks.(ESPN)(5-15-2015)
Charlotte XFINITY Entry List:There are 42 cars on the preliminary entry list for the Hisense 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. A few notes:
Kasey Kahne will drive the #5 for JR Motorsports;
The RWR #15 is TBA;
Jeff Green is in the #19;
Ryan Blaney is back in the #22 for Penske;
The #26 is TBA;
The #40 is TBA;
Denny Hamlin returns to the #54 for Gibbs;
Chad Boat returns with the #84 team;
Aric Almirola will drive the #98.(5-16-2015)
See the complete list on the Charlotte entry list page.
Drew Herring wins XFINITY pole at Iowa: #20-Drew Herring, practicing and qualifying for Erik Jones, won the Coors Light pole for the 3M 250 at Iowa Speedway with a speed of 134.391mph. Jones will drive the #20 for the race and will have to start in the rear of the field. #18-Daniel Suarez was second. The rest of the top 10: #2-Brian Scott, #60-Chris Buescher, #33-Brandon Jones, #9-Chase Elliott, #7-Regan Smith, #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr., #3-Ty Dillon, and #1-Elliott Sadler. Did Not Qualify: None. The starting lineup is posted on the Iowa starting lineup page (pdf).(5-16-2015)
Iowa XFINITY Qualifying Notes:
Drew Herring won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 5th Annual 3M 250 with a lap of 23.439 seconds, 134.391 mph.
This is his second pole in 16 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his first pole and first top-10 start in 2015.
This is his second pole in six races at Iowa Speedway.
Daniel Suarez (second) posted his seventh top-10 start of 2015 and his first in one races at Iowa Speedway.
Brian Scott (third) posted his ninth top-10 start at Iowa Speedway. It is his eighth in ten races this season.
Daniel Suarez (second) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(5-16-2015)
Brian Scott fastest in happy hour: #2-Brian Scott was quickest during happy hour for the 3M 250 with a speed of 133.747mph. He was followed by: #33-Brandon Jones, #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr., #25-John Wes Townley, #88-Ben Rhodes, #16-Ryan Reed, #18-Daniel Suarez, #7-Regan Smith, #9-Chase Elliott, and #3-Ty Dillon. 38 drivers participated in the session. See complete results on the Iowa practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(5-16-2014)
Brandon Jones fastest in first practice: #33-Brandon Jones was fastest during opening practice at Iowa Speedway with a speed of 135.676mph. #60-Chris Buescher was second, followed by: #18-Daniel Suarez, #3-Ty Dillon, #9-Chase Elliott, #22-Ryan Blaney, #7-Regan Smith, #1-Elliott Sadler, #2-Brian Scott, and #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr. 32 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Iowa practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(5-16-2014)
Jamie Dick’s car hit by tungston at Iowa: A frightening sequence of events occurred in Saturday’s first NASCAR Xfinity Series practice at Iowa Speedway, but fortunately the only thing seriously injured was the #55 Chevy driven by Jamie Dick. A piece of metal sailed into Dick’s car – either through the windshield or side window, he said – and struck his helmet after it flew off a competitor’s car that was likely traveling well over 100 mph. “It was a decent hit. Good thing I was wearing a helmet, that’s what it’s for,” Dick said. “I feel fine. I could definitely feel it.” Dick would not identify the offending car. The piece of metal that struck him was either lead or tungsten that teams use to add extra weight to their stock cars, but the metal wasn’t properly bolted down. “All the spacers and lead started coming out,” Dick said. “I dodged the spacers, but I didn’t dodge the lead.” Dick, who is making his third Xfinity Series start of the season, was forced into a backup car. He was checked out at the medical center and cleared.(Des Moines Register)(5-16-2015)
News from May 15, 2015
Bowyer wins Sprint Showdown: #15-Clint Bowyer won the Sprint Showdown Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway to transfer to the Sprint All-Star Race on Saturday night. It is Bowyers 2nd win in the Showdown and 2nd consecutive win. #27-Menard finished 2nd followed by #78-Truex Jr, #9-Hornish Jr. and #25-Chase Elliott. #10-Danica Patrick won the Sprint Fan Vote to transfer into the Sprint All-Star Race.
See the results from both segments on Jayski.com’s 2015 All-Star Race Page.(5-15-2015)
Sprint Showdown Fast Facts:
Segment Winners: Greg Biffle & Clint Bowyer
Sprint Fan Vote Winner: Danica Patrick
Greg Biffle won the first segment of the Sprint Showdown and will make his 12th start in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. His best finish in the all-star race is second in 2008.
Clint Bowyer won the second segment in the Sprint Showdown. He won the Sprint Showdown in 2014. This will be his seventh start in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. His best finish was seventh in 2014.
Danica Patrick won the Sprint Fan Vote with the closest margin in the vote¡¦s history. She is the first repeat winner of the Sprint Fan Vote. Her first fan vote win came in 2013.(NASCAR)(5-15-2015)
Biffle wins Sprint Showdown Segment 1: #16-Greg Biffle won segment 1 of the Sprint Showdown Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway to transfer to the Sprint All-Star Race on Saturday night. #15-Bowyer finished 2nd followed by #27-Menard, #3-Dillon and #55-Ragan.
See the results from segment 1 on Jayski.com’s 2015 All-Star Race Page.(5-15-2015)
Race Coverage of the Sprint Showdown Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled for Friday, May 15, 2015. Television (TV): FS1 at 7:00 pm/et; Green flag approx.: 7:25pm/et; Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 90 Scheduled Race Re-Airs:
Saturday, May 16 at 2:00pm/et on FS2;
Sunday, May 17 at 8:30pm/et on FS2;
Monday, May 18 at 10:00am/et on FS1
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Sprint Showdown Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway have been made.
The selections were made by random draw, the same drawing as the qualifying order. #38-Gilliland drew the 1st pit stall, who starts 17th.
The final pit stall was taken by #66-Berryhill, who starts 29th/last.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com’s 2015 All-Star Race Page.(5-15-2015)
Menard wins Showdown pole: #27-Paul Menard won the pole for the Sprint Showdown Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a speed of 189.673mph for his first Showdown pole.
#16-Biffle will start 2nd, followed by #55-Ragan, #15-Bowyer, #3-Dillon, #42-Larson, #78-Truex Jr., #10-Patrick, #13-Mears and #95-McDowell.
See the starting lineup and qualifying results on Jayski.com’s 2015 All-Star Race Page – lineup section.(5-15-2015)
SPRINT SHOWDOWN:
Garage Opens: Friday, May 15 at 7:00am/et.
Final Practice: Noon-1:40 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1
Qualifying: 4:15 pm/et on FOX Sports 1
Two-round session.
The first round is 20 minutes, with the top 12 advancing to the second round. There will be a seven-minute break after the first round.
The second round is five minutes. The fastest single lap speed will determine starting positions 1-12 in descending order.
Race: 7:15 pm/et on FOX Sports 1
Two segments, 20 laps each. The winner of each segment will advance to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
The winner of the first segment will report directly to the garage at the conclusion of Lap 20.
All laps (green flag and yellow flag) will be counted during segment 1.
Only green flag laps will count during segment 2.
Between segment 1 and 2, there will be a yellow flag at which time teams can pit and may elect to change tires, add fuel and make normal chassis adjustments. Cars pitting will not retain their position on the race track.
Crews will be permitted to work on the cars if the race is stopped due to a red flag. However, all work must be performed on pit road or garage area only.
SPRINT FAN VOTE
· The winner of the Sprint Fan Vote will be announced in Victory Lane following the conclusion of the Sprint Showdown, and that driver will advance to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
Coverage of Qualifying for the Sprint Showdown Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled for Friday, May 15, 2015 at 4:15pm/et. Television (TV): FoxSports1 (FS1), 4:00pm/et Radio: Live online at Motor Racing Network (MRN) Scheduled Qualifying Re-Air: none.
Qualifying Order for the Sprint Showdown Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is posted. 29 cars/drivers are listed.
The first of the drivers lined up on pit road is #38-Gilliland.
The final driver lined up on pit road is #66-Berryhill.
Pit road lineup order is set by a random draw, held about an hour before the first practice.
See the full qualifying order on Jayski.com’s 2015 All-Star Race Page.(5-15-2015)
The only practice for the Sprint All Star Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over, after 100 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#18-Busch 188.884
#1-McMurray 188.396
#4-Harvick 188.258
#41-Busch 188.121
#11-Hamlin 187.696
slowest: #24-Gordon 185.510 & #31-Newman 185.433
See the practice speeds and link on Jayski.com’s 2015 All-Star Race Page – Practice section.(5-15-2015)
The only practice for the Sprint Showdown Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over, after 100 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#3-Dillon 189.288
#16-Biffle 188.910
#78-Truex Jr. 188.798
#27-Menard 188.758
#10-Patrick 188.613
slowest: #33-Kennedy 177.713 & #62-Gaughan 178.277
See the practice speeds and link on Jayski.com’s 2015 All-Star Race Page – Practice section.(5-15-2015)
NASCAR requires pit crews wear fire-retardant gear: NASCAR will mandate all pit crew members who service the car on pit road to wear fire-retardant head socks, underwear, socks and gloves beginning in June. NASCAR sent an email to the teams this week detailing the new rules, a NASCAR spokesman confirmed. Previously, only the fuel man had to wear a fire-retardant head sock, which protects much of the face and neck. Now all the over-the-wall crewmen will have to wear the head socks as well as fire-retardant underwear, gloves and socks.(ESPN)(5-15-2015)
NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race – Showdown & the Fan Votes:
· Among those eligible for the 2015 event Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jamie McMurray each have career wins in both the Sprint Showdown qualifier and the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
· Martin Truex Jr. is the only driver in the Sprint Showdown field with multiple victories in the qualifying race (2007, 2010).
· No driver has ever won the Sprint Showdown and advanced to win the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
· In 2008, Kasey Kahne became the first driver to get into the NASCAR Sprint All-Star race by the Sprint Fan Vote and go on to win the event.
· There have been 10 different Sprint Fan Vote winners in the last 10 years of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
· Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the only driver in event history to win the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (2000), Sprint Showdown (2012) and Sprint Fan Vote (2011).
· Kasey Kahne, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Carl Edwards are the only three drivers who have won each the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the Sprint Fan Vote. Kahne won the vote and event in 2008, Earnhardt Jr. won the race in 2000 and Sprint Fan Vote in 2011. Carl Edwards won the Sprint Fan Vote in 2010 and the Sprint All-Star Race in 2011.
· Josh Wise (2014), Danica Patrick (2013), Bobby Labonte (2012) and Martin Truex Jr. (2005) are the only drivers in the 2015 Sprint Fan Vote who have previously won the fans’ transfer position.
· No driver has ever won multiple Sprint Fan Vote awards.(NASCAR)
Different look for Danica’s #10 in the Sprint Showdown: Danica Patrick’s #10 Chevy for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) will sport a different look for this weekend’s Sprint Showdown. Longtime SHR partner Mobil 1 has primary placement on the hood and TV panel, and Aspen Dental is featured on the rear quarter panels of the blue, white and black #10 car (SHR), see images of the scheme on the #10 Team Schemes page.(5-15-2015)
Gene Haas isn’t ruling out Danica Patrick for F1 team: NASCAR team co-owner Gene Haas has no desire to fuel speculation but neither will he rule out entirely the possibility of Danica Patrick racing for his new Formula One team next year. “If the right sponsor came along, then anything is possible,” the California-based businessman told Reuters when asked whether the world’s best-known female racer might make a sensational switch from ovals. Even as he spoke, on a visit to the grand prix paddock in Spain last weekend, his F1 team principal Guenther Steiner grimaced. “Don’t put anything in that Danica is coming to F1,” laughed the Austrian, mindful of all the stories written since Haas Formula One confirmed they would be making their grand prix debut in 2016. “We’ve been down that path last year,” agreed Haas, who nonetheless left no doubt that his Stewart-Haas NASCAR driver would be given serious consideration if the deal was right and she wanted to do it. Formula One has not had a woman driver start a race in nearly 40 years and Patrick, who nearly tested for Honda in 2008, has been through the rumor mill many times already. “We don’t want to sit there and say no to anything but the probabilities… obviously when she’s in NASCAR, it’s very difficult to participate in F1,” said Haas of the 33-year-old who in 2013 became the first woman to take pole position for the season-opening Daytona 500. Patrick’s long-term backer, internet domain name service GoDaddy Inc, announced last month they were leaving NASCAR at the end of the year and that has left her future in doubt although Haas sounded positive on that score. “Danica Patrick is highly marketable and if anything we’re very lucky that GoDaddy is giving us enough time to find a sponsor that she’ll fit with, because she can sell anything,” he said. “She has as much attention at the race track as any of the drivers so she’s a very valuable person.” Haas F1 will be the first American-based team in Formula One since 1986 and will compete with Ferrari engines in a close tie-up with the Italian team.(Reuters)(5-15-2015)
Bullseye on the hood of the #42 in the Showdown: This weekend, Kyle Larson will have a special passenger on-board the #42 Target Chevy. The familiar Bullseye logo that usually covers Larson’s hood will be replaced by Bullseye the dog, the equally as recognizable Target mascot. The bull terrier first appeared in Target ads in 1999, and continues to be a popular guest at Target-sponsored events around the country. Bullseye’s signature look of a red bullseye over the left eye is completed with a vegetable-based cosmetic paint applied by a professional make-up artists.(CGR), see images of the scheme on the #42 Team Schemes page.(5-15-2015)
Baja Blast scheme for Earnhardt Jr. in All-Star Race: Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive a black and teal #88 Mtn Dew Baja Blast paint scheme for this weekend’s Sprint All-Star race at Charlotte. Mtn Dew Baja Blast combines the exhilarating taste of Dew with a blast of tropical lime. It’s back in bottles and cans for a limited time.(HMS), see images of the scheme on the #88 Team Schemes page.(5-15-2015)
Third-generation Wallace to make ARCA debut: Matt Wallace, part of the third generation in the family of famous Wallace racers, is scheduled to make his ARCA Racing Series debut Saturday and Sunday, May 16-17 at Toledo Speedway. Wallace is the son of NASCAR/ARCA veteran driver Mike Wallace and nephew of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Rusty Wallace. Kimmel Racing will field the car. “We want to get approved to potentially run some races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series…in the event an opportunity should develop for us,” Wallace said. “My dad is friends with Bill Kimmel. They got together and discussed what it’d take to run a few ARCA races and sprung a deal at the last minute to make our ARCA debut at Toledo. I’ve been to Toledo one time, when my sister Chrissy (Wallace) made her ARCA debut out there. I know it’s a really famous short track, and I’m really looking forward to it. I’m very excited to go there with Kimmel Racing; it’s quite an honor for me. This is part of a stepping stone process for me that will hopefully help me get to that next level. But, first things first. We need to go to Toledo, run respectable, turn some heads so we can do more. I really appreciate Kimmel Racing and the expertise they bring.” His father Mike Wallace made 21 ARCA starts over the years before moving into the NASCAR ranks. Wallace won six ARCA races over a three-year span – at Daytona, Talladega, Atlanta, and three times at Pocono. Speaking of futures, Wallace is certainly planning for his. “Right now I’m attending Rowan-Cabarrus Community College; it’s about a half-mile from the shop. I’m studying business administration. I’ll be a sophomore. I’ve got a lot on my plate, but I’ve got to have a back-up plan if the racing thing doesn’t turn out.” (ARCA)(5-14-2015)
Sad News – Jimmy Cox: Mr. Jimmy Ray Cox, 80, of Concord passed away Wednesday, May 13, 2015. He was born Jan. 28, 1935, in Cabarrus County to the late Clarence and Margie Whitley Cox. He was a 1955 graduate of Winecoff High School. He was retired from NASCAR and was with Hendrick Motorsports. He served with the U.S. Navy. He was an avid classic car enthusiast and attended many car shows. The family will receive friends Friday May 15, at Whitley’s Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 16, at Whitley’s Funeral Home Annex Chapel. Memorials may be made to the Nazareth Children’s Home, 725 Cresent Rd., Rockwell, NC 28138. Online condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com.(5-15-2015)
NASCAR Partners with DraftKings: NASCAR is entering the rapidly growing daily fantasy sports space by selecting industry leader, DraftKings, as its “Official Daily Fantasy Sports Partner.” Through the three-year agreement, DraftKings will have an exclusive license to develop NASCAR-branded games across the daily fantasy sports category. Daily fantasy sports games on DraftKings will give players a one-of-a-kind event experience. DraftKings will have access to a direct data feed from NASCAR Digital Media that contains real-time statistics. The unique content offering of up-to-the-minute information on races and drivers for daily fantasy sports games will bring players closer to the sport in an unprecedented way. What’s more, daily fantasy sports games and statistics will be offered on DraftKings’ mobile applications, giving NASCAR fans the only on-the-go daily fantasy and content platform. More information on DraftKings NASCAR daily fantasy sports games is available at www.draftkings.com.(NASCAR)(5-15-2015)
Entry Lists for the Sprint Showdown and the Sprint All-Star Sprint Cup series races at Charlotte Motor Speedway is posted, 29 teams/drivers are listed for the Showdown, including: #25-Elliott, #30-Green, #32-Bliss, #33-Kennedy, #66-Berryhill and #95-McDowell. #21-Blaney and #34-Moffitt are not entered. #39-Kvapil has been withdrawn.
There are 17 drivers entered for the Sprint All-Star race including the return of #18-Kyle Busch.
See the full entry lists on Jayski.com’s 2015 Sprint All-Star Race & Showdown Race Info page
Jaret’s Angels, JDRF featured on #13 at Charlotte: NASCAR XFINITY Series driver Carl Long continues a relationship started more than a dozen years ago, with Jaret’s Angels, a family support team, and JDRF, the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research, featured prominently on his #13 Dodge entry for next weekend’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Jaret’s Angels was formed in 2001, just months after Charlotte resident Jaret Arneson was diagnosed with T1D at the age of two. A year later, Long and his team carried the Jaret’s Angels logo on the hood of multiple entries, also carrying JDRF messaging in support of the Charlotte-area Walks to Cure Diabetes. Just last month, the Angels completed their 16th Walk in 15 years, with a 15-year total of nearly $155,000 raised for JDRF and research toward a cure for type 1 diabetes. urning 17 later this year, Jaret has participated in several high-profile events, raising awareness for Type 1 Diabetes and the efforts of the JDRF. JDRF is the leading global organization focused on type 1 diabetes (T1D) research.(Carl Long Motorsports)(5-15-2015)
Faison to drive #26 at Dover: CJ Faison has previously announced his opportunity to compete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in the #94 for Premier Motorsports in Dover, May 29, 2015. As a new opportunity arose for CJ, and with mutual parties in agreement of the advanced opportunity, CJ and JGL Racing announce that CJ will be competing and making his debut in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, piloting the #26 Toyota Camry in Dover, on May 30, 2015. There are two full time cars at JGL Racing, the #26 and #28 with driver JJ Yeley as CJ’s teammate. “This is an all new experience for me and it’ll be a big learning curve as I’ve never raced an XFINITY Series car, but it’ll be fun! Luckily I’ve raced at Dover and know my way around there” says CJ Faison.(CJ Faison / JGL)(5-15-2015)
Jeremy Clements names Iowa sponsor: This weekend at Iowa Speedway, Repairable Vehicles will again adorn the #51 Jeremy Clements Racing Camaro SS as primary sponsor for 3M 250 Sunday afternoon. Based in Harrisburg, SD www.repairablevehicles.com, a division of Interstate Auto Center, Inc., considers Iowa Speedway their home NASCAR track. They are one of the leading resellers of repairable vehicles in North America. Jeremy is currently 11th the driver points six spots better than last year through nine races. This will mark Jeremy’s 177th career Xfinity Start and 10th at Iowa Speedway.(Jeremy Clements Racing)(5-15-2015)
Kahne wins at Charlotte UPDATE: #00-Kasey Kahne provided JR Motorsports its first Camping World Truck Series win on Friday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the NC Education Lottery 200. Kahne took the lead following a green-white-checkered flag restart. #4-Erik Jones finished a close second, with just .005 seconds as the margin of victory, making it tied for the second-closest finish in series history. Jones led a race-high 88 laps and was followed by: #88-Matt Crafton, #19-Tyler Reddick, #29-Brad Keselowski, #05-John Wes Townley, #17-Timothy Peters, #51-Matt Tifft, #54-Justin Boston, and #23-Spencer Gallagher.
There were 5 caution flags for 25 laps and 12 lead changes among 6 leaders.
Kahne won the pole but started at the rear of the field, along with Jones. The win was the 200th for Chevrolet in the Truck Series.
Complete results are on the Charlotte race results page (pdf). (5-15-2015) UPDATE: While Kasey Kahne captured a thrilling Camping World Truck Series victory over Erik Jones in a nailbiter finish on Friday night at Charotte Motor Speedway, all didn’t end well for Kahne and his race-winning JR Motorsports team. NASCAR announced after the race that Kahne’s Chevrolet failed post-race inspection for being too low on both sides and for being too high in the right rear. While the #00 JR Motorsports team likely will be penalized for the infractions, it is typically not NASCAR’s policy to take away victories for issues in post-race inspection. Kahne, a full-time Sprint Cup driver for Hendrick Motorsports, was making a cameo appearance in the JRM truck — which is being driven in 10 races this season by young Cole Custer.(FOX Sports)(5-16-2015)
Charlotte Race Fast Facts:
Kasey Kahne won the 13th Annual North Carolina Education Lottery 200, his fifth victory in six NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
The margin of victory of .005 seconds was tied for the second-closest finish in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series history.
This is Chevrolet’s 200th NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory.
Erik Jones (second) posted his first top-10 finish in one races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his fourth top-10 finish in 2015.
Matt Crafton (third) posted his 10th top-10 finish in 13 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Matt Crafton leads the point standings by 16 points over Erik Jones #
(NASCAR Statistics) (5-15-2015)
Owner Standings following Charlotte are posted (pdf).(5-15-2015)
Wauters adds Miller to development program, plans truck starts: Wauters Motorsports announced today that Vinnie Miller will join Wauters Motorsports driver development program. Miller, a Brandon High School senior, will drive for Wauters in select Southern Super Late Model Series in 2015. Miller, a Metamora, MI native began racing at age five competing in the quarter midgets at tracks in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. He then moved to the pure stocks and sportsman series before moving to the pro late model series at age 16. The young driver in 2013 received the “On the Edge of Your Seat” award voted by the Owosso Speedway staff and by the fans, an award that had never been given before. In 2014 Miller was the pro late model rookie of the year and second in points out of 32 drivers at Owosso Speedway. Wauters Motorsports will focus on bringing Miller up through the Super Late Model racing series, ARCA Racing Series and then into the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.(Wauters Motorsports)(5-15-2015)
Kahne on pole at Charlotte: #00-Kasey Kahne will start from the pole for the NC Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a speed of 181.342 mph. #4-Erik Jones will start second. The rest of the top-10: #51-Matt Tifft, #29-Brad Keselowski, #14-Daniel Hemric, #31-Scott Lagasse, #19-Tyler Reddick, #07-Ray Black, Jr., #88-Matt Crafton and #11-Ben Kennedy.
Fastest in the second round of qualifying was #51-Matt Tifft with a speed of 180.240mph.
#19-Reddick was quickest in the opening qualifying session at 180.717mph..
#28-Ryan Ellis, #40-Todd Peck, and #86-Brandon Brown failed to qualify.
See complete lineup on the Starting lineup (pdf) page.(5-15-2015)
Charlotte Qualifying Notes:
Kasey Kahne won the Keystone Light Pole Award for the 13th Annual North Carolina Education Lottery 200 with a lap of 29.778 seconds, 181.342 mph.
This is his first pole in six NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his first pole and first top-10 start in 2015.
This is his first pole in one races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Erik Jones (second) posted his fifth top-10 start of 2015 and his first in one races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Matt Tifft (third) posted his first top-10 start at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his first in four races this season.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(5-15-2015)
Wauters adds Miller to development program, plans truck starts: Wauters Motorsports announced today that Vinnie Miller will join Wauters Motorsports driver development program. Miller, a Brandon High School senior, will drive for Wauters in select Southern Super Late Model Series in 2015. Miller, a Metamora, MI native began racing at age five competing in the quarter midgets at tracks in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. He then moved to the pure stocks and sportsman series before moving to the pro late model series at age 16. The young driver in 2013 received the “On the Edge of Your Seat” award voted by the Owosso Speedway staff and by the fans, an award that had never been given before. In 2014 Miller was the pro late model rookie of the year and second in points out of 32 drivers at Owosso Speedway. Wauters Motorsports will focus on bringing Miller up through the Super Late Model racing series, ARCA Racing Series and then into the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.(Wauters Motorsports)(5-15-2015)
Buescher uncertain of when he’ll race again UPDATE: James Buescher posted a statement on his Facebook page that he is uncertain when he will return to racing this season. The 2012 Camping World Truck Series champion Buescher, was initially listed on the entry list the last two weeks, but replaced by Scott Lagasse behind the wheel of the #31 NTS Motorsports Chevy. “I want to thank all my fans for continuing to stick behind me. I was looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the #31 NTS Motorsports Chevy, but unfortunately plans changed. I want to thank Bob Newberry and everyone at NTS Motorsports for giving me an opportunity early this season; we had a great run going and I was looking forward to seeing how it was going to turn out. At this point I’m not sure when I’ll be back at the track but when I do return I look forward to being a threat to win every single time out.” Buescher has two top-10s in three starts this season.(James Buescher)(5-14-2015) UPDATE: After Thursday night’s final practice, Newberry indicated that Buescher’s time out of the #31 ride was only temporary. “It’s not a departure,” Newberry said. “When we started the season off, we knew that James was going to be a part-time situation. And then there for a little bit, it was looking real exciting, looking like it was going to be a full-time scenario. He’s still going to be in the truck. James will be back in the 31 this season. He’s doing a great job for us and he and I, we stayed in contact all week long, literally all through last night we were still trying to get the deal done and I’d have brought a third truck here if I had to, just to get him in here and run because I think he’s an asset for the team and everything. “I care about James a lot and know he cares about us, so we’re doing our best. We’re working our tails off as well as he is to get him back in the seat.”(NASCAR.com)(5-15-2015)
News from May 14, 2015
Current Top Five in Fan Vote: per a tweet by Miss Sprint Cup, the top-five drivers in the Sprint Fan Vote to be voted into the Sprint All-Star Race (not already in the race) are (alphabetical order as of May 13th at 6pm/et): #15-Clint Bowyer, #42-Kyle Larson, #10-Danica Patrick, #78-Martin Truex Jr. and #98-Josh Wise. See the 32 drivers eligible (only 22 are entered, 8 drivers entered are not eligible for the vote) for the Sprint Fan Vote on Jayski.com’s 2015 All-Star Race page and the link to vote.(5-14-2015)
More Stats about the Sprint All-Star Race:
· 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, 2013).
