July 2014 NASCAR News Archive

contains NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series,
Camping World Truck Series and Racetrack news for the month

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    News from July 31, 2014

  • Mark Martin returns to Roush...as a coach: Roush Fenway Racing announces that legendary NASCAR driver Mark Martin is returning to the race team where he excelled behind the wheel for almost 20 years - this time as the team's driver development coach. Martin was the first driver hired by team owner Jack Roush when he founded his NASCAR operation in 1988. The two went on to become one of the most successful duos in sports history, accumulating 83 NASCAR wins, four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship runner-up finishes, and building Roush Fenway into the winningest team in NASCAR history.
    "I'm excited to return to Roush Fenway Racing, as it feels like I'm going home to where I belong," said Martin. "I was fortunate to help build this team from the beginning and it's very humbling to be a part of Jack's team again. When Jack first hired me in 1988 we didn't talk about salary or benefits or perks, we talked about testing, tires and putting the right personnel into place to win on the track. That commitment is what stood out to me then and it's still what stands out to me today."
    Martin piloted Roush Fenway's flagship #6 Ford from 1988 until 2006. During that time he accumulated 35 NSCS victories. At the end of his tenure at Roush Fenway he held a record five prestigious IROC (International Race of Champions) Championships and a then record 47 NASCAR Nationwide Series wins. For his career Martin posted 96 career NASCAR victories.(Roush Fenway Racing)(7-31-2014)

  • Toyota working on new Camry for 2015: Toyota will have a new face for 2015 - and we're not just talking about Carl Edwards. Long before the 2015 production Camry's coming out party at the New York Auto Show in April, Toyota Racing Development was hard at work to development a vehicle for competition in NASCAR's Sprint Cup division. In concert with Calty, Toyota's car design studio, the project has been in progress since fall of 2013. Toyota presented its' "first look" to NASCAR's Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C. earlier this month - which was returned for further development.
    "We had a preliminary submission, but we have more work to do," [David Wilson, president and GM of Toyota Racing Development] said. "We've been working with NASCAR on the car. They give you the opportunity to see where you are and of course our objective is to get the most performance out of it as possible. We have to pass their submission criteria, so we're going to have another go at it and hope to have that put to bed in the middle August. Then we'll unveil it to the public and get ready for 2015."
    Changes to the 2015 include a new front fascia, tail and character lines.(Motorsport)(7-31-2014)

  • Four drivers can clinch chase spot at Pocono: Four more drivers cleared the two toughest hurdles for entry into the 2014 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, joining #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #2-Brad Keselowski, both of whom locked up a spot on the Chase Grid at New Hampshire. At Indianapolis, #24-Jeff Gordon, #48-Jimmie Johnson, #99-Carl Edwards and #22-Joey Logano all either scored a second win (Gordon) or clinched a top 30 points spot (Johnson, Edwards and Logano). Now, those six drivers need only to attempt to qualify for the remaining six races to "officially" earn a spot in the Chase. As a reminder, any driver with multiple wins guarantees himself a spot in the top 15 winners (or top 16, if the points leader after race No. 26 has a win). Any driver who left Indy with a 289 point lead on 31st place clinched a top 30 points spot. Now, the series heads to Pocono Raceway, where four more drivers have a chance to clinch a spot in the Chase. This weekend, the magic number is 241 - any driver 241 points ahead of 31st place clinches a top 30 spot. If a driver does that, and has multiple wins, he clinches a spot. Those who can do it this weekend: #4-Kevin Harvick, #11-Denny Hamlin, #18-Kyle Busch and #43-Aric Almirola. Harvick's two wins mean he needs only to clinch a top 30 spot - a near certainty, as he needs to score only eight points at Pocono to do so (and that's if 31st place David Gilliland wins and leads the most laps). Busch has clinched a top 30 spot, but needs another win to clinch. Hamlin has yet to clinch a top 30 spot. He would clinch with a win and some help. Almirola would need to win this weekend to clinch, and get a good bit of help to also lock up a top 30 spot.(NASCAR)(7-31-2014)

  • Farm Rich to sponsor Ragan at Atlanta: Farm Rich will go NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing once again, returning to David Ragan's No. 34 Ford in the company's and the driver's home state. The frozen snacks and appetizers brand will be the primary sponsor of David Ragan's Ford Fusion at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Aug. 31 for the Atlanta 500. Kroger is teaming up with Farm Rich for the Atlanta race week, hosting Ragan for autograph appearances and other in-store promotions in the Atlanta area in the weeks leading up to the race. The Kroger logo will appear on the #34's rear quarter panel. Farm Rich is also partnering with Atlanta Motor Speedway for the "Ultimate Fan Giveaway," which will give one lucky fan a four-pack set of VIP tickets to "Club One" at the speedway for the Sunday night race on Labor Day weekend.(Front Row Motorsports)(7-31-2014)

  • Pocono Notes & Facts - Thursday - track history:
    · There have been 73 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Pocono Raceway, one race from 1974 through 1981, and two per year since.
    · Opened in 1968 as a three-quarter-mile track, Pocono Raceway held the first race on the 2.5-mile track in 1971.
    · The 2.5-mile track was repaved during the fall of 2011.
    · The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was in 1974 - won by Richard Petty, Dodge, 115.593 mph, 08/04/1974.
    · 2012 marked the first season the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono were scheduled for 400 miles. Prior to 2012 all NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races were 500 miles at Pocono Raceway.
    (NASCAR)(7-31-2014)

  • Chassis selections for this weeks race: see the list of many teams [that report or post them] and what chassis were selected by the team to run in the GoBowling.com 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway on the Pocono Race Info page - Chassis selection are.

  • Pocono Goodyear Tire Notes: This is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that NASCAR Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series teams have run at Pocono since 2012 . . . the only change is that the recommended air pressure for the left-side tires has been raised by a pound for each series since their last races at the track . . . for 2014, Pocono is the only track on which either of these tire codes are scheduled to be run . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners on all four tire positions at Pocono. . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.(Goodyear) See full notes, tire codes, tire pressures and more on the Pocono Race Info page - Goodyear section.

  • Cassill gets Iowa associate sponsor: Theisen's Home-Farm-Auto has signed an associate sponsorship program with the JD Motorsports car #01 and driver Landon Cassill for Saturday's Nationwide Series race in Newton, Iowa. The new playing card program is off to a great start, and Theisen's felt by utilizing Cassill, JD Motorsport and NASCAR that there will be a greater opportunity to let more people know Theisen's now offers playing cards in all 20 locations, featuring BICYCLE and NASCAR-branded playing cards.(JD Motorsports)(7-31-2014)

  • McDowell returns to the #20 for Gibbs: Pizza Ranch makes their second start of the season with Joe Gibbs Racing as a primary sponsor in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this weekend in Iowa. Michael McDowell will pilot the #20 Toyota Camry for the second time this season at Iowa; he previously finished seventh at the circuit. McDowell returns to Iowa for his eighth-career Nationwide start at the .875-mile track and the sixth time he will carry the Pizza Ranch colors. In his previous seven starts at the track, McDowell's best finish came in 2012 when he finished third. In addition to his third-place finish, McDowell has five top-10 finishes, an average start of 9.7 and an average finish of 7.7. He has led 36 laps and completed 100 percent of laps attempted (1,500 of 1,500).(JGR)(7-31-2014)

  • Olympic Gold Medalists to serve as grand marshals at Michigan: The United States ice dancing team of Meryl Davis and Charlie White will serve as the grand marshals for the Pure Michigan 400 on August 17 at Michigan International Speedway. White and Davis, the 2014 Olympic Champion ice dancing team, will give the command of "start your engines" at the Pure Michigan 400. With their win at the 2014 U.S. Championships, Davis and White secured their second Olympic Team berth and set their sights on gold at the Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. The team again made history, with their short dance and "Scheherazade"-themed free dance garnering a record score of 195.52 points, becoming the first-ever American ice dancing team to win Olympic gold. After the games Davis and White both competed on season 18 of Dancing with the Stars. Davis and her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy took home the Mirror Ball Trophy as the champions.Both were born and raised in Michigan (White-Royal Oak and Davis-West Bloomfield) and were recently named the grand marshals for the 88th America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit.(MIS)(7-31-2014)

  • Pocono race officials announced: Country recording artists Eric Lee Beddingfield and Lucy Angel will perform during the GoBowling.com 400 race weekend at Pocono Raceway. NASCAR legend Richard Petty, on behalf of GoBowling.com, will serve as Grand Marshal for the GoBowling.com 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on August 3, members of Pocono Raceway's Kids Club will give the honorary command for the Pocono Mountains 150 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on August 2 and a ModSpace representative will serve as the Grand Marshal for the ModSpace 125 ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards race on August 1. Eric Lee Beddingfield will perform the National Anthem at Sunday's 400-mile NASCAR race. Beddingfield was named "Artist to Watch" by Billboard Magazine and "Independent Artist of the Year" in 2012 by Music Row Magazine. His current single "I Just Wanna Play" is available for download on iTunes. Petty will give the command to fire engines prior to the GoBowling.com 400, exactly one day before the 40th anniversary of the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held at Pocono Raceway, a race won by "The King" on August 4, 1974.(Pocono Raceway)(7-31-2014)


    News from July 30, 2014

  • Zest renews sponsorship of Stenhouse, Jr.: Roush Fenway Racing announced that it has extended its partnership with Zest and the #17 Ford Fusion driven by two-time NASCAR champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr., into the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Zest first joined Roush Fenway in 2012 and has served as a primary partner on the #17 Ford in NSCS competition the past three seasons. The company will again serve as a primary for Stenhouse for multiple races in 2015, as well as a season-long associate for the #17 entry.(Roush Fenway Racing)(7-30-2014)

  • Greg Ives named crew chief for Earnhardt, Jr. in 2015: Crew chief Greg Ives will rejoin Hendrick Motorsports following the 2014 NASCAR season to lead the #88 Sprint Cup Series team of driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. Ives, 34, was race engineer for Jimmie Johnson's historic run of five consecutive Sprint Cup championships (2006-2010) with the #48 Hendrick Motorsports team. He will work alongside Johnson's crew chief, Chad Knaus, in the shop shared by the #48 and 88 Chevy SS teams.
    "Greg was our number-one choice," said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "This is a talented guy who already has a terrific rapport with Dale Jr. and is a fit with the organization. He and Chad had a lot of success together, and all of our crew chiefs think the world of him and what he's accomplished. Greg's proven that he can win races, and he has all the tools to do big things."
    Since his debut as a crew chief for JR Motorsports in 2013, Ives has won five NASCAR Nationwide Series races including three this season with rookie and current points leader Chase Elliott.
    A native of Bark River, Michigan, and graduate of Michigan Technological University, Ives joined Hendrick Motorsports as a mechanic in 2004 before moving into an engineering role on the #48 team in 2006. In seven years working with Knaus, he contributed to 42 wins, 113 top-five finishes and 21 pole positions in the Sprint Cup Series. In November 2012, Ives transitioned to JR Motorsports as crew chief for driver Regan Smith. The duo won two races and finished third in points in 2013 before Ives was named Elliott's crew chief prior to this season. JR Motorsports works closely with Hendrick Motorsports and is owned by Earnhardt in partnership with Rick Hendrick.(HMS)(7-30-2014)

  • McDowell gets Bristol primary sponsor: Leavine Family Racing has announced a multi-race partnership this season with Thrivent Financial for the #95 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race team and driver Michael McDowell. Thrivent is a financial services organization that helps Christians be wise with money and live generously. The NASCAR race team sponsorship is a first for Thrivent and will include five races with LFR, starting with a primary paint scheme at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 23, and four associate sponsorships on the #95 Ford Fusion this season. Thrivent is a not-for-profit, Fortune 500 financial services membership organization of Christians, with approximately 2.4 million members and over 100 years of experience. Thrivent Financial, based in Minneapolis (domiciled in Appleton, Wis.), offers a broad range of products and services-including life insurance, annuities and mutual funds-along with guidance from financial representatives nationwide.(Leavine Family Racing), see an image of the car on the #95 team paint schemes page.(7-30-2014)

  • Chase drivers can't tire test at Homestead: NASCAR will not allow championship-eligible drivers to participate in a Goodyear tire test at Homestead-Miami Speedway. But, to ensure fairness, NASCAR will allow all organizations represented in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship to participate in the Aug. 26 test because Homestead is the site of the title-deciding season finale. Teams will have to send a driver not qualified for the Chase to the tire test. The restrictions create a dilemma for Team Penske, which has both #2-Brad Keselowski and #22-Joey Logano already qualified for the Chase. The two-car team does not have another Sprint Cup driver on its roster. Hendrick Motorsports also has three of its four drivers qualified. Should #5-Kasey Kahne qualify for the Chase, Hendrick would have to look outside its immediate organization for a substitute.(Associated Press/ESPN.com)(7-30-2014)

  • Ragan will promote National Root Beer Float Day: You might not recognize National Root Beer Float Day as a patriotic holiday, but A&W All American Food and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver David Ragan are teaming up to make sure it is. A&W is giving out free Root Beer Floats on Aug. 6, National Root Beer Float Day, and encouraging customers to make a donation to help American veterans in return. The campaign, which benefits Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), will be promoted on Ragan's #34 Ford for the upcoming Pocono Raceway weekend. The simple message: Visit any participating A&W restaurant on Aug. 6 between 2:00pm and closing time and receive one small Root Beer Float free of charge upon request. In return, guests will be encouraged to make a donation to WWP. Donors will be able to give directly at participating restaurants or online at www.rootbeerfloatday.com. WWP serves 50,000 injured veterans and nearly 7,000 family members through its unique 20 programs and services. During the 2013 celebration of National Root Beer Float Day, A&W Restaurants donated more than $100,000 to WWP and hopes to increase this level of giving this year and in years to come.(Front Row Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #34 team paint scheme page.(7-30-2014)

  • GoBowling.com sponsoring Almirola: Heading into the 40th anniversary of the weekend "The King" Richard Petty scored a win in the inaugural NASCAR race at Pocono Raceway, Aric Almirola and the #43 GoBowling.com team look to make history once again. Thirty years to the weekend of Petty's 200th win, Almirola and team scored a big win at Daytona International Speedway earlier this year and nearly locked in a spot in The Chase to the Sprint Cup. And this weekend, they hope to keep up that trend. On August 4, 1974, Petty was the first NASCAR driver to take the checkered flag at the Long Pond, Pa., track and started a long history of racing in the Pocono Mountains. The team also eyes a top finish for sponsor GoBowling.com, the title sponsor of the 400-mile event. For the second consecutive year, GoBowling.com will adorn the hood of the iconic #43 "Petty Blue" Ford, promoting bowling across the country.(RPM), see an image of the car on the #43 team paint scheme page.(7-30-2014)

  • Final round of Dash 4 Cash at Iowa: Nationwide's Dash 4 Cash reaches its fourth and final round of competition this weekend in the U.S. Cellular 250 Presented by New Holland at Iowa Speedway. While the first three rounds have packed excitement into the series for the drivers to win the money, this time around the fans also get a chance at the cash. Four NASCAR Nationwide Series championship contenders are eligible to compete for the chance to win the $100,000 bonus this weekend at Iowa. #3-Ty Dillon banked the third round of Dash 4 Cash at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last weekend. By winning the award Dillon automatically qualifies for the next payout this Saturday at Iowa. He will compete against #6-Trevor Bayne, #2-Brian Scott and #7-Regan Smith. This weekend, Nationwide includes a fan element into the program. The following four sweepstakes winners are entered to win the bonus: Kathy Coffman (winner), Gonzales, LA (Hometown: New Orleans, LA); Patricia Martens (winner) Danville, CA (Hometown: Norwalk, CT); James Dennis (winner), Henry, IL; Patricia Cochran (winner), Houston, TX. Each sweepstakes winner will be paired with a driver randomly on Saturday morning; they will also be an honorary team member during the race. If their driver wins the Dash 4 Cash they win the $100,000 dollars bonus as well. Also every fan attending the NASCAR Nationwide Series race may join the "Dash 4 Cash Bash," a NASCAR-style celebration immediately after the checkered flag waves, culminating the popular "Dash 4 Cash" driver and fan sweepstakes and Iowa Speedway's 2014 race season.(NASCAR)(7-30-2014)

  • Barry making Nationwide debut at Iowa: Josh Berry is a 23-year-old Hendersonville, Tenn., native. He began racing go karts in Tennessee at eight years old. Berry moved to Legends cars in 2006, becoming the INEX Tennessee State Semi-Pro champion in 2007. He notched track championships at Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville, Tenn. in 2007 and 2009. Berry began driving for JR Motorsports' Late Model program in 2010. In 2012, he earned the team's first track championship at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va. Berry currently leads the Late Model Stock points standings at Hickory(N.C.) Motor Speedway on the strength of five victories. He has also won at Southern National Motorsports Park (Lucama, N.C.) this season. Berry made NASCAR K&N Pro Series East starts at Greenville-Pickens Speedway (Greenville, S.C.) and Richmond International Raceway earlier this year to be approved for Nationwide Series competition. Tackle Grab, the leading online subscription box service for the recreational and sport-fishing industry, will be featured as primary sponsor of Berry's #5 Chevy. Berry becomes the seventh driver to make their Nationwide Series debut in a JR Motorsports Chevrolet. He joins Steve Arpin, Richard Boswell, Chase Elliott, Danica Patrick, Andy Pilgrim and Austin Theriault on that list. In their Nationwide Series debuts this season, Elliott and Theriault each earned 15th-place finishes.(JR Motorsports)(7-30-2014)

  • Hornish returns to the #54: Sam Hornish Jr. and the #54 Monster Energy team will return together to the site of their earlier Midwest victory, Iowa Speedway in Newton, for this weekend's U.S. Cellular race presented by New Holland. The Hornish name will again be over the door of the black Toyota Camry Saturday night with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), the fifth of seven races for the Monster Energy athlete. Hornish Jr. will additionally have the wheel of the already four-time winning Toyota, August 6 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington and September 20 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta. The 35-year-old's NASCAR career consists of 131 starts in the Sprint Cup Series and 104 career starts in the Nationwide Series with three wins, 31 top-five finishes, 56 top-10 finishes and six poles recorded in the NNS. Last year alone, Hornish secured four pole positions, one win (Las Vegas), 16 top-five and 25 top-10 finishes en route to a second-place driver standing at season end, three points shy of a Nationwide Series championship.(JGR)(7-30-2014)

  • Special paint scheme for Bell, MAKE in Pocono: The #50 Chevy driven by TJ Bell will sport a special paint scheme this week in support of the Fallen Linemen Organization. The names of those linemen who were killed during 2013 while working as a hard working dedicated electrical linemen are listed on the bed of the truck to pay tribute to the price they paid. The Fallen Linemen Organization (FLO) is a 501(c)3 non-profit created to memorialize fallen electrical line workers, and care for the families who have lost or are impacted by a severe injury of a loved one in the line of duty.(See an image of the truck on the #50 Team Paint Schemes page.)(MAKE Motorsports)(7-30-2014)

  • Janssen Pharmaceuticals partners with Chicagoland for Sprint Cup race: Chicagoland Speedway announced Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the official cardiovascular partner of NASCAR, as the title sponsor of this year's first Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race. The MyAFibStory.com 400 will take place on Sunday, September 14, 2014 in recognition of National AFib Awareness Month, running throughout September. Atrial Fibrillation, or AFib, is a condition caused by an irregular heartbeat that impacts as many as 2.7 million Americans. AFib increases a person's risk for stroke by up to five times and is the most common serious heart rhythm abnormality in people over the age of 65. Patients with AFib should ensure they talk to their doctor about lowering their risk of stroke and appropriate treatment options. Janssen became involved with NASCAR in an official capacity earlier this year, sponsoring both a NASCAR Nationwide Series Race at Auto Club Speedway and Brian Vickers' #55 Toyota, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sprint Cup ride at the Southern California facility.(Chicago Speedway)(7-30-2014)

  • Dierks Bentley headlines Bristol Truck Series Post-Race Concert: Bristol Motor Speedway revs up Wednesday night (Aug. 20), adding a full-length concert by award-winning country music star Dierks Bentley to its already competitive racing doubleheader. The newly announced tripleheader - the Bush's Beans 150 Whelen Modfied race, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series UNOH 200 presented by ZLOOP and Dierks Bentley concert - provides an unforgettable race-day experience at an unbeatable price. Bentley, who is currently on the road headlining his 2014 RISER TOUR, is no stranger to motorsports. He performed at the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Banquet, has attended NASCAR races at BMS and recently revamped his number-one single "Sideways" for NASCAR on FOX. This is his first solo concert at the Last Great Colosseum.(BMS)(7-30-2014)


    News from July 29, 2014

  • NASCAR confiscates parts from #11 Toyota UPDATES: NASCAR discovered "possible issues" with the #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota driven by Denny Hamlin in post-race inspection. At question were rear firewall block-off plates on Hamlin's car. According to NASCAR the parts were confiscated and taken back to the research and development center in Concord, N.C. for further evaluation. According to one crew chief, If the block-off plates are not sealed off sufficiently, air can flow through the firewall enabling the car to gain anywhere from 20 to 30 pounds of rear downforce. Hamlin qualified 27th. After Hamlin pitted on Lap 55 from the lead, he fell to 13th but quickly made his way back to the front of the back to finish third on Sunday. He led 18 laps.(Motorsport)(7-27-2014)
    UPDATE: The #11 team that competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has been penalized for a rules infraction discovered in post-race inspection July 27 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This infraction is a P5 level penalty which is outlined in Section 12-4.5 A (9) of the 2014 NASCAR rule book:
    Approved parts that fail or are improperly installed to fail in their intended use of great importance (e.g.; rear wheel well panels that fail and allow air evacuation in the trunk area; oil box cover that fails and allows air evacuation in the driver compartment; shifter boot cover that fails and allows air evacuation through the floor pan).
    This infraction violates Sections:
    12-1 - Actions detrimental to stock car racing;
    20-2.1 - Car body must be acceptable to NASCAR officials and meet the following requirements:
    · K - Any device or ductwork that permits air to pass from one area of the interior of the car to another, or to the outside of the car, will not be permitted. This includes, but is not limited to, the inside of the car to the trunk area, or the floors, firewalls, crush panels and wheel wells passing air into or out of the car;
    · L - All seams of the interior sheet metal and all interior sheet metal to exterior sheet metal contact point must be sealed and caulked. This includes, but is not limited to, floors, firewalls, wheel wells, package trays, crush panels and any removable covers;
    20-3.4 - All references to the inspection surface in sub-section 20-3.4 have been determined with the front lower edge of both main frame rails set at six inches and the rear lower edge of both main frame rails set at eight inches. For driver protection, all firewalls, floors, tunnels, and access panels must be installed and completely secured in place when the car is in competition;
    20-3.4.5 - A rear firewall, including any removable panels or access doors, constructed using magnetic sheet steel a minimum of 22 gage (0.031 inch thick), must be located between the trunk area and the driver's compartment and must be welded in place. Block-off plates/covers used in rear firewalls in place of blowers, oil coolers, etc., must be constructed of 22 gage (0.031 inch thick) magnetic sheet steel. Block-off plates/covers must be installed with positive fasteners and sealed to prevent air leakage. Carbon fiber or aluminum block-off plates/covers will not be permitted.
    Per Section 12-4.5 B, the minimum P5 penalty includes:
    · Loss of 50 championship driver and owner points, regardless of whether the violation occurred during a championship race or not;
    · $75,000 to $125,000 fine;
    · Suspension for the next six series championship races, plus any non-championship races or special events which might occur during that period, for the crew chief and any other team members as determined by NASCAR;
    · Probation through the end of the calendar year for all suspended members, or for a six-month period following the issuance of the penalty notice if that period spans across two consecutive seasons.
    Since this infraction is a P5 level penalty and was discovered in post-race inspection, Section 12-4.5 C (1,2) also applies:
    · If the infraction is detected during post-race inspection, then the following penalty elements will be added:
    o Loss of an additional 25 championship driver and owner points; regardless of whether it was a championship race or not;
    o Loss of an additional $50,000.
    As a result of these violations, crew chief Darian Grubb has been fined $75,000 plus an additional $50,000 post-race fine for a total of $125,000. Grubb has also been suspended from NASCAR for the next six series championship events, plus any non-championship races or special events that might occur during that time period. Grubb will also be on NASCAR probation for the next six months.
    Car chief Wesley Sherrill has been suspended from NASCAR for the next six series championship events, plus any non-championship races or special events that might occur during that time period and will be on NASCAR probation for the next six months.
    This infraction has also cost the #11 team the loss of 50 championship driver and owner (Denny Hamlin and J.D. Gibbs) points plus an additional 25 post-race points for a total loss of 75 championship driver and 75 championship owner points.(NASCAR)(7-29-2014)
    Gibbs statement:Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) is aware of the penalty issued by NASCAR today regarding the #11 team's post-race inspection infraction following Sunday's Sprint Cup Series race in Indianapolis. JGR will plan to appeal the penalty, however, crew chief Darian Grubb and car chief Wesley Sherrill will begin to serve their suspensions starting this weekend in Pocono.(Gibbs PR)(7-29-2014)

  • Indy TV Ratings UPDATE: The Indianapolis market saw a big increase: from 13.8 last year to 15.0 this year. The national number wasn't so kind to IMS and NASCAR. There was a decrease in overnight rating, from 3.4 last year to 3.2 this year. Last year's final national rating was 3.6. That information will be available Tuesday.(Indianapolis Star).(7-29-2014)
    UPDATE: ESPN's live telecast of the Brickyard 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 27, earned a 3.4 U.S. rating, averaging 5,196,000 viewers, according to Nielsen Media. The rating and viewership were down from the 2013 race, which earned a 3.6 rating and averaged 5,460,000 viewers, but were up from 2012, when the telecast earned a 3.3 rating and averaged 5,055,000 viewers. Indianapolis led the nation's metered markets with a 15.0 rating, up from a 13.7 rating last year, while Greenville/Spartanburg/Asheville was second with a 9.4 rating. North Carolina's Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem market was third nationally with an 8.7 rating while Charlotte and Richmond tied for fourth at 7.7. The rest of the nation's top 10 markets for the race were Louisville, 6.9; Nashville, 6.5; Birmingham and Raleigh-Durham, 6.3; and Tampa/St. Petersburg and Orlando, 5.5. ESPN's live telecast of Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide Series race at IMS earned a 1.3 rating, averaging 1,988,000 viewers. Viewership was up over last year's race, which averaged 1,913,000 viewers with a 1.4 rating.(ESPN) See past 2014 race ratings, 5-yr comparison chart and past news on the 2014 TV Ratings page.(7-29-2014)

  • Maaco featured on the #24 at Pocono: On August 3, at Pocono Raceway, Maaco will serve as an associate sponsor of Jeff Gordon's #24 Chevy.(Lionel Racing), see an image of the scheme on the #24 Team Schemes page.(7-29-2014)

  • Top 10 Driver Ratings at Pocono:
    #11-Denny Hamlin 109.0
    #48-Jimmie Johnson 108.7
    #41-Kurt Busch 105.5
    #24-Jeff Gordon 101.8
    #14-Tony Stewart 98.9
    #99-Carl Edwards 96.0
    #42-Kyle Larson 96.0
    #31-Ryan Newman 95.8
    #2-Brad Keselowski 92.8
    #5-Kasey Kahne 91.5
    Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2014 races (19 total) among active drivers at Pocono Raceway.
    Formula combining the following categories: Win, Finish, Top-15 Finish, Average Running Position while on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.
    See an explanation how the Driver Rating is calculated at NASCAR.com.(NASCAR)

  • NASCAR Number's from Indy:
    2,561: The number of laps completed by Tony Stewart in 16 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Stewart is the only driver to have finished on the lead lap in every Brickyard 400 in which he has raced. That streak was in jeopardy on Sunday, when Stewart fell one lap down, but an opportune caution helped him to a 17th-place, lead-lap finish.
    3: The number of drivers who have won races on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval in three different decades. On Sunday at the Brickyard, Jeff Gordon joined the exclusive club whose membership previously was confined to Indy 500 winners Bobby Unser and Rick Mears.
    70: The number of laps led by Kasey Kahne in Sunday's Crown Royal presents the John Wayne Walding 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That's six more laps than Kahne had led in 19 previous races this season.
    12: The number of consecutive victories for Chevrolet in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Indianapolis, an amazing streak for a single manufacturer. The last non-Chevy winner of a Cup race at the Brickyard was Bill Elliott in a Ray Evernham Dodge.
    8: The number of years since a driver has swept both events in a single season at Pocono Raceway. Denny Hamlin last did the honors during his 2006 rookie season, winning both races from the pole. Dale Earnhardt Jr., the June winner at the Tricky Triangle, could make the No. 88 Chevy a three-time winner this year by completing a sweep next Sunday.(NASCAR Wire Service)(7-29-2014)

  • Gordon approaching some records: Starting with his Cup debut in the final race of the 1992 season, #24-Jeff Gordon hasn't missed a race in 22 years. At Indianapolis on Sunday, he started his 745th straight event. Assuming Gordon stays in the seat of the #24 Chevrolet in every race through the 2015 season, he will break Ricky Rudd's series-record 788 consecutive starts in the 28th race next year.
    Gordon led 40 laps on Sunday, bringing his career total to 23,949, sixth most all-time. If he drives for two more seasons beyond the current one, he has a realistic shot at leading 25,000 laps, perhaps catching the next driver on the list, Pearson, who racked up 25,159 laps led. Richard Petty led the most with 51,380.(NASCAR Wire Service)(7-29-2014)

  • Stewart would like to have Nationwide and Sprint Cup races at Eldora UPDATE: While he's not planning for it, Tony Stewart would love for the addition of more NASCAR Racing at Eldora Speedway. Stewart, along with track general manager Roger Slack, talked about the possibility during a press conference for the unveiling of the new infield building that will be added for the 2015 season. "I'd love for the Truck Series to not be the only NASCAR that comes here," Stewart said. "If this continues to go as well as we hope it does there's no reason that the other two divisions couldn't come possibly in the future. I think we can make it work. If you can take the trucks and make them work here, the Cup cars and Nationwide cars aren't much of a stretch from that. So it's definitely feasible to do that." The new building, which will begin to be constructed in October, will house the media center that will also double as an infield hospitality suite. The building will also be the site of the infield care center along with a concession stand with double lines. Stewart said the decision to build in the infield building had no bearing on the possibilty of getting a Nationwide of Cup Series race in the future. "This is part of the continued process of us making the commitment of improving the facility to making it bigger and better," he said. "But we are very appreciative and very content if we only run truck races from here on out. We get the privilege to keep hosting Truck races and we are very happy doing that."(Motor Racing Network)(7-24-2014)
    UPDATE: NASCAR Executive Vice President Steve O'Donnell said there have been no discussions about adding another major NASCAR race at Eldora. "We haven't had any discussions with Tony beyond that (truck race)," O'Donnell said. "I wouldn't rule out looking at potential other venues for trucks, but I think for the most part, we want to keep the uniqueness of that event. It has been really successful. They have done a great job for us. They set the bar very high. But we like where we're at right now with it." The Eldora event is a successful weeknight event. Whether that success could translate to a Cup race on a weeknight remains to be seen. Both the track and television partner would have to be prepared for it, and so far NASCAR has not had a track want a weeknight prime-time event that it could then pitch to the networks. The truck race at Eldora was the biggest sports cable event of Wednesday night, giving Fox Sports 1 a rare evening win over ESPN. "One of the challenges with most of the venues, especially on the Cup side, is big camping unlike other sports, so that presents a challenge," O'Donnell said. "It is something we have discussed with promoters. But we just aren't there from a logistics standpoint to be able to pull it off. But it has worked for the trucks. That is something going forward you could see us take a bigger look at with some other venues that have interest."(Sporting News)(7-29-2014)

  • Menard's team not happy with Montoya: A run-in with #12-Juan Pablo Montoya early in the Brickyard 400 on Sunday may have cost #27-Paul Menard a place in the NASCAR championship shootout. It also left his team livid. "It's stupid," crew chief Slugger Labbe said as the team loaded Menard's crinkled and scraped Chevrolet onto its transporter at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "People have no respect.... I just don't get Juan Pablo, what he's doing. It doesn't make sense. You'd think the guy would come over and apologize or something." Menard slapped the third-turn wall after he was hit by Montoya on the 32nd lap. He lost two laps for repairs and finished 34th. "We're running for a spot in the Chase, and some part-time racer left-rears us and puts us in the fence," Labbe said. "Then you're done." Menard was not available for comment. Montoya was making just his second Sprint Cup start of the season. He returned to IndyCar this season after seven years in NASCAR. "Obviously that's why he's not in our sport anymore," Labbe said. "He's never used his head, he's always wrecked people and he got us. It probably knocked us out of the Chase (for the Sprint Cup), but...we've just got to fight back in six more races." Menard's finish dropped him four spots in the standings to 16th.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(7-29-2014)

  • Kenny Wallace driving for RAB at Iowa: The NASCAR Nationwide Series' second race at Iowa Speedway on August 2nd will feature some familiar names and sponsors. U.S. Cellular continues its partnership with Iowa Speedway by serving as title sponsor of the U.S. Cellular 250 for a sixth consecutive year and its partnership with RAB Racing with Brack Maggard as the primary sponsor of the #29 Toyota Camry driven by veteran Kenny Wallace. Wallace, who made his 900th career NASCAR start last September, finished 13th and 22nd during two Iowa Speedway appearances in 2013. The 50-year-old driver from Concord, North Carolina, has 543 career Nationwide Series starts.(RAB Racing)(7-29-2014)

  • Entry list: There are 32 trucks on the preliminary entry list for Saturday'sPocono Mountains 150 at Pocono Raceway. A few notes:
    Caleb Roark is in the #0;
    Austin Dillon is in the #3;
    Justin Lofton is in the #20;
    Spencer Gallagher is in the #23;
    Ryan Ellis is in the #28;
    Kyle Larson is in the #32;
    Todd Peck is in the #40;
    Kyle Martel is in the #59;
    Scott Stenzel is in the #36;
    Justin Jennings is in the #63;
    (7-29-2014)
    See the complete list on the Pocono entry list page.

  • White joins NTS roster: NTS Motorsports Vice President of Operations Dwayne Gaulding announced that Jason White will run a part time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule starting with the Pocono Mountains 150 at Pocono Raceway on Saturday, August 2nd. Through his efforts in Saturday's Pocono Mountains 150, White will raise awareness for Autism Speaks. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. An estimated 1 out of 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls are diagnosed with autism in the United States. Learn more at AutismSpeaks.org. White most recently competed off the race track in the prestigious annual World Series of Poker Tournament at The Rio in Las Vegas, Nevada. White placed in the top-350 out of more than 6,800 participants.(NTS Motorsports)(7-29-2014)

  • Fan support allows FDNY Racing team to get back on track: During the May 16 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race held at Charlotte Motor Speedway, driver Ryan Ellis and the #28 FDNY race truck were taken out with a questionable move by Jake Crum. Unfortunately, the hit virtually destroyed the truck, which is an all-volunteer team that donates its winnings to 911 survivors. Even the driver, Ellis, spotter, David Ragan, and crew chief all are volunteers. Sadly, because the truck owners donate their winnings, there was little surplus for rebuilding a new truck. But the truck is a popular one. Even Crum wrote on Twitter: "It's like my dad said, I couldn't have done much worse if I had wrecked Santa Claus. Everyone loves the fire truck!" Fans of the truck, in fact, raised over $2,200 to help the team get the FDNY fire truck back on track. Names of these devoted fans will be displayed on the truck's hood for the Pocono race on August 2nd and the Talledega race (in October).(Ryan Ellis Racing)(7-29-2014)

  • Special Traffic Patterns planned for Pocono race: The Pennsylvania State Police will put special traffic patterns into effect to help motorists attending the GoBowling.com 400 NASCAR race on Sunday, August 3rd, 2014, at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Monroe County. On Sunday, August 3rd, the following traffic patterns will be in effect:
    · Prior to the race, Route 115 from Interstate 80 to the raceway will be converted to two lanes and will be one way southbound. This conversion will be put into effect at approximately 8 a.m. and continue until all traffic has entered the track grounds.
    · Following the race, Route 115 from the raceway to Interstate 80 will be converted to two lanes and will be one way northbound, until the raceway parking lots are cleared. This conversion will take place with 25 laps remaining in the race.
    · Stoney Hollow Road has been designated a no parking and tow away zone from Long Pond Road to the Interstate 80 overpass. It will be properly posted and enforced. Any vehicle in violation will be removed at the owner's expense.
    · Following the race, the Interstate 80 eastbound off-ramp at the Blakeslee exit (Exit 284) will be closed to traffic.
    Traffic coming south to the race in the two lanes of Route 115 will be required to enter specific parking areas. Motorists should take note of signs posted along Route 115 and travel in the appropriate traffic lanes for their desired parking area. Likewise, outbound traffic traveling north will face similar signs with lane restrictions for Interstate 80 and Route 115 access. The August 1st weekend will bring with it large amounts of race fans to the Poconos. Motorists should expect higher traffic volume and possible delays not only on Route 115 and Interstate 80, but also on State Routes 209, 940 and 903. Those who normally utilize Route 115 to travel through the area should consider using Interstate 80, Route 33, Route 209, and the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike as alternate routes.
    Tickets to the GoBowling.com 400 are available by visiting www.poconoraceway.com or by calling 1-800-RACEWAY (1-800-722-3929).(Pocono Raceway)(7-29-2014)


    News from July 28, 2014

  • Entry List for the GoBowling.com 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway is posted, 43 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including: #32-Kvapil, #33-Alex Kennedy, #37-Dave Blaney, #66-Nemechek, #93-Bliss.
    Since only 43 cars are entered, all drivers will make the race.
    See the full entry list at my Jayski's Pocono Entry List

  • Mobil 1 to sponsor Harvick at Pocono: ExxonMobil is expanding its Mobil 1 partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing, adding a one-time full primary sponsorship of Kevin Harvick's #4 Chevrolet SS for the GoBowling.com 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race Aug. 3 at Pocono Raceway. "Kevin Harvick has had a brilliant year and is a strong contender to win the 2014 Sprint Cup Series title," said Artis Brown, global motorsports manager, Mobil 1. "As a member of Stewart-Haas Racing, Kevin has experienced the protection and performance benefits of Mobil 1 lubricants in the #4 racecar firsthand. Now, with the #4 Chevy, we're proud to have Mobil 1 on and under the hood." Supported by Mobil 1 lubricant technology, Harvick has earned two wins, five top-five and nine top-10 finishes since the beginning of the 2014 season. Harvick is currently 12th in the championship standings and virtually assured to qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup under the new format, where the top spots in the 16-driver field are awarded to those who have won a race prior to the 10-race Chase.
    "I'm honored to be driving the No. 4 Mobil 1 Chevrolet SS at Pocono," said Harvick. "Mobil 1 is a truly iconic brand in motorsports, both as a major sponsor of racing and as a performance partner for top race teams around the world. I know that Mobil 1 will help me get to the winner's circle as I drive toward the 2014 Sprint Cup championship."
    To build anticipation for the Pocono race, a video showcasing Mobil 1 as Harvick's new full primary hood is now available on the Mobil 1 Facebook page. The video shows Harvick sneaking into the Stewart-Haas Racing shop to capture some of the Mobil 1 mojo that brought Tony Stewart the 2011 Sprint Cup championship. The video then reveals Harvick's special #4 paint scheme for Pocono. See the video at Mobil1's YouTube page. For remainder of the 2014 season - five regular-season races and 10 Chase races - Budweiser and Jimmy John's will remain primary sponsors of Harvick's #4 Chevrolet SS. Bass Pro Shops and Mobil 1 will remain as co-primary sponsors of Tony Stewart's #14 Chevrolet SS. In addition to partnering with Stewart-Haas Racing, the 2014 season marks the 12th consecutive year in which Mobil 1 will serve as the "Official Motor Oil of NASCAR." With a deep history in motorsports, Mobil 1 is used by more than 50% of the teams in NASCAR's top-three series.(Mobil 1 Racing), see an image of the car on the #4 Team Schemes page.(7-28-2014)

  • Gibbs Hints of 4th Team in 2015: Team owner Joe Gibbs side-stepped questions about Carl Edwards' expected move to his race team. "We don't have anything right now to announce," Gibbs said on pit road before Sunday's race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "Anything that we're going to do will be coming up in the future. I'm not sure exactly what the time line is." Gibbs did allow that his organization is making a more concerted effort this year to field a fourth team in 2015 than has been the case in the past. "We've been (preparing for a fourth team) each and every year," Gibbs said. "But it's so hard to do that, we haven't been able to get it done. But I think we're taking a serious look at it this year." Asked if those efforts involved signing a serious driver, Gibbs replied, "You've got to have a serious sponsor." But he did acknowledge Edwards' star power. "When Carl's name came up during this year ... almost everybody recognizes Carl as being somebody I think is a star," Gibbs said. "Because of that, there are a lot of teams that have tried to entice him."(NASCAR Wire Service)(7-28-2014)

  • Edwards going for 2014 Championship; waiting to make announcement: Sunday morning's news that Carl Edwards is leaving Roush Fenway Racing at the end of 2014 is almost certain to overshadow much of what the veteran driver does on the track the rest of this year. Edwards wants to make at least one thing clear, however. He insisted he's 100% dedicated to finishing his time at Roush -- the company where he began his Sprint Cup Series career in late 2004 -- on a high note. "I came over here this morning and talked to (crew chief) Jimmy Fennig and all of my guys, and we're all on the same page," Edwards said Sunday morning at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "Right now we need to win this championship ... and that is the mission. I drive for Jack Roush, I drive the #99 Fastenal Ford, and that's what I do right now. So from a housekeeping standpoint Roush has to announce what they're going to be doing next year. I'll soon announce what I'm going to be doing next year, but I just want to be real clear the focus is to win the championship this year." Edwards confirmed Sunday that he knows which organization he'll be driving for in 2015, but was unwilling to elaborate further. He is widely expected to join Joe Gibbs Racing in a fourth JGR Toyota. "I'd like to wait until I announce exactly what I'm doing and maybe get a little farther away from this season, and what I have to do here, before I talk about my hopes and expectations for 2015 and beyond," Edwards said. "I mean, you guys know what I've been through from a competitive standpoint. I've been really close as a driver to some championships and I know what one point and one race and all that stuff can do, so the last thing I'm going to do or Jimmy Fennig's going to do is let next year and beyond affect our ability to win this championship. That's the mission. Part of the reason I'm a race car driver is I like the adventure of it, and I like going and doing new things and learning new things and, sometimes, whether it's a race-car driver -- or anyone -- sometimes you just want to make a change, and opportunities sometimes present themselves. And you say, hey, I don't want to look back and say, 'What was that like to not take that opportunity?'"(FoxSports)(7-28-2014)

  • Bad day for former (and one current) open-wheelers: Five drivers in Sunday's race also have raced in the Indianapolis 500. But that certainly didn't give them an edge in a stock car. #14-Tony Stewart, who has two previous victories in the 400-mile race, was the highest-finishing driver in 17th with an IndyCar background at the Brickyard. #47-A.J. Allmendinger finished 18th, followed by #12-Juan Pablo Montoya in 23rd , #41-Kurt Busch in 28th and #10-Danica Patrick in 42nd . Patrick broke a rear gear while driving away from her pit stall. "We looked at everything and it looks like the launch was fine," she said. "It's just one of those things."(Florida Times Union)(7-28-2014)

  • Indianapolis Race and Commercial Breakdown: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, here is the breakdown for Sunday's race. Began recording the times at the Invocation of the race at 1:00 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 4:01 PM (all times are EST). ESPN was the broadcast team for this event. This was their first race broadcast of the 2014 season.
    Total number of commercials: 102
    Total number of companies or entities advertised: 51
    Number of times ESPN utilized 'Side-by-Side' commercials during this broadcast: 0
    Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast: 34
    Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 4 min. 10 sec.
    Start time to record race/commercial periods: 1:00 PM
    End time to record race/commercial periods: 4:01 PM
    Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 181
    Minutes of race broadcast: 136
    Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 45
    Number of missed restarts: 0
    Number of 'mystery cautions' (debris not shown): 0
    Total race brdcst time 136 Total comm. brdcst time 45
    See past races, links to more detailed reports on the 2014 TV Commercials page.(7-28-2014)

  • Race Team Alliance expects to add NASCAR teams: Race Team Alliance chairman Rob Kauffman said Sunday the rest of NASCAR's full-time teams should soon be added to the group that is working on issues facing the sport. The RTA formed this month as an alliance of nine of NASCAR's top teams. Kauffman met with other owners this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and says they are on board. The RTA wants to lower costs for NASCAR teams and create one voice on issues. "The stuff on the RTA side is actually going quite well," Kauffman said. "We're just focused on doing what we said we were going to do. Get organized, get things done and try and be productive. Don't expect a lot of PR and excitement. Just doing what we said we were going to do. We're cautiously optimistic we're going to make some good progress. There's a lot of potential."(Associated Press)(7-28-2014)

  • JGR plane hits parked SHR plane at Concord airport: A Joe Gibbs Racing plane collided with a parked plane from Stewart-Haas Racing at Concord Regional Airport on Sunday night as the NASCAR teams were returning to the Charlotte area after Sunday's Crown Royal 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, according to the Haas team. A spokesman for Stewart-Haas Racing said the team's empty, parked plane was hit by a Joe Gibbs Racing plane as it was parking. The plane's wing clipped the tail of the parked SHR plane. No one was hurt, the spokesman said.(Charlotte Observer)(7-28-2014)

  • Iowa Nationwide Entry List:There are 38 cars on the preliminary entry list for Saturday's U.S. Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway. A few notes:
    Josh Berry will drive the #5 for JR Motorsports;
    Michael McDowell will be in the #20 for JGR;
    Brad Keselowski will drive the #22 for Team Penske;
    Kenny Wallace will be in the #29 for RAB Racing;
    Chase Piston is in the #31 for Turner Scott;
    Hal Martin returns to the TriStar #44;
    Sam Hornish returns to the Gibbs #54;
    Morgan Shepherd returns in his #89.(7-28-2014)
    UPDATE: Mike Harmon has been added to bring the number of entries to 39.(7-28-2014)
    See the complete list on the Iowa entry list page.

