October 2014 NASCAR News Archive

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

Share

Go to a certain date in this month:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,
16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31


    News from October 31, 2014

  • Kenseth wins Texas pole: #20-Matt Kenseth won the Coors Light pole for the AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway with speed of 199.299mph for his 2nd pole of 2014, 1st at Texas and 13th of his career.
    #24-Gordon is on the outside pole, followed by #48-Johnson, #41-Busch, #4-Harvick, #14-Stewart, #31-Newman, #78-Truex, Jr., #18-Busch, #22-Logano, #99-Edwards, and #88-Earnhardt, Jr.
    #14-Stewart broke the track record in the second round with a speed of 200.111mph. It's the fastest qualifying lap ever recorded on a 1.5 mile track.
    Missing the race were: none, only 43 cars entered.
    See the Starting lineup, round by round qualifying results, notes and links on Jayski.com's Texas Starting Lineup / Qualifying Page.(10-31-2014)

  • Where the 2014 Sprint Cup Chase Drivers will start at Texas:
    [listed by current driver chase points position]
    1) #24-Jeff Gordon, 2nd
    2) #31-Ryan Newman, 7th
    3) #22-Joey Logano, 10th
    4) #20-Matt Kenseth, 1st
    5) #11-Denny Hamlin, 20th
    6) #99-Carl Edwards, 11th
    7) #4-Kevin Harvick, 5th
    8) #2-Brad Keselowski, 26th
    (10-31-2014)

  • Qualifying Fast Facts - Texas:
    Matt Kenseth won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 10th Annual AAA Texas 500 with a lap of 27.095 seconds, 199.299 mph.
    This is his 13th pole in 542 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
    This is his second pole and 10th top-10 start in 2014.
    This is his first pole in 25 races at Texas Motor Speedway.
    Tony Stewart set the track qualifying record with a lap of 200.111 mph, breaking the previous record of 198.282 mph, set by Kevin Harvick in April of 2014. It was the first 200 mph qualifying lap at a 1.5-mile track in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history. It is the 22nd qualifying record set in 2014.
    Jeff Gordon (second) posted his 22nd top-10 start of 2014 and his 15th in 28 races at Texas Motor Speedway.
    Jimmie Johnson (third) posted his 15th top-10 start at Texas Motor Speedway. It is his 19th in 34 races this season.
    (NASCAR Statistics)(10-31-2014)

  • Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway have been made.
    Pole sitter #20-Kenseth chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
    Outside pole sitter #24-Gordon took pit stall 14, the first pit stall with an opening in front of it.
    #48-Johnson, who starts 3rd took the 43th and final pit stall
    To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(10-31-2014)

  • Second Round of Qualifying for the AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway is over after 10 scheduled minutes.
    #14-Stewart 200.111
    #31-Newman 199.748
    #24-Gordon 199.689
    #18-Busch 199.623
    #4-Harvick 199.593
    the rest of the top 12: 20 88 99 22 48 78;
    out of the top 12 and not advancing to round 3: 55 5 27 9 42 17 16 11 1 43 47 15
    (10-31-2014)

  • First Round of Qualifying for the AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway is over, after 25 scheduled minutes.
    #48-Johnson 199.734
    #4-Harvick 199.682
    #22-Logano 199.490
    #24-Gordon 199.424
    #43-Almirola 199.284
    the rest of the top 24: 14 20 42 41 55 16 17 99 11 1 5 9 78 18 88 47 31 27 15;
    out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 21 2 10 95 3 51 38 36 7 40 23 98 34 13 83 26 66 33 32
    Driver who will miss the race: none.
    (10-31-2014)

  • Qualifying Order for the AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway is posted. 43 cars/drivers are listed.
    The first of the drivers scheduled to go out is #22-Logano.
    The final driver scheduled to go out is #43-Aric Almirola.
    Qualifying order is set by a random draw, held about an hour before the first practice.
    See the full qualifying order on Jayski.com's Texas Qualifying Page.(10-31-2014)

  • Friday practice for the AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway is over, after 90 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
    #55-Vickers 199.218
    #4-Harvick 198.990
    #14-Stewart 198.866
    #78-Truex Jr. 198.617
    #24-Gordon 198.581
    slowest: #33-Hill 186.709 and #32-Gase 187.156
    notes: in the unlikely event that rain cancels qualifying [0% chance of rain], the starting lineup will be set by these practice speeds.
    See fastest speeds, laps run on the Texas Practice 1 Speeds page (pdf).(10-31-2014)

  • Texas Notes & Facts - Friday - poles:
    " Jeremy Mayfield was the first Coors Light pole winner, in 1998 with a speed of 185.906 mph. The inaugural Coors Light pole at Texas Motor Speedway in 1997 was cancelled due to weather conditions.
    " 19 drivers have Coors Light poles at Texas, led by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman and Martin Truex Jr. with two each.
    " Two drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Texas Motor Speedway: Bobby Labonte (2003 and 2004) and Ryan Newman (2005 sweep).
    " Three of the 27 (11.1%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway have been won from the Coors Light pole; Kasey Kahne (2006), Jimmie Johnson (2012) and Kyle Busch (2013).
    " The third-place starting position is the most proficient starting spot in the field at Texas Motor Speedway, producing more wins than any other starting position (five) - most recent: Jimmie Johnson (fall 2013).
    " Six of the 27 (22.2%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway have been won from the front row: three from the pole and three from second-place.
    " 21 of the 27 (77.7%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Texas Motor Speedway have been won from a top-10 starting position.
    " Four of the 27 (14.8%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
    " Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions twice in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Texas Motor Speedway; the inaugural event in 1997 and spring 2007. The race has never been rain shortened.
    " David Ragan (4/09/2011) and Martin Truex Jr. (11/04/2007) posted their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light poles at Texas Motor Speedway.
    (NASCAR)(10-31-2014)

  • 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 AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway on the Texas Race Info page - Chassis selection area.