· Seven times from seven different drivers has the winner of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star race gone on to win the Coke Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway the following weekend: Darrell Waltrip (1985), Davey Allison (1991), Dale Earnhardt (1993), Jeff Gordon (1997), Jimmie Johnson (2003), Kasey Kahne (2008) and Kurt Busch (2010).
· 11 of the 17 drivers qualified to compete in the 2015 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race have captured the event title. Those 11 drivers have a combined 16 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race victories.
· Hendrick Motorsports drivers have won eight NASCAR Sprint All-Star races (most all-time): Jimmie Johnson (four: 2003, 2006, 2012, 2013), Jeff Gordon (three: 1995, 1997, 2001) and Terry Labonte (one: 1999).
· Several other active teams have won the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race: Richard Childress Racing and Roush Fenway Racing have four (4) NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race titles each, and Team Penske has two (2). Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, the Wood Brothers, Richard Petty Motorsports and Stewart Haas Racing each have one Sprint All-star win.
· All four Hendrick Motorsports drivers – Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kasey Kahne – have won the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, making HMS the only multi-car team to have a complete roster of former NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race champions – note: Earnhardt Jr. and Kahne won while driving for other teams.
· Roush Fenway Racing has fielded at least one entry in every NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race from 1990-2014, however no RFR drivers are currently eligible for this season’s event and will need to transfer in via the Sprint Showdown or winning the Sprint Fan Vote.
· NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the series in top-five finishes in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star race with nine; followed by Tony Stewart (eight) and Jimmie Johnson (eight).
· Bill Elliott leads the series in top-10 finishes in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race with 13; followed by Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. with 12 each. Matt Kenseth has 11 top-10s.
· Chevrolet (17) and Ford (10) have combined to win 27 or the 30 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race events – the remaining three belong to Dodge (two) and Pontiac (one). Toyota is looking for its first event title.
· Kyle Busch has made nine NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race starts without a victory, the most of any eligible driver. His Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin has made eight (8) starts, the second-highest total among drivers looking for win No. 1.
· Greg Biffle has qualified for 11 consecutive NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race events (2004-2014), however he isn’t currently qualified for the race. It is the longest active streak among drivers not currently in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race field.
· The six drivers qualified for the 2015 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race looking for their first win in the event are Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, AJ Allmendinger and Aric Almirola.
(NASCAR)
Top 10 All-Star Driver Ratings
#18-Kyle Busch…………………………. 108.1
#48-Jimmie Johnson…………………… 104.2
#20-Matt Kenseth………………………… 88.3
#19-Carl Edwards………………………… 84.6
#41-Kurt Busch……………………………. 83.5
#4-Kevin Harvick………………………… 82.4
#24-Jeff Gordon………………………….. 82.1
#5-Kasey Kahne………………………… 81.3
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr…………………… 78.5
#22-Joey Logano………………………… 78.2
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2014 NASCAR Sprint All-Star races (10 total).
Formula combining the following categories: Win, Finish, Top-15 Finish, Average Running Position while on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.
See an explanation how the Driver Rating is calculated at NASCAR.com.(NASCAR)
NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Notebook:
· There have been 30 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Races.
· The first NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race was in 1985.
· 29 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.
· 92 drivers have run in at least one NASCAR Sprint All-Star race, with 76 competing in more than one.
· Mark Martin has participated in 24 races, more than any other driver. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in Sprint All-Star starts with 21, followed by Tony Stewart with 16.
· There have been 20 different winners of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star race.
· Jimmie Johnson (2003, 2006, 2012 and 2013) leads the series with the most NASCAR Sprint All-Star race wins with four.
· 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.
· NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip won the inaugural NASCAR Sprint All-Star race in 1985 at an average speed of 161.184 mph.
· The race has featured a field that ranged from 10 drivers in 1986 to 27 in 2002. Last season’s field had 22 participants.
· Davey Allison (1991 and 1992), Terry Labonte (1988 and 1999) and Mark Martin (1998 and 2005) are the only other drivers to post multiple victories in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star race.
· Davey Allison (1991, 1992) and Jimmie Johnson (2012, 2013) are the only drivers to ever win consecutive NASCAR Sprint All-Star races.
· Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2000) and Ryan Newman (2002) are the only drivers to win the NASCAR Sprint 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 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race winner at 46 years, 4 months and 12 days (2005).
· Jimmie Johnson leads the series among active drivers in average finish in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race with a 6.154; followed by Matt Kenseth with a 6.214.
· Seven active drivers have an average finish in the top 10 for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race: Jimmie Johnson (6.1), Matt Kenseth (6.2), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8.0), Tony Stewart (8.4), Joey Logano (8.7) Kevin Harvick (9.9) and Jeff Gordon (10.0).
· The record for lead changes in a NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race is 10 in 2004. Last season’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race had nine lead changes.
· The record for different leaders in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race is nine in 2002. Last season’s race had six different leaders.
(NASCAR)
Patriotic scheme for Johnson in All-Star Race: Lowe’s, in conjunction with NASCAR.com and NASCAR Illustrated, digitally unveiled the #48 Lowe’s Patriotic Chevy scheme Jimmie Johnson will pilot in the next two races at Charlotte Motor Speedway, starting with Saturday night’s Sprint All-Star Race. Lowe’s has a long history of supporting the military. Currently, Lowe’s has more than 14,000 veterans, active military and Guard/Reserve employees. Those range from store employees to managers and customer support center employees in the North Carolina offices.(HMS), see images of the scheme on the #48 Team Schemes page.(5-14-2015)
NASCAR issues written warnings to five teams: NASCAR announced Wednesday that #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s team and #22-Joey Logano’s team were among five Sprint Cup teams that received written warnings for failing inspection last weekend at Kansas Speedway. NASCAR stated that the teams of Logano, #13-Casey Mears and #27-Paul Menard received written warnings for failing pre-qualifying inspection twice. NASCAR stated that the teams of Earnhardt and #35-Cole Whitt received written warnings for failing pre-race inspection twice. The Sprint Cup Rule Book states in section 12.5.3.1.c that if the same team receives two warnings during two consecutive events – whether a points event or not – then the team faces a P1 penalty that could include one or more of the following: Deduction of practice time, deduction of qualifying time, last choice in selecting pits, delay in order of inspection and/or other penalties. NASCAR has placed an emphasis on teams getting through inspection in a timely fashion this season. Teams were warned last month about formalized penalties for failing to pass inspection. NASCAR also announced that the cars taken from last weekend’s Kansas race to the R&D Center for further inspection all passed. Those cars were #48-Jimmie Johnson’s, #4-Kevin Harvick’s and #20-Matt Kenseth’s.(NBC Sports)(5-14-2015)
Arctic Cat Joins Bass Pro Shops and Stewart at All-Star Race: Arctic Cat, one of the most widely recognized and respected names in the snowmobile, ATV and Side-by-Side industry, joins Bass Pro Shops as the co-primary sponsor of Tony Stewart in the All-Star Race. The brand is featured predominantly on the quarterpanels of the #14 Bass Pro Shops/Arctic Cat Chevrolet SS. “Whether it’s on my property in Indiana or when I go on vacation and ride Side-by-Sides with my crew guys, Arctic Cat is always with me,” said Stewart, whose most recent purchase was an Arctic Cat Wildcat 1000X Limited. “I give them a workout in all kinds of seasons and they never let me down. I get them straight off the floor at Bass Pro Shops, where Arctic Cat has a dedicated display in each store.” Bass Pro Shops operates 92 retail stores across America and Canada that are visited by more than 120 million people each year. Stewart has been a brand ambassador for Bass Pro Shops since 2001, beginning with a personal services agreement that morphed into primary sponsorship of Stewart’s iconic #14 Chevrolet.(SHR), see images of the scheme on the #14 Team Schemes page.(5-14-2015)
#14 Tire Changer to undergo shoulder surgery: This weekend and for the next few weeks in the future, the #14 SHR team of Tony Stewart will be without their front tire changer Bryan Jacobson. Jacobson is undergoing surgery this week to repair some shoulder issues. Taking his place will be long time CGR tire changer Chris McMullen. McMullen was just recently was on the rear of the #42 before being replaced earlier in the season. As far as time frame for Jacobson’s recovery, it sounds like 4-5 months at best.(Pit Talks)(5-14-2015)
#32 picks up additional associate sponsors for 2015: Go Green Racing announced two new partners for the 2015 season starting with Friday nights Sprint All-Star Showdown at Charlotte with Mike Bliss as the driver. Alpha Canvas Race Products will be joining Go Green Racing for the remainder of the 2015 season, starting with this weekend’s All-Star event in Charlotte. Alpha Canvas and Awning is a family owned and operated business that has been serving the greater Charlotte area with custom awnings since 1983. Additionally, JoeUSA.Com will jump on board as an associate sponsor with Go Green Racing for this weekends All-Star event. JoeUSA.Com specializes in web design for motorized vehicle industries & Web Design for health professionals.(GGR)(5-14-2015)
Cassill gets new XFINITY crew chief: It was practically preordained that Wayne Setterington Jr. would be a racer. His parents owned a short track – Owosso Speedway – in Michigan. Several of his uncles were drivers or car owners. “It’s all I’ve ever known, from when I was an infant in arms,” Setterington said. “Both sides of my family were involved in racing, so I’ve been fortunate to have a bloodline of racers.” Now 34, Setterington is putting his years of racing knowledge to work as the new crew chief for driver Landon Cassill and the JD Motorsports with Gary Keller Xfinity Series team. He comes to the JDM team after working at a variety of other racing jobs, including for Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski’s team.(JD Motorsports)(5-14-2015)
New sponsor on the #7: This weekend at Iowa, Regan Smith will have NAPA Synthetic Motor Oil colors on his #7 JRM Chevy. A specially-blended version of Valvoline Racing Oil, NAPA Synthetic Motor Oil is available at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.(JR Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #7 team paint schemes page.(5-14-2015)
Circle Track Warehouse joins Cope for Iowa and Charlotte: Derrike Cope Racing #70 in the Xfinity Series has secured a co-primary sponsor for Iowa and an associate sponsor for Charlotte with Circle Track Warehouse of Mooresville, NC. Circle Track Warehouse also known as 2nd Chance Race Parts buys, sells, trades, and consigns new and used NASCAR parts. With various parts arriving on a daily basis, Circle Track Warehouse carries tungsten, springs, fuel accessories, Koolbox Driver AC, gauges, brakes, suspension, safety, drivelines and much more.(Derrike Cope Racing)(5-14-2015)
Jones fastest in final truck practice: #4-Erik Jones was fastest in final practice for Friday’s NC Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a speed of 180.693 mph. He was followed by #31-Scott Lagasse, #51-Matt Tifft, #00-Kasey Kahne, #19-Tyler Reddick, #88-Matt Crafton, #92-David Gilliland, #23-Spencer Gallagher, #13-Cameron Hayley, #29-Brad Keselowski.34 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Charlotte practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(5-14-2015)
Kahne fastest in first truck practice: #00-Kasey Kahne was fastest during opening practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a speed of 180.258mph. #8-Joe Nemechek, was second, followed by #14-Daniel Hemric, #23-Spencer Gallagher, #54-Justin Boston, #4-Erik Jones, #31-Scott Lagasse, #33-Brandon Jones, #19-Tyler Reddick, and #29-Brad Keselowski. 35 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Charlotte practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(5-14-2015)
Buescher uncertain of when he’ll race again: James Buescher posted a statement on his Facebook page that he is uncertain when he will return to racing this season. The 2012 Camping World Truck Series champion Buescher, was initially listed on the entry list the last two weeks, but replaced by Scott Lagasse behind the wheel of the #31 NTS Motorsports Chevy. “I want to thank all my fans for continuing to stick behind me. I was looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the #31 NTS Motorsports Chevy, but unfortunately plans changed. I want to thank Bob Newberry and everyone at NTS Motorsports for giving me an opportunity early this season; we had a great run going and I was looking forward to seeing how it was going to turn out. At this point I’m not sure when I’ll be back at the track but when I do return I look forward to being a threat to win every single time out.” Buescher has two top-10s in three starts this season.(James Buescher)(5-14-2015)
Panthers Davis to be honorary pacecar driver for Coca-Cola 600: Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis’ whirlwind year will take another turn – several left turns, actually – next weekend when the NFL’s reigning Man of the Year drives the pace car at NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It’s the latest experience in an offseason that’s played out like a fantasy camp for Davis, who won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in January for his years of charitable work with children. Davis confirmed Wednesday he’ll be behind the wheel of the pace car during Charlotte’s Sprint race May 24. “I’m going to go as fast as they allow me to go,” Davis said in a phone interview. Nationwide, the presenting sponsor of the Man of the Year Award, was scheduled to make the announcement Thursday morning. Davis will be certified Tuesday at the 1.5-mile oval. The process will include a short class, followed by a couple of laps around the track with a NASCAR official. Dale Earnhardt Jr., whose primary sponsor is Nationwide, will take Davis for a ride in Earnhardt’s #88 Chevrolet. Davis can get some tips from Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, who drove the pace car last year for NASCAR’s Sprint All-Star Race in Charlotte. “Luke is my brother. We bounce everything off of each other,” Davis said. “He was extremely excited to be pace car driver last year and I’m equally excited to be the one doing it this year.”(Charlotte Observer)(5-14-2015)
NASCAR haulers will parade in Concord: NASCAR Sprint Cup haulers will roll down Union Street in Concord, NC on Thursday [May 14th] on their way to Charlotte Motor Speedway. “Haulers on Union” will take place at 5:45pm/et as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series haulers parade down Union Street en route to Charlotte Motor Speedway. In addition to the parade, fans can meet their favorite hauler drivers, get free t-shirts and enjoy music, food trucks and more at the event staging area at Ride Now Powersports from 1-4 p.m. Attendees can then make their way to Union Street for a Vietnam Veterans 50th Anniversary Commemorative Program at 5 p.m. featuring hometown hero, vet and POW Colonel J. Quincy Collins Jr. As the last truck exits downtown, fans will be serenaded with the sounds of Route 66.(Independent Tribune)(5-14-2015)
News from May 13, 2015
Entry Lists for the Sprint Showdown and the Sprint All-Star Sprint Cup series races at Charlotte Motor Speedway is posted, 30 teams/drivers are listed for the Showdown, including: #25-Elliott, #30-Green, #32-Bliss, #33-Kennedy, #39-Kvapil and #95-McDowell. #21-Blaney and #34-Moffitt are not entered.
There are 17 drivers entered for the Sprint All-Star race including the return of #18-Kyle Busch.
See the full entry lists on Jayski.com’s 2015 Sprint All-Star Race & Showdown Race Info page
Top 10 All-Star Driver Ratings
#18-Kyle Busch…………………………. 108.1
#48-Jimmie Johnson…………………… 104.2
#20-Matt Kenseth………………………… 88.3
#19-Carl Edwards………………………… 84.6
#41-Kurt Busch……………………………. 83.5
#4-Kevin Harvick………………………… 82.4
#24-Jeff Gordon………………………….. 82.1
#5-Kasey Kahne………………………… 81.3
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr…………………… 78.5
#22-Joey Logano………………………… 78.2
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2014 NASCAR Sprint All-Star races (10 total).
Formula combining the following categories: Win, Finish, Top-15 Finish, Average Running Position while on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.
See an explanation how the Driver Rating is calculated at NASCAR.com.(NASCAR)
Testing at Dover UPDATE2: 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers will visit Dover International Speedway on Wednesday, May 13, 2015 for an open test session next week, just weeks before NASCAR makes its return to Dover for the May 29-31 race weekend. Fans that want to attent the test session may watch from the enclosed, climate-controlled seating located on the third floor of the Dover Downs Hotel & Casino. Fans can access this area by following signs to the Dover International Speedway ticket office and proceeding to the third floor. Drivers scheduled to participate include: #47-AJ Allmendinger, #43-Aric Almirola, #16-Greg Biffle, #26-Jeb Burton, #3-Austin Dillon, #11-Denny Hamlin, #48-Jimmie Johnson, #22-Joey Logano, #1-Jamie McMurray, #13-Casey Mears, #10-Danica Patrick and #55-David Ragan.(Dover International Speedway)(5-9-2015) UPDATE: Testing Monday at Dover International Speedway were: #47-Allmendinger, #11-Hamlin, #22-Logano, and #10-Patrick.(Goodyear Racing)(5-11-2015) UPDATE: Matt DiBenedetto flew up to Dover to test the #26 Toyota in place of Jeb Burton (DiBenedetto’s Twitter), supposedly Burton was injured and couldn’t test.(5-13-2015)
Kyle Busch to Remain Eligible for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship: NASCAR announced today that Kyle Busch will remain eligible to compete for the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. Busch will qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup by meeting all requirements of eligibility excluding Rule 17.6.2.1.a, which requires a driver to start all Championship Events of the current season. NASCAR made the decision after the driver of the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota received the appropriate medical clearance documentation to immediately return to NASCAR racing. To qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Busch will need to be within the top 30 of the Championship point standings after race No. 26, and meet all other stated requirements within the NASCAR Rule Book. “On behalf of everyone at NASCAR, it’s great to have Kyle Busch back racing,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “Our decision to grant Kyle a waiver that allows him to continue running for a championship is one we discussed extensively. The spirit of the rule never was designed to punish drivers who are unable to compete due to extenuating circumstances such as recovering from a racing accident. We wish Kyle the best of luck in the balance of the season, and look forward to his return to the car this week for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.”(NASCAR)(5-13-2015)
What will it take for Kyle Busch to make the top 30: Kyle Busch returns to the #18 M&M’s Toyota for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte. To race for a title in the 10-race, season-ending Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Busch must win one of the next 15 races, receive a medical waiver from NASCAR and either finish in the top 30 in points, or receive another NASCAR waiver for that requirement as well. Right now, #14-Tony Stewart is 30th in points, with 179 after 11 races. Over 26 races, that projects to about 423 points. For Busch to get 423 points — and ultimately, the 30th-place driver likely will have slightly more or less than 423 — he’d have to average 28.2 points in the next 15 races. So far this season, the top 11 drivers in the Sprint Cup standings have averaged at least 28.2 points per race.() AND Last year, #38-David Gilliland was 30th in the standings after the September Richmond race with 407 points. Over the past four years, the average point total for 30th place in the driver standings is 420.8 points. Factoring that, Busch would need to average a 16th-place finish to be in the top 30 when the Chase for the Sprint Cup begins in September. #14-Tony Stewart is 30th in the points at the Sprint All-Star break with 179 points in 11 races (an average of 16.3 points per race). If that pace continues for whoever finishes 30th in the points before the Chase begins in September, they would have 423 points. Busch would need to average a 15th-place finish to reach the top 30 in points(NBC Sports)(5-13-2015)
Moffitt Named Primary Driver of #34: Front Row Motorsports will keep 22-year-old Brett Moffitt behind the wheel of its #34 Ford Fusion. The team has named the Grimes, Iowa, native as the primary driver of its #34 entry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, including multiple races with primary sponsorship from CSX and its “Play It Safe” initiative. The arrangement will provide consistency behind the wheel of the #34, whose seat was filled by multiple drivers over the past 10 races. Moffitt has already driven the #34 for three races this season, including Saturday at Kansas Speedway. Front Row Motorsports had initially filled the seat vacated by David Ragan on a week-to-week basis while the Sprint Cup veteran filled in for an injured Kyle Busch in the #18 car. Now that Ragan has moved to the #55 of Michael Waltrip Racing for the remainder of the 2015 season, Front Row is grateful to have the full-time availability of the up-and-comer Moffitt.
“I am excited for the opportunity to be in a Sprint Cup car on a weekly basis,” Moffitt said. “The most important thing for me at this point of my career is seat time, going to some of these tracks that are new to me, and racing around 42 other drivers in race conditions. And the more time I spend in the 34 car and with this team, the more competitive we’ll get. And I think that consistency will lead to some good finishes.”
“We’re glad to be able to move forward knowing who is going to be in the car on a consistent basis,” said team owner Bob Jenkins. “Brett’s already got some great experience under his belt, and I think having the same driver-crew chief team working together regularly will bring some stability to our No. 34 team and help Brett with his development as well.”
The arrangement provides CSX another young driver to help deliver its railroad safety message to the targeted audience of 18- to 34-year-old males. Moffitt and the #34 team will promote the familiar “Play It Safe” message at multiple Sprint Cup races, including the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte on May 24. “We’re excited to have such a promising new driver who, at 22, fits squarely in the demographic of drivers and pedestrians we’re trying to reach with our important safety message,” said John Claybrooks, CSX Director of Brand, Digital Media & Marketing Communications. “Brett brings renewed dynamism and competitive energy to the program.” Moffitt, a 2015 Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate, has 16 Sprint Cup career starts with a top finish of eighth earlier this season at Atlanta.(Front Row Motorsports / Breaking Limits)(5-13-2015)
Harvick’s team receives their championship rings: On Tuesday morning, the team of Kevin Harvick’s #4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevy received their rings for winning the 2014 Sprint Cup Championship. The rings were presented to Harvick’s team at their SHR shop. The rings include the #4 on them and the last name of each crew member. Harvick’s crew chief, Rodney Childers, tweeted pictures of the ceremony as well as the rings.(NBC Sports), images also at SHR’s Twitter.(5-13-2015)
Hornish and SHOP.COM Give Fans a Reason to Vote: This weekend is a big weekend for Sam Hornish Jr. for more reasons than one. Not only is Hornish hoping to race his way into the Sprint All-Star race through the Sprint Showdown on Friday night, but through SHOP.COM, Hornish’s fans have the opportunity to send up to 10 campers to Victory Junction. Earlier this month, Richard Petty Motorsports announced that its partner SHOP.COM is using the Sprint Fan Vote campaign to benefit Victory Junction. For every Sprint Fan Vote that Hornish receives, SHOP.COM will donate $5 to the camp and $10 for every shared vote, up to $25,000. Hornish has competed in two Sprint All-Star events by racing his way into the field through the Sprint Showdown. In 2008, he finished second in the Showdown and seventh in the All-Star race. The following year, Hornish won the Showdown and finished 16th in the All-Star race for an average finish of 11.5 in the exhibition event. Fans have until 7 p.m. ET on May 15th to vote daily for Hornish for the Sprint Fan Vote by going to NASCAR.com/SprintFanVote.(RPM), the #9 will sport a Victory Junction / SHOP.com paint scheme for the race, see images of the scheme on the #9 Team Schemes page.(5-13-2015)
“Support Our Troops” returns on Goodyear Tires at Charlotte: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series will run the same Goodyear tire codes at Charlotte this week . . . throughout the two race weeks at Charlotte, all tires will be branded with “Support Our Troops” as part of the Goodyear Gives Back program . . . while NASCAR teams have run this left-side tire code at Charlotte since 2012, this is the first race weekend on this right-side code . . . this right-side is a Goodyear multi-zone tread tire, which incorporates two distinct compounds on the same tire — one for endurance and heat resistance on the inboard two inches of the tread and one for traction on the outboard 10 inches . . . this inboard (Endurance Zone) features the same compound that was run on the same zone at Texas, while this outboard (Traction Zone) features the compound run at Charlotte last year . . . this tire set-up was first tested at Charlotte in December, and was confirmed in a March 10 tire test at the track with drivers #43-Aric Almirola, #5-Kasey Kahne, #78-Martin Truex Jr. and #23-J.J. Yeley . . . 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 tire codes, pressure, set limits and more on the 2015 All-Star Race Info page – Tire Notes section.(5-13-2015)
Matt Dibenedetto and BK Racing Pit Crew Members Visit Camp Lejeune: #83-Matt Dibenedetto and a handful of BK Racing pit crew members spent the day at Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps base in NC, as a part of the BK Racing American Salute campaign initiative. In an effort to give back to the men and women who serve this country, BK Racing has devoted two months to participate in military base visits, along with several other initiatives. While visiting Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps base in Hubert, NC, Dibenedetto, along with fellow teammates, had the opportunity to visit the Hope For The Warriors, Hope and Care Center, where injured service members can go to get help. In addition, the team also spent time at a gun simulation station, and the base’s brig. “It was really a great experience to spend time with some of our active military,” commented Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender, Matt Dibenedetto. “We got to spend time at the Hope and Care Center, as well as play with some machine guns in a gun simulation program. I think it’s important to give back to the men and women that serve this country. I am proud and honored to be part of BK Racing’s American Salute campaign, and have the opportunity to spend time with our service members.”
