RACING ** HELL ON WHEEL'S

Major sponsorship deals indicate NASCAR economy is turning

2012-02-02T15:06:00.002-05:00

Major sponsorship deals indicate NASCAR economy is turning

Feb. 2, 2012

By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service

At last, there's a large patch of blue to break up the doom and gloom that has clouded the NASCAR economy for the past three seasons.

To major corporations, there is still a strong perceived value in association with NASCAR teams and with the sport itself, but the focus of those commitments has changed, along with the numbers of dollars sponsors are willing to allocate to motorsports marketing.

During the late-January NASCAR Sprint Media Tour in Concord, N.C., Penske Racing announced the extension of its agreement with MillerCoors, whose Miller Lite brand is the primary sponsor of the No. 2 Dodge driven by Brad Keselowski.

Penske also has a multiyear deal in place with Shell/Pennzoil, another major long-term player in NASCAR racing and the sponsor of AJ Allmendinger's No. 22. Team owner Roger Penske did allow, however, that the annual price of a Sprint Cup sponsorship Â is more likely to fall in the $12-$15 million range, rather the $25-$30 million figures bandied about during the rise of the sport's popularity in the previous decade.

Earnhardt Ganassi Racing has no more sponsorship inventory available on the Chevrolets driven by Juan Pablo Montoya and Jamie McMurray. In fact, Belkin, Liftmaster and Banana Boat extended their involvement in the sport to include primary sponsorship on McMurray's car in selected races.

All told, McMurray will have five primary sponsors this season, with Bass Pro Shops and McDonald's on the hood for the majority of the races. Montoya's car is sponsored by Target, whose relationship with team owner Chip Ganassi spans two decades and three series -- Sprint Cup, IndyCar and Grand-Am.

"How about my sales team?" Ganassi said. "There are no primary placings available on our cars. They've brought back (our current sponsors) and brought these new people to the sport. I want to give a call out to our sales guys. What a great job they've done."

Ganassi's cars are fully subscribed despite 2011 points finishes of 21st (Montoya) and 27th (McMurray), a performance Ganassi described as "pathetic."

Sponsorship news also led the program at the Joe Gibbs Racing stop on the Media Tour, with team owner Joe Gibbs pointing to contract extensions on the part of all three of his primary Cup sponsors -- Home Depot, FedEx and M&M's.

Walmart, courted for years by NASCAR and NASCAR owners, finally took the plunge, announcing a one-race deal for 16-time most popular driver Bill Elliott at Daytona in July in a Chevrolet built by Turner Motorsports.

Hendrick Motorsports also is flush with sponsorship for the 2012 season, prompting team owner Rick Hendrick to assert, "I feel the best I've felt about the economy in a couple of years. From the automobile side (Hendrick dealerships), we had the best year we've ever had in the history of our company.

"When you look at the fans, the excitement around Homestead, the championship -- our sponsors are here; we've spent the past two days with them -- and the excitement's there . . . It feels better."

Remember, too, that Sprint announced an extension of its title sponsorship of NASCAR's top series through 2016, welcome news as NASCAR negotiates TV contracts with its broadcast partners, with current agreements coming to term after the 2014 season.

That's not to say that the picture is uniformly rosy. Roush Fenway Racing is down to three full-time Cup cars in 2012 and still hasn't announced sponsorship for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne in the Nationwide Series -- even though Stenhouse is the defending series champion.

With driver Clint Bowyer's departure and a sponsorship gap in the Cup series, Richard Childress Racing doesn't plan to run four full-time Cup cars this year, though the No. 33 Chevrolet will be on track for at least the first five events of the season.

In fairness to RCR, the organization will field as many as 10 entries across all three of NASCAR's national touring series on certain weekends. RCR has absorbed the Nationwide operation of Cup driver Kevin Harvick -- providing full-time rides to Elliott Sadler and Austin Dillon in addition to an all-star car driven primarily by Cup drivers, starting with Tony Stewart at Daytona.

In addition, RCR will field its own Camping World Truck Series teams as Ty Dillon attempts to succeed brother Austin as series champion.

A major change in the sponsorship landscape involves the expectations of companies that invest in NASCAR racing -- and demand a measurable return. Sponsorship is no longer merely about paint on a racecar or TV exposure numbers provided by Joyce Julius, the company that specializes in the evaluation of sports sponsorships.

Business-to-business relationships are critical. When Shell/Pennzoil opted to move from RCR to Penske in 2010, a significant part of the deal was Penske's agreement to fill the crankcases of the cars at his dealerships with Pennzoil.

In today's climate, car owners who can't offer a B-to-B component Â to a prospective sponsor are at a distinct disadvantage.

Equally important are sponsor relations, and that means both creative activation and cooperative drivers who are willing to go the extra mile in promoting the products that fund their racing efforts.

Yes, the NASCAR economy is improving, but there's still much progress to be made, as owners figure out, at varying speeds, the nuances of the new paradigm. Steve Phelps, NASCAR senior vice president and chief marketing officer, stressed the importance of the balance between containing costs and money sought from sponsorships.

"We're trying to control costs as much as we can," Phelps said. "The revenue portion of it, which is sponsorship, I think continues to gain momentum. And although we certainly have a number of cars that have inventory that's open, if you look at the companies that are coming in, look at the renewals that are happening . . .

"I think the Sprint renewal was very important for the sport. It's important for the sport because it gave confidence to everyone else. Sprint's business has been challenged, and they're doing a great job of coming back from it, and this sport was so important to them that they're going to invest $100 million a year in it and continue for another five years.

"So do I feel it's turning? Yes, I do. Are we exactly where we want to be? No. The economy's still tough. We're not where we want to be, but we're certainly moving in the right direction."

54th Daytona 500 Boasts a Record Purse of More Than $19 Million

2012-02-01T21:10:00.002-05:00

54th Daytona 500 Boasts a Record Purse of More Than $19 Million

February 1, 2012

New Mid-Race Leader Award For Leading Lap 100

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The 54^th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 26 (FOX, 1 p.m. ET) – NASCAR’s biggest and most prestigious race – will carry a record purse of more than $19 million as well as a new contingency award that will payout $200,000 to the driver leading at the completion of Lap 100.

The posted awards for "The Great American Race" are $19,142,601 with the winner collecting a minimum of $1,431,325. The second, third, fourth and fifth-place finishers in the Daytona 500 will receive a minimum of $1,050,075, $759,600, $609,900 and $486,550.

The Daytona 500 Mid-Race Leader Award will reward the driver leading at the completion of lap 100 of the historic 200-lap, 500-mile race with a $200,000 bonus. If the race is under caution at Lap 100, the leader of the race at the completion of the fifth consecutive green flag lap following the caution will receive the award.

"There is plenty of incentive for drivers to run up front the entire race but even more so at the halfway point and the last lap of the Daytona 500," Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said. "This year’s ‘Great American Race’ stands to be one of the most exciting and thrilling ever seen, and will serve as a great kick-off to the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season."

Tickets for the 54^th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 26 as well as other Speedweeks 2012 events can be purchased online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP

If you are unable to attend in person, be sure to tune in to the Daytona 500 on FOX on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 1 p.m. ET.

Daytona 500 Countdown Continues

2012-01-31T12:11:00.003-05:00

Daytona 500 Countdown Continues

January 30, 2012

Call it the calm before the storm begins anew. A wildly successful Rolex 24 went into the books this past weekend with Penske Racing’s first-year driver AJ Allmendinger taking the checkered flag for Michael Shank Racing. A harbinger of the season to come, perhaps, the Daytona International Speedway infield was packed with fans before the start of the 50th anniversary of the twice-round-the-clock affair.

Now everyone takes a deep breath before the engines fire again. Speedweeks 2012 resume on Friday, Feb. 17, when practice gets underway for the Budweiser Shootout. The traditional opening event of the year, 75 laps around Daytona’s 2.5-mile high banked superspeedway, will run at 8:10 p.m. ET on FOX.

With this year’s Daytona 500 scheduled a week later than usual – on Feb. 26, live on FOX at 1 p.m. ET – teams receive a bit of extra prep time before assembling in Florida. Even so, there remain plenty of pre-season storylines upon which to chew. Several follow.

AJ Aims At Historic Double
AJ Allmendinger attempts to become the first driver to win the Rolex 24 overall title and the Daytona 500 in the same season. (Casey Mears won the 2006 Rolex 24 and finished 2nd in that year’s Daytona 500 to Jimmie Johnson.) True to form, Allmendinger, the top Closer in the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, ran the final three hours or 12.5% of the race for the win.

After winning the Rolex 24, a follow-up victory in the Great American Race would celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first time the No. 22 won the 500 – in 1962 with Fireball Roberts. It’s been 10 years since Ward Burton won in the 22 in 2002. Roger Penske seeks his second victory in the Daytona 500 in five years, taking the 50th running of NASCAR’s biggest race with Ryan Newman behind the wheel.

Turning 30 last month, Allmendinger could become the sixth driver to win the 500 at that age, tying 36 for most wins by a driver at a specific age. Allmendinger’s best finish in the 500 came in his first try – 2009 when he finished third.

Harvick Heads Home An HOFer
After back-to-back third-place finishes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings, Kevin Harvick hopes to jump-start his 2012 title hopes with a visit to Las Vegas on Tuesday to help promote the Kobalt Tools 400 on March 11 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Harvick has three top-five finishes and four top-10s in 11 NASCAR Sprint Cup starts at the track, including a runner-up finish two years ago to Jimmie Johnson.

On Wednesday, Kevin Harvick will be inducted into the Bob Elias Kern County Sports Hall of Fame in Bakersfield, Calif., his hometown. Harvick is just the fourth race car driver to be inducted, joining four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears, off-road champion Roger Mears and many-time Indy 500 competitor George Snider. Harvick told the Bakersfield Californian: "To get this honor while still racing, it sort of makes me feel old. It's a pretty cool deal for me. You know how much this town and race track (Mesa Marin) supported my career.

"We've been fortunate all the way through my career to win championships,” Harvick continued. “The Daytona 500 is the biggest race and to win that was great. Obviously, the biggest we want is the (NASCAR Sprint) Cup championship and we're still working towards that."

Last Wednesday during the Richard Childress Racing stop on the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour Hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway, Harvick announced that he and wife DeLana, both raised in racing families, were expecting a child this year.

Champ-a Bay: Stenhouse Jr. Hits Tampa In Advance Of Daytona 500 Debut

Defending NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will visit Tampa on Thursday on his way to making his Daytona 500 debut February 26 on FOX. Stenhouse hopes to become the second NASCAR Nationwide Series champion to follow a title with a win in the Great American Race, following the example set by 2006 champ Kevin Harvick who went on to win the 2007 Daytona 500. Stenhouse will drive the No. 6 car, which won the last NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona, the Coke Zero 400 last July. David Ragan piloted the ride in that event.

Stenhouse will attend the Carolina Hurricanes-Tampa Bay Lightning NHL game as part of a tour around Tampa, the hometown of Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III, who will accompany Stenhouse.

Another Different Daytona 500 Winner?

Trevor Bayne became the 10th consecutive different Daytona 500 winner in 2010 – a streak that began in 2002. Only three drivers have won the Great American Race in consecutive seasons: Richard Petty (1973-74), Cale Yarborough (1983-84) and Sterling Marlin (1994-95). While the Daytona 500 has validated the careers of many NASCAR superstars, the race also has produced some huge surprises. Bayne had just turned 20 years of age and became the race’s youngest winner in his second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start. Who might be next? Danica Patrick, bidding for her first Daytona 500 start, no doubt hopes it will be her.

Harraka, Wauters Bring Ford Back to NASCAR Camping World Trucks

Former Drive For Diversity driver Paulie Harraka, who is completing his final semester of studies at Duke University, will compete for Sunoco Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The New Jersey native will drive a Ford for newly minted Wauters Motorsports. The team is owned by Richie Wauters, one of the series’ most successful crew chiefs winning 17 times between 2004 and 2010 with drivers Kyle Busch, Aric Almirola and Shane Hmiel. Ford has not had a major presence in the series since Roush Fenway Racing exited after the 2009 season. Harraka, 22, posted three victories in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and also won a championship in NASCAR's Whelen All-American Series. He owns a pair of NASCAR rookie of the year titles: Whelen All-American Series and K&N Pro Series West.

NASCAR And Turner Sports Restructure

2012-01-30T12:47:00.002-05:00

NASCAR And Turner Sports Restructure And Extend Digital Partnership Through 2016

Sanctioning Body To Operate Its Digital Platforms Starting In 2013; Turner To Continue Exclusive Advertising Sales

Daytona Beach, Fla. (Jan. 30, 2012) — NASCAR and Turner Sports announced today a restructuring and extension of their long-standing digital partnership. The new agreement takes the relationship through 2016, with NASCAR managing business and editorial operations for its digital platforms beginning in 2013 and Turner Sports continuing to oversee advertising sales and sponsorships across NASCAR-branded digital platforms.

“Turner Sports has been, and will continue to be, a great partner for NASCAR,” said Brian France, chairman and chief executive officer of NASCAR. “Taking a leadership role as it relates to our digital rights is something we as the sanctioning body know is important for the future of our sport, the development of our drivers and most importantly, the experience for both our current fans and future followers.”

“Turner Broadcasting and NASCAR have helped make each other successful for more than 28 years through a working relationship that, over time, has evolved with the media and technology landscape,” said David Levy, president of sales, distribution and sports, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. “The latest extension of our partnership is a strategically and fiscally enhanced business model for our company and ensures that NASCAR.COM remains a core asset of Turner's leading digital ad sales portfolio. Our unrivaled sports assets and scale offer advertisers the means to deliver the most targeted and relevant marketing messages across multiple digital and mobile platforms and properties.”

Under the new partnership, NASCAR will assume operational control in 2013 of all of its interactive, digital and social media rights including technical operations and infrastructure of all NASCAR digital platforms. Turner will continue to represent sponsorships and advertising for all NASCAR digital platforms, with the unique users from the NASCAR digital properties continuing to roll up to the Turner digital portfolio.

NASCAR’s comprehensive digital and social media portfolio includes NASCAR.COM, the official online destination of NASCAR which provides racing enthusiasts with an all-inclusive offering of engaging content including fantasy games, video highlights, social elements and in-depth editorial content. NASCAR.COM, and the sport’s other digital and social media platforms, have been managed by Turner Sports since 2001.

“This move is about the media, our sponsors and most importantly, our fans,” said Marc Jenkins, vice president of digital media for NASCAR. “We will build an innovative portfolio of platforms that strives to be as diverse as it is comprehensive. For our fans our digital platform will become the online destination for all things NASCAR. For everyone else, it will be the vehicle we’ll use to turn them into fans.”

Allmendinger leads Michael Shank Racing to first Rolex 24 at Daytona title

2012-01-29T19:42:00.002-05:00

Allmendinger leads Michael Shank Racing to first Rolex 24 at Daytona title

Special to NASCAR Wire Service

(January 29, 2012)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- In his ninth try at winning North America's most prestigious sports car race, team owner Michael Shank put his faith in a NASCAR driver. And that driver –- A.J. Allmendinger –- put in three grueling hours at the wheel of the No. 60 Michael Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian Ford/Riley Daytona Prototype to win the 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Allmendinger, who recently signed to drive for legendary owner Roger Penske in the NASCAR Sprint Car Series and was in his seventh run in the 24 with Shank, outran second-place Ryan Dalziel in the No. 8 Starworks Motorsport Ford /Riley.

First-timer Felipe Nasr, the young Brazilian who until last December's test at Daytona had never driven a DP, finished third in the second Shank car, the No. 6 Ford/Riley. Nasr secured the ride by virtue of winning the Sunoco Rolex 24 at Daytona Challenge championship for competitors in five European series.

Ozz Negri, John Pew and Justin Wilson shared the winning ride with Allmendinger. And while the final time sheet shows a winning margin of 5.198 seconds, Allmendinger's closing stint was not without drama. He rubbed fenders with veteran sports car racer Allan McNish in the No. 8 Ford and later had to go 20 feet wide in turn one to avoid a GT car as the laps wound down.

Celebrating in Victory Lane he admitted the strain of the final run. "I'm so worn out," he said. "We wanted to win this for Shank. The motor was so fast. I am so drained.

"I knew those last three hours, I was going to have to go flat out. It was fun. When Dalziel got in the car... I knew I was going to have to drive my (rear end) off. I pushed really hard to build up a gap and take those last 10 laps to manage that gap."

Juan Pablo Montoya finished fourth overall, one lap down, in the No. 02 Chip Ganassi Racing Target/TELMEX BMW/Riley, marking the first time since 2005 that a Ganassi car was not on the podium. Defending race and series champion Scott Pruett finished sixth in the No. 01 TELMEX BMW/Riley, four laps down, after transmission problems surfaced late.

The GT class victory went to 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year Andy Lally, John Potter, Richard Lietz and Rene Rast in the No. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche.

"I absolutely knew we had the potential to do it," Lally said of the victory. "It was a pleasure to be able to join the team. It was absolutely epic to come home.... on the top step, especially the 50th."

Second place in GT went to the No. 67 TRG while third place went to the No. 59 Brumos Porsche.

The race marked the debut of three makes of cars – Corvette in Prototypes and Ferrari and Audi in GT. The highest-finishing Corvette – the No. 5 Action Express Racing entry of Darren Law, David Donohue and Christian Fittipaldi – came home fifth.

The top finishing Ferrari – the No. 63 Risi Competizione entry - came home fifth in GT while the top placing Audi – the No. 51 APR entry - was 31st in GT.

The Corvettes experienced trouble early with the No. 5 losing a cylinder on the opening circuit. More telling was the engine failure in the No. 10 Sun Trust Racing entry that ran only 14 laps and was forced to retire with engine problems.

"It's really disappointing, but at the same time, this is what happens in this game," team owner Wayne Taylor said.

The team, which started second, finished 58th overall and 14th among the Prototypes. It will receive championship points being awarded to Angelelli and co-driver Ricky Taylor since Angelelli did his required 30-minute stint.

"Because of catastrophic failure the second driver automatically gets points," Taylor said adding the engine failure was the first the team had experienced since switching to Chevy engines last season.

Shank took the DP lead in the inaugural North American Endurance Championship presented by VISITFLORIDA.com with 16 points. Starworks is second with 14 and Ganassi's No. 01 team third with 12. In GT, Magnus leads with 16 points, Brumos is second with 15 and the No. 67 TRG team third with 13.

Points were awarded on a 5-4-3-2 basis at six-hour increments in the Rolex 24. The series continues in the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen on July 1, and concludes with the Super Weekend at the Brickyard on July 27 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Changes for 2012 NASCAR season are big, but less visible

2012-01-27T16:30:00.001-05:00

Changes for 2012 NASCAR season are big, but less visible

Jan. 26, 2012

By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France has reason to be optimistic.

France was upbeat Thursday during the annual "state of the sport" press conference at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the last stop on the four-day NASCAR Sprint Media Tour presented by Charlotte Motor Speedway.

In November, Tony Stewart ended Jimmie Johnson's five-year stranglehold on the Sprint Cup championship in a dramatic battle between two drivers -- Stewart and Carl Edwards -- at the absolute pinnacle of their craft.

The Chase for the Sprint Cup captivated fan interest until the final lap of the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, with Stewart and Edwards finishing 1-2 in the last race and Stewart claiming the title in a tiebreaker based on number of victories.

Even before the spectacular finish to the season, television ratings had begun to rise across all three of NASCAR's national touring series. That's encouraging news, given that NASCAR will be negotiating with its broadcast partners over television contracts, with current agreements ending after the 2014 season.

At the November awards banquet in Las Vegas, Sprint announced a three-year extension of its title sponsorship of NASCAR's top series, through 2016. During a succession of stops on the media tour, such organizations as Penske Racing, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and JTG-Daugherty Racing announced the acquisitions of new sponsorships for their racing efforts.

Accordingly, there will be no tweaks to the Chase this season, no modification to the wild-card rule that kept interest at peak levels through the September race at Richmond, when the field for the Chase was set.

There will be no further simplification of the points system, which was overhauled last year. France also was well satisfied with the "pick-a-series" approach that prohibits drivers from competing for a championship in more than one series.

The first year of that approach produced popular champions in both the Nationwide Series (Ricky Stenhouse Jr.) and Camping World Truck Series (Austin Dillon). For the previous five seasons, full-time Cup drivers had claimed the Nationwide title.

Don't be fooled, though, by the absence of sweeping, high-profile changes. Though the introduction of Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) won't be visible on the racetrack, it is a profound advancement that gives racecars a technology much more akin to that found in cars available on the showroom floor.

"NASCAR worked closely with the engine builders and manufacturers and enlisted the support of worldâ€‘class technology partners like Freescale (software provider) and McLaren (manufacturer of the electronic control units) to implement the new electronic fuel injection in the Sprint Cup Series, beginning this season," France said.

France also acknowledged that the long-term plan is to bring EFI to the Nationwide and Truck Series, though NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton indicated that, by then, the platform may be different. To that point, there are those in the Cup garage who believe that the implementation of EFI is an intermediate step toward direct injection, which is state-of-the-art in street cars.

Tested extensively during the 2011 season, EFI will be in place in the Cup series for the Daytona 500. And then there's the change NASCAR hopes will be in place. France says the sanctioning body remains committed to breaking up the two-car drafting prevalent at the restrictor-plate tracks (Daytona and Talladega) in response to overwhelming feedback from fans who prefer the more traditional pack drafting.

"We've made clear we're working hard to find rules packages that break up the tandem racing at Daytona and Talladega and return it to a more traditional style of racing on those superspeedways," France said.

"We've had a breathtaking number of close finishes at those tracks, but the fans want a mixture of styles, including a return to that more traditional, more pack racing and that close sideâ€‘byâ€‘side competition that's unique to Daytona and Talladega. NASCAR and the teams are working hard at this, and based on the test earlier this month at Daytona, we're encouraged that we're making progress."

France affirmed that fines to drivers for questioning the integrity of the sport -- such as those levied in secret against Denny Hamlin, Ryan Newman and Brad Keselowski -- now will be announced publicly. That policy dovetails more closely with the custom of other professional sports.

"In terms of going public with it, we were frankly . . . we didn't have a real strong position on that," France said. "It seemed to bother some people in November when we talked about this (after Keselowski was fined for comments about the value of EFI).

"We didn't feel strongly. That's something that people think is a good thing, so we were happy to do it."

Development also will continue on the new racecars for 2013. Ford unveiled its new Fusion on Tuesday, with Toyota, Dodge and Chevrolet set to debut their new products later this year.
Whether through town hall meetings with its teams or in response to issues raised by the media or in focus groups of fans, NASCAR has embarked on a path of unprecedented responsiveness, and the attitude of cooperation is paying dividends.
"The sport is in a very good place right now, no question about that, and we're working hard and even harder to achieve the very best things for the sport of NASCAR well into the future," France said. "We expect to have another highly competitive battle for the championship this year with our biggest stars and many new faces in the mix."