  • NASCAR Test Ban May Not Be Cast In Stone: NASCAR's Senior Vice President for Innovation and Racing Development Gene Stefanyshyn commented today on a statement by Roush Fenway Racing co-owner Jack Roush that the sanctioning body's ban on independent testing in 2015 may not be cast in stone. "I think the final word on testing for next year has not been uttered yet by NASCAR," said Roush on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio's Dialed In yesterday (Wed, Oct 29th). "My understanding is there is substantial resistance from Goodyear on what's... on the table right now in terms of their being able to supply the tires for the number of teams that NASCAR anticipates going to the Goodyear tire tests. I will be less surprised if it changes than if it stays the way it is"
    Stefanyshyn appeared to lend credence to those comments today (Thurs, Oct 30th), saying in a written release, "When we announced on Sept. 23 the rules package for the 2015 season, we stated that we were eliminating all team testing and would be working with Goodyear to build a unified testing plan in which the teams could participate. We currently are working through that process and have had on-going discussions with Goodyear to develop a proposal that we will share with the teams in the near future."(Godfather Motorsports)(10-31-2014)

  • Kyle Busch running his 10th 'triple': Kyle Busch is entered in the Camping World Truck (#51 ToyotaCare), Nationwide (#54-Monster) and Sprint Cup (#18-M&M's) races this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. It's the 10th time in his career he's entered all three series in the same weekend. Busch swept the entire weekend once, at Bristol in August 2010.(MRN)(10-31-2014)

  • Hendrick Motorsports going for pole #200: This weekend, Hendrick Motorsports could reach a milestone. With one more Sprint Cup Series pole position, the organization will have earned 200 in its 30-year history. Currently, Hendrick Motorsports sits at 199 poles, with Gordon and Johnson combining for three so far in the 2014 season.(HMS)(10-31-2014)

  • Ortho makes final 2014 appearance: Ortho will make its final of three appearances of the season on the #16 Ford of Greg Biffle this weekend at Texas. Ortho was on the hood for a 10th-place finish at Atlanta and a 16th-place finish at Loudon (RFR), see an image of the scheme on the #16 Team Schemes page..(10-31-2014)

  • Raikkonen interested in return to NASCAR: F1 driver, Kimi Raikkonen loved his two-race stint in NASCAR so much, he'd like to try it again someday. Raikkonen raced in two NASCAR events at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2011. He finished 27th in a Nationwide Series race and 15th in a Camping World Truck Series race for Kyle Busch Motorsports. "I hope one day (to come back)," he said Thursday in Austin, where he and his Ferrari team are preparing for Sunday's United States Grand Prix. "Obviously I didn't know how it is, so when I came to U.S. to do that, I was very pleasantly surprised by how nice and how fun it was. It's not easy, like any popular sport, but I really enjoyed the time. Hopefully I can do more of those and hopefully in the future -- some Sprint Cup. We'll see what happens." Of course, Raikkonen still has some years left in F1. Any NASCAR racing would only come after his F1 career was complete. This time, though, Raikkonen said he'd "like to have a good proper run at it."(USA Today)(10-31-2014)

  • Accell Construction to sponsor #36: Reed Sorenson's #36 Chevy has a new look this weekend but with a familiar name to Tommy Baldwin Racing fans. Accell Construction has added to their 2014 schedule to sponsor Sorenson at this weekend's AAA 500 at Texas. A longtime partner of Tommy Baldwin Racing, Accell Construction sponsored Michael Annett's #7 Chevy in four races earlier this season. "Steve Todhunter and Accell Construction have been an important part of TBR for many years," said team owner Tommy Baldwin Jr. "Steve has a passion for NASCAR and has seen the benefits of how sponsorship can help a business."
    "We are happy to be back on the 36 car," said Accell Construction owner Steve Todhunter. "That's where we got our start with TBR and we are looking forward to heading to Texas Motor Speedway with Reed. Being from Oklahoma, this is our home track, we are proud to represent the Pipeline Terminal Construction Industry in NASCAR.(TBR)(10-31-2014)

  • Great Clips back on Kahne's car: Great Clips will adorn the hood of Kasey Kahne's #5 Chevy this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway and will serve as the primary sponsor on the car for one more Sprint Cup Series event this year: Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 16 (HMS), see an image of the scheme on the #5 Team Schemes page..(10-31-2014)