Camp Lejeune marks the first of many military base visits for the team. Up next, the team will visit with Dover Air Force Base for a flight simulation, as well as spending the day touring the facility. Don’t forget to submit the names of a fallen hero to appear on JJ Yeley’s #23 Toyota at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600. 100% of all donations will be donated back to the Hope For The Warriors organization, a non-profit who provide comprehensive support programs for veterans and their families. For more information on BK Racing’s American Salute Campaign, visit www.bkracing.com(BK Racing)(5-13-2015)
Will Kimmel to run the #32 at Kentucky: Will Kimmel, nephew of ARCA Legend Frank Kimme and son of 8-time ARCA crew chief champion Bill Kimmel, will attempt to make his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at Kentucky Speedway on July 11 in the #32 Go FAS Racing Ford. After being approached earlier in the year by Go FAS Racing owner Archie St. Hilaire, Kimmel signed a one-race deal with the organization. “We just got the opportunity to run for Archie St. Hilaire with Go Fas Racing,” said Kimmel. “I drove for Archie for the first time in 2011 in the Nationwide [now XFINITY] car. Archie approached me earlier this year, and we have been able to work a deal out where I get to run a Cup race. I’m absolutely beside myself to get to go run in the most elite series in the world. There is no higher up than that.” Driving for his family-run team in the ARCA Series since 2008, Kimmel has recorded 11 top fives and 26 top 10s in 79 races. In 2010, his team ran a Camping World Truck Series race at Kentucky, finishing 21st. The next year, he ran an event for Go Green Racing in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, where he also raced at Kentucky. The #32 team will have partial funding from Keen Parts for the race, but is still looking for additional sponsorship.(Frontstretch)(5-13-2015)
ParkerStore sponsoring Larson in 2 races: HScott Motorsports with Chip Ganassi announced a partnership with Parker Hannifin Corporation (ParkerStore), the global leader in motion and control technologies. ParkerStore will partner with 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year Kyle Larson for two NASCAR XFINITY Series races in 2015, and will continue to serve as an associate sponsor on the #42 Chevy Camaro. After originally partnering with Larson when he raced outlaw karts in California, ParkerStore will be the primary sponsor of the #42 Chevy Camaro at Michigan International Speedway (MIS) in June and Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) in November.(HScott Motorsports)(5-13-2015)
Tifft to debut with KBM: After inking a six-race deal to drive for Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2015 last November, 18-year-old Matt Tifft will make his long-awaited debut behind the wheel of the #51 ToyotaCare Tundra in Friday night’s North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Knowing that the KBM deal was in the works late last year, Tifft began building his resume in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in an effort to be approved to run all the tracks on his schedule this season, which includes the Talladega Superspeedway race in October. He registered an impressive eighth-place finish in his Truck Series debut last October at Martinsville Speedway and posted an average finish of 16.3 across his three 2014 starts. While his primary focus in 2015 will be on his KBM schedule, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte business student knew that he needed to complement those races by running for other Truck Series teams and in other racing series in order to keep his skills behind the wheel sharp. The Ohio native has competed in three of the four Truck Series races this season with Venturini Motorsports, producing a season-best ninth-place finish at Martinsville. He also has made two starts for Ken Schrader Racing in the ARCA Racing Series, opening the season with a sixth-place finish at Mobile International Speedway and following it up with a runner-up finish at Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville, Tenn.(Kyle Busch Motorsports)(5-13-2015)
Cobb to honor POW-MIAs: For six very special race dates this year, Jennifer Jo Cobb, NASCAR Camping World Truck Driver of the #10 Driven2Honor team will join forces with Wreaths Across America and the trucking industry to recognize our veterans by carrying the POW-MIA banner on the hood of her race truck at races in Charlotte, Dover, Gateway, Kentucky, Chicago and Phoenix. These special race dates recognize the six days each year, on a national level, in which the POW-MIA Flag is flown at all government and military installations with the passage of Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act during the first term of the 105th Congress. In addition, Cobb will be working with Wreaths Across America and The National League of POW-MIA Families through her Driven2Honor.org charity to invite POW-MIA wives and families to these special race events as honorary guests. The commemorative POW-MIA logo will be carried on Cobb’s race truck recognizing Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day this May, Flag Day in June, Independence Day in July, National POW-MIA Recognition Day in September and Veterans Day in November. Fans and followers are encouraged to visit Driven2Honor.org, wreathsacrossamerica.org or pow-miafamilies.org or on Facebook to purchase a commemorative t-shirt or to learn more how you can support these very worthy charities. Wayne Hanson, Chairman of the Board for Wreaths Across America, said “WAA is pleased to join with Jennifer Jo Cobb and America’s trucking industry to bring attention to the plight of those service members still listed as POW or MIA even after over 50 years. We must never forget them or their service to this country.”(Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing)(5-13-2015)
FoneFuel joins Nemechek: NEMCO Motorsports announced that FoneFuel LLC, a Spartanburg, S.C-based company that delivers a high capacity portable battery for mobile devices as a low cost solution, has partnered with NEMCO Motorsports starting with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at the Charlotte Motor Speedway as a primary partner with driver Joe Nemechek. Founded in 2014, FoneFuel LLC will continue its partnership with the organization in 2015 by serving as an associate partner for the NEMCO Motorsports father and son duo of Joe Nemechek and John Hunter Nemechek splitting seat-time in the #8 Chevy Silverado. The partnership will help FoneFuel focus on the company’s primary goal – investing in education. Ten percent of the FoneFuel product proceeds, which includes multiple battery sizes and charging capabilities, will fund education and philanthropic efforts both locally and worldwide.(See an image of the truck on the #8 team paint schemes page)(NEMCO Motorsports)(5-13-2015)
Vote for a Deserving Hero to receive naming rights to Brickyard 400: One of five finalists will receive naming rights to the 2015 Brickyard 400. Select a story at CrownRoyalHeroes.com to learn more about these deserving heroes and vote for the one whose name you’d like to see in lights at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Voting is allowed once per day and ends June 7th. As the grand prize winner of Crown Royal’s annual “Your Hero’s Name Here” program, a deserving hero’s name will be etched in history with naming rights to the NASCAR race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26th, 2015. This race will mark the ninth time Crown Royal has awarded race naming rights to an adult fan. The program focuses on all of the unsung heroes who make a difference in their communities, from firefighters and police officers to first responders and local volunteers. Every year five heroic finalists are nominated and through consumer voting, one winner is chosen to have their name cemented in sports history. Beginning this week, adult consumers can go to CrownRoyalHeroes.com to vote for the hero they think is most deserving of naming rights to the race. Voting runs through June 7th and the grand prize winner will be announced early that month. All five finalists will be flown to Indianapolis to attend the race, and the grand prize winner will be provided with an once-in-a-lifetime experience, which will include delivering the trophy bearing his or her moniker to the race winner in Victory Lane. The five finalists:
Jeff Kyle – Retired U.S. Marine Corp Sergeant
Margy Bons – Community Leader
Brendan Marrocco – Retired Army Sergeant
Hector Manley – Community Leader
Benjamin Parker – Retired Army Staff Sergeant.(Crown Royal)(5-13-2015)
News from May 12, 2015
Kyle Busch returns to racing, will run the All-Star Race UPDATE transcript: Joe Gibbs Racing driver Kyle Busch has received medical clearance to return to on-track activity beginning with Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the #18 M&Ms Red Nose Toyota. Busch was injured during an accident in the season-opening NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Daytona International Speedway on February 21 causing him to miss the first 11 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races of the season.(Joe Gibbs Racing). Busch tweeted a video ending with “I’m Back”.(5-12-2015) UPDATE: on Tuesday, May 12th, the was a Joe Gibbs Teleconference with Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M Red Nose Day Toyota. Busch made a few comments then held a Q&A, answering questions about his health, the Chase, safety, testing and more, a few highlights:
Busch started off: “I was cleared to get out of the boot a couple weeks ago, and was cleared to test my late model. That test went really well. I was able to come back again and test again last week at Hickory. My medical team was there with me and then declared I was cleared to get back in the car again for the All-Star Race in the Sprint Cup Series. I think it’s a great race to come back to. For one it’s shorter. It’s a non-points event. There’s mandatory cautions after every 25 laps and whatnot, so it gives you an opportunity to take a breather, take a rest, whatever it may be.” Q. Kyle, how is your race shape, your conditioning in general? You mentioned this is a shorter race, that it gives you the opportunity to take breaks. Do you feel you will need them? KYLE BUSCH: No, I don’t believe that’s the reason. I think as far as my physical shape as to working out and whatnot, I’ve been doing therapy and whatnot three, sometimes four, five days a week. I feel like I’m well ready to go, that the cardio aspect is there, and the physical aspect of it is all there. I don’t foresee there being any setbacks in that regard. Q. Have you heard anything from NASCAR on whether or not they will make you eligible to compete in the Chase should you qualify? KYLE BUSCH: I know there’s been some good dialogue on the subject, but I’m not aware that there’s been a decision made at this point. As I mentioned last month, I’d love to race for a win and a spot in the Chase. I think the top 30 rule makes a lot of sense. But for me, in my mind, it was intended for someone in my situation that has a car, sponsor and team that was set to run the entire year for a championship. I think it was set up to keep guys from being able to grab a win at a road course or restrictor plate track or something like that. Q. There’s no pain or anything like that associated like when you put a lot of pressure on the pedals? KYLE BUSCH: No, No. I’ve not had that. The pedal pressure is somewhat around the same as to when I’m doing leg presses and stuff like that in therapy. All of that feels real relative. Yeah, I mean, there’s probably some soreness there, but I wouldn’t call it pain. It’s definitely not 100% cleared up yet. But I’m not so sure that other drivers haven’t raced in worse pain than I have over the years. Q. Kyle, is there a chance you’d get out in the All-Star Race, decide it was more than you thought it was, not continue throughout the season? Or are you fully committed and feeling you’re confident and be able to move forward? KYLE BUSCH: I mean, my plan is to obviously get in the car and to do all on-track activity each weekend. I’ll admit we’ll have Erik Jones on standby in case anything happens or in case I have any issues that I need to come out during any event. That’s just a precautionary thing. I plan to be in the entire time. Q. Specifically what day were you cleared by NASCAR’s medical staff being able to come back? KYLE BUSCH: I was cleared by NASCAR’s medical team the same day I sent in my letter for them to review to release me. So that was just yesterday.
See the full transcript on the Kyle Busch Press Conference Transcript page.(5-12-2015)
Fire damages Leavine Family Racing shop UPDATES: Firefighters were busy Friday morning putting out flames at a NASCAR team’s race shop in Harrisburg. Crews from Harrisburg and Concord were called to #95-Leavine Family Racing’s shop on Victory Lane around 7:00am and encountered flames and smoke coming from the building. Fire officials said crews were able to get the fire under control around 8:30am. Officials with the race team confirmed there was a fire at their shop and that nobody was hurt.(WSOC) UPDATE: The cause of the blaze is not yet known. LFR field a single-car effort in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the #95 Ford that is piloted by Michael McDowell. “Everyone is safe and cars were involved,” McDowell told Motorsport.com. When asked by Lee Spencer if the cars were a ‘total loss,’ he replied via text, “We are not sure yet … Still working through all that. Majority of our team is here. We only have two people that stay back at shop.”(Motorsport) UPDATE 2: WSOC has updated their original story: The fire marshal told Channel 9 that they did not know how the fire started but that four race cars in the building were destroyed and there was extensive damage to an 8,000-square foot section of the shop. Officials with the race team confirmed there was a fire at their shop and that nobody was hurt. UPDATE 3: Statement from Leavine Family Racing: “After receiving more information from a restoration company that inspected the fire damage at the shop today, we were informed that structural damage may cause us to move our racing operations. We are currently exploring all options. We do not anticipate this to impact the team’s competition schedule. Our next race is the Showdown at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Four race cars were damaged in the fire – these were primarily back-up cars. A complete investigation is taking place to access the overall damage and cause of the fire.(Leavine Family Racing)(5-8-2015) UPDATE 4: Four of the team’s 12 cars were destroyed. Tools, parts and pieces were ruined. Ash and soot covered cars and equipment. Heat from the fire had melted windshields and popped tires. Yet, Leavine Family Racing will compete this weekend in the Sprint Showdown at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Unable to work in its 20,000-square foot shop, Leavine Family Racing is preparing its cars for this weekend at Team Penske in an area formerly used by its Porsche racing program and not far from where the Sprint Cup cars of Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano are prepared. Leavine Family Racing is aligned with Team Penske. Friday’s fire was contained to the back of Leavine Family Racing’s shop and Lange said he’s hopeful to be back working in the shop shortly after the Coca-Cola 600. The team, which is running a partial schedule, already had planned to race at Charlotte the next two weekends and skip races at Dover, Pocono and Michigan before returning at Sonoma in late June. The fire does not change that schedule. Lange said the cars destroyed were to be used as backup cars for upcoming races – the primary cars are located elsewhere in the building and were not damaged by the fire. One of the cars destroyed had been used at Sonoma previously but the team was planning on a new car for that race.(NBC Sports)(5-12-2015)
Kansas TV Ratings: FS1 earned one of the lowest NASCAR overnights in recent memory for Saturday’s rain-delayed race at Kansas. Rain-delayed NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Kansas drew a 1.5 overnight rating on Fox Sports 1 Saturday night, down 55% from last year (3.3) and 62% from 2013 (3.9), both of which aired on the FOX broadcast network. The 1.5 is easily the lowest in the five-year history of the race. Given the switch from FOX to Fox Sports 1, massive declines were to be expected – and the two-hour rain delay only made things worse. The race averaged a 1.7 overnight before the delay and a 1.4 afterward. The 1.5 is the lowest overnight in some time – if not ever – for a regularly scheduled NASCAR race, though the rain delay provides an asterisk. FS1 earned a 2.5 overnight for its first scheduled race of the season, coverage from Martinsville in March.(Sports Media Watch), For TV Ratings for the season, 5-year comparison chart, see the 2015 TV Ratings page.(5-12-2015)
Hamlin questions NASCAR’s delay in throwing caution UPDATE: Joe Gibbs Racing’s #11-Denny Hamlin had a rough couple of laps late in Saturday night’s SpongeBob SquarePants 400 at Kansas Speedway. Hamlin was caught in the middle of a four-wide battle off Turn 2 and was pinched between #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Sam Hornish Jr. Contact with the left rear of Hornish’s #9 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford cut Hamlin’s right front tire and caused him to slow dramatically on the track. With cars racing at full speed under him, Hamlin was unable to make it to pit road initially and had to limp his #11 JGR Toyota around for another lap before hitting pit road for four fresh tires. Once back on track, Hamlin saw his night get worse on Lap 207 when he cut a tire off Turn 4 and slid down the frontstretch before hitting the outside wall. While Hamlin was able to drive his car to the garage, he was not too pleased with NASCAR’s timing on the caution flag. “There was no caution there (on the first incident) and then we cut a left rear, blew it off of turn four and spun out, hit the wall at the start finish line. I keep spinning out, I keep hitting the wall and I can’t figure out why everyone is still coming at 200 (miles per hour) and I look and the green light is still on,” Hamlin said of NASCAR while standing in the Sprint Cup garage. “They didn’t throw a caution until seven seconds after I wrecked. Luckily nobody hit us. They’ll continue to monitor the situation, I’m guessing is what they’ll say.” Last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, Hamlin’s JGR teammates #19-Carl Edwards and #20-Matt Kenseth both questioned NASCAR’s decision not to throw a caution flag when Edwards wrecked on the final lap of the race.(FoxSports)(5-10-2015) UPDATE: Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s executive vice president and chief racing development officer, said the sanctioning body plans to reach out to Joe Gibbs Racing and driver Denny Hamlin to discuss safety and the timing of a caution period at last weekend’s race at Kansas Speedway. O’Donnell said Monday morning during NASCAR officials’ weekly debrief with NASCAR.com that he planned to keep the lines of communication open. “First and foremost, we always talk to our competitors,” O’Donnell said. “A lot of times, they’ll come up to the hauler after a race with a concern. We didn’t see Denny or anyone from the team post-race, so we’ll certainly reach out during the week to talk to them, but talking to the folks that were in race control Saturday night, David Hoots, as soon as he was alerted to the incident, looked down and saw Denny’s car and threw the caution immediately.”(NASCAR.com)(5-12-2015)
Cope adds sponsors for Iowa: DCR announces two associate sponsors for Iowa. Adventureland Resort and Moo’s BBQ. Adventureland Resort is the Midwest’s largest family resort, encompassing an amusement park, water park, hotel, and campground, providing family entertainment for over 40 years. With over 100 rides, an exotic animal show, and magic, comedy and juggling show, as well as the Royal Hanneford Circus it’s simply the most fun you can have in Iowa. Adventureland Inn has 185 smoke free guest rooms, including poolside rooms and suites that offer a swim up bar, water features and two relaxing hot tubs. The seasonal campground is a full service campground with a pool. Moo’s Barbeque is a Newton, Iowa family-owned restaurant and caterer.(DCR)(5-12-2015)
News from May 11, 2015
Testing at Dover UPDATE: 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers will visit Dover International Speedway on Wednesday, May 13, 2015 for an open test session next week, just weeks before NASCR makes its return to Dover for the May 29-31 race weekend. Fans that want to attent the test session may watch from the enclosed, climate-controlled seating located on the third floor of the Dover Downs Hotel & Casino. Fans can access this area by following signs to the Dover International Speedway ticket office and proceeding to the thrid floor. Drivers scheduled to participate include: #47-AJ Allmendinger – JTG-Daugherty, #43-Aric Almirola – Richard Petty Motorsports, #16-Greg Biffle – Roush Fenway Racing, #26-Jeb Burton – BK Racing, #3-Austin Dillon – Richard Childress Racing, #11-Denny Hamlin – Joe Gibbs Racing – #48-Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports, #22-Joey Logano – Team Penske, #1-Jamie McMurray – Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, #13-Casey Mears – Germain Racing, #10-Danica Patrick – Stewart-Haas Racing, and #55-David Ragan – Michael Waltrip Racing.(Dover Speedway)(5-9-2015) UPDATE: Testing Monday at Dover International Speedway were: #47-Allmendinger, #11-Hamlin, #22-Logano, and #10-Patrick.(Goodyear Racing)(5-11-2015)
NASCAR focusing on next generation of fans: On a muggy Saturday afternoon, two children dragged their parents through the garage area at Kansas Speedway, intent on catching up to a hero they had seen only on television. They weren’t after Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson, though. They were after a giant, yellow Nickelodeon character – better known as SpongeBob SquarePants – whose name was attached to the Sprint Cup race featuring Gordon, Johnson and the sport’s biggest stars that night. It was exactly what the children’s TV network wanted out of its partnership with NASCAR – and just what NASCAR wanted out of the SpongeBob SquarePants 400. NASCAR has been trying to reach younger demographics for years, particularly as stars such as Gordon close in on retirement. The fan base that brought about the racing boom of the 1990s and early 2000s has started to age, and filling that void has become a priority. That’s why a few years ago NASCAR announced an industry action plan designed to attract younger and more diverse fans. It began with a rebuffed website and mobile apps, inviting more mainstream celebrities to races, and providing concerts and other ancillary entertainment.
NASCAR has also opened its garages to children accompanied by parents on race days, allowing them to get closer to the cars and drivers. It lowered age limits on some regional competitions, giving up-and-coming drivers a chance to compete earlier. And it embraced social media, fantasy racing and online simulators such as iRacing that are popular with younger demographics. The push toward a younger demographic in some ways mirrors the push that NASCAR made toward women in the 1980s and ’90s, which ultimately succeeded in growing the brand. A recent Turnkey Sports poll found that only about 10 percent of NASCAR fans these days are in the coveted 18-to-24 marketing demographic. While that may be a sobering number, polls also have found that 37 percent of NASCAR fans have children under age 18. In other words, there are plenty of potential fans just waiting to get hooked. This may be an opportune time to attract younger fans, too. There is a new set of drivers poised to take over the leadership of the sport. Eighteen-year-old Erik Jones made his first Sprint Cup start on Saturday night, and Ty Dillon, Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott are at an age that resonates with a younger fan base.(Associated Press)(5-11-2015)
Kansas Race and Commercial Breakdown of the 2015 SpongeBob SquarePants 400: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, here is the breakdown for Saturday’s race. Began recording the times at the Invocation of the race at 7:20 PM, stopped at a rain delay at 8:48 PM; began recording times again at 11:00 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 1:07 AM (all times are EDT). Did not keep records for the pre- and post-race coverage; or rain delay coverage. FOX was the broadcast team for this event.
Total number of commercials: 104
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 61
Number of times Fox utilized ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during this broadcast: 0
Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast (including company logos ‘floating’ in corners of the screen): 68
Total number of companies or entities advertised in brief promos or crawlers: 25
Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 4 min. 25 sec.
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 7:20 PM
Stopped for rain delay: 8:48 PM
Started recording times again: * 11:00 PM*
End time to record race/commercial periods: 1:07 AM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 215
Minutes of race broadcast: 167
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 48
Number of missed restarts: 0
Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 0
Total race brdcst time 167 Total comm. brdcst time 48
See full reports, sponsor links, much more details at CawsnJaws.com.(5-11-2015)
Furniture Row celebrates race team’s 10th Top-10 with sale: When Furniture Row Racing driver #78-Martin Truex Jr. finished ninth in Saturday night’s Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway it marked his 10th top-10 result of the season. To celebrate the 10 top-10s in the race team’s 10th anniversary in NASCAR, Furniture Row will offer a 10-percent discount on all furniture, accessories and mattresses at its four retail stores – Sofa Mart, Denver Mattress, Bedroom Expressions and Oak Express. The 10-percent sale will commence on Sunday May 10, 2015 and conclude one week later on Sunday May 17. Furniture Row is the owner and exclusive sponsor of the #78 Furniture Row Racing team.(Furniture Row Racing)(5-11-2015)
Rhodes skipping graduation for Iowa race: When the Louisville Holy Cross High School Class of 2015 receives its diplomas Friday night, Ben Rhodes will miss his graduation ceremony. Rhodes, 18, will be in Newton, Iowa, preparing to make his debut driving for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at the Iowa Speedway. “Oh, he is OK,” Lori Rhodes says of her son’s feelings on missing his high school graduation. “Ben’s always been OK with missing anything as long as it is for racing.” When the green flag drops Sunday at 2:00pm/et on the 3M 250, it will be the first of 10 Xfinity (formerly Nationwide) Series races in which Rhodes is scheduled to pilot the #88 car for Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports. While finishing up high school, Ben Rhodes has been attending Xfinity Series races. He’s hung out in the JR Motorsports garage and intently listened to the in-race radio chatter between veteran drivers Harvick and Earnhardt Jr. and #88 crew chief Dave Elenz. In the 10 races he is scheduled to drive this year, Rhodes needs to show that he can be nearly as fast in the 88 as Harvick, Dale Jr. and Kahne are when they are in the car. The other thing that will have to fall in place for Rhodes’ career arc to continue to climb is more sponsorship money. Earnhardt Jr. said that, in a perfect world, Rhodes would be full-time in a car for JR Motorsports in 2016. For that to happen, a primary sponsor willing to foot the bill for a full season of racing has to be acquired.(Lexington Herald Courier)(5-11-2015)
XFINITY Entry List:There are 41 cars on the preliminary entry list for Sunday’s 3M 250 at Iowa Speedway. A few notes:
Timmy Hill will be in the #13;
Ryan Ellis will drive the #15 for Rick Ware;
Jeff Green will be in the #19 for TriStar;
Erik Jones is driving the Joe Gibbs #20;
The #22 for Penske will be driving by Ryan Blaney;
The #26 is TBA;
Kenny Wallace will drive the #29 for RAB Racing;
Brandon Jones is in the RCR #33;
Boris Said returns to the JGR #54;
Ben Rhodes will make his debut in the #88 for JR Motorsports.(5-11-2015)
See the complete list on the Iowa entry list page.
Entry list: There are 33 trucks on the preliminary entry list for Friday’s NC Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. A few notes:
Kasey Kahne is in the #00;
The #1 is TBA;
Ryan Ellis in the #28;
Brad Keselowski in the #29;
Todd Peck in the #40;
Caleb Holman in the #75;
David Gilliland in the #92;
(5-11-2015)
See the complete list on the Charlotte entry list page.
Kennedy to run SpongeBob SquarePants paint scheme in Kansas UPDATE 3: SpongeBob SquarePants joins the field for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Kansas Speedway on May 8,2015, on NASCAR driver Ben Kennedy’s #11 Local Motors Toyota Tundra. Nickelodeon is the entitlement sponsor of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Saturday, May 9 at Kansas Speedway dubbed the /SpongeBobSquarePants 400/. The /SpongeBob SquarePants 400, /which will be broadcast at 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1, will feature a weekend of Bikini Bottom-themed activities and fun for the entire family. Kennedy’s #11 Local Motors//SpongeBob SquarePants/ Toyota Tundra will feature SpongeBob and his friends Patrick and SquidWard on the hood, while Mr. Krabs and Sandy Cheeks float in the sea on the rear deck lid. Kennedy campaigns the truck for Red Horse Racing and primary sponsor Local Motors. Kennedy has one previous start at Kansas Speedway in 2014, where he finished in the top 20. Overall, he has 30 career starts, with three top-five finishes, nine top-10 finishes and one pole award. Also at the speedway, attendees on Saturday will be able to enjoy some pre-Mother’s Day fun in the Nickelodeon Kids Zone, which will be located in the Kansas Speedway Fan Zone. The area will feature appearances from the /SpongeBob SquarePants/ costumed characters, a /SpongeBob SquarePants/ photo station and more.(Nickelodeon)(4-18-2015) UPDATE: See an image of the truck on the #11 Team Paint Schemes page(5-1-2015) UPDATE 2: When driver of the #11 Local Motors Truck received a package of SpongeBob onesies, it turned into much more than just adult pajamas. This turned into an opportunity to help raise awareness and find a cure to a cause that is very close to our team’s heart. Through the power of social media Ben and the entire team was put up to a challenge by crew chief, Scott Zipadelli – raise $10,000 for Pediatric Cancer, and he will wear the onesie in Kansas. A vital team member on the #11 team has a daughter who was diagnosed and treated with a rare form of Pediatric Cancer. She fought for years through a very tough battle and defeated a cancer that only a small percentage of children survive from. Today, she remains an inspiration to us all, as a strong, independent, and confident person. A person that we all look up to. All proceeds will go to the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation, a foundation that is close to us and close to the entire NASCAR community. In 2009, the Martin Truex Jr. Special Needs Fund was established at Levine Children’s Hospital to assist families that may have unusual or immediate financial need that can’t be met because of the high cost of treatment for their child.(Race to Support Pediatric Cancer Awareness)(5-1-2015) UPDATE 3: It all started with a tweet. Ben Kennedy, driver of the #11 Local Motors Toyota Tundra, and crew chief Scott Zipadelli raised $20,000 for the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation last weekend at Kansas Speedway. This Wednesday, Kennedy and Zipadelli will attend the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation Catwalk for a Cause and present the check. In just 11 days, thanks to industry social media and media support, Kennedy raised more than 80 percent of the goal, but was still short funds on the day of the race. However, Kansas Speedway stepped in with the remaining funds and met the goal. Kennedy’s Toyota Tundra carried all of the characters from popular children’s cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants last weekend in conjunction with the entitlement sponsorship of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, and when Nickelodeon executives heard about the challenge and the money raised, they decided to match the amount, bringing the total donation to $20,000. Zipadelli did indeed wear the onesie for the race, however, Kennedy’s night was cut short when debris on the grille caused the truck to overheat.(Red Horse Racing)(5-11-2015)
The Carolina Nut Co. on board with Hayley: ThorSport Racing is pleased to announce that The Carolina Nut Co., which specializes in unique flavored nuts, flavored peanuts, spicy nuts and candied nuts, will adorn the #13 Toyota Tundra of Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender, Cameron Hayley in Friday night’s NC Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Carolina Nut Co., a Hendersonville, N.C. based company, has a long standing partnership with ThorSport Racing and Johnny Sauter in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, but will make its debut with Hayley, who is currently fifth in the NCWTS driver point standings, on Friday night at CMS.(ThorSport Racing)(5-11-2015)
ROK Mobile to sponsor Boston: Kyle Busch Motorsports announced today ROK Mobile will be featured on Justin Boston’s #54 Toyota Tundra in the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway this Friday, May 15. ROK Mobile is an innovative telecommunications and music streaming company that is striving to bring customers the best cutting edge technology and music personalization to improve the way they live, work and play. The Charlotte race will be Boston’s first start at the intermediate track, although he was able to test there earlier in the year. Coming off his best-career finish of seventh in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series last weekend at Kansas Speedway, the rookie contender is currently eighth in the driver championship point standings. He has two top-10 finishes in four starts this season.(See an image of the truck on the #54 team paint schemes page)(Kyle Busch Motorsports)(5-11-2015)
News from May 10, 2015
Mears hopes to return to Germain Racing next year: Casey Mears’ status is uncertain for next season. While the 37-year-old driver of the #13 Geico Chevrolet remains optimistic, Mears expected to have his next contract signed by now. “Honestly, I really don’t know yet,” Mears told motorsport.com on Friday. “We’ve had a lot more speed this year. Obviously, our stuff has gotten better. As far as I know, everything is really positive. We haven’t really dove into those conversations yet. All indications are that we’re moving forward into next year. But some point, we need to have that conversation for sure. I’m surprised that it took so long for someone to mention it because in this day and age, everything happens so early. Definitely, we need to start having conversations and find out when that’s going to be.” Mears has piloted the No. 13 Geico Sprint Cup car for Germain Racing since the Bristol August race in 2010. The team changed manufacturers before last season from Ford to Chevy – along with a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing. While there were rumors that Ty Dillon could end up with the ride next season, it’s more likely that Richard Childress’ grandson would drive the #33 Chevy with support from Bass Pro Shops. Germain Racing declined comment on Mears’ status.(Motorsport)(5-10-2015)
Hamlin questions NASCAR’s delay in throwing caution: Joe Gibbs Racing’s #11-Denny Hamlin had a rough couple of laps late in Saturday night’s SpongeBob SquarePants 400 at Kansas Speedway. Hamlin was caught in the middle of a four-wide battle off Turn 2 and was pinched between #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Sam Hornish Jr. Contact with the left rear of Hornish’s #9 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford cut Hamlin’s right front tire and caused him to slow dramatically on the track. With cars racing at full speed under him, Hamlin was unable to make it to pit road initially and had to limp his #11 JGR Toyota around for another lap before hitting pit road for four fresh tires. Once back on track, Hamlin saw his night get worse on Lap 207 when he cut a tire off Turn 4 and slid down the frontstretch before hitting the outside wall. While Hamlin was able to drive his car to the garage, he was not too pleased with NASCAR’s timing on the caution flag. “There was no caution there (on the first incident) and then we cut a left rear, blew it off of turn four and spun out, hit the wall at the start finish line. I keep spinning out, I keep hitting the wall and I can’t figure out why everyone is still coming at 200 (miles per hour) and I look and the green light is still on,” Hamlin said of NASCAR while standing in the Sprint Cup garage. “They didn’t throw a caution until seven seconds after I wrecked. Luckily nobody hit us. They’ll continue to monitor the situation, I’m guessing is what they’ll say.” Last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, Hamlin’s JGR teammates #19-Carl Edwards and #20-Matt Kenseth both questioned NASCAR’s decision not to throw a caution flag when Edwards wrecked on the final lap of the race.(FoxSports)(5-10-2015)
Baldwin happy to be back as crew chief: Career back-pedaling appeared to agree with Tommy Baldwin Jr. on Saturday afternoon. Sitting on a director’s chair behind his Tommy Baldwin Racing hauler in the infield of Kansas Speedway, Baldwin smiled and even laughed as he talked about his return to the role of crew chief for the evening’s SpongeBob SquarePants 400. “It feels good,” Baldwin said. “Obviously there are a lot of things going on (within his Sprint Cup team) but I’m really enjoying being back to calling the shots” from the top of the pit box. Baldwin spent a hefty chunk of his racing career on pit boxes. In 2009, Baldwin launched Tommy Baldwin Racing. The team, underfunded by today’s standards, has had mixed results over the years but true racers push on and Baldwin is a true racer. Earlier this week, Baldwin lost his crew chief, Kevin “Bono” Manion, who moved to Richard Petty Motorsports to become crew chief for Sam Hornish Jr. Rather than rush out and try to find another veteran crew chief to call the shots for driver #7-Alex Bowman in the SpongeBob SquarePants 400, Baldwin opted to use a veteran crew chief who was already on the payroll; himself. “Like riding a bike,” he said of re-mounting the pit box stairs.(NASCAR Wire Service)(5-10-2015)
Coca-Cola 600 Salute to the Troops Pre-Race Festivities: As part of the biggest Memorial Day Weekend celebration on the planet, Charlotte Motor Speedway will honor Taya Kyle with the coveted Stonewall Jackson Award and will welcome Gen. Mark Milley to offer the State of Freedom address during the Coca-Cola 600 pre-race Salute to the Troops on Sunday, May 24. Given 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 and beyond the call of duty. Kyle is the widow of the legendary U.S. Navy SEAL and author of the bestsellers American Sniper and American Gun, Chris Kyle, whose story of service and sacrifice was told in Clint Eastwood’s critically acclaimed blockbuster film American Sniper.