  • Martin returns to the #44: TriStar Motorsports announced that Hal Martin will be back behind the wheel of the #44 American Custom Yachts Toyota Camry this weekend at Iowa Speedway. This will be the "Ragin Cajun's" second start at the 7/8-mile asphalt paved tri-oval speedway. American Custom Yachts has partnered with Hal Martin and TriStar Motorsports once again for the 2014 season. The Stuart, Florida-based, operation encompasses a 63-acre marine facility providing a full range of marine services on site, including yacht construction, repair, repowering and refitting. Located at mile marker 46 on the Okeechobee Waterway, ACY is a one-stop shop for all marine service needs.(TriStar Motorsports)(7-28-2014)


    News from July 27, 2014

  • Jeff Gordon wins at Indianapolis: #24-Jeff Gordon won the Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for his 2nd win of the season. It is his 90th career win, only the third driver ever to win 90 career Cup races. It is the fifth win for Gordon at Indianapolis breaking a tie for Sprint Cup Series wins at Indy with #48-Johnson.
    #18-Busch finished 2nd followed by #11-Hamlin, #20-Kenseth, #5-Kahne (led most laps with 70), #22-Logano, #42-Larson(best rookie), #4-Harvick (pole sitter), #88-Earnhardt Jr. and #3-Dillon.
    Pole winner #4-Harvick led 12 laps and finished 8th.
    #24-Gordon (2 wins) keeps the points lead after winning the race and adds to his lead points lead, up to 24 points over #88-Earnhardt Jr..
    #2-Keselowski leads the Chase Grid with 3 wins and 3rd in points followed by #48-Johnson with 3 wins, 5th in points.
    There were 15 lead changes among 9 drivers. There were 4 cautions for 16 yellow flag laps.
    The average speed was 150.297mph.
    See unofficial race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Unofficial Indianapolis Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Indianapolis Penalty Report (pdf).
    See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Indianapolis Race & Points Report (pdf).(7-27-2014)

  • the FOUR or FIVE-time Auto Racing Winners at Indy:
    Driver' Wins, Races, Laps Led, Years Won
    Jeff Gordon, 5, 21, 528, 1994-1999-2001-2004-2014: NASCAR Sprint Cup
    Michael Schumacher, 5, 7, 346, 2000-2003-2004-2005-2006: F-1
    Jimmie Johnson, 4, 13, 302, 2006-2008-2009-2012: NASCAR Sprint Cup
    A.J. Foyt, 4, 35, 555, 1961-1964-1967-1977: Indy Car
    Al Unser, 4, 27, 644, 1970-1971-1978-1987: Indy Car
    Rick Mears, 4, 15, 429, 1979-1984-1988-1991: Indy Car
    also: Wolf Henzler has recorded four victories in Porsche Michelin Supercup series support races to the United States Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 2000. Henzler won once in 2002, 2003 and both races in 2004.
    F1 and Supercup no longer run at Indy

  • Race Fast Facts - Indianapolis Motor Speedway:
    #24-Jeff Gordon won the 21st Annual Crown Royal presents The John Wayne Walding 400 at The Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com, his 90th victory in 745 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. With the win, Gordon clinched a spot in the 2014 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, assuming he attempts to qualify for the remaining six races of the season.
    This is his second victory and 14th top-10 finish in 2014.
    This is his fifth victory and 17th top-10 finish in 21 races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
    #18-Kyle Busch (second) posted his eighth top-10 finish in ten races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It is his ninth top-10 finish in 2014.
    #11-Denny Hamlin (third) posted his fourth top-10 finish in nine races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
    #42-Kyle Larson (seventh) was the highest finishing rookie.
    #24-Jeff Gordon leads the point standings by 24 points over #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(7-27-2014)

  • NASCAR confiscates parts from #11 Toyota: NASCAR discovered "possible issues" with the #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota driven by Denny Hamlin in post-race inspection. At question were rear firewall block-off plates on Hamlin's car. According to NASCAR the parts were confiscated and taken back to the research and development center in Concord, N.C. for further evaluation. According to one crew chief, If the block-off plates are not sealed off sufficiently, air can flow through the firewall enabling the car to gain anywhere from 20 to 30 pounds of rear downforce. Hamlin qualified 27th. After Hamlin pitted on Lap 55 from the lead, he fell to 13th but quickly made his way back to the front of the back to finish third on Sunday. He led 18 laps.(Motorsport)(7-27-2014)

  • Current 2014 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Grid:
    [after Indianapolis, race 20 of 36 if Chase seeding started after this race]
    1) #2-Brad Keselowski(X), 3 wins, 3rd in points
    2) #48-Jimmie Johnson(X), 3 wins, 5th
    3) #24-Jeff Gordon(X), 2 wins, 1st
    4) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.(X), 2 wins, 2nd
    5) #99-Carl Edwards(X), 2 wins, 8th
    6) #22-Joey Logano(X), 2 wins, 9th
    7) #4-Kevin Harvick, 2 wins, 12th
    8) #18-Kyle Busch, 1 win, 6th
    9) #11-Denny Hamlin, 1 win, 11th
    10) #43-Aric Almirola, 1 win, 22nd
    11) #41-Kurt Busch, 1 win, 25th
    (no wins, in by points)
    12) #20-Matt Kenseth, 4th
    13) #31-Ryan Newman, 7th
    14) #15-Clint Bowyer, 10th
    15) #42-Kyle Larson, 13th
    16) #3-Austin Dillon, 14th
    (X) = clinched a spot in the Chase as long as rest of races are attempted.
    (7-27-2014)

  • 2014 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Championship Points Standings:
    [after Indianapolis, race 20 of 36]
    1) #24-Jeff Gordon [2 wins], 717
    2) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [2 wins], 693, -24
    3) #2-Brad Keselowski [3 wins], 666, -51
    4) #20-Matt Kenseth, 661, -56
    5) #48-Jimmie Johnson [3 wins], 628, -89
    6) #18-Kyle Busch [1 win], 609, -108
    7) #31-Ryan Newman, 606, -111
    8) #99-Carl Edwards [2 wins], 603, -114
    9) #22-Joey Logano [2 wins], 591, -126
    10) #15-Clint Bowyer, 577, -140
    Other drivers with at least one win, out of the top 10:
    11) #11-Denny Hamlin [1 win], 572, -145
    12) #4-Kevin Harvick [2 wins], 565, -152
    22) #43-Aric Almirola [1 win], 496, -221
    25) #41-Kurt Busch [1 win], 456, -261 (172 pts ahead of 31st)
    See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Indianapolis Race & Points Report (pdf).(7-27-2014)

  • Indianapolis Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #42-Larson, finished 7th, 15 rookie points
    #3-Dillon, 10th, 12
    #51-Allgaier, 27th, 9
    #26-Whitt, 32nd, 8
    #7-Annett, 33rd, 7
    #23-Bowman, 40th, 6
    #83-Truex, 41st, 5
    Kligerman, Did Not Race
    (7-27-2014)

  • NOTE The is a competition caution scheduled for Lap 20 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, there is no fueling prior to the competition caution.(7-27-2014)

  • Ford Racing Statement on Carl Edwards Departure: Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing - "Carl Edwards has been a part of the Ford family for a decade, and it will certainly be tough to see him leave Ford and Roush Fenway Racing. During Carl's time with Roush, he has represented Ford Motor Company with the utmost class, both on and off the track. We at Ford Racing did everything to facilitate keeping Carl a part of the Ford Racing & Roush Fenway family, but in the end that option did not come to fruition. While we are disappointed in his decision to leave Roush Fenway Racing, we certainly want to extend our appreciation for Carl's contributions winning races and a NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship in a Ford, and especially for his outreach to Ford fans. That said, with this decision out of the way, our plan for 2014 has not changed. We will go forward strongly with our stated goal of securing a NASCAR championship for Ford."(Ford Racing)(7-27-2014)

  • Roush Fenway Racing Announces 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Lineup: Roush Fenway Racing's 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) lineup will consist of three teams anchored by two-time NASCAR champion Greg Biffle. Biffle, driver of the #16 Ford and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #17 Ford and also a two-time NASCAR champion will be joined by Daytona 500 champion Trevor Bayne in the #6 Ford. The lineup features a veteran perennial 'Chase' contender in Biffle - who is currently competing to become the first driver to win a championship at all three of NACAR's premiere series - as well as two of the sport's most promising up and coming drivers.
    "I have had the privilege of fielding entries for the world's best race car drivers in NASCAR for nearly 30 years, and feel quite fortunate to have an opportunity to do that again next year," said team co-owner Jack Roush. "We have always prided ourselves in developing talent at Roush Fenway, and our 2015 line-up is a testament to the success of our organization in that respect. Greg Biffle is one of the most purely talented racers I've ever seen behind the wheel of a car, and his experience combined with the raw natural abilities, enthusiasm and desire in both Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. and Trevor Bayne have me very excited for the future. Although we still have a lot to accomplish this year, both John Henry and I are looking forward to going to the track in 2015 with this blend of veteran leadership and youthful potential."
    Biffle, who has 746 NASCAR starts, first joined Roush Fenway in 1998, and earned the organization its first NASCAR championships in the NASCAR Truck Series in 2000 and in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) in 2002. He has qualified for the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup in five of the last six seasons; with a runner-up finish in 2005. Of his 55 NASCAR wins, 19 came in the NSCS, including Ford's 1,000th NASCAR victory last year.
    "I don't have the words for what Jack Roush has meant to my career," said Biffle. "During our 16 years together, we have won multiple championships and numerous races on every level. I am as excited about what the future holds for me here as I am about what we have been able to accomplish in the past. Our goal remains to run up front, win races and become the sports' first triple-crown winner by having a championship in all three series. I know that we have the right ownership, the right team, the right resources and the right manufacturer to get that done here here at Roush Fenway."
    Stenhouse joined Roush Fenway in 2008, going on to win back-to-back NNS championships in 2011 and 2012. In addition, he captured NASCAR rookie honors in NNS and NSCS in 2010 and 2013, respectively. Bayne, the 2011 Daytona 500 Champion, joined Roush Fenway in 2010 and has competed full-time in the NNS, while also running a limited NSCS schedule with Wood Brothers Racing. He will make the transition to full-time NSCS racing with AdvoCare as his primary partner on Roush Fenway's iconic #6 Ford.
    #99-Carl Edwards will not be with the team for the 2015 season. "I will always be thankful for Carl's contribution and the role he played in many Roush Fenway wins and championships," said Roush. "We wish him well for the future. In the meantime, we are excited about continuing our quest for a championship with Carl and the No. 99 team in 2014."(RFR), rumors have Edwards going to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2015, but nothing is expected to be announced until September 2014.(7-27-2014)

  • Fastenal to Serve as Primary Partner for Stenhouse in 2015: Roush Fenway Racing announced that long-time partner Fastenal will team with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., serving as the anchor sponsor on the #17 Ford in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) for a multi-year agreement beginning next season. Fastenal first joined with Roush Fenway in 2010 and has served as a primary partner for multiple Roush Fenway teams and drivers in both the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) and NSCS. "Fastenal is a first class partner and we are extremely pleased to have them team with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and the No. 17 team starting next year," said Roush Fenway co-owner Jack Roush. "Ricky has accomplished a great deal in a short time, and continues to improve each week. We have very high expectations for his success in the future and I'm thrilled that Fastenal will be a part of that."
    Stenhouse, who earned NSCS rookie of the year honors in 2013, will move into his third full-season of Sprint Cup competition in 2015. Considered one of the most talented up-and-coming drivers on the circuit, Stenhouse posted back-to-back NNS championships in 2011 and 2012.
    Fastenal is currently in its third season as a primary partner on the #99 NSCS entry driven by Carl Edwards, and was the primary partner on the #60 NNS team that captured the owner's championship in 2011. Fastenal has also served in a limited role as a primary partner for the #16 and #17 NSCS teams the past two seasons.
    "We appreciate everything Carl has done and wish him nothing but the best," said Fastenal President Lee Hein. "That said, we're looking forward to continuing our partnership with Roush Fenway Racing as the anchor sponsor of the #17. We already have a strong relationship with Ricky, and we're 100% confident that he'll do a great job representing our company on and off the track."
    "As a driver, I'm thrilled to have Fastenal on board for next season," said Stenhouse. "I grew up working in a race shop, helping my dad build cars and racing engines. I appreciate the chance to work with a partner like Fastenal that plays such an important role in building our race cars and helping us win on the track. I've had the opportunity to work with them in the past and meet a lot of the men and women that are part of the 'Blue Team.' I look forward to representing them on the racetrack, and to taking them to victory lane."(RFR)(7-27-2014)

  • Indianapolis Notes & Facts - Sunday - race:
    " 12 different drivers have won at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, led by Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson with four each.
    " Jimmie Johnson is the only driver to have posted consecutive wins at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (2008 and 2009).
    " Hendrick Motorsports leads the series in wins at Indianapolis in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with eight; followed by Richard Childress Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing with three each.
    " Four different manufacturers have won at Indianapolis; led by Chevrolet with 15 victories; followed by Ford with three, Dodge and Pontiac each have one.
    " Chevrolet has won the last 11 consecutive NSCS races at Indianapolis.
    " 15 of the 20 winners were either past, future or reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions.
    " Eight race Brickyard winners went on to win that season's NASCAR Sprint Cup championship.
    " The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Indianapolis was 27th, by Jeff Gordon in 2001.
    " Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was the August 3, 1997 race won by Ricky Rudd over Bobby Labonte with a MOV of 0.183 second.
    " Only one of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races have resulted with a green-white-checkered finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Scheduled No. of Laps/Actual No. of Laps): 2004 (160/161).
    " None of the 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway have been shortened due to weather conditions.(NASCAR)(7-27-2014)

  • Latest news on #88 crew chief for 2015: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. met with members of the media at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday and was asked about crew chief possibilities for 2015, the transcript in part:
    Q. Talk about how special winning your last Brickyard with Steve on the box would be. And are there any names being thrown around for next year? DALE EARNHARDT JR.: "We're always -- everybody is talking a little bit. We haven't really sat down in a room and got down to a real serious discussion about it. But I think that the people involved in the decision making have some great ideas, and the conversations are starting to happen, so we'll see how that sort of works itself out. Yeah, I mean, any race I win with Steve this year is very special because of his last year. So yeah, we'll take anywhere. We'll take a win anywhere. This weekend would be -- he's one of the guys that's one of the best on the box when it comes to strategy, and this style of race and the way the tires are going to play into that. This is right in his wheelhouse. I think he's going to give us a great opportunity.(Team Chevy)(7-27-2014)

  • Chase Grid Clinch Update: Those drivers with multiple wins and who cannot fall out of the top 30 in points have clinched a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, assuming they attempt to qualify for the remaining races. As was announced after the race in New Hampshire, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Brad Keselowski have clinched a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, assuming they attempt to qualify for the remaining seven races. Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth have clinched a top 30 spot, but do not have multiple wins. At Indianapolis, the following drivers can clinch a Chase spot with a win or by clinching a top 30 spot: Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick. The magic number for a top 30 clinch: 289. Any driver 289 points ahead of 31st place leaving Indy will clinch a top 30 points position.(NASCAR)(7-27-2014)

  • The Brickyard is the home of champions. Or is it?: Heading into the 20th anniversary of NASCAR racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, legendary names have conquered more often than not. For instance:
    - 15 of the 20 races have been won by past, future or reigning series champions.
    - 8 winners have gone on to win that year's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.
    - Three NASCAR Hall of Famers have won: Dale Earnhardt, Dale Jarrett (twice) and Bill Elliott (and three others, at least, will undoubtedly one day be enshrined: Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart).
    Lately, those facts above have been turned on their head. The recent winners list includes names like #1-Jamie McMurray, #27-Paul Menard and #31-Ryan Newman, all of whom are winless in 2014.(NASCAR Wire Service)(7-27-2014)

  • Race winner to receive special award: The winner of the 21st Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 at the Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com at IMS on Sunday, July 27, will not only receive the requisite fame and glory associated with winning one of the world's most prestigious auto races, he or she will also be the recipient of a special award. A Big Machine Records trophy guitar featuring artwork from Sam Bass, the officially licensed artist of NASCAR, will be presented to the winner of this year's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at IMS. The guitar features the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway Yard of Bricks, the official logo of the Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 at the Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com, two Big Machine Records logos and gold hardware. The guitar comes with a silver case featuring a checkered flag shroud covering the guitar. The trophy guitar is a hand-selected Gibson Les Paul Standard featuring custom silver hi-gloss paint and several coats of silver, gold and purple metal flake over original Sam Bass artwork. "I am extremely honored to have been asked by Big Machine Records to bring back my hand painted Gibson guitar trophies," Bass said. "To have them be a part of the Crown Royal 400 at the Brickyard trophy presentation just means the world to me. I am extremely excited about the trophy artwork, and think the race winner will be proud to have it in their trophy case for sure." Similar guitars will also be presented to Big Machine Records country music superstars Justin Moore, The Band Perry and Brantley Gilbert, who will perform along with additional Big Machine Records artists during the Kroger Super Weekend at the Brickyard in the IMS infield on the Brickfest Music Festival Stage.(IMS)(7-27-2014)

  • Career start #400 for Mears: #13-Casey Mears will start his 400th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in the Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.(7-27-2014)

  • Fans can design Newmans car for Dover: Quicken Loans has launched a contest for fans to design a paint scheme for the #31 Quicken Loans Chevy to run at Dover on September 28. One lucky winner will win a trip to Dover International Speedway and see their car design in action on the high-banked oval. More info at QLRacing.com. The deadline to submit a paint scheme is August 3rd.(RCR)(7-27-2014)

  • Conley tests for RCR at Nashville: Vienna, W.Va. native Cale Conley was able to take 160 test laps in a Sprint Cup car for Richard Childress Racing at Nashville Superspeedway Friday.(News Sentinel)(7-27-2014)

  • Allmendinger, RPM to test at Watkins Glen UPDATE: "We tested at Watkins Glen International last year and it really helped and we are looking forward to testing again on Monday and Tuesday (July 28-29)," Allmendinger said. "We tested at Sonoma Raceway and it showed it helped. So, we're doing the same for Watkins Glen. We will run through a plan and have a good baseline. We know the track will not be the same when we go back, but we are looking to find a good balance to make sure when we get there, we have some good ideas to work through practice. It's pretty basic. Testing Watkins Glen is all about getting a good balance and good ideas for the car when we go back in a few weeks."(JTG Daugherty Racing), Richard Petty Motorsports will also be testing at the same time.(7-23-2014)
    UPDATE: Six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers are scheduled to test at Watkins Glen International on Monday and Tuesday in preparation for the Cheez-It 355 at The Glen. Scheduled to test are #9-Marcos Ambrose, #43-Aric Almirola, #47-AJ Allmendinger, #78-Martin Truex Jr., #3-Austin Dillon and Ty Dillon. Fans can watch for free at the Argetsinger Grandstand, located outside of Turn 2 on the road course. The grandstand is open from 10:00am to 5:00pm.(Elmiria Star Gazette)(7-27-2014)


    News from July 26, 2014

  • Harvick wins Indianapolis pole: #4-Kevin Harvick won the Coors Light pole for the Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with speed of 188.470mph for his 4th pole of 2014, 2nd at IMS and 10th of his career. Harvick has won four races from the pole out of nine previous poles, including winning this race from the pole in 2003. Harvick set the track record in round 1 of group qualifying at 188.889mph.
    #24-Gordon is on the outside pole, followed by #2-Keselowski, #31-Newman, #55-Vickers, #14-Stewart, #41-Busch, #12-Montoya, #22-Logano, #5-Kahne, #48-Johnson and #18-Busch.
    Missing the race were: #66-Moffitt, #33-Stremme, #29-Crafton.
    #43-Almirola smacked the wall during the first round and went to a backup car and will have to start the race from the rear of the field.
    #37-Labonte was 43rd fastest and had no owners provisional to use as the team had no attempts, but will use the past champions provisional.
    See the starting lineup, qualifying results, round results on the Indianapolis Starting Lineup / Qualifying Page.(7-26-2014)

  • Qualifying Fast Facts - Indianapolis:
    #4-Kevin Harvick won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 21st Annual Crown Royal presents The John Wayne Walding 400 at The Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com with a lap of 47.753 seconds, 188.470 mph. Harvick set a new track record in the first round of qualifying with a lap of 47.647 seconds, 188.889 mph. The previous record of 187.531 mph was held by #31-Ryan Newman.
    This is his 10th pole in 486 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
    This is his fourth pole and 12th top-10 start in 2014.
    This is his second pole in 14 races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
    #24-Jeff Gordon (second) posted his 11th top-10 start of 2014 and his 12th in 21 races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
    #2-Brad Keselowski (third) posted his second top-10 start at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It is his 15th in 20 races this season.
    #42-Kyle Larson (15th) was the fastest qualifying rookie. (NASCAR Statistics)(7-26-2014)

  • Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway have been made.
    Pole sitter #4-Harvick chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
    Outside pole sitter #24-Gordon took pit stall 17, the second pit stall with an opening in front of it, just before the start/finish line.
    #2-Keselowski, who starts 3rd took the 10th pit stall, the 1st stall with an opening in front of it.
    The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #23-Bowman, who starts 35th.
    To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(7-26-2014)

  • Second Round of Qualifying for the Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is over after 10 scheduled minutes.
    #4-Harvick 188.281
    #24-Gordon 186.990
    #2-Keselowski 186.575
    #14-Stewart 186.540
    #48-Johnson 186.420
    the rest of the top 12: 41 31 5 12 55 22 18;
    out of the top 12 and not advancing to round 3: 20 10 42 15 3 99 16 21 17 9 88 1
    (7-26-2014)

  • First Round of Qualifying for the Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is over, after 25 minutes.
    #4-Harvick 188.889, new track record
    #24-Gordon 187.301
    #2-Keselowski 187.239
    #41-Busch 186.854
    #20-Kenseth 186.645
    the rest of the top 24: 48 31 12 5 22 14 21 55 88 18 99 3 42 9 15 1 17 10 16.
    out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 78 13 11 95 27 98 51 83 7 38 23 47 40 34 26 32 66 43 37 36 33 29.
    #43-Almirola slapped the wall on his run and pancaked the right side of the car.
    Drivers who will miss the race: #66-Moffitt, #33-Stremme, #29-Crafton. #37-Labonte will use the past champions provisional.
    (7-26-2014)

  • Happy Hour practice for the Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is over after an hour-and-a-half delay due to rain. Practice is scheduled to run until 11:00am/et and be aired on ESPN2. After 35 minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
    #48-Johnson 189.298
    #2-Keselowski 188.494
    #4-Harvick 188.363
    #24-Godon 187.856
    #88-Earnhardt Jr. 187.758
    slowest: #40-Cassill 178.038 and #36-Sorenson 178.887
    #55-Vickers had the best 10 consecutive lap average at 182.549.
    notes: if qualifying, scheduled for Saturday, July 26 at 2:00pm/et on ESPN, is cancelled, Friday's practice would set the starting lineup. The three cars that would miss the race if qualifying is canceled: #29-Crafton (1 attempt), #12-Montoya and #21-Bayne (7 attempts). #37-Labonte would make the race via being a past champion. The track qualifying record is 187.531mph, set in 2013 by Ryan Newman.
    See fastest speeds, laps run on the Indiainapolis Happy Hour Practice Speeds page (pdf).(7-26-2014)

  • Indianapolis & Facts - Saturday - drivers:
    " 132 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway; 104 in more than one.
    " Four drivers have competed in all 20 races at Indianapolis: Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte and Mark Martin.
    " NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace leads the series in runner-up finishes at Indianapolis with three; followed Bobby Labonte, Mark Martin and Matt Kenseth with two each.
    " Jeff Gordon leads the series in top-five finishes at Indianapolis with 11; followed by Tony Stewart with seven.
    " Jeff Gordon leads the series in top-10 finishes at Indianapolis with 15; followed by Tony Stewart and Mark Martin with 11 each.
    " Juan Pablo Montoya leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Indianapolis with a 6.429.
    " Tony Stewart leads in average finishing position at Indianapolis with an 7.933.
    " Six of the seven active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race winners at Indianapolis Motor Speedway participated in at least one or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Jeff Gordon won the Brickyard 400 in his first start at Indianapolis.
    " Ryan Newman competed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway 12 times before winning in 2013; the longest span of any the seven active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners.
    " Joe Nemechek leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Indianapolis without visiting Victory Lane at 18.
    " Paul Menard (07/31/11) is the only driver to have posted his first career series win at Indianapolis.
    " Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in laps led at Indianapolis with 488 laps led in 20 starts.
    " Danica Patrick became the first female driver to compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2013; she started 33rd and finished 30th.(NASCAR)(7-26-2014)

  • Richard Petty comments on the Race Team Alliance: Richard Petty doesn't agree with Brian France's comments that the new Race Team Alliance (RTA) is a bad idea. "It's really kind of a bad idea from the standpoint that NASCAR should be doing what we're doing," said Petty, who is part of the nine-owner association. "We belong to an organization...and NASCAR should be making the best deals they can for their organization. We see them do a lot of that, but they're not doing it as much as maybe the new crowd wants." The RTA was formed earlier this month in order to help the teams speak with one voice and possibly find cost savings in areas like travel and insurance. Petty compared Friday it to a farmers' co-op. But France, NASCAR's chairman and CEO, told Sirius XM radio earlier this week he "didn't think (the RTA) was necessary" and said NASCAR preferred to listen to many voices instead of one consensus voice.(USA Today), see past news about the RTA on the Race Team Alliance News page.(7-26-2014)

  • Penske close to Australian Super-V8 deal? Ambrose part of deal? UPDATE: Dick Johnson is closing on a deal with Roger Penske. The Johnson-Penske deal could be finalized before the end of the month and could even include the signing of Marcos Ambrose as lead driver for the 2015 V8 Supercar season. Ambrose, a two-time champion in Falcons with Stone Brothers Racing, is strongly rumored to have plans to return to Australia with his family after battling to make the top grade in NASCAR racing in America despite ­several big road-course wins. No one on either side of the Pacific is giving any confirmation yet but there are strong pointers to a Penske-Johnson super team as Penske expands his giant motoring empire into Australia with a string of new-car dealerships and local ­ownership of the Western Star truck brand. Johnson is not prepared to comment on the Penske negotiations but admitted he would welcome a buy-in. Penske's interest in V8 Supercar racing became public at the Bathurst 1000 last year when his motorsport boss, Tim Cindric, visited the race and spent time with Johnson. The trip included senior Ford Motorsport figures and Penske has also flown to Australia, with a recent rumored sighting at the Dick Johnson Racing race base at Yatala on the Gold Coast. "There is nothing to report at the present time," a DJR spokesman said.(Courier-Mail:)(7-24-2014)
    UPDATE: Marcos Ambrose on Friday declined to discuss a report that he's considering returning to Australia to run the V8 Supercar Series for Roger Penske. "If I had something to say, I'd already say it," an irritated Ambrose said. "You'll have to ask him," Petty said of Ambrose's return to the #9 Ford. "It's probably up to him as much as anything. He's been good for Richard Petty Motorsports, we admire what he's been doing for us. It's going to be basically a decision of what does he want to do? Does he want to run all the races, just part of the races, does he want to go home? That's going to be up to him."(Associated Press)(7-26-2014)

  • More Brickyard 400 Facts:
    * Both #48-Jimmie Johnson and #24-Jeff Gordon will be looking for their 5th win at the track, which will tie them with Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher for the most wins at Indianapolis in major races.
    * Jimmie Johnson finished 42nd in each of the last two races, matching his career-worst finish. In his first 452 career Sprint Cup starts, he finished 42nd just twice. He's won 4 of the last 8 Brickyard 400s.
    * This race could be a good indicator of who's going to win the title. In 40% of the past Brickyard 400s (8 of 20), the race winner went on to win the championship.
    * In three of the last four years, the driver who won this race entered 18th or lower in points, including Ryan Newman last year, who came in 19th. In the first 16 runnings of this race, every driver who won entered this race in the top 10 in points, with the lowest points position being Jeff Gordon in 1994 (10th).(ESPN)(7-26-2014)

  • Crafton to attempt Indy with RAB Racing: ToyotaCare will serve as primary sponsor on the RAB Racing #29 Toyota Camry this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The ToyotaCare service program is a no cost maintenance plan included with the purchase or lease of every new Toyota for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first. 24-hour roadside assistance is also included for two years, regardless of mileage giving every new Toyota owner 'peace of mind.' Though Matt Crafton has experience practicing and qualifying a Sprint Cup Series car in the past, he has yet to compete in the series. Additionally, this weekend will mark Carfton's first time racing at The Brickyard. RAB Racing will attempt to make their first Sprint Cup Series race this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Making his Sprint Cup Series debut at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, crew chief of the #29 Toyota Camry. Rice has sat atop the pit box at the 2.5-mile oval once in the Nationwide Series boasting a perfect lap completion record and finishing 15th in the series' second trip to the famed Brickyard.(RAB Racing), see images of the car on the #29 Team Schemes page.(7-26-2014)

  • Kyle Busch Narrowly Edges Nemechek at Stripe to Win Circle City 100: Kyle Busch only led one lap of the Circle City 100 ARCA/CRA Super Series event at Lucas Oil Raceway, but it was the one that mattered. Over the final 15 laps of the event, Busch tried high and low to work his way around John Hunter Nemechek, but until the final turn the youngster was able to hold off the challenge. 'Rowdy's' JEGS Camry dove to the inside of Nemechek's car through Turn 4 on the final lap and the two remained side-by-side all the way to the start-finish line, with Busch picking up the win by a nose. "That was a lot of fun -- I just timed it right and it was a drag race to the finish," Busch said. "We've had a lot of great runs in this late model car over the years and I have to thank JEGS for coming onboard for this one. I won the race the same way Earnhardt would. Opportunities like these for young guys like John Hunter are going to take them a long ways." 'Rowdy' will be back behind the wheel of his No. 51 Super Late Model on Tuesday, Aug. 5 for the PASS Triple Crown Series race at Autodrome Chaudiere in Valley Junction, Quebec, Canada.(KBM)(7-26-2014)

  • Time Warner returns to the #5: Time Warner Cable will adorn the hood of Kasey Kahne's #5 Chevy this weekend at Indianapolis, and serve as the primary sponsor on the car for one more Sprint Cup Series race this year at New Hampshire on Sept. 21 (HMS), see images of the car on the #5 Team Schemes page.(7-26-2014)

  • How would a few drivers change the Sprint Cup schedule: #31-Ryan Newman, #41-Kyle Busch met with members of the media at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and discussed what changes they would make to the 2015 schedule. The transcripts in part:
    NEWMAN: "If I was NASCAR, how would I change the schedule? My answer to that would be not giving any -- not being partial to any ISC or SMI tracks. I'd turn some of those tracks into Wednesday night races, and the other ones would be Saturday night or sometime Sunday afternoon when it made sense. I'd give us a little bit more off weekends. We can still run 36 or 38 races but we don't need to be at the racetrack, especially for the Daytona and Talladega for three, sometimes four days with the inspection process. So I think just realigning it and giving us the opportunity to be on TV and be our own special event on Wednesday night, especially in football season, would be good for our sport."
    "Wednesday night shows and how would I foresee doing that? I think it all depends what that day is like. I mean, obviously, if you go to a place like Pocono and it rains three-quarters of that day, it changes everything and you have obviously Thursday to work with. But I think situations like that, you'd have the crew guys come in on a Tuesday evening, Tuesday afternoon, let the -- tech the cars and whatever window it is, let the guys go back and have a decent dinner with their team, and then come and start practice the next morning, practice, qualifying and race. You've got people in the grandstands for an entire day of activities and they can sell hotdogs and all the other things that way. I'm no businessman, but I know from our scheduling standpoint that there's a lot of credibility to having some weekday races, especially when you consider who we're up against in the football season."(Team Chevy)
    BUSCH: "Oh, my. Could I be president for the day and then decide what we're going to do? Wow, there's so many opportunities. I think the first one should be the final race should be bid on like a committee such as the Super Bowl. There's a committee that goes around and it gets filled in with who does the best job with their community to present themselves as the frontrunner to have the Super Bowl. Why not do that with our final stock car race? You know, The Chase, I think Chicago is a great place to start it off. Those Chase races are valuable. And could we mix it up and change some of the races that are in The Chase and not in The Chase? One unique thing is maybe we should take Talladega out of The Chase, put Richmond in The Chase and use Talladega as the cutoff to get into The Chase? Why not? Because we're all driving around, they're very tentative and trying not to get in a wreck at Talladega. But why not make it the final race to get in and throw a huge wild card in to try to make it into The Chase. Because by then you have 15 guys that are pretty much locked in. That means those top 15 guys are going to throw it on the line to try to win. They're not going to be riding in the back to protect their points. To change the schedule, I would change Richmond and Talladega, and it works because NASCAR owns both those tracks."(Team Chevy)
    JOHNSON: "I've always felt like we could use an off weekend before The Chase starts just to leave us an opportunity to have a make-up race. I know it's a pretty severe event if it would take place. And the last unfortunate situation that was created was 9/11, but I think that was good to give the teams a break and give everybody a break that deep in the season before The Chase starts. Ultimately, you know, I buy into the philosophy that we have a bit of oversaturation with race distances and how often we compete. I think we could trim that stuff down. I don't know where I would go to first, but I think adopting a little bit of less is more would be beneficial.(Team Chevy)(7-26-2014)

  • NASCAR Closes Fueling Loophole: NASCAR issued a technical bulletin to teams this week with some new language regarding where fuel filler cans could be filled at the track. The new rule basically states that fuel cans can only be filled at the designated Sunoco fueling stations in the infield. This move by NASCAR closes a loophole that some teams were exploiting on pit road to get an advantage with fueling during pit stops.(NASCAR Insiders)(7-26-2014)

  • Dillon wins at Indianapolis: #3-Ty Dillon won the Lilly Diabetes 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. ##54-Kyle Busch finished second followed by #20-Matt Kenseth, #5-Kevin Harvick, #22-Joey Logano, #33-Paul Menard, #2-Brian Scott, #42-Kyle Larson, #6-Trevor Bayne, and #7-Regan Smith.
    There were 9 cautions for 6 laps and 3 lead changes among 17 leaders. Complete results are on the Indianapolis race results page (pdf)..(7-26-2014)

  • Indianapolis Race Fast Facts:
    Ty Dillon won the 3rd Annual Lilly Diabetes 250, his first victory in 31 NASCAR Nationwide Series races. Dillon also secured the $100,000 Dash 4 Cash bonus.
    This is his first victory and 13th top-10 finish in 2014.
    This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in two races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
    Kyle Busch(i) (second) posted his second top-10 finish in three races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
    It is his 14th top-10 finish in 2014.
    Matt Kenseth(i) (third) posted his second top-10 finish in two races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
    Ty Dillon (first) was the highest finishing rookie.
    Chase Elliott # leads the point standings by 4 points over Regan Smith.
    (NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(7-26-2014)

  • Driver standings following Indianapolis:
    1) #9-Chase Elliott 678
    2) #7-Regan Smith 674, -4
    3) #11-Elliott Sadler 667, -11
    4) #3-Ty Dillon 663, -15
    5) #2-Brian Scott 636, -42
    6) #6-Trevor Bayne 631, -47
    7) #62-Brendan Gaughan 551, -127
    8) #60-Chris Buescher 556, -122
    9) #99-James Buescher 551, -127
    10) #16-Ryan Reed 509, 169
    See complete standings on the driver standings page (pdf).(7-26-2014)

  • Owner Standings following Indianapolis are posted (pdf).(7-26-2014)

  • Busch on pole at Indianapolis: #54-Kyle Busch won the Coors Light Pole for the Lilly Diabetes 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a speed of 179.888mph. #20-Matt Kenseth will start second followed by : #3-Ty Dillon, #5-Kevin Harvick, #9-Chase Elliott, #22-Joey Logano, #7-Regan Smith, #60-Chris Buescher, #33-Paul Menard, and #2-Brian Scott.
    Fastest in the second round of qualifying was #22-Joey Logano.
    #3-Ty Dillon was quickest in the opening qualifying session at 179.058mph.
    Did Not Qualify: #74-Kevin Lepage and #74-Tommy Joe Martins. The starting lineup is posted on the Indianapolis starting lineup page (pdf).(7-26-2014)

  • Indianapolis Qualifying Notes:
    Kyle Busch(i) won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 3rd Annual Lilly Diabetes 250 with a lap of 50.031 seconds, 179.888 mph.
    This is his 40th pole in 285 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
    This is his fourth pole and 13th top-10 start in 2014.
    This is his second pole in three races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
    Matt Kenseth(i) (second) posted his 12th top-10 start of 2014 and his second in two races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
    Ty Dillon (third) posted his second top-10 start at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It is his 11th in 19 races this season.
    Ty Dillon (third) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
    (NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(7-26-2014)


    News from July 25, 2014

  • Coverage of Qualifying for the Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, July 26, 2014 at 2:10pm/et.
    Television (TV): ESPN, 2:00pm/et
    Radio: Live online at indycarradio.com
    Scheduled Qualifying Re-Air: none

  • Qualifying Order for the Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is posted. 46 cars/drivers are listed.
    The first of the drivers scheduled to go out in group qualifying is #24-Gordon.
    The final driver scheduled to go out is #26-Whitt.
    Qualifying order is set by a random draw, held about an hour before the first practice.
    See the full qualifying order on the Indianapolis Qualifying Page.(7-26-2014)

  • Friday practice for the Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is over, after 85 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
    #20-Kenseth 186.285
    #15-Bowyer 186.070
    #2-Keselowski 185.939
    #48-Johnson 185.647
    #42-Larson 185.445
    slowest: #29-Crafton 173.444 & #26-Whitt 174.132
    notes: if qualifying, scheduled for Saturday, July 26 at 2:00pm/et, is cancelled, this practice would set the starting lineup. Happy Hour practice is scheduled for 9:00am/et on Saturday, July 26th, TV-ESPN. The three cars that would miss the race if qualifying is canceled: #29-Crafton (1 attempt), #12-Montoya and #21-Bayne (7 attempts). #37-Labonte would make the race via being a past champion. The track qualifying record is 187.531mph, set in 2013 by Ryan Newman.
    See fastest speeds, laps run on the Indiainapolis Friday Practice Speeds page (pdf).(7-25-2014)

  • Indianapolis Notes & Facts - Friday - poles:
    " Rick Mast won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Indianapolis in 1994 with a speed of 172.414 mph.
    " 17 drivers have Coors Light poles at Indianapolis, led by Jeff Gordon with three.
    " Two drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Indianapolis: Jeff Gordon (1995 and 1996) and Ernie Irvan (1997 and 1998).
    " Only three of the 20 (15%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Indianapolis have been won from the Coors Light pole: Kevin Harvick (2003), Jimmie Johnson (2008) and Ryan Newman (2013).
    " The pole and third starting positions are the most proficient starting positions in the field, each producing three winners - more than any other starting positions at Indianapolis.
    " Four of the 20 (20%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Indianapolis have been won from the front row: three from the pole and once from second-place.
    " 12 of the 20 (60%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Indianapolis have been won from a top-10 starting position.
    " Three of the 20 (15%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Indianapolis have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
    " Reed Sorenson (07/29/07) is the only driver to post his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light pole at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
    " Qualifying has not been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.(NASCAR)(7-25-2014)

  • Fans to choose 3M Throwback Logo for #16 in Pocono UPDATE: For the second year in a row, 3M Racing is allowing the fans to decide which 3M throwback logo will be featured on the #16 in Pocono on August 3rd. Adding a new element to the competition, one lucky fan will now get the chance to have their name appear on Greg Biffle's 3M Ford Fusion for the race at the "Tricky Triangle" just by placing a vote. This year, there will be eight different logos setup in a bracket-style competition, narrowing down the field to just two options before the final logo is determined. Voting kicked off June 19th and goes through Thursday, July 17th with the winning design set to be unveiled before the Pocono race weekend. "You can really see the history of 3M through their logos over the years," said Biffle. "I thought the one the fans choose last year was really cool. 3M is a tremendous company and it's great we can honor their history with a car design chosen by the fans." Last year the logo featured on the hood of the #16 was from 1956. To see the logos up for voting this year and to vote, head to facebook.com/3MRacing to vote for the logo you'd like to see featured on the #16 in Pocono and enter for a chance to have your name on Biffle's Ford in August.(3M Racing/RFR)(6-21-2014)
    UPDATE the winning 3M logo vote winner was announced, the 1942 3M logo/scheme was chosen by fans to be featured on the #16 #3MThrowback Ford Fusion at Pocono Raceway next weekend [August 3]. See the winning scheme on the #16 Team Schemes page.(7-25-2014)

  • ESPN's NASCAR Sprint Cup Coverage Rolls Out at Indianapolis: ESPN begins its coverage of the final 17 races of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season with a live, flag-to-flag telecast of the Brickyard 400 at historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 27. The telecast from Indianapolis is presented by Golden Corral and begins with the NASCAR Countdown pre-race show at 12:00noon/et from the Speedway's iconic Pagoda. The program will set up the race with interviews and features before the 1:19pm/et green flag. In addition, ESPN will televise NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying on Saturday, July 26, at 2:00pm/et and ESPN2 will air NASCAR Sprint Cup practice Saturday at 9:00am/et. Also from Indianapolis, ESPN will televise the NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Saturday, with NASCAR Countdown at 4:00pm/et and the green flag at 4:50pm/et. All NASCAR programming from Indy is available on WatchESPN and both races air live in Canada on TSN.
    #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be ESPN In-Race Reporter for the Brickyard 400 while Chase Elliott will do the same for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race. The drivers will speak with ESPN analyst Dale Jarrett on the race's pace laps and during caution periods, bringing viewers the added perspective of a driver competing in the race. For the Brickyard 400, ESPN will use 75 high definition cameras including four new overhead pit cameras that are equipped with robotic heads for different and varying points of view of pit stops and the track.
    Also in use will be four Ultra Hi Motion cameras for replays and unique action shots. One will be mounted on pit wall near the "Yard of Bricks" that make up the start/finish line at the Speedway while another robotic Ultra Hi Motion camera will be mounted to provide a low shot in the first turn. Two others will be in the second and fourth turns. Eight cars competing in the race will carry onboard cameras and ESPN also will have a helicopter camera for overhead shots in the Brickyard 400 and for all 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup race telecasts.
    Among the features that will be presented on various ESPN platforms surrounding the Brickyard 400:
    20 years of Bricks -- The first Brickyard 400 was in 1994 and was won by Jeff Gordon. A look back at what it meant for NASCAR to finally race at the Brickyard and how it helped transform NASCAR from a regional to a national sport. Drivers, owners, media and others offer comments.
    Professor Ray: Home Team Hendrick - Former ESPN NASCAR analyst Ray Evernham, who now works for Hendrick, reviews film to break down why the team is so good at the Brickyard. He was Jeff Gordon's crew chief when Gordon won the inaugural Brickyard 400 in 1994.
    Dale Jr and Graham Rahal National Guard - NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr and Verizon IndyCar Series driver Graham Rahal go for a crash course in training from their sponsor, the National Guard.
    ESPN's NASCAR Sprint Cup Coverage: Fourteen of the final 17 races will air live on ESPN while the three Saturday night races on the schedule will air on ABC. Three former NASCAR Sprint Cup champions, including two NASCAR Hall of Fame drivers, will be an integral part of ESPN's coverage team for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, including lead analyst Dale Jarrett, the 1999 driving champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer, who will work with two-time champion crew chief Andy Petree and lap-by-lap announcer Allen Bestwick in the booth.
    NASCAR Countdown will feature analysis by 1989 champion and NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Rusty Wallace with host Nicole Briscoe and additional analysis from NASCAR team owner Brad Daugherty. The Countdown team will interact with the booth during the race telecasts. Pit reporters will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch and Vince Welch.
    Beginning Sept. 14 at Chicagoland Speedway, the final 10 races will comprise the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR's playoffs to determine the series champion. This year's Chase will feature a new four-stage elimination format culminating Nov. 16 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. For the 10 races in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, ESPN will again utilize NASCAR NonStop, a split-screen commercial break format that brings more racing action to viewers. The format, which ESPN used for the first time in 2011, shows the advertisement on the left side of the screen and a continuation of racing action on the right side. ESPN's scoring ticker continues to move across the top of the screen, allowing NASCAR fans to follow the running order of the race during the breaks. NASCAR NonStop takes effect at or near the halfway point of the race, with the first half of the race presented in the traditional commercial break format.(ESPN)(7-24-2014)