  • Visone RV to be associate sponsor of #32 at Texas: Visone RV, America's #1 Motor Home dismantler will join forces with #32 Go Green Racing and driver, Joey Gase at Texas. Visone RV owner/operator, Terry Blankenship states "With the thousands of campers and recreational vehicles filling the race track campgrounds each race weekend, NASCAR is the perfect arena to market Visone RV products and services. We are excited with the opportunity to introduce Visone RV to the loyal NASCAR public for their used and new Motor Home parts needs". Visone RV, based in East Bernstadt, Kentucky has the world's largest selection of new and used Motor Home parts. Visone takes great pride and pleasure in selling new and used RVs, Travel Trailers, Campers, Cars and Trucks, Motorcycles, RV Parts and Accessories.(Go Green Racing)(10-31-2014)

  • Gurney Receives Edison-Ford Medal From The Henry Ford: The Henry Ford paid tribute to racing legend Dan Gurney on Wednesday (Oct 30th) during a special ceremony at Henry Ford Museum, awarding him the Edison-Ford Medal for his ingenuity and lifetime of innovative achievements. The Edison-Ford Medal is designed to honor those who fully leverage the creative, innovative and entrepreneurial spirit that resides in every one of us. Special guest Charlie Rose, talk show host, journalist and co-anchor of "CBS This Morning," served as Master of Ceremonies. In addition to a number of memorable wins in a variety of racing categories, Gurney established himself not only as one of racing's most successful drivers, but also as an innovative car builder and team owner. Gurney's wide-ranging curiosity and hands-on attitude have resulted in a number of innovations including the downforce-increasing "Gurney flap" and the "rolling wind tunnel," built at his race shop, All American Racers, to test the at-speed aerodynamics of scale models. Gurney is also tied to several automobiles that are part of The Henry Ford's world premier automotive collection, including the 1962 Ford Mustang I Concept Car driven at Watkins Glen, the 1965 Lotus-Ford Race Car that Jim Clark used to win the 1965 Indianapolis 500, and the 1967 Ford Mark IV Race Car, used for perhaps his most famous win at the 1967 24 Hours of LeMans. After winning that race, Gurney famously sprayed the crowd with champagne, starting a racing tradition. Dan Gurney is only the second recipient of the Edison-Ford Medal. Established in 1989 on the 60th anniversary of The Henry Ford, the medal was awarded that year to Dr. W. Edwards Deming, the Father of the Quality Evolution.(Ford Racing)(10-31-2014)

  • Harvick sells land: #4-Kevin Harvick and his wife, DeLana, have sold 110.5 acres adjacent to their North Carolina estate for $3.2 million. The Harvicks' 12,000-square-foot mansion in Oak Ridge is listed with Tyler Redhead & McAlister Real Estate for $3.5 million. The effusive listing describes the estate as "extraordinary" with "architectural details beyond description." Features of the opulent estate include "soaring ceilings on all levels," "European-inspired balconies" and "multiple outdoor living spaces" on 19.8 acres, including gardens, a saltwater pool with cabana and outdoor dining area, according to the listing. The land was sold in two transactions. The 29.5 acres at 8413-8419 Haw River Road sold for $1.1 million, and 81.1 acres at 8427-8461 Haw River Road sold for $2.1 million, according to Guilford County records.(Charlotte Business Journal)(10-31-2014)

  • Austin Dillon fastest in happy hour: #33-Austin Dillon was quickest during happy hour for the O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge with a speed of 185.516mph. He was followed by: #22-Joey Logano, #6-Trevor Bayne, #62-Brendan Gaughan, #31-Dylan Kwasniewski, #54-Kyle Busch, #3-Ty Dillon, #20-Matt Kenseth, #2-Brian Scott, and #60-Chris Buescher. 42 drivers participated in the session. See complete results on the Texas practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(10-31-2014)

  • Chris Buescher fastest in first practice: #60-Chris Buescher was fastest during opening practice at Texas Motor Speedway with a speed of 186.085mph. #22-Joey Logano was second, followed by: #6-Trevor Bayne, #33-Austin Dillon, #2-Brian Scott, #12-Ryan Blaney, #11-Elliott Sadler, #5-Kevin Harvick, #62-Brendan Gaughan, and #16-Ryan Reed. 40 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Texas practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(10-31-2014)

  • Sadler joining Roush Fenway in 2015: OneMain Financial announced today that it will be the primary sponsor of the Roush Fenway Racing #1 OneMain Financial Ford Mustang driven by Elliott Sadler in the 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS). This sponsorship reunites the two organizations as OneMain Financial (previously known as CitiFinancial) sponsored Roush Fenway entries in the NASCAR Nationwide Series from 2008 to 2010. The 2015 season will mark OneMain Financial's 12th season in NASCAR, and the company's return to a full-season sponsorship, serving as primary sponsor for all 33 races for the #1 Ford Mustang in the NXS. Sadler, a NASCAR veteran, will continue his relationship with OneMain Financial as he competes for a championship in the 2015 season. Sadler has 260 Nationwide Series starts to his credit, earning 10 wins, 16 pole awards, 61 top-five and 128 top-10 finishes. During the previous three full seasons, Sadler finished fourth in 2013, and second in 2012 and 2011. He was also voted the 2011 Nationwide Series Most Popular Driver. In 2010, Sadler became the 21st driver to win a race in each of NASCAR's national series (Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Truck Series).(Roush Fenway Racing), see an image of the car on the #1 team paint schemes page.(10-31-2014)