54th Daytona 500 : 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona

2012-01-27T13:20:00.001-05:00

It’s getting closer and closer. Later this week – Thursday – marks the one-month countdown to the 54th Daytona 500, being held at 1 p.m. Feb. 26 on FOX. Actually, Daytona International Speedway lifts the curtain on the 2012 season this week with the 50^th Anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona, the fabled, twice-round-the-clock GRAND-AM Road Racing Series event that emphatically puts the word “International” in the central Florida speed complex.

This will be a busy week, with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway kicking off Monday in Charlotte. The event, expected to draw more than 230 journalists, comes on the heels of last weekend’s successful NASCAR Acceleration Weekend featuring induction of the third class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame and an all-day fan fest during which 60 drivers participated in autograph signing and Q&A sessions. Many fans camped overnight in order to secure wristbands to meet their favorite NASCAR stars.

All Nighter: 50^th Anniversary Of The Rolex 24 At Daytona Rolls Off Saturday

This weekend’s race, with SPEED and speed.com providing more than 25 hours of live coverage, continues to fulfill Bill France Sr.’s vision of producing one of world’s premier motor races. Stars from virtually every discipline – NASCAR, IndyCar and Formula 1, among them – will compete alongside GRAND-AM stars in the endurance classic. Ferrari returns to the race in force for the first time since 2003. Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates tandem of Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas has its sight set on Hurley Haywood’s record of five Rolex 24 victories. Haywood will make his 40^th and farewell appearance in the event that begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. Legendary A.J. Foyt is this year’s grand marshal. Among the NASCAR drivers schedule to compete: Jamie McMurray, Juan Pablo Montoya, AJ Allmendinger, Michael Waltrip, Travis Pastrana, Michael McDowell, Max Papis and Jeffrey Earnhardt.

NASCAR’s Brian France Says ‘Sport Is In A Very Good Place’

2012-01-27T10:21:00.002-05:00

NASCAR’s Brian France Says ‘Sport Is In A Very Good Place’

Industry To Build On 2011 Success, Introduce EFI, Restore Pack Racing

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 26, 2012) — NASCAR and its stakeholders intend to build on the success of 2011 as the new season begins with the Feb. 26 Daytona 500 and other Speedweeks events at Daytona International Speedway.

In his State of NASCAR remarks delivered during the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway on Thursday, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France said, “The sport is in a very good place and we’re going to work even harder to achieve the very best things for the sport of NASCAR well into the future.”

France pointed to initiatives begun a year ago – a simplified points structure in all three national series and a “Wild Card” twist in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ that placed a greater emphasis on race victories – which culminated in what France called “a championship battle that will be talked about for decades to come.”

While the 2012 season will be one of continuity rather than major change, NASCAR will introduce electronic fuel injection into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and implement rules designed to restore traditional “pack racing” at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.

“We have had a breathtaking number of close finishes at those tracks, but the fans want a mixture of styles including a return to a more traditional ‘pack racing’ and that close side-by-side competition that’s unique to Talladega and Daytona,” France said. “NASCAR and the teams are working hard on this and based on the test earlier this month, we’re encouraged that we’re making progress.”

France also said the sanctioning body continues to operate on a more collaborative method of maintaining and growing the industry by taking into consideration the thoughts and needs of teams, tracks, media partners and especially its fans. “The goal of this effort is to help us better serve our great fans, grow our audience and ensure that our sport stays relevant, vibrant and highly-valuable to sponsors and other partners critical to the health of NASCAR,” said France.

“The industry has never been more united in growing the sport.”

France said the organization is “very encouraged” by increased television ratings across its three national series – NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He also pointed to attendance gains at a number of venues. “While we are still in a tough economic climate that is still difficult, we are pleased with some positive steps we saw last year,” he said.

France and Robin Pemberton, NASCAR’s vice president, competition and racing development, touched on how EFI and the introduction in 2013 of re-styled NASCAR Sprint Cup cars from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and Toyota will make the sport more relevant to manufacturers and technology companies.

“EFI excites the manufacturers and technology companies,” said France, responding to questioning about NASCAR’s embrace of technology. “To attract new companies (to the sport), we’ve had to take a little different view of that.”

Ford earlier this week unveiled its 2013 Fusion prototype with the other OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) to follow in the near future. A closed test of the cars is scheduled early next month with additional testing to follow before final specifications are drawn.

“This is certainly a milestone in our sport,” said Pemberton. “We’ve worked very closely with the manufacturers on the new car and the four new models are simply outstanding.

“I think the fans are going to love them and it is going to be such a positive step in helping our race cars become more and more relevant with our fans past, present and future.”

Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood previewed next month’s 54th Annual Daytona 500 (Feb. 26 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN Radio, SiriusXM Satellite Radio). He and his staff are committed to building on the enthusiasm of the 2011 season – and last year’s race that made 20-year-old winner Trevor Bayne a household name.

“We kicked off the (2011) season with energy and enthusiasm and that’s our goal for this year,” said Chitwood. “We want to produce that kind of event again.”

Daytona’s season begins Saturday with the running of the 50th Annual Rolex 24. The twice-round-the-clock race, most of which can be seen live on SPEED beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET, kicks off the 2012 GRAND-AM Rolex Series campaign.

Thursday’s event at the NASCAR Hall of Fame also introduced the 2012 Drive for Diversity class which will compete in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and at selected NASCAR Whelen All-America Series tracks for Rev Racing.

They are Jorge Arteaga, 25, Aguascalientes, Mexico; Mackena Bell, 21, Carson City, Nev.; Trey Gibson, 19, Easley, S.C.; Ryan Gifford, 22, Winchester, Tenn.; Kyle Larson, 19, Elk Grove, Calif.; and Bryan Ortiz, 22, Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

New 2013 Ford Fusion NASCAR Sprint Cup Car

2012-01-24T15:39:00.000-05:00

New 2013 Ford Fusion NASCAR Sprint Cup Car Brings the “Stock Car” Back to NASCAR

Ford Racing unveils 2013 Fusion NASCAR Sprint Cup redesign at Charlotte Motor Speedway during NASCAR Media Tour.

2013 Sprint Cup car features full redesign by Ford designers to mirror 2013 Fusion production car and return brand identity to the track.

New Fusion race car will debut at Daytona 500 in February, 2013.

CONCORD, N.C., Jan. 24, 2012 – Manufacturer brand identity is back in NASCAR.

The 2013 Ford Fusion NASCAR Sprint Cup car, unveiled today as part of the Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour, was worked on by Ford designers in an effort to bring brand identity back to the sport. The result is undeniable with the 2013 Sprint Cup car mirroring the recently unveiled 2013 Ford Fusion production car.

Featuring a completely redesigned sleek new silhouette and fresh face, the 2013 Fusion Sprint Cup car was designed to be the face of a new era of stock car racing.

”We wanted Fusion to be the car that helped return ‘stock car’ to NASCAR.” stated Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing. “I think fans, when they see the car, are just going to smile and cheer. It is going to reengage them with the sport and make the sport better because there is just something natural about seeing race cars that look like cars in their driveways.”

This marks the third time Ford simultaneously launched production and NASCAR versions of a new model. The first dual launch came in 1968, with the sleek fastback Ford Torino. Legendary NASCAR driver David Pearson drove the Torino to back-to-back NASCAR championships in 1968 and 1969. The second time came in 2006, when the then newly introduced Ford Fusion appeared in showrooms and on the track.

Ford took a different approach with the development of the 2013 Fusion racer. Ford Design Center staff, led by Garen Nicoghosian, and Ford aerodynamicist Bernie Marcus, spent the past year doing the early design development, freeing up the Ford race teams to concentrate on weekly NASCAR competition.

“This is a seminal moment in the sport where we had a chance to get it right once again and make sure the race cars are race versions of street cars. And I am proud because I believe we have accomplished just that,” continued Allison. “The 2013 Fusion is a stunning car and the 2013 NASCAR Fusion is even more stunning and I can’t wait to see it perform on the track and connect with race fans.”

Ford designers, led by Nicoghosian, addressed three main issues to mirror the 2013 Sprint Cup Fusion to the 2013 production Fusion found on showroom floors.

Design Features of the 2013 Fusion Sprint Cup Car

Designers addressed the overall proportion of the race car to reflect proportions found in the production Fusion.
Brand and design cues in the side of the vehicle.
An identifiable front end grill with the distinctive look of a Ford.

“It looks fun to drive and very much eager to go and tear up the track. It has a very aggressive stance from the outside and the inside. From all angles the vehicle exudes performance and I think it reflects our general attitude of how we go about setting up our cars very, very nicely,” said Nicoghosian. “It brings a certain level of nimbleness and lightness and agility to the NASCAR platform, much like we do in our production cars, because all of our production cars have that nimbleness and agility and eagerness about them.”

The new NASCAR Fusion entries will be tested throughout the 2012 campaign in preparation for their racing debut at the 2013 Daytona 500 in February.

Logano hopes changes bring improvement in contract year

2012-01-24T13:44:00.002-05:00

Logano hopes changes bring improvement in contract year

By Reid Spencer

NASCAR Wire Service

(January 24, 2012)

CONCORD, N.C.-- Joey Logano needed a change.

He knew it. Crew chief Greg Zipadelli knew it. Team owner Joe Gibbs knew it -- and so did teammate Kyle Busch.

Logano's third full season in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series was his worst so far, and that's not what was supposed to happen to the racing prodigy who arrived at NASCAR's highest level on a wave of unmitigated marketing hype.

"Sliced Bread" was Logano's nickname, as in "the best thing since." But there wasn't much to promote in 2011 as his performance and his relationship with Zipadelli deteriorated. Busch saw some things he didn't like about dynamics of the No. 20 team and raised the issue with Gibbs and team president J.D. Gibbs.

At the end of the season, in a move that seemed inevitable, Zipadelli obtained a release from his contract with JGR and moved to Stewart-Haas Racing and a reunion with Tony Stewart, who he had led to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships in 2002 and 2005. Zipadelli will serve as competition director for the Stewart-Haas organization and will be on the pit box for Danica Patrick's 10 Cup races this year.

Jason Ratcliff, the abundantly successful crew chief on JGR's No. 18 Nationwide Series car, earned a promotion to Logano's No. 20 car in the Cup series.

"I saw some stuff that I really didn't believe in and expressed those opinions to Joe and J.D., and maybe that's why we're here today," Busch said Monday at the JGR stop on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway. "You hate to see people lose their job, but if they've got better opportunities with someone else, you're not going to sit there and hold them back.

"Zippy is an amazing crew chief, and he was an amazing leader with Tony Stewart. Now he's got another opportunity with Tony Stewart. I think that's a good deal for him. I think that's a better deal for Jason Ratcliff. I think that's a better deal for Joey Logano. So all around, everybody wins."

Logano agreed.

"I think that both of us needed a change -- me and Zip. He needed to do something different. I needed to do something different. He made a good move. He wants to be at home more, be with his kids more.

"I can understand his point of it, and I think he can understand my point of it. It's like, 'Hey, this is going to give me a fresh start with a new crew chief and kind of make it more my team.' That's a big deal."

That's a recurring theme at Gibbs this year, building the team more to Logano's liking. Zipadelli was a champion crew chief who called the shots. Ratcliff is more attuned to Logano's input.

"Hopefully, I can just paint the picture a little different, give him a little bit different way of looking at things and really focus on building a race team around Joey," Ratcliff said. "Not that it wasn't before, but really coming in with that as one of our main focuses: Let's build this race team around Joey the way he likes things.

"We're going to build our cars and put the details in that Joey Logano likes, not necessarily force him to do things just because somebody else does them. I think that builds confidence for him, knowing that his group and his crew chief are there for him 100 percent."

Logano ended the 2010 season with three top-fives in the last four races. He entered 2011 with abundant optimism. But a construction change to Goodyear's tires last year seemed to baffle him. Logano lost the feel of his car, especially on intermediate speedways.

Ratcliff said the entire organization struggled with the changes Goodyear made.

"There were a lot of things that were different," Ratcliff said. "Zippy and his guys put a great year together at the end of 2010, and when you build that kind of momentum, and you think you have a direction with your race cars and your race team, and you go into 2011 with those same expectations, and Goodyear can make a little twist, a little change, and, whoo, man, it can throw you for a loop.

"You're always chasing where the rubber meets the road."

Logano agreed that the tire was an issue, but it doesn't explain the falloff in performance from the beginning of the season to the end. Having finished 16th in the standings in 2010, Logano fell to 24th last year.

"To me, I don't think it was all the tire," he said. "I think some of it was the tire. But you can look at the results from the beginning of the season to the end of the season—qualifying results, how different they were.

"Kansas comes to mind. I think I qualified third or fourth (actually fifth) at the beginning of the season. I qualified (20th) when we came there the second time. Same tire -- what's going on here?"

The history of stock car racing is littered with young drivers who advanced too far too fast, but Logano is reconciled to the pressure that came with his early baptism by fire. Logano's contract with JGR is up at the end of the season, but to the 21-year-old driver, that's almost irrelevant.

"There might be more pressure, but I think I can do it, more than I could last year even," Logano said. "I think you should treat every season like it's a contract year anyway. You should want to win the race, no matter if you have a job next year or not. For me, it doesn't make a difference. I'm out there trying to win every race.

"When you win a race, and everything's good, that's what makes it worth it. That's what makes it worth all that pressure and not being able to sleep. Winning those races and pulling that thing into victory lane -- there's not any better feeling in the whole world, I promise you.

"That's what I strive for every day I wake up and crawl out of bed."

Though Logano hasn't won a race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series since his lone victory at New Hampshire as a rookie in 2009, he believes he can find that feeling again this year.

"I feel more confident in myself and my race team, knowing what I know now, going through the stuff that I went through last year," he said.

And as for the too-much-too-soon aspect of his rapid advancement to Sprint Cup, Logano is philosophical.

"I think it added pressure, but I think it was one of the biggest blessings of my life, too," Logano said. "I wouldn't have these people behind me. That was a big deal.

"Did it bring pressure? Yeah. But I probably never would have had the opportunity if I didn't (make the move). You tell me what's better. I'll take the pressure all day."

Camry Set to Pace 2012 Daytona 500

2012-01-24T09:24:00.000-05:00

While Toyota competes with Ford, Chevy and Dodge on this country's NASCAR tracks, the pace cars leading them around have remained defiantly American – at least at Daytona, anyway. In the 50 years they've been running the Daytona 500, only once has the pace car been an import: the Porsche 914 that paced the race in 1971.

Apart from that one exception, it's been all Detroit – Pontiacs mostly, but also Buicks, Chevrolets, Dodges, Plymouths and Fords. But just as Toyota has rubbed and bumped its way up the field over the past decade plus of competition, it's now got one of its own up at the front as the official pace car for next year's race.

That's right. When the 2012 Daytona 500 kicks off the Sprint Cup season come February, it'll be the new 2012 Toyota Camry setting the pace. And while some may bemoan the use of an "import" for the task, Toyota would argue that nothing could be more American. After all, the Camry has been built in America (first in Georgetown, Kentucky, and now in Lafayette, Indiana) for 25 years now. And for 13 of the past 14 years, it's been the top selling car in America. So maybe, just maybe, the Toyota Camry has earned the honor.

Show full PR text

Camry Set to Pace 2012 Daytona 500
America's Best-Selling Car Will Lead Field in 'The Great American Race®'

TORRANCE, Calif. (August 23, 2011) – Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (TMS) and Daytona International Speedway (DIS) announced today the all-new 2012 Toyota Camry will serve as the official pace car for next year's DAYTONA 500®.

Toyota will showcase the new Camry -- the best-selling car in America for nine years running -- at Daytona in 'The Great American Race,' Feb. 26, 2012. The race annually kicks-off the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

"We're thrilled to be able to feature the new Camry in Daytona at the season's biggest race," said Ed Laukes, TMS corporate manager of motorsports marketing. "We think the DAYTONA 500 is the perfect place to showcase the all-new Camry -- which will go on sale this fall. We knew when the opportunity arose to partner together with Daytona that it would be an extraordinary way to highlight our new Camry, as well as reinforce Toyota's commitment to NASCAR and its fans."

Camry went on sale in 1983 and since then more than nine million have been sold in the U.S. Camry has been the best selling car in America for 13 of the past 14 years.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Camry production in Georgetown, Ky. Toyota began manufacturing the Camry in Georgetown in 1986 and the vehicle is now also built in Lafayette, Ind.

The 2012 Camry debuts a bold, sophisticated new design with a more spacious interior, improved driving dynamics and an even quieter ride than before. The new model features class leading safety, fuel economy and multi-media technology.

"NASCAR and Daytona International Speedway provide a uniquely American platform for manufacturers to display their technology, innovation and overall automotive excellence," said Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III. "After nearly eight years of competing at NASCAR's highest level, I'm pleased to have the 2012 Toyota Camry pace the DAYTONA 500."

Toyota has previously provided pace vehicles at several NASCAR tracks, including Auto Club Speedway of Southern CaliforniaSM, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway®, Dover (Del.) International Speedway, California's Infineon Raceway, Kansas Speedway®, Martinsville (Va.) Speedway®, Nashville Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Phoenix International Raceway®, Richmond (Va.) International Raceway®, Wisconsin's Road America and Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International®.

In 2004, Toyota began participating in NASCAR competition by fielding Tundras in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS). Three years later in 2007, Toyota began competing in the NSCS and the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) with the Camry.

Toyota has won three consecutive manufacturer's titles in the NNS (2008-2010) with the Camry, and Toyota racers have earned one driver's title (Kyle Busch in 2009) and registered 60 race victories in the NNS. In NSCS competition, Camry drivers have earned 36 first-place trophies.

In seven seasons participating in the NCWTS, Toyota has captured five consecutive manufacturer's championships (2006-2010), and Tundra drivers have won driver's titles with Todd Bodine (2006 and 2010) and Johnny Benson (2008), and have earned 88 race wins.

At Daytona International Speedway, Toyota drivers have recorded eight NASCAR wins across NASCAR's three national touring series, including one NSCS win (Kyle Busch in 2008), two NNS wins (Denny Hamlin in 2008 and Tony Stewart in 2008) and five NCWTS wins. In 2008, Hamlin claimed Toyota's first-ever NSCS victory in a non-points qualifying event to determine the Daytona 500 starting lineup.

Jeff Gordon Wins 2011 NMPA Speedway Motorsports Spirit Award

2012-01-23T12:15:00.000-05:00

Jeff Gordon Wins 2011 NMPA Speedway Motorsports Spirit Award

January 23, 2012

Jeff Gordon is the recipient of the National Motorsports Press Association Speedway Motorsports Spirit Award for 2011 for his work with children’s health issues.

Gordon was among four quarterly winners for the award and chosen by NMPA members as the overall winner for the year.

The NMPA Spirit Award is designed to recognize character and achievement in the face of adversity, sportsmanship and contributions to motorsports.

Gordon has always taken an interest in children’s health issues through his Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation Pediatric Cancer Treatment Research, but those efforts expanded in 2011.

Gordon brought a hands-on approach to his work with children this summer.

Working with the Clinton Global Initiative, Gordon traveled to a refugee camp in the Congo in July in an effort aid with health issues. He witnessed first-hand what children in the area face and offered his personal assistance to the program.

Other quarterly winners in 2011 were:

JTG Daugherty Racing was honored in the first quarter. Driver Bobby Labonte and his team embraced a 6-year-old girl seeking a bone marrow donor and others needing a similar transplant. The team visited her in the hospital and put her photo and the"www.getswabbed.org" site on the car for the Budweiser Shootout in an effort to raise awareness for both her fight and the need for donors overall.

Jamie McMurray was recognized in the second quarter. Personally impacted by the tornados that devastated his hometown of Joplin, Mo., McMurray got involved with raising awareness and funds through promotion of Convoy of Hope, then visited the area and met with residents in an effort to raise spirits as well.

Greg Biffle was the fourth-quarter recipient. Biffle teamed with several partners to provide Charlotte-area children the opportunity to receive free dental care during the October race weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Give Kids A Smile program was aimed at helping more than 200 young fans.

How much technology is too much?

2012-01-22T11:30:00.000-05:00

By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- How much technology is too much?

Jeff Gordon recognizes that NASCAR racing, of necessity, has embraced technological enhancements, but he would be loath to go too far down that path.

"If you look at other forms of motorsports and the evolution of technology -- and I mention Formula One -- yes, we're behind them in technology and cost and all these things, and I think it's a good thing," Gordon told the NASCAR Wire Service on Saturday after a press conference at the NASCAR Hall of Fame celebrating DuPont's 20-year sponsorship of his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.

"We're heading in that direction, because that's just evolution. It's going to happen. Once you learn, and you create knowledge, you can't take it away. In Formula One, what's important? Qualifying. Qualifying becomes extremely important, because it's almost impossible to pass. Strategy, and how you strategize your pit stops. Speed of pit stops. And I'm saying that's the extreme. That's where we're headed."

In a question-and-answer session after his induction into the Hall of Fame on Friday night, eight-time champion crew chief Dale Inman addressed the current parity in NASCAR racing.

"It's hard to believe how sensitive these cars are, and my hat's off to them (current crew chiefs), because they've just about got them so fast they can't race them," Inman said.

Gordon thinks he knows how to keep the action in stock car racing, and his solution grew out of a successful test at Daytona earlier this month, where NASCAR experimented with smaller spoilers, larger restrictor plates and a reshaped shark fin running from the roof to the spoiler.

"I'm so encouraged right now after that Daytona test (with) that little tiny spoiler and seeing the speeds that we're running and the shark fin and the restrictor-plate that I'd like to see us get downforce off the cars in general," Gordon said. "If we don't start to do some of that, then we are continuing to head towards that direction of high-tech downforce cars that you don't see any passing.

"I think that, if we continue to add downforce to the cars, we're going to see less and less passing at the racetrack. The less downforce you have, the more passing you're going to see. If it works at Daytona, why can't it work somewhere else? I may be shooting myself in the foot by saying that, but I think it's something that we might need to look at."

That said, Gordon has no quarrel with the quality of racing in the Sprint Cup Series, which he thinks is excellent.

"I think our racing's still unbelievable," Gordon said. "There are still days when cars come from the back to the front, and that's because of our high-banked oval tracks. I think it's important for us to look at every aspect, from the track to the tires, aerodynamics, horsepower -- all those things.

"But there's no doubt that the competition has been brought closer, and I don't think that's ever going to change. It's only going to get tighter and closer."

Gordon's thoughtful commentary on the direction of the sport followed a more lighthearted session in which he and seven-time champion Richard Petty reminisced about the 1992 season finale at Atlanta -- Gordon's first Cup race and Petty's last -- and the race that gave Alan Kulwicki his Cup championship.

Petty remembered Gordon as "a little pipsqueak who looked like he was about 14 years old."

"He had this little moustache, and I couldn't tell if it was drawn on with a magic marker," Petty said.

"Just trying to be like you, King," Gordon retorted.

Gordon and Petty also can boast the two longest-lived continuous sponsorships in Cup racing, Gordon with DuPont and Petty with STP. During the press conference, Gordon unveiled a new paint scheme, designed by artist Sam Bass, that will adorn his car for the 14 races in which DuPont serves as primary sponsor.

The AARP Foundation's Drive to End Hunger will serve as the primary for 22 races, and Pepsi will be on the hood of the No. 24 for two events.