  • #40 Hillman Racing Chevy gets a sponsor for Indy: Carsforsale.com, one of the Internet's largest online automotive inventory websites, is proud to announce that the #40 Carsforsale.com Chevrolet SS will make its fourth appearance of the season with Landon Cassill and Hillman Racing at the NASCAR Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 on July 27. "The opportunity to sponsor Landon and the Hillman Racing team at such a prestigious NASCAR event is very exciting," said Sean Coffman of Carsforsale.com. "Carsforsale.com is here to connect buyers with sellers of vehicles and NASCAR has provided a great platform to increase awareness of our brand to loyal NASCAR fans across the country."
    "The race at the Brickyard is one of the crown jewels of the sport of NASCAR," said Cassill, who has a career-best 20th-place performance in four previous starts at IMS. "After the Daytona 500, this is the most prestigious race on the NASCAR circuit, and I'm proud to have had Carsforsale.com on our #40 Hillman Racing for both events." With inventory from over 17,000 dealers across the country, Carsforsale.com offers consumers a portal to search for their next vehicle. Involvement with Landon Cassill and the Hillman Racing team has provided Carsforsale.com with an opportunity to increase brand awareness to consumers nationwide.(Mike Hillman Racing), see images of the car on the #40 Team Schemes page.(7-25-2014)

  • Montoya returns to Cup action at Indy UPDATE: No driver in the field on Sunday can match the diverse history of Juan Pablo Montoya at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In his illustrious career, the Bogota, Colombia-born driver has made seven career NASCAR Cup Series starts, five Formula 1 starts, three IndyCar Series starts and one start in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series at the famed circuit. He is also the 2000 Indianapolis 500 champion. Over the course of his NASCAR career, Montoya has led 203 laps and earned a pair of top-10 finishes at Indianapolis. This weekend's Brickyard 400 will mark the first race for Montoya in the #12 Penske Truck Rental (PTR) colors and his second Cup Series start for Team Penske this season. PTR is an operating unit of Penske Truck Leasing and has approximately 2,000 consumer truck rental locations across the United States and Canada. Penske rents commercial semi-trucks, straight trucks and trailers to businesses that haul freight. Its truck rental fleet has more than 50,000 units.(Team Penske)(7-24-2014)
    UPDATE: Juan Pablo Montoya will drive the #12 Penske Truck Rental Ford this weekend. The rear bumper has the hashtag #OneWay4PVA to show support of the Paralyzed Veterans of America and the fundraising effort Penske Truck Rental has in place with them. Learn more at pensketruckrental.com.(Penske Truck Rental Facebook), see images of the car on the #12 Team Schemes page.(7-25-2014)

  • ESPN's Multimedia Platforms Surround NASCAR:
    WatchESPN All NASCAR programming on ESPN and ESPN2 is available via WatchESPN on computers, smartphones, tablets, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast (via the WatchESPN app), Roku, Xbox 360 and Xbox One. It is currently accessible in more than 67.5 million households nationwide to fans who receive ESPN's linear networks as part of their video subscription from an affiliated provider.
    ESPN.com ESPN.com will provide surround coverage from the Brickyard. Senior motorsports writer Ed Hinton, writer John Oreovicz and ESPN.com motorsports editor K. Lee Davis will lead the reporting team, with additional contributions from NASCAR Insider Marty Smith. Hinton, Oreovicz and other ESPN reporters and personalities maintain and regularly update blogs with their insights, perspectives and more. ESPN.com, along with Jayski.com, will feature extensive video, audio and editorial coverage throughout the 2014 NASCAR season including RacingLive!, a live blog where fans can engage in debate and discussion with ESPN.com writers and editors during the NASCAR Sprint Cup races. Fans can join ESPN.com's NASCAR experts in dissecting every aspect of the race live at espn.go.com/racing/nascar/.
    SportsCenter ESPN's flagship news and information program SportsCenter will air immediately following all 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup races on ESPN and will feature extended post-race highlights, interviews and analysis both from the ESPN Pit Studio team at the track and from ESPN NASCAR analyst Ricky Craven in the SportsCenter studio.
    ESPN Deportes ESPN's Spanish-language television, radio and Internet in the U.S. will televise the NASCAR Nationwide Series race from Indianapolis on a tape-delayed basis at 4 a.m. on Sunday, July 27, and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Brickyard 400 on Monday, July 28, at 5 a.m. ESPN Deportes' NASCAR commentator team will feature Andrés Agulla (play-by-play) and Alex Pombo (analysis). In addition to the telecast of the race, ESPN Deportes will have segments for its edition of SportsCenter.
    ESPN International ESPN International is one of the world's leading syndicators of sports programming and its relationship with NASCAR has helped maximize coverage of NASCAR by providing a solid base of distribution year on year. Through a combination of sales and network programming, the 38 NASCAR Sprint Cup races (including the Bud Shootout and Sprint All-Star Race) and 33 NASCAR Nationwide Series races are currently available to more than 112 countries and territories around the world. In addition, U.S. troops and their families serving around the world and Navy vessels at sea can watch the season through American Forces Network.
    ESPN Classic ESPN Classic is counting down to the 21st running of the Brickyard 400 with airings of multiple past editions of the race. The race airings began Monday of this week and continue through Friday, July 25, at 3 p.m. with the 2011 race.(ESPN)(7-24-2014)

  • EcoPower returns to sponsor Stenhouse Jr. at Indy: Ecopower Re-Refined Oil will serve as the primary sponsor at Indianapolis on the #17 EcoPower Ford Fusion, driven by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. EcoPower is a recently introduced brand of motor oil that is re-cycled and re-refined from used lubricating oils. It protects engines and protects the environment. EcoPower is primarily sold to large corporate and government fleets, as well as consumers through do-it-for-me oil change outlets. EcoPower is by far the largest seller of lubricants to the U.S. Military for all branches all over the World; Safety-Kleen has been the majority supplier for almost 20 years. EcoPower protects some of the largest State and municipal fleets.(RFR), see images of the car on the #17 Team Schemes page.(7-25-2014)

  • Johnson to wear Helmet of Hope: #48-Jimmie Johnson will wear a special helmet this weekend at Indianapolis commemorating the Jimmie Johnson Foundation's Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope program. The helmet paint scheme features the five winners of the 2014 Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope, which is a program that awards grants to not-for-profit organizations that support K-12 public education. Approximately 438,658 votes were cast for the 10 semi-finalists and five organizations were ultimately voted as the winners: Crayons to Classrooms in Dayton, Ohio; Champions for Learning in Naples, Florida; HEART Tutoring in Charlotte, North Carolina; Le Mars Community Schools Foundation in Le Mars, Iowa; and Reading Partners in Denver.(HMS)(7-25-2014)

  • Dillon fastest in Nationwide happy hour: #3-Ty Dillon was quickest during happy hour for the Lilly Diabetes 250 with a speed of 180.245mph. He was followed by:#2-Brian Scott, #54-Kyle Busch, #5-Kevin Harvick, #20-Matt Kenseth, #20-Joey Logano, #33-Paul Menard, #7-Regan Smith, #6-Trevor Bayne, and #98-David Ragan. All 42 drivers participated in the session. See complete results on the Indianapolis practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(7-25-2014)

  • Ragan fastest in first Nationwide practice: #98-David Ragan was fastest during opening practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a speed of 181.043mph. #3-Ty Dillon was second, followed by:#31-Dylan Kwasniewski, #62-Brendan Gaughan, #33-Paul Menard, #54-Kyle Busch, #22-Joey Logano, #7-Reagan Smith, #5-Kevin Harvick, and #42-Kyle Larson. 41 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Indianapolis practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(7-25-2014)

  • Jeffrey Earnhardt gets Indy sponsor: Dixie Chopper, home of the "World's Fastest Lawn Mower" and for decades the nation's leading mower company, will sponsor driver #4-Jeffrey Earnhardt in Saturday's Lilly Diabetes 250 Nationwide Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Earnhardt's secondary sponsor for the weekend is Bad Boy Buggies. Other Textron companies represented on the 4 car include Jacobsen, Cessna, Greenlee, Bell Helicopter E-Z-GO and Cushman. Dixie Chopper revolutionized the entire lawn and garden industry by providing the first zero-turn lawn mowers built specifically for commercial mowing contractors.(JD Motorsports)(7-25-2014)

  • Vitamin Shoppe joins Cope for remainder of season: Proving once again that it is the innovator in the category, youtheory is teaming up with leading health and wellness brand the Vitamin Shoppe to power the Derrike Cope Racing #70 Chevy Camaro for the remainder of the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide season. This announcement comes at the peak of the season for the #70 Chevy Camaro as Derrike Cope is now competing among the best of the best in NASCAR Nationwide, landing 13th at the Daytona International Speedway as well as strong finishes in races since youtheory came on board. The Vitamin Shoppe will carry the new youtheory Collagen for Men in more than 600 stores nationwide. Based on its successful line of products reformulated just for men, youtheory has created special versions of its Advanced Collagen, Joint Collagen, Revive workout recovery daily supplements as well as a collagen protein shake. The men's line features black distinctive packaging from the main product line, which also serves as the color foundation for the #70 Camaro.(Blaze PR), see an image of the car on the #70 team paint schemes page.(7-25-2014)

  • IMS Brickfest Music Festival Schedule: Great NASCAR racing and many of country music's most highly acclaimed artists will take center stage during the third annual Kroger Super Weekend at the Brickyard at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. An award-winning list of Big Machine Label Group country music artists, including headliners Brantley Gilbert, The Band Perry and Justin Moore, will perform at the Brickfest Music Festival on Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27 at IMS. All performances will take place on the Brickfest Music Festival Stage on the north end of the IMS infield and are free with admission to the track for each day. See the Brickfest Music Festival schedule at IMS.com.
    Ticket orders for the 2014 Kroger Super Weekend at the Brickyard can be made at www.ims.com/tickets and through the IMS Ticket Office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area.(IMS)(7-25-2014)

  • Indy encourages fans to use 'Know Your Zones' routes & parking: Race fans looking for the most efficient ways to avoid heavy traffic en route to the 2014 Kroger Super Weekend and the 21st running of the Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 on Sunday, July 27, are encouraged to follow the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's KNOW YOUR ZONE driving routes and parking program. Fans should plan their routes ahead of time for an easier, more efficient drive to the track. In its third year, the KNOW YOUR ZONE program is designed to help Speedway guests identify the best driving routes to parking lots located near their respective seating locations. With the track opening at 6:00am on NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Day on Sunday and the race beginning at 1:00pm, officials suggest fans arrive in Marion County no later than 8:00am to ensure arriving to IMS in time to experience all the traditional pre-race activities, the Brickfest Music Festival featuring great live country music headlined by Brantley Gilbert and the start of the race. "All Roads Lead to Indy" driving routes have been created by the Indiana State Police and match KNOW YOUR ZONE colors at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway:
    "Orange: The southern end of IMS.
    "Red: The northern end of IMS.
    "Green : Between the Orange (southern) and Red (northern) zones.
    For more information about the KNOW YOUR ZONE program, including details about special ticket and parking packages, visit www.ims.com/knowyourzone.
    Drivers can learn the locations of work zones and highway restrictions by calling INDOT's TrafficWise at 1-800-261-ROAD (7623) or viewing an online map at www.TrafficWise.IN.gov. Fans also can learn more about Race Day traffic tips at www.in.gov/isp/2967.htm. IMS will enforce its one cooler-per-person rule, and the size of each cooler can be no larger than 18 inches by 14 inches by 14 inches. Coolers may be hard-or soft-sided. Fans will be allowed to bring one cooler and one standard backpack or book bag per person.
    2014 Kroger Super Weekend tickets: Ticket orders for the 2014 Kroger Super Weekend at the Brickyard can be made at www.ims.com/tickets and through the IMS Ticket Office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area.(IMS)(7-25-2014)


    News from July 24, 2014

  • Chassis selections for this weeks race: see the list of many teams [that report or post them] and what chassis were selected by the team to run in the Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on the Indianapolis Race Info page - Chassis selection area.

  • Indianapolis Notes & Facts - Thursday - track history:
    " There have been 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway; one per year from 1994 through 2012.
    " Indianapolis Motor Speedway has existed since 1909, and is the original "Speedway," the first racing facility to incorporate the word into its name.
    " With a permanent seating capacity for more than 250,000-plus people and infield seating that raises capacity to an approximate 400,000, it is the largest and highest-capacity sporting facility in history.
    " The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was August 6, 1994 - won by Jeff Gordon.(NASCAR)(7-24-2014)

  • Penske close to Australian Super-V8 deal? Ambrose part of deal?: Dick Johnson is closing on a deal with Roger Penske. The Johnson-Penske deal could be finalized before the end of the month and could even include the signing of Marcos Ambrose as lead driver for the 2015 V8 Supercar season. Ambrose, a two-time champion in Falcons with Stone Brothers Racing, is strongly rumored to have plans to return to Australia with his family after battling to make the top grade in NASCAR racing in America despite ­several big road-course wins. No one on either side of the Pacific is giving any confirmation yet but there are strong pointers to a Penske-Johnson super team as Penske expands his giant motoring empire into Australia with a string of new-car dealerships and local ­ownership of the Western Star truck brand. Johnson is not prepared to comment on the Penske negotiations but admitted he would welcome a buy-in. Penske's interest in V8 Supercar racing became public at the Bathurst 1000 last year when his motorsport boss, Tim Cindric, visited the race and spent time with Johnson. The trip included senior Ford Motorsport figures and Penske has also flown to Australia, with a recent rumored sighting at the Dick Johnson Racing race base at Yatala on the Gold Coast. "There is nothing to report at the present time," a DJR spokesman said.(Courier-Mail:)(7-24-2014)

  • Scott Speed finds a home in Global Rallycross: Scott Speed has been around the world doing what he loves: Racing. Sao Paulo. Hong Kong. Montreal. Monaco. Those are the perks that come with being the first American to land a Formula 1 ride since Michael Andretti in 1993. But after two years [2006-2007] of F1 racing, Speed came back home to America. And after a short stint in NASCAR [2008-2013, 163 total races], Speed has found a home in Global RallyCross, a dirt-track series that includes jumps and hairpin turns in 600-horsepower compact cars. His next race is on Friday at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway, just 30 minutes from his Mount Holly home. Speed struggled in NASCAR - he has one top-five and four top-10s in 118 [Cup] career starts - and was released from his contract by Red Bull in 2010, leaving him without a team for most of the 2011 season. After bouncing around between teams and a short attempt at IndyCar racing, Speed finally found a home in Global RallyCross. In his first race, at X Games Brazil, he shocked the field by taking the lead on the final lap to win. Global RallyCross appealed to Speed because of how much better technology the GRC cars have than the "archaic" NASCAR cars. It probably also didn't hurt how quickly GRC caught on with him. Just five months after his win in Brazil, Speed won another race in Charlotte, allowing him to finish fifth in the overall standings on the year. This season, after signing with Volkswagen Andretti RallyCross, he's second in the season standings, with wins in Barbados and at X Games Austin. Now with a year under his belt in GRC and his second hometown race coming up, Speed feels confident with his future in racing. "For the rest of my life no matter what ever happens, making it to Formula 1 will be the most successful thing I've ever had happen," Speed said. "I think after going over there and experiencing it and doing it all, I had an opportunity to stay, but honestly the idea of coming back to the States to try something new was quite exciting as well."(full article at the Charlotte Observer)(7-24-2014)

  • Bobby Labonte Joins Tommy Baldwin Racing for the Brickyard 400: 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Bobby Labonte joins Tommy Baldwin Racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 this weekend. Labonte will be piloting the #37 Chey, sponsored by Accell Construction. Accell Construction has been a partner of Tommy Baldwin Racing since 2009 and acts as a primary sponsor on the #7 of Michael Annett for six races throughout the year. "I am excited to have Bobby Labonte come on board this weekend at Indy," team owner Tommy Baldwin said. "Bobby and I are good friends, and I know that his experience both on and off the track will bring a lot of great information to everyone at Tommy Baldwin Racing. I'm looking forward to seeing the impact Bobby will have, and great Brickyard 400."
    "I am thankful for the opportunity given to me by Tommy, getting to run my 21st race at the Brickyard means a lot to me," said Labonte. "Jeff Gordon and I are the only active drivers to run all the races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and I am glad to continue that quest with TBR."(TBR), this will be Labonte's 3rd Cup start of 2013. He ran the Daytona 500 in the #52 HScott Motorsports Chevy and at Daytona in July, running the #33 Thunder Coal Chevy for Circle Sport. See an image of the car on the #37 Team Schemes page.(7-24-2014)

  • Stewart would like to have Nationwide and Sprint Cup races at Eldora: While he's not planning for it, Tony Stewart would love for the addition of more NASCAR Racing at Eldora Speedway. Stewart, along with track general manager Roger Slack, talked about the possibilty during a press conference for the unveiling of the new infield building that will be added for the 2015 season. "I'd love for the Truck Series to not be the only NASCAR that comes here," Stewart said. "If this continues to go as well as we hope it does there's no reason that the other two divisions couldn't come possibly in the future. I think we can make it work. If you can take the trucks and make them work here, the Cup cars and Nationwide cars aren't much of a stretch from that. So it's definitely feasible to do that." The new building, which will begin to be constructed in October, will house the media center that will also double as an infield hospitality suite. The building will also be the site of the infield care center along with a concession stand with double lines. Stewart said the decision to build in the infield building had no bearing on the possibilty of getting a Nationwide of Cup Series race in the future. "This is part of the continued process of us making the commitment of improving the facility to making it bigger and better," he said. "But we are very appreciative and very content if we only run truck races from here on out. We get the privilege to keep hosting Truck races and we are very happy doing that."(Motor Racing Network)(7-24-2014)

  • Earnhardt Jr. visits Indiana Army National Guard: It wasn't the ground-shaking boom of an M119 Howitzer that moved #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Wednesday; it was the line of six Indiana Army National Guard soldiers with raised right hands in that same grassy field. Earnhardt, in Indiana to compete in this weekend's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, shared in the re-enlistment ceremony of the half dozen soldiers. IndyCar Series driver Graham Rahal, whose motor sports program is also sponsored by the National Guard, also was there. "That was really overwhelming because I'm sure that opportunity will never come again," Earnhardt said with a shaken voice. "I (once) had the privilege of swearing in new recruits and they were scared to death - it was a unique experience - but to have some guys who want to add more years to what they're doing, that says a lot about how much they believe in what they're doing." Earnhardt and Rahal didn't just meet soldiers, they got to engage with them. Both got to fire the Howitzer on Range 43, ignite ditch-creating C4 artillery on Range 44 and shoot an M4 rifle on Range 12. They even rode out in a Blackhawk. The Howitzer has a range of nearly 10 miles, and it had both drivers shaking.(see full story and images at the USA Today)(7-24-2014)

  • Bitcoin starts funding campaign to sponsor the #23 at Atlanta: The bitcoin crowdfunding campaign called Bitcoin23 launched Thursday via funding platform Crowdtilt. The campaign will support rookie Sprint Cup driver Alex Bowman and his team, BK Racing, with the goal of fully wrapping the #23 car in a Bitcoin livery for the Labor Day weekend race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The new campaign is focused on increasing awareness and driving the future growth of Bitcoin. The goal is to raise $100,000 by the end of the campaign on August 20th.(more info at Bitcoin Magazine)(7-24-2014)

  • Montoya returns to Cup action at Indy: No driver in the field on Sunday can match the diverse history of Juan Pablo Montoya at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In his illustrious career, the Bogota, Colombia-born driver has made seven career NASCAR Cup Series starts, five Formula 1 starts, three IndyCar Series starts and one start in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series at the famed circuit. He is also the 2000 Indianapolis 500 champion. Over the course of his NASCAR career, Montoya has led 203 laps and earned a pair of top-10 finishes at Indianapolis. This weekend's Brickyard 400 will mark the first race for Montoya in the #12 Penske Truck Rental (PTR) colors and his second Cup Series start for Team Penske this season. PTR is an operating unit of Penske Truck Leasing and has approximately 2,000 consumer truck rental locations across the United States and Canada. Penske rents commercial semi-trucks, straight trucks and trailers to businesses that haul freight. Its truck rental fleet has more than 50,000 units.(Team Penske)(7-24-2014)

  • Second Quarter Driver of the Year announced: Indy 500 winner, Ryan Hunter-Reay, was named winner of the second quarter Driver of the Year Award 2014. The 2012 Verizon IndyCar series champion won the voting by an elite panel of American broadcasters and journalists Hunter-Reay, 33, won the iconic race in his seventh attempt. The Florida resident also won the Honda Indy Grand Prix in Alabama and was runner-up in the inaugural Indianapolis Grand Prix in the second quarter which ended at the at Pocono IndyCar 500 on July 6th. In the voting Hunter-Reay, who drives the #28 DHL Dallara-Honda for Andretti Autosport, had eight first-place ballots and totaled 102 points according to the Driver of the Year points system. Jimmie Johnson, who drives the #48 Lowe's Chevy in NASCAR, garnered six first-place votes and totaled 84 points. Antron Brown who drives the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster in the NHRA was third in the balloting with 45 points. NASCAR's Brad Keselowski, who finished fourth in the voting, also received one first place vote. A total of 20 drivers scored points in the second quarter voting. In its' 48th year, the Driver of the Year title is unique. A panel of 17 leading journalists and broadcasters from across the U.S. determines the winner. Two panelists didn't vote this time. In quarterly voting, points are awarded on a declining 9, 6, 4,3,2,1 basis. Hunter-Reay will receive a trophy and a Tissot wristwatch to be presented later. President of the Driver of the Year Foundation is Barry Schmoyer, businessman and sportsman of Sarasota, Florida.(DOTY)(7-24-2014)

  • Nationwide Dash 4 Cash Round 3 at Indianapolis: Round 3 of the NASCAR Nationwide Series Dash 4 Cash program kicks off this Saturday, following wins by #7-Regan Smith and #2-Brian Scott in the first two rounds. Scott won Round 2 of the Dash 4 Cash program, at Chicagoland Speedway last Saturday night. Now he and the top-three finishing NASCAR Nationwide Series championship contenders in last weekend's race at Chicago - #9-Chase Elliott, #6-Trevor Bayne and #3-Ty Dillon - qualify to compete in the third round of Nationwide's Dash 4 Cash program at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday with an opportunity to win $100,000. The highest finisher of the four eligible drivers at Indianapolis will win the money and automatically qualify for the Dash 4 Cash at Iowa the following weekend. The three highest finishing NNS regulars at Indianapolis not already qualified will also get to compete for the $100,000 bonus at Iowa - the final event. Also, four fans will be selected to win an all-expense paid trip to Iowa Speedway where they will be randomly paired with the four eligible drivers. The fan paired with the driver who wins the Dash 4 Cash at Iowa will also walk away with $100,000.(NASCAR)(7-24-2014)

  • Indianapolis Motor Speedway introduces New Scoring Pylon: When a race goes green at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a lot more fans are going to know it instantly. The third-generation scoring pylon was unveiled Tuesday on the main straightaway and among the many tricks on the full-LED-paneled pylon is the ability to completely flash with green lights. Or yellow. Or with an American flag look for pre-race. And then, in a blink, the 92-foot, 4-inch pylon can look just like the one that was removed last month after 20 years of service, documenting the lap count and running order of 33 cars on the track. "We wanted to generate more information, to give more information to the fans in their seats," said Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles. "That old pylon was iconic, so we wanted to make sure the size was similar - we're about two feet taller and three inches wider (with the new pylon) - but we wanted the ability to light it like everybody's used to, especially for the Indianapolis 500." For the Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400, the pylon can display the top 10 on the track while also circulating through spots 11 through 43. It can also provide enhanced stats information like lap times, miles per hour and time behind the leader.
    Needless to say, that's a far cry from the pylon erected in 1994 that stood sentry over the first 20 Brickyard 400s, two decades of Indianapolis 500s and other events. That pylon, powered by 6,496 30-watt light bulbs, could only display basic race scoring with a space at the top for race logos. The new pylon can fully light up with "Indianapolis Motor Speedway," race logos or other digital artwork. The possibilities are considerable. "I think the fans, even fans that are a little concerned about it, are going to find that we've done a great job of paying real close attention to our tradition but also giving them something that makes their experience here at the Speedway better," Boles said. Looking at the new Panasonic-built model, it's hard to fathom the first IMS pylon that went up in 1959 and was manually operated. More than a half-century later, the pylon now has animation and video capabilities. And the enhancements at IMS won't stop there. Boles added that in the coming year, video boards around the track will be added that have the same digital capabilities.(IMS)(7-24-2014)

  • The King named GoBowling.com 400 Grand Marshal: GoBowling.com announced NASCAR Hall of Famer and seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Richard Petty will serve as the Grand Marshal for the GoBowling.com 400. The GoBowling.com 400 will mark the 40th anniversary of Pocono Raceway's inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, the Purolator 500, won by Petty on August 4, 1974. Additionally, GoBowling.com will host a promotion where one lucky fan could win $43,000 if the #43 GoBowling.com Richard Petty Motorsports entry, driven by Aric Almirola, wins the 400-miler at "The Tricky Triangle" on Sunday, August 3.
    "This race carries special meaning for me as I think back to the thrill of tasting victory at the inaugural race at Pocono back in 1974. I see no better way to celebrate this milestone moment than by celebrating both racing and bowling, another sport that is pure Americana," said Richard Petty in today's GoBowling.com press release. "I am particularly excited to team up again with GoBowling.com and the bowling industry. Bowling isn't only just a lot of fun but it's a great sport that, like racing, brings people together and can be enjoyed by people of all ages and from all walks of life."
    The "Win $43,000 if #43 Wins" promotion will take place during the GoBowling.com 400 race weekend at Pocono Raceway August 1-3. Fans attending the race should look for GoBowling.com branded tents in Fan Fair to register to win. Camping guests will receive information on how to enter this promotion in their RV/Camping Welcome Bags upon their arrival next week. One lucky fan will be chosen, at random, to sit atop the No. 43 pit box during a segment the race. Additionally, if the No. 43 car wins the race, one randomly chosen fan will receive $43,000. Certain terms and restrictions may apply. Tickets to next weekend's events are available by visiting www.poconoraceway.com or by calling 1-800-RACEWAY (1-800-722-3929).(Pocono Raceway)(7-24-2014)


    News from July 23, 2014

  • Allgaier gets Brickyard sponsor: HScott Motorsports announced that Collision Cure Body Werks will sponsor the #51 Chevrolet SS driven by Justin Allgaier in this weekend's Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Collision Cure Body Werks is a family-owned business, with 85 teammates in five different locations across the central Indiana region. A sixth location is opening soon in Fishers, Ind. Owners Rick and Lynn Fields enjoy providing customers with outstanding service and take pride in their highly trained and passionate employees. They are proud to serve as community partners and make it a priority to give back.(HScott Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #51 team paint schemes page.(7-23-2014)

  • Allmendinger, RPM to test at Watkins Glen: "We tested at Watkins Glen International last year and it really helped and we are looking forward to testing again on Monday and Tuesday," Allmendinger said. "We tested at Sonoma Raceway and it showed it helped. So, we're doing the same for Watkins Glen. We will run through a plan and have a good baseline. We know the track will not be the same when we go back, but we are looking to find a good balance to make sure when we get there, we have some good ideas to work through practice. It's pretty basic. Testing Watkins Glen is all about getting a good balance and good ideas for the car when we go back in a few weeks."(JTG Daugherty Racing), Richard Petty Motorsports will also be testing at the same time.(7-23-2014)

  • 300th start for Vickers: #55 Aaron's Dream Machine driver Brian Vickers visits one of racing's most historic venues this weekend when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series travels to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Sunday's 400-mile race. The 30-year-old Vickers will make history no matter how his Michael Waltrip Racing team performs on the famed 2.5-mile oval. Sunday's race marks Vickers' 300th Sprint Cup Series start in a career that began with a 33rd-place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 11, 2003. Only 11 drivers from the 43-car field in that race still have fulltime rides in 2014. Vickers also has history on his side on Sunday. Five drivers have won in their 300th Sprint Cup start including a driver in each of the last three seasons.(Michael Waltrip Racing)(7-23-2014)

  • Roush Fenway tests at Michigan: Roush Fenway Racing Cup drivers #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., #16-Greg Biffle and #99-Carl Edwards spent Monday and Tuesday using one of their NASCAR allotted tests at Michigan International Speedway in preparation for both the August MIS race and this weekend's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.(Ford Racing)(7-23-2014)

  • Mycogen Seeds returns to the #3 at the Brickyard: Dillon's rookie year in the Sprint Cup Series is Dow's first year as a primary sponsor with RCR and the #3 Chevy. Together, both teams embrace the power of safety, science and technology as RCR tests Dow products under the most strenuous conditions. For the second consecutive year, Austin Dillon will be teaming up with agriculture company Mycogen Seeds for the John Wayne Walding 400 at the Brickyard. Mycogen Seeds is one of America's fastest-growing seed companies, offering leading genetics for farmers in corn, soybeans, silage corn, sunflowers and canola. A retail seed company of Dow AgroSciences LLC, Mycogen Seeds maintains a robust global research and development program to bring growers high-performance genetics with the latest trait technologies.(Richard Childress Racing), see an image of the car on the #3 team paint schemes page.(7-23-2014)

  • Indianapolis Goodyear Tire Notes: While teams in both NASCAR series in action at Indianapolis Motor Speedway will run the same right-side tire code, they will be on distinct left-side codes . . . Sprint Cup teams have run this right-side tire at Indianapolis since 2012 . . . compared to last year, Cup teams will be on a different left-side tire code, though they have run it at both Dover and Kentucky earlier this season . . . another change from last year is an increase in the minimum recommended air pressure in all four tires -- up four psi in the left-side tires and up five psi in the right-side tires . . . this tire set-up came out of a Goodyear test at The Brickyard on June 16-17 . . . drivers/teams participating in that test were #16-Greg Biffle, #15-Clint Bowyer, #18-Kyle Busch, #22-Joey Logano, #31-Ryan Newman and #14-Tony Stewart. . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams will run inner liners in all four tire positions at Indianapolis . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire. (Goodyear)
    See full notes, tire codes, tire pressures and more on the Indianapolis Race Info page - Goodyear section.

  • Montoya selling Miami penthouse: NASCAR, CART, Indy Racing League and Formula One racing sensation Juan Pablo Montoya is selling his posh Brickell six-bedroom, 6.5-bath Miami penthouse-which overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay-for $14 million. The extraordinary home, which comes with more cache than an American Express Centurion card, is 6,500-square feet and is perched atop one of Miami's most exclusive addresses. There are resplendent marble floors-the perfect complement to the searing Florida heat-and floor-to-ceiling windows that encompass the whole of the first floor. Every corner of this luxurious home captures views of the crystalline water below-and includes every possible artisan touch. Though it's a penthouse of the utmost in style and museum-like elegance, it's still a comfortable home for even the smallest children: Montoya's two young daughters have their own pink-and-lace retreat tucked neatly away in the home's private recesses.(Realtor)(7-23-2014)

  • Sad News - Paul Kuhl: Paul R. Kuhl Sr. of Raritan Township died Tuesday, July 22, 2014, at his home. He was 87. He was probably most known for his involvement in the Flemington Agricultural Fair, serving as both president of it and the related Flemington Fair and Carnival Association. And he served as president and promoter of Flemington Speedway, at the fairgrounds. He was a former director of Racing Promoters Workshop, Daytona Beach, Fla. and was elected to the National Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1991. He served as vice-president of National Old Timers Auto Racing Club. In addition, he was voted Auto Racing Promoter of the Year in the Eastern United States at Daytona Beach in 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990 and 1991; was voted Auto Racing Promoter of the Year Nationwide in 1991; and received American Racing Legends Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998.(Hunterdon County Democrat)(7-23-2014)

  • Hard Hat Heroes on the #44 at Indy: David Starr is back behind the wheel of the #44 Camry this weekend when the NASCAR Nationwide Series races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. On board the #44 Camry this weekend is the Hard Hat Heroes initiative. NCCER and Build Your Future's military recruitment initiative, Hard Hat Heroes, is committed to helping returning military members make a smooth transition, enabling them to continue to serve the country they love through building America. As a part of the Hard Hat Heroes initiative, NCCER and BYF are working with a task force of contractors, owners and other stakeholders to develop a program to assess, train and transition veterans into high-skill, high-wage careers in construction.(TriStar Motorsports)(7-23-2014)

  • Wallace wins truck race at Eldora: #54-Darrell Wallace, Jr. won the 1800CarCash Mudsummer Classic at Eldora Speedway. #30-Ron Hornaday, Jr. finished second followed by: #29-Ryan Blaney, #52-Ken Schrader, #3-Ty Dillon, #8-John Hunter Nemechek, #13-Jeb Burton, #98-Johnny Sauter, #88-Matt Crafton, and #2-Austin Dillon. There were 7 cautions for 33 laps and 5 lead changes among 5 leaders. Complete results are on the Eldora race results page (pdf).(7-23-2014)

  • Eldora Race Fast Facts:
    Darrell Wallace Jr. won the 2nd Annual 1-800 Car Cash Mudsummer Classic, his third victory in 32 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
    This is his second victory and fifth top-10 finish in 2014.
    This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in two races at Eldora Speedway.
    Ron Hornaday Jr. (second) posted his first top-10 finish in two races at Eldora Speedway. It is his seventh top-10 finish in 2014.
    Ryan Blaney (third) posted his first top-10 finish in two races at Eldora Speedway.
    Tyler Reddick (11th) was the highest finishing rookie.
    Ryan Blaney leads the point standings by 4 points over Matt Crafton.
    (NASCAR Statistics)(7-23-2013)

  • Driver standings following Eldora:
    1) #29-Ryan Blaney, 369
    2) #88-Matt Crafton, 365, -4
    3) #98-Johnny Sauter, 359, -10
    4) #30-Ron Hornaday, 350, -19
    5) #77-German Quiroga, 343, -26
    6) #54-Darrell Wallace, Jr., 341, -28
    7) #31-Ben Kennedy, 301, -29
    8) #17-Timothy Peters, 327, - 42
    9) #21-Joey Coulter, 312, -57
    10) #05-John Wes Townley, 304, -65
    See complete standings on the driver standings page (pdf).(7-23-2014)

  • Owner Standings following Iowa are posted (pdf).(7-23-2014)

  • Jones, Burton, Hornaday, Blaney, Sauter win heats: #51-Erik Jones, #13-Jeb Burton, #30-Ron Hornaday, Jr.,#29-Ryan Blaney, #98-Johnny Sauter won the heat races, securing top-five starting spots. #05-John Wes Townley won the last chance race. Failed to qualify: #0-Joe Cobb, #07-Jared Landers, #10-Jennifer Jo Cobb, #82-Cody Erickson. See the starting lineup on the Starting lineup page(pdf)(7-23-2014)

  • Jones on pole for the Mudsummer Classic at Eldora: #51-Erik Jones earned the pole for the 1800CarCash Mudsummer Classic at Eldora Speedway on Wednesday, running a fast lap at 90.393mph. #35-Mason Mingus, #30-Ron Hornaday, Jr., #88-Matt Crafton, #52-Ken Schrader, #54-Darrell Wallace, Jr., #13-Jeb Burton, #9-Chase Pistone, #17-Timothy Peters, and #99-Bryan Silas completed the top-10. Five qualifying races and a last chance race will determine the starting lineup. See complete results on the Qualifying results (pdf) page.(7-23-2014)

  • Eldora Qualifying Notes:
    Erik Jones won the Keystone Light 21 Means 21 Pole Award for the 2nd Annual 1-800 Car Cash Mudsummer Classic with a lap of 19.913 seconds, 90.393 mph.
    This is his first pole in ten NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
    This is his first pole and fifth top-10 start in 2014.
    This is his first pole at Eldora Speedway.
    Mason Mingus (second) posted his first top-10 start of 2014 and his first at Eldora Speedway.
    Ron Hornaday Jr. (third) posted his first top-10 start at Eldora Speedway. It is his eighth in ten races this season.
    Mason Mingus (second) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
    (NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(7-23-2014)

  • Blaney fastest in final Eldora truck practice: #29-Ryan Blaney was fastest during the opening practice at Eldora Speedway with a speed of 87.869mph. He was followed by #35-Mason Mingus, #2-Austin Dillon, #30-Ron Hornaday, Jr., #3-Ty Dillon, #80-Jody Knowles, #63-JR Heffner, #9-Chase Pistone, #32-Kyle Larson, and #52-Ken Schrader. 34 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Eldora practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(7-23-2014)

  • Jones fastest in Eldora truck practice: #51-Erik Jones was fastest during the opening practice at Eldora Speedway with a speed of 90.749mph. #35-Mason Mingus was second, followed by #88-Matt Crafton, #19-Tyler Reddick, #32-Kyle Larson, #77-German Quiroga, #54-Darrell Wallace, Jr., #17-Timothy Peters, #9-Chase Pistone, and #98-Johnny Sauter. 32 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Eldora practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(7-23-2014)

  • Earnhardt, Jr., Logano and Newman to Visit Tricky Triangle Club at Pocono: Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Joey Logano and Ryan Newman will make pre-race appearances at Pocono Raceway's Tricky Triangle Club Presented by Kalahari Resorts and Conventions on Sunday, August 3. Additionally, Pocono announced the return of the Red Carpet #SelfieSuite, located inside the Tricky Triangle Club, as an upgrade for new and existing GoBowling.com 400 ticket purchasers. The Tricky Triangle Club Presented by Kalahari Resorts and Conventions is a ticket add-on which features access to mentioned driver and special guest appearances, lunch, beverages, a Sunday Pit Tour Pass, four adult beverages tickets (for those ages 21 and older) and more. The special driver appearances will include pre-race question-and-answer sessions, led by Miss Sprint Cup Julianna White. Tickets to the Tricky Triangle Club require a GoBowling.com 400 Sunday ticket. The Red Carpet #SelfieSuite is a VIP seating area, which will be the closest place a fan can sit during the special guest appearances. Pocono Raceway will randomly select individuals, who have purchased an August Tricky Triangle Club Pass, to be upgraded to the Red Carpet #SelfieSuite.(Pocono Raceway)(7-23-2014)


    News from July 22, 2014

  • Sorenson gets four race sponsor: Tommy Baldwin Racing welcomes Zing Zang Bloody Mary for the first time in the 2014 Sprint Cup Series season. Zing Zang Bloody Mary will sponsor the #36 Chevy of Reed Sorenson in four high-profile races this season: Indianapolis on July 27, Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 11, Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 19 and Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 26. The #36 of Sorenson will sport a bright green and black paint scheme to align with Zing Zang Bloody Mary's bright, fresh ingredients used in their flavorful mixes. Zing Zang Bloody Mary, their flagship mix, is one of the most popular Bloody Mary Mixes in North America.(TBR/140 Buzz), see an image of the car on the #36 team paint schemes page.(7-22-2014)

  • France says minor changes coming to 2015 schedule: NASCAR Chairman Brian France, who earlier this month said there would be a "robust discussion" about changes to the 2015 Sprint Cup schedule, said Monday that any changes would be minimal. Speaking on SiriusXM's NASCAR channel, France said the schedule will come out in September. "There's not going to be a dramatic change but there may be some things that are a little different," France said. "That's not unusual. You come back to moving dates around and whatever else, we don't do a lot of it, but we do a little of it from time to time and this will be one of those moments." At Daytona a few weeks ago, France said that with the new NASCAR television deal going into effect in 2015 - Fox and Fox Sports 1 will have the first 16 points races with NBC and NBC Sports Network having the final 20 - there is an opportunity to consider possible changes.(Sporting News)(7-22-2014)

  • France comments on Race Team Alliance: NASCAR chairman Brian France says listening to the consensus voice of the newly formed Race Team Alliance would be a "bad idea." France, in his first extensive interview on the RTA since the organization of major team owners was announced two weeks ago, told Sirius/XM's Sirius Speedway show on Monday that NASCAR "didn't think (the RTA) was necessary." The nine most powerful race teams in NASCAR announced July 7 they had formed an alliance with the stated purpose of cutting costs and pooling resources. But France said he had no intentions of dealing with the individual race teams as one organization. "That would probably be the worst thing we could ever do -- to listen to one voice, even if it were a consensus voice," he said. "Every decision we've ever made that's important, the more input, the more people we heard from, the better the result. That will never change in the business model of NASCAR, because good ideas come from all over the place." But it seems NASCAR's most influential team owners don't feel that way, since they banded together to form the RTA and speak as one regarding many issues facing the sport. And while France acknowledged the RTA "may figure out some things we're not aware of" in terms of reducing costs, he repeatedly said NASCAR would be "business as usual." That includes holding firm on the allocation of a mega $8.2 billion TV contract that kicks in next year - 25% of which goes to the race teams (65% goes to the tracks and 10% goes to NASCAR). The RTA is said to want a bigger piece of the pie, but France said the current percentages were "set for historical reasons - because it's the right allocation."(USA Today)(7-22-2014)

  • How much does it cost to operate a race team each week? Less than 24 hours after [Stewart-Haas Racing's haulers] returned from Sonoma, they are on their way to the Saturday race in Sparta, Ky. It's all part of the weekly routine at Stewart-Haas Racing, or any other NASCAR team, for that matter. Most people know that NASCAR is a traveling circus, a weekly carnival built on rubber and exhaust. But outside of motorsports, few can appreciate everything that goes into creating that big top each week. During a season, the sport travels 38 weekends across 23 markets, and that doesn't include test sessions. Teams truck race cars and parts, fly dozens of people and set up temporary homes at all of them. The NASCAR schedule makes the logistics and costs of operating a race team unique in professional sports. While stick-and-ball teams have front-office staff, players and administrators, NASCAR teams have pilots, flight attendants, long-haul truckers, engineers, mechanics, even chefs. Outside of racing, few - if any - face such a challenge of coordinating freight trucking and airline travel across so many weeks. Doing so is an enormous undertaking that takes months of planning. The Kentucky race weekend highlighted just how demanding it can be. Over the course of three days in June, Stewart-Haas Racing trucked eight race cars and flew more than 100 people to Kentucky for the Quaker State 400. It rented 27 vehicles and reserved 44 hotel rooms. It spent more than $1.5 million, and its four entries finished seventh, 11th, 12th and 21st to collect a combined purse of $428,401. (That doesn't include driver salaries or additional personnel costs.) As teams prepare to head to Indianapolis for NASCAR's annual Brickyard race, last month's Kentucky race provided a glimpse at what goes into a typical race weekend, how it comes together and how much it costs. See much more on race team logistics and expenses at Sports Business Journal.(7-22-2014)

  • Stewart says he still deals with pain: #14-Tony Stewart met with the media Monday on NASCAR's weekly teleconference and was asked about the status of his leg:
    Q. During Speedweeks I think you said your leg was about 65% healed and you were still dealing with some pain. Where are you from the physical standpoint? Are you still dealing with some limitations or pain issues?
    TONY STEWART: I still deal with pain every day, but that's something that's not even going to probably go away by the end of the year. The reality of it is there might be a point where it will never totally go away, but it doesn't keep me from doing what I love to do. Like I said, I don't feel pain in the race car. I haven't from Daytona on through even this past weekend. So I know that's probably around 3% of my week that I spend in the race car, but as long as that 3% is comfortable and I can enjoy doing what I'm doing, I can deal with the pain the other 97% of the week.
    Q. So like the 97%, is that just the everyday stuff of just kind of getting up and getting everything going type of thing. Just doing normal activities and still feel that little bit of a pinch?
    TONY STEWART: Yeah, anybody that's had broken bones, and Dustin [Long of MRN] can probably chime in and tell you as much as anybody, your body will tell you when it's had enough and when it needs a break and when it needs a rest. It's that way when you're healthy too. If you've been on your feet all day, your body will tell you when it's tired. Unfortunately, when you've had the amount of injuries like we've had, your body will still do the same thing. It will still tell you when you're doing something it doesn't like. It will tell you when it's had enough. So we try to do everything we can to be as comfortable as we can during the day. But like I said, the scenario could have been so much worse that I don't feel bad about it. The pain that I have is just part of it. I know the scenario could have been a lot worse and the result could have been a lot worse, so I'm pretty comfortable dealing with the pain each day the way it is.(Chevy PR)(7-22-2014)

  • Top 10 driver ratings at Indianapolis:
    #48-Jimmie Johnson 109.8
    #14-Tony Stewart 104.1
    #24-Jeff Gordon 102.0
    #12-Juan Pablo Montoya 96.7
    #18-Kyle Busch 96.5
    #5-Kasey Kahne 96.4
    #20-Matt Kenseth 95.8
    #16-Greg Biffle 94.6
    #4-Kevin Harvick 90.2
    #11-Denny Hamlin 88.3
    Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2013 races (9 total) among active drivers at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Formula combining the following categories: Win, Finish, Top-15 Finish, Average Running Position while on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race. See an explanation how the Driver Rating is calculated at NASCAR.com.(NASCAR)

  • Fronius USA joins Viva Motorsports: When Jamie Dick and his Viva Auto Group Chevy hit the track in Indianapolis, they will be sporting a new look. The logo of Fronius USA will be featured on the lower quarter panels of the #55 Camaro. Viva Motorsports will be using the newly released Fronius AccuPocket welder for the 2014 season. Battery powered, high-performance welding equipment is a natural fit for the racetrack. Additional Fronius products are being utilized at the Viva Motorsports shop and by fabrication partner, Michalski's Speed Factory. Continued support is provided by Viva Auto Group, Bestwayautos.com, and Viva Powersports.(Viva Motorsports)(7-22-2014)