Milley, a decorated veteran with more than three decades of service in the U.S. Army, will offer a moving State of Freedom speech as part of the Coca-Cola 600 pre-race Salute to the Troops. A 1980 graduate of Princeton University, Milley has served in the 82nd Airborne Division and the 5th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; the 7th Infantry Division at Fort Ord, California; the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York; the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea; the Joint Readiness Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana; the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; and the 101st Airborne (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.(CMS)(5-10-2015)
Johnson wins at Kansas:#48-Jimmie Johnson won the SpongeBob SquarePants 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway for his 3rd win of the season, 3rd win at Kansas and his 73rd career win. It is also his 200th top-5 and 300th top-10 career finish.
#4-Harvick finished 2nd followed by #88-Earnhardt, Jr., #24-Gordon, #22-Logano, #20-Kenseth, #2-Keselowski, #41-Busch, #78-Truex, Jr., and #31-Newman.
#18-Erik Jones, running his first full Sprint Cup race, ran near the front for much of the race, but spun out and hit the wall with 73 laps to go. He finished 40th.
Rain fell at the track on lap 98, causing a 2 hour and 16 minute red flag.
Harvick maintains the points lead with 437, 46 points over Truex, Jr. Johnson has the Chase lead, with 3 wins to Harvick’s 2.
There were 16 lead changes among 10 drivers. There were 9 cautions for 49 yellow flag laps.
The average speed was 125.265mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Unofficial Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Penalty Report (pdf) and Lap Summary Report (pdf).
(5-10-2015)
Race Fast Facts – Kansas:
Jimmie Johnson won the 5th Annual SpongeBob SquarePants 400, his 73rd victory in 482 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his third victory and eighth top-10 finish in 2015.
This is his third victory and 15th top-10 finish in 18 races at Kansas Speedway.
Kevin Harvick (second) posted his ninth top-10 finish in 19 races at Kansas Speedway. It is his 10th top-10 finish in 2015.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (third) posted his ninth top-10 finish in 18 races at Kansas Speedway.
Matt DiBenedetto (25th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Kevin Harvick leads the point standings by 46 points over Martin Truex Jr.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(5-10-2015)
Allmendinger agrees to five year deal with JTG Daugherty: Today during a NASCAR media availability at Kansas Speedway, AJ Allmendinger revealed to media members that he has signed an extension to his driver agreement with JTG Daugherty Racing that will make him the driver of the #47 Chevy SS for at least through the 2020 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race season. “I have always said I have a verbal lifetime contract with JTG Daugherty Racing, but I want to announce today that I have officially signed a contract for a five year deal,” Allmendinger said. “It’s pretty cool to me because I love it here and love the family atmosphere Jodi (Geschickter), Tad (Geschickter) and Brad (Daugherty) have established. Not only do we have a family bond, we have a healthy future with some of the biggest and best brands in the business.” This announcement follows The Kroger Company’s news of sponsoring the team for multiple years starting with 17 races this season and 24 in 2016. Kroger is one of many great partners of JTG Daugherty Racing, such as, Better Than Bouillon, BUSH’S Beans, Charter Spectrum, Clorox, Core Power, Freightliner, Glad, Hidden Valley, House-Autry, Hungry Jack, Kingsford, SCOTT Products and Shore Lunch.(JTG Daugherty Racing)(5-9-2015)
Toyota intent on keeping Jones around long-term: In a short weekend at Kansas Speedway, Erik Jones has turned a lot of heads in his new job — a job that could prove to be one-and-done. Jones will make his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start Saturday night behind the wheel of the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. And it could well be his only start in the #18, as JGR team driver Kyle Busch could be back in his car as soon as next Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Series race. So far this weekend, Jones has dazzled in the both the Cup and the Camping World Truck Series. In his first Cup start, he qualified 12th for the SpongeBob SquarePants 400, was ninth in the first practice and first in Happy Hour. Not bad for an 18-year-old young man who hails from the sleepy little hamlet of Byron, Mich., population 581.
Of course, once Busch comes back, Jones will lose his Cup ride. But don’t worry about his prospects — the Toyota camp intends to keep Jones in the family for a very long time. In an exclusive interview with FOXSports.com, Toyota’s racing boss in the United States said the automaker has big plans for Jones. “He’s not going anywhere,” said David Wilson, the president and general manager of TRD, U.S.A., Toyota’s American racing division. “We’re going to keep Toyotas underneath him, somehow, some way.” Wilson said Jones’ run for the Truck Series championship, where he’s third in points after Friday night’s race, is what Toyota is focusing on this year. In the immediate future, his biggest priority is to win his first national series championship,” Wilson told FOXSports.com. “The part that is important to us about that is, OK, whether Erik belongs in a Cup car today full-time or today an XFINITY car full-time, that’s secondary. He hasn’t gone through a complete season and raced for a championship. There’s a certain discipline and mentality that that takes, right? Whereas you jump in a car one weekend and another car the next weekend and it’s all about winning. But his day job right now is to win a Camping World Truck Series championship.” And from there, the sky is the limit. “We have next year lined out for him,” said Wilson. “We’re working on the year after that.”(FoxSports)(5-9-2015)
Race Coverage of the SpongeBob SquarePants 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, May 9, 2015. Television (TV): FoxSports1 at 7:30 pm/et; Pre-Race show at 7:00pm/et; green flag approx. 7:46pm/et Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 90 Scheduled Race Re-Airs:
Sunday, May 10 at 3:00am/et on FS1;
Monday, May 11 at 10:00am/et on FS1
Kansas Saturday Pre-Race Schedule:
5:30:00 p.m.: Driver/Crew Chief Meeting
5:40:00 p.m.: Concert – Shooter Jennings
6:50:00 p.m.: NSCS Drivers Introductions with NASCAR Special Awards
7:30:00 p.m.: Presentation of Colors by: Fort Riley’s Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard
7:30:20 p.m.: Invocation by: Reverend Glen Shoup, Executive Pastor, United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
7:31:00 p.m.: National Anthem: Maggie Marx
7:32:35 p.m.: Flyover TOT by: 2 A-10s from Whiteman Air Force Base (Turn 3 to Turn 2)
7:37:30 p.m.: “Drivers, Start Your Engines” by: Jack Griffo, Star of Nickelodeon’s hit show “The Thundermans”
7:46:30 p.m.: Start of the SpongeBob Squarepants 400 (267 Laps, 400.5 Miles)
eastern time (NASCAR.com)
Testing at Dover on Wednesday: 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers will visit Dover International Speedway on Wednesday, May 13, 2015 for an open test session next week, just weeks before NASCR makes its return to Dover for the May 29-31 race weekend. Fans that want to attent the test session may watch from the enclosed, climate-controlled seating located on the third floor of the Dover Downs Hotel & Casino. Fans can access this area by following signs to the Dover International Speedway ticket office and proceeding to the thrid floor. Drivers scheduled to participate include: #47-AJ Allmendinger – JTG-Daugherty, #43-Aric Almirola – Richard Petty Motorsports, #16-Greg Biffle – Roush Fenway Racing, #26-Jeb Burton – BK Racing, #3-Austin Dillon – Richard Childress Racing, #11-Denny Hamlin – Joe Gibbs Racing – #48-Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports, #22-Joey Logano – Team Penske, #1-Jamie McMurray – Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, #13-Casey Mears – Germain Racing, #10-Danica Patrick – Stewart-Haas Racing, and #55-David Ragan – Michael Waltrip Racing.(Dover Speedway)(5-9-2015)
Final Talladega TV Ratings: Final ratings for NASCAR’s spring Talladega race were the lowest in eighteen years. NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Talladega drew a 4.0 final rating and 6.3 million viewers on FOX Sunday afternoon, down 9% in ratings and viewership from last year (4.4, 6.9M) and down 13% and 14%, respectively, from 2013 (4.6, 7.3M). The 4.0 rating is the lowest for the spring Talladega race since 1997, the last time it aired on cable (3.0*). This is the third straight year ratings have been the lowest since 1997 and the fourth straight in which the race has had a year-over-year decline. Since hitting the 7.6 mark a decade ago, ratings have declined by 47%. Even rainout coverage in 2006 had a higher rating (4.4). The last four non-rained out races on FOX – Phoenix, Fontana, Texas and Talladega – have each had declines in ratings compared to last year. Three of the four have had declines in viewership. That comes after the first five races of the season each had year-over-year gains. Despite the lower numbers, NASCAR on FOX was the top sporting event of the weekend outside of the Kentucky Derby.(Sports Media Watch)(5-9-2014)
Lesa France Kennedy featured on CBS Sunday Morning: Losing her father and husband within a month of time made 2007 the “toughest year” of her life, NASCAR Vice Chairperson and International Speedway Corporation Chief Executive Officer Lesa France Kennedy tells Michelle Miller in an interview for CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood to be broadcast May 10, 2015 (9:00am/et) on the CBS Television Network. Kennedy is part of a stock car racing dynasty. She is the granddaughter of NASCAR founder Bill France, Sr., and daughter of Bill France, Jr., who was Vice Chairman of NASCAR when he died after a long illness in 2007. Then, a month later, Kennedy’s husband, Dr. Bruce Kennedy, died in a small plane crash not far from the family’s Florida home. In a wide-ranging interview, Kennedy opens up about rebuilding her life after losing her husband; guiding her son Ben Kennedy’s NASCAR driving career, efforts to broaden the reach of stock car racing in the country, and the future of the International Speedway Corporation’s Daytona International Speedway. In an additional excerpt at CBSNews.com, Kennedy tells Miller that she got through the tragedy of losing her husband by staying close with her son. Ben Kennedy talks with Miller about his racing career, and growing up in the family business. His mother, he says, had him doing a variety of jobs around Daytona, from parking cars, to cleaning up.(NASCAR)(5-9-2015)
Kansas Speedway Notes & Facts – Saturday – race:
· There have been 18 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, one NSCS event from 2001 – 2010 and two races per year since 2011.
· Hendrick Motorsports leads the series in wins at Kansas with five: Jeff Gordon (three) and Jimmie Johnson (two).
· Four manufacturers have won at Kansas Speedway in the NSCS; led by Chevrolet with nine victories, Ford with four, Toyota and Dodge each have two.
· There has been one NSCS race resulting with a green-white-checkered finish at Kansas Speedway: fall of 2011 (267/272).
· Only one of the 18 races at Kansas Speedway has been shortened due to weather conditions: fall of 2007.
· Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kansas Speedway was the (10/10/2004) race won by Joe Nemechek with a MOV of 0.081 second.
(NASCAR)(5-9-2015)
News from May 8, 2015
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the SpongeBob SquarePants 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway have been made.
Pole sitter #22-Logano chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #5-Kahne took pit stall 38, the first pit stall with an opening in front of it.
#2-Keselowski, who starts 3rd took the 18th pit stall, also with an opening in front of it.
The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #1-McMurray, who starts 9th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com’s Pit Stall Selection chart.(5-8-2015)
Logano wins Kansas pole: #20-Joey Logano won the Coors Light pole for the SpongeBob SquarePants 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway with speed of 192.397mph for his 4th pole of 2015, 1st at Kansas and 12th of his career.
#5-Kahne is on the outside pole followed by #2-Keselowski, #78-Truex, Jr., #19-Edwards, #4-Harvick, #16-Biffle, #41-Busch, #1-McMurray, and #42-Larson.
Missing the race was: #62-Gaughan.
See the starting lineup, qualifying results, pole progression, qualifying order and more on Jayski.com’s Kansas Qualifying Page.(5-8-2015)
Qualifying Fast Facts – Kansas:
Joey Logano won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 5th Annual SpongeBob SquarePants 400 with a lap of 28.067 seconds, 192.397 mph.
This is his 12th pole in 230 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his series-leading fourth pole and ninth top-10 start in 2015.
This is his first pole in 12 races at Kansas Speedway.
He is the youngest pole winner in Kansas Speedway history (24 years, 11 months, 8 days).
Kasey Kahne (second) posted his eighth top-10 start of 2015 and his 10th in 16 races at Kansas Speedway.
Brad Keselowski (third) posted his fifth top-10 start at Kansas Speedway. It is his sixth in 11 races this season.
Jeb Burton (33rd) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics)(5-8-2015)
Second Round of Qualifying for the SpongeBob SquarePants 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is over after 10 scheduled minutes.
#78-Truex, Jr. 191.986
#19-Edwards 191.857
#2-Keselowski 191.503
#1-McMurray 191.367
#24-Gordon 191.293
the rest of the top 12: 4 18 22 5 42 16 41;
out of the top 12 and not advancing to round 3: 11 43 31 14 88 20 48 17 15 27 55 13.
(5-8-2015)
First Round of Qualifying for the SpongeBob SquarePants 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is over, after 20 scheduled minutes.
#19-Edwards 192.342
#22-Logano 191.904
#1-McMurray 191.836
#88-Earnhardt, Jr. 191.652
#78-Truex, Jr. 191.510
the rest of the top 24: 4 18 2 41 14 11 43 5 48 24 20 17 15 42 16 31 27 55 13;
out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 51 9 10 3 47 6 95 33 26 35 83 7 23 38 34 98 40 32 62 46
Driver who will miss the race: #62-Gaughan.
(5-8-2015)
Final Practice for the SpongeBob SquarePants 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is over after 55 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#18-Jones 191.306
#24-Gordon 191.184
#22-Logano 190.732
#78-Truex, Jr. 190.490
#88-Earnhardt, Jr. 190.396
slowest: #83-Dibenedetto 182.205 & #40-Cassill 180.240.
notes: Qualifying is scheduled for 6:45pm/et on FS1.
#46-Annett hit the wall on a mock qualifying run. He will have to go to a backup car.
#4-Harvick had the best 10 consecutive lap average at 185.058 and ran the most laps – 33.
See best speeds, laps run, Best 10 Consecutive Lap Average on the Kansas Practice 2 Speeds page (pdf).(5-8-2015)
First Friday Practice for the SpongeBob SquarePants 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is over after 85 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#4-Harvick 190.772
#22-Logano 190.375
#19-Edwards 190.268
#14-Stewart 189.188
#88-Earnhardt, Jr. 187.637
slowest: #32-Gase 179.880 & #62-Gaughan 179.057
notes: There is a second Cup practice scheduled for 2:30-3:25pm/et. Qualifying will be at 6:45pm/et on FS1.
#18-Jones had the best 10 consecutive lap average at 185.065. Most laps run: #88-Earnhardt, Jr. – 55.
See best speeds, laps run, Best 10 Consecutive Lap Average on the Kansas Practice 1 Speeds page (pdf).(5-8-2015)
Qualifying Order for the SpongeBob SquarePants 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is posted. 44 cars/drivers are listed.
The first of the drivers scheduled to go out is #34-Moffitt.
The final driver scheduled to go out is #3-Dillon.
Qualifying order is set by a random draw, held about an hour before the first practice.
See the full qualifying order on Jayski.com’s Kansas Qualifying Page.(5-8-2015)
Fire damages Leavine Family Racing shop UPDATES: Firefighters were busy Friday morning putting out flames at a NASCAR team’s race shop in Harrisburg. Crews from Harrisburg and Concord were called to #95-Leavine Family Racing’s shop on Victory Lane around 7:00am and encountered flames and smoke coming from the building. Fire officials said crews were able to get the fire under control around 8:30am. Officials with the race team confirmed there was a fire at their shop and that nobody was hurt.(WSOC) UPDATE: The cause of the blaze is not yet known. LFR field a single-car effort in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the #95 Ford that is piloted by Michael McDowell. “Everyone is safe and cars were involved,” McDowell told Motorsport.com. When asked by Lee Spencer if the cars were a ‘total loss,’ he replied via text, “We are not sure yet … Still working through all that. Majority of our team is here. We only have two people that stay back at shop.”(Motorsport) UPDATE 2: WSOC has updated their original story: The fire marshal told Channel 9 that they did not know how the fire started but that four race cars in the building were destroyed and there was extensive damage to an 8,000-square foot section of the shop. Officials with the race team confirmed there was a fire at their shop and that nobody was hurt. UPDATE 3: Statement from Leavine Family Racing: “After receiving more information from a restoration company that inspected the fire damage at the shop today, we were informed that structural damage may cause us to move our racing operations. We are currently exploring all options. We do not anticipate this to impact the team’s competition schedule. Our next race is the Showdown at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Four race cars were damaged in the fire – these were primarily back-up cars. A complete investigation is taking place to access the overall damage and cause of the fire.(Leavine Family Racing)(5-8-2015)
Gase, Go Green pick up Kansas sponsor UPDATE: Joey Gase and Go Fas Racing announce their sponsorship line up for the SpongeBob SquarePants 400 at Kansas Speedway. Tri State Tower, the premier cell phone and data National Turnkey Construction and maintenance company in the Midwest, will be the hood sponsor on the #32 Ford Fusion. Construction Materials, Inc., elicitherbalchew.com, and pci-ia.com will all be associate sponsors. Joey will also be representing his hometown track, Hawkeye Downs Speedway, on the bumper of his car.(Gase PR)(5-7-2015) UPDATE: Joey Gase’s underdog story went national this week, and more folks are getting behind the NASCAR driver from Iowa with their checkbooks. The Cedar Rapids native signed three sponsors Wednesday after word spread that Gase needed funding for his sixth Sprint Cup Series start this weekend at Kansas Speedway. Gase, 22, gained attention by racing his #52 Chevy to a shocking fifth-place finish in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race at Talladega Superspeedway. Folks were drawn to the story of a driver whose mother died suddenly when he was 18 and whose team budget is so dwarfed by larger outfits that he handles his own PR and sponsorship sales. Gase often drives on used Goodyear tires, because his team can’t afford many new ones (priced at more than $2,000 per set), and typically uses a volunteer pit crew. TV reporter Krista Voda, an Iowan, was one of many national figures to spread word of Gase’s story. She tweeted to her 140,000 followers: “I hope a co. steps up & sponsors Joey for @kansasspeedway. Tons of Iowa fans there!” Gase, whose best Sprint Cup finish is five starts is 33rd (four laps down) at Phoenix Raceway in November, heads to Kansas City with more confidence and resources. The Go Fas Racing team will even have a developmental pit crew from Roush Fenway Racing, instead of volunteers. “There will definitely be a few more eyes on us this week than we would have other weeks, for sure,” Gase said.(Des Moines Register)(5-8-2015)
What is the future of NASCAR Mexico? After three races of the season 2015 NASCAR Mexico season, we’ve seen some thrilling battles on the track, giving few reasons for anyone to doubt the future of the series. However, rumors have been going around since last year that its days days are numbered. But the whispers of demise continue in the paddock. NASCAR Mexico has no title sponsor at the moment. Toyota supported the series until 2014 and has carried out budget readjustments to take on the first part of the schedule with fewer staff operating and a smaller group of officials. The COO of NASCAR Mexico, Juan Carlos Ortiz, admitted in an interview with Motorsport.com that the situation is not ideal, but neither are they close to dying out. “The series is healthy. Like everywhere there are ups and downs and we are now in a difficult time, but eager to move forward. We are united and convinced that this will be a successful championship again,” said Ortiz. Joe Balash, responsible for NASCAR’s international series, has no doubt that its subsidiary in Latin America will still remain for several years and as he said to Motorsport.com “are ups and downs” and recognizes the commitment of the France family to keep this series for the long term, “just last year we renewed with Mexico. There is no reason to think otherwise.” However, ICD group, who leads the series, now had a greater concern than the regional category and that is the return Formula One to Mexico. The Inter Corporate Entertainment has a five-year contract with Bernie Ecclestone that starts this 2015. The company’s efforts have focused on making it as profitable as possible with this race after the annual investment of $72 million. For that reason, perhaps it has made it more difficult to find a new sponsor or because companies want to invest their money in the highest category of motorsport.(Motorsport)(5-8-2015)
Kansas Speedway Notes & Facts – Friday – poles:
· Jason Leffler won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Kansas Speedway in 2001 with a speed of 176.499 mph.
· 11 drivers have Coors Light poles at Kansas, led by Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne with three each.
· Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick are the only two drivers to win consecutive Coors Light poles at Kansas Speedway (Johnson – 2007, 2008 and Harvick – fall 2013, spring 2014 and fall 2014).
· Four of the 18 (22.2%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway have been won from the Coors Light pole; Joe Nemechek (2004), Jimmie Johnson (2008), Matt Kenseth (spring 2013) and Kevin Harvick (fall 2013).
· Five of the 18 (27.7%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway have been won from the front row: four from the pole and one from second-place.
· 11 of the 18 (61.1%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Kansas Speedway have been won from a top-10 starting position.
· Two of the 18 (11.1%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
· Joey Logano leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Kansas Speedway with an 10.818.
· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Kansas Speedway was 25th, by Brad Keselowski in the spring of 2011.
· Qualifying has never been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kansas Speedway.
(NASCAR)(5-8-2015)
McClure returns to TriStar UPDATE: TriStar Motorsports and Team McClure Inc. announced that Eric McClure will return to the TriStar Motorsports organization for the remainder of the 2015 NASCAR XFINITY Series season, piloting the #24 Toyota Camry. McClure and JGL Racing amicably parted ways following last weekend’s event at Talladega Superspeedway. Additionally, McClure’s longtime partners, Reynolds Wrap and Hefty, will follow suit.(TMI)(5-8-2015) UPDATE: JGL Racing officials announced that after last weekends event at Talladega Superspeedway they have parted ways with driver Eric McClure and Team McClure. McClure had piloted the team’s #24 Toyota for the first nine races of the 2015 NASCAR XFINITY Series season. “I have a lot of respect for Eric and his family and we wish him nothing but the best as he continues his racing career with TriStar Motorsports,” said James Whitener, owner of JGL Racing. “We have a vision of what we want to build with this race team and it just wasn’t working out with Eric for the direction that we wanted to go. We are committed to the continued growth of JGL Racing and will do everything in our powers to progress that forward.” JGL Racing, Tri-Star and Team McClure have worked out an agreement for Eric to continue using the #24 number managed by Tri-Star Motorsports. JGL Racing will field the #26 Toyota in place of the #24 for the remainder of the 2015 NASCAR XFINITY Series season. JGL Racing has fielded two full time entries for the first nine races of the season and will continue to do that for the remainder of the 2015 season. While JGL Racing announced that it will rebrand the #24 Toyota to the #26 Toyota, the team will also continue to field a third entry (#93) at select events throughout the remainder of the 2015 season as the growth process continues.(JGL Racing/Integrity Sports Marketing)(5-8-2015)
Congrats: to Eric and Miranda McClure on the birth of their 6th daughter, Meraline Everleigh McClure. Meraline was born Friday morning.(5-8-2015)
Crafton wins at Kansas: #88-Matt Crafton won the Toyota Tundra 250 at the Kansas Speedway on Friday night after fuel mileage came into play in the closing laps. #8-Ryan Newman finished second followed by: #98-Johnny Sauter, #17-Timothy Peters, #13-Cameron Hayley, #51-Daniel Suarez, #54-Justin Boston, #31-Scott Lagasse, Jr., #15-Mason Mingus, and #14-Daniel Hemric.
There were 4 caution flags for 19 laps and 11 lead changes among 5 leaders.
#4-Erik Jones started the race from the pole and led 151 laps before running out of fuel five laps from the finish. He ended the race11th.