NASCAR Preview Ups Anticipation For 2012 Season

2012-01-21T18:12:00.000-05:00

Fan-Tastic: NASCAR Preview Ups Anticipation For 2012 Season

January 21, 2012

Thousands Enjoy Return Of Offseason Fan Event In Charlotte

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 21, 2012) – For one day at least, Sam Alverson of Jacksonville, Fla., could lay claim to being NASCAR’s No. 1 fan. It wasn’t just because of his devotion to the sport; it’s because he was first in line.

After a marathon 26-hour campout session, Alverson was the first of thousands of fans through the doors Saturday for the inaugural NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by Sprint at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Charlotte Convention Center. The fan-friendly event, part of NASCAR’s Acceleration Weekend, followed an overflow crowd for Friday evening’s NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony of Richie Evans, Dale Inman, Darrell Waltrip, Glen Wood and Cale Yarborough.

Many fans were in line the day before the event, forming a human chain that went halfway around the convention center and weathered cool, drizzly conditions. For Alverson, the reward of a 5 1/2-hour drive and extensive wait in the elements was a chance to greet his favorite driver, four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon.

When Gordon jokingly questioned his motives for spending more than a day in line to meet him, Alverson shot back, “It’s because you are the champ!”

“We have the most amazing fans,” Gordon said. “It blows you away any time you hear something like that. … All the fans that came out, some of them traveled long distances, get up early in the morning or stayed up late at night on the sidewalk. That’s pretty amazing, and that’s what makes events like this so successful.”

Gordon also entertained fans during a question and answer session with Richard Petty, unveiling a new paint scheme commemorating 20 years in the sport with longtime sponsor DuPont. More than 60 drivers were on hand to sign autographs and greet fans, with several participating in fan Q&As. Additionally, NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees new and old led fans on personal guided tours of the Hall’s exhibits.

“We're thrilled with the turnout and the passion our fans continue to express," said Steve Sweeney, NASCAR's director of consumer marketing. "The NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented By Sprint offered a perfect lead-in for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 26 [on FOX, MRN Radio], and will only grow in the upcoming years."

Winston Kelley, executive director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, said the NASCAR Preview event was a direct result of listening to fans – including Alverson – clamoring for more of the sport during the offseason and a revival of the preview held in Winston-Salem, N.C., years ago.

“It’s met or exceeded all the expectations we had, and we think this is the foundation we can just grow on,” Kelley said. “This is just the start to us, and I think we can make it even bigger and better.”

Two pieces of news came out of today’s event, as Sprint unveiled its Miss Sprint Cup lineup for 2012, and American Ethanol announced sponsorship for two highly visible race teams.

Kristen Beat, a former on-air talent for Fuel TV, joins returning Miss Sprint Cup members Kim Coon and Jaclyn Roney for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

Additionally, American Ethanol announced that it will continue relationships with Richard Childress Racing and RAB racing for the 2012 season. Austin Dillon, the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion, will drive the No. 3 American Ethanol Chevrolet for six races in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, as well as one race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2012. Dillon's No. 3 American Ethanol Chevrolet paint scheme was unveiled at the event. American Ethanol will also partner with Kenny Wallace and RAB Racing for the Daytona 500 on FOX, as well as five races in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

NASCAR Acceleration Weekend culminates Sunday morning with more events at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. This year’s class of inductees will see their exhibits and spires in the Hall of Fame for the first time and will unveil their engraved granite markers in the Walk of Fame Garden outside the Hall’s doors.

Miss Sprint Cup lineup announced for 2012

2012-01-21T14:38:00.000-05:00

Miss Sprint Cup lineup announced for 2012

Newcomer Kristen Beat joins returning members Kim Coon and Jaclyn Roney

By Official Release
January 21, 2012

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C -- The 2012 Miss Sprint Cup lineup was unveiled during Saturday's NASCAR Preview in Charlotte, N.C., as Sprint announced that returning members Kim Coon (Orlando, Fla.) and Jaclyn Roney (Ann Arbor, Mich.) have been joined by newcomer Kristen Beat of El Cajon, Calif.
Coon, Roney and Beat make up the most geographically balanced Miss Sprint Cup lineup since the program's inception in 2008, representing the Southeast, Midwest and West Coast.

"The Miss Sprint Cup platform has evolved to become an integral part of our NASCAR Sprint Cup Series sponsorship," said Tim Considine, director of sports marketing at Sprint. "We've found three incredibly intelligent, talented young women who love the sport, technology and directly interacting with NASCAR fans. With more than 1 million followers on Facebook and Twitter and crowds of fans lining up each weekend for pictures and autographs, the platform's celebrity has exceeded our wildest expectations."
Miss Sprint Cup represents the Sprint brand around the track and in Victory Lane wherever the Cup Series competes. The three representatives also serve as the fans' friend on the inside, delivering behind-the-scenes updates, pictures and videos via Facebook and Twitter.
Beat adds a Southern California flare to the Miss Sprint Cup lineup. The former Fuel TV on-air talent and extreme sports reporter grew up racing motocross bikes and was a big supporter of her brother's pursuit of a professional racing career. When she isn't at the race track, Beat enjoys surfing, working out and honing her culinary skills with healthy recipes. After receiving her communications degree from the University of San Diego, Beat pursued her dream of a career in broadcasting, eventually becoming the youngest credentialed reporter in X-Games history.
"I love technology and what it has enabled our culture to accomplish, so working with Sprint is a dream come true," Beat said. "As a former action sports broadcaster, writer and photographer, I've learned technology is key. Being able to capture a special moment through a camera phone, or have access to information at any location and then share it with the world is an amazing advantage to my generation."
Coon returns for her second season as Miss Sprint Cup, which makes the former marketing and public relations professional the veteran member of this year's lineup.
"Last year was one of the most thrilling seasons in NASCAR history," said Coon, who hopes 2012 will hold the same level of on-track excitement. "I'm really looking forward to seeing all the fans I was able to meet last year. I'm very thankful to have been asked back for another season and feel blessed to be able to do something I love day in and day out."
Rounding out the 2012 lineup is Roney, who is entering her first full season as Miss Sprint Cup. The Eastern Michigan University grad joined the program in July 2011 and is looking forward to attending her first Daytona 500 next month.
"There were so many amazing 'firsts' for me last season and I can't wait to get back to the tracks," Roney said. "Being asked back for a second season was surreal. I'm looking forward to no longer wearing the rookie stripe and reconnecting with the fans. I'm counting down the days until we get to Daytona!"
The Miss Sprint Cup program has gained recognition among race fans and industry members, with the Miss Sprint Cup representatives greeting thousands of fans every race weekend at the Sprint Experience, Sprint's mobile marketing display.
As their popularity has grown, they now regularly participate in charity events and appear at other NASCAR sponsors' events. In all, the Miss Sprint Cup representatives took part in more than 600 media interviews and appearances last year.

CALE YARBOROUGH

2012-01-21T13:53:00.000-05:00

CALE YARBOROUGH
b. 3/27/39)

Hometown: Timmonsville, S.C.

Competed: 1957-88

Starts: 562

Wins: 83

Poles: 69

As competitive as the sport has always been, NASCAR has had very few dynasties. Cale Yarborough’s reign in the late 1970s, though, was one of them.

His string of three consecutive NASCAR premier series championships from 1976-78 was unprecedented – and unmatched until 2008, when Jimmie Johnson was crowned champion for the third straight year. Johnson won his fourth and fifth consecutive titles in 2009-10.

During his three-year dominance, Yarborough won 28 races – nine in 1976, nine in ’77 and 10 in ’78. His final championship points margin in those three years was never fewer than 195 points and was as much as 474 in 1978.

Those three years made Yarborough’s career, but he enjoyed success before and after. The fiery competitor was the series championship runner-up in 1973 and ’74 and again in 1980.

Yarborough totaled 83 victories in his 31-year career, ranks tied for fifth all-time. His 69 poles rank fourth all-time. And he won the Daytona 500 four times (1968, ’77, ’83-84), a mark that ranks second only to Richard Petty’s seven.

When NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers list was compiled in 1998, suffice to say that William Caleb Yarborough was a shoo-in.

DARRELL WALTRIP

2012-01-21T12:50:00.000-05:00

DARRELL WALTRIP
b. 2/5/47)

Hometown: Franklin, Tenn.

Competed: 1972-2000

Starts: 809

Wins: 84

Poles: 59

A three-time NASCAR premier series champion (1981-82, ’85), Waltrip won all three with legendary driver/owner Junior Johnson. Waltrip is tied with Bobby Allison for third all-time in series victories with 84. His 59 poles rank fifth all-time in NASCAR Sprint Cup history. He competed from 1972-2000, another highlight being his 1989 Daytona 500 victory in a Rick Hendrick-owned Chevrolet.

Waltrip’s first series title came in 1981, when he finished with 12 wins and 21 top fives in 31 races. He won the title by 53 points over Bobby Allison. In his second championship season, 1982, he finished with 12 wins and 20 top 10s in 30 races, sweeping both races at four tracks (Nashville, Bristol, Talladega and North Wilkesboro). In his third championship season, 1985, Waltrip finished with three wins and 21 top 10s in 28 races.

Waltrip and his wife, Stevie, reside in Franklin, Tenn. He was nicknamed "Jaws" during his career because of an outspoken demeanor. He currently is a commentator on FOX’s NASCAR broadcasts. He was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.

NASCAR Hall of Fame welcomes five legendary figures

2012-01-21T09:25:00.002-05:00

NASCAR Hall of Fame welcomes five legendary figures

Jan. 20, 2012

By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- During an emotional induction ceremony Friday night at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, a pair of three-time champion drivers, racing's quintessential crew chief, a founding father of the sport and the hands-down best modified driver who ever lived all took their rightful places among NASCAR's elite.

The third class of five NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees evidences no fall-off in quality from the two classes that preceded it in 2010 and 2011. In fact, some would argue that the 2012 inductees all boast credentials worthy of consideration for an earlier welcome to the Hall.

Darrell Waltrip, for instance, won three Sprint Cup titles and is tied for fourth on the career win list with 84 victories. Cale Yarborough, the only driver to win three straight Cup titles before Jimmie Johnson equaled and then eclipsed the feat in the first decade of the 21st century, is sixth in all-time wins with 83.

As far as championships are concerned, Dale Inman is the most prolific winner among NASCAR crew chiefs, having accumulated seven Cup titles during his pioneering run at Petty Enterprises and a series-record eighth with driver Terry Labonte and owner Billy Hagan in 1984.

Glen Wood, who with brother Leonard Wood founded the most enduring team in the sport's history, was an innovator who nurtured the careers of a litany of elite drivers, most notable among them Hall of Famers Yarborough and David Pearson.

Pearson won the Daytona 500 in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Mercury. Thirty-five years later -- a span marked by unwavering loyalty to Ford products -- Trevor Bayne won the most recent Daytona 500 in the No. 21 and began writing his own chapter of NASCAR lore.

Richie Evans, a nine-time modified champion, simply was without peer. The "Rapid Roman" clinched his first NASCAR National Modified title in 1973. On Oct. 24, 1985, a week after securing his ninth modified championship, Evans was killed in a crash during practice at Martinsville Speedway. He was 44.

Inman, the first of Friday night's inductees, joined seven-time champion Richard Petty, a member of the Hall of Fame's inaugural class. It was Petty who inducted his cousin into the Hall. To Petty, Inman defined the position of crew chief, from the mechanical end of the business to the managerial side.
"Dale was basically the first one," Petty said. "He was good with people. He was able to take a talent and know how far he could go with that talent. I always looked at the way that Dale approached things, with attitude, confidence and focus. That's what he did with his people, and that's the reason he was able to be a winner like what he is."

"I'm very proud of it, and it's been such a long ride -- and I hope it's not over," said Inman, who will find himself in a familiar place next month -- at Daytona, where he will continue to work in an advisory capacity with Richard Petty Motorsports and drivers Marcos Ambrose and Aric Almirola.

Leonard Wood, master mechanic and crew chief, inducted his brother.

"Glen has always been my big brother, and still is," Leonard Wood said. "Glen and I worked really well together. We believed in each other . . . Glen was always fair, honest, gave good advice, needed no more than a handshake."

"This is not just about me being inducted into the Hall of Fame," said Glen Wood, who won four Cup races as a driver and 98 as a car owner. "It's about the Wood Brothers, and it's about NASCAR. I'm proud to have been a NASCAR driver and car owner for the past 60 years.

"This is about two families, the Wood family and the Ford family working together, which has resulted in me being here tonight. I'm just finding out how big a thing this is. I was here for the last two (inductions), but this is the greatest honor you could receive in any hall of fame, I think."

Longtime crew chief Billy Nacewicz pointed out in his induction of Evans that the king of the modifieds is the first driver outside of NASCAR's top series to be enshrined in the hall.

"Richie loved the modifieds," Nacewicz said. "With the respect of the promoters and his competitors, he became the face of the division."

Evans' widow, Lynn Evans, recognized that his induction will give hope to drivers outside of Sprint Cup.

"Last but not least, I'd like to thank his fans, who kept his memory alive," she said.

Veteran broadcaster Ken Squier inducted Yarborough, a four-time winner of the Daytona 500, NASCAR's most important race.

"Farm folk, resilient, risk-takers," Squier said in his introduction. "Cale just decided to take his risks a little differently from his neighbors . . . He pushed and prodded until the 'Timmonsville Flash' became a name to be reckoned with.'

"There's no doubt that Cale Yarborough will go down in NASCAR history as the hardest charger who ever lived."

Yarborough talked of his humble beginnings, describing how he once bought a store's stock of black-eyed peas at the sale price of 10 cents a can.

"We had black-eyed peas for breakfast, black-eyed peas for lunch and black-eyed peas for dinner," recalled Yarborough, who grew emotional when thanking the Wood Brothers for the opportunity to drive their cars.

"I am so honored and pleased to be inducted in the same class as Glen Wood," said Yarborough, who noted that Leonard Wood's election should not be far behind.

Born with a gift of gab that earned him the nickname "Jaws" and has stood him in good stead as one of NASCAR's most prominent broadcasters, Waltrip did nothing to change his reputation at Friday nightâ€™s ceremony.

After an appropriate introduction from former crew chief and fellow Fox analyst Jeff Hammond ("He would never shut up; he was always running his mouth -- there wasn't a controversy that he couldn't add to"), Waltrip explained his garrulous nature.

"It wasn't that I talked that much," Waltrip said. "Those other guys didn't talk at all. I had to fill in the blanks."

But Waltrip choked out his words when he talked of his family and how his parents had allowed him to pursue his racing career. Before the ceremony, wife Stevie had told him, "DW, when you talk about something you're passionate about, you're going to get a little emotional."

She was right.

Variety Spices NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Third Class

2012-01-21T05:16:00.002-05:00

Variety Spices NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Third Class

Legends Inman, Waltrip, Wood, Yarborough, Evans Enshrined In Charlotte Ceremonies

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Jan. 20, 2012) — "A legend for everyone" describes the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s third class of inductees enshrined tonight, Friday, Jan. 20.

Here’s the versatile list. Dale Inman – an eight-time champion, he’s the first to be inducted based on his primary role as a crew chief. Darrell Waltrip and Cale Yarborough – a pair of three-time NASCAR premier series champions, who won a combined 167 races. Glen Wood – the legendary car owner whose team has raced in seven decades, compiling 98 wins. And the late Richie Evans – a nine-time NASCAR Modified champion, the first to be inducted from outside NASCAR’s premier division.

Their induction ceremony – held in the Crown Ballroom of the Charlotte Convention Center – increased the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s membership to 15.

Inman, Richard Petty’s cousin, is generally credited with inventing the modern role of crew chief. He won seven championships with Petty Enterprises and an eighth with Billy Hagan and driver Terry Labonte in 1984. Randleman County, N.C.’s Inman, 75, who retired from the sport in 1998, won 193 times. The list of current NASCAR Sprint Cup crew chiefs learning at Inman’s side is a lengthy one.

"I'm kind of familiar with this ring," said Inman, referring to his NASCAR Hall of Fame ring. "For the last two or three years Richard has put it in my face a bunch of times."

As host Mike Joy said, "Tonight, Dale Inman and Richard are together again, as NASCAR Hall of Fame members."

Like Ned Jarrett, a member of the second class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Waltrip is both champion driver and distinguished television broadcaster. Waltrip won championships in 1981-82 and 1985 driving for NASCAR Hall of Famer Junior Johnson. The Owensboro, Ky., native won 84 times in 809 starts ranking fourth on the all-time NASCAR Sprint Cup victory list with Bobby Allison, also a member of the Hall’s second class. Waltrip, 64, has been the lead NASCAR on FOX analyst since 2001.

"I was telling [wife] Stevie earlier this week that I hoped I wouldn’t get emotional tonight, but she reminded me ‘Honey, you always get emotional about the things you are passionate about,’" Waltrip said. "This night, these men, and the people in this room, they're what inspire me."

Wood, a four-time NASCAR premier series winner, left the driver’s seat to own the fabled No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford team. With his four brothers, who include NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee and crew chief Leonard Wood, the organization counts 98 victories, including its fifth Daytona 500 win in 2011 with 20-year-old Trevor Bayne. Those who drove for the 86-year-old Wood’s Stuart, Va.-based team included fellow inductee Yarborough, NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson, A.J. Foyt and road racer Dan Gurney.

"This is not just about me being inducted in the Hall of Fame," said Wood. "It's also about the Wood Brothers. And it's about NASCAR. And I'm proud to have been a NASCAR driver and car owner for the past 60 years, and I'm proud of this great honor."

Yarborough, a native of Sardis, S.C., made NASCAR premier series history in 1978 when he won his third consecutive championship, a record that stood until Jimmie Johnson claimed his fourth straight title in 2009. Yarborough, now 72, won 83 times – sixth all-time – including four Daytona 500s. The majority of his wins came in cars fielded by Junior Johnson.

"Racing is like a big, tall ladder," Yarborough said. "When you begin, you’re at the bottom. And it’s a long, hard climb. And tonight, I feel like I’m standing on the top step."

Evans, nicknamed the "Rapid Roman" by virtue of racing out of Rome, N.Y., won nine championships over a 13-year span – including eight in a row – driving modified stock cars, primarily a race car fashioned from pre-World War II coupes and sedans powered by high horsepower engines. His bright orange No. 61 cars became legendary throughout the northeastern U.S. Evans won an estimated 475 times frequently racing seven nights a week. He lost his life at the age of 44 in 1985 practicing for a race at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia, having clinched his ninth championship a week prior.

"I know you’re here in spirit as the number 61 [Evans’ racing number] appears often in my life, even as I checked into the hotel the number 61 came up," said Lynn Evans, who accepted on her departed husband’s behalf. "I'd especially like to thank the Hall of Fame voting panel for stepping outside the box and making Rich the first driver inductee not to have raced in NASCAR's top series full time. You have now given hope to thousands of NASCAR competitors throughout the country to maybe someday reach their dream. "

The inductors for the five inductees: crew chief Billy Nacewicz for Evans; Richard Petty for Dale Inman; Jeff Hammond for Darrell Waltrip; Leonard Wood for Glen Wood; and Ken Squier for Cale Yarborough.

Special congratulatory videos opened each inductee’s segment, with a NASCAR legend starring in each. Those involved: Jerry Cook for Evans; Leonard Wood for Inman; Bobby Allison for Waltrip; Junior Johnson for Wood; and Donnie Allison for Yarborough.

The five inductee exhibits officially open Sunday, Jan. 22 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

GLEN WOOD

2012-01-20T19:00:00.000-05:00

GLEN WOOD
b. 7/18/25)

Hometown: Stuart, Va.

Competed: 1953-64 (Driver); 1953-Present (Owner)
Starts: 62 (Driver); 1,369 (Owner)

Wins: 4 (Driver); 98 (Owner)

Poles: 14 (Driver); 118 (Owner)

Glen Wood laid the foundation for the famed Wood Brothers racing team as a driver in the NASCAR premier series. Competing on a semi-regular basis, mostly at tracks close to his southern Virginia home, Wood won four times – all at Bowman-Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C. His best season was 1960 during which Wood won three times and posted six top-five and seven top-10 finishes in just nine races. He also won 14 poles during a 62-race career.

Wood, of course, is best known for his collaboration with brothers Leonard and Delano in Wood Brothers Racing. The Stuart, Va.-based team, which dates to 1950 and remains active, has amassed 98 victories in 1,367 races. The team’s all-time roster of drivers is a virtual who’s who of NASCAR and includes David Pearson, Curtis Turner, Marvin Panch, Dan Gurney, Tiny Lund, Parnelli Jones, Junior Johnson, Cale Yarborough, Fred Lorenzen and Bill Elliott.

The Wood Brothers have excelled outside the NASCAR world as well, winning the 1965 Indianapolis 500 with Jim Clark.

DALE INMAN

2012-01-20T17:30:00.002-05:00

DALE INMAN
b. 7/19/36)

Hometown: Level Cross, N.C.

Competed: 1958-92

Wins: 193

Poles: 129

Behind every legendary driver, there is usually a legendary wrenchman.

That was Dale Inman, without whom Richard Petty might never have been The King.

Inman, Petty’s crew chief at Petty Enterprises for nearly three decades, set records for most wins (193) and championships (eight) by a crew chief.

Inman won seven of those championships with inaugural Hall Of Fame Inductee Petty (1964, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, and 1979), and another one in 1984 with Terry Labonte.

Credited with revolutionizing the crew chief position, Inman’s standout year was 1967. That season, Inman and Petty won a NASCAR-record 27 races – 10 of them consecutively. All 27 victories were in the same car they built a year earlier.

Inman retired from NASCAR in 1998, and in 2008, helped unveil the first artifact at the NASCAR Hall of Fame – the Plymouth Belvedere that Petty drove to 27 wins in 1967.

‘Rapid Roman’ Richie Evans

2012-01-20T15:58:00.000-05:00

‘Rapid Roman’ Richie Evans Rode Orange Chariot Into History

January 18, 2012

New York Star Won Nine NASCAR Modified Series Titles In Hall Of Fame Career

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 18, 2012) – Richard Ernest “Richie” Evans certainly was the face of NASCAR – and modified racing – in the northeast, winning an estimated 475 times in approximately 1,300 starts. It equates to a win in every three starts (a 36.5% clip), something unheard of in modern racing at any level.

Evans will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Friday, one of five members of the Hall’s third class comprised of the New York native, legendary crew chief Dale Inman, team owner Glen Wood and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions Darrell Waltrip and Cale Yarborough. He is the first of 15 inductees without a connection to NASCAR’s premier series.

The 2012 enshrinement ceremony kicks off NASCAR Acceleration 2012 weekend, which includes the NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by Sprint, where fans can interact with the sport’s legends and current stars in person, get autographs and catch a sneak peek at the upcoming season. Fans can go to NASCARacceleration2012.com for more information.

Nicknamed the “Rapid Roman” by virtue of racing out of Rome, N.Y., he found a home in the modifieds – a car fashioned from pre-World War II coupes and sedans powered by high horsepower engines.

Evans won nine NASCAR national modified championships over a 13-year span, including eight consecutive titles from 1978-85. His signature No. 61 orange race car was a magnet for fans and a terror to his fellow competitors.