  • Tweaker Energy Shots sponsoring Bliss: Mike Bliss and Tweaker Energy Shot will reunite this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Tweaker Energy Shot, along with Circle K, will serve as primary sponsor on the #19 TriStar Motorsports Camry. This Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide Series race will be Bliss' third start, his second with Tweaker Energy Shot, at the famed 2.5-mile oval speedway. This is the second season Tweaker Energy Shot has served as a primary sponsor for Mike Bliss and TriStar Motorsports and its' first teaming up with Circle K. With more than 3,300 locations Nationwide, Circle K will help kick-start Bliss' weekend at the Brickyard.(TriStar Motorsports)(7-22-2014)

  • Nashville Outlaws featured on Larson's car at Indy: Nashville-based Big Machine Records continues their partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing Teams, which will see the label as the primary sponsor on Kyle Larson's #42 Chevy Camaro as he races for Turner Scott Motorsports in the Nationwide Series Lilly Diabetes 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Larson's car will highlight Big Machine's forthcoming release of NASHVILLE OUTLAWS, which features some of country music's biggest stars like Florida Georgia Line, Rascal Flatts, Justin Moore, Darius Rucker, LeAnn Rimes and more covering 15 of rock's most well-known songs from one of rock's most iconic bands. For the second time this season, Larson's NNS car will feature Big Machine Records. Earlier this year, Brantley Gilbert was on Larson's winning #42 ENEOS Camaro in the NNS History 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.(Chip Ganassi Racing), see an image of the car on the #42 team paint schemes page.(7-22-2014)

  • Jimmy John's sponsoring Harvick at Chicago: JR Motorsports announced that Jimmy John's, the gourmet sandwich shop with more than 1,900 locations across the United States, will be the primary sponsor on Kevin Harvick's #5 Chevy in the Sept. 13 Jimmy John's Freaky Fast 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Chicagoland Speedway. Featured on Harvick's #5 Jimmy John's paint scheme at Chicagoland Speedway will be the Folds of Honor Foundation logo as part of Jimmy John's commitment to supporting our nation's heroes. Through scholarships and other assistance, the foundation's mission is to give back to families of soldiers killed or disabled in service to our country.(JR Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #5 team paint schemes page.(7-22-2014)

  • Bruce takes over at WinTron UPDATE: Mason Mingus confirmed on his Twitter that Tripp Bruce will now serve as crew chief on his #35 Toyota for WinTron Racing, beginning at Eldora Speedway. Mark Rette had served as crew chief for Mingus through the first nine races. Mingus is currently 13th in the driver point standings with a best finish of 10th. No word if Rette remains with the team in any capacity.(7-22-2014)
    UPDATE: Rette remains with the team and has taken over crew chief duties with 10-time champion Frank Kimmel in the ARCA Series.(7-22-2014)

  • SS Green Light tap Forrrester, Landers at dirt track: The crew at SS Green Light Racing has been working hard over the last several weeks preparing for the return to dirt in the second annual NASCAR Camping World Truck Series 1800CarCash Mudsummer Classic Wednesday night at the famed half-mile Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, OH. Jared Landers and Korbin Forrester will take the wheel of the No 07 and 08 Chevy Silverados for the mid-week mudslinging special. It will be Forrester's fourth NCWTS start for the SS Green Light team having made his debut at Martinsville in March. Landers, a regular in the Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model series will return to Eldora in the SS Green Light Racing #07 after finishing twelfth in the inaugural event last year. Lander's #07 will race with support from Crop Production Services and Dyna-Gro Seeds.(SS Green Light Racing)(7-22-2014)

  • SANY joins Silas for Eldora: Officials from T3R2 announced today that SANY, a global leader in the manufacture and sale of hoisting equipment will partner with NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Bryan Silas in Wednesday night's 1-800-CarCash Mudsummer Classic at Eldora Speedway. SANY America also supported the team last October at Talladega Superspeedway, where Silas finished 16th.(T3R2)(7-22-2014)

  • Atlanta extends ticket office hours: To better serve customers purchasing event tickets and camping spaces for the Aug. 29-31 NASCAR race weekend, the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office has extended ticket office hours through Sunday, Aug. 31. The ticket office will be open on weekends; Saturday from 9:00-5:00 and Sunday from 1:00-5:00. Beginning on Monday, August 11th, the ticket office will remain open an additional three hours each weeknight. Monday through Friday, the ticket office will be open from 9:00am-8:00pm. An extremely limited number of infield camping spaces are available for the Labor Day Weekend of NASCAR racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway. RV Campers can reserve space in the Flock Brothers Corral for $300. Tent campers can reserve a site in the High Speed Corral for $200 per space. Infield campgrounds will open on Thursday of race week, Aug. 28 at 2:00pm. For more information, visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com or call the AMS Ticket Office at (877) 9-AMS-TIX or (770) 946-4211.(AMS)(7-22-2014)

  • Earnhardt Jr. to appear at Watkins Glen Turn 1 Tavern: #88 National Guard driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. is scheduled to address audience questions at Watkins Glen International during Cheez-It 355 at The Glen, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend, August 7-10. This exclusive Q&A session is scheduled take place in the Turn 1 Tavern on August 10. Next to the towering Seneca Grandstand, the Turn 1 Tavern is a covered hospitality area located trackside, just outside the circuit's first turn. Fans who purchase a Turn 1 Tavern hospitality admission ticket will have the opportunity to participate in this highly sought after Q&A session with the #88 National Guard driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. In addition to this rare and wildly popular Q&A session, fans with Turn 1 Tavern admissions will enjoy food and beverages at a discounted rate all weekend long, along with a complimentary buffet lunch on both Saturday and Sunday. Turn 1 Tavern hospitality admission provides fans with covered trackside viewing Friday through Sunday and may be purchased at www.TheGlen.com for just $75. Facility gate admission is not included with the purchase of Turn 1 Tavern hospitality.(WGI)(7-22-2014)


    News from July 21, 2014

  • Entry List for the Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is posted, 46 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including: #12-Montoya, #21-Bayne, #29-Matt Crafton (would be 1st career Cup start), #33-Stremme, #37-Bobby Labonte (no owners points/attempts but has a past champions provisional available), #66-Moffitt, #95-McDowell.
    Drivers who need to be in the top-36 in speed and have no provisional available to them (lowest in owners points): #21-Bayne, #12-Montoya, #29-Crafton
    Drivers who would miss the race if qualifying is canceled (least race attempts): #21-Bayne, #12-Montoya, #29-Crafton
    See the full entry list at my Jayski's Indianapolis Entry List

  • Hamlin, Stenhouse, Waltrip compete on golf tournament: #11-Denny Hamlin, #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and #66-Michael Waltrip competed in the 2014 American Century Championship at Lake Tahoe over the weekend. Stenhouse was initially the favorite of the group, listed at 50-1 odds by Harrah's/Harveys Lake Tahoe Race & Sports Book to win. Hamlin and Waltrip were both listed at 200-1. The American Century Championship was celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year with a special salute to America's Armed Forces. As part of that initiative, Col. Chad Pfeifer, three-time winner of President George W. Bush's Warrior Open and the 2011 National Amputee Tournament champion, joined the field. Pfeifer lost his leg in an IED explosion while on patrol in Iraq in 2007.
    At the conclusion of the tournament, Hamlin was 55th, Stenhouse was tied for 56th, and Waltrip finished tied for 71st. The tournament was won by former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien. See more about the tournament on the NASCAR Related Charities Events and News page.(7-21-2014)

  • Three generations of Gillilands to race each other at Irwindale UPDATE: Former NASCAR K&N West Series champion Butch Gilliland will dust off his old racing uniform to take on his son and grandson -- current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver David Gilliland and up-and-coming late model driver Todd Gilliland -- in a Super Late Model Series race at Irwindale Speedway on July 19. The 75-lap feature event will be the first time the three generations of Gillilands will compete against each other on track. Fifty-six-year-old Butch won the 1997 championship in the West Series with son David serving as his crew chief. Butch also competed in 10 Sprint Cup Series and 12 Camping World Truck Series races. He has not raced professionally since 2002. Thirty-eight-year-old David is currently the driver of the #38 Ford for Front Row Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series. Irwindale is one of the West Coast tracks where the California native developed his racing skills and also where he earned his first asphalt win. His infant son Todd, just three weeks old, was in Victory Lane for the celebration. Now 14, Todd is in his first full season of stock-car racing, which has already included his first late-model pole and win at Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, N.C., in May.(Breaking Limits)(7-8-2014)
    UPDATE: Todd Gilliland has learned virtually everything he knows about racing from his father, Sprint Cup driver David Gilliland, and grandfather and dominating former west coast racer Butch Gilliland. Saturday night at Irwindale Speedway in suburban Los Angeles, 14-year-old Todd showed dad and granddad a thing or two, finishing third in the Super Late Models main event.Jason Patison, of Corona, California, wound up winning the race, followed by Jack Madrid of Dove Canyon, California, and then the youngest Gilliland, from Sherrill's Ford, North Carolina. Butch, meanwhile, who hasn't raced competitively since 2002, proved that racing is like riding a bike: once you get behind the wheel, you never forget, finishing a strong fifth. That left David Gilliland, who was hoping to join his son and father in the top-five, only to have those dreams wrecked - literally and figuratively - when he and Ryan Partridge collided on Lap 30.(NBC Sports)(7-21-2014)

  • No NASCAR in top 50 watched sporting events this year: At the unofficial halfway point of the sports calendar, here is a look at the most-watched sporting events of the year so far. Click here to jump straight to the list. The first half of 2014 was a bit atypical thanks to the Winter Olympics and World Cup. Those two events accounted for exactly half of the 50 most-watched sports telecasts this year - eighteen for the Olympics and seven for the World Cup - and 11 of the top 12 non-NFL events. The Opening Ceremony of the Olympics (31.7M) and the Germany/Argentina World Cup final (26.5M) rank as the two most-watched non-NFL sporting events of the year. There have been other oddities. Horse racing placed higher on this year's list than the NBA Finals, as The Belmont Stakes drew 20.4 million viewers (#26) and Spurs/Heat topped out at 18.0 million (#33). NASCAR and golf both plummeted out of the top 50 as the Daytona 500 (9.3M) and The Masters (11.0M) suffered sizable declines. The NFL Draft - not even an actual sporting event - managed to crack the list with 12.4 million viewers on ESPN and NFL Network. Even in an atypical year, the NFL was still dominant. NFL games took up the top eight spots on the list, led by the Seahawks/Broncos Super Bowl - the most-watched program in U.S. television history. Every NFL game played in 2014 had more viewers than the most-watched World Cup match. See the full list at Sports Media Watch.(7-21-2014)

  • Swindell joins JGL Racing: JGL Racing welcomes Kevin Swindell to the JGL Racing family starting at Indianapolis in the Lilly Diabetes 250 on July 26th. Kevin will be teammate to another open wheel standout, #28-JJ Yeley. Swindell will be behind the wheel of the #93 sponsored by Curb Records and John Christner Trucking, Inc out of Sapulpa, OK. Kevin will also be running other races this year with JGL Racing. James Whitener and Gregg Mixon are pleased to have 2 outstanding drivers in their staple. (JGL Racing)(7-21-2014)

  • Nationwide Series Entry List:There are 41 cars on the preliminary entry list for Saturday's Lilly Diabetes 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A few notes:
    Kevin Harvick returns to the #5;
    David Starr remains in the TriStar #44;
    Kevin Lepage will drive the #74 for Mike Harmon;
    Tommy Joe Martins returns in the #76;
    Kevin Swindell will be in the #96 for JGL;
    David Reagan returns to the #98.(7-21-2014)
    See the complete list on the Indianapolis entry list page.

  • Erickson joins Empire for Eldora: Empire Racing Group has teamed up with Cody Erickson Racing from Ulen, MN to field a truck at Eldora Speedway in the Mudsummer Classic. Cody will run the #82 ERG/Tagsby Chevy at Eldora Speedway.(Empire Racing Group)(7-21-2014)


    News from July 20, 2014

  • Stewart wins sprint car race Friday UPDATE: Tony Stewart was back in a sprint car on Friday night, the same series he raced in when he broke two bones in his right leg. It was unknown if this is Stewart's first sprint car race this season because he didn't announce when he'd compete. Stewart is available because the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is off this weekend. Stewart's runs were posted on Facebook and Twitter. Dirt track star Dustin Daggett tweeted a photo of Stewart's No. 14 car at Tri-City Motor Speedway in Auburn, Michigan. Daggett also tweeted, "Raced hard in heat against Tony Stewart! But we got him, now for the Feature!" Daggett says he was leading the feature race late, but went off track and Stewart claimed the win. Stewart tweeted, "If you haven't heard already, I ran my sprint car tonight and won! Felt great to run it again. Was a 2nd place car but had a little luck." Stewart crashed last year at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, where he flipped his 360 winged sprint car while leading with five laps remaining in the 30-lap feature. He missed the final 15 Cup races last year after breaking his leg in two places.(Associated Press/ESPN)(7-19-2014)
    UPDATE: Just one night after winning his first sprint car race in nearly a year, three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart was back racing again, finishing third behind Randy Hannagan and Dustin Daggett in the SOD/N.R.A. Engine Pro Challenge at Crystal Motor Speedway in Michigan.(Fox Sports)(7-20-2014)

  • Harvick is most mentioned driver in first half of season: According to data compiled by Joyce Julius, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, and Jeff Gordon have accounted for the most driver mentions during NASCAR telecasts though Daytona this month:
    Driver.....Interviews.....Interview Time.....Mentions
    #4-Kevin Harvick.....20.....0:17:30.....2,533
    #48-Jimmie Johnson.....32.....0:21:53.....2,326
    #24-Jeff Gordon.....21.....0:21:09.....2,181
    #2-Brad Keselowski.....24.....0:18:21.....2,056
    #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr......29.....0:26:21.....1,950
    #22-Joey Logano.....17.....0:14:29.....1,626
    #20-Matt Kenseth.....17.....0:14:19.....1,556
    #18-Kyle Busch.....20.....0:14:46.....1,401
    #11-Denny Hamlin.....13.....0:14:41.....1,063
    #99-Carl Edwards.....24.....0:17:20.....964
    Statistics reflect all live race telecasts and replays of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season through Daytona (Race #18).(Joyce Julius)(7-20-2014)

  • Turner Sports could disappear in potential media mergers: The latest machinations of the corporate media giants could result in the end of one of sports broadcasting's great brands. According to multiple reports, 21st Century Fox is pushing to acquire rival giant Time Warner. Even after an initial $80 billion bid was rebuffed, Fox and its leader Rupert Murdoch are said to be "determined and unlikely to walk away anytime soon". Much of the talk surrounding a potential Fox acquisition of Time Warner has focused on sports and with good reason. Through Turner Sports, Time Warner has one of the most impressive sets of sports rights on cable television. Adding Turner Sports' haul to the existing Fox Sports line-up - the rest of the MLB playoffs, the NFL, NASCAR and college football - would turn the latter into the dominant player in TV sports. ESPN would still be the leader in many ways, but FOX and Fox Sports 1 would have a virtually unmatched portfolio. Such a move would be a boon to 21st Century Fox and a major loss for sports television. Turner Sports has been one of the most successful alternatives to ESPN and is generally well-regarded. Despite being unaffiliated with any of the Big Four broadcast networks, Turner Sports has managed for decades to acquire some of the biggest blue-chip properties in sports (even the NFL in the 1990s). A potential merger would wipe out both a competitor for Fox and an alternative for viewers, making the sports TV business a little less risky for the remaining giants. Fox would not be the only one happy to see Turner Sports go - ESPN would be happy to no longer see comparisons between its NBA studio show and Inside the NBA, and all the networks would presumably be glad to have one less rival driving up rights fees. Now, the threat exists of the big five turning into the big four. CBS and NBC would still be formidable, but the industry would primarily turn into a battle of Goliaths between ESPN and FOX.(Sports Media Watch)(7-20-2014)

  • Hauler parade kicks off events at Indianapolis: The third annual Kroger Super Weekend at the Brickyard will begin with the fun and excitement of the sixth annual Hauler Parade on Thursday, July 24 on Main Street in Speedway, Ind. The event will take place from 5:00-8:00pm. Admission is free. A parade of more than 40 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will arrive on Main Street starting at 6:00pm. Haulers will then park on Main Street between 10th and 15th Streets, giving fans an up-close look. Legendary NASCAR Hall of Fame driver and 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Dale Jarrett will be the grand marshal of the Hauler Parade. Another featured guest will be retired Green Beret John Wayne Walding of Little Elm, Texas, the hero who received naming rights to the Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 at the Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com NASCAR Sprint cup race Sunday, July 27 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Walding will be incorporated into a series of VIP activities throughout the race weekend that also will honor America's unsung heroes. Also appearing at the Hauler Parade on Main Street in Speedway will be Miss Coors Light and Miss Sprint Cup. Fans also can watch the haulers parade north on Main Street and east on 16th Street at 7:55pm, as they depart the Hauler Parade single-file and enter the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.(IMS)(7-20-2014)


    News from July 19, 2014

  • Stewart wins sprint car race: Tony Stewart was back in a sprint car on Friday night, the same series he raced in when he broke two bones in his right leg. It was unknown if this is Stewart's first sprint car race this season because he didn't announce when he'd compete. Stewart is available because the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is off this weekend. Stewart's runs were posted on Facebook and Twitter. Dirt track star Dustin Daggett tweeted a photo of Stewart's No. 14 car at Tri-City Motor Speedway in Auburn, Michigan. Daggett also tweeted, "Raced hard in heat against Tony Stewart! But we got him, now for the Feature!" Daggett says he was leading the feature race late, but went off track and Stewart claimed the win. Stewart tweeted, "If you haven't heard already, I ran my sprint car tonight and won! Felt great to run it again. Was a 2nd place car but had a little luck." Stewart crashed last year at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, where he flipped his 360 winged sprint car while leading with five laps remaining in the 30-lap feature. He missed the final 15 Cup races last year after breaking his leg in two places.(Associated Press/ESPN)(7-19-2014)

  • 20 years at the Brickyard: It'll be here before you know it, and it'll be a big one ... one of the biggest on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule - the Crown Royal Presents The John Wayne Walding 400 at the Brickyard. At one of the world's most iconic sporting venues - Indianapolis Motor Speedway - 43 drivers will vie for the honor of participating in one of the sport's most unique celebrations. That, of course, is kissing the Yard of Bricks. A few notes whet the Indy appetite before going full throttle next week.
    * It's the 20th anniversary of the inaugural Brickyard 400, won by Jeff Gordon, who's still the youngest winner ever there at 23 years, 2 days.
    * It's the place of championships - 15 of the 20 winners are either past, reigning or future series champions. That includes NASCAR Hall of Famers Dale Earnhardt and Dale Jarrett and 2015 inductee Bill Elliott.
    * Eight times, the winner of the Brickyard race went on to win that year's championship. Those wins are split among five champions - Jimmie Johnson (three times), Gordon, Tony Stewart, Bobby Labonte and Dale Jarrett.
    * Chevy has won the last 11 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at The Brickyard. The victory stranglehold falls short of the record, however. Chevy does hold the all-time record of 13 consecutive wins, at Talladega Superspeedway, from 1999-2005.
    * Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson are tied for the all-time Brickyard wins lead, with four each.(NASCAR)(7-19-2014)

  • Earnhardt, Jr., Danica among most popular sports figures: The battle for number one continues with a change on top. As many have asked the LeBron James versus Michael Jordan question, we may not know how they would compare on the basketball court, but this year, James overthrows Jordan and is America's favorite sports star. Last year, the reverse was true and Michael Jordon was number one while LeBron James was number two. As he makes his farewell tour around baseball fields this summer, New York Yankee Derek Jeter moves up three spots and is in the third position this year. Rounding out the top five is quarterback Peyton Manning, remaining at number four this year, and in a tie for the fifth spot on the list is another basketball star, Kobe Bryant, moving up from number seven, and NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt, Jr., moving up from number ten last year.
    She may have had some health issues while playing at Wimbledon, but for the fifth year in a row, Serena Williams is the Favorite Female Sport Star. Race car driver Danica Patrick remains at number two, while Venus Williams remains number three. Another tennis star, Maria Sharapova, is at number four again this year, while soccer legend Mia Hamm remains at number five. These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 2,241 adults surveyed online between June 11 and 16, 2014.(Harris Interactive)(7-19-2014)

  • Elliott wins Nationwide race at Chicagoland: #9-Chase Elliott won the EnjoyIllinois.com 300 at Chicagoland Speedway. #6-Trevor Bayne finished second followed by #42-Kyle Larson, #5-Kasey Kahne, #3-Ty Dillon, #2-Brian Scott, #20-Erik Jones, #60-Chris Buescher, #22-Ryan Blaney, and #11-Elliott Sadler.
    There were 3 cautions for 13 laps and 17 lead changes among 11 leaders. Complete results are on the Chicagoland race results page (pdf).(7-19-2014)

  • Chicagoland Nationwide Race Fast Facts:
    Chase Elliott won the 4th Annual enjoyillinois.com 300, his third victory in 18 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
    This is his third victory and 13th top-10 finish in 2014.
    This is his first victory and first top-10 finish at Chicagoland Speedway.
    Trevor Bayne (second) posted his third top-10 finish in seven races at Chicagoland Speedway. It is his 13th top-10 finish in 2014.
    Kyle Larson(i) (third) posted his first top-10 finish in three races at Chicagoland Speedway.
    Chase Elliott (first) was the highest finishing rookie.
    Chase Elliott # leads the point standings by 7 points over Regan Smith.
    (NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(7-19-2014)

  • Nationwide Driver standings following Chicagoland:
    1) #9-Chase Elliott 646
    2) #7-Regan Smith 639, -7
    3) #11-Elliott Sadler 638, -8
    4) #3-Ty Dillon 615, -30
    5) #2-Brian Scott 499, -47
    6) #6-Trevor Bayne 596, -50
    7) #62-Brendan Gaughan 526, -120
    8) #60-Chris Buescher 523, -123
    9) #99-James Buescher 492, -154
    10) #16-Ryan Reed 485, 161
    See complete standings on the driver standings page (pdf).(7-19-2014)

  • Nationwide Owner Standings following Chicagoland are posted (pdf).(7-19-2014)

  • Scott on Nationwide pole at Chicagoland: #2-Brian Scott won the Coors Light Pole for the EnjoyIllinois.com 300 at Chicagoland Speedway with a speed of 177.807mph. #3-Ty Dillon will start second followed by: #9-Chase Elliott, #20-Erik Jones, #5-Kasey Kahne, #54-Sam Hornish, Jr., #11-Elliott Sadler, #22-Ryan Blaney, #62-Brendan Gaughan, #33-Cale Conley, #6-Trevor Bayne, and #42-Kyle Larson.
    Fastest in the second round of qualifying was #2-Brian Scott at 177.212mph.
    #3-Ty Dillon was quickest in the opening qualifying session at 177.585mph
    Did Not Qualify: none. The starting lineup is posted on the Chicagoland starting lineup page (pdf).(7-19-2014)

  • Chicagoland Nationwide Qualifying Notes:
    Brian Scott won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 4th Annual enjoyillinois.com 300 with a lap of 30.370 seconds, 177.807 mph.
    This is his fourth pole in 160 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
    This is his second pole and 15th top-10 start in 2014.
    This is his second pole in eight races at Chicagoland Speedway - Scott posted his first series career pole at Chicago on 9/17/2011.
    Ty Dillon (second) posted his 10th top-10 start of 2014 and his first at Chicagoland Speedway.
    Chase Elliott (third) posted his first top-10 start at Chicagoland Speedway. It is his 13th in 18 races this season.
    Ty Dillon (second) was the fastest qualifying Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate.(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(7-19-2014)

  • Nationwide Qualifying Results (pdf)
  • Pratt to drive pace car at Indy: Actor Chris Pratt - star of the soon-to-be-released movie "Guardians of the Galaxy" - will serve as honorary pace car driver in a 2014 red and silver Chevy SS pace car for the Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 at the Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com on Sunday, July 27 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "It's a dream come true to drive the pace car for the John Wayne Walding 400," said Pratt, who has also appeared in 'Zero Dark Thirty' and 'Moneyball.' "I am really excited to be part of NASCAR for the day." Chevrolet has a long history of pacing races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and has served as the pace car for every NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held at the famed track (1994-present).(Chevy PR)(7-19-2014)


    News from July 18, 2014

  • Sad News - Dr. John Melvin: Most NASCAR fans might not know the name Dr. John Melvin, but in the NASCAR community his work was paramount in the field of driver safety. A former University of Michigan professor and senior research engineer with General Motors, Dr. Melvin became a paid safety consultant for NASCAR, serving as the Technical Consultant to NASCAR for Racecar Safety. In this role, Dr. Melvin worked on safety innovations such as the head-and-neck restraints, seat construction, seat belts and SAFER barriers. Dr. Melvin was also the first to develop a black box for racecars in 1991 as part of the GM Racing Safety Program. "NASCAR and the entire motorsports industry lost a giant on Thursday with the passing of Dr. John Melvin. Dr. Melvin was a pioneer in the field of driver safety, particularly in the area of driver restraint systems," NASCAR president Mike Helton said in a statement. "His many contributions as a safety consultant to NASCAR for more than 13 years forever changed the sport. We lost a colleague, and a friend. NASCAR extends its condolences to Dr. Melvin's family and friends. He will be greatly missed by the entire racing community."(FoxSports)(7-18-2014)

  • Moffitt gets Indy sponsor: Jay Robinson Racing announced that CHARACTER COUNTS!, a character-building initiative of the Josephson Institute, will be the primary partner of the #66 Toyota driven by Brett Moffitt in next week's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race will mark the character development program's first partnership in motorsports. CHARACTER COUNTS! is an community-based and educational program that reaches more than seven million kids nationwide each year. Founded in 1992, the non-profit organization is utilized in schools across America to teach ethics and values by using the six pillars of character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. Sunday will mark Moffitt's third career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start and his first race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.(Jay Robinson Racing)(7-18-2014)

  • Some first half NASCAR stats: Hopefully, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers take a breather this weekend. But some simply can't get enough. Kasey Kahne and Kyle Larson both will run in Saturday night's NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Chicagoland Speedway. David Gilliland will race against his father (Butch) and son (Todd) in a Super Late Model Series race at Irwindale Speedway in California. They love the thrill of racing. And there has been plenty of drama and excitement over the first 19 races. So as the series prepares for 17 consecutive weekends of racing to end the season, [NASCAR dove] into some of the statistics as we hit the final open weekend of the season. Here are some highlights:
    - 11 different race winners.
    - 12 different Coors Light Pole winners; 13 track qualifying records have been broken.
    - Average of 11.1 leaders per race through 19 races, compared to 8.8 at this point last year.
    - Average of 24.1 lead changes per race, compared to 16.6 at this point last year last year.
    - Average margin of victory is .717 seconds, the lowest through 19 races since the inception of electronic timing and scoring in 1993.
    - Through race No. 19, there have been 76,570 green flag passes, the most at this point of the season since the inception of passing stats in 2005. There have been 771 green flag passes for the lead, the second highest figure through 19 races since 2005.(NASCAR)(7-18-2014)

  • Cup drivers competing in CWTS race at Eldora: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie Michael Annett will compete in the second running of Eldora Speedway's Mudsummer Classic, a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on dirt, piloting the #14 TMC Transportation Chevy Silverado for NTS Motorsports. Last year the inaugural event drew a sellout crowd and record television ratings, sparking the imagination of a fan base eager for sliding, mud-slinging action. The Mudsummer Classic will air live on Wednesday night, July 23 on FOX Sports 1 at 9:00pm/et.(Rising Star Management), Austin Dillon and Kyle Larson are the other Cup drivers running. See the Eldora entry list and complete race and series information on Jayski's Camping World Truck Series page.(7-18-2014)

  • Conley fastest in Nationwide happy hour: #33-Cale Conlye was quickest during happy hour for the EnjoyIllinois.com 300 with a speed of 175.262mph. He was followed by: #62-Brendan Gaughan, #3-Ty Dillon, #6-Trevor Bayne, #16-Ryan Reed, #20-Erik Jones, #9-Chase Elliott, #39-Ryan Sieg, #99-James Buescher, and #22-Ryan Blaney. 39 drivers participated in the session. See complete results on the Chicagoland practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(7-18-2014)

  • Scott fastest in first Nationwide practice: #2-Brian Scott was fastest during opening practice at Chicagoland Speedway with a speed of 172.806mph. Chris Buescher was second, followed by: #9-Chase Elliott, #62-Brendan Gaughan, #42-Kyle Larson, #54-Sam Hornish, Jr., #5-Kasey Kahne, #16-Ryan Reed, #3-Ty Dillon, and #6-Trevor Bayne. 32 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Chicagoland practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(7-18-2014)


    News from July 17, 2014

  • Race Team Alliance will talk to NASCAR through attorneys: If the new Race Team Alliance wants to communicate with NASCAR and its sister company International Speedway Corp. it will have to do so through attorneys. NASCAR President Mike Helton said Friday there is no animosity between the team owners and NASCAR, although NASCAR has had no conversations with Kauffman as part of the RTA. "I wanted to dispel the perception of animosity to start with and then back that up with saying we're going to do business as usual," Helton said Friday. "I think everybody in the garage area knows how we do our business and the role they play in it, and so we'll continue to do it that way." But apparently no NASCAR officials will be talking directly with the RTA. NASCAR confirmed Wednesday that in a move they say is done for legal prudence and not as a sign of animosity, it has directed that all communication between NASCAR and the RTA be done through lawyers. After the Sporting News published a column on the RTA Tuesday saying the development is a sign of an increased lack of trust between NASCAR and the teams and vice versa, Kauffman tweeted that ISC also has issued a lawyer-only edict.
    The RTA has hired the legal firm of Jones Day, which provides representation on financial issues to almost half of the Fortune 500 companies. And they apparently need to be. Gary Roberts, a noted sports law expert and current professor at Indiana University, said last week that the organization could open itself up to a lawsuit depending on how it operates. There is nothing wrong with the teams working together for better purchasing power as long as the people they purchase from are not dependent solely on NASCAR teams for their business. The danger comes if the RTA represents the teams in any sort of negotiations with NASCAR and tries to use its collective leverage to force NASCAR's hand. "You have a monopolist, NASCAR, dictating terms to a group of entities that it does business with," Roberts said. "And the entities then (are) saying, 'We want to get together and create counter-veiling market power so we're on equal footing.'(Sporting News)(7-17-2014)

  • Danica, Stewart team up for GoDaddy ad: GoDaddy may be revamping its image, but it apparently still has miles to clock with Danica Patrick. It's about to pair Patrick in a new commercial, scheduled to debut this week, with Tony Stewart - the NASCAR star and co-owner of her racing team. In the ad, the two keep trying to out-prank each other. It's the first time the racing stars have appeared together in a GoDaddy spot. Patrick is seen in Stewart's race car garage, trying to explain to viewers that they can get a free domain name when they purchase the Website Builder from GoDaddy. But each time she tries to talk, Stewart purposely starts using his noisy air wrench, and cuts her off. This happens several times, before a clearly annoyed Patrick finally manages to explain the deal. But Patrick gets the last laugh. The ad ends with Stewart's car up on blocks - with all four tires missing. A guilty-looking Patrick smirks, while holding the air wrench in her hands.(USA Today)(7-17-2014)

  • Kwasniewski gets new crew chief: Dylan Kwasniewski, driver of the Turner Scott Motorsports #31 Chevy in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, will have a new crew chief atop the pit box when the series moves to Chicagoland Speedway for Saturday night's EnjoyIllinois.com 300. Turner Scott officials confirmed Thursday that car chief Shannon Rursch has replaced veteran Pat Tryson as crew chief for the team. "I respect (Turner Scott Motorsports') decision," Kwasniewski told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Thursday afternoon. "It's a shame to see Pat go obviously. We had a great relationship, and he's a great crew chief." Rursch served brief stints as car chief at Phoenix Racing and Robby Gordon Motorsports before joining TSM in December of 2009.(NASCAR.com)(7-17-2014)

  • Gerber Collision & Glass sponsoring Cassill: Gerber Collision & Glass, the nation's leading autobody repair and glass repair and replacement company, will partner with driver Landon Cassill and the JD Motorsports with Gary Keller team for Saturday's EnjoyIllinois.com 300 Nationwide Series race at Chicagoland Speedway. Cassill, who has had a sizzling summer, sits in 11th place in Nationwide driver points entering Saturday's race. Car owners have trusted their autobody repairs and auto glass repair and replacement for more than 75 years to Gerber Collision & Glass. Gerber started with one auto glass and trim shop in Chicago and has spread to more than 260 locations across the country, including nearly 60 locations in the Chicagoland area.(JD Motorsports)(7-17-2014)

  • TMC Transportation on board with Annett at Eldora: Sprint Cup Series rookie Michael Annett will compete in the second running of Eldora Speedway's Mudsummer Classic, a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on dirt, piloting the #14 TMC Transportation Chevy Silverado for NTS Motorsports. Eldora has a special meaning to the 28-year-old driver, whose father Harrold owned one of the most prestigious Sprint Car teams in dirt racing history. His #14 truck will be adorned by the black and gold of TMC, a color scheme familiar to fans of dirt racing. Current Annett partner Allstate Peterbilt Group will adorn the Silverado's tonneau cover.(Rising Star Management Group)(7-17-2014)


    News from July 16, 2014

  • New Hampshire TV Ratings: The series finale of NASCAR on TNT was just the latest Sprint Cup race to suffer a decline compared to last year. NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from New Hampshire earned a 2.7 U.S. rating and 4.3 million viewers on TNT Sunday afternoon, down 16% in ratings and 13% in viewership from last year (3.2, 4.9M) and down 13% and 10%, respectively, from 2012 (3.1, 4.9M). This year's race ranks as the lowest rated since at least 1998 and the least-viewed since at least 2000. In 13 years on TNT (2001-14), the race topped out at a 4.5 and 7.3 million viewers in 2005. Keep in mind the race aired directly opposite the World Cup final, which had 26.5 million viewers on ABC and Univision. Even with that caveat, Sunday's results were part of an ongoing trend for NASCAR this season. The race was the 15th of 16 Sprint Cup telecasts to have a decline in ratings and the 13th to decline in viewership. Keep in mind that excludes three races that were postponed a day due to rain and the All-Star Race on Speed Channel. In addition, the race was just one of several this season to hit or approach a multi-year low.(Sports Media Watch / Bloomberg / TV By the Numbers), see past 2014 races ratings and 5-year comparison chart on the 2014 TV Ratings page.(7-16-2014)

  • NASCAR to test possible 2015 rule changes: NASCAR has scheduled a test on August 18, 2014 at Michigan International Speedway to test possible rule changes for the 2015 season. "We're very pleased with the competition on the track so far in 2014,'' said Gene Stefanyshyn, NASCAR vice president of innovation and racing development, in a statement to Motor Racing Network. "The evolution of the racing product continues as we look to 2015 and beyond. The test at Michigan International Speedway will be a great opportunity to gather more information, help us validate much of the great research done by engineers in our sport, and drive us one step closer to our 2015 race package." NASCAR states that the number of teams testing hasn't been finalized. NASCAR also states that no other tests have been scheduled, although indications in the garage are that a follow-up test could take place at Charlotte Motor Speedway later in the year.(Motor Racing Network)(7-16-2014)

  • NASCAR tracks rev up lobbying for tax break: Racetrack owners are revving up their efforts to protect the "NASCAR tax break" from critics who portray it as pure corporate pork. The provision, which allows motor sports tracks to use a shorter depreciation schedule, is among the more than 50 tax preferences that expired at the end of 2013 after Congress failed to pass a so-called "extenders" bill. Fiscal watchdogs say the motor sports tax break, enacted in 2004, is the kind of narrow giveaway that gives the U.S. tax code a bad name, and lump it in with other extenders provisions that support the Puerto Rican rum industry and thoroughbred horses. With that in mind, motor sports officials have accelerated their own lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill to battle back against a shorthand - "NASCAR tax break" - they say is misleading. John Saunders, the president of the International Speedway Corporation (ISC), acknowledged that motor sports advocates have a tough fight against "a sexy sound bite."
    "It's an asterisk in the extenders, yet it gets all this attention, mischaracterized," said Saunders, whose company owns the Daytona International Speedway in Florida, the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama and about a dozen other NASCAR tracks. Congress is expected to restore at least some of the expired tax provisions by the end of the year, and motor sports companies are employing high-priced K Street talent to help them land in the winner's circle. There are roughly 1,200 auto racetracks in the U.S., according to industry advocates, the vast majority of which are small, local operations that aren't affiliated with the big leagues of NASCAR. Allowing those tracks to write off costs over a seven-year span lets them pour money back into their businesses, racetrack advocates say, spurring economic growth in individual communities around the country.(see full article at The Hill)(7-16-2014)

  • Winston to be made in England: Reynolds and Lorillard announced Tuesday morning that they have entered into a definitive agreement in which Winston-Salem-based Reynolds has agreed to acquire Greensboro-based Lorillard. Reynolds will keep the Newport, Camel, Pall Mall and Natural American Spirit cigarette brands; Grizzly smokeless tobacco; and VUSE e-cigarettes. In what is likely an early attempt to appease antitrust regulators, the KOOL, Salem, Winston, Maverick and blu eCigs brands and other assets and liabilities will be sold to Britain's Imperial Tobacco. If the transaction is completed, a transition period will begin during which Reynolds will contract manufacture KOOL, Salem and Winston for Imperial and Imperial will contract manufacture Newport for Reynolds.(Triad Business Journal), Winston sponsored the now Sprint Cup Series from 1971 thru 2003.(7-16-2014)

  • Sieg gets two race sponsor: Coming off a career best finish of 3rd place with driver Ryan Sieg at Daytona, StationDigital announced it will be the primary sponsor of the #39 RSS Racing Chevy at both Bristol and Homestead later this season. StationDigital is a multimedia digital broadcast company that offers free music streaming of over 23 million songs. StationDigital features both genre-based and artist-based music discovery stations to suit an endless variety of musical tastes, and a personal recommendation service to its more than three million users - all available both online and through its iOS and Android mobile apps.(RSS Racing)(7-16-2014)

  • Hornish, Jr. returns to the #54: Week 18 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the #54 Monster Energy Camry will see Sam Hornish Jr. back in the seat to tackle his fourth of seven scheduled races in the Joe Gibbs Racing winning Toyota. In addition to this week's Chicagoland Speedway EnjoyIllinois.com 300 event, with the now four-time 2014 series-winning team, Hornish will compete for a second time at Iowa Speedway in Newton, the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington and Kentucky Speedway in Sparta.(Joe Gibbs Racing)(7-16-2014)

  • Erik Jones making NNS debut: 18-year-old Erik Jones will make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut behind the wheel of the #20 NarcolepsyLink.com Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in Saturday night's EnjoyIllinois.com 300 at Chicagoland Speedway. The Michigan native will be looking to carry the momentum of his hard-fought victory in the American Ethanol 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Iowa Speedway last Friday night into a successful debut in NASCAR's second division this weekend. Jones, driving the #51 Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports, led a race-high 131 laps and held off a hard-charging Ryan Blaney in the closing laps to pick up his second career Truck Series victory in just his ninth series start. Jones will be the seventh different driver to make a start behind the wheel of the #20 Camry in 2014. This weekend's event is one of three scheduled for Jones this season with the #20 team. He will also be behind the wheel for short track-action at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 22 and at Phoenix International Raceway on Nov. 8.(Joe Gibbs Racing)(7-15-2014)

  • Truck Series Eldora Entry List:There are 33 trucks on the preliminary entry list for next Wednesday's 1800Car Cash Mudsummer Classic at Eldora Speedway. A few notes:
    Ken Schrader is in the #00;
    Austin Dillon is in the #2;
    Ty Dillon is in the #3;
    Norm Benning is in the #6;
    Michael Annett is in the #14;
    Kyle Larson is in the #32;
    (7-16-2014)
    See the complete list on the Eldora entry list page.