Complete results are on the Kansas race results page (pdf). (5-8-2015)
Kansas Race Fast Facts:
Matt Crafton won the 15th Annual Toyota Tundra 250, his seventh victory in 342 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his second victory and fourth top-10 finish in 2015.
This is his second victory and seventh top-10 finish in 15 races at Kansas Speedway.
Ryan Newman(i) (second) posted his first top-10 finish in one races at Kansas Speedway. It is his first top-10 finish in 2015.
Johnny Sauter (third) posted his fifth top-10 finish in seven races at Kansas Speedway.
Cameron Hayley (fifth) was the highest finishing rookie.
Matt Crafton leads the point standings by 17 points over Tyler Reddick.
(NASCAR Statistics) (5-8-2015)
Jones on pole at Kansas: #4-Erik Jones will start from the pole for the Toyota Tundra 250 at Kansas Speedway after setting a track record with a speed of 179.396mph. #88-Matt Crafton will start second, followed by: #33-Brandon Jones, #8-Ryan Newman, #11-Ben Kennedy, #14-Daniel Hemric, #98-Johnny Sauter, #13-Cameron Hayley, #54-Justin Boston, and #51-Daniel Suarez. #29-Austin Theriault and #19-Tyler Reddick wrecked during the final round and will both use backup trucks. See complete lineup on the Starting lineup (pdf) page.(5-8-2015)
Kansas Qualifying Notes:
Erik Jones won the Keystone Light 21 means 21 Pole Award for the 15th Annual Toyota Tundra 250, setting the qualifying record with a lap of 30.101 seconds, 179.396 mph.
This is his third pole in 21 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his first pole and fourth top-10 start in 2015.
This is his first pole and start at Kansas Speedway.
Matt Crafton (second) posted his first top-10 start of 2015 and his sixth in 15 races at Kansas Speedway.
Brandon Jones (third) posted his first top-10 start at Kansas Speedway. It is his second in two races this season.
Erik Jones was also the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(3-8-2015)
Earnhardt interested in running trucks, Custer auditioning for Xfinity ride UPDATE: Kelley Earnhardt Miller appeared on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Wednesday. Among other topics, she discussed JR Motorsports’ first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. Earnhardt Miller, co-owner of JR Motorsports, said earlier this year that there were no plans at that time to field the organization’s Camping World Truck Series team for any races beyond the 10 currently in place with driver Cole Custer. On Wednesday she said that was still the case, but also said Sprint Cup Series Dale Earnhardt Jr. had broached the subject of driving the truck. “He’s definitely mentioned that that’s something he might be interested in,” Earnhardt Miller said. “I think he would want to see how the program is going to do, and make sure we have the resources and the capability to do that. Let Cole the team get off the ground first and see how that goes.” Earnhardt Miller, Earnhardt Jr. and Sprint Cup Series team owner Rick Hendrick share ownership of JRM. One of the organization’s three full-time XFINITY Series teams features multiple Sprint Cup drivers, Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne, behind the wheel for select events. Two other full-time teams feature drivers Chase Elliott and Regan Smith, who finished 1-2 in points, respectively, last season.”He (Earnhardt Jr.) and some others have expressed interest in running the truck,” Earnhardt Miller said. “We’ve actually gotten calls from other people saying ‘do you want to fill out the balance of your schedule and run it full time?’ “We really don’t want to do that. We want to focus on Cole. If the opportunity exists to put a couple of the Cup drivers in there to make our program stronger, (that’s) really why would we want to do that… “I won’t say it’s not going to happen but there aren’t any concrete plans for it to happen right now.”Custer, 17, made his NCWTS debut last season with Haas Racing Development and became the youngest winner in a NASCAR national series event when he won the UNOH 175 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. In only nine starts, he scored six top-10s and two poles. Elliott, the defending XFINITY Series champion, will attempt to make his Sprint Cup Series debut in Sunday’s STP 500 at Martinsville. The 19-year-old is scheduled to step into the Hendrick Motorsports #24 Chevrolet in 2016, replacing four-time series champion Jeff Gordon. With Elliott already tabbed for the move to Sprint Cup next season, Custer could be auditioning for a full-time XFINITY Series ride with the organization. “Hopefully, that (truck effort) will roll into an XFINITY Series ride for Cole, depending on how he performs,” Earnhardt Miller said. It will be the first start of the season for Custer, who is limited to competing on road courses and tracks 1.1 miles or less in length due to his age.(NASCAR.com(3-26-2015) UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt Jr. says that he “probably won’t run” a Camping World Truck Series race this season for JR Motorsports but might next year. The team announced this week that Kasey Kahne would drive its truck May 15 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, leading to questions of if Earnhardt might make his Camping World Truck Series debut later this season. “I probably won’t run the Trucks this year,” Earnhardt said Friday morning at Kansas Speedway. “If I run Trucks, I want to run Martinsville and it will probably be next year if I run. I love Martinsville. I watched the Truck race there this year in the pit stall and just wanted to be out there. It just looks like a lot of fun.”(NBC Sports(5-8-2015)
Save Mart Supermarkets offers free kids’ tickets for Sonoma: For the first-time ever, Sonoma Raceway and Save Mart Supermarkets have teamed up to offer free admission to young race fans for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, June 28. For the fifth straight year, the raceway and supermarket chain will offer fans the lowest-priced Sunday reserved-seat ticket for NASCAR’s only stop in Northern California for just $45. New for 2015, kids (12 and under) are free with the purchase of an adult ticket at Save Mart Supermarkets or Lucky stores. That means a family of four could enjoy NASCAR in Sonoma for as little as $90. The reserved seats are located in the Turn 9 Terrace, known for providing some of the best views of the road course. Toyota/Save Mart 350 tickets are now on sale in all Save Mart and Lucky Supermarkets locations.(Sonoma Raceway)(5-8-2015)
News from May 7, 2015
Carsforsale.com returns to the #40 at Kansas:Carsforsale.com, one of the Internet’s largest online automotive inventory websites, will appear as the primary sponsor of Landon Cassill and the #40 Carsforsale.com Chevy SS at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series SpongeBob SquarePants 400 this Saturday, May 9 at Kansas Speedway. A partnership that includes six primary races in 2015, Carsforsale.com is showcased on the #40 Hillman Racing Chevy for the third of six races this season with additional races at: Michigan (June 14), Bristol (August 22), and Talladega (October 25).(Hillman Racing), see an image of the car on the #40 team paint schemes page.(5-7-2015)
Gase, Go Green pick up Kansas sponsor: Joey Gase and Go Fas Racing announce their sponsorship line up for the SpongeBob SquarePants 400 at Kansas Speedway. Tri State Tower, the premier cell phone and data National Turnkey Construction and maintenance company in the Midwest, will be the hood sponsor on the #32 Ford Fusion. Construction Materials, Inc., elicitherbalchew.com, and pci-ia.com will all be associate sponsors. Joey will also be representing his hometown track, Hawkeye Downs Speedway, on the bumper of his car.(Gase PR)(5-7-2015)
RCR implementing safety changes for its pit crews: Richard Childress Racing is requiring all its over-the-wall pit crew members to wear fire-protective head socks and is looking at potential changes to both helmets and eyewear after pit fires at Richmond International Raceway and Talladega Superspeedway, the team confirmed to NASCAR Talk. Two crew members from Brendan Gaughan’s Xfinity team were injured in a pit fire April 24 at Richmond. A small fire broke out during one of Ryan Newman’s pit stops in last weekend’s Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway. No one was injured. An RCR spokesperson emailed a statement to NASCAR Talk about the team’s plans for its pit crews.
“RCR has always preached safety with our crew members and after the Richmond pit road incident, we reviewed our internal policies and procedures to determine what further changes were warranted,” team spokesperson Tim Packman wrote in an email. “From that, we were able to make necessary changes to help prevent that from happening again as we had a mechanical failure on one of the gas cans at Richmond, which led to the large amount of fuel being spilled. This was not related to the #31 incident at Talladega. As of right now, we are requiring all over-the-wall crew members to wear full head socks. We are also looking at potential changes to both helmets and eyewear, but those discussions are ongoing. Some of the crew members were already using full helmets this past weekend.”
NASCAR requires only the gas man wear a fire-protective head sock (along with uniform, shoes, full-face helmet, gloves, fueler apron and head sock or helmet skirt). NASCAR requires over-the-wall pit crew members to have a uniform, shoes and helmet. Gloves, a head sock or helmet skirt, underwear and socks are recommended.(NBC Sports)(5-7-2015)
Goodyear shortens upcoming Darlington test: Goodyear officials have changed next month’s tire test at Darlington Raceway from a two-day to a single-day tire test, a move that will also change the date of the open team test. The Goodyear portion of the test, originally slated for Tuesday and Wednesday, June 9-10, has been shortened to a single-day test on June 9. The open team test will now be held Wednesday, June 10. Each NASCAR Sprint Cup Series organization may have one team on hand to participate in the open test. Organizations scheduled to participate in the Goodyear portion of the test are Richard Childress Racing, Roush Fenway Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. Only one Goodyear tire test and open team test is scheduled for this month, May 11-13 at Dover International Speedway. Organizations participating in the Goodyear portion, set for May 11-12, are Stewart-Haas Racing, JTG Daugherty Racing, Team Penske and Joe Gibbs Racing.(NASCAR.com)(5-7-2015)
Chassis selections for this weeks race: see the list of many teams [that report or post them] and what chassis were selected by the team to run in the SpongeBob SquarePants 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway on the Kansas Race Info page – Chassis selection area.
Kansas Speedway Notes & Facts – Thursday – drivers:
· 117 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas; 89 in more than one.
· Five drivers have started all 18 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway – Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman.
· 12 different drivers have won at Kansas Speedway, led by Jeff Gordon with three.
· Martin Truex Jr., Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman are tied for the series most runner-up finishes at Kansas Speedway with two each.
· Jeff Gordon leads the series in top-five finishes at Kansas Speedway with 10; followed by Greg Biffle with seven.
· Jimmie Johnson leads the series in top-10 finishes at Kansas Speedway with 14; followed by Jeff Gordon (12) and Carl Edwards (11).
· Kyle Larson (7.000) leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Kansas Speedway – Jimmie Johnson (9.529) is the only other driver with an average finish inside the top 10.
· Denny Hamlin has participated in the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway without posting a DNF (13).
· 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion and 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Austin Dillon (10/09/2011), Ryan Blaney (5/10/2014) and Denny Hamlin (10/09/2005) made their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career starts at Kansas Speedway.
· Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth are the only two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers that have posted consecutive wins at Kansas Speedway: Gordon (2001 and 2002 – the first two NSCS events at Kansas) and Kenseth (fall of 2012, spring of 2013).
· Nine of the 10 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners at Kansas Speedway participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Jeff Gordon won at Kansas in his first appearance.
· Kevin Harvick competed at Kansas Speedway 15 times before winning last fall; the longest span of any the 10 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners at Kansas.
· Kevin Harvick (15) and Matt Kenseth (13) have made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Kansas Speedway.
· Kurt Busch leads the series with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Kansas Speedway without visiting Victory Lane at 18.
· Jimmie Johnson leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Kansas Speedway with 586 laps led in 17 starts.
· Danica Patrick is the only female driver that has competed at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
(NASCAR)(5-7-2015)
3M sponsoring XFINITY race at Iowa: Iowa Speedway announced that 3M will be the entitlement sponsor of the NASCAR XFINITY Series race on Sunday, May 17, titled the 3M 250. As part of the newly formed partnership, 3M will integrate its products throughout Iowa Speedway to help improve the experience for fans, partners, teams, and employees. A more engaging environment for fans, including designated prime ‘selfie’ picture taking areas made possible by 3M, is part of an improved overall track experience. 3M Envision Wrap Films allow Iowa Speedway to go greener without sacrificing good looks, performance and durability of branding and communications assets across the property. Having been involved in the sport for almost two decades, 3M is already a seasoned partner throughout NASCAR. As an Official Partner of NASCAR, 3M amplifies its activation at the track through a number of NASCAR assets to broaden its reach and engage NASCAR fans on a national level. More than 150 of its products and technologies are used in the construction and maintenance of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series race cars each and every race weekend.(Iowa Speedway)(5-7-2015)
Hayley fastest in practice: #13-Cameron Hayley was fastest during practice at Kansas Speedway with a speed of 175.798mph. #14-Daniel Hemric was second, followed by #51-Daniel Suarez, #4-Erik Jones, #8-Ryan Newman, #19-Tyler Reddick, #29-Austin Theriault, #23-Spencer Gallagher, #88-Matt Crafton, and #54-Justin Boston. 32 drivers are entered for the race and all 32 practiced during the session. #25-Matt Tifft wrecked during the session and will use a backup. See complete results on the Kansas practice speeds page (pdf).(5-7-2015)
Guy Fieri named Grand Marshal, Honorary Pace Car Driver for All-Star Race: Always a star-studded affair, the 2015 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race will have more celebrity star power than ever as Charlotte Motor Speedway officials announced that TV personality and food icon Guy Fieri will serve as the Grand Marshal and Honorary Pace Car driver for the biggest all-star event in sports on May 16. The dynamic chef, restauranteur and author is best known for his hit Food Network TV shows “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” and “Guy’s Big Bite,” as well as his appearances as a judge on “Next Food Network Star.” Fieri will bring his larger-than-life personality and his signature blonde hair to the 30th anniversary of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race to give the command to fire engines before jumping behind the wheel of the official Charlotte Motor Speedway Toyota Camry pace car to lead the field to green. The $99 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race weekend pass includes frontstretch tickets for the N.C. Education LotteryCamping World Truck Series race and Sprint Showdown on Friday, May 15; plus the no-speed-limit NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race qualifying, a rocking pre-race concert with country mega-group Little Big Town, presented by Rayovac, and capped off with a blockbuster shootout for $1 million at the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on Saturday, May 16.(CMS)(5-7-2015)
Dover to host Track Walk to support The NASCAR Foundation and Autism Speaks: Dover International Speedway will once again host a track walk to benefit The NASCAR Foundation and Autism Speaks immediately following the “Buckle Up 200” presented by Click It or Ticket NASCAR XFINITY Series race on Saturday, May 30, 2015. This fun event provides fans with the exclusive opportunity to raise money for two worthy organizations by walking or running the entire one-mile, concrete track. Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Toyota in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, will participate in the walk and will be joined by his team. Fans of all ages can register now at NASCARFoundation.org. Advance registration costs $20 for adults and $25 at the track on race weekend. Children ages 14 and younger can register for just $10. On-site registration will be held on Friday and Saturday at The NASCAR Foundation display in the FanZone, located just outside Turn 4 of the track. Participants will be placed in groups and led by PAWS for People and their dogs. Walkers will have the chance to interact with the dogs or even register, prior to the kick-off, to help walk the dogs (space is limited). PAWS for People (Pet-Assisted Visitation Volunteer Services) is a non-profit organization committed to providing therapeutic visits to any person in the community who would benefit from interaction with a well-trained, loving pet.(Dover Speedway)(5-7-2015)
News from May 6, 2015
Statement from Richard Childress: regarding final appeal ruling on the #31 Chevy team: “We do not agree with the final appeal ruling. We feel we had a compelling case and still fell we were in the right and the facts presented today would have proved that. We do appreciate the opportunity to be heard. We stand behind our suspended team members and look forward to their return. We will now move on and continue or goals of winning races and making the Chase for the Champion.”(Richard Childress Racing)(5-6-2015)
Penalties against Newman’s team upheld: Today the National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer, Mr. Bryan Moss, heard and considered the appeal of a P5 penalty issued on March 31, 2015 to Richard Childress (owner), Ryan Newman (driver), Lucas Lambert (crew chief), James Bender (tire technician) and Philip Surgen (race engineer) relative to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series vehicle #31 at Auto Club Speedway. The penalty concerns the following sections in the 2015 NASCAR rule book: 12.1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing 20.16: Wheels and tires A. Any device, modification, or procedure to the tire or wheel, including the valve stem hardware, that is used to release pressure, beyond normal pressure adjustments, from the tire and/or inner shield, will not be permitted. 20.16.2: Tires F. Modifications to the tires, by treatment or any other means, will not be permitted. 12.5.3.5.2: Minimum P5 Penalty Options (includes all four points below): A. Loss of 50 championship driver and owner points, regardless of whether the violation occurred during a Championship race or not B. $75,000-$125,000 fine C. Suspension for the next six series Championship Races, plus any non-championship races or special events which might occur during that time period, for the crew chief and any other team members as determined by NASCAR D. Probation through the end of the calendar year for all suspended members, or for a six-month period following the issuance of the penalty notice if that period spans across two consecutive seasons 12.5.3.5.3: P5 Level infractions detected during post-race inspection:
If the infraction is detected during post-race inspection, then the following penalty elements will be added to those listed previously in this section: A. Loss of an additional 25 Championship driver and owner points; regardless of whether it was a Championship Race or not B. Loss of an additional $50,000
The original penalty assessed included a $125,000 ($75,000 plus $50,000) fine, six-race suspension and probation through Dec. 31 to Lambert; six-race suspension and probation through Dec. 31 to both Bender and Surgen; and the loss of 75 (50 plus 25) championship car owner and 75 (50 plus 25) championship driver points to both Childress and Newman.
On April 16, a three-person National Motorsports Appeals Panel heard the appeal and made the following decisions:
1. The Appellants violated the Rule or Rules set forth in the Penalty Notice and it is a P5 level violation.
2. The Panel amends the original Penalty levied by NASCAR because there is no written explanation of what constitutes a post-race inspection. Therefore the Penalty elements added under Section 12.5.3.5.3. are removed and the Penalty adjusted to:
-Loss of 50 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship Car Owner points for Richard Childress.
-Loss of 50 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship Driver points for Ryan Newman.
-$75,000 fine. Suspended for the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship Races, plus any non-Championship Races or Special Events which might occur during that time period. Placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31 for crew chief Lucas Lambert.
– Suspended for the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship Races, plus any non-Championship Races or Special Events which might occur during that time period. Placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31 for Tire Technician James Bender.
-Suspended for the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship Races, plus any non-Championship Races or Special Events which might occur during that time period. Placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31 for Race Engineer Philip Surgen. Upon hearing today’s testimony, Bryan Moss, the National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer, made the following decisions:
· Based on a preponderance of evidence, the Appellants violated the Rules.
· Based on a preponderance of evidence, the National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer upholds the penalty as amended by the National Motorsports Appeals Panel.
The decision of the National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer is final and binding on all parties.(NASCAR)(5-6-2015)
Stewart-Haas Racing Classic Paint Scheme Program at Darlington: With the NASCAR Hall of Fame serving as an appropriate backdrop, reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick unveiled the gold-and-black #4 Budweiser/Jimmy John’s Chevy SS that he will race in the Sept. 6 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway as part of the track’s The Tradition Returns weekend Sept. 4-6. The retro-themed, commemorative paint scheme mimics the first can Budweiser produced, which was gold and featured an eagle flying through the Anheuser-Busch stylized “A” with five stars above and below the winged crest. Below the eagle, Budweiser is spelled out in block letters with “Lager Beer” in script. The design is part of an overall throwback weekend at one of NASCAR’s oldest venues. Built in 1949 by Harold Brasington, Darlington has hosted Sprint Cup races since 1950, and last year Harvick won the 65th running of the iconic Southern 500 – one of the crown-jewel races on the 36-race Sprint Cup schedule. Paint schemes for the full stable of SHR drivers will be revealed in the weeks leading up to the Southern 500.(Stewart-Haas Racing), see an image of the car on the #4 team paint schemes page.(5-6-2015)
Kansas Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series will run the same combination of left- and right-side tires at Kansas this weekend . . . while these teams ran this left-side tire code (D-4604) at this track last season, this is the first time they have run this right-side code (D-4630) at Kansas . . . for Sprint Cup teams, compared to what they ran in at Kansas in 2014, this right-side tire features a construction change that brings it into line with what is run at other speedways . . . Cup teams have run this right-side at both Las Vegas and Talladega already this season . . . for Camping World Truck teams, who ran their own right-side at Kansas last May, this tire features both a construction and slight compound 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 Kansas . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.(Goodyear), see tire pressures, limites, sets and codes on the Kansas Race Info page – Tire Facts section.(5-6-2015)
NAPA Auto Parts will sponsor Elliott in the #24: NAPA Auto Parts will grow its relationship with 11-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions Hendrick Motorsports in 2016 when it becomes the majority sponsor of driver Chase Elliott and his #24 Chevy SS team. The news was announced Tuesday evening in Las Vegas during the NAPA EXPO, which is attended by more than 17,000 store owners, managers and dealers. The expanded partnership will feature NAPA AUTO PARTS as a primary sponsor of the #24 team in 24 Sprint Cup races annually, including the season-opening Daytona 500, and as an associate-level partner in all other events. The agreement covers the 2016, 2017 and 2018 seasons. NAPA was the full-season primary sponsor during Elliott’s historic 2014 XFINITY Series campaign when he became NASCAR’s youngest-ever national series champion while earning rookie of the year and most popular driver honors. In 2015, NAPA remains the sole primary sponsor for Elliott’s second full NXS season with JR Motorsports along with the driver’s Sprint Cup debut schedule, which includes five points-paying races with Hendrick Motorsports. It was announced in January that Elliott, 19, will join Hendrick Motorsports as a full-time Sprint Cup driver in 2016. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native currently is third in the 2015 NXS standings with seven top-10 finishes in nine races. In 51 combined NXS and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events, he has recorded four wins, 25 top-five finishes and 40 top-10s.Additional sponsorship for Elliott’s 2016 Sprint Cup season will be announced at a later date.(Hendrick Motorsports)(5-6-2015)
Still no date set for RCR appeal UPDATE TODAY: No date has been set for Richard Childress Racing’s final appeal of penalties levied against the #31 team of Ryan Newman, NASCAR spokesman Kurt Culbert told USA TODAY Sports. RCR succeeded in convincing a three-person appeals board to reduce some penalties stemming from a tire-manipulation allegation at Fontana, Calif., but a six-week suspension for crew chief Luke Lambert, engineer Philip Surgen and tire specialist James Bender was upheld. Lambert returned to the pit box at Bristol Motor Speedway this past weekend as allowed by terms of the appeals process. Final Appeals Officer Bryan Moss will hear the case.(USA Today)(4-23-2015) UPDATE: NASCAR announced Friday morning that the final appeal will be heard Wednesday, May 6 at the NASCAR R&D Center.(4-24/5-6-2015)
NASCAR still considering 2016 rules package: NASCAR seems to be backing off on more changes to Sprint Cup Series cars next season. After scrapping plans to use a proposed 2016 rules package in the Sprint All-Star Race, NASCAR executive vice president Steve O’Donnell said Tuesday the sanctioning body might stick with 2015 regulations next year. “I think we’re still developing what the 2016 package could be,” O’Donnell said. “It could very well be the 2015 package.” O’Donnell said the uncertainty was a major reason the series decided not to feature the rules in the All-Star event, which will take place May 16 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “To go down a path that we felt still potentially needed testing, we didn’t think was the right thing to do,” O’Donnell said. After a decrease of 125 horsepower and a 30 percent reduction in downforce, the plan was for a larger cut in downforce in 2016. But there has been some grumbling among team owners about bearing the costs of a significant rules change for the second consecutive season, and O’Donnell said there had been some pushback among the feedback solicited in the garage. “I think it’s all over the board,” he said. “Some of the drivers would say they’d like to pursue a different direction. Some like it as is who have had success. From the owner standpoint, we certainly have to manage what we’re looking at for ’15 or ’16 and manage constantly putting new rules in front of them. So that’s where we’re at today.” The goal is to have the 2016 rules finalized by Aug. 1, about two months ahead of when the 2015 rules were released. “We’re looking at a number of different options for ’16, including staying where we are,” O’Donnell said. “So we’ll evaluate everything and what we feel like has the best chance of success on the track.”(NBC Sports)(5-6-2015)
Harvick feels Sprint Cup schedule is Stagnant: #4-Kevin Harvick, met with members of the media at Talladega Superspeedway and discussed his thoughts on the current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule: Q) THERE HAS BEEN A LOT MADE ABOUT DECLINING ATTENDANCE AND FAN SUPPORT WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW NASCAR CAN GROW THE FAN BASE? Harvick: “I mean the last three races that we went to last year were sold out. I don’t know that is a 100 percent true statement. I think it just depends on where you go and what you do. Now, if you want to talk about growing the sport I believe that some venues need one race. I believe that the schedule needs to be mixed up. People like things that change they don’t like stagnant things. In my opinion the most stagnant thing in our sport is our schedule and our venues that we go to. You can beat a dead horse as much as you want, but it doesn’t come back to life. And sometimes you just have to change things up to keep the excitement and enthusiasm in the sport. I think our schedule is definitely the weak link along with some of the venues that we go to. That is my opinion.” Q) IF YOU WERE IN CHARGE WHAT THREE OR FOUR PLACES WOULD YOU ADD TO THE SCHEDULE? Harvick: “I know the first place I would go is Iowa. I think that everybody wants to see more short tracks and more venues. I think road racing – we have a couple of road races on the schedule and most every team has two road race cars and spends a lot of money on their road race program. Adding a road race here or there would definitely be something that I would vote for just for the fact internationally road racing is very recognizable to race fans. Whether it be Formula 1 or any other form of racing there are not many ovals. You could take your pick on road courses, Montreal (Canada) does a great job, you could go to Laguna Seca (California), you could go anywhere in the world and race on a road course. There are lots of good venues. I would have to really think about the rest of the question. I have always been a fan of let’s go to the banquet and roll the pills around of race tracks across the country and have a wild card race every year. Go to the Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Mile and really you could go to test these venues and see how the markets react. And see the reaction you get from the market, even if you only have 30 or 40 thousand people in the grandstands if you put on a good event for TV and do the things that it takes to have a unique event that is really what people want. They want unique things.”(Team Chevy)(5-2-2015) UPDATE: Despite Kevin Harvick’s concerns about NASCAR’s schedule becoming “stagnant,” NASCAR executive vice president Steve O’Donnell said officials remain comfortable with the current calendar. “We’re happy with the schedule we have,” O’Donnell said Tuesday. “We certainly look at what’s available to us, but the schedule we have in place, I think the tracks are doing a tremendous job of helping to promote the sport. We certainly have dialogue with Kevin and everyone’s got an opinion on the schedule.” O’Donnell said there were “so many factors” including weather and a track’s position on the schedule, that made officials “comfortable” with the current calendar.(USA Today)(5-6-2015)
Allstate Peterbilt Group debuts with Annett: As the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Kansas Speedway for the 11th race of the 2015 season, Allstate Peterbilt Group, the upper Midwest’s largest truck dealer group and a longtime partner of Michael Annett dating back to his time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, prepares for its first race of the season adorning the #46 Chevy SS as the primary partner for the weekend. It was last featured on Annett’s car last fall at Martinsville Speedway.(HScott Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #46 team paint schemes page.(5-6-2015)
Special Red Cross scheme for Gordon: The American Red Cross and 3M are entering the eighth year of the successful and innovative partnership, Red Cross Racing. This year, the #24 American Red Cross Chevy SS is a SleevesUp design to encourage fans to roll their sleeves up and make an appointment to give blood. Race fans can pledge to give on Gordon’s personal SleevesUp Campaign page.The goal is 400 donors – one for each mile of the race in Kansas.(Hendrick Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #24 team paint schemes page.(5-6-2015)
NASCAR Next Class named: Five of the six NASCAR K&N Pro Series race winners in 2015 are 21 years old or younger. The championship points leaders in both the East and West are 17 and 16, respectively. And a 17-year-old just became the highest-finishing female in the 61-year history of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. It is fitting that as fans celebrate Jeff Gordon’s final year of competition, the ranks of NASCAR are filled with young drivers battling to one day fill that void. And on Tuesday, in a building that honors the sport’s history, NASCAR introduced some of those potential future stars of the sport. During a ceremony at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina, 12 drivers were formally announced as the newest NASCAR Next class, a group of up-and-coming talent that joins the industry program aimed at spotlighting NASCAR’s emerging stars. Now in its fifth season, the career resume of NASCAR Next alumni is impressive, highlighted by Chase Elliott’s 2014 NASCAR XFINITY Series championship, Kyle Larson’s 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award, and Cole Custer’s September 2014 win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, making him the youngest winner in NASCAR national series history. Of the 28 drivers previously selected for the program, 21 have raced in one of NASCAR’s three national series (NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series), and 11 are competing full-time there in 2015. The team was selected through an evaluation process that included input from industry executives and veteran racers. Drivers must be between the ages of 15-25, have tangible and expressed goals in eventual competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and demonstrate the potential to realize that goal.(NASCAR), see the complete list of members on the Driver Development page.(5-6-2015)
Kansas Speedway Notes & Facts – Wednesday – history:
· Groundbreaking was held on May 25, 1999.