He worked on his own cars – up to 100 hours a week – and raced virtually every night of the week.

“Working with the car and working on it in the garage every week is an advantage,” Evans once said. “While I’m working on the car, I’m thinking about every lap I rode in that thing. It’s not like the mechanic who stood and watched it during the feature and then has to make some decisions.”

Evans lost his life at age 44 while practicing at Martinsville Speedway for the 1985 season finale of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. He’d earlier locked up the series’ first championship along with a fourth consecutive Whelen All-American Northeast Region title.

He was named one of NASCAR’s “50 Greatest Drivers” in 1998.

On Jan. 10, the New York State Senate adopted a resolution honoring Evans’ NASCAR Hall of Fame induction “remembering his extraordinary accomplishments in the racing area that were a direct result of his skill, dedication and commitment.”

“We are just so thrilled and excited. He has received a lot of rewards but this is the ultimate,” said his widow, Lynn, commenting on her husband’s election to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. “I know he is looking down and smiling ear to ear.”

Evans, one of six brothers and sisters, left his family’s Westernville, N.Y. home at the age of 16 to work as a gas station mechanic. In 1964 Evans began racing hobby stocks at Utica-Rome Speedway.

Evans’ first NASCAR championship came in 1973 – after a number of seasons winning race after race regardless of sanctioning body. The title snapped a two-year reign by fellow Rome resident Jerry Cook, who won four more championships before Evans reclaimed a crown in 1978 that he relinquished only after his passing.

The Evans-Cook rivalry was legendary – although they weren’t the only prominent figures in NASCAR modified racing, which included future NASCAR Sprint Cup star Geoffrey Bodine, Maynard Troyer, Ron Bouchard, Bugs Stevens, George Kent and Tom Baldwin Sr.

But they lived in the same town and each had a separate set of fans. Evans and Cook got along fine; the fans, however, were a different story. And they won every NASCAR Modified Series championship between 1971 and 1985.

The two also had distinctly different personalities. “The only thing we had in common was racing and there were times we didn’t even talk to each other,” said Cook, who became a NASCAR official following a racing career that ended in 1982 with nearly 350 victories. Cook currently is NASCAR’s Competition Administrator. “But we put on a show with it.

“He didn’t win everything. I beat him and other drivers beat him so it wasn’t like he won every single thing. But he did real well at it, that’s for sure.”

Evans won regularly and won with style and grace. He also was a promoter’s dream, his presence putting hundreds of additional folks in the grandstands.

“He was a hard-core guy, racing to put food on the table,” said John Bisci, a high school student who watched Evans race at Lancaster Speedway in New York and became the track’s program editor in 1976. Bisci is Public Relations Manager at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. “You could talk to him any time. After the races he would give you an autograph and never said, ‘I’m too busy kid; come back later.’

“No matter how many times he won, nobody booed. He never disparaged the other drivers and told the fans, ‘I’m glad you were cheering for me.’ He was a ‘party guy’ but when it came time to race he was all business.”

NASCAR Sprint Cup owner Tommy Baldwin Jr., whose father competed against Evans, brought his No. 36 car to a recent event with an Evans retro paint scheme. “Richie was someone we all looked up to and when he came to town we knew we had to beat him to win,” said Baldwin. “He made us work harder and I think that prepared a lot of us for the Sprint Cup level.”

The color orange may not have made Evans’ cars go any faster – but it probably gave him a psychological edge in an era when few race cars were brightly painted. “He had a fast orange car in a sea of stock Detroit colors. There was no mistaking him for anyone else,” said Bisci. “You’d see him in the rear view mirror and you knew it was him that was coming.”

Monster deal: Busch brothers unite to run for Nationwide owners' title

2012-01-19T20:45:00.000-05:00

Monster deal: Busch brothers unite to run for Nationwide owners' title
Jan. 19, 2012

By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- The acknowledged edginess of Kyle and Kurt Busch isn't about to get them in trouble with their new NASCAR Nationwide Series sponsor.
In fact, Monster Energy, which will sponsor the brothers for a full Nationwide Series schedule in 2012, is more likely to embrace the sort of behavior that created issues for both drivers with more traditional sponsors last year.
"We kind of collaborated together on what we could do, and we took it to Monster, and they were like, 'Hell, yeah, let's do this. Sign 'em on,' " Kyle said of the deal that will have the siblings sharing time behind the wheel.
In a charged atmosphere that featured flying motorcycles and a contingent of X Games superstars, Kyle Busch announced a multiyear agreement with Monster that will allow him and Kurt to split driving duties of the No. 54 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota this season.
The all-time Nationwide wins leader with 51 victories, Kyle will compete in the first five races of the season, with the brothers splitting the remaining races in a schedule still to be specified. Kurt also will drive a Chevrolet for James Finch's Phoenix Racing -- his Sprint Cup ride -- in the four restrictor-plate races, at Daytona and Talladega, with the possibility of adding additional events with Finch.
Eager to dispel what they both termed "the myth that we don't get along," Kyle and Kurt stood arm-in-arm as they made the announcement. The harmony they projected seemed light years from the turmoil that engulfed them last year and -- especially in Kurt's case -- altered the directions of their careers.
Kurt's emotional tirade during the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, after a transmission failure two laps into the race, ultimately led to a split with Penske Racing and the association with Finch.
Kyle wrecked NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship contender Ron Hornaday Jr. under caution at Texas in November. NASCAR suspended Kyle for the remainder of the weekend, parking him for the Nationwide and Cup races. Sponsor M&Ms withdrew its support for the final two Cup races of the season.
Though he owns a successful Truck Series team, Kyle is unlikely to compete in the series this year, because both Joe Gibbs, Kyle's owner, and M&Ms have suggested in no uncertain terms that it would be best for him not to race trucks.
Busch is equally unlikely to drive the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in the Nationwide Series, even though he drove that car to the drivers' title in 2009 and was the primary contributor to JGR's owners' championship in 2010.
In fact, there are several intriguing aspects to the deal. JGR has signed Mark Martin, who has 49 Nationwide Series wins, for a handful of races in the No. 18.
"He probably jumped at it, obviously," Kyle said. "It's a car that can get to victory lane. Given that Mark and I are right there close together for that win total, it's an opportunity for him to try to come back at me a little bit."
According to Kyle, team owner Joe Gibbs wasn't thrilled when he learned that the KBM car would be competing against his own teams for the owners' championship, but team president J.D. Gibbs already had given his blessing.
"When this all first started, I went to J.D., and it all kind of came together," Kyle said. "After it was this close to being signed, Joe called me and said, â€˜Why are we doing this? Why are we letting you go out and open up your own deal and compete against us?'
"I said, ˜I don't know. J.D. said it was OK.' Joe's not necessarily a fan of it, but he understands, and he's open to it. He understands that this is Kyle Busch Motorsports and there's a family of people here that work here and obviously need to have an income."
According to both Kurt and Kyle, The notion that the brothers weren't close grew more from their age difference (Kurt is 33; Kyle is 26) and their desire to establish their own identity as racers.
"You didn't see us buddied-up like the Waltrips were over the years, or the Bodine brothers, or the Wallaces," Kurt said. "We were always out there racing so hard that it was hard for us to spend time together at the track.
"But we did it behind the scenes. We just didn't do it in front of the cameras."
That doesn't mean, however, that Kurt doesn't want to beat his brother on the track.
"It's a sibling rivalry," Kurt said. "It's just like any other set of brothers or sisters. I see the Williams sisters in tennis. You see the Manning brothers in football. There's a ton of brother and sister combinations that are out there competing, and this is the first real opportunity for a couple of brothers to work together.
"At the same time, I think I want to win more Nationwide races than he can this year."

NASCAR Acceleration Weekend

2012-01-16T20:46:00.000-05:00

NASCAR Acceleration Weekend

How’s that for whetting an appetite?

Teams completed the three-day Preseason Thunder at Daytona test session last Saturday, ratcheting up the anticipation for the 54th Daytona 500 on Feb. 26 in the process.

New faces, new outlooks and new optimism. That was the theme of the media availabilities throughout the weekend, as drivers look to etch their names into the Harley J. Earl Trophy in February and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship trophy in November.

Next up on the preseason docket – NASCAR Acceleration, a three-day extravaganza linking the NASCAR’s past and present.

NASCAR Hall Of Fame Induction, NASCAR Preview Presented by Sprint Hits Charlotte

NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by Sprint takes place beginning at 9 a.m. Jan. 21 with NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series drivers on hand for autographs in the ballroom and Exhibit Hall. Here’s a complete rundown of drivers and appearance times:

NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by Sprint

Driver Appearance Times (Ballroom)

9:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. – Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth

10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson

11:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. – Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski

12:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. – Greg Biffle

12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman

2:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. – Dale Earnhardt Jr., Juan Pablo Montoya

3:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. – Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart

Driver Appearance Times (Exhibit Hall)

9 a.m. – 11 a.m. – AJ Allmendinger, Jeff Burton, Bobby Labonte, Joey Logano, Mark Martin, Jamie McMurray, Casey Mears, David Ragan, Justin Allgaier, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Timmy Hill, Blake Koch, Travis Pastrana, Timothy Peters

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Marcos Ambrose, Clint Bowyer, Paul Menard, Regan Smith, Brian Vickers, Aric Almirola, Trevor Bayne, Brian Scott, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Brad Sweet, Cale Gale, Justin Lofton, Todd Peck

12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Michael Annett, Elliott Sadler, Mike Wallace, Dakoda Armstrong, Johnny Sauter, Parker Kligerman, Brian Keselowski, Michael Waltrip, Jason Leffler, Todd Bodine

2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Danica Patrick, Martin Truex Jr., Austin Dillon, Morgan Shepherd, Kenny Wallace, Joey Coulter, Ty Dillon, Brendan Gaughan, Tim George Jr., Max Gresham

Defending Champ Bayne Hits Hot-lanta

In advance of the 54^th running of the Daytona 500, defending champion Trevor Bayne will head to Atlanta for a round of media hits, capped off by a visit to the Hawks-Trailblazers game.

Bayne will once again drive the historic No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford in Feb. 26’s Daytona 500. The last driver to win back-to-back Daytona 500s was Sterling Marlin in 1994-95. Only three drivers have accomplished the feat: Richard Petty (1973-74), Cale Yarborough (1983-84) and Marlin.

Off-Season Brings Many Personnel Changes

Last year’s conclusion didn’t exactly turn the garage upside down but there has been enough driver and crew chief movement to whet the appetite of any NASCAR hot stove enthusiast.

David Ragan, winner of last year’s July Daytona race, joins Front Row Motorsports; Kasey Kahne, winner at Phoenix International Raceway in November, joins Hendrick Motorsports in one of the most anticipated shifts. Other driver changes include AJ Allmendinger to Penske Racing; Aric Almirola moves from the NASCAR Nationwide Series to Richard Petty Motorsports; Clint Bowyer and Mark Martin head to Michael Waltrip Racing; 2004 series champion Kurt Busch moves to Phoenix Racing; Danica Patrick moves full-time to the NASCAR Nationwide Series and will drive a limited campaign with Stewart-Haas Racing; and David Reutimann takes a seat with Tommy Baldwin Racing.

On other side of pit wall, Stewart-Haas gets two significant additions: Tony Stewart’s former championship crew chief Greg Zipadelli becomes competition director and Steve Addington joins as crew chief of the Stewart’s No. 14 Chevrolet. Additional crew chief moves include Kenny Francis to Hendrick with Kahne; Darian Grubb to Joe Gibbs Racing and Denny Hamlin; Jason Ratcliff with Joey Logano; Brian Pattie to Michael Waltrip Racing and Bowyer; Drew Blickensderfer to Richard Childress Racing and Jeff Burton; Shane Wilson remaining with RCR but taking over Kevin Harvick’s No. 29 Chevrolet; Todd Berrier to JTG Daugherty Racing and Bobby Labonte; and Chris Heroy, formerly a Hendrick Motorsports engineer getting his first Sprint Cup crew chief role with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates for Juan Pablo Montoya.

Clock Work: Historic 50th Anniversary of the Rolex 24 Nears

On Wednesday at 2 p.m., the two most prolific drivers in Rolex 24 will be available to the media on a national teleconference in advance of the 50^th anniversary of the historic endurance race.

The 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona is the most anticipated road race in the history of North American motorsports. This teleconference features two of the iconic drivers in the event.

Hurley Haywood faces the first challenge to his claim as the lone five-time Rolex 24 winner in more than a decade. The racing legend shifted his focus to team management in 2011, and he helped guide Brumos Racing to the Rolex 24 GT championship in the Jacksonville, Fla.-based team’s return to its historic production-based ranks. Haywood will join defending Rolex Series GT champions Andrew Davis and Leh Keen, plus Marc Lieb, in the iconic No. 59 Porsche carrying the same paint scheme that it had in Haywood’s first Rolex 24 triumph in 1973.

Scott Pruett’s four overall triumphs are among his event-leading nine class victories. He’s finished first or second in the last five Rolex 24s, and is also a four-time and defending Daytona Prototype champion. Pruett returns in the No. 01 entry fielded by four-time Rolex 24 winner Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates with the same driver lineup that won in 2011, DP co-champion Memo Rojas, Joey Hand and Graham Rahal.

Pack draft speeds approach tandems in Daytona test's second day

2012-01-13T20:25:00.000-05:00

Pack draft speeds approach tandems in Daytona test's second day

By Reid Spencer

NASCAR Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Near the end of an interview session Friday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway, Sprint Cup Series director John Darby turned to NASCAR President Mike Helton with a satisfied smile.

At NASCAR's direction, cars took to the track at 1 p.m. in a large pack of 17 cars. Within three laps, Kevin Harvick posted a speed that rivaled the 204.722 mph Martin Truex Jr. ran in tandem drafting Thursday morning. Sixteen minutes into the session, Kyle Busch ran 205.813 mph, the fastest lap of the day to that point.

That was what Darby hoped and expected to see.

"Pretty much," Darby acknowledged after checking one of the practice monitors in the media center.

Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition, was more emphatic in his assessment of the old-school drafting he saw on the screen.

"Looks pretty (expletive) cool to me -- and you can use the (expletive)," Pemberton said on his way out of the media center.

The bottom line is that NASCAR may well have succeeded in giving drivers a viable alternative to the two-car pushes that have dominated the action at Daytona and Talladega since last year's Daytona 500. Dale Earnhardt Jr. said as much.

Earnhardt thinks the large-pack drafting, which fans prefer overwhelmingly to the tandems, could give drivers a chance to save their equipment and their psyches for the end of the race "if the pack can keep up."

At the end of a restrictor-plate event, however, Earnhardt expects a two-car push to decide the outcome.

"That tandem stuff is going to win the race," he asserted.

Despite running the fastest lap in the large draft, Busch agreed.

"I think it's still going to come down to the end of the race -- a tandem is going to win the thing," Busch said. "The pack was still a few tenths off (on average), and if you get three tandems in front and then you have another tandem catching them, you're still going to be going way faster doing that.

"It's just a matter of how comfortable are the cars going to be to do that with going at these speeds now."

Brad Keselowski likes the speed in the cars, facilitated by an increase in the diameter of restrictor-plate openings for Friday's test sessions.

"We're racecar drivers -- I feel like we should go fast," Keselowski said.

And even though Kurt Busch ran 206.058 mph later in the session, in tandem with familiar drafting partner Regan Smith, Keselowski sensed real progress in changing the nature of racing at plate tracks.

"I feel like we're getting really close to breaking up this two-car deal," he said.

MORE RULES CHANGES AFOOT

With top practice speeds exceeding 206 mph Friday, NASCAR informed Sprint Cup teams of more changes to the Daytona competition package at a 5:30 p.m. meeting at the inspection bay in the garage.

NASCAR is shrinking the diameter of restrictor-plate openings 1/32nd of an inch to 29/32nds inches, returning to the plate configuration with which teams started Preseason Thunder testing at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday.

In addition, NASCAR cut the size of the grille opening significantly, from 63 square inches (3.5x18 inches) to 40 square inches (2x20 inches), and lowered the pressure relief valve setting from 25 pounds per square inch to 21 psi.

The smaller plate will cut the top end of the RPM range, while the other two measures are designed to make the pushing car in a sustained tandem draft overheat more quickly.

Darby said the return to the smaller plate was aimed primarily at engine builders' concerns over high RPMs.

"Just to keep the engine builders a little calmer, we are going to pull the plate back to where we started (Thursday) with it," Darby said. "Not so much in regards to the speeds -- I think one thing that was shown (Friday) is that the cars, the aero package that we have on them, as well as the drivers, that the speeds are not as big of an issue as the RPM is.

"We can fix that very effectively and very quickly just by going back to (Thursday's) plate."

SEAMLESS TRANSITION TO EFI

Almost lost in the focus on tandem drafting is the transition from carbureted engines to electronic fuel injection for the 2012 season.

With teams having tested the new fuel delivery system extensively last year, NASCAR and McLaren, the supplier of the electronic control units for the computerized systems, have been working closely with Cup teams to get EFI race-ready in time for the Daytona 500.

The transition to EFI is an important story, as cars on the track move closer in form and function to their showroom brethren, but it perhaps hasn't gotten the attention it deserves because the shift in technology has been so smooth.

"One of the reasons we're not hearing a lot about it is because of all of the legwork that's been done and the testing before we got here," Darby said. "Most of those problems have worked themselves out, and, other than the drivers starting to feel the difference and understanding the operational difference of fuel injection, it's been pretty seamless.

"The folks from McLaren have been really active with the teams in fine‑tuning some of the fuel maps and ignition maps and so on and so forth. The amount of problems we're seeing from test to test are almost diminished. The one thing that we can feel comfortable about is we can line 43 cars up on that Sunday (for the Feb. 26 Daytona 500) and know that we're going to be successful in that part, and that's a really good feeling."

Petty says sponsors didn't want Kurt Busch

2012-01-13T16:57:00.002-05:00

Petty says sponsors didn't want Kurt Busch: Richard Petty said the reason Kurt Busch wasn't hired to drive his famous #43 was "personality." "Sponsorships," Petty said during a break in Thursday's test session at Daytona International Speedway. "Nobody at the time wanted to pay the bill for him. That's how simple it was." Busch, who was released from Penske Racing after a tumultuous 2011 season that led the 2004 Cup champion to seek professional help for anger issues, ultimately signed with Phoenix Racing. Petty said Smithfield Foods, which he introduced Thursday as a primary sponsor for the No. 43 car he drove to a record 200 victories and seven Sprint Cup championships, was among those that wouldn't come on board if Busch was involved. "Everybody has to protect their brand," Petty said. "Smithfield has a pretty laid back, pretty good down-home persona in the general public. If they had taken him on it would have changed their ... they just didn't like the personality." Petty said Best Buy, which left the #43 to join Roush Fenway Racing as a sponsor, had the same concern.(ESPN)(1-13-2012)

NASCAR reacts to tandem racing with more rule changes

2012-01-12T19:47:00.003-05:00

NASCAR reacts to tandem racing with more rule changes

By Reid Spencer

NASCAR Wire Service

Jan. 12, 2012

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.— If NASCAR's objective was to eliminate tandem drafting at restrictor-plate racetracks, it remains a work in progress, based on Thursday's first Preseason Thunder test session at Daytona International Speedway.

Accordingly, in a meeting with crew chiefs at approximately 5:30 p.m. Thursday, NASCAR announced additional modifications to a restrictor-plate competition package that already had undergone major changes in the offseason.

Even though Kyle Busch topped the speed chart in Thursday afternoon's Preseason Thunder test session at Daytona International Speedway at 202.402 mph—in a tandem draft with Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Joey Logano—NASCAR will make the cars faster, less stable and more prone to overheating on Friday.

The sanctioning body increased the diameter of restrictor-plate openings 1/32nd of an inch to 15/16ths inches, adding an estimated 26 horsepower to the engines.

In addition, NASCAR has lowered the pressure relief valve settings from 30 pounds per square inch to 25 psi and narrowed the grille openings of the cars, thereby decreasing airflow to the engine. Both measures are designed to decrease the number of laps one car can push another without overheating.

NASCAR officials acknowledge that most fans don't like the two-car hookups. Chairman and CEO Brian France is on record favoring the breakup of the tandems, and during the offseason NASCAR instituted rule changes designed to promote that result.

But no sooner than the drivers began to climb into their cars after a break for lunch on Thursday, the so-called love-bug racing was back.

Earlier that morning, the sanctioning body confirmed the imposition of another obstacle to drivers bent on maintaining the sustained two-car pushes. Henceforth, car-to-car radio communication is embargoed, and drivers won't be allowed to talk directly to each other during competition—not even to teammates.

That prescription followed the litany of changes to the competition package that were in force for Thursday's practice: smaller spoilers, smaller capacities for the radiator and overflow tanks, softer rear springs and repositioning of the radiator inlet opening closer to the center of the nose of the car.

Nevertheless, after a morning session restricted to single-car runs, several sets of teammates paired up in two-car drafts during the afternoon session—and went appreciably faster. In fact, Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Kyle Busch and Joey Logano topped 202 mph.

Even before the last set of changes was communicated to the teams, NASCAR officials said they were pleased with the progress of the three-day test. Increased speeds in single-car runs (which will only be enhanced by the larger plate size on Friday) bodes well for Daytona 500 qualifying, with the prospect of a of pole speed in excess of 195 mph. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the pole for last year's race at 186.089 mph.

For another, cars won't be able to run as many laps hooked together without separating and changing positions.

"I think that small doses of the two-car push are OK," NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton told reporters during the afternoon test session. "It's a tool. It's like anything we do. When the competitors learn something, they'll use it when they can to their advantage, and they're supposed to do that.

"…Right now, we're at a happy place. We've made some good strides, and some of the things that are coming back to us we're pretty pleased about."

Nonetheless, NASCAR went ahead with the rule changes later that afternoon.

Sprint Cup series director John Darby said the ban on driver-to-driver radio chatter was a response to feedback from the drivers themselves.

"We've had a number of drivers kind of weigh into us anonymously that the last few plate races--with the ability to carry as many as 20, 30 channels on their radios--that there was a point where it got so confusing to them that they actually lost focus on what they were doing and felt much better if we could back that off somewhat and get it to a standard or more common communications between driver and spotter and driver and pit crew as we've known it in the past," Darby said.

"Matt Kenseth said it the best to me in the garage. He said anything that NASCAR can do to help us get back to one against 42 others, he supports.

"In the restrictor-plate era, 200 mph has always been a speed that gets NASCAR's attention, but Pemberton said that, though tweaks to the competition package are possible, the sanctioning body was comfortable with the session-best 202.402 mph Busch posted in the afternoon.

"The 202-mile-an-hour lap--we knew that was a pretty good lap," Pemberton said. "It's something similar that you see at any of these places where you have two cars that are not just pushing but catching other cars.

"We saw that, too, and we watched it as it happened, and right now we're not concerned with anything."

Day One: NASCAR Preseason Thunder

2012-01-12T19:19:00.000-05:00

Day One: NASCAR Preseason Thunder At Daytona International Speedway

New Rules, New Year And Beards Among Highlights Of Driver Media Availability

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 12, 2012) — There was no shortage of conversation – or anything off-limits – during Day 1 of Preseason Thunder at Daytona International Speedway.