  • Busch wins truck race at Texas: #51-Kyle Busch won the WinStar World Casino 350 at the Texas Motor Speedway on Friday, taking the lead with one lap to go after the field saw a green-white-checkered flag finish. #13-Jeb Burton finished second followed by: #17-Timothy Peters, pole-sitter, #19-Tyler Reddick, points leader, #88-Matt Crafton, #21-Joey Coulter, #23-Max Gresham, #8-Joe Nemechek, #29-Ryan Blaney, and #32-Cameron Hayley.
    There were 7 caution flags for 31 laps and 11 lead changes among 5 leaders.
    With the race win, Busch clinched the Manufacturer Championship for Toyota.
    Complete results are on the Texas race results page (pdf).(10-31-2014)

  • Texas Race Fast Facts:
    Kyle Busch won the 16th Annual WinStar World Casino & Resort 350, his 42nd victory in 124 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
    This is his seventh victory and eighth top-10 finish in 2014.
    This is his third victory and eighth top-10 finish in 12 races at Texas Motor Speedway.
    This is Kyle Busch Motorsports' 12th win of 2014, which ties Ultra Motorsports for the all-time single-season high in victories (2001).
    With the victory, Toyota has clinched the 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Manufacturers' Championship.
    Jeb Burton (second) posted his second top-10 finish in four races at Texas Motor Speedway. It is his seventh top-10 finish in 2014.
    Timothy Peters (third) posted his third top-10 finish in 14 races at Texas Motor Speedway.
    Tyler Reddick (fourth) was the highest finishing rookie.
    Matt Crafton leads the point standings by 23 points over Ryan Blaney
    (NASCAR Statistics)(10-31-2013)

  • Driver standings following Texas:
    1) #88-Matt Crafton, 756
    2) #29-Ryan Blaney, 733 -23
    3) #54-Darrell Wallace Jr., 713 -43
    4) #98-Johnny Sauter, 704 -52
    5) #17-Timothy Peters, 680 -75
    6) #21-Joey Coulter, 645 -111
    7) #77-German Quiroga, 636 -120
    8) #13-Jeb Burton 629 -127
    9), #31-Ben Kennedy #, 619 -137
    10) #9-Ron Hornaday Jr., 526 -230
    See complete standings on the driver standings page (pdf).(10-31-2014)

  • Owner Standings following Texas are posted (pdf).(10-31-2014)

  • Lucky Dogs - Who got a lap back on each caution at Texas: (and their finish)
    Caution 1: #07-Ryan Lynch, 27th
    Caution 2: #32-Cameron Hayley, 10th
    Caution 3: #05-John Wes Townley, 17th
    Caution 4:, #8-Joe Nemechek,
    Caution 5: #02-Tyler Young, 14th
    Caution 6: #31-Ben Kennedy, 15th
    Caution 7: none
    (10-31-2014)

  • Reddick on truck pole at Texas: #19-Tyler Reddick won the Keystone Light pole for the WinStar World Casino 350 at Texas Motor Speedway on Friday night with a speed of 181.959mph. #51-Kyle Busch will start second, followed by: #88-Matt Crafton, #31-Ben Kennedy, #30-Cameron Hayley, #13-Jeb Burton, #17-Timothy Peters, #54-Darrell Wallace, Jr., #29-Ryan Blaney, and #99-Bryan Silas.
    Fastest in the second round of qualifying was #54-Darrell Wallace, Jr. with a speed of 182.014mph.
    . #24-Brennan Newberry was quickest in the opening qualifying session at 180.777mph.
    See complete lineup on the Starting lineup (pdf) page.(10-31-2014)

  • Texas Qualifying Notes:
    Tyler Reddick won the Keystone Light 21 Means 21 Pole Award for the 16th Annual WinStar World Casino & Resort 350 with a lap of 29.677 seconds, 181.959 mph.
    This is his second pole in 15 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
    This is his second pole and ninth top-10 start in 2014.
    This is his first pole in two races at Texas Motor Speedway.
    Kyle Busch (second) posted his eighth top-10 start of 2014 and his ninth in 12 races at Texas Motor Speedway.
    Matt Crafton (third) posted his 10th top-10 start at Texas Motor Speedway. It is his 15th in 20 races this season.
    (NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(10-31-2014)