    News from July 15, 2014



  • NASCAR Introduces Special Paint Scheme Elements For Chase Contenders: Celebrating the accomplishments of those drivers who will contend for the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship, NASCAR has released several new elements to the paint schemes of race cars making the 16-driver Chase Grid.
    Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup-eligible cars will have the roof number, the front splitter / front fascia and the windshield header colored yellow, as well as have a Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup logo affixed to the front-quarter panel of their race car.
    As part of NASCAR's emphasis on winning races all season long, this celebratory paint scheme will be placed on a driver's car to begin the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, at Chicagoland Speedway on Sept. 14. Once a driver is eliminated after one of the Chase's first three rounds, the paint scheme will be removed from the car.
    These changes serve as a visible symbol of the new Chase format. In addition, the paint scheme elements will ensure that fans are able to easily identify each championship contender as NASCAR's playoffs progress. Announced by NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France in January, the new championship format expands the Chase field to 16 drivers, up from 12 in previous years, and implements a new round-by-round advancement format that ultimately will reward a battle-tested, worthy champion. A victory in the first 26 races all but guarantees a berth in the 10-race Chase, which will air exclusively on the ESPN family of networks. The number of championship drivers in contention for the championship decreases after every three Chase races, culminating with four drivers racing for the title at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship, scheduled for November 16.(NASCAR)(7-15-2014)

  • Ty Dillon to make Sprint Cup debut: Ty Dillon is scheduled to make his NASCAR Sprint Cup debut next month at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Mike Dillon, vice president of competition at Richard Childress Racing, told Motor Racing Network. Mike Dillon says that Ty Dillon, his son, will drive the #33 Chevy at Atlanta. Part of the reason why Ty Dillon will make his debut at Atlanta is that Richard Childress Racing is scheduled to test there next month. It won't the first time Ty Dillon has tested a Cup car. Mike Dillon said his son has tested with Furniture Row Racing this season. Mike Dillon said the plan is for Ty Dillon to run a second Cup race later this season but where and when will depend on sponsorship.(Motor Racing Network)(7-15-2014)

  • 2014 Top-5's, Top-10's: #88-Earnhardt Jr. and #2-Keselowski lead all drivers after 19 races in 2014 with 9 top-fives.
    #24-Gordon, #88-Earnhardt Jr. and #20-Kenseth lead all drivers in 2014 with 13 top-Ten finishes.
    Seven drivers have ran all 19 races in 2014 and do not have a top-10 finish: #51-Allgaier, #7-Annett, #38-Gilliland, #26-Whitt, #36-Sorenson, #23-Bowman and #34-Ragan.(7-13-2014)

  • Poles equal good finishes in 2014 so far: Of the 18 poles won in 19 races (Richmond qualifying was canceled due to rain), three drivers won from the pole position: #4-Kevin Harvick at Darlington, #48-Jimmie Johnson at Charlotte and #2-Brad Keselowski at Kentucky. Twelve of the 18 finished in the top-five and 15 in the top-ten. Only three pole winners have finished outside the top ten: #18-Kyle Busch finished 14th at Martinsville, #38-David Gilliland finished 35th at Daytona in July and #33-Brian Scott finished 42nd at Talladega.(more at Jayski's Sprint Unlimited / poles page)(7-15-2014)

  • Earnhardt Jr. and Keselowski clinch Chase spot: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #2-Brad Keselowski have clinched a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, assuming they attempt to qualify for the remaining seven races in the regular season. Both Earnhardt and Keselowski have fulfilled two of the three requirements to guarantee their spot in the Chase - multiple wins and locking in to the top 30 in points. With Keselowski's third win of the season this past weekend he could be seeded first in the Chase - each win is worth three Chase bonus points. A number of other drivers can join Earnhardt and Keselowski as Chase clinchers. #24-Jeff Gordon has already clinched a top 30 spot, but with a single win has yet to clinch the "wins" portion of the criteria. A win at Indy would clinch him a spot. To clinch a top 30 spot, the clinching driver must be 289 points ahead of 31st place after Indianapolis.(NASCAR Wire Service)(7-15-2014)

  • Gordon talks about the RTA and minimum speed: #24-Jeff Gordon was the guest of this week's NASCAR Teleconference and discussed many topics including the RTA and minimum speeds, the transcript in part:
    Q. There was a lot of talk about the Joey Logano crash with Morgan Shepherd and a lot of discussion about minimum speeds and whatnot, and I think 10 years ago at Darlington you had an incident with Andy Hillenburg in which it was similar with a car struggling to kind of maintain minimum speed and you had a wreck. I was wondering do you have any thoughts on should NASCAR look at minimum speeds because I think that the pace was like 16 miles an hour faster than what the minimum speed was at New Hampshire, or are you comfortable with having cars that are running that slow on the track?
    JEFF GORDON: "No, I'm not comfortable with that. I don't think they have any place out there if they're running that slow, whether you're a car that's had damage and you can't maintain the minimum speed, or is the minimum speed the proper speed. I think it probably needs to be raised up at certain tracks where there's not a lot of falloff in the tire, then I think that minimum speed probably needs to be adjusted. I don't know if that really contributed towards what happened with Morgan and Joey. The video doesn't show everything. You see Joey go by him. Obviously Morgan got loose and got into him.
    The tricky thing about minimum speed at a place like New Hampshire, you've got cars all around the track. You've got a car that maybe can meet minimum speed in clean air, but they're really never in clean air because they're constantly getting passed or trying to make some room for the lap cars to go by. How do we truly measure minimum speed because if you do it every lap that they're getting passed by a faster car, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't make minimum speed, so I think NASCAR maybe looks at sometimes once they get into clean air are they making minimum speed, and at a place like New Hampshire or Martinsville, they're never in clean air, and I don't think they're ever going to make minimum speed. Those numbers are -- NASCAR has those, I don't. I know that week in and week out there are certain cars that you're passing very, very often that you're questioning whether or not they're making minimum speed or if the minimum speed is really at the right pace."
    Q. What do you think about the owners forming the RTA? Do you see that as a positive or a negative, and if it's a positive, what are some things that you think they can accomplish?
    JEFF GORDON: "Well, you know, I don't really see where things have changed a whole lot other than it's more official. They've been meeting for years to get together and communicate about where the sport is at, things that they can do to strengthen their teams, be more efficient. I think it's really just more of an official way to create that alliance, and I think it's a positive because our sport, in order for it to be strong, the teams need to be strong. They need to be profitable. They need to be able to do business, and it's turned into a big business, and it's constantly growing, and so I'm in support of it because if the teams are strong and more successful, then that's good for us that are part of the team and it's good for the sport, it's good for the fans, and so I think that this is definitely going to be something that we're all going to learn from and grow from, but I think it's something that definitely is only going to be good for the sport in general."
    Q. I'm not using the word union, but would it be helpful to the drivers if they were organized in the same way the owners are attempting to be?
    JEFF GORDON: :Well, I think the way I look at this, this is a team alliance. It's not an owner alliance. Some people are saying that, but to me it's what's going to make the teams more efficient, stronger, more profitable, and to me that includes the drivers. That includes all the employees on each of those teams. I think that it's in a lot of ways covering us, as well. We're aligned with the teams. I have a contract with a team and I want that team to be strong because I know if that team is strong, then that secures my position as a driver. It secures our sponsors and only helps us with our partners and our fans."
    (Team Chevy), see full transcript at Jeffgordon.com and see a video of the interview at ESPN.com.(7-15-2014)

  • Some NASCAR Numbers:
    138: The number of laps race winner Brad Keselowski led in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The number is remarkable because Keselowski repeatedly lost track position with four-tire calls and had to drive back to the front.
    11: The number of different winners in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series so far this year. With only seven races left, tension is mounting as the opportunity to qualify for the Chase by winning a race diminishes with each passing event.
    3: The number of bonus points added to a driver's total at the start of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup for each race won during the regular season. Those bonus points, however, apply only to the first round of the Chase. When points are reset after the first elimination, bonus points for wins are no longer a factor.
    31: The number of laps completed by six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson in the last two races, out of a possible 417. Early crashes took Johnson out of the Cup races at Daytona and Loudon. The last time Johnson had back-to-back DNFs? At Chicagoland and Indy in 2007.
    882: The number of laps led this year in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races by Kevin Harvick, who is fast approaching the high-water mark for his career. Driving for Richard Childress Racing in 2006, Harvick led 895 laps and also set a personal best for victories with five.(NASCAR Wire Service)(7-15-2014)

  • Sad News - Gary Lee: Longtime motor sports broadcaster Gary Lee, 63, was found dead in his Indianapolis home today [Monday], likely the result of a heart attack, friends confirmed. Lee, who lived on the city's Eastside near Shadeland Avenue, was synonymous with ESPN's earliest televised events. He teamed with former driver Larry Rice to broadcast the "Thunder" short-track series that featured drivers such as a young Jeff Gordon at what was then Indianapolis Raceway Park in the late 1980s and early 1990s. "Larry and Gary were 'Thunder,'" said fellow broadcaster Bob Jenkins, who helped start the weekly traveling motor sports show along with Larry Nuber. "They got along so well." Lee worked on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network through the 1990s and owned Whiteland Raceway Park for a time.(Indianapolis Star)(7-15-2014)

  • The Identical movie joins Townley for three races: Athenian Motorsports #25 Zaxby's Toyota Camry will carry 'The Identical' movie on the hood of the NASCAR Nationwide Series car in Chicagoland Saturday, July 19, 2014. The Identical, a City of Peace film will open in theaters Nationwide on September 5, 2014 and is a drama set against the backdrop of three decades of rock 'n' roll from the 1950's through the 1970's. The film stars Blake Rayne, Ashley Judd and Ray Liotta. The Identical Movie will also be featured on Townley's car at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26th and at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 22, 2014. Townley will appear in the movie's music video for "BEE BOPPIN BABY" that will coincide with the movie release in September.(Athenian Motorsports)(7-15-2014)

  • Winning Iowa truck of Jones too low post race UPDATE: The winning #51 truck of Erik Jones failed post race inspection for being too low following the race at Iowa Speedway, NASCAR announced via the Truck Series Twitter page. The #51 team was recently docked six owner points and crew chief Eric Phillips was fined $5,000 for the same infraction following team owner Kyle Busch's win at Kentucky Speedway.(7-11-2014
    UPDATE: The #51 team that competes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has been penalized for a rules infraction discovered in post-race inspection July 11 at Iowa Speedway. The infraction is a P2 level penalty and violates Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 20B-12.8.1 (truck failed to meet post-race height requirements) of the 2014 NASCAR rule book. As a result of this infraction, crew chief Eric Phillips has been fined $6,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. In addition, driver Erik Jones has lost 10 championship driver points and owner Kyle Busch has lost 10 championship owner points.(NASCAR)(7-15-2014)


    News from July 14, 2014

  • Drivers on guest on TV shows (Monday & Tuesday): Current and former NASCAR drivers make guest appearances on popular BBC America, USA Network and TBS television shows this week.
    Jamie McMurray, Rusty Wallace and Junior Johnson are scheduled to appear on Idris Elba: King of Speed on BBC America, July 14th at 10:00pm/et. NASCAR drivers help actor Idris Elba uncover the world of NASCAR racing in an episode of the BBC America original docu-series, Idris Elba: King of Speed. Carl Edwards is scheduled to make a cameo appearance on USA Network's Royal Pains, Tuesday, July 15 at 9:00pm/et. In the episode the character Divya (Reshma Shetty) treats a NASCAR crew chief (guest star Michael O'Keefe) who suffers from anxiety. Edwards gives the crew chief's daughter Ashley (guest-star Spencer Grammer), who is an up-and-coming race car driver, tips about excelling on the track.
    Brad Keselowski makes second guest appearance on TBS' Sullivan & Son, July 15th at 10:00pm/et. In the new episode entitled "Luck of The Half-Irish," Keselowski plays himself and finally breaks his losing streak. Keselowski credits his big win to visiting his favorite bar, Sullivan & Son, and the establishment declares the bar stool he sat on before the race "lucky." Keselowski first appeared on Sullivan & Son last season. He played himself and got into a fender bender with character Ok Cha (Jodi Long) when attempting to parallel park.(7-14-2014)

  • Logano not happy with Shepherd's driving: #22-Joey Logano was involved in an accident on lap 211 when he made contact with #33-Morgan Shepherd at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, his comment: "I got taken out by the slowest car out there. You would think there would be some courtesy to the leaders. We were in second place. He gets out of the way on the straightaway and then goes into the corner and slides right up into the lane I was in. Whatever. I don't know. We will fix it and go at it again. Daytona is Daytona and everyone else crashed but this week - we were doing a good job after having a left rear flat in practice and we were running second with our backup car. I can't get too mad at ourselves over this. It is just dumb that it happened. I feel like that should be stuff that shouldn't happen at this level of racing."(Ford Racing)(7-14-2014)

  • NASCAR has no problem with Morgan Shepherd: NASCAR vice president of competition defended Shepherd saying the veteran "met all of the requirements" established by the sanctioning body. He qualified the situation by calling it "an accident, that could have happened to anybody" and maintained that the #33 Chevy had no issue dropping "to the minimum speed" required at Loudon, "so there wasn't any issue with that."
    "Morgan Shepherd has always been approved," Pemberton said. "He's been approved for decades. Under our situation here, you take a physical at the beginning of the year, you pass your physical, you pass inspection with your car, you qualify for the race and you run the event. He met everything he needed to meet."(Motorsport)(7-14-2014)

  • Keselowski keeps up 'double' performance UPDATE: To date this season #2-Brad Keselowski has raced five double duty weekends (competing in both NSCS and NASCAR Nationwide Series races). In those five Cup Series races he has produced two victories (Las Vegas and Kentucky) and two third-place finishes (Daytona and Phoenix). He has not finished outside of the top three in any of the five Nationwide Series races.(Team Penske)(7-10-2014)
    UPDATE: Keselowski won both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series races at New Hampshire Motorsports, the first to sweep the Cup and Nationwide races.(7-14-2014)

  • Ford's win streak longest since 2001 UPDATE2: #43-Aric Almirola's win at Daytona was Ford's third straight this season. #2-Brad Keselowski won the week before at Kentucky and #99-Carl Edwards won at Sonoma. The last time Ford won three-straight Cup races in a season was 2005 when Greg Biffle won Dover (June 5) and Michigan (June 19) bookending a Carl Edwards Pocono (June 12) victory. The win is the seventh of the season for Ford Racing, equaling the most wins for Ford since 2011.(Ford)(7-9-2014)
    BUT actually Ford had a three-race win streak which spanned 2010-2011 when Carl Edwards won at Phoenix and Homestead in 2010 and Trevor Bayne won at Daytona in Feb 2011; and during the 2008-2009 seasons when Carl Edwards won at Homestead in November 2008 and Matt Kenseth won Daytona and California in February 2009.
    AND The last time Ford won four consecutive Cup events was 2001 with Dale Jarrett and Robert Yates Racing (Darlington, Texas and Martinsville) posting three of the four victories and Elliott Sadler (Bristol - March) the other for the Wood Brothers.(NASCAR Wire Service)(7-13-2014)
    UPDATE: The win is Ford's fourth straight, marking the first time Ford has won four consecutive Cup Series races since 2001 (Dale Jarrett, Darlington on March 18; Elliott Sadler, Bristol on March 25; Jarrett, Texas on April 1; Jarrett, Martinsville on April 8). The win is the eighth of the season for Ford Racing, the most for the manufacturer since winning 11 times in 2008.(Ford Racing).
    The last time Ford won five races in a row was in 1998.
    What is the all-time record streak of wins for a manufacturer? Ford won 32 straight races and 48 of 55 total races in 1965, the year when NASCAR banned some engines like the Hemi engine causing Chrysler to pull out from the series. GM didn't field cars in 1965 and Richard Petty did drag racing, skipping the first 33 races of the season. Midseason, NASCAR changed the rules, allowing the bigger engines in some of the races. Perry came back running 14 of the final 22 races, winning 4 and 10 top-fives.(7-14-2014)

  • Keselowski on TBS Show - Tuesday: On Tuesday, following the NHMS race, Keselowski will appear on the TBS sit-com Sullivan & Son. This will be the second year in a row that he has appeared on the popular show. The episode will air Tuesday, July 15, 2014 at 10:00pm/et on TBS.

  • New Hampshire Race and Commercial Breakdown: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, here is the breakdown for Sunday's race. Began recording the times at the Invocation of the race at 1:00 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 4:16 PM (all times are EST). TNT was the broadcast team for this event. This was their last NASCAR race, as next season Fox and NBC will be the only networks airing races.
    Total number of commercials: 114
    Total number of companies or entities advertised: 46
    Number of times TNT utilized 'Side-by-Side' commercials during this broadcast: 0
    Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast: 30
    Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 4 min. 45 sec.
    Start time to record race/commercial periods: 1:00 PM
    End time to record race/commercial periods: 4:16 PM
    Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 196
    Minutes of race broadcast: 137
    Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 59
    Number of missed restarts: 0
    Number of 'mystery cautions' (debris not shown): 0
    Total race brdcst time 137 Total comm. brdcst time 59
    See past races, links to more detailed reports on the 2014 TV Commercials page.(7-14-2014)

  • Nationwide Series Entry List:There are 41 cars on the preliminary entry list for Saturday's EnjoyIllinois.com 300 at Chicagoland Speedway. A few notes:
    Kasey Kahne in the #5;
    Erik Jones in the #20;
    Ryan Blaney in the #22;
    Cale Conley in the #33;
    See the complete list on the Chicagoland entry list page.(7-14-2014)

  • Nationwide Entry List:There are 41 cars on the preliminary entry list for Saturday's EnjoyIllinois.com 300 at Chicagoland Speedway. A few notes:
    Kasey Kahne in the #5;
    Erik Jones in the #20;
    Ryan Blaney in the #22;
    Cale Conley in the #33;
    (7-14-2014)
    See the complete list on the Chicagoland entry list page.

  • Plan B Sales joins Starr for Chicagoland: David Starr is back behind the wheel of the #44 TriStar Motorsports Camry this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. On board the #44 Camry as the primary sponsor is Plan B Sales, the largest account for Lionel that is servicing the motorsports market. Plan B Sales was founded in 2010 and started as a Lionel diecast and Chase Authentics apparel distributor and has currently expanded the products that their company offers. Plan B is the exclusive distributor for University of Racing, which has detailed a series of historical diecasts that capture some of NASCAR legends in their most memorable cars. They are a stocking distributor and require no minimum purchase.(TriStar motorsports)(7-14-2014)

  • Indianapolis Nationwide race gets Lilly as the sponsor: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Eli Lilly and Company announced a multi-year agreement in which Lilly will be the title sponsor of the annual NASCAR Nationwide Series race at IMS, now known as the Lilly Diabetes 250. Scheduled for Saturday, July 26, the Lilly Diabetes 250 will be run on the famed IMS 2.5-mile oval and will take place during the third-annual Kroger Super Weekend. Previous IMS Nationwide Series race winners include Brad Keselowski in 2012 and Kyle Busch last year. This title sponsorship goes hand-in-hand with Lilly's mission of raising awareness about diabetes in Indiana and across the world. The event will serve as an ideal platform to support those affected by diabetes, as well as provide education about this rampant disease. A leader in diabetes care for more than 90 years, Lilly delivers an array of treatment options as well as a variety of programs and resources that can help people overcome the daily challenges of managing diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects approximately 382 million people worldwide and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) predicts that by 2030, that figure will grow to 592 million people.
    Kroger Super Weekend at IMS will include the Lilly Diabetes 250 Nationwide Series race and NASCAR Sprint Cup practice and qualifying on Saturday, July 26. Thursday will feature TUDOR United SportsCar Championship practice and qualifying; and NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series practice and TUDOR United SportsCar Championship racing will take place on Friday. The weekend will conclude on Sunday, July 27 with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 21st annual Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400.(IMS)(7-14-2014)

  • Jimmie Johnson Experience Returning for GoBowling.com 400: Pocono Raceway announced they will host the Jimmie Johnson Fan Experience, which includes an exclusive, kids-focused question-and-answer session with the six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion, prior to the start of the GoBowling.com 400 on Sunday, August 3. Additionally, all kids in attendance will receive a No. 48 Lowe's Chevy replica car kit as part of the Lowe's Build and Grow clinic. For more information and to purchase access passes, please visit poconoraceway.com/jj48.(Pocono Raceway)(7-14-2014)


    News from July 13, 2014

  • Keselowski wins at New Hampshire: #2-Brad Keselowski won the Camping World RV Sales 301 Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in a green-white-checkered finish. It is his 13th career win, first at New Hampshire and 3rd of the season. Keselowski led the most laps at 138. The win is the 4th in a row for Ford, the first time since 2001 that Ford has won 4 races in a row. The last time Ford won five races in a row was in 1998.
    #18-Busch finished 2nd followed by #42-Larson(best rookie), #20-Kenseth, #31-Newman, #15-Bowyer, #14-Stewart, #11-Hamlin, #17-Stenhouse Jr and #88-Earnhardt Jr.
    Pole winner #18-Busch led 62 laps and finished 2nd (the third NHMS race in a row Busch finished 2nd).
    A few Chase contenders had bad days with #48-Johnson losing a tire on lap lap 11 and wrecking, finishing 42nd, for the 2nd race in a row. #22-Logano led 72 laps, but tangled with #33-Shepherd on lap 211 and crashed, finishing 40th. #24-Gordon ran out of fuel during the 7th caution while running 2nd and finished 26th. #4-Harvick ran out of fuel on the final restart, finishing 30th.
    #24-Gordon (1 win) keeps the points lead after finishing 26th and loses some of his points lead, down to 12 points over #88-Earnhardt Jr..
    #2-Keselowski now leads the Chase Grid with 3 wins and 3rd in points. #48-Johnson drops to 2nd in the grid with 3 wins, 5th in points.
    There were 18 lead changes among 9 drivers. There were 7 cautions for 35 yellow flag laps.
    The average speed was 108.741mph.
    See unofficial race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Unofficial New Hampshire Race Results page (pdf) and check out the New Hampshire Penalty Report (pdf).
    See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official New Hampshire Race & Points Report (pdf).(7-13-2014)

  • Race Fast Facts - New Hampshire Motor Speedway:
    #2-Brad Keselowski won the 22nd Annual Camping World RV Sales 301, his 13th victory in 180 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
    This is his third victory and 10th top-10 finish in 2014. He is now tied with Jimmie Johnson for the 2014 series wins lead.
    This is his first victory and sixth top-10 finish in ten races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
    There have now been 13 different winners in the last 13 races at New Hampshire, which ties a record for the longest streak of different winners at a race track (Texas Motor Speedway).
    Ford has now won four consecutive races, its longest streak since 2001.
    #18-Kyle Busch (second) has now scored three consecutive runner-up finishes at New Hampshire. It was his ninth top-10 finish in 19 races at New Hampshire. It is his eighth top-10 finish in 2014.
    #42-Kyle Larson (third) posted his fourth career top-five finish.
    #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #2-Brad Keselowski have clinched a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, assuming they attempt to qualify for the remaining seven races in the regular season.(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(7-13-2014)

  • Last 13 races at NHMS, 13 different winners UPDATE: Over the course of the last 13 races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, 13 different drivers have won, tying the record with Texas Motor Speedway from 1998 through 2007. The 13 drivers are: #41-Kurt Busch (1 win in 2014), #16-Greg Biffle (0), #22-Joey Logano(2), Mark Martin(retired), #48-Jimmie Johnson(3), #15-Clint Bowyer(0), #31-Ryan Newman(0), #14-Tony Stewart(0), #5-Kasey Kahne(0), #11-Denny Hamlin(1), #55-Brian Vickers(0), #20-Matt Kenseth(0) and #2-Brad Keselowski (3).(NASCAR)(7-13-2014)

  • 2014 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Championship Points Standings:
    [after New Hampshire, race 19 of 36]
    1) #24-Jeff Gordon [1 win], 670
    2) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [2 wins], 658, -12
    3) #2-Brad Keselowski [3 wins], 634, -36
    4) #20-Matt Kenseth, 621, -49
    5) #48-Jimmie Johnson [3 wins], 598, -72
    6) #99-Carl Edwards [2 wins], 574, -96
    7) #31-Ryan Newman, 573, -97
    8) #18-Kyle Busch [1 win], 567, -103
    9) #22-Joey Logano [2 wins], 551, -119
    10) #15-Clint Bowyer, 548, -122
    Other drivers with at least one win, out of the top 10:
    12) #11-Denny Hamlin [1 win], 530, -140
    13) #4-Kevin Harvick [2 wins], 528, -142
    22) #43-Aric Almirola [1 win], 473, -197
    25) #41-Kurt Busch [1 win], 440, -230 (164 pts ahead of 31st)
    See UNOFFICIAL drivers championship points standings on the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings (pdf).
    See the UNOFFICIAL owner points standings on the Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf).
    See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official New Hampshire Race & Points Report (pdf).(7-13-2014)

  • Current 2014 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Grid:
    [after New Hampshire, race 19 of 36 if Chase seeding started after this race]
    1) #2-Brad Keselowski, 3 wins, 3rd in points
    2) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 3 wins, 5th
    3) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 2 wins, 2nd
    4) #99-Carl Edwards, 2 wins, 6th
    5) #22-Joey Logano, 2 wins, 9th
    6) #4-Kevin Harvick, 2 wins, 13th
    7) #24-Jeff Gordon, 1 win, 1st
    8) #18-Kyle Busch, 1 win, 8th
    9) #11-Denny Hamlin, 1 win, 12th
    10) #43-Aric Almirola, 1 win, 22nd
    11) #41-Kurt Busch, 1 win, 25th
    (no wins, in by points)
    12) #20-Matt Kenseth, 4th
    13) #31-Ryan Newman, 7th
    14) #15-Clint Bowyer, 10th
    15) #27-Paul Menard, 11th
    16) #42-Kyle Larson, 14th
    See the Chase Grid Outlook page (pdf).(7-13-2014)

  • New Hampshire Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #42-Larson, finished 3rd, 19 rookie points
    #3-Dillon, 14th, 10
    #26-Whitt, 28th, 9
    #23-Bowman, 31st, 8
    #7-Annett, 32nd, 7
    #83-Truex, 36th, 6
    #51-Allgaier, 37th, 5
    Kligerman, Did Not Race
    See more on the 2014 Rookie of the Year page.(7-13-2014)

  • Johnson sidelined at NHMS due to tire issues:
    Q) WHAT HAPPENED?:
    Johnson: "The first one (tire) I was able to drive the car all the way through Turns 1 and 2. I knew I had a flat and then got down the back and came in. The other one just blew on the straight as soon as I hit the brakes. I'm not sure what caused it. I'm sure there will be a lot of speculation and I'm sure finger pointing back to the teams or our team. But we saw some issues here especially with that particular tire the last couple of days. We will try to dig in and learn more, but I can promise you one thing is wasn't low tire pressure. I've been out here for two days running around and haven't had a flat."
    Q) CERTAINLY NOT THAT QUICK INTO A RUN EITHER?
    Johnson: "Well there are many ways to speculate and think what could have caused it and certainly after the first we could have had damage that allowed something to rub on the tire and blow the second one so quickly. But just a bummer, I'm expecting people to quickly point back at the team and say it's our fault and I guess if it is we will accept it. But the car was fast, had a great day qualifying. We spent the time to come up here and test and get everything ready and prepared and just unfortunate that we are out so early."
    Q) WHAT HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME?
    Johnson: "I'm not really sure. It just went soft on me. I don't know why. But I can promise you one thing, it wasn't due to low left rear tire pressure, which is what a lot of people are speculating. We've been here for two days running and I had no issues. It's unfortunate, regardless. And then you can look at the second tire and think that maybe some damage was done from the first tire that caused the second one to go so quickly. That's a good argument but I just don't know at this point. I don't know if we'll ever know. Unfortunately, two tires went flat in a matter of laps."
    Q) IN RELATION TO WHAT YOU HAD HOPED TO LEARN TODAY THAT WOULD HELP YOU IN SEPTEMBER, HOW BIG OF A SETBACK IS THIS?
    Johnson: "It's definitely a setback. We had a good test up here. We had a very fast car. It would have been nice to get a race in here before we come back for the second one, so it's definitely a setback missing out on track time."
    Q) HOW WEIRD IS IT TO HAVE ONE ISSUE AND THEN ANOTHER ISSUE?
    Johnson: "Yeah, it's weird when that happens. I didn't expect it and I stood on the brakes into Turn 1 and it exploded and I'm like, oh boy; here we go."
    Q) ON THE TEST AT NHMS EARLIER
    Johnson: "We were up here testing. And in the last two days here, Friday and Saturday in race trim, we never had an issue. We saw some others have left rear problems, but it's something we didn't expect at all."(Team Chevy)(7-13-2014)

  • NASCAR And Turner Sports Culminate 32-Year Broadcast Partnership at NHMS: For more than three decades, NASCAR and Turner Sports have partnered to tell the stories of stock car racing - longer than many of the drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series have been alive. On Sunday when the checkered flag flies at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, it will mark the conclusion of a long and prosperous partnership between NASCAR and Turner Sports.
    "There is no question that the folks at Turner have been fantastic partners for the past 32 years, and we can't thank them enough for everything they've done to grow the sport during that time frame," said Brian France, NASCAR chairman and chief executive officer. "Their dedication to producing first-class, innovative NASCAR broadcasts has never wavered, and this weekend's race from New Hampshire should bring an exciting yet bittersweet conclusion to TNT's NASCAR Summer Series."
    Turner has been instrumental in helping grow the sport through innovative and creative NASCAR coverage and promotions. Some highlights in the history of the partnership include:
    - 1983 - 2001: TBS was the longtime home for select races in all three national series, including events from Richmond, Atlanta, Rockingham, Riverside, Charlotte and Pocono; Ken Squier, Buddy Baker and Dick Berggren made up the broadcast team for the majority of races.
    - July 2001: The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was aired on TNT from New Hampshire Motor Speedway; Allen Bestwick, Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach manned the broadcast booth.
    - September 2004: TNT presented its first race in HDTV, the Rock and Roll 400 from Richmond International Raceway.
    - December 2004: TNT announced it would carry their entire portion of the 2005 season in 1080i high definition.
    - May 2011: Turner implemented new "directional audio" marketing technology in public areas of Charlotte, North Carolina, allowing visitors to hear engines revving and race tune-in information when stepping on TNT logos.
    - June 2012: NASCAR and Twitter launched a first-of-its-kind editorial partnership for the first TNT race from Pocono Raceway, creating a unique complementary second screen experience to enhance TNT's broadcast of the race.
    - June 2013: TNT introduced "all-access coverage" during the Countdown to Green prerace show, a feature where the network follows a different driver throughout the week to document how they prepare for the race.
    Finally, there are countless memorable moments on the track that Turner has covered over the last three-plus decades. But most notably, TBS will always be known as the network that carried the first-ever race in which Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. competed against each other. In a 300-mile exhibition race at Twin Ring Motegi in Motegi, Japan in 1998, Earnhardt Jr. ran the No. 1 car while his father was in the iconic No. 3. What was the result? Son bested Dad by two positions, as the pair finished sixth and eighth, respectively. Turner Sports will continue to oversee advertising sales and sponsorships across NASCAR-branded digital platforms. The 2014 NASCAR Summer Series on TNT officially concludes with the Camping World RV Sales 301 live from New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 13.(NASCAR)(7-13-2014)

  • New Hampshire Notes & Facts - Sunday - race:
    · 150 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway; 122 in more than one.
    · Four drivers have competed in all 38 races at New Hampshire: Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte and Joe Nemechek.
    · Two of the 38 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races have resulted with a green-white-checkered finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Scheduled No. of Laps/Actual No. of Laps): 2006 (300/308) and 2013 (301/302).
    · Four of the 38 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at New Hampshire Motor Speedway have been shortened due to weather conditions; the most recent was June 28, 2009 - the race was called on Lap 273, 28 circuits shy of the 301 scheduled laps.
    · Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at New Hampshire Motor Speedway was the July 1, 2007 race won by Denny Hamlin over Jeff Gordon with a MOV of 0.068 second.
    · 16 of the 30 NSCS races scored by electronic scoring at New Hampshire Motor Speedway have had a Margin of Victory less than a second.
    · 23 different drivers have won at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, led by Jeff Burton with four.
    · Two drivers have posted consecutive wins at New Hampshire Motor Speedway: Jimmie Johnson (2003 sweep) and Kurt Busch (2004 sweep).
    · Hendrick Motorsports leads the series in wins at New Hampshire in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with nine; followed by Roush Fenway Racing with seven.
    · Five different manufacturers have won at New Hampshire; led by Chevrolet with 18 victories; followed by Ford with 11 and Toyota with four.
    · The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at New Hampshire was 38th, by Jeff Burton in 1999.(NASCAR)(7-13-2014)

  • How to Clinch a Chase Spot at NHMS: Any driver with multiple victories who leaves New Hampshire Motor Speedway 337 points ahead of 31st in the points will clinch a spot in the Chase. #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. enters the weekend with a 368-point lead on 31st in the standings and should clinch a Chase spot unless he has a bad day. #48-Jimmie Johnson has a 340-point lead on 31st, so if he maintains that - or loses no more than three points on 31st in the point standings, he would clinch a Chase spot. #2-Brad Keselowski has a 330-point lead on 31st in the point standings and could clinch a Chase spot by topping the 337-point threshold. Points leader #24-Jeff Gordon would clinch a spot with his second victory of the season.(Motor Racing Network)(7-12-2014)
    MORE: The magic number to clinch a top 30 spot is 337; any driver 337 points ahead of 31st place will clinch a regular season top 30 spot. The following drivers can both clinch a top 30 spot AND have multiple wins, and therefore accomplish two of the three criteria for locking up a Chase spot: #24-Jeff Gordon (with a win), #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #48-Jimmie Johnson, #2-Brad Keselowski and #22-Joey Logano. Gordon has already clinched a top 30 spot. The third criterion to earn a Chase spot is attempting to qualify for every race.(NASCAR)(7-13-2014)

  • Almirola wrecks in first Saturday practice: #43-Aric Almirola was involved in single car accident during opening practice session Saturday morning at New Hampshire when the left rear tire went down. Richard Petty Motorsports pulled out the backup car. Almirola was scheduled to start 19th but will go to the rear of the field before the start of the race on Sunday. Ford Racing posted some notes and quotes:
    Q) ARE YOU OKAY? THAT WAS A BIG LICK.
    Almirola: "Yeah, I am okay. It was a hard hit for sure, but I am good."
    Q) WHAT HAPPENED?
    Almirola: It was a left rear tire going into the turn."
    Q) SAME AS JOEY [#22-Logano] HAD YESTERDAY?
    Almirola: "Yeah, I honestly have no idea what is going on. I just don't know. That was our third or fourth run on that same set of tires so I honestly cannot give you and answer. That was probably my fourth lap on the track. It is just weird."
    IS IT ANY LESS DISAPPOINTING KNOWING YOU HAVE THAT WIN NOW?
    Almirola: "No, it is still disappointing. It is always disappointing when you wreck a race car."(Ford Racing)(7-13-2014)

  • Logano has sprained wrist: #22-Joey Logano has a minor sprain in his left wrist after his crash Friday in practice NHMS. The wrist is wrapped for support.(MRN's Dustin Long's twitter)(7-13-2014)

  • Kauffman, RTA talking to prospective members: Five days after its formation was announced, the Race Team Alliance is in the opening stage of expanding its membership beyond nine charter Sprint Cup teams. RTA chairman Rob Kauffman said he's talked over the past few days with Tommy Baldwin, Tad Geschickter (JTG Daugherty Racing) and other owners of the smaller organizations in NASCAR's premier series. The RTA is open to any teams that attempted to qualify for at least 95% of Cup races the past two seasons. Kauffman said the response were "quite positive" but demurred when asked about which teams would join. Representatives from smaller teams have deflected or declined comment about the RTA.(see full story at the USA Today)(7-13-2014)


    News from July 12, 2014


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  • Race Coverage of the Camping World RV Sales 301 Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is scheduled for Sunday, July 13, 2014.
    Television (TV): TNT at 1:00 pm/et; Pre-Race show at 12:00pm/et; green flag approx. 1:15pm/et
    Radio: Performance Racing Network (PRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 90
    Scheduled Race Re-Airs: none

  • Happy Hour Practice for the Camping World RV Sales 301 Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is over, after 50 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
    #2-Keselowski 133.254
    #24-Gordon 132.771 #11-Hamlin 132.739
    #88-Earnhardt Jr 132.526
    #4-Harvick 132.512
    slowest: #87-Hill 126.509 and #33-Shepherd 127.688
    no speed: #93-Bliss
    See fastest speeds, laps run and best 10 consecutive lap ave on the New Hampshire Happy Hour Practice Speeds page (pdf).(7-12-2014)

  • First Saturday Practice for the Camping World RV Sales 301 Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is over, after 50 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
    #2-Keselowski 133.745
    #1-McMurray 133.086
    #24-Gordon 133.035
    #11-Hamlin 132.901
    #42-Larson 132.868
    slowest: #33-Shepherd 127.410 and #32-MacDonald 128.070
    no speed: #93-Bliss, #87-Hill, #36-Sorenson
    notes: #43-Almirola had a flat tire and hit the wall late in the session, the team pulled out a backup car.
    See fastest speeds, laps run and best 10 consecutive lap ave on the Saturday New Hampshire Practice Speeds page (pdf).(7-12-2014)

  • New Hampshire Notes & Facts - Saturday - drivers:
    · Jeff Burton is the only driver to win the July race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway three consecutive years in a row (1997, '98 and '99)
    · Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart are tied for the series lead in runner-up finishes at New Hampshire with five each.
    · Jeff Gordon leads the series in top-five finishes at New Hampshire with 16; followed by Tony Stewart with 14.
    · Jeff Gordon leads the series in top-10 finishes at New Hampshire with 22; followed by Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson with 17 each.
    · Denny Hamlin leads NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at New Hampshire with an 9.000.
    · Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at New Hampshire without a win at 29.
    · Two active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers have made their first career start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway: Joe Nemechek (7/11/93), and Joey Logano (9/14/08).
    · Four active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers have posted their first career win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway: Joe Nemechek (9/19/99), Ryan Newman (9/15/02), Clint Bowyer (9/16/07) and Joey Logano (6/28/09).
    · Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at New Hampshire with 1,352 laps led in 38 starts.
    · Danica Patrick is the only female driver that has competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.(NASCAR)(7-12-2014)

  • Edwards reportedly declines Childress offer UPDATE: at the end of FoxSports1 NASCAR Raceday, Bob Dilner reported that #99-Carl Edwards had spoken to Richard Childress Racing about a Sprint Cup Series ride in 2015 and gave them an answer of 'No' (FoxSports1)(6-15-2014)
    UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing had "informal discussions" with free agent Carl Edwards earlier this season. Edwards toured the Welcome, N.C.-based racing campus during Martinsville Speedway weekend in March. "We - as a lot of teams did - had some informal discussions with Carl Edwards," said R.C.R. president Torrey Galida on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. "And yeah, we feel like it would have to be a guy that's the caliber of a Carl Edwards. He's an incredibly talented guy. He is a franchise-type driver. And so, I think that's the kind of guy - whether it's Carl specifically - but that's the kind of driver that everybody out there is looking to add to their stable."(Motorsport)(7-12-2014)

  • Johnson would like to see a shorter season: #48-Jimmie Johnson, met with media at New Hampshire and discussed many things including the upcoming off-weekend and the newly-formed RTA, the transcript in part:
    Q) OFF-WEEKEND IS COMING UP. IS IT ONE YOU WANT TO SEE OR NOT WANT TO SEE BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN SO GOOD LATELY?
    Johnson: "I'm happy to see it. I think we could use six or seven more of them. I think everybody in the room would agree. Get down to a 25-race schedule or something with more weekends off would be awesome. I'm excited. Even if we were winning and didn't want it to stop from that momentum stand point, I can't wait to chill out with family and relax."
    Q) WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? DO YOU HAVE PLANS?
    Johnson: "As little as possible."(see the full transcript at Team Chevy)(7-12-2014)

  • Could New Hampshire be the last race for Jeff Burton? Toyota post-qualifying notes & quotes from New Hampshire Motor Speedway, #66-Jeff Burton's comments:
    Q) How was qualifying?
    Burton "We were really disappointed. All day we've been way off in qualifying trim. We had a great test here. We made one qualifying run here at the test and it wasn't very good -- I didn't think it was very good. Honestly, that's about what we ran right there. I'm pretty optimistic about the race. Today, in qualifying trim we just weren't in the ball game. Disappointed, but tomorrow's another day."
    Q) Is this your final race?
    Burton "I can give you a positive that I don't k now. I think it's a good chance. I'm okay with that. I'm really comfortable with what I'm doing. It's fun being here. I have a lot of friends here. I've been going to quite a few races this year. If this is my last race, it's cool with me for it to be here. This isn't my home track, but this is certainly a track a lot of my career has been shaped at this race track."(Toyota Racing transcript)(7-12-2014)

  • Almirola finally gets checkered flag: from a Ford Racing transcript: #43-Aric Almirola, who won the Coke Zero 400 race at Daytona international Speedway last Sunday after the race was called due to rain:
    Q) SO YOU HAD THE FLAG DELIVERED TO YOU? WHAT IS THE STORY?
    Almirola: "So obviously I didn't win under green-flag conditions so usually if you do you swing back by and grab the flag from the flag man at the end of the race and so I didn't get to do that and so this morning the flag man, Rodney, brought down to my team guys the checkered flag. When I got in the race car this morning the checkered flag was sitting inside my race car. That was really cool."(Ford Racing)(7-12-2014)

  • Bruton Smith blasts Race Team Alliance: Speedway Motorsports Inc. chairman Bruton Smith, a longtime critic of NASCAR, became the sanctioning body's biggest supporter Friday, blasting the recent formation of the Race Team Alliance. "What I know about it, of course I don't like it," Smith said after Sprint Cup practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, which is one of eight SMI-owned tracks that play host to NASCAR's premier series. "I don't know anything about it that's good for what we do. I don't see anything that's going to be good for the sport. Nothing. What little bit I know about it right now, it seems it will damage the sport. If NASCAR needs us, we're there with NASCAR on the deal. We're there every day, every hour, if they need us."
    Announced Monday, the RTA is comprised of nine teams that have aligned with the objective of saving costs. Smith, though, said it won't improve NASCAR and likely would hurt it, though he was vague when pressed about how. "If you're NASCAR or Speedway Motorsports, show me one thing that's going to help the sport," Smith said. "I don't see anything I've heard or read about it."
    Smith often feuded with former NASCAR chairman Bill France Jr. about race scheduling and the sport's direction, and there was speculation that the RTA might view him as an ally, given his maverick streak and vast business holdings. But Smith snuffed any such perception. "Absolutely not," he said. "I'll be standing shoulder to shoulder with NASCAR on this one. I know (the RTA isn't) going to like it. I like this sport. I've been in it forever. We have a huge investment around $4 billion. I don't sit up at night worrying about it, but I do not like the people to damage the sport."(see full story at the USA Today)(7-12-2014)

  • How to Clinch a Chase Spot at NHMS: Any driver with multiple victories who leaves New Hampshire Motor Speedway 337 points ahead of 31st in the points will clinch a spot in the Chase. #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. enters the weekend with a 368-point lead on 31st in the standings and should clinch a Chase spot unless he has a bad day. #48-Jimmie Johnson has a 340-point lead on 31st, so if he maintains that - or loses no more than three points on 31st in the point standings, he would clinch a Chase spot. #2-Brad Keselowski has a 330-point lead on 31st in the point standings and could clinch a Chase spot by topping the 337-point threshold. Points leader #24-Jeff Gordon would clinch a spot with his second victory of the season.(Motor Racing Network)(7-12-2014)

  • Sprint Experience a 'no show' at New Hampshire: Sprint, the sponsor of NASCAR's premier Cup series, has recently cut back on the number of tracks at which it will host its nearly 15,000-square-foot Sprint Experience interactive display area. Race fans on Friday took to Twitter and other social media sites complaining the popular display was not at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, some blaming NASCAR or the track itself for its absence. Speedway president Jerry Gappens said the track was informed less than two weeks ago that Sprint would not be bringing the Experience this weekend. As of Friday afternoon, Sprint's web site page dedicated to the Experience still said it would be appearing at all 36 Cup race weekends this season. "As a promoter, when I got word two weeks ago I was disappointed because it creates a void in the display area that is a featured attraction for fan interaction," Gappens said. "The Sprint display has been a very popular activity for our fans for years. To have that not here, takes away from the experience. Sprint is in a very competitive business and needed to divert some of the money it took to activate it to advertising." Gappens said the track - and others coming up including Michigan, Watkins Glen and Atlanta - will still get paid for the display space. "I'd still like to see it here, though," he said.
    When asked about the decision not to bring the Sprint Experience to New Hampshire, spokesperson Kimberly Meesters provided the following statement to The Observer: "We have an abbreviated schedule during the summer. It will be at New Hampshire in the fall. Some years we take it to every race. Some years we focus on the markets most important to Sprint corporate priorities. Sometimes we send it every week but send smaller footprints. It varies. We are doing 33 races this season."(Charlotte Observer)(7-12-2014)

  • Kroger Super Weekend at the Brickyard Pre-Race Pit Lane Passes on sale: For the first time in the history of the event, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is offering Pre-Race Pit Lane Passes for sale to the general public for the Kroger Super Weekend at the Brickyard July 24-27 at IMS. For more information on tickets for the third annual Kroger Super Weekend at the Brickyard, including details on how to purchase Pre-Race Pit Lane Passes and prices, visit: brickyard.com.(IMS)(7-12-2014)

  • Keselowski wins Nationwide race at New Hampshire: #22-Brad Keselowski won the Sta-Green 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He dominated most of the race, leading 152 of the 200 laps. #54-Kyle Busch finished second followed by #20-Matt Kenseth, #42-Kyle Larson, #60-Chris Buescher, #11-Elliott Sadler, #2-Brian Scott, #9-Chase Elliott, #6-Trevor Bayne, and #7-Regan Smith.
    There were 6 cautions for 27 laps and 8 lead changes among 4 leaders. Complete results are on the New Hampshire race results page (pdf).(7-12-2014)

  • New Hampshire Nationwide Race Fast Facts:
    Brad Keselowski won the 25th Annual Sta-Green 200, his 29th victory in 211 NASCAR Nationwide Series races. He breaks a tie with Matt Kenseth for sole possession of sixth on the all-time NASCAR Nationwide Series wins list.
    This is his second victory and sixth top-10 finish in 2014.
    This is his second victory and sixth top-10 finish in six races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
    Kyle Busch (second) posted his sixth top-10 finish in nine races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It is his 13th top-10 finish in 2014.
    Matt Kenseth (third) posted his seventh top-10 finish in nine races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
    Chris Buescher (fifth) was the highest finishing rookie.
    Regan Smith, who won the $100,000 bonus for winning the Nationwide Insurance Dash 4 Cash, leads the point standings by 8 points over Elliott Sadler.
    (NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(7-12-2014)

  • Nationwide Driver standings following New Hampshire:
    1) #7-Regan Smith 611
    2) #11-Elliott Sadler 603, -8
    3) #9-Chase Elliott 598, -13
    4) #3-Ty Dillon 577, -34
    5) #2-Brian Scott 560, -51
    6) #6-Trevor Bayne 553, -58
    7) #62-Brendan Gaughan 493, -118
    8) #60-Chris Buescher 486, -125
    9) #99-James Buescher 470, -141
    10) #16-Ryan Reed 456, -155
    See complete standings on the driver standings page (pdf).(7-12-2014)

  • Nationwide Owner Standings following New Hampshire are posted (pdf).(7-12-2014)

  • Keselowski on Nationwide pole at New Hampshire: #22-Brad Keselowski won the Coors Light Pole for the Sta-Green 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with a speed of 130.304mph. #54-Kyle Busch will start second followed by : #20-Matt Kenseth, #42-Kyle Larson, #2-Brian Scott, #9-Chase Elliott, #33-Paul Menard, #6-Trevor Bayne, #60-Chris Buescher, #31-Dylan Kwasniewski, #62-Bendan Gaughan, and #7-Regan Smith.
    Keselowski was quickest in the opening qualifying session at 130.064mph.
    #13-Carl Long lost an engine and the team withdrew.
    Did Not Qualify: none. The starting lineup is posted on the New Hampshire starting lineup page (pdf).(7-12-2014)

  • New Hampshire Nationwide Qualifying Notes:
    Brad Keselowski won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 25th Annual Sta-Green 200 with a lap of 29.230 seconds, 130.304 mph.
    This is his 17th pole in 211 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
    This is his third pole and fifth top-10 start in 2014.
    This is his fourth pole in six races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
    Kyle Busch (second) posted his 12th top-10 start of 2014 and his ninth in nine races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
    Matt Kenseth (third) posted his third top-10 start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It is his 11th in 11 races this season.
    Chase Elliott (sixth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(7-12-2014)


    News from July 11, 2014

  • Kyle Busch wins New Hampshire pole: #18-Kyle Busch won the Coors Light pole for the Camping World RV Sales 301 Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with a track record speed of 138.130mph for his 2nd pole of 2013, 2nd at New Hampshire and 15th of his career. The old record was 136.497mph, set last September by Ryan Newman. Kenseth has won three races from the pole out of 14 previous poles.
    #48-Johnson is on the outside pole, followed by #11-Hamlin, #14-Stewart, #1-McMurray, #22-Logano, #2-Keselowsi, #15-Bowyer, #78-Truex Jr., #5-Kahne, #24-Gordon and #4-Harvick.
    Missing the race were: none, only 43 cars entered.
    See the starting lineup, qualifying results, links to pdfs and more on the New Hampshire Lineup / Qualifying Page.(7-11-2014)

  • Qualifying Fast Facts - New Hampshire:
    #18-Kyle Busch won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 22nd Annual Camping World RV Sales 301 with a track qualifying record lap of 27.574 seconds, 138.130 mph. Ryan Newman held the previous track qualifying record (136.497 mph/27.904 seconds), set in September 2013.
    This is the 13th track qualifying record set in 2014.
    This is Busch's 15th pole in 348 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
    This is his second pole and eighth top-10 start in 2014.
    This is his second pole in 19 races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
    #48-Jimmie Johnson (second) posted his 10th top-10 start of 2014 and his 15th in 25 races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
    #11-Denny Hamlin (third) posted his seventh top-10 start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It is his 10th in 18 races this season.(NASCAR Statistics)(7-11-2014)

  • First Round of Qualifying for the Camping World RV Sales 301 Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is over, after 30 minutes.
    #11-Hamlin 137.195, new track record
    #22-Logano 137.126 #2-Keselowski 137.052 #18-Busch 136.909
    #48-Johnson 136.869
    the rest of the top 12: 78 15 24 4 14 1 5;
    out of the top 12 and not advancing to the final round: 42 99 27 20 55 41 43 47 9 17 3 31 51 34 16 88 66 10 13 98 38 40 26 23 36 83 7 32 93 87 33
    Driver who will miss the race: none, only 43 cars entered.
    (7-11-2014)

  • Coverage of Qualifying for the Camping World RV Sales 301 Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is scheduled for Friday, July 11, 2014 at 4:40 pm/et.
    Television (TV): FS1, 4:30pm/et
    Radio: Live online at Performance Racing Network (PRN)
    Scheduled Qualifying Re-Air: at 4:30am/et on FS1; Sunday, July 13 at 6:30am/et on FS2; and 9:30am/et on FS1.