From spoilers to drafting to beards – all were topics du jour.

A full field of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers tackled Daytona International Speedway for the first of a three-day test as teams make their final preparations for the 54th running of the Daytona 500, February 26.

“It’s important for us to test down here, not only for the teams, but for us,” said Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton. “We’ve had track tests at Daytona and Talladega and we’ve been in the wind tunnel several times. We think we’re making some great strides. The test is going pretty good for us. The teams are learning about their equipment and the limits they will be under with water temperatures and things like that. We’ve seen softer springs, a smaller spoiler and a reduction in downforce. We’re pleased with the progress we’ve made so far.”

Jeff Gordon led 31 cars during the morning session of practice with a top speed of 192.773 mph. Teams practiced single and two-car runs in the morning session, but for most, the excitement of returning to Daytona and the thrill of the “The Great American Race,” only 45 days away, certainly added to the intensity of the day.

“A lot of effort goes into this race,” said Dale Earnhardt, Jr. “Winning the 500 is the biggest race of the year. It is the greatest feeling. The effort is quadruple when it comes to how much goes into the engines just for that race and the bodies of the cars. So it’s a pretty big deal when you win.”

The winning car of this year’s Daytona 500 will be the first car in the history of the sport to score a victory with a fuel injected engine.

“I feel like there is a crack in the floodgates,” said veteran driver Mark Martin. “I think there is a huge amount of electronics and adjustments and so much that can be done by those guys on the computer, instead of all those years I spent with Jack [Roush] with the carburetor apart up in the trailer.”

The afternoon drafting session belonged to the Toyotas of Kyle Busch and Joey Logano, respectively, with Busch posting a top speed of 202.402 mph.

What will tomorrow bring for these teams? More knowledge for them to get ready for one of the biggest races of the year.

“We’ll gather our information and we’ll talk with the teams,” said Pemberton in regards to practicing different forms of drafting. “That’s why we have a three-day test.”

NASCAR Preseason Thunder At Daytona

2012-01-10T14:32:00.002-05:00

NASCAR Preseason Thunder At Daytona

January 10, 2012

The off season is officially over as engines fire and tires turn this week as testing begins at Daytona International Speedway. The 2011 season was one of the most competitive in NASCAR Sprint Cup history – the championship going down to the final turn of the last lap before Tony Stewart was crowned champion for the third time.

Everything points to an equally exciting 2012 as drivers and teams return refreshed, retooled and rejuvenated. The 54^th Daytona 500 kicks things off on Feb. 26 – a week later than usual – but the schedule opens without interruption for six consecutive weekends. Last year’s surprise Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne returns with his legendary Wood Brothers Racing team attempting to become the first back-to-back winner of the Great American Race since Sterling Marlin in 1994-95.

Off-Season Brings Many Personnel Changes

Last year’s conclusion didn’t exactly turn the garage upside down but there has been enough driver and crew chief movement to whet the appetite of any NASCAR hot stove enthusiast.

· Kasey Kahne, winner at Phoenix International Raceway in November, joins Hendrick Motorsports in one of the most anticipated shifts. Other driver changes include AJ Allmendinger to Penske Racing; Aric Almirola moves from the NASCAR Nationwide Series to Richard Petty Motorsports; Clint Bowyer and Mark Martin head to Michael Waltrip Racing; 2004 series champion Kurt Busch moves to Phoenix Racing; Danica Patrick moves full-time to the NASCAR Nationwide Series and will drive a limited campaign with Stewart-Haas Racing; and David Reutimann takes a seat with Tommy Baldwin Racing.

· On other side of pit wall, Stewart-Haas gets two significant additions: Tony Stewart’s former championship crew chief Greg Zipadelli becomes competition director and Steve Addington joins as crew chief of the Stewart’s No. 14 Chevrolet. Additional crew chief moves include Kenny Francis to Hendrick with Kahne; Darian Grubb to Joe Gibbs Racing and Denny Hamlin; Jason Ratcliff with Joey Logano; Brian Pattie to Michael Waltrip Racing and Bowyer; Drew Blickensderfer to Richard Childress Racing and Jeff Burton; Shane Wilson remaining with RCR but taking over Kevin Harvick’s No. 29 Chevrolet; Todd Berrier to JTG Daugherty Racing and Bobby Labonte; and Chris Heroy, formerly a Hendrick Motorsports engineer getting his first Sprint Cup crew chief role with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates for Juan Pablo Montoya.

2012 On-Track Action Begins With Daytona Testing

Three days of testing kicks off at Daytona International Speedway on Friday and continues through Sunday. Significant are introduction of Electronic Fuel Injection, which makes its NASCAR Sprint Cup competition debut at Daytona Speedweeks 2012 and aerodynamic and other adjustments expected to change the impact racing in the 54^th Annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 26. In addition to testing, fans can enjoy two Fan Fest driver sessions on Thursday at 5 and 7 p.m. and on Friday at 5 p.m.

NASCAR Hall Of Fame Induction, NASCAR Preview Presented by Sprint Hits Charlotte

Charlotte becomes the epicenter of NASCAR Acceleration Weekend on Jan. 20-21. The NASCAR Hall of Fame inducts its third class comprised of the late Richie Evans, Dale Inman, Glen Wood, Darrell Waltrip and Cale Yarborough on Jan. 20 at the Crown Ballroom in the Charlotte Convention Center. Activities begin at 7:30 p.m. Media credentials (deadline Jan. 12) can be requested from NHOFmedia@NASCAR.com. NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by Sprint takes place beginning at 9 a.m. Jan. 21 with NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series drivers on hand for autographs in the ballroom and Exhibit Hall. A complete rundown of drivers and times is available on nascarmedia.com.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Teams Test Jan. 12-14

2012-01-09T17:24:00.002-05:00

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Teams Test Jan. 12-14 At Daytona International Speedway;

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 9, 2012) — NASCAR is back in full gear as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams hit the pavement at Daytona International Speedway this week for three days of preseason testing.

The main focus of the test is for teams to work on their final preparations for 2012 Speedweeks – in particular, the 54th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 26.

“This is an opportunity we are providing to the competitors to implement and test the new Daytona rules package for 2012,” said Robin Pemberton, vice president of competition. “It’s a chance for them to get comfortable with the cooling package, the smaller spoiler and to practice drafting for next month’s Daytona 500.”

The new rules package is a result of information gathered during recent tests at Talladega last October and at Daytona last November.

“While we have had other tests with these set-ups, this is the first opportunity for the entire field to test together and get more comfortable with this package as it relates to their cars,” Pemberton said.

The new rules package includes:

· Smaller radiators

o Maximum of 2 gallon capacity

· Smaller overflow tank

o Maximum capacity of ½ gallon

· Radiator inlet is moved up closer into the front center bumper area

· Rate reduction in the springs – softer springs

· Smaller rear spoiler

· Base line restrictor plate of 29/32 inch (1/64 inch larger than plate size for the 2011 Daytona 500)

“This three-day test will allow the engine tuners for these teams to be able to work with their engine packages and see how they relate and react to the new cooling regulations,” Pemberton said.

Next month’s Daytona 500 will be only the third NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points event ran on the repaved Daytona International Speedway. This year’s Preseason Thunder will continue to be an opportunity for teams and drivers to test their skills on a relatively fresh surface in addition to the new rules.

Complementing the testing portion of this weekend’s festivities, the track is also offering fans an opportunity to be part of a special two-day Fan Fest event.

Fan Fest sessions are scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 12 and Friday, Jan. 13 and include autograph sessions, driver question and answer sessions, show cars and displays, music and a photo opportunity with the 2012 Harley J. Earl Daytona 500 trophy. In addition, fans can ride the high banks under the lights by purchasing a Richard Petty Driving Experience ride along.

Tickets for Daytona Preseason Thunder Fan Fest are $20 and available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com. Children 12 and under will receive free admission.

Daytona International Speedway will also host special driver chat sessions on the speedway’s social media channels following the end of testing Thursday and Friday evenings. Fans can submit questions for Twitter chats by using #daytonatesting, with answers, updates and testing information coming from Daytona International Speedway’s Twitter feed @DISUpdates. Fans can also submit questions on Facebook for LiveStream chats with drivers on www.facebook.com/DaytonaInternationalSpeedway. NASCAR’s official Twitter feed @NASCAR will also provide updates throughout the three-day session.

SPEED will broadcast live coverage of testing on all three days from 1-5 p.m. ET. Additionally, SPEEDTV.com will stream testing live from 9 a.m.-noon ET each day.

NASCAR’s Top Moments of 2011

2012-01-08T18:54:00.000-05:00

1-Tony Stewart’s Homestead-Miami Clincher

Stewart trailed Carl Edwards by three points entering the 10th and final race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™. Both drivers had predicted the championship wouldn’t be decided until the final lap, and they were right. Edwards, who started on the pole, led the most laps while Stewart yo-yoed through the field after fixing damage to the front of his Chevrolet. Amazingly, Stewart took the lead with 36 laps remaining. Edwards, in second place, stayed in full-out pursuit mode until the checkered flag waved, but finished 1.306 seconds behind Stewart. Both drivers scored 2,403 points with the tiebreaker – five wins to one – falling in Stewart’s favor.

2-Trevor Bayne’s Daytona 500 Win

Winning The Great American Race is a career achievement no matter how many races or championships are won elsewhere. Example: Seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt needed 20 starts to win his Daytona 500 at age 46. All of which made Bayne’s victory both surprising and historic. Bayne, at age 20 years and one day, was making just his second NASCAR Sprint Cup start, although his team – the legendary Wood Brothers – had won the Daytona 500 on four previous occasions. Bayne, who started 32nd and led only the final six laps as a record 74 lead changes were recorded became the youngest Daytona 500 winner and just the seventh to make the race his first NASCAR Sprint Cup victory. The win was Ford’s 600th and 98th for the Wood Brothers.

3-Brad Keselowski’s Wreckers-to-Checkers Win at Pocono

Playing hurt is the measure of athletic success, as Brad Keselowski won August’s Good Sam RV Insurance 500 at Pocono Raceway just days after breaking his left ankle in a road course testing accident. Few might have projected a healthy Keselowski as a Pocono favorite. He’d won at Kansas Speedway earlier in the summer, but came to Pennsylvania ranked 21st in points. The race turned out to be a coming-out party for the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion, who followed the performance with three more top-three finishes capped by a Bristol victory, a Chase wild card berth and a fifth place finish in final NASCAR Sprint Cup standings.

2-2-2-2

NASCAR’s Top Moments of 2011

4-Jeff Gordon’s 85th NASCAR Sprint Cup Win

Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon fell short in his title bid, but the 2011 season was his first with multiple victories since 2007. He broke a 66-race winless streak at Phoenix International Raceway in February, added another win at Pocono Raceway in June and scored a historic 85th career victory in a weather-delayed AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in September. Atlanta’s victory gave Gordon sole possession of third among all NASCAR Sprint Cup winners, breaking a tie with NASCAR Hall of Fame member Bobby Allison and soon-to-be-inducted Darrell Waltrip.

5-Regan Smith’s Southern 500 Win

What Trevor Bayne began in February, Regan Smith continued in May. Smith entered Darlington Raceway’s SHOWTIME Southern 500 with a lean resume to say the least: no wins, top fives or top 10s in 104 NASCAR Sprint Cup starts. Smith, then 27, became the upset winner of NASCAR’s oldest "crown jewel." He led just the final 11 laps and held off Carl Edwards by 0.196 seconds to give Furniture Row Racing – a team headquartered in Colorado – its first series victory.

6-Jimmie Johnson’s Aaron’s 499 Win at Talladega

At the time, Jimmie Johnson’s final-lap victory – with an assist by teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. – appeared to be an early harbinger of a sixth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. Johnson’s second Talladega Superspeedway win – and 54th overall – boosted him from fourth to second in the point standings. The race matched records for lead changes (88) and margin of victory under electronic scoring (0.002 seconds).

7-Paul Menard Holds Off Jeff Gordon to Win Brickyard 400

Surprise winners in 2011, take three. For much of its 19 years, Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Brickyard 400 had been won by the greatest names in NASCAR: Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Jarrett, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt, bill Elliott – champions all. No first-time winners in the bunch – until this July. Midwesterner Paul Menard wound up kissing the start-finish line bricks after prevailing in a torrid battle with four-time Brickyard 400 winner Jeff Gordon. Menard joined Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne and SHOWTIME Southern 500 winner Regan Smith to score a first victory on the schedule’s largest stages.

8-Austin Dillon Becomes Youngest NASCAR Camping World Truck Champion

Though a number of young drivers have used their experience in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series as a springboard to NASCAR Sprint Cup success – think Carl Edwards, among others – veteran drivers, for the most part, have had a stranglehold on its championships. Only Travis Kvapil (age 27 in 2003) was younger than 30 in the series’ first 16 seasons. All that changed in 2011 as third-generation driver Austin Dillon, 21, became the youngest to win an NCWTS title. Dillon, a two-time winner, finished six points ahead of NASCAR national series veteran Johnny Sauter. Dillon, Richard Childress’ grandson, returned a title to RCR that Mike Skinner won in the series’ 1995 inaugural season.

9-Danica Patrick Posts Best Finish in NASCAR by a Female Driver

All agreed that Danica Patrick’s part-time NASCAR career was on the upswing in its second season. Patrick proved that with an exclamation point on March 5 with a solid, fourth-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The performance was record-setting: Patrick became not only the highest-finishing female driver in a NASCAR Nationwide Series race but also in any NASCAR national series event. Patrick’s feat broke a record from NASCAR’s earliest years – Sara Christian’s fifth-place finish in a NASCAR Sprint Cup (then Strictly Stock) race on Oct. 2, 1949 at Heidelberg, Pa.

3-3-3-3

10-2010 Sunoco Rookies-of-the-Year Win Championship

Two NASCAR national series champions gave media and fans yet another reason to keep an eye on the newcomers. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., whose uneven performance nearly cost him his job with Roush Fenway Racing in 2010, recovered to claim NASCAR Nationwide Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors. Roush’s faith was rewarded as Stenhouse won twice en route to the 2011 championship. Austin Dillon’s rookie of the year run in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series wasn’t quite so dramatic but like Stenhouse, he "graduated" to the champion’s chair. The season marked the first time that both Nationwide and truck rookies became champions in their sophomore years.

Aric Almirola will drive For Richard Petty Motorsports

2012-01-04T11:48:00.002-05:00

CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 4, 2012) – Richard Petty Motorsports announced today that Aric Almirola will drive the legendary No. 43 Ford Fusion in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition beginning in 2012.

Almirola has made 35 starts in the Sprint Cup Series, his most recent stint coming in 2010 when he finished the last five races of the season in the No. 9 Ford. During the final race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the Tampa, Fla., native posted a career-high, fourth-place effort. Almirola drove a JR Motorsports entry in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2011 and capped off a successful season with a fourth-place finish in the championship point standings.

“One of the things I am most excited about is to have the chance to drive a car as iconic as the No. 43,” stated Almirola. “There is so much history surrounding that number and to have my name above the door will be really special for me.

“This is the first real opportunity I’ve had to drive in the Cup Series full time,” continued Almirola. “Last year the No. 43 team had a lot of speed and was competitive on a weekly basis. Greg Erwin is a great crew chief and I’m excited to work with him. Everyone at Richard Petty Motorsports has a lot of enthusiasm and drive and I’m really looking forward to getting to work.”

Almirola will join a team that is poised to compete for a spot in the 2012 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Paired with veteran Crew Chief Greg Erwin, Almirola will get behind the wheel for a team that earned one top-five and 10 top-10 finishes in 2011 en route to a 15^th-place finish in the owner point standings.

“We are thrilled to welcome Aric Almirola into the RPM family,” said team Co-owner Richard Petty. “We feel extremely fortunate to have had a number of very talented drivers interested in joining our organization, but ultimately we felt Aric would be the best fit for the team and for our current and potential partners. We have had the chance to watch his progress for the past several years and we had success with him in the past. We are really confident in his potential as a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver. We think Aric has all the makings to be the next bright star in our sport.”

Almirola began his racing career competing in go-karts before joining the open-wheel modified ranks in 2000. He was an original member of the Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR)/Reggie White Drive for Diversity program. Almirola made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut in 2005 and began his Nationwide Series career in 2006, driving for JGR. Almirola drove a part-time Cup Series schedule for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. in 2008 before heading back to the Truck Series and earning a runner-up finish in the point standings in 2010. Almirola drove full time for JR Motorsports in the Nationwide Series in 2011.

David Reutimann to Tommy Baldwin Racing

2012-01-03T12:24:00.000-05:00

Team Release

Tommy Baldwin Racing has added driver David Reutimann to the team’s 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver lineup alongside Dave Blaney. Still seeking sponsorship for both Reutimann and Blaney, details regarding car number, sponsors and team members will follow in the upcoming weeks.

Reutimann, a Zephyrhills, Fla., native, made his first Sprint Cup start in 2005. He competed in four full seasons with Michael Waltrip Racing and posted two wins, 12 top-fives, 26 top-10s and four poles. The 41-year-old racer also competed in the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series where he captured two wins.

“Tommy (Baldwin, team owner) has built a really good organization from the ground up in a really short amount of time,” said Reutimann. “One of the things I like about Tommy and what’s refreshing about him is that he is just a racer. There are lots of things he could be doing but instead he is at the shop every day working hard to build the organization from the ground up. There are not a lot of true racers in the garage, and he is one of them.

"It’s the way I was raised with my Dad, so we are on the same page. I’m just really looking forward to the season and see what we can do.”

TBR competed in every event on the 36-race Sprint Cup schedule in 2011 and finished in the top 35 in owner points, meeting the team’s 2011 season goal. Blaney drove to the team’s best finish of third in the October event at Talladega Superspeedway. The team also fielded a second car for five events in the second half of the season.

"Reutimann will be a great addition to our program and to Dave Blaney,” said team owner Tommy Baldwin. “Last season, we met our goal of running the entire schedule and making the top 35 in points. This season, our goal is to continue our progress on the competition side. Having two veteran drivers in Reutimann and Blaney is a very important step in our program’s growth.

“We are still working on finding funding for next year, but having a car guaranteed in the first five races, including the Daytona 500, is a big step for our team,” Baldwin continued. “We had success last year with our partners. Although Golden Corral will not return in 2012, they were very happy with the exposure they received. We hope they have shown other companies the value of our program and that our program will once again align with their business objectives.”

Break-Out Performances Of 2011: NASCAR’s Youth Is Served

2012-01-03T11:01:00.000-05:00

Break-Out Performances Of 2011: NASCAR’s Youth Is Served

>From Trevor Bayne’s Daytona 500 To Nationwide, Truck Titles, The Future Is Now

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 12, 2011) — If it seems top performers in NASCAR are getting younger and younger – you’re right.

Consider that:

ü A 20-year-old, Trevor Bayne, won the Daytona 500

ü A 21-year-old, Austin Dillon, became the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series’ youngest champion

ü The NASCAR K&N Pro Series boasted an 18-year-old champion, Max Gresham, and a 15-year-old race and pole winner, Dylan Kwasniewski.

Youth being served didn’t comprise the season’s only break-out performances – think champion Tony Stewart winning a record five of 10 races during the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ – but it was a headline from start to finish in 2011.

Bayne Tops List of Five First-Time Winners

A day after his 20th birthday – and in only his second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start – Bayne raced the Wood Brothers’ fabled No. 21 Ford to victory in the Great American Race, the Daytona 500. He wasn’t the only first-timer to win a NASCAR “major.” Regan Smith triumphed in the Showtime Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway and Paul Menard became the only driver to score his initial victory in the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Marcos Ambrose and David Ragan visited Victory Lane for the first time at Watkins Glen International and Daytona International Speedway, respectively.

Dillon, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Change Rookie Status In a Hurry

Dillon was a season removed from winning the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award, as was Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 24, as champion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The “double play” by Dillon and Stenhouse was a first. Both won twice in their respective series. Under current age rules, a NASCAR Nationwide Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year will have a difficult time getting any younger than Timmy Hill, who turned a national series-eligible 18 years of age on the day practice began for the season’s second race at Phoenix International Raceway.

Gresham, Kwasniewski, Darrell Wallace Jr. Appear Ready for Prime Time

Georgian Max Gresham won twice en route to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East title and will pursue Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2012. Wallace, the first African- American to win a NASCAR Touring event a year ago was second to Gresham in NASCAR K&N Pro Series East points with three victories. Like Gresham, Wallace is 18. Kwasniewski became the first 15-year-old to win a NASCAR Touring Series race, added a second victory and finished fifth in NASCAR K&N Pro Series West standings.

Tony Stewart Took Up Space – In Victory Lane

Frustrated by a lack of victories during the 2011 season’s first 26 races, Stewart proclaimed he was just taking up space in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™. That might have been hyperbole but Stewart suddenly was the driver to beat with victories at Chicagoland Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway. By the time the checkered flag fell on Stewart’s winning No. 14 Chevrolet at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion had five victories in pocket, most during the Chase in its eight-year tenure. Stewart, by the way, has at least one victory in 13 consecutive seasons (1999-2011) – the series’ longest continuing streak.

Brad Keselowski Became Genuine Star in 2011

Keselowski, the 27-year-old NASCAR Nationwide Series champion from 2010, proved he must be included among the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ brightest stars. He won three times – twice racing with leg injuries suffered in a testing accident – went from 21st to a “wild card” entry into the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ and finished the season fifth in the championship.

Multiple Milestones Reached Among Three NASCAR National Series

Kyle Busch erased Mark Martin’s long-standing NASCAR Nationwide Series victory mark (49) at Bristol Motor Speedway in August, ultimately raising his career win total to 51. Busch earlier became the third competitor to win 100 NASCAR national series races with his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory at Kentucky Speedway in July and reached 104 wins by season’s end. … Jeff Gordon won his 85th NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in September to rank third all-time behind Richard Petty and David Pearson. … Mark Martin became the eighth NASCAR Sprint Cup competitor to win 50 or more Coors Light Poles in July at Daytona International Speedway. Martin added No. 51 at Talladega Superspeedway in October. … Ron Hornaday Jr. extended his all-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory record to 51. His milestone 50th win came in October at Kentucky Speedway. Sixteen of those wins have come after the 53-year-old Californian’s 50th birthday.

RACING**HELLONWHEELS

2012-01-01T10:47:00.000-05:00

WELCOME TO OUR SITE
We try to bring you in a no nonsense way all the news ,happenings,statistics,so we can to keep you informed and up to date .
Off our main page ,which will always bring you the actual points standings and news we have Race Reports that will give you all the practices ,qualifying,statistics and results for all three national series .
Each year we publish a separate page for the Chase ,at our Discover Nascar site we let you know what you need about the workings of the cars ,rules ,and just about anything Nascar you will ever need .
At Tracks we have diagrams with zoom in and out feature and information and data on each track.At Digest we give you insight,bio's,records of drivers present and past.
At Drivers**Teams information on drivers ,teams sponsors and Nascar
We cover Sprint cup,Nationwide,Camping world Trucks plus at separate sites Grandam,Arca
Including at Motorsports page Nhra,Ihra,World of outlaws,Indycar
Yearly schedule and weekly schedules always posted ,and much more
We hope you enjoy your visit to our site and hope you come back.
We wish you all a great 2012 and here's to the fans of racing.