  • Speedway Christmas Setup Underway at Charlotte Motor Speedway: While many revelers are busy making last-minute Halloween costumes and sorting candy for eager trick-or-treaters, officials at Charlotte Motor Speedway are busy stringing lights and building Santa's Workshop in anticipation of the fifth annual Speedway Christmas holiday light show, which will light up the legendary 1.5-mile superspeedway in just three weeks. Construction has begun on the completely redesigned 3.1-mile course, which weaves through the infield, offers visitors the chance to drive on the track and - new for 2014 - continues under the concourse behind the frontstretch grandstands. Crews will work seven days a week for the next 22 days preparing for opening night. In addition to setting up more than 800 light displays, crews will transform the infield into a winter wonderland, featuring a Bethlehem Village and Santa's Workshop. This year's fan-favorite lights-to-music display promises to be even bigger and brighter than ever before, with an all-new design sure to bring even more merriment to fans throughout the holidays. Fans can get a sneak peek of the light show and enjoy a concert by Charlotte, N.C.-based Charity Case during the Eggnog Jog 5K on Friday, Nov. 21. The drive-through light show will be open nightly Nov. 22-Dec. 30 from 6-10 p.m., closed Christmas Day. Thursday through Sunday nights, visitors will enjoy even more family entertainment in the Christmas Village. The village includes marshmallow roasting, a petting zoo and kids' zone, photos with Santa, Bethlehem Village and so much more.(CMS)(10-31-2014)

  • Speedway Motorsports drives higher profit, revenue in Q3: Speedway Motorsports on Wednesday posted net income of $15 million, or 36 cents per diluted share, for the third quarter, rising from the $12.3 million, or 30 cents per share, in net income a year earlier. Revenue totaled $139.8 million in the latest period, up from $137.5 million during the comparable period last year. "These third quarter results are within our expectations and reflect continuing increases in track rentals, strong profitability from certain non-motorsports events and activities, and higher luxury suite revenues on a year-over-year comparable event basis," Marcus Smith, chief operating officer and president of the Concord-based racetrack operator, said in the company's earnings release. "We believe corporate spending trends are stabilizing, with increasing interest in our promotional activities and facilities."(full story at Charlotte Business Journal)(10-31-2014)


    News from October 30, 2014

  • Texas Notes & Facts - Thursday - history:
    " Construction on Texas Motor Speedway began in 1995.
    " The first NASCAR national series race at TMS was a NASCAR Nationwide Series event on April 5, 1997 - won by Mark Martin.
    " The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was on April 6, 1997 - won by Jeff Burton.
    " The track underwent a repave between the 2001 and 2002 seasons.
    " In 2011, the spring NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was moved from Sunday to Saturday night under the lights at Texas Motor Speedway.
    " Texas Motor Speedway hosted its first Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on November 6, 2005 - won by Carl Edwards.
    (NASCAR)(10-30-2014)

  • Harvick to make 500th Cup Start: #4-Kevin Harvick is scheduled to make his 500th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) start in Sunday's AAA Texas 500 race at Texas. In the midst of his 14th season in the series, Harvick has earned 26 wins, 111 top fives, 226 top-10 finishes and 14 pole awards. This weekend the #4 Budweiser Chevy will feature a special 500th start logo on the hood, under the right taillight and on the base of the b-post in recognition of the milestone. In addition, the hashtag #TexasToast appears on the car's decklid (Budweiser Racing), see an image of the scheme on the #4 Team Schemes page..(10-30-2014)

  • Vickers tests 2015 Camry at Auto Club: Brian Vickers and the #55 Aaron's Dream Machine team at Michael Waltrip Racing got a jump on the 2015 season testing the newly unveiled 2015 Toyota Camry this week at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA. Vickers on testing the 2015 Camry: "It was good to get some time behind the wheel of the 2015 Camry (on Tuesday.) We brought a lot of engineers from MWR and Toyota Racing Development to Fontana to work on the car. I don't know if you have ever been to a test, but it isn't very exciting for a race car driver. I drive for a couple of laps, tell them what I feel, then the engineers will pour over the data, make some changes and back I go out on the track. We just repeat that throughout the day. It might not be as fun as racing but testing is where we learn what the Goodyear tires, our car and engine like and don't like. I enjoy the science behind testing. The more you learn in testing the better you will be in the race. With the reduction in testing planned for next season, days like this are very valuable. So far I love what I see with the new Camry. It looks good, and drives good."(MWR)(10-30-2014)

  • 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 AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway on the Texas Race Info page - Chassis selection area.

  • AAA returns to sponsor Logano at Texas: The #22 Team Penske Ford Fusion of Joey Logano will have a different look this weekend in Texas as it will carry the red, white and blue colors of AAA. It will mark the second time this season that unique AAA livery has adorned the sides of the #22 with the first race coming at Kansas Speedway back in April. AAA is a long-time partner with Team Penske, sponsoring both the #22 in the Sprint Cup Series as well as the #3 car driven by Helio Castroneves in the Verizon IndyCar Series.(Team Penske), see images of the scheme on the #22 Team Schemes page..(10-30-2014)