  • Qualifying Order for the Camping World RV Sales 301 Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is posted. 43 cars/drivers are listed.
    The first of the drivers scheduled to go out is #98-Wise.
    The final driver scheduled to go out is #20-Kenseth.
    Qualifying order is set by a random draw, held about an hour before the first practice.
    See the full qualifying order on the New Hampshire Qualifying Page.(7-11-2014)

  • Group Qualifying at tracks measuring less than 1.25 miles in length AND Road Courses, qualifying will consist of two (2) rounds.
    1) The first qualifying round is 30 minutes in duration, unless otherwise authorized by the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Director.
    2) All cars must compete in the first qualifying round. Upon the completion of the first qualifying round, the 43 eligible cars for starting positions 1-43 will be determined.
    3) The twelve (12) eligible cars that post the fastest single lap time from the first qualifying round will advance to the final qualifying round.
    4) The remaining cars will be sorted based on their times posted in the first round of qualifying in descending order. There will be a ten minute break after the completion of the first round and the twelve (12) eligible cars that advance to the final round will have their times reset. The final qualifying round will be 10 minutes in duration, and the fastest single lap time posted in the final round will determine positions 1st through 12th in descending order.

  • Friday Practice for the Camping World RV Sales 301 Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is over, after 90 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
    #48-Johnson 135.313
    #42-Larson 135.212
    #24-Gordon 135.164
    #4-Harvick 135.131
    #1-McMurray 135.121
    slowest: #33-Shepherd 125.674 and #87-Hill 126.990
    notes: #22-Logano incurred a flat tire and hit the wall, the team pulled out a backup car. #44-Yeley has withdrawn and Mike Bliss is in the #93 Toyota, a 4th BK Racing car. This practice would set the starting lineup if qualifying is canceled, but no rain in the forecast today. Track record is 136.497mph, set last September by Ryan Newman.
    See fastest speeds, laps run and best 10 consecutive lap ave on the Friday New Hampshire Practice Speeds page (pdf).(7-11-2014)

  • UPDATED Entry List for the Camping World RV Sales 301 Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is posted, 43 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including: #32-Eddie McDonald, #33-Morgan Shepherd, #66-Jeff Burton, #87-Timmy Hill.
    #44-Yeley has withdrawn and the #93 Toyota is now entered with Mike Bliss in the car.
    Since only 43 cars are entered, all drivers will make the race.
    See the full entry list at my Jayski's New Hampshire Entry List

  • New Hampshire Notes & Facts - Friday - poles:
    · Mark Martin won the inaugural Coors Light pole at New Hampshire in 1993 with a speed of 126.871 mph.
    · 18 drivers have Coors Light poles at New Hampshire, led by Ryan Newman with seven.
    · Five drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at New Hampshire: Ken Schrader (1997 sweep); Jeff Gordon (1998-1999); Rusty Wallace (1999-2000); Ryan Newman (twice - 2003-2004 and 2011 sweep); Juan Pablo Montoya (2009-2010).
    · Ryan Newman leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at New Hampshire with an 8.042.
    · Five of the 38 (13.1%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at New Hampshire have been won from the Coors Light pole; the most recent was Ryan Newman in 2011.
    · The Coors Light pole is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (five) than any other starting position at New Hampshire.
    · Eight of the 38 (21%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at New Hampshire have been won from the front row: eight from the pole and seven from second-place.
    · 20 of the 38 (52.6%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at New Hampshire have been won from a top-10 starting position.
    · Nine of the 38 (23.6%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at New Hampshire have been won from a starting position outside the top 20. · Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at New Hampshire Motor Speedway four times: 2001, 2004, 2008 and 2009.(NASCAR)(7-11-2014)

  • New Hampshire Goodyear Tire Notes: NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series teams will run the same tire codes at New Hampshire this weekend . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires these teams have run at New Hampshire since 2012 . . . this is the only track at which either of these two tire codes will be run in 2014 . . . as on most NASCAR ovals one mile or less in length, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at New Hampshire (Goodyear), see full notes, tire codes, tire pressures and more on the New Hampshire Race Info page - Goodyear section.

  • Newman Wins Inaugural Whelen All-Star Shootout: Ryan Newman used a dramatic last-lap slingshot pass of Justin Bonsignore to win Friday's inaugural Whelen All-Star Shootout modified race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. "The racing you see in Modified (Tour) is awesome. There is drafting and they are a lot of fun to drive." said Ryan Newman, who earned his spot in the Shootout having been a two-time modified winner at Loudon. "It was an opportunity to win a trophy, so we did that." Bonsignore, Mike Stefanik, Ron Silk and Bobby Santos round out the top-five, making it a complete sweep by the northern series regulars.(NHMS)(7-11-2014)

  • NASCAR president: no animosity towards RTA: NASCAR president Mike Helton says there is no animosity from the governing body toward the recently formed nine-team Race Team Alliance that will collaborate on initiatives and issues facing the sport. Michael Waltrip Racing co-owner Rob Kauffman was elected chairman of the RTA on Monday. The goals of the RTA include lowering costs for NASCAR teams and creating one voice on issues facing the teams. Kauffman insisted the RTA is not a union. Speaking Friday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Helton says every car owner has a voice in the garage. Helton says NASCAR will "continue to do business the way we've done business." Helton says he did have notice from the RTA that it was forming. Helton says "we believe the way we do our form of motorsports has worked."(Associated Press)(7-11-2014)

  • Kasey Kahne to pilot #5 in Shark Week Inspired Car: Kasey Kahne will be behind the wheel of the Shark Week/Great Clips #5 this Sunday at New Hampshire. Kahne has had good results at this track with eight Top-10 finishes throughout his career, including a first place finish in 2012. The #5 will be sporting a fun Shark Week inspired paint scheme on Sunday to help promote Discovery Channel's most beloved summertime rituals. Discovery Channel's Shark Week returns on August 10 for its 27th season.(Great Clips Racing), see an image of the car on the #5 Team Scheme page.(7-11-2014)

  • Could Stewart heat up soon? When the weather heats up, so does #14-Tony Stewart. Of his 48 NASCAR Sprint Cup wins, 23 have come in June, July and August. (seven wins in June, nine wins in July and seven wins in August.) Only six wins have come before June.(SHR)(7-11-2014)

  • No Top 10 starters finished with a top-10 in a race at Daytona: All 10 drivers that started in the top 10 at Daytona on July 6, 2014, failed to finish in the top 10. The best finisher from the top-10 starters was #24-Jeff Gordon, who started 9th and finished 12th. Race winner #43-Aric Almirola started 15th and #55-Brian Vickers who finished 2nd, started 30th. The pole sitter, #38-David Gilliland, finished 35th, after being involved in a wreck. The last race there was no top-ten starters finishing in the top-10 in a race was at Las Vegas in March 2007. And before that, the last race was on July 4, 1965....at Daytona.(7-11-2014)

  • Biffle's DNF streak ends: Rain wreaked havoc on the Coke Zero 400 July 4th weekend in Daytona. What should have been a Saturday night race turned into a rain-shortened Sunday afternoon race. Greg Biffle had a special patriotic 3M Stars & Stripes theme to his #16 Ford and even led the race for a total of nine laps before being involved in a wreck on lap 98. Biffle's long-standing DNF [Did Not Finish] streak came to an end as the race ended on lap 112 for rain while the #16 was still in the garage for repairs, leaving Biffle with a 29th-place finish. The #16 3M Stars & Stripes Ford was almost ready to return to the track and keep Biffle's stretch of not collecting any DNF's. The rain shortened race left Biffle with his first DNF since 2011.(RFR). Biffle's DNF streak is the record at 89 races. #24-Jeff Gordon now has the longest current streak without an DNF at 36 straight races. See notes on DNF's on the Misc Stats page.(7-11-2014)

  • Daytona TV Ratings: A rain-drenched weekend at Daytona resulted in unsurprisingly low numbers for NASCAR on TNT. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Coke Zero 400 from Daytona earned a 2.4 U.S. rating and 4.0 million viewers on TNT Sunday, down 31% in ratings and 30% in viewership from last year (3.5, 5.7M) and down 37% and 36%, respectively, from coverage on TNT and TruTV in 2012 (3.8, 6.2M). Those races were run as scheduled on a Saturday night. This year's race was plagued by rain, first postponed from Saturday night to Sunday morning and then shortened from 160 to 112 laps. Sunday's race even outdrew coverage from Kentucky a week earlier (2.3, 3.6M)(Sports Media Watch / Bloomberg / Media Life Magazine), see past 2014 races ratings and 5-year comparion chart on the 2014 TV Ratings page.(7-11-2014)

  • Thunder Coal to sponsor Morgan Shepherd at NHMS: For the third consecutive week, Mount Olive, Va.-based Thunder Coal Company will partner with Circle Sport as the primary sponsor of the #33 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entry as driver Morgan Shepherd will rewrite the NASCAR record book at the start of Sunday's Camping World 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Shepherd, who has four Sprint Cup Series and 15 Nationwide Series victories to his credit, will break his record as the oldest competitor in a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at 72 years, 9 months and 1 day. Shepherd made his first career Sprint Cup Series start in 1970 at the age of 28 and became a full-time competitor in NASCAR's top series in 1981 at the age of 39, the same year he captured his fist career NASCAR victory at Martinsville Speedway.
    "Morgan wanted another opportunity to run in the Cup Series and we had the availability to make it happen at New Hampshire," said team owner Joe Falk. "Morgan has always been a great ambassador of the sport of NASCAR and brought along the funding to make it possible to put him back in a competitive car on the Sprint Cup circuit. It's a reunion of sorts as Morgan drove for me in few races in the late 90s, and I'm glad we were able to get Thunder Coal back on the car as Morgan extends his NASCAR record this weekend in our Circle Sport entry."
    Besides being a driver-owner in the Cup Series throughout his career, Shepherd has driven for a who's who of NASCAR, including the likes of Bud Moore, the Wood Brothers, Kenny Bernstein, Butch Mock, Richard Childress and Felix Sabates, just to name a few. This also won't be the first time Shepherd has piloted the #33 in Sprint Cup competition, as he drove the famed Skoal Bandit for owner Hal Needham for five races in 1988. "It's rewarding to know that someone has the belief in me to still be able to compete against the best race car drivers in the world with a properly funded race car," said Shepherd. "These new cars are easier to drive than the ones when I started in the sport - even though they're faster and have more horsepower - and I'm just looking forward to going out and competing on Sunday."(Circle Sport), see images of the car on the #33 Team Scheme page.(7-11-2014)

  • MacDonald to make Sprint Cup debut at NHMS: No stranger to New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where he has won three times in K&N Pro Series East races in 2008 and 2009, Eddie MacDonald says his familiarity with the 1.058-mile oval in Loudon, N.H., will help him feel at home when he makes NASCAR Sprint Cup debut in Sunday's Camping World RV Sales 301. "Absolutely,'' said MacDonald, 34, of Rowley. "We're going to have many challenges, just trying to compete at that level, but at least we can take the challenge of trying to figure out the track out of the equation. I think that's going to be huge for us . . . for me, anyway.'' MacDonald made his Nationwide Series (2007) and Camping World Truck Series (2010) debuts at NHMS, in addition to making starts in K&N Pro Series and Whelen Modified Tour events at The Magic Mile. But MacDonald will complete the cycle Sunday, making him the only active NASCAR driver to have raced in all five touring divisions. MacDonald will be pulling double duty this weekend, driving the #71 Chevy in the K&N Pro Series race Friday, then, on Sunday, piloting the #32 Ford fielded by co-owners Archie St. Hilaire of Saco, Maine, and Frank Stoddard, of North Haverhill, N.H., a former Cup crew chief turned NBC analyst.
    MacDonald will be steering an All-New England enterprise, with the efforts of driver and owner intertwining with that of a New England-based sponsor, Michael Alden, of Beverly, whose Blue Vase Marketing company paired with the #32 this season as primary sponsor at Phoenix and Las Vegas and as an associate sponsor at Bristol. "I'm just so excited that Archie St. Hilaire gave me this opportunity along with Mike Alden,'' said MacDonald, who grew up around racing when his father, Red MacDonald, acquired the paved oval at Lee (N.H.) USA Speedway in 1986. "It's going to be exciting that we're going to be a completely New England deal with three New England guys racing together.''
    The idea to run MacDonald at NHMS was hatched at a lunch meeting earlier this year when St. Hilaire met with Alden to discuss the #32's plans. Alden asked St. Hilaire if there was any New England driver they could put in their car at NHMS. St. Hilaire initially drew a blank, but, on the drive home, came up with a perfect solution. "That's when Eddie's name came up,'' St. Hilaire said. "I took Eddie over to meet Michael and he said, 'This is the great. It's the best of all worlds.' We had me and Frank owning the team, we had Eddie, who had been around New Hampshire and been around the area forever, and we had Mike, who wanted to sponsor it. It's going to be exciting and we've already had a ton of calls from people.''
    Even NHMS track officials have gotten behind the effort, offering an "Eddie Mac Pack'' ticket package for $32, in honor of MacDonald's car number which, coincidentally, team officials chose as a way of honoring long-time New England racing legend, Stub Fadden.
    If MacDonald were to turn some heads by doing so, could it lead to something more than just a one-shot deal on the Cup side? "You know, I've got some races open later in the year on tracks that he's raced at,'' St. Hilaire said. "If this works out, I'm going to give him another shot. I love the guy. He and his Dad are just old New England racers. We all work hard up here and it's just a different type of tight-knit people, so why not? I'm not hooked to anybody for the season. We don't have any long-term contract with a driver. If we can put another team together for the next Loudon race or at Bristol, yeah, we'd entertain that.''(Boston Globe), see an image of the car on the #32 Team Scheme page.(7-11-2014)

  • Menard fastest in Nationwide happy hour: #33-Paul Menard was quickest during happy hour for the Sta-Green 200 with a speed of 130.595mph. He was followed by: #54-Kyle Busch, #22-Brad Keselowski, #42-Kyle Larson, #6-Trevor Bayne, #31-Dylan Kwasniewski, #36-Ryan Preece, #60-Chris Buescher, #3-Ty Dillon, and #62-Brendan Gaughan. All 41 drivers participated in the session. See complete results on the New Hampshire practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(7-11-2014)

  • Scott fastest in Nationwide practice: #2-Brian Scott was fastest during opening practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with a speed of 130.042mph. #42-Kyle Larson was second, followed by: #54-Kyle Busch, #22-Brad Keselowski, #20-Matt Kenseth, #7-Reagn Smith, #33-Paul Menard, #60-Chris Buescher, #11-Elliott Sadler, and #9-Chase Elliott. 38 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the New Hampshire practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(7-11-2014)

  • Jones wins truck race at Iowa: #51-Erik Jones won the American Ethanol 200 at Iowa Speedway. #29-Ryan Blaney finished second followed by: #88-Matt Crafton, #21-Joey Coulter, #77-German Quiroga, #31-Ben Kennedy, #97-Jeff Choquette, #00-Cole Custer, #19-Tyler Reddick, and #8-John Hunter Nemecheck. There were 4 cautions for 19 laps and 6 lead changes among 4 leaders. Complete results are on the Iowa race results page (pdf).(7-11-2014)

  • Iowa Race Fast Facts:
    Erik Jones won the 6th Annual American Ethanol 200 presented by Enogen, his second victory in nine NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races. His first win came last November at Phoenix International Raceway.
    Jones led 131 laps setting a new career high. His previous high was 84 in his Phoenix win.
    This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in 2014.
    This is his first victory and third top-10 finish in three races at Iowa Speedway.
    Ryan Blaney (second) posted his third top-10 finish in four races at Iowa Speedway. It is his seventh top-10 finish in 2014.
    Matt Crafton (third) posted his eighth top-10 finish in eight races at Iowa Speedway.
    Ben Kennedy (sixth) was the highest finishing Sunoco Rookie.
    Matt Crafton leads the point standings by 2 points over Ryan Blaney.
    (NASCAR Statistics)(7-11-2013)

  • Driver standings following Iowa:
    1) #88-Matt Crafton, 330
    2) #29-Ryan Blaney, 328, -2
    3) #98-Johnny Sauter, 323, -7
    4) #77-German Quiroga, 311, -19
    5) #30-Ron Hornaday, 307, -23
    6) #31-Ben Kennedy, 301, -29
    7) #17-Timothy Peters, 299, - 31
    8) #54-Darrell Wallace, Jr.293, -37
    9) #21-Joey Coulter, 282, -48
    10) #05-John Wes Townley, 279, -51
    See complete standings on the driver standings page (pdf).(7-11-2014)

  • Owner Standings following Iowa are posted (pdf).(7-11-2014)

  • Wallace on truck pole at Iowa: #54-Darrell Wallace, Jr. won the 21 Means 21 Pole for the American Ethanol 200 at Iowa Speedway with a speed of 137.279 mph. #51-Erik Jones will start second, followed by: #17-Timothy Peters, #29-Ryan Blaney, #00-Cole Custer, #88-Matt Crafton, #20-Justin Lofton, #30-Ron Hornaday, Jr., #21-Joey Coulter, and #77-German Quiroga. Starting lineup (pdf) page.(7-11-2014)

  • Wallace fastest in truck practice: #54-Darrell Wallace, Jr. was fastest during the opening practice at Iowa Speedway with a speed of 137.261mph. #88-Matt Crafton was second, followed by #17-Timothy Peters, #51-Erik Jones, #00-Cole Custer, #21-Joey Coulter, #20-Justin Lofton, #97-Jeff Choquette, #9-Chase Pistone, and #77-German Quiroga. 36 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Iowa practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(7-11-2014)

  • Winning truck of Jones too low post race: The winning #51 truck of Erik Jones failed post race inspection for being too low following the race at Iowa Speedway, NASCAR announced via the Truck Series Twitter page. The #51 team was recently docked six owner points and crew chief Eric Phillips was fined $5,000 for the same infraction following team owner Kyle Busch's win at Kentucky Speedway.(7-11-2014)

  • NFL Star Driving, Air Stunt Shows, Zip-Lines, General Lee, Skydivers, Five Major Races & More at NHMS: An NFL star driving the Toyota pace car; Gravity-defying air stunt shows; zip-line thrills; the General Lee from the "Dukes of Hazzard"; the world's fastest drum solo; a 20-pound lobster named "Loudon;" a skydiving team; a record-celebration of the 200th anniversary of the National Anthem and - oh, by the way - five major NASCAR races. Welcome to New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Camping World RV Sales 301 weekend. "We've got a three-ring circus to beat this week," joked Jerry Gappens, executive vice president and general manager of the speedway. "Fasten your seatbelts, we are ready to take you on a high-speed entertainment adventure this weekend."
    On track, this could be a drama-filled week that produces several different storylines. The Magic Mile boasts a rare streak in racing, with 12 different winners in the last 12 Sprint Cup races, the longest current streak on the NASCAR circuit. Friday is highlighted by group-style knockout qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the inaugural Whelen All-Star Shootout for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Series. It's the only other all-star event in NASCAR besides the Sprint All-Star race in Charlotte. On Saturday, one of four Nationwide drivers will win a $100,000 bonus in Loudon.
    The weekend features the most diverse and exciting weekend of racing on the NASCAR schedule. It includes five major races, featuring four NASCAR series. To compliment all the on-track action, speedway officials have beefed up the off-track entertainment experience for fans attending the largest sporting event in New England. Here's a sample the "must see" action:
    Recycled Percussion blows the lid of pre-race
    National Anthem 200th Anniversary
    Patriot Games: New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman drives Pace Car.
    Team Fastrax Skydiving Team will deliver the starting flag from above this weekend
    On Friday, the NASCAR Whelen Modified National and Southern series All-Star Shootout General Lee, the famous Dodge Charger driven by the Duke cousins in the television series, "The Dukes of Hazzard," will be on display at the speedway.
    New England tradition: The winner of this year's Camping World RV Sales 301 will receive "Loudon the Lobster" from Makris Lobster & Steak House in Concord, N.H., a 20-pound crustacean caught off the coast of New Bedford, Mass. "We'll have parachute jumpers delivering the green flag to start the race," said Gappens. "Our pre-race concert will feature a world speed record drum solo. And this weekend, we'll see a 15-year old suit up to compete in one of our major races. He can't even drive legally on the streets and this kid is faster than most adults at NHMS." Tickets are available for all three days of racing at NHMS. Ticket purchases can be made online at NHMS.com, by phone at 603-783-4931 or at any trackside ticket gate. A complete listing of activities and schedule of events is available at www.nhms.com.(NHMS)(7-11-2014)

  • Dover race dates to return in 2015: Rumblings out of a news conference with Brian France, NASCAR's chairman and CEO, last weekend in Daytona hinted one of Dover International Speedway's Sprint Cup dates could be in trouble. Denis McGlynn, CEO and president of the Delaware speedway, said yesterday the track will have its two dates next year [usually the first Sunday after Memorial day & last Sunday in September]. "I called [NASCAR president] Mike Helton [Tuesday]," McGlynn said, "and he told me we don't have anything to worry about." Attendance has been down at Dover's last two spring races, prompting McGlynn to stress that Dover's races are "still successful, just not as successful" as previously when the 135,000 seats were usually filled. "Some tracks have taken down significant numbers of grandstand seats," McGlynn said. "Their crowds are the same as a year ago, but it looks better. We widened our seats, reducing capacity to 112,000. [But] our track looks the same."(Philadelphia Daily News)(7-11-2014)


    News from July 10, 2014

  • Chassis selections for this weeks race: see the list of many teams [that report or post them] and what chassis were selected by the team to run in the Camping World RV Sales 301 Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on the New Hampshire Race Info page - Chassis selection area.

  • New Hampshire Notes & Facts - Thursday - track history:
    · There have been 38 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway; one per year from 1993 through 1996 and two per year since.
    · Groundbreaking for New Hampshire International Speedway, as New Hampshire Motor Speedway was originally named, was Aug. 13, 1989.
    · The 1.058-mile oval is located on approximately 1,200 acres; the multi-use complex is the largest sports facility in New England.
    · The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was on July 11, 1993 - won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace.
    · Speedway Motorsports, Inc. agreed to purchase New Hampshire International Speedway from Bob and Gary Bahre on January 11, 2008 and then renamed the track New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
    (NASCAR)(7-10-2014)

  • #98 Phil Parsons Racing picks up sponsor: Provident Metals has signed a multiple race sponsorship agreement with Phil Parsons Racing making them the primary sponsor for Josh Wise and his #98 car. The agreement will span four races from August through November, finishing off the 2014 sponsorship in Provident's home state of Texas. "The guys from Provident Metals arrived in Daytona to sign the agreement with monster boxes full of Zombucks silver rounds to cover their deposit," said Phil Parsons, owner of Phil Parsons Racing. "That was an exciting exchange and a first for us. We're thrilled to have them as part of our team. The creative team at Provident Metals is hard at work and will debut the first of four exciting paint schemes next month in Bristol, TN. Provident Metals will be prominently featured on the #98 car during the following races: Bristol in Auguts, Richmond in September, Charlotte in October and Texas in November.(Provident Metals)(7-10-2014)

  • Special scheme for Biffle at NHMS: The New England Sports Network (NESN), owned by the Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins and delivered to over 4 million homes throughout the six-state New England region and nationally as NESN National, will be featured on Greg Biffle's #16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford at New Hampshire this weekend. NESN is celebrating 30 years of bringing the best of New England sports to fans of New England sports. NESN is home to the Boston Red Sox (MLB) and Boston Bruins (NHL), both teams logos are featured on the 30th anniversary paint scheme Biffle will run this weekend at Loudon.(RFR), see an image of the scheme on the #16 Team Schemes page.(7-10-2014)

  • Keselowski hoping to keep up 'double' performance: To date this season #2-Brad Keselowski has raced five double duty weekends (competing in both NSCS and NASCAR Nationwide Series races). In those five Cup Series races he has produced two victories (Las Vegas and Kentucky) and two third-place finishes (Daytona and Phoenix). He has not finished outside of the top three in any of the five Nationwide Series races.(Team Penske)(7-10-2014)

  • Jeff Burton to make 2nd start of 2014: #66 Let's Go Places Toyota Camry driver Jeff Burton will make his second start of the 2014 season Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Burton, Brett Moffitt and Michael Waltrip will drive the #66 for Michael Waltrip Racing in a limited number of races in 2014. A newly formed partnership between MWR and Jay Robinson Racing will allow the #66 to compete in all NASCAR Sprint Cup races with Joe Nemechek as the primary driver. Burton has 38 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He owns four wins (1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000), nine top-five and 15 top-10 finishes. He has led 783 laps and has a finishing average of 13.4. Burton led all 200 laps in his 2000 victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.(MWR)(7-10-2014)

  • Tire testing at Richmond UPDATE: Several drivers are scheduled to test tires for Goodyear at Richmond International Raceway on Tuesday and Wednesday. Participating drivers include #11-Hamlin, #16-Biffle, #26-Whitt, #41-Busch, #42-Larson, and #43-Almirola.(7-8-2014)
    UPDATE Goodyear spent Tuesday and Wednesday testing tires at Richmond International Raceway, hoping to avoid a repeat of April's Toyota Owners 400. During that race, several drivers complained of disintegrating tires, and a handful of drivers saw their right front tire blow, costing them a shot at victory. The company brought about seven new models to the track and had six Sprint Cup drivers on hand to drive them. After sets of 50 laps in the summer sun, the feedback was positive. "I'm excited about coming to Richmond with whichever [new] tire they bring," Aric Almirola said. "They're all driving great on our car." #11-Denny Hamlin thought the heat provided an ideal testing ground. "The track is hot enough to where it's taking rubber, so it simulates a pretty good racing surface," he said. "These are extreme conditions, and that's what you want to be tire testing in." Drivers were asked to rate the tires that they tried. Goodyear is secretive about the process and won't reveal specifics about the tires they will ultimately provide teams with for the September race at Richmond International. Hamlin said the tire issues this spring were caused by a change in the car design which produced more downforce on the right front tire. "It puts Goodyear in a tough spot to build a tire that's reliable, without making it so hard that it's like concrete and the racing is awful," Hamlin said. He explained that harder tires aren't as fast on the track. Drivers were also using the opportunity for extra laps at Richmond to plan ahead for the fall race. #26-Cole Whitt, who has finished 43rd and 41st in his two Richmond Sprint Cup races, was working on his turning lines out of turns 1 and 2. "We're working on our stuff as much as Goodyear is working on the tires," he said. #16-Greg Biffle said there's only so much that can be done, though, since Goodyear wants all the laps run a certain way, to provide consistency in their testing. For #42-Kyle Larson, the testing was an opportunity to drive the track more than he was able to in April.(Roanoke Times)(7-10-2014)

  • Jim France and Don Panoz to be honored: Two motorsport icons instrumental in the preservation and expansion of road racing in North America will be honored during the 26th Annual Motorsports Hall of Fame of America's (MSHFA) Induction Ceremony on Aug. 6 at The Fillmore Detroit. Jim France and Don Panoz will receive the Bob Russo Heritage Award in recognition of their long-term support of sports car racing in North America and their effort to bring about the landmark merger of GRAND-AM Road Racing (GRAND-AM) and the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). On Sept. 5, 2012 it was announced the two series would merge to form the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship for the 2014 season with the unified series sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). The award, named in honor of the long-time motorsports journalist and historian, is presented at the recommendation of the MSHFA Board of Directors in recognition of the recipient's contributions to motorsports throughout their career.
    The 2014 class that will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Aug. 6 include Ole Bardahl, Raymond Beadle, John Bishop, Ricky Graham, Arie Luyendyk, Marshall Teague and Rusty Wallace. In January, it was announced that the Hall of Fame will be relocating to the grounds of Daytona International Speedway, the World Center of Racing, by 2016. Tickets for the induction ceremony can be purchased by calling 1-248-349-RACE (7223).(MSHFA)(7-10-2014)

  • Preece returns to the #36 for Tommy Baldwin: NASCAR Next driver Ryan Preece joins Tommy Baldwin Racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend to compete in the Nationwide Series Sta-Green 200 on Saturday afternoon. Preece will pilot the #6 East West Marine Chevy at the speedway and for Tommy Baldwin Racing for the second year in a row. Last year Preece started 27th and finished 24th. Preece was named one of NASCAR's Next in 2013, and again in 2014. In addition to being named one of NASCAR's elite, he is also the defending 2013 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Campion. This weekend Preece will not only be piloting the #36 for TBR, but also the #16 modified car, which will also be competing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.(140 Buzz/TBR)(7-10-2014)

  • Ellis driving for JGL at NHMS: Ryan Ellis will be behind the wheel of the #93 JGL Racing Dodge Challenger this weekend for the Sta-Green 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The JGL team is coming off a Top-10 finish at Daytona just one week ago, and for Ellis it's important to get with a team with some momentum. This season has about progression in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for Ellis, and the JGL team presents an opportunity for him to get into strong equipment and with a team on the rise.(Ryan Ellis PR)(7-10-2014)

  • Crum in the #86 at New Hampshire: Jake Crum will drive the #86 Bubba Burger/ My Freedom Smokes.com Chevy Camaro this Saturday in the Sta-Green 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Crum will be looking to make his first ever appearance at the one mile oval. "This will be my first try at New Hampshire, and it looks like a bigger version of Martinsville," said Crum, winner of the 2010 Bailey's 300 at Martinsville. "I'm hoping it is, because I've had some good finishes on these types of tracks."(DRG)(7-10-2014)

  • Four First-Timers Qualify For Nationwide's Dash 4 Cash: The top-four finishing NASCAR Nationwide Series championship contenders in last weekend's race at Daytona - #7-Regan Smith, #39-Ryan Sieg, #16-Ryan Reed and #51-Jeremy Clements - qualified to compete in the first round of Nationwide's Dash 4 Cash program at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday with an opportunity to win $100,000. Each of the four drivers that have qualified for this season's Round One of the Dash 4 Cash are first-time participants to the program. With four newbies locked in, the cash can land in almost anyone's pockets. Smith and Clements have made three starts at NHMS each posting average finishes of 19.3 and 19.6, respectively. Sunoco Rookie of the Year contenders Reed and Sieg will be making their series track debuts at New Hampshire. The highest finisher of the four eligible drivers at New Hampshire will win the money and automatically qualify for the Dash 4 Cash at Chicagoland the following weekend. The three highest finishing NNS regulars at New Hampshire not already qualified will also get to compete for the $100,000 bonus at Chicagoland. The final two events at Indianapolis and Iowa will carry the same qualifying requirements.(NASCAR)(7-10-2014)

  • Campers party at NHMS and Zip-lining: the NHMS Camper Appreciation Party will be held from 8-10 p.m. on Thursday, July 10. Executive vice president and general manager of New Hampshire Motor Speedway Jerry Gappens is expected to make an appearance, where he will pour beers and cook hot dogs for $1 for fans. All proceeds will go to the New Hampshire Chapter of the Speedway Children's Charities. For the very first time, guests of New Hampshire Motor Speedway will have an opportunity to zip-line. The inclined cable, which involves a suspended harness and pulley system, will be available for adventure goers and thrill-seekers behind the F.W. Webb Bath House from Thursday through Sunday.(NHMS)(7-10-2014)

  • Chicagoland Speedway's Legends Club Honors Fred Lorenzen, July 19: Chicagoland Speedway announced Amanda Lorenzen Gardstrom, the daughter of NASCAR great and Elmhurst, Ill. native Fred Lorenzen, will appear in the newly created Legends Club this July to honor her father with the unveiling of his photo in the club. The elder Lorenzen was one of five new members inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame this past May. "At this time, our father's health limits his ability to interact with the fans he so loves," said Gardstrom. "But sharing his NASCAR stories, history and memories has become our family's passion over the past several years, and we're excited and honored to do just that at Chicagoland Speedway."
    Earning the nicknames "Fearless Freddie" and "Golden Boy," Lorenzen recorded 26 wins in his NASCAR career and remains the only NASCAR driver to win 20 races in their first 100 starts. Lorenzen became the first driver to earn more than $100,000 in winnings in a single season, claiming $113,570 driving for the legendary Holman-Moody team in 1963, where he started as a mechanic. Lorenzen's best overall season came in 1963 as he finished with six wins, 21 top fives and 23 top 10s in 29 starts. In 1965, he won two of NASCAR's major events - the Daytona 500 and the World 600. Lorenzen is a member of more than one motorsports hall of fame including the National Motorsports Press Association's Hall of Fame, the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.
    Featuring appearances from renowned drivers and personalities, and themed with items from NASCAR's rich tradition, the Legends Club offers an intimate setting with an all-inclusive package of beer and wine, plus two meals per day. Don't wait to purchase your tickets, as the Legends Club is already sold out for the September Sprint Cup Race. Admission starts at $250.00 for the EnjoyIllinois.com 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race, $250.00 for the Lucas Oil 225 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race and $395.00 for the Jimmy John's Freaky Fast 300 Powered by Coca-Cola NASCAR Nationwide Series race. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ChicagolandSpeedway.com, by calling 888-629-RACE.(Chicagoland Speedway)(7-10-2014)


    News from July 9, 2014

  • Axxess Pharma/TapouT to sponsor Whitt for two races: Axxess Pharma, a specialty pharmaceutical and nutritional supplements company, announced through its wholly-owned subsidiary, AllStar Health Brands Inc., has partnered with BK Racing and Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender Cole Whitt. Axxess Pharma will serve as primary sponsor of the #26 Toyota Camry this weekend at New Hampshire and Phoenix in November. Axxess Pharma will serve as an associate sponsor for the remainder of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Dr. Daniel Bagi, President of AllStar Health Brands, stated, "We are excited to expand the reach of our all natural TapouT sports brand, to NASCAR's highly engaged and brand-loyal consumers. NASCAR, specifically Cole Whitt and BK Racing are a natural fit for the promotion of our company and our high demand TapouT product line."
    Whitt stated, "We are honored to have Axxess Pharma as an associate sponsor for the remainder of 2014. Their TapouT Muscle Recovery product is a perfect fit for our BK Racing crew. We look forward to promoting the product at all of our NASCAR races and branding the product through Facebook, Twitter, & ColeWhitt.com.(BK Racing) , see images of the car/scheme on the #26 Team Schemes page.(7-9-2014)

  • Sprint Cup teams form Race Team Alliance UPDATE2: A group of nine multi-car teams participating in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) announced today they have formed a collaborative business association called the Race Team Alliance (RTA). The purpose of the organization is to create an open forum for the teams to explore areas of common interest and to work collaboratively on initiatives to help preserve, promote, and grow the sport of stock car racing. The organization intends to open up its membership to all full time NSCS teams in the very near future. In providing a vehicle for the teams to work together, the organization creates for the first time a single entity to engage with stakeholders on creative ways to market and experience the power of the sport's teams and drivers. As part of its focus, the RTA also plans to explore innovative ways to harness the combined purchasing power and scale of the teams' operations to drive efficiencies in costs. Rob Kauffman, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, has been elected the first chair of the RTA.
    "With the encouragement of NASCAR and the manufacturers, the teams have met in various forms and forums over the years to explore areas of common interest. This simply formalizes what was an informal group." said Kauffman. "The key word is 'Collaboration'. We all have vested interests in the success and popularity of stock car racing. By working together and speaking with a single voice, it should be a simpler and smoother process to work with current and potential groups involved with the sport. Whether it be looking for industry-wide travel partners or collaborating on technical issues - the idea is to work together to increase revenue, spend more efficiently, and deliver more value to our partners."
    The following teams are the executive members of the RTA: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Hendrick Motor Sports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing, Richard Childress Racing, Richard Petty Motor Sports, Roush Fenway Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing and Team Penske.(RTA)(7-7-2014)
    UPDATE: Statement from NASCAR: "We are aware of the alliance concept the team owners have announced, but have very few specifics on its structure or purpose. It is apparently still in development and we're still learning about the details so it would be inappropriate to comment right now. NASCAR's mission, as it has always been, is to create a fair playing field where anyone can come and compete. Our job is to support and strengthen all of the teams, large and small, across all of our series and we'll continue to do that. NASCAR is a unique community with hundreds of stakeholders. They all have a voice and always will."(NASCAR)(7-7-2014)
    UPDATE 2: #55-Brian Vickers doesn't know much about the newly formed Race Team Alliance, but he knows plenty about the man who's running it. The RTA, whose creation was announced Monday, is a business alliance of nine Sprint Cup teams that is being chaired by Rob Kauffman, who is the co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing. Vickers, who drives the #55 Toyota for MWR in NASCAR's premier series, said he had "heard little things here and there" about the RTA but not much despite his proximity to Kauffman. "I just get in the car every Friday and just drive as fast as I can," he said Tuesday during a conference call with the news media. "I don't know enough, to be honest with you, about (the RTA) to have any opinion. I think any of those questions are better addressed to Rob or the ownership group. But in general, you know, I have a lot of respect for the owners in this industry. If they feel there's a need, then there's probably a need for it, so I wish them all the best."(USA Today)(7-9-2014)

  • AutoTrader.com makes its debut at NHMS on the #22: This weekend, the #22 Team Penske Ford of Joey Logano will have a new look with the AutoTrader.com livery. Over the years, AutoTrader.com has established a successful working relationship with Penske Automotive Group. Through the relationship with Team Penske, AutoTrader.com will help build its brand with NASCAR fans and integrate Logano and Team Penske into its marketing programs. More than 17 million consumers visit AutoTrader.com each month to research their next vehicle purchase and browse the more than four million new and used vehicles listed for sale. To celebrate the partnership, Logano took over AutoTrader.com's Instagram account during the week leading into the race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Team Penske), see images of the scheme on the #22 Team Schemes page.(7-9-2014)

  • Ford's win streak longest since 2005: #43-Aric Almirola's win at Daytona was Ford's third straight this season. #2-Brad Keselowski won the week before at Kentucky and #99-Carl Edwards won at Sonoma. The last time Ford won three-straight Cup races was 2005 when Greg Biffle won Dover (June 5) and Michigan (June 19) bookending a Carl Edwards Pocono (June 12) victory. The win is the seventh of the season for Ford Racing, equaling the most wins for Ford since 2011.(Ford)(7-9-2014)

  • Pit coaching change at MWR: This past week a pit crew coaching change was made at Michael Waltrip Racing. Long time coach Walt Smith has taken over after being out of the sport for a few months. Smith is a veteran to pit road and has spent over 20 years as a pit crew member and coach. For the last few years Smith was at Hendrick Motorsports with the #5 and #24 teams and will now take over the #55 and #15.(Pit Talks)(7-9-2014)

  • Bobby Labonte hopes to run more races for Circle Sport: 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Bobby Labonte ran the #33 Thunder Coal Chevy at Daytona on Sunday's rain-delayed race at Daytona International Speedway, finishing XX. Circle Sport #33 owner Joe Falk told Motorsports.com on Thursday at Daytona: "If we get a sponsor we could run more races, We're hoping to put together three or four more races for Bobby [Labonte]. We plan on running the 33 and 40 car each week no matter what. Landon Cassill will be in the 40 car every week from here on out. We almost have that car sold out. Bobby really likes Richmond and we'd also like him to run at Indianapolis. Hopefully, we can put something together."(Motorsport)(7-9-2014)



  • Victory Junction to be celebrated by Sprint Cup Teams at NHMS: In celebration of their 10th year and more than 20,000 campers through their gates, NASCAR teams will display Victory Junction 10 year decals on Sprint Cup Series cars at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire the weekend of July 11, 2014. The North Carolina camp provides life-changing experiences that are exciting, fun and empowering in a safe and medically sound environment. It was the dream of Adam Petty, grandson of Richard Petty and son of Kyle Petty, who passed away in a racing accident at the Loudon track in 2000. Founded in 2004 by the Petty family in honor of Adam Petty, Victory Junction is a year-round camping environment for children ages six to 16 with serious illnesses. The camp operates solely though the support of generous individuals, foundations and corporations to provide every experience at no charge to the children and their families. Victory Junction is a 501(c)(3) organization.(Victory Junction), Jayski.com is proud to have help support the camp and the Jayski Computer Lab at the camp.(7-9-2014)

  • Earnhardt Jr. & Danica up for kids awards: #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has been nominated for a Kids' Choice Sports Best Male Athlete award more info and to vote at nick.com. Danica Patrick has been nominated as Best Female Athlete, vote at nick.com(7-9-2014)

  • Newberry in the #55 at New Hampshire: Brennan Newberry will have his Nationwide Series coming out party at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend. Newberry, 24, will drive the #55 Qore-24 Chevy for NTS Motorsports with crew chief Jason Miller calling the Sta-Green 200. "It is every race car drivers dream to keep moving up the NASCAR ladder as professionals," Newberry said. "I'm definitely one of those drivers who gets to conquer another goal and dream. I am at a loss for words as to how excited I am about making my first Nationwide start this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It was a big last minute offer but an offer that I am pleased to take. I must thank Jamie Dick and his entire team for giving me this chance. It is one that I will forever be grateful for." The Bakersfield, Calif.-native competes full-time on the K&N Pro Series where he is currently 12th in the point standings. He will race in Friday's Granite State 100 on the East tour prior to Saturday's NNS race.(Motorsport)(7-9-2014)

  • Interstate Batteries sponsoring Kenseth at New Hampshire: This weekend, [Matt Kenseth] returns to the New England track where he is the most recent winner with more confidence and a desire to get back to his winning ways, beginning with his turn in the #20 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Nationwide Series. Saturday's Sta-Green 200 Nationwide Series race at New Hampshire will be Kenseth's ninth Nationwide Series start at the 1.058-mile oval, but it will be his first with Interstate Batteries, JGR's founding partner. Interstate Batteries has adorned the hood of JGR cars for the past 22 seasons.(Joe Gibbs Racing), see an image of the car on the #20 team paint schemes page.(7-9-2014)


    News from July 8, 2014

  • #41 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Team Penalized: The #41 Stewart Haas Racing team that competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has been penalized for a rules infraction discovered in post-race inspection July 6 at Daytona International Speedway. The infraction is a P2 level penalty (levels explained here) and violates Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 20-12 (l) (for events at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, at all times, the Delta (or difference) of the Z-height measurement between the center of the panhard bar mounting bolt located at the left truck trailing arm and the center of the panhard bar mounting bolt, located at the right rear sub-frame mounting bracket, must not exceed three inches) of the 2014 NASCAR rule book. As a result of this infraction, crew chief Daniel Knost has been fined $10,000. In addition, driver Kurt Busch has lost 10 championship driver points and owner Gene Haas has lost 10 championship owner points.(NASCAR)(7-8-2014)

  • Richard Petty Motorsports to remain with Ford UPDATE: Andy Murstein, of Medallion Financial Corporation, the primary investor in RPM said, "This organization is clearly on the upswing and they compete and win with class. Now on to the Chase for Aric, and after Marcos wins at Watkins Glen, we will have two cars in the Chase." Murstein confirmed that RPM will remain with Ford beyond this year.(Motorsport)(7-7-2014)
    UPDATE: If you have a winning formula, why change it? That was the key reason for Richard Petty Motorsports to remain with Ford beyond 2015. "I think that's a good decision for us right now," said Trent Owens, the winning crew chief from Sunday's Coke Zero 400 on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. "Changing manufacturers - from the workload side of things - would be a challenge to say the least. I've enjoyed being with Ford. I've enjoyed working on these race cars and we just really need to perfect what we've got and that will allow us to do that."(Motorsport)(7-8-2014)

  • Tire testing at Richmond: Several drivers are scheduled to test tires for Goodyear at Richmond International Raceway on Tuesday and Wednesday. Participating drivers include #11-Hamlin, #16-Biffle, #26-Whitt, #41-Busch, #42-Larson, and #43-Almirola.(7-8-2014)

  • Three generations of Gillilands to race each other at Irwindale: Former NASCAR K&N West Series champion Butch Gilliland will dust off his old racing uniform to take on his son and grandson -- current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver David Gilliland and up-and-coming late model driver Todd Gilliland -- in a Super Late Model Series race at Irwindale Speedway on July 19. The 75-lap feature event will be the first time the three generations of Gillilands will compete against each other on track. Fifty-six-year-old Butch won the 1997 championship in the West Series with son David serving as his crew chief. Butch also competed in 10 Sprint Cup Series and 12 Camping World Truck Series races. He has not raced professionally since 2002. Thirty-eight-year-old David is currently the driver of the #38 Ford for Front Row Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series. Irwindale is one of the West Coast tracks where the California native developed his racing skills and also where he earned his first asphalt win. His infant son Todd, just three weeks old, was in Victory Lane for the celebration. Now 14, Todd is in his first full season of stock-car racing, which has already included his first late-model pole and win at Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, N.C., in May.(Breaking Limits)(7-8-2014)