Kurt Busch gets ride for 2012

2011-12-22T15:07:00.000-05:00

Kurt Busch gets ride for 2012: Kurt Busch will drive the #51 Chevy for Phoenix Racing in 2012. Busch put the handshake deal together with team owner James Finch on Wednesday night. "I went to the shop, and on the Christmas tree was a sign that read, 'All we want from Santa is a winning driver,' " Finch said. "We will be at the Daytona test next month and start with the Shootout." The decision comes just weeks after Busch left [#22 Dodge] Penske Racing in a mutual parting. Upon his departure, Busch said he "wanted racing to be fun again." Phoenix Racing runs Hendrick Motorsports cars and engines. Said Finch: "I told Kurt, 'I won't fire you, and you won't quit. We'll do whatever it takes roll in the mud if we have to to win. I've worked construction all my life just so I could race and have a good time. I've worked with iron workers, I worked with construction workers, so working with a driver is not going to be a problem. As I said earlier, all we want to do is win". Landon Cassill most recently piloted the #51 for Finch last season. Finch finished 30th in owner points.(FoxSports)(12-22-2011)

Allmendinger to Drive Shell-Pennzoil Dodge in 2012

2011-12-21T11:37:00.000-05:00

Team Release

December 21, 2011

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (December 21, 2011) - Penske Racing has named AJ Allmendinger as the driver of the team's No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Charger for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Allmendinger, who has competed in the Cup Series since 2007, is coming off a strong season that saw him finish 15th in the series standings while battling for a position in the Chase for the Championship. The 30-year-old native of Los Gatos, Calif., earned one top-five, 10 top-10 and 22 top-15 results in 2011 while driving the No. 43 car for Richard Petty Motorsports.

"I am really excited about the opportunity to join Penske Racing and drive the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge in 2012," said Allmendinger. "I have always admired Roger Penske and the way his teams compete and win in every series where they race. It is a privilege for me to represent such iconic and respected brands as Shell and Pennzoil, AAA and Dodge. I am honored to join Penske Racing and I will do my very best to continue to build on the standard of excellence established across the organization."

Allmendinger will join a winning team that's poised to compete for a position in the 2012 Cup Series Chase. The No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge team produced two wins, three poles and 16 top-10 finishes in 2011 as it earned a spot in the Chase and finished 11th in the series standings. Allmendinger will be paired with crew chief Todd Gordon, who led the Penske Racing No. 22 Nationwide Series team to six victories last season and was named last week as the new chief of the Shell-Pennzoil Dodge.

"AJ is a very talented and motivated driver and we believe he will be a terrific fit with our team," said Roger Penske. "He has shown great promise and consistent results on the track over the last few seasons and working with Todd and the Shell-Pennzoil Dodge team will allow him to take the next step and compete for race wins and a spot in the Chase in 2012."

"Shell and Pennzoil are extremely pleased by Penske Racing's selection of AJ Allmendinger to drive the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge," said Lisa Davis, President of Shell Oil Products U.S. "AJ has consistently demonstrated great potential and continuous improvement as a driver, and with Penske's track record, our employees and customers can look forward to seeing him contending for wins and ultimately a championship in the NASCAR Cup Series. We know he will represent our brands well on and off the track and we look forward to a successful 2012 with AJ behind the wheel."

Allmendinger honed his skills in the open-wheel racing ranks. After winning the Barber Dodge Pro Series title in 2002 and the Toyota Atlantic Championship in 2003, he earned Rookie of the Year honors in the Champ Car World Series in 2004. He posted five wins and finished third in the 2005 Champ Car World Series before making the switch to NASCAR. He first competed in the Cup Series in 2007 and he's earned 26 top-10 finishes in less than five Cup Series seasons. Allmendinger has finished inside the top 20 in points in each of the last two seasons.

2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top Performances

2011-12-20T19:46:00.001-05:00

2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top Performances

New Champion, Surprise Winners, Broken Records Highlight Storybook Season

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 7, 2011) – “You come at the king, you best not miss.” – Omar Little, The Wire.

From the 2007 season – Jimmie Johnson’s first as a defending champion – through 2010, exactly 100 drivers started at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. All took aim at Johnson’s throne. All missed.

A shocking victor claimed NASCAR’s most famous race to open the 2011 season, as Trevor Bayne, 20, became the youngest driver to ever win the Daytona 500.

Bayne’s storybook win signaled a season of change and surprise, none more remarkable than this…

Johnson’s five-year reign as king ended. Somebody didn’t miss. That somebody was Tony Stewart.

Stewart’s record-breaking, five-win playoff run in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup was just one of the many outstanding performances that took place during the recently completed 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. The following is a look back at some of those standout performers and memorable races, as selected from discussions with the national series directors, competition department and NASCAR IMC managers.

Top Driver

Tony Stewart – Some may argue Stewart was NOT the top driver of 2011 – at least not all of it. He failed to win a single race in the 26-race regular season, thereby starting the Chase as the ninth seed. But on the big stage, Stewart shined – and that’s why he gets the nod. Over the final 10 races, Stewart won a Chase-record five races – including the historic “walk-off win” at Homestead-Miami Speedway that won him a championship. With the victory, Stewart became A) the ninth driver with three or more championships; B) the first champion to win the finale since 1998; and C) the first driver-owner to win the title since Alan Kulwicki in 1992. Even after the winless regular season, Stewart’s five victories in 2011 were a series-high. Now, one hole remains in Stewart’s career: a Daytona 500 victory. He’ll get his chance to fill it soon enough – on Feb. 26 (FOX, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90).

Carl Edwards (Honorable Mention) – Edwards captured just one victory in 2011 – and that was the reason he lost a tie-breaker that cost him the championship to Stewart. Still, 2011 was an impressive and productive season for Edwards. He held the points lead after 21 of 36 points races, by far the longest stretch of any driver this season. By comparison, Kyle Busch was second, leading the points for seven weeks in 2011. Edwards adds two other accolades to his impressive season. He won his first NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (famously tearing up the front of his Ford while celebrating), and set a Chase record of his own. Edwards’ average finish in the 10-race Chase was 4.9, the lowest ever in the Chase’s eight-year history. The previous best was Jimmie Johnson’s 5.0 in 2007.

Comeback Driver of the Year

Dale Earnhardt Jr. – Welcome back to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, and championship contention. NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver for the ninth consecutive season, Earnhardt enjoyed a rebirth of sorts under new crew chief Steve Letarte. With a fresh slate in 2011, Earnhardt piled up four top fives and 12 top 10s, his highest figures since his first season with Hendrick Motorsports in 2008. He also returned to the Chase for the first time in three years, finishing the season seventh in points. That points finish was his best since 2006, when he finished fifth. Despite a winless drought that stretched to 129 starts, Earnhardt flirted with Victory Lane a couple of times in 2011. At Martinsville Speedway, he held the lead with four laps remaining, but lost it to a charging Kevin Harvick. At the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, he led on the final lap only to run out of gas – and was passed by Harvick yet again.

Kasey Kahne (Honorable Mention) – Despite missing the Chase for the second consecutive season, Kasey Kahne lit up the back end of the schedule, finishing in the top 10 in seven of the final eight races. His 368 points scored in the Chase trailed only Stewart and Edwards, and his victory at Phoenix in the penultimate race of the season snapped an 81-race winless drought. Kahne’s late-season surge provided booming optimism for next season, when he and crew chief Kenny Francis join powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports.

Top Organization

Stewart-Haas Racing – That didn’t take long. Stewart-Haas Racing needed just three years to win their first championship, as Stewart became the first driver-owner to win the title since 1992. SHR racked up six wins in 2011, tied for most on the season. Five of those belonged to Stewart. Ryan Newman nabbed the other in the most dominant effort by a team this season. At New Hampshire in July, Newman and Stewart started 1-2, and finished 1-2 – the first time since 1957 that a team started and finished 1-2 with the same drivers starting and finishing in the same order.

Richard Childress Racing (Honorable Mention) – This was a tough one, as Roush Fenway Racing made a big play for inclusion into this category. But again, RFR lost the tiebreak to victories. Richard Childress Racing nabbed six victories in 2011. Roush Fenway had five.

But the win total alone isn’t everything. RCR captured glory in one of NASCAR’s “crown jewels,” with Paul Menard claiming his first career win in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. During the Chase, Clint Bowyer – who moves to Michael Waltrip Racing in 2012 – collected RCR’s milestone 100th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory, in the Talladega Superspeedway Chase race. Kevin Harvick, RCR’s wins leader with four, finished third in the points for the second consecutive season.

Top Breakthrough Performer

Brad Keselowski – Don’t be surprised if more drivers attempt Keselowski’s patented “broken ankle-to-victory” strategy. During a test session at Road Atlanta in early August, Keselowski broke his left ankle, leaving his availability for the upcoming event at Pocono Raceway in question. He did race. And won. He did the same a few weeks later at Bristol. His three victories after race No. 26 were enough to land him the No. 1 Wild Card spot in the Chase. After a solid Chase that included four top-five finishes, he finished the season fifth in points.

Regan Smith (Honorable Mention) – Coming into 2011, here were Regan Smith’s career statistics: zero wins, zero top fives and zero top 10s. Any type of success whatsoever would land him a “Breakthrough Performer” nod. Instead, he built a career-year that included a victory in one of NASCAR’s most historic races – the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. To that feat, he added a third-place finish on another grand stage – the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis. In all, Smith had one win, two top fives and five top 10s.

Top Race

Ford 400, Homestead-Miami Speedway – If this race were smack in the middle of the season, it still would get consideration for “Top Race” – thanks to record-breaking numbers in leaders (15) and lead changes (26). But the implications of this race – and the clutch performances of those with everything to win and lose – made this an instant classic.

Championship clinch scenarios going in were simple: If Carl Edwards wins, he’s the champion. If Tony Stewart wins, he’s the champion. Edwards shrugged off any pressure as a first championship neared, leading a race-high 119 laps.

But this was Stewart’s show. With some early pit road magic to repair a grapefruit-sized hole in his grill, Stewart worked his way back to the front with daring four-wide passes. NASCAR’s Loop Data counted a total of 118 green flag passes for Stewart, who led the final 36 laps en route to the “walk-off win” and his third career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.

Stewart and Edwards finished 1-2 at Homestead, leaving the 2011 season in a points tie. Stewart won the tiebreaker with five wins to Edwards’ one.

Aaron’s 499, Talladega Superspeedway (Honorable Mention) – Talladega’s April spring race matched two major NASCAR records – that of lead changes and margin of victory.

There were 88 lead changes, which matched the record previously set in 2010, also in Talladega’s spring race. With a margin of victory of .002 seconds, the race tied the closest MOV since the inception of electronic scoring in 1993. The record was previously set at Darlingon Raceway in 2003, when Ricky Craven edged Kurt Busch to the finish line.

In this one, Jimmie Johnson – with teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. behind him – barely beat Clint Bowyer to the finish line. It was Johnson’s first victory of the season. His next wouldn’t come until October at Kansas.

Best Buy Partners with Roush Fenway Racing

2011-12-20T15:04:00.000-05:00

December 20, 2011 10:46 AM

Team Release

Best Buy Partners with Roush Fenway Racing

Minneapolis, Dec. 20, 2011 – Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE: BBY) today announced a new sponsorship deal for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Season. Best Buy will serve as primary sponsor of the Matt Kenseth No. 17 Ford for nine races and Carl Edwards’ No. 99 Ford for two races. In addition, Best Buy will serve as associate sponsor for each.
“Best Buy is thrilled to announce this new NASCAR sponsorship deal with Roush Fenway Racing,” said Drew Panayiotou, senior vice president of marketing for Best Buy. “Roush Fenway Racing is a great fit for Best Buy Racing. NASCAR continues to be a relevant way for us to connect with our customers. Our goal is to reach our target audiences in a meaningful way, while maximizing the value of our marketing and sponsorship investments.”
“We are extremely pleased to announce this partnership with Best Buy,” said Roush Fenway co-owner Jack Roush. “Best Buy is an industry leader and a top brand globally. They do a great deal to market and support their teams and we are pleased to be working with an organization that is as enthusiastic about racing as Best Buy. We feel it is a great fit with our organization and we look forward to a great partnership together.”
Best Buy has been a NASCAR sponsor for the past 7 years.

NASCAR to buy its digital rights back from Turner

2011-12-19T08:48:00.002-05:00

By Tripp Mickle & John Ourand, Staff Writers

Published December 19, 2011,

NASCAR is close to reaching an agreement to buy its digital rights back from Turner Sports, a move that could see the sanctioning body manage its own digital business as soon as 2013.

Specific terms of the pending agreement were not available, and sources said the deal is not expected to be official until next year. It’s not clear how much NASCAR will pay to reclaim its rights, but sources said it would be in the mid-eight figures.

NASCAR and Turner Sports declined to comment.

NASCAR is the latest of Turner’s digital partners to change its business arrangement with the Atlanta-based company. Sports Illustrated last month announced that it would reclaim oversight of its SI Digital business from Turner, bringing an end to a two-year relationship. Recent talk in industry circles has centered on whether these moves represent a setback to Turner’s digital ambitions.

The move puts NASCAR in a stronger position to sell its media rights, which are expected to go on the market next year. NASCAR’s current eight-year, $4.48 billion media deal with Fox, ESPN and Turner ends in 2014. The company is preparing to put those rights up for sale, and its executives know that any network that bids on TV rights will also want digital rights to stream races online.

Though NASCAR is moving now to reclaim its rights, Turner will continue to run NASCAR.com for at least a year. That will give NASCAR time to build up an infrastructure that can support and manage its digital assets independently. The group will hire staff to oversee the site and likely base the group in Charlotte. The sport’s production arm, NASCAR Media Group, has four floors of studio and production space in a $43 million facility completed as part of its new building in 2010.

Turner plans to be involved with NASCAR even after selling back the digital rights. The deal now being discussed would see Turner continue to handle some business operations, including ad sales, for NASCAR’s digital properties beyond 2014, which is when Turner’s original deal is scheduled to end. The new deal would have a similar structure to Turner’s deal with Yahoo! Sports that was signed in 2008 and allows Turner to sell ads around Yahoo!’s NBA, golf and NASCAR pages.

NASCAR has been looking to reclaim its digital rights for some time. The sanctioning body sold its interactive rights to Turner in 2000. In 2008, it extended that partnership through 2014. But in recent years, NASCAR officials began to regret taking a big paycheck from Turner rather than controlling the sport’s digital future.

Turner manages digital operations for the NBA, the PGA Tour and the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, but NASCAR officials felt they ceded more control to Turner than those properties. That created frustration in recent years, when NASCAR officials realized that the deal — signed years before social media became popular — gave NASCAR no control over Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.

During the last few years, senior NASCAR officials, who declined to speak on the record, complained that the deal was so restrictive that even simple digital initiatives were difficult to undertake. For example, if NASCAR wanted a Facebook page or Twitter handle, it had to get Turner to create or approve them. The sport and its tracks also couldn’t create mobile applications without Turner’s approval.

NASCAR gave up rights that were so all encompassing that Turner had exclusive rights to any video shot at a track during race weekends. When magazines, cable channels and newspapers shot non-race footage at a racetrack, sources said, Turner would seek licensing fees from the outlets before letting them post the videos on their websites.

Even a rights holder like ESPN ran into issues because of the Turner-NASCAR digital deal. ESPN had to negotiate with a competitor, Turner, to get the right to simulcast live races on its WatchESPN application and site rather than negotiate and secure those rights from the actual rights holder, NASCAR. This fall ESPN and Turner fashioned an agreement that allowed ESPN to simulcast Sprint Cup races and Turner to show in-car footage on NASCAR.com during the same broadcasts.

Until that deal was struck, NASCAR officials thought its lack of live online races — standard with some other properties — helped contribute to its drop-off in young, male fans. They also blamed the Turner deal for NASCAR’s social media shortcomings. On Facebook, it has 2.4 million fans while a sports league like the NBA has 10.8 million.

By bringing the digital rights in-house, NASCAR believes that it can better market the sport. NASCAR last summer reorganized its operations to put its digital media division under its marketing department and tabbed Marc Jenkins to lead the company’s digital initiatives. Doing so paved the way to a deal with Turner by making the sport’s digital assets a marketing expense rather than a purely revenue-generating media asset.

2012 Shootout Event At Daytona Lineup Announced

2011-12-14T15:03:00.002-05:00

2012 Shootout Event At Daytona Lineup Announced

Speedweeks Opener Features Deep And Talented Field

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 14, 2011) – In what could be the deepest and most talented field to date, NASCAR announced Wednesday the list of eligible competitors for the 2012 Shootout.

The 34th annual season-opening event launches Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 18 with a start time set for 8:10 p.m. FOX and MRN will broadcast live nationally. Criteria are based upon the following qualifications, with eligibility based on a driver having been active in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series during the 2011 season:

· The highest ranked 25 competitors in 2011 NSCS driver points

· Previous winners at Daytona, including the Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola, and Shootout events

“By taking the top 25 competitors in last year’s driver points and combining that with former race winners at Daytona, you have all the ingredients for an extremely deep and talented field of drivers for the 2012 Shootout,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “When you take a look at the roster of drivers that this entails, I have to believe this is one of the most competitive fields that have ever been assembled for this event.”

The race distance will again be 75 laps (187.5 miles), consisting of two segments – 25 and 50 laps. Both green-flag laps and yellow-flag laps will count. Between segments there will be a 10-minute pit stop allowing teams to pit to change tires, add fuel and make normal chassis adjustments. Crews will be permitted to work on cars and will be allowed to perform functions they would do on a normal pit stop in a regular NASCAR Sprint Cup event. All work must be performed on pit road or in the garage. Changing of springs, shock absorbers or rear-ends will not be permitted.

Starting positions will again be determined by a blind-draw at the annual Shootout Draw Party on Friday, Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. on the SPEED stage in the Midway, outside Turn 4.

The Shootout – a “non-points” event for NASCAR Sprint Cup competitors – was first held in 1979. Kurt Busch is the defending race champion.

Tickets for all 2012 Speedweeks events are now available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

Drivers eligible for the 2012 Shootout include:

2011 Top 25 Driver Points

Tony Stewart

Carl Edwards

Kevin Harvick

Matt Kenseth

Brad Keselowski

Jimmie Johnson

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Jeff Gordon

Denny Hamlin

Ryan Newman

Kurt Busch

Kyle Busch

Clint Bowyer

Kasey Kahne

AJ Allmendinger

Greg Biffle

Paul Menard

Martin Truex Jr.

Marcos Ambrose

Jeff Burton

Juan Pablo Montoya

Mark Martin

David Ragan

Joey Logano

Brian Vickers

Others (criteria in parentheses)

Bill Elliott (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400, Shootout)

Geoff Bodine (Daytona 500, Shootout)

Derrike Cope (Daytona 500)

Michael Waltrip (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400)

Jamie McMurray (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400)

Trevor Bayne (Daytona 500)

Terry Labonte (Shootout)

Ken Schrader (Shootout)

RPM considering Kurt Busch in #43 car?

2011-12-13T20:43:00.002-05:00

RPM considering Kurt Busch in #43 car? Sirius XM NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody has learned that in an effort to retain sponsor Best Buy, Richard Petty Motorsports has proposed replacing AJ Allmendinger as driver of the legendary #43 Ford with Busch. RPM struggled to re-sign Best Buy a year ago, negotiating until early January before inking a one-year contract. The electronics retailer served as major sponsor of the #43 team in 26 events this season.
Richard Petty Motorsports Chief Operating Officer Robbie Loomis confirmed today that discussions have been held regarding Busch, saying, "Best Buy has been a great partner for a long time, and AJ Allmendinger has done a fantastic job for us. He's coming off his best season yet, but I can tell you there is a lot of interest on our part in having Kurt Busch in the fold. It makes sense to have Kurt with our team, if we can make it work.
"Our main focus is to continue building on what we finished the season with last year," said Loomis. "But right now, I feel like I'm running down two different sets of train tracks. From a personal standpoint, nothing has excited me more than when I heard Kurt had become available. I'm excited about the opportunity to add a driver like Kurt Busch to Richard Petty Motorsports. I would mortgage my house to make Kurt a part of this team. We value what he has done on the race track. He has won a (Sprint Cup) championship and worked for a first-class operation like Penske Racing. Guys like that don't come along every day."
Allmendinger finished 15th in 2011 Sprint Cup Series championship points, with one Top-5 and 10 Top-10 finishes. His best finish was a fifth in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in late May. Busch won a pair of races this season at Infineon and Dover en route to 11th in points, tallying eight Top-5 and 16 Top-10 finishes. He parted company with Penske Racing earlier this month, in the aftermath of a much-publicized verbal confrontation with ESPN pit reporter Dr. Jerry Punch during the 2011 season finale at Homestead Miami Speedway (Sirius Speedway).
AND no word what Allmendinger would do IF this happens; and not too sure Jack Roush [who Busch drove for before Penske and had issues with], who team supplies cars and engines to RPM would allow this to happen.(12-13-2011)

Instant Replay System for NASCAR

2011-12-13T09:17:00.000-05:00

Telestream Builds High Definition Instant Replay System for NASCAR Race Officials

December 12, 2011

Pipeline video capture and new Replay multichannel video player enable instant race analysis

Nevada City, Calif., December 12, 2011 – Telestream®, a leading provider of video transcoding and workflow automation systems, today announced that it has created a new High Definition (HD) instant replay system for NASCAR race control officials. Developed for the start of 2012 racing season, Telestream’s new Replay™ multichannel video player combines with its Pipeline™ HD video capture system to provide instant capture and display of 18 high definition 720p camera feeds. This allows race officials to instantly see detailed information to make rapid decisions about on-track aspects of the race.

"The NASCAR race environment presented the perfect challenge for Telestream to provide high-quality video capture and instant synchronous playback in a time-critical situation," said Barbara DeHart, Vice President of Marketing at Telestream. "Together, Pipeline and Replay provide NASCAR or any sports organization with a cost-effective, easy-to-use system for instant event review and analysis."

"The instant replay system that Telestream will be providing NASCAR next season will enable our officials to perform their jobs in an even more efficient and time-sensitive manner," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR Vice President of Competition. "Having instant access to that many camera angles featuring such high quality video will be a terrific addition to our race weekends."

Telestream’s Pipeline HD video capture system simultaneously acquires multiple camera feeds in high-quality Apple ProRes 720p as well as other HD and SD formats. Video feeds are delivered to shared storage where they are available for immediate playback, editing during capture, or transcoding to other file formats.

Telestream’s Replay multichannel video player provides instant, synchronous multichannel playback of multiple HD camera feeds for simultaneous review and analysis of incidents from different camera angles. The player also allows officials to easily locate any camera and scrub forward or backward through any portion of the event video.