  • ZAK Products and BK Racing Partner at Texas: ZAK Products, the #1 Professional Maintenance Fluid of NASCAR, will be the primary sponsor on the BK Racing #83 Toyota Camry of JJ Yeley this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway for the AAA Texas 500. Based in Irving, Texas, ZAK Products was recently named to the Inc 5000 Fastest Growing Companies in America list for the second consecutive year. ZAK Products has been the #1 Professional Maintenance Fluid of NASCAR since 2010, creating partnerships with teams such as BK Racing, Tommy Baldwin Racing and Go Green Racing. Since their establishment in 2002, ZAK Products has set the bar high for performance fluids for automobiles. With products such as their Engine Oil Conditioner, Brake Parts Cleaner, Racing Degreaser and Fuel System Cleaner, the brand has taken off with the enthusiasm of the NASCAR community. Founder, Vic Keller commented, "I am excited to be partnering with BK Racing and JJ Yeley. With our national headquarters in Irving and our strong Texas customer base there is no other track we'd rather see our logos than here at Texas Motor Speedway. Ron Devine and his entire BK Racing team have been great partners over the years and I'm thrilled that ZAK Products is able to take it a step further with the primary sponsorship this weekend."
    "ZAK Products has been an outstanding partner for BK Racing since day one," said Team Owner Ron Devine. "Their product offerings are used every day in our shop. We certainly look forward to having their colors flying high at their home track at Texas Motor Speedway."(ZAK Products)(10-30-2014)

  • New crew chief starts with Danica Patrick at Texas: After two good years with crew chief Tony Gibson, Danica Patrick welcomes Daniel Knost as the head of the #10 GoDaddy Chevy. Knost is the interim crew chief and brings along his road crew from the #41 Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) entry of Kurt Busch. Gibson and his road crew move to Busch and the Haas Automation team. The pit crews remain the same. Knost worked with Patrick as an engineer for eight races at SHR in 2012 under Greg Zipadelli. He is also very well educated, having graduated from North Carolina State University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. He continued his pursuit of higher education at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia, where he earned a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering in 2003 and a doctorate in the same field in 2008. As crew chief for Busch, Knost scored a win in March at Martinsville and led Busch to the 16-driver Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship. In 2013 he was the race engineer for Ryan Newman and won at Indianapolis and helped lead the team to the 13-driver Chase for the Championship.(SHR)(10-30-2014)

  • New crew chief starts with Kurt Busch: Beginning this weekend, the mechanics, engineers and entire road crew for the #41 team of Kurt Busch will be led by crew chief Tony Gibson, who will take the seat atop the Haas Automation pit box. For Gibson, leading a race team isn't just about making the right calls during any given race. Instead, the Daytona Beach, Florida native takes a hands-on approach with his racecar at the SHR shop, and it extends all the way to the racetrack - something many consider to be old school. He oversees every aspect of the development of the team's fleet of racecars. He takes great pride in working with his cars, from bare chassis, to hanging the car's body, to painting and decaling the car, to setting up the car for each track. Gibson wants to be there with his racecars each and every step of the way. Gibson came to SHR in 2009 from Dale Earnhardt, Inc., to serve as Ryan Newman's crew chief of the #39 Chevy. Many of the crewmembers who worked with him came to SHR, as well. As such, Busch gets a close-knit crew that believes in the old-school mentality that has been a key to the group's success. A look at Busch's career shows that he's seemed to thrive when he's paired with a crew chief who shares that same, old-school mentality that Gibson has. Busch has been quick to compare Gibson to Jimmy Fennig, with whom he's won 14 Sprint Cup races and the 2004 championship.(SHR)(10-30-2014)

  • Sieg names Texas sponsor: JoeUSA.com has partnered up with Ryan Sieg as a primary sponsor of the #39 Chevy Camaro for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend. JoeUSA.com offers all inclusive website development, including design, hosting and support. Earlier this month ryansiegracing.com was launched thanks to JoeUSA.(RSS Racing)(10-30-2014)

  • Sauter fastest in Texas truck final practice: #98-Johnny Sauter was fastest in final practice for the WinStar World Casino and Resort 350 at Texas Motor Speedway with a speed of 180.186mph. He was followed by #13-Jeb Burton, #17-Timothy Peters, #51-Kyle Busch, #88-Matt Crafton, #20-Brennan Newberry, #30-Cameron Hayley, #31-Ben Kennedy, #77-German Quiroga, and #99-Bryan Silas. 30 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Texas practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(10-30-2014)

  • Sauter fastest in Texas trucks first practice: #98-Johnny Sauter was fastest during opening practice at Texas Motor Speedway with a speed of 180.114mph. #17-Timothy Peters was second, followed by #13-Jeb Burton, #20-Brennan Newberry, #54-Darrell Wallace, Jr., #19-Tyler Reddick, #30-Cameron Hayley, #77-German Quiroga, #05-John Wes Townley, and #88-Matt Crafton. 24 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Texas practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(10-30-2014)

  • NEMCO planning another full run in 2015 with eyes on the future: NEMCO Motorsports announced today plans to expand their late model program to include a second driver who will compete in a full-time Pro and Super Late Model Series effort in 2015. 19-year old Dominique Van Wieringen, a native of Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada, has been named as driver. "We've seen Dominique race at several events and feel like she'll be a great fit to expand our program. Being able to start at this level and help young drivers grow is just going to enhance our efforts in the truck series and beyond," said Nemechek. NEMCO Motorsports, which is operated by Nemechek and his family, has been active in NASCAR for nearly 25 years and boasts 25 wins on the NASCAR circuit. Today, father Joe and son, John Hunter, represent the team on the track racing in all three of NASCAR's national series and have shared driving duties in the #8 Toyota Tundra this season. Plans for 2015 include John Hunter, who has four late model wins this season to his credit, continuing to run in select late model events as he furthers his progression in the NASCAR ranks. NEMCO Motorsports will field the late model for Van Wieringen and will make an announcement later next month regarding sponsorship for their late model program. NEMCO Motorsports' 2015 plans will continue to include running a full season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and select events in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.(NEMCO Motorsports)(10-30-2014)