· The official opening of Kansas Speedway was in 2001, with the first events being an ARCA race and a NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race on the same day – June 2.
· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was on Sept. 30, 2001 – won by Jeff Gordon.
· During the 2012 season, between the April and October events the 1.5-mile track underwent a repave adding variable banking in the corners.
(NASCAR)(5-6-2015)
#40 team penalized: The #40 team that competes in the NASCAR XFINITY Series has been penalized for a rule infraction discovered during pre-race inspection May 2 at Talladega Superspeedway. The infraction is a P3 level penalty and violates the following Sections in the 2015 NASCAR rule book:
12.1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing
20.17.2.1: Overall vehicle weight
B. Any and all ballast added to the vehicle must be bolted inside an added ballast container, inside the main frame rails, and/or inside the front sway bar mounting tube.
As a result of this violation, crew chief Kevyn Rebolledo has been placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31. Additionally, driver/owner Derek White has been docked 15 NASCAR XFINITY Championship driver and car owner points.(NASCAR)(5-6-2015)
Talladega XFINITY TV Ratings: NASCAR Xfinity Series racing from Talladega drew a 1.6 overnight rating on FOX Saturday afternoon, up a tick from last year on ESPN (1.5). The 1.6 is also up a tick from the season’s previous Xfinity Series race on FOX, Phoenix in March (1.5).(Sports Media Watchvia Sports Business Daily)(5-6-2015)
Practice delayed in Kansas: Rain forced practice to be delayed at the Kansas Speedway on Thursday. Two practices were on the schedule in preparation for Friday’s Toyota Tundra 250, but the altered schedule will now allow a 90-minute session, set to begin at 5:00pm/et.(5-7-2015)
Kahne to run JRM entry in Charlotte: Kasey Kahne has been selected to pilot the #00 Haas Automation Chevrolet in the upcoming NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 15, JR Motorsports general manager Kelley Earnhardt Miller announced today. A veteran driver with 29 victories across NASCAR’s top-three series, Kahne will make his first NCWTS start since winning at Rockingham Speedway in 2012. The Charlotte event also complements the 10-race schedule the #00 Haas Automation team will run with its primary driver, 17-year-old Cole Custer, announced earlier this year. In five NCWTS starts, Kahne has won four of them (two at Darlington Raceway and one each at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Rockingham Speedway) and never finished worse than second. Along with an average finish of 1.2, he has led 307 of 686 career laps. Custer, the youngest race winner in NASCAR national touring series history, made JRM’s NCWTS debut earlier this year at Martinsville Speedway. He will return to the seat of the No. 00 Haas Automation Chevrolet for the May 29 race at Dover International Speedway and in eight other NCWTS events in 2015.(JR Motorsports)(5-6-2015)
Entry list: There are 28 trucks on the preliminary entry list for Friday’s Toyota Tundra 250 at Kansas Speedway. A few notes:
Joe Nemechek is in the #8;
Austin Theriault is in the #29;
Justin Jennings is in the #36;
BJ McLeod is in the #45;
The #63 is TBA;
The #99 of Bryan Silas is not on the initial entry, nor is the #50 of MAKE Motorsports. Travis Kvapil is expected to run that truck in place of Cody Ware.(5-3-2015) UPDATE: Ryan Newman will drive the #8 in place of Nemechek.(5-5-2015) UPDATE 2: Scott Lagasse, Jr. will be in the #31 in place of James Buescher(5-6-2015) UPDATE 3: Tyler Tanner will be in the #63; Ryan Ellis will be in the #1; Caleb Roark will be in the #0;(5-6-2015)
See the complete list on the Kansas entry list page.
Ellis to drive for MAKE: The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to the track this weekend in Kansas City, Kansas for the Toyota Tundra 250. Ryan Ellis will make his second NCWTS start at the Kansas Speedway. The #1 Chevy will be sporting a special logo for the Ehlers Danlos National Foundation. This is a special cause to MAKE because Mark Beaver, MAKE co-owner, has two daughters, Amanda and Emily who have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Individuals with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) have a genetic defect in their connective tissue, the tissue that provides support to many body parts such as the skin, muscles and ligaments. The fragile skin and unstable joints found in patients with EDS are the result of faulty or reduced amounts of collagen. Collagen is a protein, which acts as a “glue” in the body, adding strength and elasticity to connective tissue.(MAKE Motorsports)(5-6-2015)
New partner for MB: MB Motorsports is proud to announce a multi-race partnership with Vatterott Educational Centers, Inc. Vatterott serves a diverse student population across 22 locations in 8 states, as well as a vibrant online community. Each of these institutions takes pride in serving both the student population and the local communities that help continue the Vatterott tradition. Vatterott offers diploma and degree programs in the fields of Business, Medical, Technology, Trades, Dental, Legal, Personal Fitness, and Veterinary, as well as many continuing education opportunities. All programs are industry-relevant and designed to support the Vatterott mission of providing career skills for a better life.(MB Motorsports)(5-6-2015)
Buescher to miss Kansas UPDATE: James Buescher posted on his Twitter that despite his entry in the #31 NTS Motorsports Chevy for this Friday’s Toyota Tundra 250 at Kansas Speedway, he will not be racing. No word on whether or not another driver will drive the #31 or if the team will withdraw.(5-5-2015) UPDATE:Scott Lagasse, Jr. will make his second NASCAR Camping World Truck Seriesstart of 2015 for NTS Motorsports at Kansas Speedway, this time behind the wheel of the #31 Boy Scouts of America/Beck Chevrolet Silverado. Lagasse had an impressive run in his NTS Motorsports debut earlier this season at Daytona International Speedway, contending for the win throughout the 250-mile race, ultimately finishing third in the NCWTS season opener.(NTS Motorsports)(5-6-2015)
News from May 5, 2015
Manion replaces Blickensderfer as crew chief for Hornish UPDATE: In an effort to further the chemistry of the #9 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race team, Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) announced Kevin Manion has been assigned as the crew chief of that team with driver Sam Hornish, Jr. Manion will begin his duties immediately and call the race this weekend at Kansas Speedway. Manion, a native of Boylston, Mass., is a championship-winning crew chief and was a part of leading Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing to wins at both the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 in 2010. Manion has five wins in the premier Sprint Cup Series and 15 wins in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. In addition, he has led his race teams to over 60 Top-10 and 25 Top-Five finishes in his Cup career. He also has 10 poles. Having success with different drivers with different racing backgrounds, Manion has led the sports best including Martin Truex, Jr. during his XFINITY and early Sprint Cup Series career. During his time with Truex, Jr., Manion earned two XFINITY Series championships. He then became a trusted leader to Jamie McMurray, leading him to four Sprint Cup Series wins. Manion is a respected crew chief in NASCAR and has the experience to get the #9 team in victory lane. Manion will begin his duties with RPM immedialty. Manion replaces Drew Blickensderfer who has been offered another position within the organization.(RPM)(5-5-2015) UPDATE: In light of the recent departure of Kevin “Bono” Manion, Tommy Baldwin Racing has announced that team owner Tommy Baldwin will assume the role as crew chief of the #7 Chevy, for driver Alex Bowman. “I’m very happy for Bono; we’ve been friends a long time, and I wish him nothing but the best,” said Baldwin. “Climbing atop the pit box is somewhat of a familiar role for me and I look forward to working with Alex.” Baldwin, in his seventh year of a being a Sprint Cup Series team owner, is no stranger to the position – having numerous wins and a Daytona 500 championship in 2002. Baldwin’s return will take effect immediately.(TBR)(5-5-2015)
Chase Elliott to compete in All-Star Showdown: Hendrick Motorsports already has four cars eligible for this year’s Sprint All-Star Race. Chase Elliott hopes he can make it five. On Tuesday, Charlotte Motor Speedway announced during a media event that Elliott will drive the #25 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevy SS in the Sprint Showdown with a chance to earn his way into the All-Star Race. “I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to run the Showdown,” Elliott said. “It allows me to gain more experience with my NAPA AUTO PARTS team before we race again at Charlotte a week later.” Elliott’s next points-paying race will take place on May 24 at Charlotte Motor Speedway – the weekend following the Sprint Showdown and All-Star Race. The Sprint Showdown consists of two 20-lap segments, and if he were to make the All-Star Race, this year’s event is now 110 laps. “Those additional laps will be a tremendous benefit when it’s time to run 600 miles,” Elliott said.(Hendrick Motorsports)(5-5-2015)
Ty Dillon in the #33 Plankton Chevy at Kansas: The SpongeBob SquarePants team just welcomed another of its friends to the field for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway on May 9, 2015, — with NASCAR young star Ty Dillon set to drive the #33 Plankton Chevy SS. Dillon’s #33 Chevy, campaigned by Circle Sport Racing, will feature Plankton, the show’s pint-sized microbe with an evil plan… to steal the Krusty Krabs’ secret Krabby Patty recipe! But Dillon has designs on stealing the coveted SpongeBob SquarePants 400 trophy instead. Dillon will be making his fourth career Sprint Cup Series start and his career debut at the 1.5-mile speedway. Dillon last drove in a Sprint Cup Series event at Daytona International Speedway earlier this season. The 23-year-old, Welcome, N.C.-native is currently the NASCAR XFINITY Series points leader in his second full-time season in the #3 Chevy Camaro.(Richard Childress Racing), see an image of the car on the #33 team paint schemes page.(5-5-2015)
NASCAR’s reason for not throwing yellow flag on last lap at Talladega: On the final lap [of a race], NASCAR’s stance is to ‘let ’em play”. When NASCAR Senior Vice President Steve O’Donnell joined SiriusXM NASCAR Radio he acknowledged that while Sunday’s decision in the Geico 500 [at Talladega Superspeedway] was indeed “a judgment call,” fans prefer to see races end under green flag conditions. “It’s going to be a judgment call,” O’Donnell said. “We’ve stated that we’re going to make every effort to try and finish a race under green conditions – that’s what the fans want to see. But we have to be obviously mindful of what’s occurring on the track. It’s a split-second decision. I think if you go back to Daytona, where we saw a driver hit the wall at what we thought to be fairly hard and wanted to dispatch our emergency crews quickly, we elected to throw the caution. If you look at yesterday, if you saw the circumstances that played out with Carl [Edwards], when we initially saw him get loose, he was down on the apron. As we made that quick decision, it was ‘ok, he’s clear we can go’. Just as we make that, his car slides up the track and that’s something you don’t want to see green or yellow flag conditions. But at the time, if we would have thrown the yellow, then it’s already too late because he’s already up and across the track. We elected to let it play out. We certainly didn’t like to see how Carl come across the track but ultimately, we were able to come back under green flag conditions.” O’Donnell plans to discuss Talladega with the drivers. He also realizes that some fans might feel that NASCAR was late to make a call due to who might or might not be leading a race at the time. However, he reiterated that the sanctioning body reacts no differently than an umpire calling balls and strikes in baseball.(Motorsport)(5-5-2015)
Talladega TV Ratings: NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Talladega drew a 3.8 overnight rating on FOX Sunday afternoon, down 5% from last year (4.0), down 14% from 2013 (4.4), and the lowest overnight for the spring Talladega race since at least 1998 (excludes rainouts). The previous low was last year’s 4.0. Despite the lower numbers, NASCAR on FOX tied the weekend’s second-highest overnight for any sporting event on broadcast. The 3.8 matched a Grizzlies/Warriors NBA playoff game on ABC and trailed only the Kentucky Derby on NBC (10.8). Keep in mind two of the weekend’s major sporting events – the Spurs/Clippers playoff game on ABC and the Floyd Mayweather/Manny Pacquiao boxing fight on pay-per-view – did not air on broadcast. The 3.8 also ranks as the top NASCAR overnight since Fontana in March (4.0), with the caveat that two of the four races since were postponed and a third aired on Fox Sports 1.(Sports Media Watch / Sports Business Daily)
For TV Ratings fior the season, 5-year comparison chart, see the 2015 TV Ratings page.(5-5-2015)
Quite a few career best finishes at Talladega: Four drivers recorded their Sprint Cup Series career best finishes in the GEICO 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superespeedway:
#21-Ryan Blaney finished 4th in his 6th career start.
#98-Josh Wise finished 10th in his 113th career start.
#35-Cole Whitt finished 13th in his 60th career start.
#83-Matt DiBenedetto finished 18th in his 7th career start.
#9-Sam Hornish Jr. finished 6th, his first top-ten since Watkins Glen in 2012 when he finished 5th. This season is the first full-time season for Hornish since the 2010 season.(5-5-2015)
Top 10 Driver Ratings at Kansas
#48-Jimmie Johnson…………………… 112.1
#20-Matt Kenseth……………………….. 105.6
#42-Kyle Larson…………………………. 103.9
#16-Greg Biffle………………………….. 102.8
#24-Jeff Gordon………………………… 100.5
#4-Kevin Harvick………………………. 100.4
#19-Carl Edwards………………………… 96.8
#14-Tony Stewart…………………………. 95.3
#5-Kasey Kahne………………………… 92.7
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr…………………… 91.3
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2014 races (14 total) among active drivers at Kansas Speedway.
Formula combining the following categories: Win, Finish, Top-15 Finish, Average Running Position while on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.
See an explanation how the Driver Rating is calculated at NASCAR.com.(NASCAR)
Vecoplan sponsoring Harrison Rhodes at Charlotte: Vecoplan, the world-wide leader in industrial shredding technologies, is proud to sponsor the #0 Car at the NASCAR Xfinity Hisense 300, May 23rd at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The #0 Vecoplan “Industrial Shredders” Camaro will be fielded by JD Motorsports and driven by Harrison Rhodes.(Johnny Davis Motorsports)(5-5-2015)
Buescher to miss Kansas: James Buescher posted on his Twitter that despite his entry in the #31 NTS Motorsports Chevy for this Friday’s Toyota Tundra 250 at Kansas Speedway, he will not be racing. No word on whether or not another driver will drive the #31 or if the team will withdraw.(5-5-2015)
Newman to drive for Nemechek: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Ryan Newman will compete for SWM-NEMCO Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) event at the Kansas Speedway on Friday, May 8. Newman will pilot the #8 Chevy Silverado highlighting Rescue Ranch.Newman will return to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for the first time in almost two years for the Kansas Speedway 250. Newman has five previous starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, collecting various accolades at each start, including a victory at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway in 2008, a pole award at Tennessee’s Bristol Motor Speedway, and five top-five finishes. Newman’s most recent NASCAR Camping World Truck Series entry was the Mud Summer Classic at the Eldora Speedway in 2013, where he started 10th and finished third while competing for Steve Turner. SWM-NEMCO Motorsports crew chief Gere Kennon will be atop the pit box for Newman at Kansas Speedway. Rescue Ranch is featured on the SWM-NEMCO Motorsports Chevy Silverado. Founded in 2012 by Newman and his wife Krissie, the 501c3 charity is on 87 acres in Statesville, N.C. Rescue Ranch promotes through its education program a respect for all animals, as well as agricultural, environmental, and wildlife conservation education. Rescue Ranch also facilitates rehabilitation, rescue, and responsible pet ownership in order to enhance the human-animal bond. Currently, Rescue Ranch offers Humane Education programming to children ages one thru 16-years-old, allowing the children the opportunity to learn while interacting with animals and the surrounding environment.(NEMCO Motorsports)(5-5-2015)
Familiar Truck Series names make 2015 NASCAR Next class: Five of the six NASCAR K&N Pro Series race winners in 2015 are 21 years old or younger. The championship points leaders in both the East and West are 17 and 16, respectively. And a 17-year-old just became the highest-finishing female in the 61-year history of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West.
It is fitting that as fans celebrate Jeff Gordon’s final year of competition, the ranks of NASCAR are filled with young drivers battling to one day fill that void. And on Tuesday, in a building that honors the sport’s history, NASCAR introduced some of those potential future stars of the sport.
During a ceremony at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina, 12 drivers were formally announced as the newest NASCAR Next class, a group of up-and-coming talent that joins the industry program aimed at spotlighting NASCAR’s emerging stars.
Of the 28 drivers previously selected for the program, 21 have raced in one of NASCAR’s three national series (NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series), and 11 are competing full-time there in 2015.
The team was selected through an evaluation process that included input from industry executives and veteran racers. Drivers must be between the ages of 15-25, have tangible and expressed goals in eventual competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and demonstrate the potential to realize that goal.
Each driver in NASCAR Next must be actively competing in a NASCAR touring or weekly series – NASCAR K&N Pro Series East or West, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series or NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competitors also are eligible provided they are not slated to run a full season in their respective series.
The NASCAR Next members for 2015-16 are: Cole Custer (17, Ladera Ranch, Calif., @colecuster00)
He holds the records for youngest pole award and race winner in both the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR’s touring series, and led late in the Truck race at Martinsville Speedway earlier this season. Austin Hill (21, Winston, Ga., @_AustinHill)
Had three consecutive K&N East wins, in the final two races in 2014 and the 2015 season opener at New Smyrna Speedway where he captured his first pole award and led every lap. Jesse Little (18, Sherrill’s Ford, N.C., @jesselittle97)
Had a win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, four top-five and 10 top-10 finishes in 2014 to finish fourth in the season standings. Won the pole at Bristol Motor Speedway in his 2015 K&N East debut. John Hunter Nemechek (17, Mooresville, N.C., @JHNemechek)
Earned six top-10 finishes in 10 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts in 2014, and won the prestigious Snowball Derby Late Model race at Five Flags Speedway in December.(NASCAR)(5-5-2015)
News from May 4, 2015
Earnhardt Jr.’s crew chief almost missed the race: Greg Ives, the crew chief for #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., won his first race in Sprint Cup, but he nearly missed the race. On Saturday, his eight-year-old daughter Payton broke her arm in a playground accident, requiring surgery. Earnhardt offered to fly Ives back to Charlotte to be with his daughter, but Payton talked her father into remaining at Talladega. “I wanted to give him that obligation to choose,” Earnhardt said. “She’s tough as nails and she told him not to come home. She was mad at him for the call he (made) in Richmond.” Earnhardt related encountering a downcast Ives after that race, only to learn that “he’s worried about what she’s going to tell him when he got home. It’s good she keeps him honest.”(NASCAR Wire Service)(5-4-2015)
Kyle Busch tests late model UPDATE: Following a 10-week absence from a race car, Kyle Busch got behind the wheel of a Late Model last week. Busch, the driver of the #18 M&Ms Toyota, has been sidelined since he sustained injuries to his foot and right leg during an accident in the XFINITY Series race at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 21. “We have a program for him and we’re moving forward with everything – and that was part of it,” team owner Joe Gibbs said of Busch’s test, prior to the Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday. Gibbs did not recall where Busch tested his Kyle Busch Motorsports car, however, the team was expected to run at nearby Caraway Speedway, a .455-mile track in Asheboro, N.C. or Hickory Speedway. Busch is expected to return to Hickory this week in a KBM Late Model. NASCAR spokesman David Higdon said he had not heard whether Busch had been medically cleared to return to competition. Busch met with the media on April 15. At the time, Busch said his doctors had not offered a timetable for his return. Erik Jones is scheduled to drive the No. 18 M&Ms Toyota next week at Kansas Speedway, but speculation is that Busch will be in the car for the All Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 16th. During his media availability, Busch said he hoped to be eligible for the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Last month, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France told a group of sports editors that depending on when Busch returned “it was more likely than not,” that the sanctioning body would attempt to “accommodate” the driver.(Motorsport)(5-4-2015) UPDATE:Kyle Busch tweeted Monday morning that he will not compete in a Late Model race this weekend despite reports that he was expected to compete in an event at Hickory Motor Speedway. Busch tested a Late Model car Friday as part of his return to racing after being injured in the season-opening NASCAR Xfinity race at Daytona.(NBC Sports)(5-4-2015)
Pit crew member ejected at Talladega for not wearing protective gear: A crew member from #51-Justin Allgaier’s team was ejected from the GEICO 500 on Sunday when he was found handling a fuel can behind pit wall without wearing a helmet or head sock. Mark O’Donnell was removed from Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway, the 2.66-mile trioval. Pit road fire safety has become a bigger issue recently after a blaze in an XFINITY Series race at Richmond injured three crewman from two different teams. A minor fire also erupted from a gas can during a #31-Ryan Newman pit stop on Sunday.(USA Today)(5-4-2015)
Talladega Race and Commercial Breakdown of the 2015 Geico 500: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, here is the breakdown for Sunday’s race. Began recording the times at the Invocation of the race at 1:00 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 4:41 PM (all times are EST). FOX was the broadcast team for this event.
Total number of commercials: 134
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 69
Number of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 129
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 66
Number of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 5
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 5
Number of times Fox utilized ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during this broadcast: 1
Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast (including company logos ‘floating’ in corners of the screen): 77
Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 5 min. 20 sec.
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 1:00 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 4:41 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 221
Minutes of race broadcast: 165
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 56
Minutes of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials (split-screen): 2
Number of missed restarts: 0
Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 1
Total race brdcst time 165 Total comm. brdcst time 56
See full reports, sponsor links, much more details at CawsnJaws.com.(5-4-2015)
Jones says Kansas one race deal in the #18…for now: from a Toyota Racing transcript, Erik Jones, who will run the #18 Toyota at Kansas in the Sprint Cup Series race, was asked a few questions about his first Cup start: Q) What will your expectations be for the NSCS race at Kansas in the #18 Camry? Jones: “For me, it’s really all seat time and experience. I think keeping our expectations realistic is a pretty big thing for us. If we can go run top-15, I’d feel like that would be a pretty big win for us. It’s a big step. We’ve talked a lot about it. I’ve talked with Adam Stevens (18 crew chief) a lot about it and kind of what the jump is and talked to Kyle (Busch) about it. It’s not going to be an easy step for anybody, but I really believe we can go run top-15 and if we can do that, I think that would be a good day.” Q) Have you had any discussion of the conflict weekends in June with the NCWTS schedule? Jones: “No, I haven’t. For right now, Kansas is the only race I’ve got in the 18 so beyond that I honestly don’t know. Sure, I’d love to run it again. I think it would be fun, but we’ll really just have to see how things go. I’m just going to run Kansas, do my deal there, do the best I can and see what happens.” Q) Is Joe Gibbs Racing only telling you about racing Kansas and not beyond? Jones: “Honestly, just Kansas at this point, that’s all I heard. I’ve seen it too and I saw it 20 minutes ago where it says, ‘Until he (Kyle Busch) returns.’ Honestly, Kansas is the only one I know of right now.”(Toyota Racing)(5-4-2015)
Edwards upset with NASCAR drivers not slowing for spin: As #19-Carl Edwards spun on the final lap Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR didn’t throw the caution, and maybe the only person he knows who lifted off the throttle was his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate #20-Matt Kenseth. While Kenseth said he was “dumbfounded” there was no caution, Edwards was more upset at his competitors following the Geico 500, which #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. won for his sixth career victory at Talladega. The decision to throw the caution on the last lap has been a judgment call for NASCAR, which wants races to finish under green but, as it did in the Daytona 500, it will throw the caution on the final lap if it feels the need to dispatch emergency vehicles immediately. “Because there was a wreck at the end of the Daytona 500, I slowed down, and it cost us a bunch of positions,” Edwards said. “I guess some people would say, ‘Well, hell, your job is to stay on the throttle and go race,’ but, man, we’re all out here and we’re all human beings. You’ve got a guy wrecking, you can’t just lay into his door. That’s pretty dangerous.” No one actually hit Edwards in the door, but he obviously felt the potential was there for him to suffer a serious injury. He said he believes #51-Justin Allgaier went by him at 160 or 180 mph. “We make every effort to try to finish under green flag conditions,” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series director Richard Buck said in a statement. “We believe the circumstances that occurred allowed us to do that today.” Some drivers will keep the throttle to the floor until told there is a caution and also won’t lift in the hopes that a spinning car in front of them will spin away before they make contact.