Highlights of the Pipeline video capture and Replay system developed for NASCAR include:

• Simultaneous capture of 18 HD 720p camera feeds in Apple Pro Res format

• Ability for officials to view on-track incidents through synchronized multiple camera angle displays, including time-stamped track status metadata – in real time or on-demand

• Ability to seamlessly scrub video forward or backward for instant analysis

• Ability to jump between past and current sequential camera angle clips

• Ability to create tabbed pages such as Start/Finish, Pits, Turn 1, etc. to view video

• Ability to instantly go full-screen on one or more selected camera angles

• A timeline which displays event information over the entire duration of the event

Telestream is demonstrating Pipeline and the new instant Replay system at Sports Video Group’s League Technology Summit in New York City this week. For more information about Telestream and its products, visit: http://www.telestream.net.

NASCAR viewership jumps

2011-12-12T08:13:00.002-05:00

NASCAR viewership jumps 8%, halts long slide

By Tripp Mickle & John Ourand, Staff Writers

Published December 5, 2011, Page 4

For the first time since NASCAR TV viewership peaked in 2005, the sport this year saw a year-over-year increase in viewers.

This year’s rise reversed a five-year slide in ratings that cost NASCAR nearly a quarter of its TV viewers, and it allowed the sport to return to the same level of viewership it enjoyed in 2009.

Over the course of 33 races across three networks — Fox, TNT and ESPN/ABC — NASCAR attracted an average of 6.5 million viewers, which equates to a 3.8 Nielsen rating. Those numbers are up from fewer than 6 million viewers (+8%) and an average 3.6 rating (+5.6%) for 34 races in 2010.

An exciting “race to the Chase” helped the fall Richmond ratings increase 19 percent.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES

“It was great to step forward on the ratings front,” said Steve Herbst, NASCAR Media Group’s vice president of broadcasting. “We know we have work to do, but we’re really thrilled with where this season ended up. That combined with a terrific on-track product can only be good for the future of NASCAR.”

Coming after a year when NASCAR ratings seemed to bottom out, network executives weren’t ready to call the uptick a complete resurgence.

“We’re still cautious,” said Lenny Daniels, Turner Sports’ chief operating officer and executive vice president. “Numbers like these tend to be cyclical. NASCAR’s been on a slide for a while. It is slowly working [its] way back in the other direction.”

Perhaps most encouraging was the fact that young male viewers returned in 2011. The sport saw a 24 percent decline among those viewers in 2010, but the group came back strong in 2011, with a 17 percent increase among the male 18- to 34-year-old demographic.

■ With half of expiring sponsor deals renewed, NASCAR guns for more with expanded sales team.

The viewership increases come at a critical time for the sport. Its current TV rights agreements expire in 2014, giving it two more years to show networks that it can deliver the type of viewers that allowed it to command $4.48 billion in combined rights fees from Fox, TNT and ESPN in its current deal.

Herbst said NASCAR has not made any decisions about when it will go to market with those rights. It was in 2005 that it closed the eight-year agreement with Fox, TNT and ESPN that began in 2007. Network executives say they have not started renewal talks yet.

“We look forward to sitting down with our partners to talk about the future,” Herbst said. “We don’t have a date or timeline attached to that right now.”

Television network executives were quick to cite the season’s competitive races and compelling story lines as reasons for the ratings jump. Eric Shanks, co-president and co-COO of Fox Sports Media Group, said his network made a concerted effort to focus more on the sport’s personalities and less on the sport’s mechanics.

“We changed the tone of our coverage this year and started focusing more on the drivers and their stories,” Shanks said. “More man, less machine.”

Julie Sobieski, ESPN’s vice president of programming and acquisitions, also credited NASCAR’s personalities for driving ratings. She cited 17 drivers who traveled to Bristol, Conn., this season to appear on ESPN shows.

The sport’s executives believe many of the rule changes they made prior to 2011 finally started paying off in the form of new and returning viewers this season. The sport added double-file restarts in 2009 and in 2010 fostered a more competitive environment by adopting a “boys have at it” philosophy, which encouraged drivers to race more aggressively. This year it also adopted a wild-card system for its postseason, reserving two spots in the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup for drivers who won races in 2011.

The changes helped make the sport more competitive. NASCAR had 18 Sprint Cup race winners, one shy of the series record, and five first-time winners. It also had 14 drivers in contention for the final three spots in the Chase heading into the regular season’s last race at Richmond. That helped push up ratings for the race 19 percent from 2010.

The sport was able to sustain that late-season momentum even after the NFL season started largely because it shifted the start of its races from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET this year, therefore avoiding the finish of its races competing head-to-head with the conclusion of early NFL games. A year ago, when races began at 1 p.m., ratings would build over the course of the race and then fall around 4 p.m., when the 1 p.m. NFL games concluded every Sunday.

“We saw a lot of benefit from not going head-to-head with the 1 p.m. NFL window,” Sobieski said.

For example, the Sept. 25 Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire delivered a 3.1 Nielsen rating on ESPN, up 35 percent from 2010. Growth over the last hour of the race, when the 1 p.m. NFL game was over, increased 27 percent compared with an 18 percent increase in 2010.

Similarly, the Oct. 9 Hollywood Casino 400 from Kansas delivered a 3.1 rating on ESPN, up 15 percent from 2010, largely because the viewership increased 69 percent over the last hour of the race, up from a 25 percent increase in the last hour of the race in 2010.

Moving races also allowed ESPN to program its pre-race show, “NASCAR Now,” on ESPN immediately before the 2 p.m. race start time. When races were held at 1 p.m. in 2010, it showed “Sunday NFL Countdown” on ESPN and shifted “NASCAR Now” to ESPN2.

The foundation for NASCAR’s ratings increases were set at the Daytona 500 at the start of the season. The 2010 Daytona 500 was marred by a pothole problem that resulted in several delays and delivered a 24 percent decline in ratings. This year, significant promotion on Fox during the Super Bowl along with a repaved track and a surprise Daytona 500 winner, Trevor Bayne, combined to push ratings up 17 percent at the start of the year.

NASCAR built on that momentum two weeks later in Las Vegas. In 2010, the race went head-to-head with the Vancouver Olympics’ gold-medal hockey game featuring the U.S. and Canada. The weekend was devoid of competition this year, and ratings soared 34 percent from 2010.

In terms of young, male viewers returning, TV network executives attributed some of the gains to having more broadband product available. “It’s not all about the TV product,” Daniels said. “In any sport, if you don’t offer content across every platform, you just end up missing big, young audiences.”

The boom in online content was driven by a deal cut between Turner and ESPN that allowed both networks to stream races online. ESPN aired complete broadcasts of its races on its WatchESPN mobile app, and Turner offered in-camera video of select drivers on its “Race Buddy” platform at NASCAR.com.

Darian Grubb named No.11 crew chief

2011-12-09T14:08:00.001-05:00

Team Release

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (December 9, 2011) – Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announces today that Darian Grubb has been named crew chief for its No. 11 FedEx Toyota NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team.

“Darian is a great addition to our organization and person to lead our No. 11 FedEx team,” said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing. “Obviously he has proven the ability to guide a team to a championship and we are excited to have him working with Denny (Hamlin) toward achieving that goal here at Joe Gibbs Racing.”
Grubb is coming off an impressive championship run with driver Tony Stewart at Stewart-Haas Racing which included winning five of the 10 Chase races en route to capturing the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title. He spent the past three seasons as crew chief for Stewart on the No. 14 car after the driver left JGR to start his own race operation. Prior to joining Stewart-Haas Racing, Grubb spent six years with Hendrick Motorsports; rising through the organization’s engineering ranks and gaining invaluable crew chief experience.
“I’m thrilled to join Joe Gibbs Racing,” said Grubb. “The chance to work with Denny is something I’m excited about. When you sit down with Joe and J.D. Gibbs you can’t help but be excited about this opportunity and the team aspects of JGR. There is no question about the level of support you get here and I’m looking forward to working with everyone across the entire organization.”
Over the past three seasons as crew chief for Stewart, Grubb has helped lead the team to 11 victories, while amassing 33 top-five and 59 top-ten finishes over that time. Prior to joining Stewart-Haas Racing, Grubb gained previous crew chief experience while with Hendrick Motorsports. He was crew chief to Casey Mears in 2007, helping to lead the driver to his first Sprint Cup Series career victory with a win that season in the prestigious Coca-Cola 600. The team also won the pole at Chicagoland Speedway that year, while earning five top-five and 10 top-ten finishes. He also served as interim crew chief for Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 car for the first four races of the 2006 season with the team winning two of those four including the Daytona 500.

“The Loopies”: The Fifth Annual Best-Of Loop Data For 2011

2011-12-09T12:26:00.002-05:00

“The Loopies”: The Fifth Annual Best-Of Loop Data For 2011

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Confusion ravaged home viewers tuned into the driver introductions at Homestead-Miami Speedway a few weeks ago. There was a major misconception that when Kyle Busch was introduced, attending fans were screaming “Boo!”

False.

In actuality, the astute NASCAR fans knew that Busch owned the top Driver Rating in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and was a shoo-in for a postseason Loopie – NASCAR awards given solely on Loop Data statistics, which includes Driver Rating. They were actually offering a verbal pat on the back to the driver of the No. 18 Toyota, and yelling “Looooooooop” to Busch. It was an emotional moment for all.

So, let’s start the show. For the fifth consecutive season, NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications combed through the statistics to hand out a number of awards celebrating the best – and worst – Loop Data performances of 2011. The envelopes please…

“Still The Most Awesome Sport Ever” Award: This one goes to NASCAR. Congrats again, us. For the second consecutive season, the world’s best racing boasted numbers never before seen in its six-decade-plus history. According to the Loop Data, there were 131,989 green flag passes this season, the most since NASCAR started recording the stat in 2005. Though not Loop Data, there were also an average of 27.1 lead changes and 12.8 leaders per race, both Cup Series records. The 2012 Daytona 500 -- Feb. 26 on FOX, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 -- can’t come soon enough.

“Where Did He Come From” Award: Better known as the “Most Improved Driver” Award, this award goes to the driver who had the biggest gain in Driver Rating from 2010. Brad Keselowski, please accept your well-deserved award. Keselowski entered 2011 mostly as an afterthought. He finished the 2010 season -- his first with Penske Racing -- with a 25th-place points finish and a Driver Rating of 65.1. Still fresh to the series, most expected those growing pains to continue. But Keselowski scoffed at any low expectations with a quick win at Kansas. Then he won at Pocono on a broken left ankle. A few weeks later, he won the Bristol Motor Speedway night race. And soon after that, he made the Chase for the Sprint Cup, taking advantage of the new Wild Card berth. Keselowski finished the season fifth in points, with a Driver Rating of 87.1 – an improvement of 22.0 points, best in the series.

“Nice Guys Finish Not First” Award: We hate to give this award out, but no one ever said The Loopies were easy. Fans place a certain level of trust in The Loopies board of directors. This one is given to the driver with the largest drop in Driver Rating. This unfortunate award goes to Jeff Burton, whose 96.2 Driver Rating in 2010 fell to 78.7 in 2011 -- a decline of 17.5 points. The personable Burton need not worry too much. Optimism reigns in the No. 31 shop, as the team scored four top-10 finishes in the final five races.

“Rope-A-Dope” Award: Attention NASCAR Hall of Fame: Richard Petty’s plaque needs a re-write -- he has just won a Loopie. The King’s two drivers, A.J. Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose, ranked 1-2 in the “Closer” statistic -- the number of positions gained or lost in the last 10 percent of races. Allmendinger gained a whopping 134 spots as races winded down; Ambrose improved 85 spots. In case you’re wondering, Kevin Harvick (aptly nicknamed “The Closer”) ranked third, with 78 positions improved.

“Irregular Season” Award: Season-to-Date Loop Data is what it says -- a statistical representation of the entire season. That’s why you’ll find Kyle Busch -- winner of this Loopie -- at the top of so many Loop Data charts, but at the bottom of the Chase standings. Busch led 10 different Loop Data categories this year: Average Running Position (10.4), Driver Rating (104.1), Fastest Early in a Run (average rank of 5.9), Fastest Late in a Run (average rank of 7.8), Green Flag Speed (average rank of 6.1), Laps in the Top 15 (79.6%), Laps Led (1,455), Mile Leaders (1,777.77), Quality Passes (2,219) and Speed in Traffic (average rank of 9.3). So why the 12th-place finish for Busch? The answer: Another subpar Chase. During the 26-race regular season, Busch had a Driver Rating of 108.4. In the nine races he ran in the Chase, his Driver Rating was 91.6.

“Brad Keselowski’s Ankle Deserves Its Own Award” Award: This award goes to Brad Keselowski’s ankle. Keselowski’s performance after his early-August accident that resulted in a broken left ankle defies logic. Check out the tale of the tape.

Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards and Austin Dillon earn first-team nods

2011-12-09T09:53:00.001-05:00

Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards and Austin Dillon earn first-team nods

December 7, 2011

AMERICAN AUTO RACING WRITERS & BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES 2011 ALL-AMERICA TEAM

FOR IMMEDIATE USE

Burbank, Calif. Dec 6, 2011 - - As the National Motorsports Professionals Association has done since 1970, the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association has announced its annual "All-America Team".

Unique in all of motorsports reporting, members of "AARWBA" each year elect a special team of drivers who represent the broad spectrum of professional motorsports. AARWBA then bring them all together at a gala dinner gathering where each is presented with the organization's coveted "Horsepower" trophy which symbolizes top performance in each category.

AARWBA members across the country vote on drivers by the specific category of racing which they participate in and two drivers from each of the disciplines are elected to the first team.

Here then, is the 2011 All-America team:

In the Open Wheel Division, Dario Franchitti and Will Power were the choices of the membership. Driving for Target/Chip Ganassi Racing, Fanchitti three-peated as IZOD Indy Car Series Champion this year, and Verizon's Team Penske's Will Power sat pole eleven times and won six races in the series on the way to his second place in 2011 points for the open wheelers.

For Road Racing there are two, two-person teams: Scott Pruett/Memo Rojas (Telemex BMW-Riley) and Chris Dyson/Guy Smith (Dyson Racing Lola-Mazda). Pruett and Rojas are the 2011 Grand-Am Champs (as they were in 2010, '08. '06, and 04). Dyson and Smith are the ALMS 2011 LMP1 driver champions. Pruett and Rojas have also teamed up to win the 24 Hours of Daytona this past year as well as in 2008, 2007, and 1997.

Bryan Clauson joins the All-America Team (Short Track Division) on the basis of his twin consecutive USAC National Drivers Championships and back-to-back Mopar National Midget crowns. Clauson drives every style of open wheel short track machine that USAC sanctions and has a winning record in all of them. Kyle Larson also drives them all from Silver Crown to Midgets and did something that made everyone in the business stand up and take notice this year: he entered and swept all three USAC racing divisions at the 4-Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway on September 24, 2011!

There was simply no way to separate these two All-America Team members who make up the first team in the Stock Car category during the last few races of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase. In fact, Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards finished the season with identical points totals, Stewart's win record being the deciding factor in his winning a third NASCAR driver's championship. Edwards was right there, racing Stewart and the other 41 drivers as hard as he could every race. (In the end, the wins "won" as many folks think they should.)

Del Worsham and Matt Hagan are the very worthy representatives of the Drag Racing Category. Popular veteran Worsham won his first NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel world championship, the former Funny Car driver got it right in his first year out of the floppers in the Al-Anabi Racing Dragster. Hagan, on the other hand, drove his DieHard Dodge Charger Funny Car to a hard-earned championship that saw him win it in the last few rounds of the season, a much-preferred alternative to 2010 when he lost the same title in the last day of the final event.

In the Touring Series voting Austin Dillon got the nod for being a big winner in a very tough division this year, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Driving the Bass Pro Shops Chevy for Richard Childress, Dillion became the youngest-ever Champion at the age of 21. And ? Andrew Davis and Leh Keen teamed up to win the 2011 Rolex Grand Am Series /GT Class driving for A. Dano Davis (Brumos), together they won the Glen 6 Hour, and the event at Mazda Raceway in Laguna Seca.

Josef Newgarden and Patrick Long both join this year's team in the At Large category. Newgarden is the 2011 Firestone Indy Lights champion winning five races and grabbing three poles over the season. He was also named the Perkin Elmer Rookie of the Year in the same division. His five wins in 2011 were the most by any driver in his series. Long won his first Pirelli World Challenge Driver's Championship in fine style with four wins and four poles in the hotly-contested series. His championship is just that little bit more special because he had to miss one series race to test for the factory Porsche team at Le Mans.

Sportscar specialist Amy Ruman will get AARWBA's "Rising Star" award in Indy for her work behind the wheel of the McNichols/Goodyear/Cenweld Corvette. The first woman ever to win a Trans Am race, Ruman finished third in the 2011 points in the hardtops and, along with her season finale win, was on three podiums during the SCCA Trans Am season.

One other tradition that AARWBA has followed as a long-standing tradition is to elect a Second Team to be honored along with the above All-America winners. Here are the categories and names of that illustrious group of drivers:

Open Wheel: Dan Wheldon (write-in)   James Hinchcliffe & Tony Kanaan (tie)
Road Racing: Tony Ave        Max Angelelli/Ricky Taylor (team)
Short Track: Levi Jones      Donny Schatz
Stock Car: Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.     Kevin Harvick
Drag Racing: Jason Line     Antron Brown
Touring Series: Lawson Aschenbach       Ricky Johnson
At Large: Frank Manzo        Esteban Guerrieri

Quite an honor roll, and the only such voted-on group that brings together champions from virtually every form of top professional motoracing in this country.

Perhaps the best part of the whole evening is the sort of personal interchange that these champions from such widely-divergent branches of the sport have with each other.

The mix and match aspect of this remarkable group of talented racers is often pure alchemy. A once-a-season experience that's been another enduring motorsports tradition since 1970 when Al Unser, Mario Andretti, Richard Petty, Mark Donahue, Parnelli Jones, Dan Gurney, Don Garlits, Don Prudhomme, Gary Gabelich, and Ronnie Sox were all named as AARWBA's very first All-America Team.

This year's forty-second edition of the All-American Team Banquet will be held on Sunday evening January 8, 2012 in the beautiful Grand Hall at the Train Station at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Indianapolis, Indiana.

The AARWBA Banquet is thought to be to only major motorsports awards presentation that is made open to public attendance. "We've always invited motorsports fans to join with us in honoring these great drivers each year," said AARWBA President, Dusty Brandel. "It's become a wonderful tradition at our annual recognition banquet for fans to be able to attend right along with our professional members, our honored guests along with members of their teams, and dignitaries from the sanctioning organizations."

Tickets for the 2012 All America Team Banquet in Indianapolis are on sale now at: www.aarwba.org

Founded in 1955 AARWBA is a motorsports organization comprised of writers, broadcasters, photographers, and other media-related professionals. The organization's charter is aimed at providing not only proper recognition for members of the motorsports media, but to recognize their work as well as the work of the competitors that they follow in print, on the air, and on film.

Tony Stewart’s Walk-Off Championship Victory Voted Top Moment Of 2011

2011-12-08T13:48:00.003-05:00

Tony Stewart’s Walk-Off Championship Victory Voted Top Moment Of 2011

Trevor Bayne’s Historic Daytona 500 Win Leads Remaining Top-10 Notable Events

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 8, 2011) — In a special season during which magic moments were many, Tony Stewart’s championship-clinching victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway has been voted the Top Moment of 2011. Members of NASCARMedia.com voted in the week-long poll, casting ballots for the top-10 moments from the just-completed NASCAR season.

Stewart’s walk-off win in the season finale, however, didn’t exactly prevail in a landslide among voting by members of the news media.

Trevor Bayne’s historic Daytona 500 victory – which opened the year on a spectacular note at Daytona International Speedway – barely missed out on the No. 1 spot. Below are the top 10 vote-getters from 2011.

1-Tony Stewart’s Homestead-Miami Clincher

2-Trevor Bayne’s Daytona 500 Win

3-Brad Keselowski’s Wreckers-to-Checkers Win at Pocono

4-Jeff Gordon’s 85th NASCAR Sprint Cup Win

5-Regan Smith’s Southern 500 Win

What Trevor Bayne began in February, Regan Smith continued in May. Smith entered Darlington Raceway’s SHOWTIME Southern 500 with a lean resume to say the least: no wins, top fives or top 10s in 104 NASCAR Sprint Cup starts. Smith, then 27, became the upset winner of NASCAR’s oldest “crown jewel.” He led just the final 11 laps and held off Carl Edwards by 0.196 seconds to give Furniture Row Racing – a team headquartered in Colorado – its first series victory.

6-Jimmie Johnson’s Aaron’s 499 Win at Talladega

7-Paul Menard Holds Off Jeff Gordon to Win Brickyard 400

8-Austin Dillon Becomes Youngest NASCAR Camping World Truck Champion

9-Danica Patrick Posts Best Finish in NASCAR by a Female Driver

10-2010 Sunoco Rookies-of-the-Year Win Championship

Two NASCAR national series champions gave media and fans yet another reason to keep an eye on the newcomers. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., whose uneven performance nearly cost him his job with Roush Fenway Racing in 2010, recovered to claim NASCAR Nationwide Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors. Roush’s faith was rewarded as Stenhouse won twice en route to the 2011 championship. Austin Dillon’s rookie of the year run in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series wasn’t quite so dramatic but like Stenhouse, he “graduated” to the champion’s chair. The season marked the first time that both Nationwide and truck rookies became champions in their sophomore years.

SPEED To Air NASCAR Media Group-Produced Biography Series

2011-12-06T18:25:00.001-05:00

SPEED To Air NASCAR Media Group-Produced Biography Series

On 2012 Hall Of Fame Inductees

Series Debuts This Friday With Cale Yarborough and Dale Inman

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 6, 2011) – Emmy Award-winning NASCAR Media Group and SPEED announced today that a biography series of all five 2012 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees will air on SPEED beginning this Friday, Dec. 9 with back-to-back shows featuring Cale Yarborough at 8 p.m. ET and Dale Inman at 9 p.m. ET.

The remaining biographies, also produced by NASCAR Media Group, will air on SPEED throughout December and January 2012: Richie Evans on Friday, Dec. 16 at 8 p.m. ET; Darrell Waltrip on Friday, Jan. 6 at 8 p.m. ET and Glen Wood on Friday, Jan. 13 at 8 p.m. ET.

Each year five NASCAR legends are inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, beginning with the inaugural class of 2010. These five outstanding individuals make up the third class and will be officially enshrined at the third annual NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday evening, Jan. 20 in the Charlotte Convention Center’s Crown Ballroom at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Further information on the NASCAR Hall of Fame and the 2012 induction ceremony can be found at www.nascarhall.com.

Cale Yarborough – Friday, Dec. 9, 8 p.m. ET

Cale Yarborough is known as one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history, but his dynamic personality and stories both on and off the track make him a legend. Yarborough is one of the first – if not the first – to help transcend NASCAR into mainstream America with appearances in movies and music, including a role in the movie “Stroker Ace”. Thus, his biography is aptly narrated by Academy Award nominee and “Stroker Ace” co-star Burt Reynolds.

The biography will cover highlights of Yarborough’s career such as his three consecutive championships, 83 career wins, five Daytona 500 wins, his affiliation with legendary teams and owners like the Wood Brothers and Junior Johnson, as well as his famous “sling shot” move.