  • Roofix partners with Jennings for Texas: MB Motorsports and Justin Jennings are looking for a good finish in the WinStar World Casino 350K as they are joined by new marketing partner, Roofix, Inc. The event will mark Jennings' fourth start at Texas Motor Speedway in the #63 Mittler Brothers Machine & Tool / LG Seeds / Roofix / Excel Bottling Chevy Silverado. Based in Essex, IL, Roofix, Inc. is a multi-faceted company whose forte, according to Roofix owner Mike Kamp, is "offering both residential and commercial property owners a smooth, hassle free experience when filing insurance claims for weather related property damage." In addition to general contruction projects, Roofix and its' Roofix Recycling operation, also offer complete site removal of buildings, asphalt, concrete and more. Roofix, Inc. has also committed to joining MB Motorsports in their support of Eagle Rock Camp.(MB Motorsports)(10-30-2014)

  • Martel closing out season in Homestead: If you ever meet Kyle Martel you will learn quickly he enjoys two things the most - racing and warm weather. In two weeks Kyle and Bill Martel Racing will head south to the sunshine state and try to end the season on a bright spot - over the biggest weekend in NASCAR. BMR has committed to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Ford ECOBOOST 200 to be held at Homestead Miami Speedway on Friday, November 14. Martel will drive the #59 Chevy Silverado in the season grand finale, with Hanover Cold Storage and Finish Line Transportation listed as associate sponsors.(Bill Martel Racing)(10-30-2014)

  • Pocono Raceway receives $1 million grant for improvements: Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett has announced a $1 million Economic Growth Initiative (EGI) grant to assist in the Pocono Raceway's renovation and improvement plan. "This raceway is a major tourism catalyst for Pennsylvania bringing in tourism dollars from neighboring states and around the country," said Corbett. "This investment will help ensure the safety of event spectators as well maintain the viability of this worldwide destination." The project will include substantial improvements to the raceway's main facility entrance with the rebuilding of two, 50 year old tunnels. These tunnels provide the only entrance and exit from within the racetrack. The project will also include construction of a pedestrian walkway. "As a structure that has stood for as long as this, safety becomes paramount in what we look at in projects that we must undertake here at Pocono Raceway stated Brandon Igdalsky, Raceway President and CEO. This project not only will shore up the safety & longevity of this area of the property, but also increase that first impression of a facility that is instrumental to tourism in the Pocono Mountains. This project will help us highlight not just who we are, but allow us to help showcase the region and our geography. In addition, it will open up a new ability to allow pedestrians to be able to safely use our tunnels as well as vehicle traffic."(Times Herald)(10-30-2014)


    News from October 29, 2014

  • Krista Voda moves to NBC in 2015: NBC Sports Group announced that Krista Voda has signed a multi-year agreement to serve as host of NBC Sports' upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series pre- and post-race coverage, beginning in 2015. Her on-air duties will also include regular appearances as host of NASCAR AMERICA on NBCSN, as well as a range of assignments across NBC Sports and NBC Olympics. The announcement was made by Sam Flood, Executive Producer, NBC Sports and NBCSN. "Krista is a talented host that has established a strong connection with NASCAR viewers over the course of an already impressive career," said Flood. "Her passion for the sport and comprehensive grasp of its stars, personalities and history will provide for an engaging and informative race day experience for the fans."
    Krista's résumé is among the strongest in NASCAR broadcasting. When she joins NBC Sports in 2015, it will mark her 14th continuous year covering the sport on network television. She is the current host of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series pre-race show for Fox Sports, and was the first female to ever host NASCAR's Daytona Duels, as well as the NASCAR All-Star Race in Charlotte. She recently concluded her eighth season as a pit reporter for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series coverage on Fox and has hosted or co-hosted every NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction ceremony, many NASCAR Awards Banquets, and several Fox Sports studio shows. Outside of motorsports, Krista has an impressive breadth of experience, including NFL sideline reporting, and on-air contributions to numerous major sporting events, including postseason MLB broadcasts, Bowl Championship Series coverage, the Kentucky Derby, multiple NCAA men's basketball tournaments and the PGA Championship.
    "This role is a dream opportunity for me and I'm honored to be a part of NBC's return to NASCAR," said Voda. "We say it often, but it's true: NASCAR is more than a sport, it's a community. I've been blessed, for many years, to stand alongside colleagues who I also consider dear friends. I'm looking forward to this new chapter and the chance to share my knowledge and enthusiasm for storytelling."
    On July 23, 2013, NASCAR and NBC Sports Group reached a comprehensive agreement that grants NBCUniversal exclusive rights to the final 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, final 19 NASCAR XFINITY Series events, select NASCAR Regional & Touring Series events and other live content, beginning in 2015.(NBC Sports)(10-29-2014)