“Generally, if someone is spinning in front of you, you slow down a little bit, so if you do hit him, you don’t break their legs or hurt them,” said Edwards, who saw a potential top-10 finish turn into a 32nd-place day. “I don’t want to rant too much about it, but I was frustrated with that.” Kenseth, who lost some spots and finished 25th, also left frustrated. “I had to lift so I didn’t send Carl to the hospital,” Kenseth said. “I’m just dumbfounded that NASCAR didn’t throw a caution. We were driving past wrecked cars for half a lap at 180 mph. It was a crazy ending.”(ESPN)(5-4-2015)
Richmond spring race could be moved to Sunday: International Speedway Corp., is exploring the possibility of moving the start of the spring Richmond race from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon, an ISC official told NBC Sports. “I’m not going to say seriously, but we are exploring it,” said Clay Campbell, president of Martinsville Speedway, who also oversees Richmond International Raceway and Darlington Raceway for International Speedway Corp. “We’re always entertaining whatever can make our events better for the broadcasters, for the fans and for the competitors and that’s part of it.” There are other considerations. ISC, as part of its typical post-event critique, is examining how far Richmond’s ticket holders travel to attend that race. “If we run Saturday night, there are so many fans that are not staying there or not staying on property or not staying in the region and they drive back home in the middle of the night,” Campbell said. “How many that is versus if we did it Sunday and they could leave right after the race and drive home – that’s things we need to look at and do some questioning with our fanbase.”(NBC Sports)(5-4-2015)
Faison joins Premium: 21 year old CJ Faison from Seaford, Del., received a phone call this morning that opened a whole new door of opportunities for him. Premium Motorsports racing team owner Jay Robinson told CJ to get his driving suit and helmet ready because ‘Dover is a go.’ – CJ will be racing for NASCAR this year. CJ will be driving in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with Premium Motorsports racing team. He said he feels comfortable with the truck series and has a lot of experience with this series. For CJ, this means endless opportunities and that doors will start opening. You may be having déjà vu when you read about CJ signing with NASCAR. You’re right – It’s not the first time. CJ actually signed with NASCAR in 2010 to race in select NASCAR Wheelen All American Series events. In 2012, CJ signed to compete in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. That same year, he set the fastest time ever in NASCAR K&N Pro Series history. In 2013, there was an opportunity for CJ to take over the family business. So, he left NASCAR and went home. He helped out with the business and did some dirt races here and there. CJ said that life is going how he wants it to now and that this opportunity is just an added bonus to his life. He said he doesn’t have to stress about making a living in NASCAR, he can actually enjoy it. CJ’s first race with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is the Lucas Oil Truck Race on May 29 at Dover International Speedway.(DelmarvaLife.com)(5-4-2015)
Local sponsors support Cobb’s homecoming: This Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota Tundra 250 at the Kansas Speedway will mark the 96th race start for Kansas City native, Jennifer Jo Cobb. The team owner and driver is celebrating the coming of her 100th start in the series with her fans sharing #JJC100 on various social media outlets. She comes into Friday’s race 17th in points with primary and returning sponsor Mark One Electric on the hood. This race marks the 11th time Mark One Electric has sponsored her at the Kansas Speedway. Mark One has been a fixture in Kansas City for more than 40 years. Kansas City-based Arrow Truck Sales is celebrating its 65th Anniversary this year and its 4th year as a JJCR sponsor. The company provides high-quality, pre-owned tractor trucks with locations throughout the United States and Canada. A new sponsor will debut on Cobb’s #10 Mark One Electric Chevy Silverado this week. Abbacore is a mobile app solution development company specializing in helping businesses re-imagine the way they collect, share and process mobile data. The company’s flagship platform inBound allows businesses to create their own custom, cloud-based mobile app solution of process forms and polls.(Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing)(5-4-2015)
News from May 3, 2015
Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins at Talladega:#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the GEICO 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway for his 1st win of the season, 6th win at Talladega and his 24th career win. The win is the first Sprint Cup Series race win for #88 crew chief Greg Ives.
#48-Johnson finished 2nd followed by #27-Menard, #21-Blaney (best career finish), #78-Truex Jr., #31-Newman, #9-Hornish Jr., #4-Harvick, #11-Hamlin and #98-Wise (his career best finish).
Harvick maintains the points / Chase lead with 394, 40 points over #78-Truex Jr.
Pole winner #24-Gordon led 47 laps and ran up front most of the race until late in the race when he sped on pit road and had to start at the rear, then was caught up in #19-Edwards wreck at the end of the race.
There were 27 lead changes among 15 drivers. There were 6 cautions for 23 yellow flag laps.
The average speed was 159.487mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Unofficial Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Penalty Report (pdf) and Lap Summary Report (pdf).
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Race & Points Report (pdf).(5-3-2015)
Race Fast Facts – Talladega:
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the 46th Annual GEICO 500 , his 24th victory in 551 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his first victory and sixth top-10 finish in 2015.
This is his sixth victory and 15th top-10 finish in 31 races at Talladega Superspeedway. Earnhardt ties Jeff Gordon for the most wins at Talladega among active drivers with six each.
#48-Jimmie Johnson (second) posted his 11th top-10 finish in 27 races at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his seventh top-10 finish in 2015.
#27-Paul Menard (third) posted his fourth top-10 finish in 18 races at Talladega Superspeedway.
#83-Matt DiBenedetto (18th) was the highest finishing rookie.
#4-Kevin Harvick leads the point standings by 40 points over #78-Martin Truex Jr.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(5-3-2015)
Talladega Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
#83-Matt DiBenedetto, finished 18th, 11 rookie points
(DiBenedetto was added to the candidate pool this week)
#26-Jeb Burton, failed to qualify, 1 rookie point
#55/#34-Brett Moffett, did not race
#33-Alex Kennedy, did not race
#66-Tanner Berryhill, did not race
See the 2015 Rookie of the Year page for rules, standings and more.(5-3-2015)
Bayne explains what happened to cause the ‘big one’ at Talladega: #6-Bayne got loose on lap 47 after getting passed on the outside by #27-Menard, Bayne spun, collecting a dozen other cars, Bayne’s comment: “I haven’t seen it yet, but it felt like the 27 was really tight on our door and sucked us around. Our car was a little loose, but we had a fast race car today. I hate that a lot of cars got torn up, but especially our AdvoCare Ford. I felt like we worked our way in the top five a couple times there, and had a good shot at running well in this thing. The air is so sensitive here. Anything, when you get too close to somebody it can just pull you right around and it’s as much as hitting somebody physically when you get down on their door that tight and it’s just gonna happen.” Q) SO THERE WASN’T ANYTHING YOU COULD DO IN THAT SITUATION KNOWING HE WAS COMING ON YOUR OUTSIDE? Bayne: “There’s nothing you can do, really. You can lift and try to hang onto it, but there’s nothing you can do.” Q) YOU WERE UP FRONT EARLY TOO. Bayne: “I thought we had a really fast car compared to Daytona and I thought we were gonna have a shot to run top five here today. We made our way to the front a couple times and then the 27 just pulled down really tight on our door. When you have that much momentum going by on the outside you’ve got to have a pocket in between your cars or it’s going to suck you around. I hate that everybody got torn up, but especially our AdvoCare Ford.” Q) IS IT TYPICAL TALLADEGA? Bayne: “It’s typical Talladega anytime you come out of the infield care center it seems like. It’s easy to get torn up here if you’re doing everything right or if you do something wrong. I didn’t feel like we had much in our control there today. Maybe I could have got down a little bit before the 27 came by, but it all happened so fast. We just got really loose and that’s gonna happen here. I think handling is becoming an issue here at Talladega, so the cars are moving around a lot more. I did think it was a little early to have Talladega crashes already. I thought we were all fine to ride around the top and then the bottom lane came and you’ve got to get in where you fit in and try to make moves when everybody else is, but we were minding our own business there and I hate that we got torn up.”(Ford Racing)(5-3-2015)
What happened to Brian Scott in Talladega wreck: #33-Brian Scott, lost an engine on lap 18, got in his own oil and spun, collecting #55-Waltrip at Talladega. Scott said: “Unfortunately blew an engine, no warning. The temperatures were fine. I blew it going into Turn 1. I have to apologize to the other teams that we took out. Of course the bad thing about Talladega is when something happens other cars are all around you, unfortunate short end to our day. ECR engines and RCR everybody at the shop does a great job. I’m sure they will bring it back and they will diagnosis it and they will fix the problem whatever it was. But their horsepower, our engines everything has been great. On the XFINITY side they ran flawlessly. I hate it for our partners Shore Lodge, Whitetail, Albertsons, everybody to have a day ruined like that.”(Team Chevy)(5-3-2015)
Race Coverage of the GEICO 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is scheduled for Sunday, May 3, 2015. Television (TV): FOX at 1:00 pm/et; Pre-Race show at 12:30pm/et; green flag approx. 1:20pm/et Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 90 Scheduled Race Re-Airs:
Monday, May 4 at 10:00am/et on FS1;
Monday, May 4 at 8:00pm/et on FS1
Talladega Sunday Pre-Race Schedule:
1:00:00: Intro to presentation of colors by Alabama National Guard
1:00:20: Invocation by Allen Singley, volunteer Alabama Raceway Ministries, student pastor Grandview Baptist Church, Dothan, Alabama
1:01:00: National anthem by 313th United States Army Band
1:02:30: Fly-by: Alabama State Police (3 helicopters, Semi truck flying American flag passes by start-finish line)
1:05:30: Grant Lynch addresses crowd from start-finish line
1:07:30: “Drivers, start your engines” by Sr. Airman James A. Sottile, biomedical equipment tech, Maxwell AFB
1:19:30: Green flag GEICO 500
eastern time (NASCAR.com)
Parsons selling #98 team? Phil Parsons declined comment on Saturday regarding the sale of the #98 Phoenix Construction Ford. Sources told motorsport.com the #98 team struck a deal with Jay Robinson on Wednesday night. Robinson, who fields the #62 Premium Motorsports Chevy with Brendan Gaughan (and a 2nd part-time team, #66), could not be immediately reached for comment. Josh Wise currently pilots the #98 Phil Parsons Racing Ford, which currently lists Mike Curb as the owner.(Motorsport)(5-3-2015)
Talladega Superspeedway Notes & Facts – Sunday – race:
· There have been 91 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega Superspeedway, one NSCS event in 1969 and two races per year since 1970.
· Talladega Superspeedway is tied with Michigan International Speedway for holding the ninth most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points paying races (90).
· Richard Childress Racing has the most wins at Talladega in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with 12; followed by Hendrick Motorsports with 11.
· Nine different manufacturers have won in the NSCS at Talladega; led by Chevrolet with 39 victories; followed by Ford with 21 and Toyota with three.
· There have been eight NSCS races resulting with a green-white-checkered finish at Talladega Superspeedway: spring of 2005 (188/194), fall of 2005 (188/190), spring of 2007 (188/192), fall of 2008 (188/190) spring of 2010 (188/200), fall of 2012 (188/189), spring of 2013 (188/192) and fall of 2014 (188/194).
· Only two of the 91 races at Talladega Superspeedway have been shortened due to weather conditions: spring of 1987 and fall of 1996.
· Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway was the (04/17/2011) race won by Jimmie Johnson with a MOV of 0.002 second – the MOV is tied with the 2003 Darlington race as the closest finishes in the NSCS using electronic scoring.
(NASCAR)(5-3-2015)
BK Racing Partners with Interscope Recording Artist, Yelawolf for Talladega: BK Racing has partnered with Interscope Records Recording artist, Yelawolf for this weekend’s race at Talladega Superspeedway. Yelawolf, a Slumerican/Shady Records/Interscope Records recording artist from Gadsden, Alabama, will be joining the BK Racing stable with a special paint scheme on board JJ Yeley’s #23 Toyota. Yelawolf’s new album, Love Story, is currently debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Chart and No. 3 overall on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart. Watch the videos for Yelawolf’s current single, “American You” HERE and “Best Friend,” featuring Eminem, HERE. “NASCAR provides a unique opportunity for athletes, brands, artists and media properties to crossover, integrate and/or triangulate their marketing efforts,” team co-owner, Anthony Marlowe commented. “From our experience, this weekend’s campaign at Talladega between Yelawolf, NASCAR, MAXIM Magazine, MAXIM Fantasy Sports, and BK Racing will not only be highly successful, but will also provide a massive media value return to all involved.” Yelawolf and BK Racing driver, JJ Yeley, will be holding a Question and Answer session, followed by a photo opportunity at the #23 transporter on Sunday, May 3rd at 9:15am. The team invites all media and fans to stop by.(BK Racing)(5-3-2015)
Hendrick to be honored: America’s Car Museum (ACM) will award the Nicola Bulgari Award to Hendrick Motorsports owner, Hendrick Automotive Group chairman and automobile collector Rick Hendrick, to recognize his contributions to the automotive industry and promoting America’s automotive heritage. The award will be given on June 26th at ACM’s Wheels & Heels Annual Gala. The Nicola Bulgari Award, named after the famous luxury jewelry designer and avid car collector, is awarded annually to individuals who make significant contributions to preserving America’s automotive heritage through education, car restoration and collecting classic cars. Past recipients include Dr. Frederick Simeone, founder of the Simeone automotive Museum, Edward Welburn, vice president of global design for General Motors and McKeel Hagerty, president and CEO of Hagerty.(HMS)(5-3-2015)
Entry list: There are 28 trucks on the preliminary entry list for Friday’s Toyota Tundra 250 at Kansas Speedway. A few notes:
Joe Nemechek is in the #8;
Austin Theriault is in the #29;
Justin Jennings is in the #36;
BJ McLeod is in the #45;
The #63 is TBA;
The #99 of Bryan Silas is not on the initial entry, nor is the #50 of MAKE Motorsports. Travis Kvapil is expected to run that truck in place of Cody Ware.(5-3-2015)
See the complete list on the Kansas entry list page.
Gordon wins Talladega pole: #24-Jeff Gordon won the Coors Light pole for the GEICO 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway with speed of 194.793mph for his 3rd pole of 2015, 4th at Talladega and 80th of his career. Gordon has won 20 races from the pole.
#5-Kahne is on the outside pole followed by #21-Blaney, #88-Earnhardt Jr., #48-Johnson, #14-Stewart, #27-Menard, #20-Kenseth, #18-Ragan, #15-Bowyer, #13-Mears and #9-Hornish Jr.
Missing the race were: #26-Burton and #95-McDowell.
See the starting lineup, qualifying results, pole progression, qualifying order and more on Jayski.com’s Talladega Qualifying Page.(5-2-2015)
Qualifying Fast Facts – Talladega:
#24-Jeff Gordon won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 46th Annual GEICO 500 with a lap of 49.160 seconds, 194.793 mph.
This is his 80th pole in 771 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his third pole and sixth top-10 start in 2015.
This is his fourth pole in 45 races at Talladega Superspeedway.
#5-Kasey Kahne (second) posted his seventh top-10 start of 2015 and his sixth in 23 races at Talladega Superspeedway.
#21-Ryan Blaney(i) (third) posted his second top-10 start at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his first in four races this season.
#83-Matt DiBenedetto (43rd) was the fastest qualifying rookie.(NASCAR Statistics)(5-2-2015)
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the GEICO 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway have been made.
Pole sitter #24-Gordon chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole winners].
Outside pole sitter #5-Kahne took pit stall 17, the first pit stall with an opening in front of it.
#21-Blaney, who starts 3rd took the 39th pit stall, the 3rd stall with an opening in front of it.
The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #48-Johnson, who starts 5th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com’s Pit Stall Selection chart.(5-2-2015)
BK Racing Launches Eight-Week American Salute Campaign: BK Racing announced that the team will participate in an eight-week American Salute Campaign, starting at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina May 24th. JJ Yeley, driver of the #23 Toyota, will run a special “We Salute You” scheme in honor of our fallen military Memorial Day weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Fans can give $10 through the BK Racing website, and submit a fallen service member’s name, and the name will appear on the hood and rear quarter panels of the #23 Toyota for the Coca-Cola 600. In addition, BK Racing will donate a portion of the proceeds back to Hope For The Warriors, a nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive support programs for service members, veterans and military families.
“I am honored to be able to salute our men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, through NASCAR and our organization,” said team owner Ron Devine. “I believe it’s important to remember our military and their families. It’s also great to be able to partner with an organization like Hope For The Warriors, who provide support and resources for our active military. I encourage everyone to get online, submit names, and help us say ‘Thank You’ to our servicemen and women.”
“The names that BK Racing will be display on JJ Yeley’s car are the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country. They are the men and women whose names stay in our hearts and minds everyday, and especially in the month of May,” said Travis Hanson, Hope For The Warriors, Senior Director of Sports and Recreation. “Hope For The Warriors is thankful to NASCAR fans for the honor and recognition they give to our service members, veterans and the sacrifice of our military families.”
Visit the BK Racing website to submit names for the American Salute Campaign. BK Racing is honored to give back to our men and women who continue to serve this country and protect the freedom of this beautiful country, the United States of America. Stay up to date with news and information about the team through the BK Racing website, www.bkracing.com, or through social media on Twitter and Facebook.(BK Racing), see an image of the scheme Yeley will run on the #23 Team Schemes page.(5-2-2015)
Havick feels Sprint Cup schedule is Stagnant: #4-Kevin Harvick, met with members of the media at Talladega Superspeedway and discussed his thoughts on the current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule: Q) THERE HAS BEEN A LOT MADE ABOUT DECLINING ATTENDANCE AND FAN SUPPORT WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW NASCAR CAN GROW THE FAN BASE? Harvick: “I mean the last three races that we went to last year were sold out. I don’t know that is a 100 percent true statement. I think it just depends on where you go and what you do. Now, if you want to talk about growing the sport I believe that some venues need one race. I believe that the schedule needs to be mixed up. People like things that change they don’t like stagnant things. In my opinion the most stagnant thing in our sport is our schedule and our venues that we go to. You can beat a dead horse as much as you want, but it doesn’t come back to life. And sometimes you just have to change things up to keep the excitement and enthusiasm in the sport. I think our schedule is definitely the weak link along with some of the venues that we go to. That is my opinion.” Q) IF YOU WERE IN CHARGE WHAT THREE OR FOUR PLACES WOULD YOU ADD TO THE SCHEDULE? Harvick: “I know the first place I would go is Iowa. I think that everybody wants to see more short tracks and more venues. I think road racing – we have a couple of road races on the schedule and most every team has two road race cars and spends a lot of money on their road race program. Adding a road race here or there would definitely be something that I would vote for just for the fact internationally road racing is very recognizable to race fans. Whether it be Formula 1 or any other form of racing there are not many ovals. You could take your pick on road courses, Montreal (Canada) does a great job, you could go to Laguna Seca (California), you could go anywhere in the world and race on a road course. There are lots of good venues. I would have to really think about the rest of the question. I have always been a fan of let’s go to the banquet and roll the pills around of race tracks across the country and have a wild card race every year. Go to the Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Mile and really you could go to test these venues and see how the markets react. And see the reaction you get from the market, even if you only have 30 or 40 thousand people in the grandstands if you put on a good event for TV and do the things that it takes to have a unique event that is really what people want. They want unique things.”(Team Chevy)(5-2-2015)
Talladega Superspeedway Notes & Facts – Saturday – poles:
· Bobby Isaac won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Talladega in 1969 with a speed of 199.466 mph. Isaac won the first three poles at the 2.66-mile superspeedway.
· 38 drivers have Coors Light poles at Talladega, led by Bill Elliott with eight. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with three.
· 10 drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Talladega. Bill Elliott holds the record for most consecutive poles at Talladega with six (1985 – 1987).
· 13 of the 91 (14.2%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega have been won from the Coors Light pole. Jeff Gordon (2007) is the only active driver to be able to accomplish the feat.
· The outside front row (second-place) starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (20) than any other starting position at Talladega.
· 33 of the 91 (36.2%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega have been won from the front row: 13 from the pole and 20 from second-place.
· 63 of the 91 (69.2%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Talladega have been won from a top-10 starting position.
· 8 of the 91 (8.7%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Talladega was 36th, by Jeff Gordon in the spring of 2000.
· Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway five times; most recently fall of 2013.
(NASCAR)(5-2-2015)
Outback Steakhouse makes 2015 debut on the #4:Outback Steakhouse has celebrated #4-Kevin Harvick’s eight top-10 finishes thus far in 2015 by giving its customers a free Bloomin’ Onion on Bloomin’ Mondays – the Monday immediately following each top-10 finish. Harvick would like to continue those Bloomin’ celebrations this weekend by scoring another top-10 by way of his third NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race win of 2015 and the second of his career at Talladega Superspeedway. In fact, if Harvick is able to score his ninth top-10 of the season this weekend, Outback Steakhouse will give away its 1 millionth Bloomin’ Onion as part of its Bloomin’ Monday promotion. Outback Steakhouse is the primary sponsor of the #4 Chevy at Talladega, the first of three races in 2015. The other races scheduled are Sonoma in June and Martinsville in October.(SHR), see images of the car/scheme on the #4 Team Scheme page.(5-2-2015)
Leavine Family Racing announces summer camp: Leavine Family Racing announced its inaugural session of CAMP 95, a summer camp program designed to provide high school students with a behind-the-scenes look at the NASCAR racing industry. The camp will provide students with a chance to explore the many different careers available in racing, from engineering and building race cars to marketing and sponsorship roles. “An important part of our Leavine Family Racing team is focusing on the racing community and our local community,” said Bob Leavine, team owner. “I am thrilled to give back to the community by using the organization as a way to provide these students with a look at some different career opportunities available to them.” CAMP 95 is designed to help the team foster valuable connections with the younger generation of race fans. Leavine Family Racing looks to provide students with career advice and guidance during a period of time where they are expected to make life-changing decisions. With an inside look at the race team, Leavine Family Racing hopes the campers participating will recognize career options that they may not have previously thought of. The one-day camp will be held on Tuesday, June 16 at the race team’s headquarters in Concord, N.C. The day will include a shop tour with crew chief, Wally Rogers, who will explain the team’s start in NASCAR and the competition side of racing. Students will also gain insight into the engineering and technology side of the sport, as well as marketing and sponsorship roles found at every race team. Several key members of the NASCAR industry will also visit the campers. These speakers will share their experiences on how they got started in NASCAR and provide advice to the students as they begin to plan their careers. Students interested in CAMP 95 can find applications at www.lfr95.com. Applications are due by May 25 and only 30 campers will be selected to participate. These campers will be notified of their acceptance via email by June 1.(LFR)(5-2-2015)
Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown on NBCSN TONIGHT: The Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown, presented by FedEx, will air as a primetime, one-hour special on NBCSN this Saturday, May 2 at 9:00 pm/et. Providing commentary and analysis are Rick Allen, Steve Letarte and Jeff Burton. NBCSN will re-air the Showdown broadcast on May 7 at 12:00 am/et, following NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Tucson coverage, and again on May 9 at 12:30 am/et, following NHL playoffs coverage. The Showdown special features top NASCAR drivers competing against the best regional Late Model drivers. The 2015 field includes Hamlin and fellow NASCAR drivers Chase Elliott and David Ragan, plus Virginia natives Timothy Peters, Jeb Burton, Curtis Markham and Hermie Sadler. Previous Showdown winners representing the Late Model lineup are 2014 winner Matt Bowling, a Whelen All-American Series driver, and 2010 winner C.E. Falk. Both are the only non-NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers to win the event. Proceeds from the 200-lap Showdown go to support the Denny Hamlin Foundation, which has donated $150,000 in grants to help fund the Denny Hamlin Cystic Fibrosis Research Lab at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU and support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation-accredited Therapeutics Development Center at VCU.(DHF)(5-2-2015)
Gov. Pat McCrory Proclaims May Motorsports Month In North Carolina: Each May, the spotlight shines on Charlotte Motor Speedway during the 10 Days of NASCAR Thunder, and Gov. Pat McCrory joined speedway officials Friday to officially proclaim May is Motorsports Month in North Carolina and recognize the speedway’s impact on tourism, the economy and jobs across the region. The biggest back-to-back weekends in motorsports, highlighted by the 30th anniversary of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 16 and the 56th running of the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24, will generate an estimated economic impact of $230 million to the Charlotte region and support an estimated 4,200 jobs. Annually, the speedway contributes more than $451 million in economic impact and supports more than 8,000 jobs across the region, part of a $6 billion annual economic impact by motorsports statewide. As part of the kickoff event, McCrory presented a proclamation noting that May is Motorsports Month in North Carolina and encouraged fans to celebrate the races at Charlotte Motor Speedway and the motorsports heritage of the state.
“This was a big dream that became a big reality,” McCrory said, applauding speedway founder Bruton Smith’s vision for the facility. “I’m so proud that we’re the center of NASCAR. This is all about jobs and having fun. That’s what racing is all about – great entertainment and bringing jobs to North Carolina. This is the centerpiece of racing throughout the world and we’re proud to be part of it.” In a sign of the significant impact motorsports has on the state, McCrory was joined at the kickoff event by Concord Mayor Scott Padgett, Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem Michael Barnes, North Carolina Department of Commerce Secretary John Skavarla and dozens more state and local officials and business leaders. Following the program, McCrory and several of the other leaders “got to work” painting the start/finish line to represent the thousands of jobs supported by the speedway’s May events.
Fans from all 50 states, 15 foreign countries and more than 3,200 cities around the world will descend upon Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, with millions of additional fans tuning in to NASCAR broadcasts aired in more than 175 countries worldwide. “May 1st is like Christmas for us here at Charlotte Motor Speedway,” said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of the legendary 1.5-mile superspeedway. “We had no idea what my dad, Bruton Smith, was thinking when he came out here and started digging some dirt to build Charlotte Motor Speedway. I’m not sure he knew how big this would be, but 56 years later, here we are ready to complete the 30th anniversary of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the 56th annual Coca-Cola 600.
The $99 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race weekend pass includes frontstretch tickets for the N.C. Education Lottery Camping World Truck Series race and Sprint Showdown on Friday, May 15; plus the no-speed-limit NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race qualifying, a rocking pre-race concert with country mega-group Little Big Town, presented by Rayovac, and capped off with a blockbuster shootout for $1 million at the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on Saturday, May 16.
The Coca-Cola 600 weekend package includes tickets to see the stars of NASCAR hit the track to lay down the fastest lap during LiftMaster Pole Night on Thursday, May 21; a Saturday afternoon showdown as the NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers battle it out in the Hisense 300 on May 23; and culminates with the historic 56th running of one of NASCAR’s most prestigious events, the Cola-Cola 600, complete with a pre-race concert by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer group ZZ Top on Sunday, May 24, all for just $99. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3267).(CMS)(5-2-2015)
Crew members taken to hospital following Talladega wreck: The biggest of the wrecks left two crew members on the #98 Biagi DenBeste Racing team were taken to the infield care center Saturday afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway after a 10-car wreck sent cars spinning down pit road. During the incident, Brendan Gaughan’s #62 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet slid down pit road, hitting the inside wall one pit stall before the #98 team’s stall. According to FOX Sports 1 reporter Alan Cavanna, a team representative said the crew members were alert when taken to the infield care center. Team owner Bill DenBeste told Cavanna the crew members were behind the wall when Gaughan’s car hit. When the car made contact, it knocked tires off the pit wall and knocked over the crew members. One crew member was treated and released from the infield care center, while the second was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation. The incident came on Lap 74 when a large group of cars tried to peel off and pit under green flag conditions. As the front runners slowed and pull down, Daniel Suarez was hit from behind by Ryan Sieg. The contact triggered the wreck and sent cars spinning and sliding down pit road and across the track.(FOX Sports)(5-2-2015)
Logano wins XFINITY race at Talladega: #22-Joey Logano won the Winn-Dixie 300 at Talladega Superspeedway. #2-Brian Scott finished second, followed by#33-Austin Dillon, #28-JJ Yeley, #52-Joey Gase. #60-Chris Buescher, #1-Elliott Sadler, #3-Ty Dillon, #98-Aric Almirola, and #7-Regan Smith.
There were 6 cautions for 31 laps and 23 lead changes among 11 leaders.