Dale Inman – Friday, Dec. 9, 9 p.m. ET

Cousin to Richard Petty, Inman served as The King’s crew chief for nearly his entire career and boasts more wins and more championships than any other mechanic in NASCAR history. He will be the first crew chief inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and his biography will explore a career filled with leadership and a personality that influenced a generation of NASCAR crew chiefs.

Inman’s biography will contain many interviews with some of the most influential people of NASCAR past and present including Richard Petty, Kyle Petty, crew chief for the No. 48 team Chad Knaus, crew chief for the No. 9 team Todd Parrott and NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton.

Richie Evans – Friday, Dec. 16, 8 p.m. ET

The story of Richie Evans is extremely compelling, as he is the first person inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame who never competed in NASCAR’s top series. A street racer from upstate New York, Evans became the king of modified racing, winning nine championships, 28 track championships and an estimated 475 races.

His biography explores how his racing career got started while living on a farm in New York and how his legendary orange No. 61 car – and the story behind the paint scheme – became one of the most iconic in NASCAR history. The heart of the show is driven through a fireside chat with Richie’s crew chief and members of his family.

Darrell Waltrip – Friday, Jan. 6, 8 p.m. ET

Dubbed “The Darrell Waltrip Story,” fans will be delighted, and perhaps not surprised, to see that Waltrip tells his own story – as only he can – of the road he traveled from a grassroots racer in Music City to a NASCAR icon.

Waltrip relives his memorable Daytona 500 victory in animated fashion, how he earned his “Jaws” reputation early in his career for how much he talked, and discusses why he decided to walk away from NASCAR after 29 years and 84 wins as a NASCAR Cup driver, as well as his dominance (three championships, 43 wins and 35 poles) with Junior Johnson in the 1980s.

Other interviews on Waltrip’s career include Junior Johnson, Rick Hendrick, Cale Yarborough, Richard Petty, former NASCAR driver and commentator Buddy Baker and co-founder of DiGard Motorsports Bill Gardner.

Glen Wood – Friday, Jan. 13, 8 p.m. ET

Under the shade of a 200-year-old beech tree on the Wood family property, Glen and his brothers built the No. 21 car into one of NASCAR’s most legendary rides. Led by his deep-rooted work ethic, Glen Wood and Wood Brothers Racing delivered illustrious wins spanning seven decades.

The entire story of Wood is told through unique roundtable discussions with members of his family including his brothers and children. Furthermore, the story encompasses the beech tree as a metaphor for his racing career, and depicts his success as an innovator and driver through never before seen photos and videos.

2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series Top Performances

2011-12-06T14:33:00.002-05:00

2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series Top Performances

Bounty Of Unique Stories Flavor NASCAR Nationwide Season

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 6, 2011) – Remember standing at the ice cream counter as a kid? So many great flavors to choose from that sometimes you gave in to a double or triple scoop? That’s the way the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series season ended up – so many great stories were told.

From the “pick-a-series” rule that gave driver championship contenders an opportunity to truly chase a championship, to the first full year of competition for the new car, to new stars and veterans alike taking center stage, this past season was one that made its own headlines.

There certainly were some outstanding performances that took place during the recently completed 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series season. The following is a look back at some of those standout performers and memorable races, as selected from discussions with the national series directors, competition department and NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications managers. Additionally, click on the following links for special audio, video and photo packages commemorating the 2011 season.

Top Driver

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – Redemption may be an over-used word in athletic achievement, but there’s no better way to describe Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s recovery from infamy to the fame of winning the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series driver championship.

The story is worth repeating. Stenhouse, 24, barely made it through a 2010 season in which he filled Roush Fenway Racing’s shop with the remains of numerous Ford race cars. Relieved of his driving duties at one point in 2010 by owner Jack Roush, Stenhouse’s NASCAR career hung by the thinnest of threads. But the native of Olive Branch, Miss., listened – and learned – from the experience. He rebounded to claim Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors, in the process erasing the largest deficit in series history.

Stenhouse kept that momentum in 2011, winning two races, three Coors Light Pole Awards and piling up 16 top-five and 26 top-10 finishes. Stenhouse earned his first NASCAR national series win – and a reputation for never backing down – at Iowa Speedway in May, coming out on top of a door-to-door battle with his teammate Carl Edwards. His signature moment came three months later, also at Iowa, when he won despite a last-lap engine failure as Edwards rammed into Stenhouse’s rear, blasting him across the finish line.

Elliott Sadler (Honorable Mention) – His first full NASCAR Nationwide Series season since 1998 didn’t exactly get off to the rousing start Elliott Sadler had hoped for. He finished 38th at Daytona and left Speedweeks ranked 27th with just six points to his credit.

But the NASCAR veteran recovered, climbing to the points lead twice and challenging Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in what effectively was a two-man race throughout the last half of 2011. Sadler was a victim of an untimely wreck in the seasons’ penultimate race at Phoenix, costing him a real opportunity to take the title chase versus Stenhouse down to the season finale at Homestead-Miami. Still, his return to the series was a hit with the fans, who voted Sadler as the NASCAR Nationwide Series’ Most Popular Driver in an online poll on NASCAR.COM.

Comeback Driver of the Year

Reed Sorenson – Reed Sorenson led the points standings three times in the season’s first 20 races, took home the coveted Harley Davidson Sportster motorcycle trophy after winning a wild race at Road America and collected a cool $200,000 as highest finisher among eligible drivers in two of the first four NASCAR Nationwide Series “Dash 4 Cash” races. That was the high.

He was involved in an accident with his Turner Motorsports teammate, Justin Allgaier, resulting in a 32nd-place finish at Atlanta. He fell to 40 points behind the leader with eight races left, effectively ending his championship hopes. Then following the race at Dover, he was released by Turner. He was still third in the standings, but without a ride to keep that status. That was the low.

Despite a seemingly insurmountable task, he was able to work out a season-ending deal with MacDonald Motorsports. His finishes, although not what he had been accustomed to, were consistent enough to lock him into fifth place in the final championship standings.

Kenny Wallace (Honorable Mention) – Driving for an independent team – RAB Racing – and, by his own decision, without a paycheck – Kenny Wallace spearheaded one of the most unsung comebacks of 2011. In the process, he cemented himself in the record books by becoming the all-time starts leader in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Following the 2010 season, Wallace underwent a personal reinvention. He lost weight, got fit and rediscovered his “inner race-car driver” with his move to RAB. In addition to overtaking Jason Keller as the series’ starts leader – and becoming just the second driver in series history to surpass 500 starts – Wallace partied like it was 2005 registering or matching the following bests, all since that season: his first top-five finish, 11 top 10s and a seventh-place final championship ranking.

Top Team

RAB Racing with Brack Maggard – Before becoming the primary face of RAB Racing, Robby Benton, 32, got started in NASCAR doing summer jobs in Robert Yates’ shop before serving on Davey Allison’s crew. He still displays a pair of Allison’s racing gloves on his office wall.

Before this season Kenny Wallace, 48, had produced solid numbers in a NASCAR career that totaled over 800 starts among its three national series. But he felt as though he was running out of time to continue to prove himself on the track.

The two joined forces in 2011, providing proof for one another that they could compete – and how. Benton’s RAB Racing team finished 14th in the final 2011 owner standings, the highest among single-car independent teams in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Its turnaround can be traced back to 2010, when Boris Said edged Kevin Harvick Inc.’s Max Papis at the finish line in Montreal, giving Said his first NASCAR Nationwide Series win while rewarding Benton and RAB with the organization’s first victory. More importantly, RAB learned it belonged.

This year, Wallace brought with him a renewed energy. He helped lead the fourth-year organization into uncharted territory, where it thrived. In addition to RAB finishing tops among one-car independents in the owner rankings with an average finish of 15th, Wallace was seventh in the final driver standings, collecting one top five and 11 top 10s. Since 2008, the team’s only previous top-five/top-10 finish was Said’s victory.

Roush Fenway Racing (Honorable Mention) – It took a while – four years to be exact – but Carl Edwards tenaciously ran down the three-time defending champion Joe Gibbs Racing to give Roush Fenway Racing its second NASCAR Nationwide Series owner championship. Edwards won the 2007 driver championship, a season in which Richard Childress Racing was the owner champion.

With Ricky Stenhouse Jr. winning the 2011 driver championship, this year marked the first time that the same owner claimed both the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver and owner titles with different teams.

JGR’s No. 18 Toyota, helmed mostly by 2009 series champion Kyle Busch, appeared unbeatable in the early going, winning five of the season’s first 10 races. But Edwards and Roush Fenway’s No. 60 Ford team, backed by veteran crew chief Mike Beam, kept chipping away at the deficit. He closed on his rival in September and kept up the pressure through the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Edwards competed in 34 of the season’s 34 races. GRAND-AM Road Racing veteran Billy Johnson drove the No. 60 at Road America and was headed for a top-five finish before being struck down by mechanical problems.

Top Breakthrough Performer

Timmy Hill – Winning the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award in one of the most hotly-contested battles in series history is a testament to the resilience of Timmy Hill and his Rick Ware Racing team.

To begin the climb, Hill didn’t race in the season-opener at Daytona. He wasn’t yet 18. Twice during the season, RWR tragically lost a member of its team. Then, just one week after Hill had been honored at the season-ending banquet as the series’ top rookie, another member of the RWR organization unexpectedly passed away.

But through it all, Hill managed to grow in the moment. He battled fellow rookies Blake Koch and Ryan Truex from the moment the trio began racing against each other at Phoenix in February. His main competition turned out to be Koch, as Truex wasn’t able to secure a ride for the season finale, losing his rookie standings lead in the process.

Hill’s best result was 11th at Road America. He also posted finishes inside the top 20 at Talladega, Chicaogland, Richmond and Darlington. His Chicago result came three days before his high school graduation. He and Koch, who became good friends throughout the battle, finished just one position apart six times. The rookie award came down to the final race where the driver who finished in the best position between the two would claim the honor. Koch finished 23rd. Hill was 21st.

Hill is now the youngest rookie award-winner in NASCAR’s three national series.

Blake Koch (Honorable Mention) – Koch didn’t race at Daytona to open the season. He also wasn’t entered at Las Vegas. But with full sponsorship and a fresh, upbeat attitude in addition to solid skills, Koch’s season with MacDonald Motorsports truly began at Auto Club Speedway and showed improvement throughout. He drew close to Timmy Hill for the rookie honor at the season’s quarter pole and even took a slim lead late, thanks in part to a five-race string of finishes that bested Hill, including matching his career-best finish of 14th at Phoenix. But the string broke at Homestead, the worst time for Koch’s award aspirations.

Top Race

NAPA Auto Parts 200, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve – Marcos Ambrose, the class of the NASCAR Nationwide Series Montreal field, every year had continuously failed to bring home a victory for various reasons. He vowed to return to this event until he won. His chances this year again looked slim after having to start at the rear for missing qualifying while traveling from his NASCAR Sprint Cup duties in Michigan – which took him from a plane to a helicopter to a boat to finally get to his spot on the starting grid – just before the race.

He also had to deal with the hometown favorites: Jacques Villeneuve (the polesitter), Patrick Carpentier (making his last start before retiring) and Alex Tagliani (also started on the front row).

Villeneuve led 29 of the first 44 laps but his chances went away when he and Ambrose tangled in Turn 1 after a restart with 26 laps remaining. Ambrose powered through the mishap and kept pushing through the field, finally taking the lead from Tagliani on Lap 65. This time he held on around the final turn to take an improbable victory.

The excitement continued after the race when Carpentier’s frustrated crew chief Jerry Baxter grabbed Steve Wallace by the hair while Wallace was still in his car. Baxter’s pit road rage was in response to Wallace spinning out the local hero on Lap 56, ruining Carpentier’s final race.

U.S. Cellular 250, Iowa Speedway (Honorable Mention) – In its short NASCAR Nationwide Series history, Iowa Speedway is quickly becoming a track where the outcome can be counted on as one to remember.

Both races at the .875-mile track this season were sellouts (as have all series races there); both were thrillers and both had the same winner – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – and the same protagonist – Carl Edwards.

But the August race resulted in one of this year’s top moments.

As he was leading out of Turn 4 on the final lap, Stenhouse’s engine unexpectedly gave way. Edwards, running a distant second but making obvious headway after Stenhouse’s misfortune, had his view blinded by the smoke and oil from Stenhouse’s expiring motor and plowed into the rear of the No. 6 Mustang. That short chain-reaction sent Stenhouse across the finish line first. The victory, and Stenhouse’s championship season, was indeed “Smashing,” as the next day’s headline blared in the Des Moines Register.

2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Top Performances

2011-12-05T17:17:00.000-05:00

2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Top Performances

Youth Movement Highlights Storyline-Rich Season

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 5, 2011) – Every season since 2004, the over-40 crowd has hogged the championship spotlight in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

But in 2011, Austin Dillon changed all of that. At 21 years, six months and 22 days, Dillon became the youngest champion in the 17-year history of the series, signaling a possible changing of the guard.

Dillon was not alone in the young gun discussion, with the likes of Johnny Sauter, James Buescher and Timothy Peters all making a charge at the championship title. Throw in the addition of one of the strongest rookie classes in series history, and the series’ future looks strong.

There certainly were some outstanding performances that took place during the recently completed 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck season. The following is a look back at some of those standout performers and memorable races, as selected from discussions with the national series directors, competition department and NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications managers. Additionally, click on the following links for special audio, video and photo packages commemorating the 2011 season.

Top Drivers

Austin Dillon – No sophomore slump for Austin Dillon, who followed up his 2010 rookie campaign with a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship. Dillon, a native of Lewisville, N.C., at age 21 became the youngest by six years to win a title in the 17-year-old series. He’s also the first North Carolina native to wear the crown and third former top rookie to capture an overall title. Dillon, under the leadership of crew chief Danny Stockman, proved his grit to succeed in a three-way championship struggle featuring another “young gun” James Buescher and veteran Johnny Sauter. He chased down and passed Sauter, who dominated the series standings through much of the season. Dillon withstood the near miraculous comeback of Texan Buescher, who’d handicapped himself by failing to qualify for the season’s second race at Phoenix. Dillon won the pole at five venues (Daytona, Kansas, Nashville, LOR and Kentucky) this season – more than any other competitor. His victory at Chicagoland in September was especially sweet, marking the first time Dillon had won with Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch in the field.

Ron Hornaday Jr. (Honorable Mention) – When the first half of the season started with three finishes outside the top-25, many wrote Ron Hornaday Jr.’s winning ways off. He won at Texas Motor Speedway in June and Atlanta Motor Speedway in September. Then Hornaday captured his milestone 50th victory at Kentucky Speedway, followed with his first win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. More impressive he won in two different Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet trucks, the No. 2 and the No. 33, and won with a pair of different crew chiefs, Bruce Cook and Jeff Hensley. Hornaday became just the fourth driver to compete in at least 300 races.

Comeback Driver of the Year

Johnny Sauter – This season was one of ups and downs, dominance and frustration for Johnny Sauter and his Ohio-based team. Sauter ranked no worse than second in the standings from March through the Labor Day weekend. He took the points lead for the first time in his career following a signature victory at Martinsville Speedway where he measured a solid field that included Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick. From June through August, Sauter racked up a trio of second-place finishes at Kansas, Nashville and Bristol. Mechanical issues and several penalties, however, kept the points close and allowed 21-year-old rivals Austin Dillon and James Buescher to pressure Sauter. He made an impressive comeback, winning the season ending race at Homestead and finished second to Dillon in the standings by six points.

James Buescher (Honorable Mention) – Never give up is how James Buescher – who finished third in the series standings - will remember his 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. Buescher qualified second and finished ninth in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway. A week later, he wasn’t fast enough to make the field in Phoenix which dropped him to 24th in the standings. Then Buescher began what will forever be known as “the streak” in April. Beginning with a fifth-place performance in Nashville, Buescher went on a tear finishing 13 consecutive times among the top 10. He raced efficiently with calculation, letting the points pile up while rivals Johnny Sauter and Austin Dillon were hot and cold, charging forward and falling back.

Top Team

ThorSport Racing – It was a banner season for ThorSport Racing and owners Duke and Rhonda Thorson – one of the longest running teams in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series garage. Drivers Johnny Sauter and Matt Crafton nabbed a combined three victories (Martinsville, Iowa and Homestead), four Keystone Light Pole Awards and finished second and eighth in the series standings, respectively. The Sandusky, Ohio based team not only had success on the track, but off the track as well. In August, the team officially opened their new state-of-the-art 100,000 square foot racing facility.

Kevin Harvick Inc. (Honorable Mention) – All good things must come to an end, and Kevin Harvick Inc. went out a winner in the organization’s final season – capturing the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series owners’ championship in its No. 2 Chevrolet Silverado. The title was the third for what began as a single-truck, part-time operation fielded by DeLana and Kevin Harvick in 2001. KHI also won championships in 2007 and 2009, concurrent with Ron Hornaday Jr.’s third and fourth titles. KHI ended the season with an impressive combined 10 victories.

Top Breakthrough Performers

Joey Coulter – He could be considered the season’s biggest surprise, but Joey Coulter proved being consistent is the key to success for a rookie. The 21-year-old Sunoco Rookie of the Year winner had five top-five and 13 top-10 finishes, including top-five finishes in two of the final three events of the season. He finished seventh in the final NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standings. Coulter – along with Richard Childress Racing teammate Austin Dillon – became only the second duo in history to earn the series championship and Sunoco Rookie of the Year titles in the same season from the same organization.

Nelson Piquet Jr. (Honorable Mention) – With a rich family history in racing and an impressive five-race deal last season, Nelson Piquet Jr. had everyone’s attention from the start of the season. The Brazilian native finished second at Nashville in only his 10th series start. He scored six top-five and 13 top-10 finishes, including two fourth-place finishes in the final two races of the season. Despite battling streaks of bad luck, Piquet rebounded to climb his way back into the top-10 NASCAR Camping World Truck standings.

Top Races

Fast Five 225 at Chicagoland Speedway (Sept. 16)

One would expect a driver’s first victory to be the biggest race of his career, but his fourth? That is what Austin Dillon claimed following his fourth NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory after holding off NASCAR Sprint Cup competitors Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch. Harvick dominated the 150-lap event leading a race-high 99 laps, but a vibration forced a four tire stop late in the race resulting in a second- place finish. The victory moved Dillon within three points of the championship lead with seven races remaining in the 2011 season.

AAA Insurance 200 at Lucas Oil Raceway (July 29)

Spins are anticipated – if not expected – at Lucas Oil Raceway. However, recovering from them is a different story. What appeared to be a disappointing turn of events for Timothy Peters at the midway point of the event proved to be a blessing in disguise. A flat tire caused Peters to spin forcing him to pit for service out of sequence. The unscheduled pit stop allowed Peters to have the advantage over the competition in the final laps and chase down James Buescher – who led 97 laps – with six laps remaining to pull off the spin-to-win upset.

PENSKE AND KURT BUSCH PARTS WAYS

2011-12-05T10:14:00.001-05:00

Team Release
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (December 5, 2011) - Penske Racing announced today that it has reached a mutual agreement with driver Kurt Busch to end its driver/race team relationship, effective immediately.

The team will evaluate its options for the driver of the No. 22 Sprint Cup Series car in the future while Busch will seek new opportunities with another race team.

"I appreciate the victories that Kurt has brought Penske Racing and our sponsors over the past six years," said Roger Penske. "While I am disappointed that Kurt will not be racing for our team in the future, both Kurt and I felt that separating at this time was best for all parties, including our team and sponsors. I wish Kurt the best in his future racing endeavors."

"I am grateful to Penske Racing for six very productive years," said Busch. "Together we won a lot of races -16 in all. Leaving a great organization and a lucrative contract is not easy, but it's an important step for me and allows me to take a deep breath to work on things that can make me a better driver and a better person. I want to personally thank Roger Penske for the opportunity that he has given me."

Penske Racing is one of the most successful teams in the history of professional sports. Competing in a variety of disciplines, cars owned and prepared by Penske Racing have produced 350 major race wins, 412 pole positions and 23 National Championships. For more information about Penske Racing, please visit www.penskeracing.com.

NASCAR viewership jumps 8%, halts long slide

2011-12-05T07:50:00.000-05:00

NASCAR viewership jumps 8%, halts long slide

By Tripp Mickle & John Ourand, Staff Writers

Published December 5, 2011, Page 4

An exciting “race to the Chase” helped the fall Richmond ratings increase 19 percent.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES

■ With half of expiring sponsor deals renewed, NASCAR guns for more with expanded sales team.

BUSCH OUT AT PENSKE ?

2011-12-05T04:21:00.000-05:00

Penske Racing will meet Monday to discuss Busch's future. During that meeting, it's believed an announcement of some sort is expected during the day. One source said it was more likely it would be announced that Busch and Penske were mutually parting ways rather than the driver being fired.
Several sources are reporting David Ragan is the leading candidate to replace Busch. Ragan, 26, spent the 2011 season with Roush Fenway Racing but lost his ride when the organization couldn't find sponsorship for him next season.
Busch's temper has gotten the best of him on several occasions during his NASCAR career. The most recent event happened during the season-finale Chase for the Sprint Cup race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He used an obscene gesture while in his car and was caught on video blowing up at ESPN reporter Dr. Jerry Punch, who requested an interview with him following the race.

NASCAR And Sprint Announce Agreement On Sponsorship Extension

2011-12-03T09:23:00.000-05:00

NASCAR And Sprint Announce Agreement On Sponsorship Extension

Sprint To Remain Entitlement Sponsor Of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Through 2016;

Agreement Extends Through NASCAR’s Five-Year Industry Action Plan

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 3, 2011) – NASCAR and Sprint (NYSE:S) have signed a multiyear agreement for Sprint to remain the entitlement partner of the sport’s premier series. The extension keeps NASCAR and Sprint as partners through 2016, and ensures that the No. 1 finisher in the sport’s top series will be a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™ champion. The agreement coincides with NASCAR’s Five-Year Industry Action Plan, which is designed to help grow the sport and reach new audiences.

“Sprint has been very successful in using our sport as a platform to enhance its brand and drive their business,” said Brian France, NASCAR chairman and CEO. “They have been a fantastic partner and we are immensely pleased to continue with Sprint as the entitlement partner for our premier series. This new agreement aligns perfectly with our aggressive five-year plan, which is laser-focused on continuing to improve our product, keep our existing fans engaged, and reach new fans.”

“NASCAR fans are great customers who reward us with their loyalty,” said Dan Hesse, Sprint CEO. “We’re very pleased to continue to have our brand associated with the most competitive and exciting form of racing in the world.”

Since Sprint became the title sponsor in February 2004, it has activated the sponsorship in a number of creative and innovative ways, including the introduction of NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile, the exclusive application that allows millions of Sprint customers to keep up with every lap of NASCAR action on their wireless devices each year; the Sprint Experience mobile marketing display, which entertains more than 500,000 fans each year at NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events across the country; and the introduction of Miss Sprint Cup, a fan favorite who boasts more than 1.2 million followers in the social media space on Facebook and Twitter.