  • NASCAR Numbers:
    545: The number of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races between the two most recent victories for the #43. John Andretti took the Petty Enterprises car to Victory Lane at Martinsville in April 1999, more than 15 years before Aric Almirola put the vaunted car number back in the winner's circle at Daytona.
    192: The number of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories collected by Richard Petty in the #43. Though Petty won his first race at Charlotte (1960) and his last race at Daytona (1984) in the number he made famous, he also had six victories in the #41 and two in the #42 to total 200.
    3: The number of top 10s scored by rookie Kyle Larson at NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tracks that will host return visits from the series before the Chase starts. Larson was 10th at Bristol, fifth at Pocono and eighth at Michigan in his first visits to those venues. At Richmond, he finished 15th-but won the pole.
    6: Of the previous seven NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the number of drivers still seeking a first victory this season. This list includes Clint Bowyer, Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Brian Vickers and Matt Kenseth. Denny Hamlin is the one exception.
    12: The number of consecutive different winners in the last 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Variety indeed is the spice of life at the Magic Mile, where Kurt Busch started the streak in 2008 and Matt Kenseth kept it going last September.(NASCAR Wire Service)(7-8-2014)

  • Top 10 driver ratings at New Hampshire:
    #14-Tony Stewart 111.0
    #24-Jeff Gordon 109.2
    #48-Jimmie Johnson 105.8
    #11-Denny Hamlin 102.9
    #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 97.3
    #15-Clint Bowyer 95.0
    #18-Kyle Busch 93.1
    #31-Ryan Newman 92.5
    #5-Kasey Kahne 92.4 #4-Kevin Harvick 91.1
    Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2013 races (18 total) among active drivers at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
    Formula combining the following categories: Win, Finish, Top-15 Finish, Average Running Position while on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.
    See an explanation how the Driver Rating is calculated at NASCAR.com.(NASCAR)

  • Eggleston teams up with SS in Iowa: This Friday night the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will return to the Iowa Speedway under the lights for the American Ethanol 200, as Colorado native Chris Eggleston pilots the #08 Scuba Life / H2O Fire Protection Chevy Silverado for SS Green Light Racing. Chris has previously raced at Iowa Speedway in Newton three times, most recently in 2012 with the ARCA Midwest Tour Series. This will be Eggleston's eighth NCWTS appearance and his sixth appearance while paired with SS Green Light Racing, based in Mooresville, North Carolina.(Chris Eggleston)(7-8-2014)

  • Heater.com joins Kennedy: Turner Scott Motorsports is pleased to announce that Heater.com will sponsor Ben Kennedy and the #31 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series entry beginning at this weekend's race at Iowa Speedway. The event will mark Heater.com's first foray as a sponsor in NASCAR. Heater.com is a world-leading heating product online retailer based in Brookfield, Mo. The site features a wide variety of electric, infrared, pellet, wood and multi-fuel indoor and outdoor space heating products to meet a wide variety of needs. Heater.com is currently slated to serve as primary sponsor of the #31 Chevy Silverado for the events at Iowa Speedway and Eldora Speedway, in addition to associate sponsorship at Pocono Raceway, Michigan International Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway.(Turner Scott Motorsports)(7-8-2014)

  • NFL player to drive pace car at New Hampshire: Julian Edelman does it all for the New England Patriots. A highly-productive receiver and return man since joining the three-time Super Bowl champions as a seventh-round pick in 2009, Edelman even saw action on defense in 2011. Well, he can now add another title to the many hats he has worn: Official NASCAR Pace Car Driver. The 5-foot-10 star wideout for the Patriots will trade his receiving gloves for driving gloves as he gets behind the wheel of the Official NASCAR 2014 Toyota Camry SE Pace Car, leading the field for the start of the Camping World RV Sales 301 Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 13.(NHMS)(7-8-2014)


    News from July 7, 2014

  • Entry List for the Camping World RV Sales 301 Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is posted, 43 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including: #32-Eddie McDonald, #33-Morgan Shepherd, #66-Jeff Burton, #87-Joe Nemechek.
    Since only 43 cars are entered, all drivers will make the race.
    See the full entry list at my Jayski's New Hampshire Entry List

  • Sprint Cup teams form Race Team Alliance UPDATE: A group of nine multi-car teams participating in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) announced today they have formed a collaborative business association called the Race Team Alliance (RTA). The purpose of the organization is to create an open forum for the teams to explore areas of common interest and to work collaboratively on initiatives to help preserve, promote, and grow the sport of stock car racing. The organization intends to open up its membership to all full time NSCS teams in the very near future. In providing a vehicle for the teams to work together, the organization creates for the first time a single entity to engage with stakeholders on creative ways to market and experience the power of the sport's teams and drivers. As part of its focus, the RTA also plans to explore innovative ways to harness the combined purchasing power and scale of the teams' operations to drive efficiencies in costs. Rob Kauffman, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, has been elected the first chair of the RTA.
    "With the encouragement of NASCAR and the manufacturers, the teams have met in various forms and forums over the years to explore areas of common interest. This simply formalizes what was an informal group." said Kauffman. "The key word is 'Collaboration'. We all have vested interests in the success and popularity of stock car racing. By working together and speaking with a single voice, it should be a simpler and smoother process to work with current and potential groups involved with the sport. Whether it be looking for industry-wide travel partners or collaborating on technical issues - the idea is to work together to increase revenue, spend more efficiently, and deliver more value to our partners."
    The following teams are the executive members of the RTA: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Hendrick Motor Sports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing, Richard Childress Racing, Richard Petty Motor Sports, Roush Fenway Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing and Team Penske.(RTA)(7-7-2014)
    UPDATE: Statement from NASCAR: "We are aware of the alliance concept the team owners have announced, but have very few specifics on its structure or purpose. It is apparently still in development and we're still learning about the details so it would be inappropriate to comment right now. NASCAR's mission, as it has always been, is to create a fair playing field where anyone can come and compete. Our job is to support and strengthen all of the teams, large and small, across all of our series and we'll continue to do that. NASCAR is a unique community with hundreds of stakeholders. They all have a voice and always will."(NASCAR)(7-7-2014)

  • Richard Petty Motorsports to remain with Ford: Andy Murstein, of Medallion Financial Corporation, the primary investor in RPM said, "This organization is clearly on the upswing and they compete and win with class. Now on to the Chase for Aric, and after Marcos wins at Watkins Glen, we will have two cars in the Chase." Murstein confirmed that RPM will remain with Ford beyond this year.(Motorsport)(7-7-2014)

  • NASCAR Explains Why Race Was Called: The day was only half over but the race was finished. NASCAR's decision to call Sunday's Coke Zero 400 at about 3:00pm/et left some competitors and fans perplexed. The decision ended NASCAR's weekend battle with showers, which caused a multi-car crash during Nationwide qualifying on Friday and forced Saturday night's Cup race to be moved to Sunday. Rain twice delayed Sunday's race before it was called after 112 of 160 laps. Aric Almirola was declared the winner. With a forecast from the National Weather Service calling for the likelihood of rain until about 8:00pm/et and the race past halfway - a day after it was scheduled to run - it tipped the scales for NASCAR to call the race. "We've seen this weather pattern and felt it was the best interest of fans getting done and getting home," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. "We put on 2 1/2 hours of solid racing. When you looked at what was in front of us weather-wise, we felt it was best for all concerned that the race was completed." Pemberton said an issue was that was so much rain in Turn 3 that water was trapped behind the SAFER barrier and coming down on the track. That could have delayed a restart if the rest of the track was dry. The later the rain persisted, the longer it would have been to dry the track because it would not have been aided by the sun.(Motor Racing Network)(7-7-2014)

  • Career best finishes for drivers at Daytona Four drivers scored a career-best finish in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday:
    #43-Aric Almirola's win bested his 3rd place finish at Bristol in April;
    #3-Austin Dillon finished 5th. His previous best was 9th at Daytona in February;
    #95-Michael McDowell's 7th place finish topped his 9th place finish last year in the Daytona 500;
    #23-Alex Bowman finished 13th. His top finish had been 22nd at California in February.
    See more stats on active driver wins and drivers without a win on the Active Winners page.(7-7-2014)

  • Daytona Race and Commercial Breakdown: For NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, here is the breakdown for Sunday's race. Began recording the times at the call to start the engines at 11:01 AM, and stopped completely at the calling of the race at 2:21 PM (all times are EST). TNT was the broadcast team for this event.
    Plans were announced that the last portion of the race would be 'Wide Open Coverage' (split-screen commercials), but this did not occur as the race was called due to weather.
    Total number of commercials: 86
    Total number of companies or entities advertised: 46
    Number of times TNT utilized 'Side-by-Side' commercials during this broadcast: 0
    Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast: 16
    Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 2 min.
    Start time to record race/commercial periods: 11:01AM
    End time to record race/commercial periods: 2:21 PM
    Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 176
    Minutes of race broadcast: 132
    Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 44
    Number of missed restarts: 0
    Number of 'mystery cautions' (debris not shown): 1
    Total race brdcst time 132 Total comm. brdcst time 44
    See past races, links to reports and more on the TV Commercials page.(7-7-2014)

  • Nationwide Entry List:There are 41 cars on the preliminary entry list for Saturday's Sta-Green 200 Nationwide Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. A few notes:
    Austin Theriault returns to the JR Motorsports #5;
    Blake Koch will be in the TriStar #10;
    Derek White is entered in the #13;
    Carlos Contreras returns to the Rick Ware #23;
    Ryan Preece is entered in Tommy Baldwin's #36;
    Matt Frahm will drive the TriStar #44;
    Todd Bodine returns to the #55 of Viva Motorsports;
    The #86 driver is TBA;
    Not entered: #76-Tommy Joe Martins.(7-7-2014)
    See the complete list on the New Hampshire entry list page.

  • Frahm to drive #44 at New Hampshire: TriStar Motorsports announced the addition of Matt Frahm to the driver roster at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend. Gilchrist Metal Fabricating Company will serve as the primary sponsor of the #44 Camry at the 1.058-mile oval speedway. Established in Hudson, New Hampshire, Gilchrist Metal Fabricating Company is focused on providing industry leading metal fabrication and welding for customers across the country. GMF has been a partner of Frahms for years and was the primary sponsor of his Nationwide Series car in 2011 for the race at NHMS. Frahm has nine Nationwide Series starts since 2011, two of which have been at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.(TriStar Motorsports)(7-7-2014)

  • Entry List:There are 38 trucks on the preliminary entry list for Friday's American Ethanol Camping World Truck Series race at Iowas Speedway. A few notes:
    John Wes Townley will be in the #05 for Athenian Motorsports;
    Dustin Hapka will be in the #74;
    Jeff Choquette will drive the #97.(7-7-2014)
    See the complete list on the Iowa entry list page.


    News from July 6, 2014

  • First win for car #43 since 1999: When Aric Almirola won the Coke Zero 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway on July 6, 2014, it was the first time since April 18, 1999 that a driver had won a Sprint Cup Series race in a car #43 when John Andretti won at Martinsville. The legendary #43 has 199 Sprint Cup Series wins in its history. Richard Petty won 192 times in the #43. See more on my Wins by Car Number page.(7-6-2014)

  • Almirola wins rain-shortened race at Daytona: #43-Aric Almirola won the Coke Zero 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway. It is his 1st career win and he puts him in position for a Chase spot this season. The race was called after 112 laps after persistent showers prevented NASCAR from drying the track.
    It is the 199th win for car #43 and the first since April 1999 when John Andretti won at Martinsville. It is also 30 years since Richard Petty's 200th career win.
    #55-Vickers finished 2nd followed by #41-Busch, #13-Mears, #3-Dillon, #11-Hamlin, #95-McDowell, #10-Patrick, #15-Bowyer, and #9-Ambrose.
    The race was postponed to Sunday due to rain Saturday evening.
    There was a 25 minute red flag on lap 10 for rain.
    The first "big one" happened on lap 20 when #17-Stenhouse, Jr. got lose near the front of the field, Gordon checked up and got into Stewart, who then hit Stenhouse, Jr. and spun him into traffic, collecting 16 cars.
    The "bigger one" was on lap 98. #16-Biffle appeared to get into the back of #5-Kahne, who hooked #22-Logano. They spun into traffic. A total of 26 cars were involved in the accident. Only 13 cars running on the lead lap were not involved. There was a 5 minute red flag while the track was cleared.
    Pole winner #38-Gilliland was caught in the wreck on lap 98. He finished 35th.
    #24-Gordon (1 win) keeps the points lead after finishing 12th and extends his points lead over to 27 points. #88-Earnhardt, Jr is now in 2nd.
    #48-Johnson leads the Chase Grid with three wins, 3rd in points. #88-Earnhardt Jr. is second with 2 wins, 2nd in points then #2-Keselowski 2 & 4th, #22-Logano 2 & 6th, #99-Edwards 2 & 7th, and #4-Harvick 2 and 11th.
    There were 21 lead changes among 14 drivers. There were 6 cautions for 29 yellow flag laps.
    The average speed was 130.014mph.
    See unofficial race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Unofficial Daytona Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Daytona Penalty Report (pdf).
    See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Daytona Race & Points Report (pdf).(7-6-2014)

  • Race Fast Facts - Daytona International Speedway:
    Aric Almirola won the 56th Annual Coke Zero 400 , his first victory in 125 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
    This is his first victory and fourth top-10 finish in 2014.
    This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in seven races at Daytona International Speedway.
    Brian Vickers (second) posted his fourth top-10 finish in 16 races at Daytona International Speedway. It is his sixth top-10 finish in 2014.
    Kurt Busch (third) posted his 14th top-10 finish in 28 races at Daytona International Speedway.
    Austin Dillon (fifth) was the highest finishing rookie.
    Jeff Gordon leads the point standings by 27 points over Dale Earnhardt Jr.
    Aric Almirola is the 43rd driver to drive the famed No. 43 car in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
    Prior to today's win, the last time the No. 43 car visited Victory Lane at Daytona was 7/4/1984 with NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty behind the wheel.
    The last time the No. 43 car won in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series was at Martinsville Speedway (4/18/1999) with driver John Andretti.
    This is the No. 43 car's 199th win (second-most all-time) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
    This is the No. 43 car's 11th points-paying win at Daytona among two drivers - Richard Petty (10 wins) and Aric Almirola (1 win).(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(7-6-2014)

  • 2014 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Championship Points Standings:
    [after Daytona, race 18 of 36]
    1) #24-Jeff Gordon [1 win], 651
    2) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [2 wins], 624, -27
    3) #48-Jimmie Johnson [3 wins], 596, -55
    4) #2-Brad Keselowski [2 wins], 586, -65
    5) #20-Matt Kenseth, 580, -71
    6) #22-Joey Logano [2 wins], 546, -105
    7) #99-Carl Edwards [2 wins], 5436, -108
    8) #31-Ryan Newman, 534, -117
    9) #18-Kyle Busch [1 win], 524, -127
    10) #27-Paul Menard, 516, -135
    Other drivers with at least one win, out of the top 10:
    11) #4-Kevin Harvick [2 wins], 514, -137
    14) #11-Denny Hamlin [1 win], 493, -158
    21) #43-Aric Almirola [1 win], 452, -199
    24) #41-Kurt Busch [1 win], 422, -229 (166 pts ahead of 31st)
    See UNOFFICIAL drivers championship points standings on the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings (pdf).
    See the UNOFFICIAL owner points standings on the Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf).
    See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Daytona Race & Points Report (pdf).(7-6-2014)

  • Current 2014 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Seedings:
    [after Daytona, race 18 of 36 if Chase seeding started after this race]
    1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 3 wins, 3rd in points
    2) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 2 wins, 2nd
    3) #2-Brad Keselowski, 2 wins, 4th
    4) #22-Joey Logano, 2 wins, 6th
    5) #99-Carl Edwards, 2 wins, 7th
    6) #4-Kevin Harvick, 2 wins, 11th
    7) #24-Jeff Gordon, 1 win, 1st
    8) #18-Kyle Busch, 1 win, 9th
    9) #11-Denny Hamlin, 1 win, 14th
    10) #41-Kurt Busch, 1 win, 24th
    11) #43-Aric Almirola, 1 win, 21st
    (no wins, in by points)
    12) #20-Matt Kenseth, 5th
    13) #31-Ryan Newman, 8th
    14) #27-Paul Menard, 10th
    15) #15-Clint Bowyer, 12th
    16) #3-Austin Dillon, 13th
    (7-6-2014)

  • Daytona Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #3-Dillon, finished 5th, 17 rookie points
    #7-Annett, 21st, 9
    #51-Allgaier, 25th, 8
    #26-Whitt, 34th, 6
    #83-Truex, 32nd, 7
    #23-Bowman, 13th, 10
    #42-Larson, 36th, 5
    Kligerman, Did Not Race
    (7-6-2014)

  • NASCAR could tweak qualifying rules at plate tracks: That strange qualifying session at Daytona International Speedway might end up being a one-time thing. NASCAR executive Robin Pemberton said rules could be tweaked to prevent teams from trying to scheme ways to post the fastest laps during the three knockout stages. "I think we'll learn from all of this moving forward and continue to talk and see if there's anything that we need to look at to try to make things better for the fans and better for the competitors," said Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition. "All in all, it's been a great year for qualifying and it's been a great year for a lot of different rule changes that we put into play this year. We'll sit down and we'll talk about some of these things toward the latter stages of the year and see what we may rub on and do a little changing or some things like that." NASCAR's new qualifying rules package was used for the first time at Daytona in the Sprint Cup Series on Friday, and it produced some head-scratching moments as groups of cars slowed to a crawl around the 2 1/2-mile superspeedway. The small packs - most of them formed by teammates - were hoping to pull behind bigger groups and draft behind them to produce fast laps. But no one was eager to lead the way, especially not in a huge cluster of cars. NASCAR could conceivably change the qualifying rules before the Oct. 19 race at Talladega.(Associated Press)(7-6-2014)

  • Young Wisconsin Mechanics Spend Race Week with Wood Brothers: Two recent high school graduates from Wisconsin - winners of last month's AAA Student Auto Skills National Finals at Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Mich. - spent the week of the Coke Zero 400 with Wood Brothers Racing getting an up-close look at how race teams prepare for and manage a Sprint Cup race. This unique job shadowing experience was part of the Wisconsin team's prize package for winning the 65th annual technology showdown with teams from each of the 50 states. The contest included a written test and a hands-on element diagnosing and repairing "bugs" planted on their competition vehicle.
    Justin Bublitz, 18, and Colt Morris, 17, of Grafton High School in Grafton, Wisc., along with their instructor, Carl Hader, toured the Wood Brothers Racing shop in Harrisburg, N.C., the Roush Fenway Racing shop in Concord, N.C., visited the NASCAR Hall of Fame in downtown Charlotte and are spending race weekend with the Wood Brothers at Daytona International Speedway.
    "We're excited to be part of the AAA Student Auto Skills program," said Eddie Wood, co-owner of Wood Brothers Racing and the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion. "It's been fun having Justin, Colt and their teacher, Carl, with us this week. We think it's important to reward achievement in young people and maybe interest them in a career in racing in the process." Morris, who along with Bublitz won the competition in Dearborn with a perfect score in the hands-on part of the competition, said, "The week has been amazing. To be close to everything and watch the magic happen is a great experience." Bublitz said, "This is insanely fun. It's mind-blowing the things we're seeing. It's so different from working on a normal car. This definitely makes me want to get into racing. Before this I was never a NASCAR fan, but now I'll probably be a huge NASCAR fan." Instructor Hader, a teacher for 35 years, has taken 15 teams to the AAA Auto Skills National Finals and has two wins. He views the race week experience from a much larger perspective. "I expect the kids to take back to their everyday lives the idea that you should be organized, plan things out ahead of time and that nothing happens by chance," Hader said. "These race teams do everything they can think of before the race to put their drivers in a position to win."(Wood Brothers Racing)(7-6-2014)

  • B.R.M. named Official Timekeeper of Pocono Raceway: Pocono Raceway announced a multi-year partnership with Bernard Richards Manufacture (BRM), an iconic, international watchmaker. BRM will serve as the "Official Timekeeper of Pocono Raceway" for all of 'The Tricky Triangle's' major events. Driven by passion for motorsports and engineered for exceptional performance, BRM's bespoke timepieces are defined by pure racing spirit, and as the only French watchmaking manufacture, the brand is synonymous with individuality. Introducing one-of-a-kind, limited-edition models every year, BRM's commitment to craftsmanship and technical precision has garnered global partnerships with racing's elite including Abarth, and INDYCAR drivers Marco Andretti and Simon Pagenaud.(Pocono Raceway)(7-6-2014)


    News from July 5, 2014

  • Daytona race postponed to Sunday: Rain at Daytona International Speedway has forced NASCAR to postpone the Coke Zero 400 until 11:00am/et Sunday. TNT's TV coverage will start at 11:00am/et. The forecast for Sunday calls for a 50% chance of scattered thunderstorms, with an increased chance of rain later in the afternoon. NASCAR will have a competition caution on lap 20 of the race. See weather links on the Daytona race page - weather section.
    Tickets for Saturday's race will be honored on Sunday. Tickets for the Coke Zero 400 will also be on sale at the gate or the Daytona International Speedway ticket office.
    Grandstand gates will open at 9:00am and the parking lots will open at 7:00am.(7-5-2014)

  • Brian France gives "State of the Sport": NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France met with media as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season reached its halfway point at Daytona International Speedway. France began the news conference with a review of the new Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup format that features a virtual "win and you're in" formula for making NASCAR's postseason. Beginning his second decade at the helm of the sport, France also addressed the evolving rules package, noting he attended an hour-long session earlier in the day with NASCAR Vice President of Innovation Gene Stefanyshyn. He discussed how the competition group at NASCAR is basing decisions on science and technology. France referred to a new engine package that has been discussed this year and noted that those efforts are part of NASCAR's plan to lower the barrier of entry into the sport for owners and manufacturers. Other hot topics addressed included a recent report about new ways to deliver souvenirs to fans at tracks. France said, "We do think there's probably some newer, better ways to merchandise for fans." When asked whether Iowa Speedway would get a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, he said, "We don't have plans for a Cup date there." With Nationwide moving from series sponsorship to sponsoring Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Sprint Cup car next season, France addressed finding a new partner. "...on the Nationwide sponsorship, very good interest," France said. "I think in the coming weeks we'll be getting to the end of that process, and we will be in very good shape when the dust settles there."
    On whether the final race of the season might move Ford Championship Weekend from Homestead-Miami Speedway, France said: "When you talk to the Ford people and you talk to people at ISC, at Homestead, they want to do whatever makes sense for that sponsorship." But he continued, Homestead is "... by any definition, the best mile-and-a-half track that the drivers believe that they have -- that they can really race hard and compete hard, and that matters, too, right. It's a very important thing. When you factor all those things in, we're going to be in Homestead for the foreseeable future."
    On changes to the overall 2015 schedule, France talked about weather issues at Bristol Motor Speedway over the last few years and said, "We'll be releasing that in September, but it's fair to say that there's a robust discussion within the stakeholders to come up with the best schedule that we can for 2015 and beyond." (NASCAR.com), see the complete remarks by France on the Brain France July 5, 2014 transcript page.(7-5-2014)

  • Daytona will be Barney Hall's final play-by-play race: The voice, as melodious as a choir, as familiar as family. It has been a part of the soundtrack of our lives from childhood and adulthood to weddings and funerals. That sweet Southern dialect carried many listeners through lazy summer afternoons and those cold February Sundays. Even now, the man behind the voice can slip into some places unnoticed ... until he speaks. Then, they know. That's Barney Hall. That's the man who has brought NASCAR to them for decades. With more than 50 years of calling races, the 82-year-old Hall will remain a vibrant part of Motor Racing Network broadcasts, but tonight's Coke Zero 400 will be his final as MRN's lead play-by-play announcer in the booth. "The years have gone by so quick, it's just so hard to believe,'' Hall said with a smile during a break at Daytona International Speedway.(Motor Racing Network)(7-5-2014)

  • Most Popular Driver Voting starts: The voting for the 2014 Sprint NMPA Most Popular Driver Award has started. To vote, visit www.mostpopulardriver.com and follow the online instructions for entering. Voting began at on July 5, 2014 and ends at 8:00pm/et on November 17, 2014. Voting is limited to a) one (1) vote per person per email address per day; b) up to two (2) additional votes per person per email address per day for those who share their votes through social media sites Facebook and/or Twitter. Driver eligibility for the Most Popular Driver award is limited to those candidates that have declared for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship and have entered all points-paying NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events contested between Jan. 1, 2014 and July 5, 2014.(7-5-2014)

  • added new images of the #1 Cessna / NASCAR Salutes, #3 Bass Pro Shops / NRA Museum, #5 Farmers Insurance / G.I. Jobs, #10 Florida Lottery / GoDaddy, #14 Bass Pro Shops / Ducks Unlimited, #33 Thunder Coal, #36 Golden Corral, #38 Love's Travel Stops / Troops Camo, #40 Newtown Building Supplies, #42 Target / NASCAR Salutes, #55 Aaron's / Florida State and #98 Curb Records / Lee Brice schemes running at Daytona.

  • Shepherd to drive at New Hampshire: Morgan Shepherd will be competing in the Sprint Cup Series in New Hampshire driving for the Hillman Racing/Joe Falk team, car #33 with Rick Ren as Crew Chief. Morgan will compete the full race. Shepherd Racing Ventures would like to thank all involved.(Morgan Shepherd Facebook page)(7-5-2014)

  • Higgins name recipient of Squier-Hall Award: Longtime The Charlotte Observer reporter Tom Higgins has been named the recipient of the 2015 Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence. Higgins was the first beat writer to cover every race on the NASCAR schedule, a role he held from 1980 until his retirement in 1997. He will be honored during NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony festivities on Jan. 30, 2015 and featured in an exhibit in the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina. Higgins' professional newspaper career started in 1957 at the weekly Canton Enterprise in North Carolina. While at the Asheville Times in North Carolina, he covered racing for the first time. Higgins joined the sports staff at The Observer in 1964 as an outdoors writer and soon began covering stock car racing as well. He has continued to write motorsports nostalgia columns for the newspaper and its website since his retirement. Higgins, affectionately known as "Pappy," won the International Motorsports Hall of Fame Henry T. McLemore Award for lifetime achievement in motorsports journalism in 1980, the NMPA George Cunningham Award as writer of the year in 1987 and was named the NASCAR Bill France Award of Excellence winner in 1996. He was inducted into the NMPA Hall of Fame in 2011. He is also a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel. Higgins was among eight nominees voted upon by a panel comprised of NASCAR and NASCAR Hall of Fame executives, journalists, public relations representatives and former drivers. The Squier-Hall Award was created in 2012 to honor the contributions of media to the success of the sport. Legendary broadcasters Ken Squier and Barney Hall, for whom the award is named, were its initial recipients.(NASCAR), see more information and the other nominees on the Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence page.(7-5-2014)

  • Daytona Notes & Facts - Saturday - race:
    " There have been 134 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Daytona International Speedway since the track hosted its first race in 1959: 56 have been 500 miles, 51 were 400 miles and four 250 miles. There were also 23 qualifier races that were point races.
    " Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway for the July race was the July 7, 2007 race won by Jamie McMurray over Kyle Busch with a MOV of 0.005 second.
    " Four of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series July races have resulted with a green-white-checkered finish at Daytona International Speedway (Scheduled No. of Laps/Actual No. of Laps): 2008 (160/162), 2010 (160/166), 2011 (160/170) and 2013 (160/161).
    " Only one of the 55 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series July races at Daytona International Speedway has been shortened due to weather conditions - July 6, 1996 - the race was called on Lap 117, 43 circuits shy of the 160 scheduled laps.
    " 34 different drivers have won the July race at Daytona International Speedway, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson with five wins. Tony Stewart leads all active drivers with four; followed by Jeff Gordon with three.
    " Five drivers have posted consecutive wins in the July race at Daytona International Speedway, including three consecutive by David Pearson (1972 - 1974). Tony Stewart (2005-'06) is the only active driver to win consecutive July races at Daytona.
    " The Wood Brothers have the most wins at Daytona in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with 15; followed by Hendrick Motorsports with 13.
    " Seven different manufacturers have won the July NSCS race at Daytona; led by Chevrolet with 18 victories; followed by Ford with 16.
    " A driver has swept both races (Daytona 500 and the July race) at Daytona five times: Fireball Roberts - 1962 (Daytona 500, Firecracker 250), Cale Yarborough - 1968 (Daytona 500, Firecracker 400), LeeRoy Yarborough - 1969 (Daytona 500, Firecracker 400), Bobbie Allison - 1982 (Daytona 500, Firecracker 400), Jimmie Johnson - 2013 (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola).(NASCAR)(7-5-2014)

  • NASCAR will look at drafting rules: The Subway Firecracker 250 at Daytona on Friday night marked the final time that the NASCAR Nationwide Series will compete on a restrictor plate track this season, providing the league time to reassess the new rule that prohibits drivers from pushing or forming tandems. The new policy generated controversy right from the start of the season when NASCAR penalized a race-contending James Buescher at Daytona in February for what appeared to be a judgment call at best. It seems like the Sanctioning Body has created a rule that is near impossible to officiate with consistency, a fact that was made totally clear on Friday night.
    #40-Josh Wise and #01-Landon Cassill were issued pass-through penalties early in the race while other pairings including Kyle Busch/Elliott Sadler and Trevor Bayne/Kyle Busch were left untouched despite similar actions. Even the finish of Friday's race came down to a push with #39-Ryan Sieg shoving #5-Kasey Kahne all the way down Turn 4, across the frontstretch and past #7-Regan Smith for the win.
    NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton met with the media on Friday night, explaining that cars moving side-to-side while bump drafting indicated no linkage, which explained the decision not to penalize either Kahne or Sieg. But Pemberton is aware of the derision that some of the calls and no calls from race control has generated this season and assured everyone that NASCAR will continue to address and analyze its rules package for everyone involved. "We'll look at this situation," Pemberton said. "It's the last plate race for the Nationwide Series this season and these are the rules we put in place at the beginning of the year. We've worked with the teams under their suggestions and said that we would look at it by the end of the year and see what adjustments we need to make."(Popular Speed)(7-5-2014)

  • USG becomes "We Built Daytona" partner: Daytona International Speedway (DIS) today USG Corporation, a leading building products company, has become a "We Built Daytona" partner, joining three other companies in the expanding marketing platform as part of the unprecedented $400 million DAYTONA Rising redevelopment project. USG will help put the finishing touches on the interior of the new DIS frontstretch and their USG Securock Glass-Mat Sheathing will be prominent throughout the exterior of the project. Approximately 30 acres of USG's wallboard and about 140,000 square feet of USG Ceilings panels will be installed in the new interior. The "We Built Daytona" platform is designed specifically for partners involved in the construction of DAYTONA Rising and enables them to showcase their involvement through a marketing presence (once their role in the project begins). In addition to USG, the new partners include:
    " Sherwin-Williams, an industry leader in the development of technologically advanced paint and coatings, will provide paint and supplies for the new DIS frontstretch.
    " Big Ass Fans, a ceiling fan design and engineering company, will install more than 40 fans throughout the 11 "neighborhoods" along the nearly mile-long frontstretch. The high volume, low speed fans will keep attendees comfortable through the use of high volume air movement.
    " ROSSETTI, an award-winning architectural design and planning firm with four decades of experience in sports and entertainment, is leading the master planning of the DAYTONA Rising project. Also participating are Walter P. Moore, a consulting engineering company providing structural design solutions on DAYTONA Rising and M-E Engineers, a global mechanical and electrical engineering design firm.
    The above companies join Kingspan, a market leader in sustainable building product technology, who became the first "We Built Daytona" partners in February.(DIS)(7-5-2014)


    News from July 4, 2014

  • Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Coke Zero 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway have been made.
    Pole sitter #38-Gilliland chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
    Outside pole sitter #36-Sorenson took pit stall 21, the first pit stall with an opening in front of it.
    #40-Cassill, who starts 3rd took the 9th pit stall.
    The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #48-Johnson, who starts 5th.
    To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(7-4-2014)

  • Gilliland wins Daytona pole: #38-David Gilliland won the Coors Light pole for the Coke Zero 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway with speed of 199.322mph for his 1st pole of 2014, 2nd at Daytona and 3rd of his career.
    #36-Sorenson is on the outside pole, followed by #40-Cassill, #33-Bobby Labonte, #48-Johnson, #20-Kenseth, #88-Earnhardt, Jr., #34-Ragan, #24-Gordon, #16-Biffle, #99-Edwards, and #14-Stewart.
    Missing the race was: #29-Nemechek.
    Qualifying was cancelled after the first round because of rain.
    See the starting lineup, full qualifying results and more on the Daytona Starting Lineup / Qualifying Page.(7-4-2014)

  • Qualifying Fast Facts - Daytona:
    David Gilliland won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 56th Annual Coke Zero 400 with a lap of 45.153 seconds, 199.322 mph.
    This is his third pole in 276 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
    This is his first pole and first top-10 start in 2014.
    This is his second pole in 13 races at Daytona International Speedway.
    Reed Sorenson (second) posted his first top-10 start of 2014 and his second in 11 races at Daytona International Speedway.
    Landon Cassill(i) (third) posted his first top-10 start at Daytona International Speedway. It is his first in 16 races this season.
    Cole Whitt (17th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.(NASCAR Statistics)(7-4-2014)

  • First Round of Qualifying for the Coke Zero 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is over, after 25 minutes.
    #38-Gilliland 199.322
    #36-Sorenson 199.221
    #40-Cassill 199.194
    #33-BLabonte 198.970
    #48-Johnson 198.790
    the rest of the top 24: 20 88 34 24 16 99 14 4 5 43 17 26 9 78 31 27 13 3 47.
    out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 21 2 95 22 10 55 51 7 98 15 42 1 11 32 18 41 29 66 83 23.
    Driver who will miss the race: #29-Nemechek.
    (7-4-2014)

  • Keselowski cuts hand in victory lane UPDATES: #2-Brad Keselowski cut his hand while in victory lane at Kentucky and had to go to the infield care center for treatment on his right hand:
    WHAT HAPPENED IN VICTORY LANE? "We were playing around with some champagne bottles and as I told my good friend, 'We should have stuck with beer.' We were having too much fun with champagne and one of the bottles broke and I cut my hand open. It's no big deal."
    HOW MANY STITCHES? "Four, but it's all fixed now, so we're good."
    EVERYTHING IS AN ADVENTURE WITH YOU. "Yeah, welcome to the party. It's all good. I'm just glad we won. It's a lot better story when you win and get hurt."(Ford Racing)(6-29-2014)
    UPDATE: What comes next are the questions about what Keselowski will still be able to do with his stitched and bandaged hand, appropriately adorned with his most recent "Winner" sticker, considering two of the things he's most known for heavily involve his digital extremities: driving and tweeting. No stranger to injury, Keselowski once tweeted a gruesome image of a broken ankle sustained during a test session at Road Atlanta in 2011. He said he's trying to rely less on his phone lately and didn't get a chance to tweet a picture of his most recent injury because he didn't have it on him in Victory Lane, but also -- and more importantly -- the laceration won't be an issue when the series heads to Daytona International Speedway next week for the Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola. "Do I anticipate (any problems holding the steering wheel)? No, last time I had stitches, it was just seven days or so and we're going to Daytona, which is probably the easiest track you could ask for. I didn't break any bones or any of that stuff. I just put a big gash, so I don't think it'll be an issue."(NASCAR.com)(6-30-2014)
    UPDATE 2: After injuring his right hand on a broken champagne bottle in last week's victory celebration, Keselowski will be re-examined in Daytona to determine if the stitches he received at Kentucky can be removed. The injury has not slowed him down as Keselowski did participate in testing this week.(Team Penske)(7-2-2014)
    UPDATE 3: Keselowski tweeted Friday afternoon that his stitches have been removed.(7-4-2014)

  • Florida gubernatorial candidate on the #98 at Daytona UPDATES: Given how frugal [Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate] Charlie Crist has tended to be with his campaign money, this surprised us, even knowing that adviser Steve Schale is a racing buff: His campaign is sponsoring [#98 Phil Parsons Racing] Ford in the Coke Zero 400. These sponsorships can cost as much as hundreds of thousands of dollars. "The campaign spent no money on this and the cost of wrapping the car was an in kind donation from a supporter who is a big NASCAR fan," said campaign spokesman Brendan Gilfillian. The car is owned by Mike Curb, Republican former California lieutenant governor and record company executive who surely knows Crist's long time political pal, Mitch Bainwol, the former head of the Recording Industry Association of America. The driver is John Wise.(Miami Herald)(7-1-2014)
    UPDATE: A political ad that created a bit of a firestorm has been removed from the Phil Parsons Racing car that will compete Saturday in the Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway. Phil Parsons said Friday morning he did not remove the "Charlie Crist for Florida" stickers from his car because of the Republican Party of Florida complaint but out of respect to team business partner Mike Curb, a Republican and former lieutenant governor of California. Curb is the listed owner of the car on NASCAR entry lists and his Curb Records logos are on the team equipment. "I did it out of respect to Mike Curb, who is a staunch Republican and he didn't feel comfortable and he's been a huge supporter and a partner to us from the very start," Parsons said in the garage as the car was going through technical inspection. Parsons said he had been paid by a supporter of Crist's to put the Crist stickers on the #98 car driven by Josh Wise, who gained national notoriety when he won the fan vote into the Sprint All-Star Race in May thanks to the support of the Dogecoin community on Reddit. The underfunded team will return the money.(Sporting News)7-4-2014)
    UPDATE 2: NASCAR lists Mike Curb as the car's owner, but Curb said he has an agreement with Phil Parsons, a former NASCAR driver and now a team owner. In the agreement, Parsons owns and operates the car, and Curb is listed as the entrant with NASCAR. Curb said he doesn't control sponsorships and only learned Wednesday night Crist's name would be on the car. As a co-sponsor of the #98 car, Curb has an ad on the car for his recording artist Lee Brice, a country music performer who is providing the pre-race entertainment Saturday. "I don't want to get Lee Brice involved in Florida politics," Curb said. James Finch, a Panama City businessman who owns a construction company, said he brokered the deal with his friend Parsons, who could not be reached for comment Thursday night. Frustrated by Scott's seemingly endless supply of campaign cash and negative television ads directed at Crist, he said he arranged to pay about $25,000 to Parsons for the sponsorship. "Charlie is a friend of mine," said Finch, who owned a racing team until late 2013. "Phil is a friend of mine. I was helping out both of them. Charlie Crist hasn't paid anything for the car. It was all my idea."(Daytona Beach News-Journal)(7-4-2014)

  • Bobby Labonte joins Circle Sport at Daytona: Bobby Labonte, the 2000 Sprint Cup Series champion, will pilot the #33 Thunder Coal Chevy SS for Circle Sport in Saturday night's Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway. With 21 career Sprint Cup Series victories to his credit, Labonte will continue his quest for a trip to victory lane at the famed 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway behind the wheel of the same #33 Chevy that captured the pole at Talladega Superspeedway in May [with Brian Scott driving]. Thunder Coal Company, a Mount Olive, Va.-based company operating coal mines in four states - Alaska, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia - will mark its second team sponsorship on the one sport's biggest stages this weekend at Daytona. The company also sponsored the #33 entry at Kentucky Speedway last weekend with driver David Stremme. "When Joe Falk called me and told me that they were rebuilding the pole-winning car from Talladega and that they had secured an ECR engine, I felt this was an opportunity to get back on the track in a competitive ride," said Labonte, who has a pair of runner-up finishes in 43 Cup Series starts at Daytona. "They're willing to put the investment into building the operation - and as a former NASCAR driver-owner I can appreciate that - and they've experienced a high level of success at the superspeedway events this season, so I'm looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of a race car this weekend at Daytona."(Circle Sport), see an image of the car on the #33 team paint schemes page.(7-4-2014)

  • Scorpion Protective Coatings sponsoring Whitt: Truck bed liner, window film and protective coatings company Scorpion Protective Coatings Inc. will enter the NASCAR arena again, joining BK Racing in the team's 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series campaign. Scorpion's program will include primary sponsorship for Cole Whitt's #26 Toyota Camry at the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona this weekend. Cloverdale, Ind.-based Scorpion Protective Coating Inc. was launched in 1996 and is a world-wide leader in truck bed liners, window films and specialty coatings. Scorpion boasts a highly durable, completely UV-stable truck bed liner that can be customized to fit any purpose and also offers premium films for automotive, commercial-residential, and paint protection films.(BK Racing), see an image of the car on the #26 team paint schemes page.(7-4-2014)

  • Newtown Building Supplies returns to sponsor Cassill: Landon Cassill has big expectations heading back to Daytona International Speedway following his 12th-place finish in the season-opening Daytona 500. He followed up that attention-grabbing performance with an impressive 11th-place finish in the season's second restrictor-plate race at Talladega Superspeedway piloting that same race car. The only change this time around is a fresh coat of paint and new sponsor decals as Cassill will pilot the #40 Newton Building Supplies Chevy SS in Saturday night's Coke Zero 400 under the lights at Daytona. Newtown Building Supplies, Inc., a premier source for windows, doors, siding and installation in Hampton Roads, Va., is in the midst of a ten-race sponsorship that will include the next two weekends at Daytona International Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway. NBS previously sponsored Cassill and the #40 Hillman Racing entry at Dover International Speedway and Pocono Raceway.(Hillman Racing), see an image of the car on the #40 team paint schemes page.(7-4-2014)

  • NASCAR evaluating souvenir row: NASCAR fans call it souvenir row, and for the last three decades, they have gone there to browse for hats and T-shirts at enormous truck rigs carrying their favorite driver's merchandise. But that tradition may become a thing of the past. NASCAR is in the early phases of re-evaluating its trackside merchandise program, and it is looking to make a change. The company two weeks ago sent a request for proposal to a dozen companies asking them to submit plans for how the sport could change the way it sells merchandise at races.At a minimum, NASCAR is considering reducing the number of truck rigs along souvenir row, and possibly eliminating them altogether, in order to replace them with a more traditional retail concept like the tented stores set up at the entrance to PGA Tour events. NASCAR teams and tracks have offered their support for exploring a change. The evaluation process follows years of declining merchandise sales in NASCAR. Sales reportedly fell from more than $2 billion in 2008 to $1 billion in 2010. Motorsports Authentics, the motorsports licensing company that was jointly owned by International Speedway Corp. and Speedway Motorsports Inc., nearly filed for bankruptcy, and SMI this year abandoned its stake in the business in order to realize tax benefits that outweighed owning it. Motorsports Authentics had been responsible for covering the cost of transporting 20-plus truck rigs to each of NASCAR's 36 Sprint Cup races. The cost of having those trucks crisscross the country became inefficient as merchandise revenue shriveled and attendance decreased at races nationwide.(Sports Business Daily)(7-4-2014)

  • ISC execs optimistic despite lower TV ratings: Although Fox saw a ratings decline of 10% for its portion of the NASCAR season, International Speedway Corporation executives tried to explain to financial investors Thursday why the drop is not as alarming as the numbers might indicate. In announcing the company's financial results through May 2014, ISC President John Saunders made the case for the sport as the company is seeing stabilized admission revenues and consistent corporate sponsorship. Saunders told financial analysts on a conference call Thursday that a 12% increase in Hispanic viewership for Fox and a 6% increase in 18-24 male viewership are good signs. The NASCAR races on Fox had the top sports telecast of the day for nine of its 12 weekend events, and TNT has had the top cable sports broadcast for the day for two of its first four telecasts. The telecast from Kentucky last Saturday night had an unusually low 2.3 rating. ISC reported that overall ticket sales through May were a tick down from $35.778 million for the first five months of 2013 to $35.695 million in 2014. It reported that Kansas, which moved its race from Sunday afternoon in April to Saturday night of Mother's Day weekend, had a 15% increase in ticket sales thanks to increased attendance and increased ticket prices. In another good sign, ISC has sold 94 percent of its goal for sponsorships this year and has one Nationwide Series race sponsorship left to sell. It has sold 15 of its 20 Cup sponsorships already for next season.(Sporting News)(7-4-2014)

  • Daytona Notes & Facts - Friday - poles:
    " Richard Petty leads the series in July race starts at Daytona with 32. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 21 starts.
    " Fireball Roberts won the inaugural Coors Light pole for the July race at Daytona in 1959 with a speed of 144.997 mph.
    " 37 drivers have Coors Light poles at Daytona for the July event, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough with eight. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in July race poles, with two. Gordon started first in 2007 due to qualifying being cancelled as well.
    " Three drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles for the July race at Daytona: Cale Yarborough (1970-'71; 1980-'81, 1983-'84), Sterling Marlin (1991-'92) and Dale Earnhardt (1994-'95).
    " Eight of the 55 (14.5%) July NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Daytona have been won from the Coors Light pole; the most recent was Kevin Harvick in 2010.
    " The Coors Light pole is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (eight) than any other starting position in the July race at Daytona International Speedway.
    " 15 of the 55 (27.2%) July NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Daytona have been won from the front row: eight from the pole and seven from second-place.
    " 41 of the 55 (74.5%) July NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Daytona have been won from a top-10 starting position.
    " Four of the 55 (7.2%) July NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Daytona have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
    " The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Daytona was 42nd, by Tony Stewart in the 2012 July race.
    " Qualifying for the July race has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway three times: 2007, 2009, and 2010.
    " Six active drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light pole at Daytona International Speedway: Greg Biffle (2/15/04), Kevin Harvick (7/6/02), Jimmie Johnson (2/17/02), Paul Menard (7/5/08), Danica Patrick (2/24/13) and Austin Dillon (2/23/2014).(NASCAR)(7-4-2014)

  • Kahne wins at Daytona: #5-Kasey Kahne won the Subway Firecracker 250 at Daytona International Speedway, beating teammate #7-Regan Smith to the checkered flag by .021 seconds on a green-white-checker finish.#39-Ryan Sieg finished third followed by #16-Ryan Reed, #42-Kyle Larson, #22-Joey Logano, #20-Darrell Wallace, Jr., #51-Jeremey Clements, #6-Trevor Bayne, and #93-Mike Wallace.
    There were 3 cautions for 12 laps and 14 lead changes among 11 leaders. Complete results are on the Daytona race results page (pdf).
    (7-4-2014)