Complete results are on the Talladega race results page (pdf).(5-24-2015)
Talladega XFINITY Race Fast Facts:
Joey Logano(i) won the 24th Annual Winn Dixie 300, his 24th victory in 140 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his third victory and fifth top-10 finish in 2015.This is his second victory and sixth top-10 finish in six races at Talladega Superspeedway.
Brian Scott (second) posted his second top-10 finish in six races at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his seventh top-10 finish in 2015.
Austin Dillon(i) (third) posted his second top-10 finish in three races at Talladega Superspeedway.
Peyton Sellers (18th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Ty Dillon leads the point standings by 9 points over Chris Buescher.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(5-2-2015)
Dillon on XFINITY pole at Talladega: #33-Austin Dillon won the Coors Light pole for the Winn-Dixie 300 at Talladega Superspeedway with a speed of 180.540mph. #3-Ty Dillon will start second. The rest of the top 10: #2-Brian Scott, #20-Erik Jones, #54-Boris Said, #18-Daniel Suarez, #62-Brendan Gaughan, #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr., #16-Ryan Reed, and #1-Elliott Sadler.
Did Not Qualify: #35-Chris Cockrum; #74-Mike Harmon; #85-Bobby Gerhart; #70-Derrike Cope; #15-Carlos Contreras. The starting lineup is posted on the Talladega starting lineup page (pdf).(5-2-2015)
TriStar, Zike Bikes partner: TriStar Motorsports is proud to announce their partnership with Zike Bikes for the 2015 season. Zike Bikes will be featured on the deck-lid of Cale Conley’s #14 Toyota Camry during the Winn-Dixie 300 at Talladega Superspeedway. Whether you are exploring the great outdoors or commuting to school or the office on your new Zike, ziking is the revolutionary new method of fun transportation. Ziking provides hours and miles of enjoyment, a total-body workout and green transportation at the same time.(TriStar Motorsports)(5-2-2015)
Daytona Rising May Project Update: Daytona International Speedway recently began installing 10,000 wider, more comfortable seats near the east end of the Speedway as part of the $400 million DAYTONA Rising redevelopment project. These new and improved seats will be available during the upcoming Coke Zero 400 Weekend Powered By Coca-Cola on July 3-5 along with an additional 40,000 new seats near the west end of the Speedway. The installation follows another recent construction milestone: the removal of the final piece of the Sprint Tower. Looking ahead, the Speedway will prepare to install the last piece of structural steel for the new frontstretch grandstand.
Additional upcoming construction activities include:
· Ongoing elevator installation
· Continuing miscellaneous framing and concrete installation
· Foam panel installation in various injectors/entrances
Race fans can follow the progress of the DAYTONA Rising project by visiting DAYTONARising.com.(DIS)(5-2-2015)
News from May 1, 2015
Coverage of Qualifying for the GEICO 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is scheduled for Saturday, May 2, 2015 at 1:15pm/et. Television (TV): FOX, 1:00pm/et Radio: Live online at Motor Racing Network (MRN) Scheduled Qualifying Re-Air: none scheduled
Qualifying Order for the GEICO 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is posted. 45 cars/drivers are listed.
The driver scheduled to go out in round 1 is #10-Patrick.
The final driver scheduled to go out in round 1 is #6-Bayne.
Qualifying order is set by a random draw, held about an hour before the first practice.
For this race, the twelve 2nd round drivers will go out, slowest to fastest.
See the full qualifying order on Jayski.com’s Talladega Qualifying Page.(5-1-2015)
Superspeedway Qualifying Format for Talladega: The modified qualifying format at superspeedways will debut Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday, May 2nd. Qualifying will consist of the following:
· Two rounds of qualifying, with the top-12 posted lap speeds advancing to the second round
· Race vehicles taking one, timed lap in each round of qualifying
· Each race vehicle will be released in a predetermined timed interval as determined by NASCAR, with the sanctioning body reserving the right to have more than one vehicle engaging in qualifying runs at the same time
· Qualifying order for the first round will be determined by a random draw; final round qualifying order is determined by slowest to fastest speeds from the first round
· A 10-minute break will occur between the first qualifying round and the final round
· Upon completion of the first qualifying round, the field will be set with positions 13 and beyond determined from first round qualifying speed
· The 12 fastest vehicles from the first round will have their speeds reset for the final round with starting positions 1-12 determined by the fastest laps in the final round
· NASCAR will impound race vehicles following each qualifying lap; vehicles advancing to the final round will be allowed to adjust tape and utilize a cool-down unit during the 10-minute break only
Qualifying will be aired on FOX, scheduled for 1:00pm/et (no re-air scheduled) on Saturday, May 2, 2015.(5-1-2015)
Happy Hour Practice for the GEICO 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is over, after 55 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#16-Biffle 197.929
#14-Stewart 197.859
#43-Almirola 197.696
#48-Johnson 197.175
#3-Dillon 197.122
Slowest of the 38 who made runs: #26-Burton 187.335 & #23-Yeley 188.500
Seven drivers didn’t make a run: #11-Hamlin, #15-Bowyer, #19-Edwards, #31-Newman, #47-Allmendinger, #55-Waltrip and #78-Truex Jr.
notes: there were no incidents, and a mix of teams drafting and single car runs.
#16-Biffle had the best 10 consecutive lap average at 195.312.
See best speeds, laps run, Best 10 Consecutive Lap Average on the Talladega Happy Hour Practice Speeds page (pdf).(5-1-2015)
First Friday Practice for the GEICO 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is over, after 55 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#17-Stenhouse Jr. 200.780
#55-Waltrip 200.742
#34-Buescher 200.268
#11-Hamlin 199.675
#18-Ragan 199.662
slowest: #26-Burton 187.024 & #83-DiBenedetto 187.141
notes: there were no incidents, and a mix of teams drafting and single car runs.
#18-Ragan had the best 10 consecutive lap average at 196.969.
See best speeds, laps run, Best 10 Consecutive Lap Average on the Talladega Practice 1 Speeds page (pdf).(5-1-2015)
Chassis selections for this weeks race: see the list of many teams [that report or post them] and what chassis were selected by the team to run in the GEICO 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway on the Talladega Race Info page – Chassis selection area.
Roush Fenway Racing to Host Annual Spring Fan Day on May 21: Roush Fenway Racing will host its annual spring fan day at its world headquarters in Concord, N.C. on Thursday, May 21. The event is open to the public and will feature autograph sessions with each of Roush Fenway’s seven NASCAR drivers. “We say it each year, but this event is really the perfect opportunity to show our fans how much we appreciate them,” said Roush Fenway President Steve Newmark. “We see these fans cheering on our drivers at race tracks across the country, and this is our opportunity to welcome them to our home, show them around and give them the opportunity to meet our drivers and the partners who play such a vital role in what we do each weekend at the track.” In addition to the Roush Fenway show cars on site, more than a dozen partner displays will be on hand, with partners handing out samples, setting up simulation pods and tire-changing units, as well as interacting with the fans that support Roush Fenway and the sport of NASCAR. SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will again broadcast its famed Mid-Day Drive show live from the event with popular host Jim Noble and Chocolate Myers, featuring visits with the Roush Fenway drivers. Former Miss Sprint Cup Monica Palumbo will be the official emcee for the day’s events and Roush Fenway #16 XFINITY Series hauler driver Jay Maybry and his band JBird and the Congregation will perform live music throughout the day. Roush Fenway fans are also encouraged to take part in the event through social media using the hashtag #RFRFanDay, and the team will give fans a behind the scenes look at the event throughout the day via Periscope and Twitter. Autograph sessions will kick off at 10 a.m. with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Trevor Bayne, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Greg Biffle. Roush Fenway’s NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers Bubba Wallace, Ryan Reed, Chris Buescher and Elliott Sadler will sign autographs at 11:00 a.m.
Autograph session tickets will be on a first-come, first-served basis, beginning at 8 a.m.
What: Roush Fenway Racing Spring ‘Fan Appreciation Day’
Where: Roush Fenway Racing Campus – 4600 Roush Place, Concord N.C. 28027
When: Thursday, May 21, 2014. Tickets distribution begins at 8:00 a.m. Fan Appreciation Day runs until 3:00 pm.(RFR)(5-1-2015)
Patrick comments on her future and GoDaddy leaving the sport: #10-Danica Patrick met with media and discussed the departure of GoDaddy as primary sponsor at the end of the year and her thoughts on a future sponsor: Q) GIVEN THE NEWS THAT GODADDY IS GOING TO BE LEAVING, HOW DO YOU LIMIT THOSE DISTRACTIONS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT SPONSORS AND WORRYING ABOUT SPONSORS AS YOU CONTINUE TO GO THROUGH THE SEASON? DO YOU THINK THIS IS THE BEST POSSIBLE TIME FOR IT, GIVEN THE RUN OF SUCCESS THAT YOU’VE HAD IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS? Patrick: “It was good that GoDaddy gave us, as a team, time to find someone else for that role; either someone new or one of my great partners that already exists and wants to step-up. It’s as tolerable as a situation as you can imagine. But for me, it’s a little bit bittersweet. I look at pictures of me in the suit and the pictures of the car and I think about I can’t believe it won’t be the green GoDaddy car anymore. In fact, that’s actually what I said to them on the phone. I spoke to Phil (Bienert, Chief Marketing Officer) and Blake (Irving, Chief Executive Officer) who are in charge of making those big phone calls and making those big decisions. And I said, ‘Are you guys okay that you’re not going to see a green car out there anymore?’ That’s actually what I said to them. But, on the other hand, my relationship with GoDaddy will still continue. It’s just going to look a little bit different from an overall standpoint. I think we’re going to continue on, obviously, with the things that I have been doing for them as of late; more smaller events and more specific events for them as opposed as just trying to get their name out there as they’ve said they have 81 percent brand awareness in America, so the program worked. It worked so well, that they’ve evolved. But I’m glad to still be with them, and I’m glad that they gave us time to find someone else for that position.” Q) HOW LONG DO YOU FOCUS ON TRYING TO REMAIN AT STEWART-HAAS RACING; AND WHEN DO YOU REALLY START LISTENING AND DISCUSSING OPTIONS WITH OTHER TEAMS? Patrick: “I really am happy at Stewart-Haas and they’re working hard already to find someone for the new primary position. My team is working to find someone for the new primary position. So, I think at this point in time, we’re moving forward with all those intentions. But I guess it is on some level open season in a lot of areas. So, I don’t think you can ever say never, of course; but I am happy where I’m at right now.” Q) REGARDING THE TEAM, HOW DO YOU LOOK AT THIS? WHAT KIND OF CONVERSATIONS HAVE YOU HAD WITH TONY STEWART IF YOU WOULD GET A MULTI-FACETED SPONSOR OR IT MIGHT NOT BE AS MUCH MONEY AS GODADDY. YOU HAVE YOUR OWN MAJOR MANAGEMENT COMPANY THAT CAN BE WORKING ON THIS. HOW DOES THAT ALL FIT TOGETHER? WHAT CONVERSATIONS HAVE YOU HAD ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED OR WHAT YOU WANT? Patrick: “Well, to imagine that this scenario was not possible is a lie, of course. We knew that it was possible that GoDaddy would go away. I think we’re all ready and prepared to move on and to figure out other things. I don’t know exactly. I’m fortunate that I have such great people working around me that they don’t have to let me in on every day-to-day conversation that they have and what’s happening. It’s really only the big things and the things they might need me for. So, I don’t know exactly what conversations have gone on before this happened or right now. But I know that we’re working toward finding sponsors and that includes on my side, so my agent will try as well. It’s a collaborative effort and I know they talk frequently and it’s all to get the #10 car back out on the track.” Q) WHAT HAVE YOU AND TONY STEWART DISCUSSED? Patrick: “I haven’t talked to Tony about it yet. I will talk to him and say pretty much what I’ve said to anyone I’ve seen that it happened and I’m sorry this is our new scenario; but on the other hand, GoDaddy has been really great. I say that and it sounds like such a letdown that they’ve been phenomenal. They have been an enormous supporter through every transition. They supported me when I just wanted to run Nationwide to get experience. So, they’ve been great. But it is a new scenario and we’re going to have to figure it out and it’s a challenge, no doubt. Finding primary sponsors is a challenge. But I feel confident that in all the people to find sponsors, I believe in my agent and my team. And we’ll figure it out.” Q) BEGGARS CAN’T BE CHOOSERS WHEN IT COMES TO A SPONSORSHIP HUNT. BUT YOU COMMAND A BIT MORE SWAY THAN A TYPICAL DRIVER. WILL YOU BE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS? IS THERE A DREAM SPONSOR THAT YOU’D LIKE TO HAVE? IS THERE A PARTICULAR CATEGORY THAT YOU WANT? Patrick: “I am very fortunate that somebody asked me if it’s a matter of just going out and picking your new sponsors or I’ve been able to do that sort of thing. And I have been. I’ve been very fortunate as a brand being able to be somewhat picky about who it is. For me, it will be more about what their plan is and my two cents as to whether or not I think it fits or how I fit in it. You know what I’ve found, is that companies are extremely open to your ideas as a driver or as a personal idea that I believe will work, because in this day and age it’s about authenticity and people can see through it pretty quick and easy. And your personality shines so much better when you’re in a program that is something that you enjoy and that you’re having fun with and that is a part of you. So, I think that we’ve been able to be a little selective. I don’t think it’s so easy as to just say a company and then go get them and have everything you want. We try, no doubt. But I think it’s more about becoming more of the process with the marketing and branding and to make it all work and being a little bit selective. But, yeah, it’s a tougher environment than it’s ever been, so you also have to be open-minded.”(Team Chevy)(5-1-2015)
Careers for Veterans to ride with Keselowski at ‘Dega: Something will be different about Brad Keselowski’s NASCAR Sprint Cup car during GEICO 500 weekend May 1-3 at Talladega Superspeedway. This weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, thanks to a cooperative effort between Miller Lite and Cooper Standard the rear quarter panels of the #2 Ford Fusion will feature CareersForVeterans.org, a veterans initiative created by Cooper Standard, a Brad Keselowski Racing Partner. Miller Lite and MillerCoors have enjoyed a longstanding partnership with Team Penske and Keselowski. Cooper Standard has supported the men and women who serve our country by helping them put their unique skill sets to work when they complete their service. Since the inception of the program in 2014, the company has increased its veterans workforce by 14%. “This is a tremendous opportunity to bring national attention to the Careers For Veterans program and it wouldn’t be possible without the cooperation of our longtime partner MillerCoors,” Keselowski said. “There have been some big moments for me at Talladega and hopefully we can add a few more this weekend.”
The high profile platform is a direct result of Cooper Standard’s longtime partnership with Keselowski. Cooper Standard continues its long running relationship with Brad Keselowski Racing in 2015 as primary sponsor of the #29 Ford F-150 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Through Cooper Standard’s relationship with BKR, visibility for the Careers For Veterans program has dramatically increased. The end result has been more veterans gaining employment once they return to civilian life.
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Michigan International Speedway will be named the Careers for Veterans 200 – the second consecutive season the race will be presented by The Cooper Standard Foundation and Brad Keselowski’s Checkered Flag Foundation. The Careers For Veterans 200 further supports Cooper Standard’s mission to bring national attention to the importance of hiring our military veterans.(BKR)(5-1-2015)
Team Penske partners with Avaya: Team Penske announced that it has partnered with Avaya as a team sponsor for the 2015 season in both the Verizon IndyCar Series and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Simon Pagenaud will pilot the #22 Avaya Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet for at least four Verizon IndyCar Series events in his first season with Team Penske, including the 99th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 24. Avaya will also adorn the side of the #2 Ford Fusion driven by Brad Keselowski in the Sprint Cup Series event at Kansas Speedway on Saturday, May 9.
The Avaya partnership was fostered through the established, long-term relationship between Team Penske and HP. Together, Avaya and HP Enterprise Services are delivering infrastructure modernization services, including Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) OnAvaya and Customer Engagement as a Service OnAvaya to help customers rapidly deploy enterprise team and customer engagement solutions as they transition to a “New Style of Business.” As technology continues to revolutionize communications in racing, the partnership between the three organizations is a winning combination for all. The new relationship with Team Penske is the latest sports partnership for Avaya as the company continues to build its brand by working with winning programs – see the full list at www.avayasports.com. Avaya will make its debut in the Sprint Cup Series when the company will be the primary sponsor of the #2 Ford Fusion driven by Keselowski at Kansas Speedway on Saturday night, May 9. Keselowski, the 2012 Sprint Cup Series Champion, will be looking for his second-career Kansas win, with his first coming in 2011. “It’s always great to see global companies come into our sport,” said Keselowski. “We’ll be excited to welcome Avaya to the #2 team that night in Kansas. Our goal is always to go out there and win with all of our partners and it would be great to bring Avaya on board at Team Penske with a trip to Victory Lane in Kansas.”(Team Penske), see an image of the car on the #2 Team Scheme page.(5-1-2015)
Four teams penalized with loss of practice time at Talladega: #4-Kevin Harvick’s team is one of four NASCAR Sprint Cup teams that will lose 15 minutes of practice time this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR announced. Harvick’s team, along with #83-Matt DiBenedetto’s team will be docked 15 minutes of practice time at Talladega after being late for pre-race inspection last weekend at Richmond. #43-Aric Almirola’s team also will lose 15 minutes of practice at Talladega after being late for qualifying inspection at Richmond. #7-Alex Bowman’s team failed qualifying inspection more than three times at Richmond. The Tommy Baldwin Racing team received a written warning and will be docked 15 minutes of practice time at Talladega. NASCAR’s rule book states that if a team receives two warnings during two consecutive events, it may result in one or more of the following P1 penalties – last choice in selecting pits, reduced practice time, reduced time for qualifying, delay in order of inspection and/or be selected for post-race inspection, among other things. NASCAR also announced that the teams of #98-Josh Wise and #32-Joey Gase (Bobby Labonte will drive the #32 at Talladega) each failed qualifying inspection twice at Richmond and received written warnings.(NBC Sports)(5-1-2015)
Nickelodeon announces driver lineup for SpongeBob SquarePants 400 weekend: Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants will take over Kansas Speedway, for the SpongeBob SquarePants 400 weekend, May 8-9. The world’s most famous sponge and his Bikini Bottom friends will take an adventurous ride on the cars of four NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers, all vying to win the coveted SpongeBob SquarePants 400 trophy. The SpongeBob SquarePants 400 will feature an all-star NASCAR Sprint Cup lineup including:
Greg Biffle, driving the #16 Cheez-It/ Patrick Star Ford Fusion
Michael McDowell, driving the #95 WRL/Larry the Lobster Ford Fusion
Casey Mears, driving the #13 Squidward Tentacles Chevrolet SS
David Ragan, driving the #55 Aarons/SpongeBob SquarePants Toyota Camry
NASCAR driver Ben Kennedy will join in on the fun when he takes out his #11 Local Motors/ SpongeBob SquarePants Toyota Tundra for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Kansas Speedway on Friday, May 8. Additionally, NASCAR XFINITY Series star Bubba Wallace will pilot the #6 SpongeBob SquarePants Ford Mustang for the Winn-Dixie XFINITY Series race on Saturday, May 2. His Ford machine will feature SpongeBob SquarePants and his friends Patrick, SquidWard, Mr. Krabs and Sandy Cheeks.
“It’s really fun to be part of the Nickelodeon lineup for the Kansas race and get to feature Patrick Star and Cheez-It on our No. 16 Ford,” said Biffle, who boasts a pair of victories on the 1.5-mile oval at Kansas. “Nickelodeon does a lot to bring sports to kids, which is something that is important and I’m glad to be a part of it. Kansas is a good track for us and Saturday night races are always exciting. Hopefully we can get another Kansas win.”
Also at the speedway, attendees will be able to enjoy some pre-Mother’s Day fun in the Nickelodeon Kids Zone, which will be located in the Kansas Speedway Fan Zone. The area will feature appearances from the SpongeBob SquarePants costumed characters, a SpongeBob SquarePants photo station and more.
On Wednesday, May 13, Nickelodeon will air episodes of Hammer Down, a docu-series produced by NASCAR Productions, in a special racing-themed night during the NickSportsprogramming block on Nicktoons. Hammer Down is an original, four-episode series featuring four of NASCAR’s rising stars–Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Darrell Wallace Jr. and Kenzie Ruston-that give fans an all-access pass into the young athletes’ lives as they aspire to become elite NASCAR drivers, while also enjoying time with friends and coming of age as young adults. The NickSports programming block airs every Wednesday, from 9:00-11:00 pm (ET/PT).(Nickelodeon/VMG)(5-1-2015)
Fresh From Florida Returns to #43 Ford at Talladega: After falling just outside the Top-10 in points, Aric Almirola and the #43 Ford team hope to dodge trouble and score a good finish at Talladega Superspeedway to propel them back into the Top-10. The Florida Department of Agriculture’s Fresh From Florida campaign will return to the #43 car this weekend. The campaign adorned the hood of the #43 earlier this year at Atlanta Motor Speedway.(RPM), see image of the scheme on the #43 Team Schemes page.(5-1-2015)
Bene-Fit featured on Annett’s #46 at ‘Dega: Bene-Fit, the world’s first fully insured hospital indemnity policy with a wellness benefit, makes its debut on Michael Annett’s #46 Chevy this Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway. Bene-Fit is a product of Cypress Associates, a partner of Annett’s dating back to fall 2014.(HScott Motorsports), see images of the car on the #46 Team Schemes page.(5-1-2015)
Talladega Superspeedway Notes & Facts – Friday – drivers:
· 439 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega; 302 in more than one.
· Dave Marcis and Terry Labonte lead the series in starts at Talladega with 61 each. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 44 starts; followed by Tony Stewart with 31.
· 44 different drivers have won at Talladega Superspeedway, led by Dale Earnhardt with 10. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with six.
· Buddy Baker and Tony Stewart are tied for the series’ most runner-up finishes at Talladega with six each.
· NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the series in top-five finishes at Talladega with 23. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 15.
· Dale Earnhardt leads the series in top-10 finishes at Talladega with 27. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 19.
· Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Talladega with a 10.192.
· Clint Bowyer leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Talladega with a 14.444.
· Jamie McMurray (10/06/2002) made his series debut at Talladega Superspeedway.
· Brian Scott (05/04/2014), David Gilliland (10/08/2006) and Travis Kvapil (10/05/2008) posted their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light poles at Talladega.
· 2012 series champion Brad Keselowski (04/26/2009) and Brian Vickers (10/08/2006) posted their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins at Talladega.
· Nine drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series have posted consecutive wins at Talladega; Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the series in consecutive wins at Talladega after posting four straight from the fall of 2001 – 2003.
· Brad Keselowski is the only active series driver to win at Talladega in his first appearance.
· Matt Kenseth competed at Talladega Superspeedway 25 times before winning the fall of 2012; the longest span of any the 12 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners.
· Matt Kenseth (25), Tony Stewart (19), Kevin Harvick (18), and David Ragan (12) all made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Talladega.
· Kurt Busch leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Talladega without visiting Victory Lane at 28; followed by Ryan Newman with 26.
· Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Talladega with 847 laps led in 44 starts.
· Three female drivers have competed at Talladega in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Janet Guthrie, Patty Moise and Danica Patrick.
(NASCAR)(5-1-2015)
Jones fastest in final practice: #20-Erik Jones was fastest during the only practice session at Talladega Superspeedway with a speed of 188.861mph. #6-Darrell Wallace, Jr. was second, followed by: #16-Ryan Reed, #7-Regan Smith, #18-Daniel Suarez, #88-Kasey Kahne, #98-Aric Almirola, #25-John Wes Townley, #2-Brian Scott, and #60-Chris Buescher. All 45 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Talladega practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(5-1-2014)
Kvapil to take over the 50: Travis Kvapil, 2003 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion will be taking over driving duties in the #50 Burnie Grill Chevrolet Silverado. Starting at the Toyota Tundra 250 at Kansas Speedway, Kvapil will join the MAKE operation filling the seat that was formly held by Cody Ware. Cody Ware has recently decided to take a break from racing to go to college full time persuing a pre-medicine degree. MAKE and its team which they refer to themselves as a family wish Cody all the best in college. Burnie Grills is the new all wood, self-burning grill will continue to be the primary sponsor on the #50 Chevy Silverado. Associate sponsors will continue to be Bubba Burger, AKL Insurance, WIX Filters, and Elite Holdings. Travis Kvapil will take the green at Kansas Speedway on May 8th at the Toyota Tundra 250 in the No. 50 Burnie Grill Chevy.(MAKE Motorsports)(5-1-2015)
Little to run Dover UPDATE: Jesse Little posted on his Instagram. that he will make his Camping World Truck Series debut in May at Dover International Speedway. Little was the 2013 K&N Pro Series Rookie of the Year and is NASCAR Next member, currently competing in the K&N Pro Series.(3-13-2014) UPDATE: Team Little Racing and Jesse Little have reached an agreement with Sandusky, Ohio-based ThorSport Racing that will allow the 18-year old to compete in a part-time schedule during the 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. ThorSport Racing will provide engineering support as Little prepares for his NCWTS debut on May 29 at Dover International Speedway driving a Toyota Tundra. Little, a member of the NASCAR Next program is a third-generation driver who also competes in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series for Larry McReynolds Racing. Leading Little’s team on the NCWTS will be veteran crew chief, Harold Holly. The relationship between Holly and the Little family extends back to the crew chief’s leadership of Jesse’s father, Chad, where he led the Spokane, Wash. native’s NASCAR Sprint Cup and Xfinity Series teams. Holly has amassed 20 victories as a crew chief in NASCAR’s top-3 divisions including a 2012 NCWTS win with Joey Coulter as his driver.(Team Little Racing)(5-1-2015)
Talladega Officials Encourage Fans Attending Races to Purchase Their Ticket Through TSS Avenues: With sunny “picture perfect” skies in the forecast for this weekend’s GEICO 500 and Winn-Dixie 300 at Talladega Superspeedway, track officials are expecting incredibly large crowds to witness the preeminent events at NASCAR’s Most Competitive track. To ensure that customers get tickets that are guaranteed to gain admittance, Talladega Superspeedway is encouraging fans to purchase their tickets by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA, on the track website at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com, or by visiting ticket locations on the track grounds. With the demand for tickets to these premier races continuing to increase yearly, numerous sets of tickets have been lost and replaced as a customer service. Lost or stolen tickets will have invalid bar codes, and will not get the bearer entry to the facility.
In 2014, Talladega created a “kids program” designed to increase family affordability to witness in person the greatest racing on the planet by discounting those admissions by $50. The kids ticket is clearly identified as a “KID’S 12-AND-UNDER TICKET “on the front and is only good for children 12-and-under. Numerous sets of kid’s tickets have been placed on the secondary market and misrepresented as Adult admissions, so please remember that kid’s tickets only allow a child 12-and-under to enter the grandstands. Adult fans trying to enter the facility with a kid’s ticket will only gain admittance once they purchase an adult ticket from the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office. For ticket information, call 1-877-Go2-DEGA or visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(TSS)(5-1-2015)