  • Daytona Race Fast Facts:
    Kasey Kahne(i) won the 13th Annual Subway Firecracker 250 , his eighth victory in 204 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
    This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in 2014.
    This is his first victory and ninth top-10 finish in 19 races at Daytona International Speedway.
    Regan Smith (second) posted his third top-10 finish in ten races at Daytona International Speedway. It is his 14th top-10 finish in 2014.
    Ryan Sieg (third career-best finish) posted his second top-10 finish in two races at Daytona International Speedway.
    Ryan Sieg (third) was the highest finishing rookie.
    Regan Smith leads the point standings by 12 points over Elliott Sadler.
    The Margin of Victory of tonight's race (0.021) is the third closest NNS finish at Daytona and eighth all-time in series history. (NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(7-4-2014)

  • Driver standings following Daytona:
    1) #7-Regan Smith 577
    2) #11-Elliott Sadler 565, -12
    3) #9-Chase Elliott 562, -15
    4) #3-Ty Dillon 545, -32
    5) #2-Brian Scott 523, -54
    6) #6-Trevor Bayne 518, -59
    7) #62-Brendan Gaughan 465, -112
    8) #99-James Buescher 448, -129
    9) #60-Chris Buescher 446, -131
    10) #16-Ryan Reed 423, -154
    See complete standings on the driver standings page (pdf).(7-4-2014)

  • Owner Standings following Daytona are posted (pdf).(7-4-2014)

  • Armstrong on Nationwide pole at Daytona: #43-Dakota Armstrong won the Coors Light Pole for the Subway Firecracker 250 at Daytona International Speedway with a speed of 192.123mph. #6-Trevor Bayne will start second followed by: #60-Chris Buescher, #16-Ryan Reed, #54-Kyle Busch, #11-Elliott Sadler, #9-Chase Elliott, #7-Regan Smith, #20-Darrell Wallace, Jr., and #42-Kyle Larson.
    Qualifying was cancelled with 8 minutes remaining in the first session after rain showers hit the track, causing an accident that involved: #14-Eric McClure, #19-Mike Bliss, #23-Robert Richardson, #29-Scott Lagasse, Jr., #46-Matt DiBenedetto, #55-Ross Chastain, #10-Blake Koch, #91-Benny Gordon,and #97-Joe Nemechek.
    #97-Joe Nemechek got the past champions provisional. Did Not Qualify: #10-Blake Koch, #46-Matt DiBenedetto, #76-Tommy Joe Martins, #85-Bobby Gerhart, #91-Benny Gordon.
    The starting lineup is posted on the Daytona starting lineup page (pdf).(7-4-2014)

  • Daytona Nationwide Qualifying Notes:
    Dakoda Armstrong won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 13th Annual Subway Firecracker 250 with a lap of 46.845 seconds, 192.123 mph.
    This is his first pole in 23 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
    This is his first pole and second top-10 start in 2014.
    This is his first pole in two races at Daytona International Speedway.
    Trevor Bayne (second) posted his sixth top-10 start of 2014 and his sixth in nine races at Daytona International Speedway.
    Chris Buescher (third) posted his first top-10 start at Daytona International Speedway. It is his seventh in 15 races this season.
    Dakoda Armstrong (first) was the fastest qualifying rookie.(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(7-4-2014)

  • More than $210,000 raised for charities during NASCAR weekend in Sonoma: Charitable events combined to raise more than $210,000 for local charity groups during the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend at Sonoma Raceway, June 20-22. The proceeds from the majority of events will benefit Sonoma County youth organizations through the Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities, the charitable arm of the raceway, which has distributed more than $4.5 million to qualified youth groups since 2001. The Children's Champions Grand Marshal's Banquet generated $138,000, while the Ride-of-a-Lifetime Charity Auction, which was hosted in the Wine Country Winner's Circle on NASCAR Sunday, raised more than $15,000. More than $20,000 was also generated through various donations throughout the weekend, including a $5,000 donation on behalf of the Transporter Drivers of Motorsports Association (TDMA), who participated in the 4th annual NASCAR Hauler Parade in Sacramento on June 19. In addition to the proceeds generated for SCC, Levy Restaurants, the official caterer of Sonoma Raceway, hosted 14 local non-profit groups to support concession stands around the facility. In return for their hard work, Levy gives back a portion of sales to support those non-profit organizations.(Sonoma Raceway)(7-4-2014)


    News from July 3, 2014

  • Final practice: for the Coke Zero 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway has been cancelled due to rain.(7-3-2014)

  • First Thursday practice for the Coke Zero 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is over after 45 minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
    #1-McMurray 201.952
    #42-Larson 201.889
    #15-Bowyer 201.839
    #2-Keselowski 201.771
    #24-Gordon 201.712
    slowest: #66-Waltrip 191.010 & #32-Labonte 190.678.
    notes: Practice started an hour later than schedule after rain showers at the track. This session was cut to 45 minutes. A second and final practice session is scheduled for 6:30-8:00pm/et.
    Qualifying is scheduled to be held on Friday at 5:10pm/et. It will be shown on FoxSports1 (FS1). Should qualifying be rained out, speeds from this practice session would set the field for the race.
    Fastest speeds, laps run, best ten lap average on the Daytona Practice 1 Speeds page (pdf).(7-3-2014)

  • Qualifying Order for the Coke Zero 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is posted. 44 cars/drivers are listed.
    The first of the drivers scheduled to go out is #18-Busch.
    The final driver scheduled to go out is #27-Menard.
    Qualifying order is set by a random draw, held about an hour before the first practice.
    See the full qualifying order on the Daytona Qualifying Page.(7-4-2014)

  • Wounded Warrior Project featured on the #9: To help celebrate Independence Day and reflect on those who have made great sacrifices for our freedom, DEWALT has partnered with Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) to feature a special scheme on the #9 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford Fusion this weekend driven by Marcos Ambrose. The car will have a military camouflage look and the logo of WWP on the car throughout the weekend. Also, DEWALT, Ambrose and the RPM team will host four wounded service members at the track this weekend: Sean Karpf, Derick Green, Zach Dunn, and Andrew Coughlan. Karpf served in the Army with 1-508 Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division and deployed twice to Afghanistan, first in 2010 and then again in 2012. Green served in the Army with 2-124 Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division and deployed to Iraq during the invasion from 2002 to 2004. Dunn served in the Marine Corps with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment and deployed to Iraq in 2004. Dunn is a Purple Heart recipient. Coughlan served with 1-32 Infantry, 10th Mountain Division and deployed to Iraq from 2003 to 2004. They will all be watching and cheering for Ambrose in the hopes to witness his first restrictor plate victory.(RPM), see an image of the car on the #9 team paint schemes page.(7-3-2014)

  • Golden Corral returns to the #36: Tommy Baldwin Racing heads to Daytona International Speedway this weekend and primary sponsor Golden Corral is hoping to give away free meals to kids across the country if Reed Sorenson finishes in the Top-10 on Saturday night. Golden Corral restaurants will offer a one-day Top 10 Kids Eat Free promotion on the following Monday, July 7th. The offer: Kids Eat Free with the purchase of an adult buffet at regular price (limit 2 kids meals per adult buffet purchased). In celebration of the July 4th holiday weekend, Sorenson will continue to represent our nation's colors through a new patriotic paint scheme as Tommy Baldwin Racing wraps up their Salute the Troops campaign. The car design includes the Camp Corral logo. Camp Corral provides a fun, summer camp experience for children (ages 8 to 15) of military service members who have been injured or who have fallen while protecting our freedom. Golden Corral is the founding sponsor of Camp Corral and guests at their restaurants across the country have already donated over $1.5 million to Camp Corral this year.(TBR), see an image of the car on the #36 team paint schemes page.(7-3-2014)

  • Ducks Unlimited featured on Stewart's Chevy: As it did in 2013, Ducks Unlimited, the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats, will share Stewart's #14 Chevry SS with Bass Pro Shops during the Coke Zero 400. Since 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 13 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across North America. Stewart enters the race weekend as Daytona's leading all-time race winner among active drivers. Between point-paying Sprint Cup races, non-point Sprint Cup events, the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the former IROC series, Stewart has a total of 19 Daytona wins, placing him second on the track's all-time win list, 15 behind the legendary Dale Earnhardt, who has 34 total victories at Daytona and is part of the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame class of 2010.(SHR), see an image of the car on the #14 team paint schemes page.(7-3-2014)

  • Armed Forces Motorsports partners with BK Racing on #83 car UPDATE: Through the support of NASCAR team owner, Ron Devine and his BK Racing team, Armed Forces Motorsports will make a NASCAR Sprint Cup appearance at Daytona International Speedway for the 4th of July weekend race event. The AFM logo will be featured on the hood of the #83 Toyota Camry Sprint Cup car driven by Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Ryan Truex. Additionally, the car's design will focus on a "Text-to-Donate" Campaign, as well as a special wrap which will sport the logos of hip hop recording artist B Taylor's "1-Life Movement" and Warrior Gateway, AFM's outreach partner. The weekend race will also serve as the official launch of the 1-Life Movement, a program centered on B Taylor's new Hip Hop single release "1 Life." The Armed Forces Motorsports Foundation is a Virginia-based, federally registered 501 (c) 3 Non-Profit Organization. AFMF was born in early 2013 out of necessity - a need to provide direct support to our veterans. The Foundation's signature program is the "Veteran's Resource Summit." In short, the Summit is a one stop resource fair that will bring together local, state and federal agencies and organizations that serve our veterans. The summit will also serve as a platform to help veterans reintegrate back into their communities by bringing the two together.(BK Racing)(7-2-2014)
    UPDATE: The now familiar Mardi Gras colors of purple and gold for New Orleans, LA based VooDooBBQ & Grill will return for this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway with Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Ryan Truex. VooDooBBQ & Grill served as the primary sponsor of the #83 earlier this year at Richmond and Talladega. VooDooBBQ & Grill has continued as an associate sponsor for 2014 until the opportunity presented itself to have them as a primary sponsor once again. The hood of the #83 will be co-branded with Armed Forces Motorsports Foundation (AFM). The AFM logo will focus on a "Text-to-Donate" Campaign, as well as a special hood wrap which will sport the logos of hip hop recording artist B Taylor's "1-Life Movement" and Warrior Gateway, AFM's outreach partner.(BK Racing)(7-3-2014)

  • Nemechek in the #29 at Daytona for RAB: RAB Racing will attempt to make their first Sprint Cup Series race this weekend at Daytona International Speedway. In twelve NASCAR Nationwide Series starts here, RAB Racing entries have earned one top-five finish, two top-10 finishes and have completed 1294 of 1348 (96.0%) laps contested in those events, including a team best finish of third last season. Joe Nemechek will pilot RAB Racing Chassis No. 061 in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Toyota Care will serve as primary sponsor on the RAB Racing #29 Toyota Camry. This scheme runs in conjunction with the #99 NASCAR Nationwide Series Camry driven by James Buescher in Friday's Subway Firecracker 250.(RAB Racing), see an image of the car on the #29 team paint schemes page.(7-3-2014)

  • G.I. Jobs featured on Kahne's car at Daytona: In honor of Independence Day, Farmers Insurance is celebrating our nation's military with a special patriotic paint scheme on Kahne's #5 Chevy SS for this weekend's race at Daytona International Speedway. Farmers Insurance is committed to hiring military veterans and has partnered with G.I. Jobs, a company that assists with military members' transition to civilian jobs. As part of its initiative, Farmers will be launching a special sweepstakes on July 3 for current and former military members. A member from each military branch also will be randomly chosen for a VIP race experience at Phoenix International Raceway in November, which includes the opportunity to meet Kahne.(Hendrick Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #5 team paint schemes page.(7-3-2014)

  • AccuDoc Solutions sponsoring Allgaier: This weekend, the #51 car will sport a flat black and green paint scheme with AccuDoc Solutions as the primary sponsor. AccuDoc Solutions is based in Morrisville, N.C. and provides billing-statement printing and processing to hospitals and hospital-based physicians. In addition to paper-based billing statements, ADS enables patients to choose electronic statement delivery and make payments through secure online payment portals.(HScott Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #51 team paint schemes page.(7-3-2014)

  • MWR, RCR to test at New Hampshire UPDATE: Michael Waltrip Racing and Richard Childress Racing will be looking for the inside track on the Camping World RV Sales 301 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on July 13 when they visit New Hampshire Motor Speedway for a test and tune session on July 1 and 2. Defending July NHMS race winner #55-Brian Vickers, two-time NHMS winner #15-Clint Bowyer and four-time NHMS winner #66-Jeff Burton will all be logging laps for MWR on the 1.058-mile oval. The two-day session also marks the first time the famed #3 will race around the Magic Mile, as rookie RCR driver Austin Dillon will join teammates #27-Paul Menard and three-time NHMS winner #31-Ryan Newman at the testing. The grandstands will be open and free of charge to the public from 9:00am-5:00pm both days.(NHMS)(6-26-2014)
    UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing driver Paul Menard crumpled the left side of his #27 Chevy in a wreck at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Wednesday and eventually needed a wrecker to haul his battered car off the track. Menard was one of five drivers taking part in a two-day test session at New Hampshire, along with RCR's Austin Dillon and Ryan Newman and Michael Waltrip Racing's Clint Bowyer and Brian Vickers. He wasn't injured in the crash. Crew chief Slugger Labbe said Menard's left rear tire went down, causing the wreck. Wednesday's session was the final planned on-track time before drivers head to Daytona for this weekend's race.(NASCAR.com)(7-3-2014)

  • Special Pepsi scheme for Gordon: This Saturday night at Daytona, Gordon will drive the #24 Pepsi REAL. BIG. SUMMER. Chevy SS. Pepsi will be listening on Twitter to #RealBigSummer, surprising lucky fans with VIP access and experiences. Fans will have a chance to win more than 400 unique prizes taking them to the biggest ballparks, concert venues, festivals and more throughout the season. Real. Big. Summer. is all about taking ordinary summer pastimes and transforming them into truly epic experiences in ways that are only possible with Pepsi. Real. Big. Summer. is also celebrating the launch of Pepsi's newest products; Pepsi-Cola Made With Real Sugar and two Made With Real Sugar flavors available for a limited time - Pepsi Vanilla and Pepsi Wild Cherry. Pepsi Made With Real Sugar is available now across the United States and is also being supported by national ads.(Hendrick Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #24 team paint schemes page.(7-3-2014)

  • Cargill makes first appearance on Stenhouse, Jr's car: Cargill will make its debut on the #17 at Daytona International Speedway in the July 5th Coke Zero 400. Cargill provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world. Cargill has 143,000 employees in 67 countries who are committed to feeding the world in a responsible way. Cargill is also one of the largest beef producers in the U.S. Cargill previously partnered with Stenhouse and NASCAR champion crew chief Mike Kelley during the duo's back-to-back NASCAR Nationwide Series Championships in 2011 and 2012. Cargill first joined Roush Fenway Racing during the 2010 season.(Roush Fenway Racing), see an image of the car on the #17 team paint schemes page.(7-3-2014)

  • U.S. Air Force returns to Almirola's Ford: This weekend brings opportunity, patriotism and family for Aric Almirola as the Sprint Cup Series heads to Daytona International Speedway. Almirola knows this weekend is a great opportunity to score a win and earn a spot in the "Chase for the Sprint Cup." A win at Daytona, Almirola's home track, would be a perfect way to capture his first Sprint Cup Series win in front of family and friends. The #43 team will proudly carry red, white and blue colors with the U.S. Air Force on the hood of the iconic car for this holiday weekend in support of all the men and women that keep our country safe. Almirola will participate in a Delayed Entry Program (DEP) Swear-In at 4:30pm in the Fan Midway, where he will help welcome these young men and women into the U.S. Air Force as part of the swear-in ceremony.(Richard Petty Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #43 team paint schemes page.(7-3-2014)

  • Patriotic scheme for Johnson: For the third time this season, Jimmie Johnson will run a patriotic-themed Chevy SS. Each year since 2001, Lowe's has designed a patriotic-themed car for Johnson to drive in an event. The #48 Lowe's Chevy SS scheme for this weekend is a throwback to the 2010 Memorial Day car, which was heralded as a fan-favorite through a recent social media poll.(Hendrick Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #48 team paint schemes page.(7-3-2014)

  • Daytona Goodyear tire notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will run the same tire codes at Daytona this week . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that major NASCAR teams have run at both Daytona and Talladega since last October . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Daytona . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.(Goodyear), see tire codes. pressures, set limits and more on the Race Info page - Goodyear section.

  • Chassis selections for this weeks race: see the list of many teams [that report or post them] and what chassis were selected by the team to run in the Coke Zero 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway on the Daytona Race Info page - Chassis selection area.

  • Daytona Notes & Facts - Thursday - drivers:

    " 438 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series July race at Daytona International Speedway; 275 in more than one.
    " 173 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Florida; 10 of the 173 (5.7%) have recorded at least one victory in NASCAR national series competition.
    " Of the seven Florida native drivers who have won in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, only Fireball Roberts and LeeRoy Yarborough have won the July race at Daytona International Speedway.
    " Four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series active drivers have made their first career start at Daytona International Speedway, though none were during the July race: Tony Stewart (2/14/99), Casey Mears (2/16/03), Kasey Kahne (2/15/04), and Danica Patrick (2/27/12).
    " Four active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers have posted their first career win at Daytona International Speedway; two were during the July race: Trevor Bayne (2/20/11), Greg Biffle (7/5/03), David Ragan (7/2/11) and Michael Waltrip (2/18/01).
    " Tony Stewart leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Daytona with 665 laps led in 31 starts. Stewart also leads the series among active drivers in laps led in the July race at Daytona with 366; followed by Jeff Gordon with 316 and Dale Earnhardt Jr. with 243.
    " Six female drivers have competed in the July event at Daytona International Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Janet Guthrie, Christine Beckers, Lella Lombardi, Patty Moise Danica Patrick and Shawna Robinson.
    " Buddy Baker leads the series in runner-up finishes in the July race at Daytona with five; followed by Richard Petty and Sterling Marlin with four. Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch lead all active drivers with two each.
    " NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson leads the series in top-five finishes in the July race at Daytona with 13; followed by Richard Petty with 12. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with seven.
    " David Pearson leads the series in top-10 finishes in the July race at Daytona with 19; followed by Dale Earnhardt with 18. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 11.
    " Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Daytona with a 10.440.
    " Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Daytona with a 13.379.
    " Greg Biffle won the July race at Daytona in his first appearance.
    " Joe Nemechek leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Daytona without visiting Victory Lane at 38.(NASCAR)(7-3-2014)

  • Scott fastest in Nationwide practice: #2-Brian Scott was fastest during the only practice for the Subway Firecracker 250 at Daytona International Speedway with a speed of 193.092mph. #2-Darrell Wallace, Jr. was second, followed by: #3-Ty Dillon, #43-Dakota Armstrong, #16-Ryan Reed, #60-Chris Buescher, #31-Dylan Kwasniewski, #5-Kasey Kahne, #98-Daivd Ragan, and #6-Trevor Bayne. All 45 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Daytona practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(7-3-2014)

  • DiBenedetto could sub for Earnhardt at Daytona: Matt DiBenedetto will likely relieve NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Jeffrey Earnhardt during the first caution [Friday] night at Daytona International Speedway. DiBenedetto will himself try to qualify for Friday night's Subway Firecracker 250 in the #46 Chevy Camaro, but he is only scheduled to run a handful of laps for The Motorsports Group. Shortly after, he'll head over to the JD Motorsports with Gary Keller pits to replace Earnhardt, if needed. Earnhardt, the son of former NASCAR driver Kerry Earnhardt and the nephew of Dale Earnhardt Jr. broke his collarbone in a motorcycle accident earlier this week. DiBenedetto, a former Joe Gibbs Racing development driver took some laps in the team's #4 JD Motorsports Chevy in the only practice session Thursday to get fitted in the seat and get comfortable inside the car. (Catchfence)(7-3-2014)

  • RSS Racing gets Daytona sponsor UPDATE: RSS Racing and driver Ryan Sieg are excited to return to Daytona with a new sponsor. StationDigital is a multimedia digital broadcast company that offers free music streaming of over 23 million songs. StationDigital features both genre-based and artist-based music discovery stations to suit an endless variety of musical tastes, and a personal recommendation service to its more than three million users - all available both online and through its iOS and Android mobile apps.(RSS Racing)(7-2-2014)
    UPDATE: Smart Cell Fundraising is pleased to be joining RSS Racing for the 4th of July race at Daytona. Smart Cell Fundraising is a brand new fundraising program designed to help any High School marching band, or any other organization reach their fundraising goals With so many budgets being slashed, fundraising for many school programs has now become the only way to continue.(RSS RacingPR) (7-3-2014)

  • Fan Track Drive at Talladega: Have you ever imagined seeing the view Dale Earnhardt Jr., Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch and the other top stars in NASCAR have when driving around Talladega Superspeedway? Well, fans will have that special opportunity to tour the 2.66-mile venue - complete with 33-degrees of banking in the turns - in their own personal car during "Fan Track Drive," a fundraising event for the American Red Cross on Saturday, July 26. The "Fan Track Drive" event will run from 9 am until 2 pm and will allow guests to drive their passenger vehicle two laps around the Talladega Superspeedway for a $50 contribution. Each vehicle will closely follow one of Talladega Superspeedway's Emergency Services vehicles, which will lead the field at highway speed. Currently, there are no other fan "drive" events planned for the remainder of 2014 at Talladega. In addition to the "drive," guests can take a high-speed ride around NASCAR's Most Competitive Track in one of the speedway's official pace cars - the Ford Mustang or the Chevrolet Camaro - at a cost of $100. All money for rides will be directly donated to the American Red Cross Talladega-St Clair Chapter.TSS)(DATE)


    News from July 2, 2014

  • Kentucky TV Ratings: The NASCAR Sprint Cup race from Kentucky earned a 2.3 U.S. rating and 3.6 million viewers on TNT Saturday night, down 12% in ratings and 10% in viewership from last year (2.6, 4.0M), down 8% in both measures from 2012 (2.5, 3.9M), and easily the lowest rated and least-viewed edition of the race (dates back to 2011). The 2.3 rating is the lowest for any regular Sprint Cup telecast since September 2012, when Loudon and Dover earned a 2.2 in back-to-back weeks. Saturday's race was just the latest NASCAR telecast to suffer a decline in ratings and viewership. Of the 15 Sprint Cup races that can be compared to last year (excludes two rainouts), 14 have had declines in ratings and 12 have had declines in viewership. For the week, NASCAR on TNT ranked as the 14th-most watched program on cable.(Sports Media Watch / Bloomberg / TV By the Numbers)
    See past races for 2014 and 5-year comparison chart on the 2014 NASCAR TV Ratings page.(7-2-2014)

  • Armed Forces Motorsports partners with BK Racing on #83 car: Through the support of NASCAR team owner, Ron Devine and his BK Racing team, Armed Forces Motorsports will make a NASCAR Sprint Cup appearance at Daytona International Speedway for the 4th of July weekend race event. The AFM logo will be featured on the hood of the #83 Toyota Camry Sprint Cup car driven by Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Ryan Truex. Additionally, the car's design will focus on a "Text-to-Donate" Campaign, as well as a special wrap which will sport the logos of hip hop recording artist B Taylor's "1-Life Movement" and Warrior Gateway, AFM's outreach partner. The weekend race will also serve as the official launch of the 1-Life Movement, a program centered on B Taylor's new Hip Hop single release "1 Life." The Armed Forces Motorsports Foundation is a Virginia-based, federally registered 501 (c) 3 Non-Profit Organization. AFMF was born in early 2013 out of necessity - a need to provide direct support to our veterans. The Foundation's signature program is the "Veteran's Resource Summit." In short, the Summit is a one stop resource fair that will bring together local, state and federal agencies and organizations that serve our veterans. The summit will also serve as a platform to help veterans reintegrate back into their communities by bringing the two together.(BK Racing)(7-2-2014)

  • Keselowski cuts hand in victory lane UPDATES: #2-Brad Keselowski cut his hand while in victory lane at Kentucky and had to go to the infield care center for treatment on his right hand:
    WHAT HAPPENED IN VICTORY LANE? "We were playing around with some champagne bottles and as I told my good friend, 'We should have stuck with beer.' We were having too much fun with champagne and one of the bottles broke and I cut my hand open. It's no big deal."
    HOW MANY STITCHES? "Four, but it's all fixed now, so we're good."
    EVERYTHING IS AN ADVENTURE WITH YOU. "Yeah, welcome to the party. It's all good. I'm just glad we won. It's a lot better story when you win and get hurt."(Ford Racing)(6-29-2014)
    UPDATE: What comes next are the questions about what Keselowski will still be able to do with his stitched and bandaged hand, appropriately adorned with his most recent "Winner" sticker, considering two of the things he's most known for heavily involve his digital extremities: driving and tweeting. No stranger to injury, Keselowski once tweeted a gruesome image of a broken ankle sustained during a test session at Road Atlanta in 2011. He said he's trying to rely less on his phone lately and didn't get a chance to tweet a picture of his most recent injury because he didn't have it on him in Victory Lane, but also -- and more importantly -- the laceration won't be an issue when the series heads to Daytona International Speedway next week for the Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola. "Do I anticipate (any problems holding the steering wheel)? No, last time I had stitches, it was just seven days or so and we're going to Daytona, which is probably the easiest track you could ask for. I didn't break any bones or any of that stuff. I just put a big gash, so I don't think it'll be an issue."(NASCAR.com)(6-30-2014)
    UPDATE 2: After injuring his right hand on a broken champagne bottle in last week's victory celebration, Keselowski will be re-examined in Daytona to determine if the stitches he received at Kentucky can be removed. The injury has not slowed him down as Keselowski did participate in testing this week.(Team Penske)(7-2-2014)

  • JPO Absorbents returns to the #95 team: After a successful partnership at the 2014 Coca Cola 600, JPO Absorbents returns to continue their partnership with Leavine Family Racing at the Coke Zero 400. JPO will adorn the hood and rear quarter panels as the primary sponsor. The black paint scheme will see the addition of JPO Absorbents signature green in the form of pin striping on the #95 Ford Fusion.(Leaving Family Racing), see an image of the car on the #95 team paint schemes page.(7-2-2014)

  • MWR & Aaron's to honor Florida State at Daytona: Brian Vickers' #55 Toyota will carry a special paint scheme Saturday night honoring Florida State University's 2013 BCS National Championship football team. The garnet and gold paint scheme on the Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota will include the FSU BCS National Championship logo on the hood. Vickers will also wear a special FSU driver uniform for the race. Fans at FSU's April 12 Spring Game saw the car unveiling and watched a special message from Vickers on the video board. Vickers drove a special paint scheme honoring the University of Louisville's national championship basketball team at Kentucky Speedway last year. Aaron's and MWR have honored Alabama and Auburn national football championships at Talladega Superspeedway four times since 2009.(Michael Waltrip Racing), see an image of the car on the #55 team paint schemes page.(7-2-2014)

  • Galida promoted to president of RCR: Richard Childress Racing announced the promotion of Torrey Galida from Chief Operating Officer to President of their championship motorsports team. Galida, who has been the COO since 2011, becomes the first person other than team owner Richard Childress to carry the title of president for the corporation. Childress will retain his title of Chief Executive Officer and add that of Chairman to his role. Galida is a 20-year veteran of the automotive and motorsports industries. Before joining RCR, he served as General Manager for TRG Motorsports. He also spent time as President of Millsport Motorsports and CMO at Roush Fenway Racing. Prior to moving to North Carolina in 2004, Torrey spent 12 years with Ford Motor Company. He served in a number of senior-level marketing and strategy positions, including Vice President of Marketing for Ford of Canada, and Global Motorsports Marketing Manager for Ford Racing Technology.(RCR)(7-2-2014)

  • Daytona Notes & Facts - Wednesday - track history:
    " Groundbreaking for Daytona International Speedway was Nov. 25, 1957. The soil underneath the banked corners was dug from the infield of the track and the hole filled with water. It is now known as Lake Lloyd.
    " The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona was a 100-mile qualifying race for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 20, 1959 - won by Bob Welborn.
    " The first summer race at Daytona International Speedway was held on July 4, 1959 - won by Fireball Roberts (140.581 mph).
    " NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty won his 200th career race on July 4, 1984 at Daytona.
    " Lights were installed in the spring of 1998. However, the July race was delayed until October that year due to thick smoke from wildfires. The second Daytona race has been held under the lights ever since.
    " The track underwent a repave in 2010.
    " There have been 175 NASCAR Sprint Cup races among eight tracks in the state of Florida.
    " The first NASCAR premiere series race in the state of Florida was held at the Daytona Beach & Road Course in 7/10/1949. The 40 lap event was by won Red Byron (Oldsmobile, 80.883 mph).(NASCAR)(7-2-2014)

  • Some new NASCAR books: In Magnolias, Sweet Tea, and Exhaust, Carole Townsend goes to ground with NASCAR, following the races at Southern tracks from one to the next, learning about the sport and the culture of NASCAR as she goes. Townsend meets and interviews top drivers as well as some of NASCAR's rising stars, legends, team owners, pit crews, and fans. In a display of immersion journalism at its best, Townsend takes a ride in one of the cars on a track at race speed, tours the multimillion dollar garages in North Carolina, learns from mechanics, mingles with fans, and participates in the much-coveted infield camping party at Atlanta Motor Speedway. More info at aroletownsend.com.
    AND Who won the first Daytona 500? Fans still debate whether it was midwestern champion Johnny Beauchamp, declared the victor at the finish line, or longtime NASCAR driver Lee Petty, declared the official winner a few days after the race. The Ghosts of NASCAR puts the controversial finish under a microscope. Author John Havick interviewed scores of people, analyzed film of the race, and pored over newspaper accounts of the event. He uses this information and his deep knowledge of the sport as it worked then to determine what probably happened. But he also tells a much bigger story: the story of how Johnny Beauchamp-and his Harlan, Iowa, compatriots, mechanic Dale Swanson and driver Tiny Lund-ended up in Florida driving in the 1959 Daytona race. More info at University of Iowa Press.(7-2-2014)

  • Bliss gets Daytona sponsor: Joining Mike Bliss on the #19 TriStar Motorsports Camry this weekend at Daytona International Speedway will be UpStar USA Group, a genuine TV manufacturer. As the leader in TV industry, UpStar USA Group has provided their high quality LED/LCD TV's and monitors to consumers and hotels for years. From their research and development to their production line up, UpStar USA Group is able to offer products and services with higher added value for consumers around the world. UpStar products are available through Sears, TigerDirect, Kmart and Amazon.(TriStar Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #19 team paint schemes page.(7-2-2014)

  • RSS Racing gets Daytona sponsor: RSS Racing and driver Ryan Sieg are excited to return to Daytona with a new sponsor. StationDigital is a multimedia digital broadcast company that offers free music streaming of over 23 million songs. StationDigital features both genre-based and artist-based music discovery stations to suit an endless variety of musical tastes, and a personal recommendation service to its more than three million users - all available both online and through its iOS and Android mobile apps.(RSS Racing)(7-2-2014)

  • Daytona installs more SAFER barrier; new crossover gates: Daytona International Speedway has installed 2,400 linear feet of new SAFER barrier and six new crossover gates in time for this weekend's NASCAR racing. SAFER barrier now lines the Speedway's outside retaining wall from the entrance of Turn 3 at the backstretch to the exit of Turn 2, plus the majority of interior retaining walls. "After each event, we sit down and talk to NASCAR about things we need to improve on and SAFER barrier is always on that list," Speedway president Joie Chitwood III said. "We added 1,900 linear feet in 2010 as part of the track repave. "What we decided to do after consulting with NASCAR was install this (additional) SAFER barrier. This is Daytona and we want to make advances where we can." Meanwhile, the Speedway's frontstretch crossover gates have all been converted to the new ramp-style design, which replaces the movable staircases. The track employed the new ramp design for two crossover gates during Speedweeks. The ramp allows for faster foot traffic to and from the main grandstands."They exceeded expectations," Chitwood said. "It will really help our fan movement from the grandstands to the football field (tri-oval grass). It will enhance the property."(Daytona Beach News-Journal)(7-2-2014)

  • Chicago Fan Zone Pit Pass holders get garage access: On Saturday, July 19, race fans with a Fan Zone Pit Pass, and accompanying grandstand or infield camping admission, will have the exclusive opportunity to experience the working NASCAR Nationwide Series and ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menard's garages prior to the EnjoyIllinois.com 300 and Ansell ActivArmr 150 at Chicagoland Speedway. This highly sought after experience for entry into the garages at Chicagoland Speedway will feature designated pathways and viewing areas inside both garages so that fans may receive up-close and personal views while race teams continue their preparation for the day's events. As each guest enters the garages they will receive a hot sheet with a garage guide, map of garage stalls and a detailed explanation of the NASCAR inspection process ensuring that this is an entertaining and educational experience. Entry into the garages is open to all ticket purchasers that have an accompanying Fan Zone Pit Pass. The NASCAR Nationwide Series garage will be open from 12:00-3:00pm/ct, while the ARCA Racing Series garages will be open from 12:00-1:00pm, and 3:00-4:00pm/ct. In addition to the garage experience, the Fan Zone Pit Pass also gets you a view of the drivers' red carpet walk, entrance to NASCAR personality question-and-answer sessions, pre-race Gatorade Victory Lane access and a front-row seat to infield entertainment.(Chicagoland Speedway)(7-2-2014)


    News from July 1, 2014

  • Dates set for NASCAR Awards Banquets: NASCAR announced that the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards - the annual culmination of Champion's Week - will be held on Friday, Dec. 5, at Wynn Las Vegas. This is the sixth year that NASCAR has celebrated Champion's Week in the city of Las Vegas, a tradition that has featured a bevy of A-list entertainers and fan-friendly activities involving the sport's biggest stars. Last year's show, which honored six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, featured many memorable moments from host Jay Mohr and entertainers John Mellencamp, Dierks Bentley and Sara Bareilles.
    NASCAR also announced that the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Awards will hold a joint celebration on Monday, Nov. 17, at Trump National Doral Miami. The event will honor the series driver and owner champions, as well as the top-five drivers in each series. This is the first year the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Awards will have been held at Trump National Doral Miami. The property was recently purchased by the Trump Organization with plans for a $250 million resort-wide restoration.
    The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards will air on FOX Sports 1 beginning at 9:00pm/et. MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will carry the awards show live.
    The NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Awards will be broadcast via tape delay on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1.(NASCAR)(7-1-2014)

  • Waltrip returns to the #66: Two-time Daytona 500 champion Michael Waltrip will be race the # 66 Royal Teak Collection Toyota in Saturday night's 400-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Daytona International Speedway. Waltrip enters Saturday night's race with 2001 and 2003 victories in the Daytona 500 plus a win in the 2002 July race at the World Center of Racing. In four restrictor plate races in 2013, Waltrip posted a fourth-place finish at Talladega in May and fifth-place finish at Daytona in July. Saturday marks Waltrip's 53rd start at Daytona and 777th career Sprint Cup start.(Identity Ventures Racing)(7-1-2014)

  • Florida gubernatorial candidate on the #98 at Daytona: Given how frugal [Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate] Charlie Crist has tended to be with his campaign money, this surprised us, even knowing that adviser Steve Schale is a racing buff: His campaign is sponsoring [#98 Phil Parsons Racing] Ford in the Coke Zero 400. These sponsorships can cost as much as hundreds of thousands of dollars. "The campaign spent no money on this and the cost of wrapping the car was an in kind donation from a supporter who is a big NASCAR fan," said campaign spokesman Brendan Gilfillian. The car is owned by Mike Curb, Republican former California lieutenant governor and record company executive who surely knows Crist's long time political pal, Mitch Bainwol, the former head of the Recording Industry Association of America. The driver is John Wise.(Miami Herald)(7-1-2014)

  • School Hopes To Memorialize Benny Parsons: While a student at little Miller's Creek High in Wilkes County (N.C.), Benny Parsons was dedicated to playing the school's baseball and football. The depth of his dedication can be measured in what he went through to attend practices. Since practice was held after class hours, this meant Benny, the student body president his senior year, missed getting to ride the school bus home-and he lived deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains. He had to either walk the several miles across steep ridges or else hitch-hike, hoping a kind soul would give him a lift to his family's old homeplace in a picturesque valley called Parsonsville. "It was about 5 or 6 miles if I walked," Parsons recalled in later years. "And I did that most of the time unless the weather was awful." Benny brought the same devotion to racing when he became a NASCAR driver in 1964. This led him to the Cup Series championship in 1973, 21 career victories and recognition as one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. After retirement from the track, Parsons became an award-winning analyst of races on TV, winning an ESPY for his work. Parsons died in 2007 at age 66 of complications from cancer. Now, a school in the area of Wilkes County where he once lived is undertaking a drive to memorialize Benny. West Wilkes High, into which Miller's Creek was consolidated, plans to upgrade the broadcast booth at its football stadium and name the facility for Benny. "We think it's a fitting way to honor the legacy of an alumni who had such a successful career in both racing and broadcasting," says West Wilkes principal Wayne Shepherd. "We'd like to hear from Benny's fans who might be interested in contributing to the project." Shepherd can be reached at (336) 973-4503.(from NASCAR writer Tom Higgins)(7-1-2014)

  • Perfect driver rating for Keselowski at Kentucky: NASCAR Number: 150.0: That's a perfect driver rating, which #2-Brad Keselowski scored last Saturday night at Kentucky Speedway. It's only the 14th perfect driver rating scored in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series since the inception of loop data in 2005.(NASCAR Wire Service)(7-1-2014)

  • NASCAR Numbers:
    5: The number that represents perfection for Kyle Busch, who won his fifth NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in five starts last Thursday at Kentucky Speedway. When you include last year's season finale at Homestead, Busch has won his last six NCWTS starts.
    199: The number of laps led by polesitter Brad Keselowski in a dominating victory Saturday night at Kentucky Speedway. Not even an ill-timed caution late in the race (from Keselowski's point of view) could keep the #2 Team Penske Ford out of Victory Lane.
    5: The current number of consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races in which there has been a repeat winner this season. Jimmie Johnson's victory in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte was the last by a driver winning his first race of the year. That streak is in dire jeopardy this week in the Daytona free-for-all.
    6.2: The average starting position for Brad Keselowski in the first 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races this season. Keselowski has nine front-row starts, including two poles. The average start number is even more staggering, given that Keselowski qualified 33rd for the season-opening Daytona 500.
    4: The number of consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points races at Daytona won by Chevrolet drivers with Hendrick Motorsports engines. Tony Stewart won the July race in 2012, Jimmie Johnson swept both events last year, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the 2014 Daytona 500.(NASCAR Wire Service)(7-1-2014)

  • Top 10 driver ratings at Daytona:
    #18-Kyle Busch 97.1
    #20-Matt Kenseth 92.9
    #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. 92.0
    #14-Tony Stewart 90.0
    #48-Jimmie Johnson 89.0
    #41-Kurt Busch 88.9
    #24-Jeff Gordon 88.0
    #11-Denny Hamlin 85.5
    #15-Clint Bowyer 83.5
    Jeff Burton 83.1
    Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2013 races (three total) among active drivers at Daytona International Speedway.
    Formula combining the following categories: Win, Finish, Top-15 Finish, Average Running Position while on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.(NASCAR)

  • Lagasse, Jr. back in the #29 for RAB: Daytona International Speedway's hometown driver, Scott Lagasse Jr. returns to NASCAR Nationwide Series competition this Fourth of July in a joint effort between RAB Racing and TeamSLR. Lagasse Jr. will be piloting the #29 Alert Today, Alive Tomorrow Toyota Camry in Friday's Subway Firecracker 250. The St. Augustine, Florida-native will be making his 57th NASCAR Nationwide Series start, and will look to finish ahead of the field after 250 miles in his return to one of NASCAR's largest and most exciting tracks. Lagasse Jr. will be paired with veteran crew chief Chris Rice, who boasts a near-perfect lap completion record (99.5%) at the famed superspeedway, as well as a best finish of third. In addition to his hard work on the track, Lagasse Jr. would like to raise awareness about an initiative close to his heart, keeping Floridians safe. And he wants to remind everyone that 'Safety Doesn't Happen by Accident.' The 'Alert Today, Alive Tomorrow' initiative began in 2011 with the goal of increasing awareness and decreasing crashes, injuries and fatalities of bicyclists and pedestrians in the state of Florida.(RAB Racing)(7-1-2014)

  • Mike Wallace returns to the #93: Mike Wallace returns to the seat of the #93 JGL Racing Dodge in Daytona. Mike had a good run in February with the team finishing 13th. He hopes to improve on that finish this week. JGL announced sponsorship from Smith Transportation. The #93 car will be running a patriotic paint scheme on this July 4th weekend, with a special tribute to our troops and Smith Transportation Elite Driving Team. Mike is also racing for his son Matt. JGL Racing made a deal with Mike Wallace that if he finishes 5th or better that they would give his son Matt a race of his choice driving the #93 NNS car later in the season. So there is added pressure for him to have a good finish.(JGL Racing)(7-1-2014)

  • Sauter returns to the #80: Hattori Racing Enterprises will be making their fourth start in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this coming weekend at Daytona International Speedway once again with Johnny Sauter behind the wheel of the #80 Toyota sponsored Toyota Camry. Johnny will be making his third start with Hattori Racing Enterprises.(Hattori Racing Enterprises)(7-1-2014)

  • Contreras driving for Ware at Daytona: Rick Ware Racing announced that Carlos Contreras, the first NASCAR Mexican-born driver will rejoin the team for Friday's Subway Firecracker 250 from Daytona International Speedway. RaceTrac will adorn the hood of the #87 Chevy Camaro as the primary marketing partner in the third and final restrictor plate race of the season. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, RaceTrac has been serving guests since 1934 and now operates more than 370 convenience stores locations in Georgia, Florida, Louisiana and Texas. Additionally, Contreras will garner support from new sponsor, Tacolist.com, the Hispanic version of Craigslist for the United States and Mexico. Following Daytona, Contreras is schedule to pilot a Rick Ware Racing car at New Hampshire Motors Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and the 2014 season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November.(RWR)(7-1-2014)

  • Goody's sponsoring Smith at Daytona: Regan Smith's #7 Chevy will carry the blue and yellow colors of Goody's at Daytona International Speedway this weekend. In 2014, Goody's embarked on its second consecutive year as an associate partner of JRM.(JR Motorsports)(7-1-2014)

  • JRM partners with BetBomb.com at NHMS JR Motorsports announced that BetBomb.com, a free wagering site where players can bet on their favorite sports teams without risking money, will be the primary sponsor on Austin Theriault's #5 Chevy in the July 12 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. BetBomb.com allows players to bet against real spreads, lines and totals for all major sports. It is not a gambling website. It's a free wagering site built for millions of sports fans to provide them with a platform to pick games, track their statistics, compete in tournaments, and win prizes without risking money. Austin Theriault, a native of Fort Kent, Maine, will make his second career Nationwide Series start that weekend at New Hampshire. He made his debut at Iowa Speedway on May 18, to which he drove the #5 Chevy to a 15th-place finish. The New Hampshire race will be the second of three races for Theriault in the JR Motorsports #5 car. His third start will take place at Kentucky Speedway on Sept. 20.(JR Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #5 team paint schemes page.(7-1-2014)

  • Benny Gordon driving 5th car for TriStar at Daytona: TriStar Motorsports and BWP Bats will team up to furnish a fifth entry for the Subway Firecracker 250 at Daytona International Speedway. Benny Gordon will be in the cockpit of the #91 Toyota Camry for his second NASCAR Nationwide Series career start at the 2.5-mile tri-oval. The Pennsylvania native made his first NNS start at DIS in 2012. After starting the race from the 33rd position, Gordon matched his career best finish of 12th. Located in the "Hardwood Capitol of the World", Brookville, Pennsylvania, BWP Bats is a uniquely crafted wooden bat manufacturer that provides the highest quality of bats available. Processing approximately 1,500 bats a week, BWP bats has been utilized by some of Major League Baseball's (MLB) finest players.(TriStar Motorsports)(7-1-2014)

  • Starr returns to the #44: David Starr and long time partner, Chasco Constructors, will join forces for the Subway Firecracker 250 at Daytona International Speedway. For over 30-years Chasco Constructors, who is based in Round Rock Texas, has been committed to delivering the highest level of quality and services to their clients throughout the "Lone Star State". (TriStar Motorsports)(7-1-2014)

  • Daytona to host Coca-Cola Family Track Walk July 4th: During the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola Weekend, the best way to get up close and personal with the Coca-Cola Racing Family is literally on the track. To kick off festivities on Friday morning, some of NASCAR's top drivers will give up their high-octane 800-horsepower stock cars for comfortable walking shoes as they take part in the Coca-Cola Family Track Walk. Fans can enjoy some healthy, active fun by walking a mile of the 2.5-mile track alongside Coca-Cola Racing Family drivers Denny Hamlin, Ryan Newman and Austin Dillon. The event is free and open to all Subway Firecracker 250 Powered By Coca-Cola ticket holders. Fans who wish to participate can enter at Gate 50 which is located on the backstretch off Midway Boulevard. The track walk starts at 9:00 a.m. and gates will open to fans at 8:30 a.m. Fans who are camping in the infield can enter at the west end of Lake Lloyd.(DIS)(7-1-2014)


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