  • Martinsville TV Ratings: ESPN's live telecast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, Oct. 26, earned a 2.5 U.S. household rating, averaging 4,083,000 viewers, according to Nielsen Media. The rating and viewership numbers were down from last year's race, which earned a 2.7 rating and averaged 4,316,000 viewers, but were up from the 2012 race, which earned a 2.4 rating with an average of 3,617,000 viewers. Greensboro, N.C., the closest metered market to Martinsville, led the nation with a 7.8 rating for the telecast, followed by Greenville, S.C., at 7.5 and Nashville, Tenn., at 5.9. Indianapolis was fourth at 5.8 with Knoxville, Tenn., fifth at 5.7. The top 10 metered markets were rounded out by Tampa-St. Petersburg, 5.4; Richmond, Va., 5.3; Birmingham, Ala., 5.2; Orlando, Fla., 5.0; and a tie for 10th between Norfolk, Va., and Raleigh-Durham, N.C., at 4.9.(ESPN)
    See five year comparison chart and past news on races on the 2014 TV Ratings page.(10-29-2014)

  • Inspections moving faster: Thanks to a collaborative effort with Microsoft, NASCAR's technical inspection process has been setting its own track records as the 2014 racing season hustles toward its conclusion. The development of a mobile inspection application has helped streamline the labor-intensive process of on-site technical inspection, trimming nearly in half the time spent examining cars and recording pertinent data. The paperless procedure, which debuted in September at Chicago, consists of NASCAR officials inputting relevant data into Windows-compatible devices as the cars move through the various stages of inspection. "We're moving faster and our jobs are much easier than they were before," Richard Buck, managing director for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series said. "The inspection app was designed to make the overall process more efficient and it has." Inspectors use the devices for eight different disciplines, from safety and templates to engine inspection, throughout the course of a race weekend.(see full article at NASCAR.com)(10-29-2014)

  • Axxess Pharma to sponsor Whitt at Phoenix: Axxess Pharma, a specialty pharmaceutical and nutritional supplements company is pleased to announce, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, AllStar Health Brands Inc., that it will sponsor #26-Cole Whitt's car in the November 9th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race. The driver's car will prominently display the logos of Amazon.com and TapouT, as well as promote the TapouT's Muscle Recovery line.(Axxess Pharma/Yahoo Finance)(10-29-2014)

  • Texas Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in all three NASCAR series in action at Texas this weekend will run the same tire set-up . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that these teams ran at Texas earlier this season -- Sprint Cup and Nationwide in April and Camping World Truck in June . . . the only change from this spring is that the minimum recommended inflation on both right-side tires has been raised by two psi . . . this left-side tire code has been run by NASCAR teams at Texas since 2011 . . . this right-side tire code was introduced at this track for 2014. . . this right-side employs Goodyear's multi-zone tread technology, which combines two distinct tread compounds on the same tire -- the outside 10 inches of the tread features a compound that is designed for grip, while the inside two inches of the tread is toughened to enhance durability on the part of the tire sees the most heat and takes the most abuse . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Texas . . . 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, set limits on the Texas Race Info - Goodyear section.(10-29-2014)

  • Homestead testing UPDATE2: Five teams will test at Homestead-Miami Speedway next Tuesday and Wednesday (Oct. 28-29): Stewart Haas Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Team Penske, Roush Fenway Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing.(NASCAR)(10-24-2014)
    UPDATE: Six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams and more than 15 of the top NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars are slated to test at Homestead-Miami Speedway tomorrow, Oct. 28, with an optional testing day on Wednesday Oct. 29. Testing will run from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Seven of the eight drivers in the Eliminator Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup are set to test their cars at Homestead-Miami Speedway in preparation of competing at the Ford EcoBoost 400, where the Championship 4 drivers will compete for the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship. Testing will be open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the infield Pit Road Cabanas. Fans may enter and park in the parking lot on SW 336th Street and 137th Ave and take a tram to the infield to watch testing. Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase in the infield in the Pit Box.
    NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Teams Testing
    #2 - Brad Keselowski, Team Penske*
    #22 - Joey Logano, Team Penske*
    #5 - Kasey Kahne, Hendrick Motorsports
    #24 - Jeff Gordon, Hendrick Motorsports*
    #88 - Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Hendrick Motorsports
    #48 - Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports
    #16 - Greg Biffle, Roush Fenway Racing
    #17 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Racing
    #99 - Carl Edwards, Roush Fenway Racing*
    #11 - Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing*
    #18 - Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing
    #20 - Matt Kenseth, Joe Gibbs Racing*
    #14 - Tony Stewart, Stewart-Haas Racing
    #4 - Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing*
    #41 - Kurt Busch, Stewart-Haas Racing
    *Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers in the Eliminator Round. #31-Newman is the Chase driver not testing.(HMS)(10-28-2014)
    UPDATE2 Six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams and more than 15 of the top NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars tested their cars at Homestead-Miami Speedway today in preparation of the Ford EcoBoost 400, November 16. The two-day session will conclude on Wednesday, Oct. 29. Seven of the eight drivers in the Eliminator Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup took their cars to the track Tuesday to test and tune their cars as much as they can before heading to South Florida in November, where they could possibly be one of the Championship 4 drivers racing for the title at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
    "That's why you see so many cars down here testing," #22-Joey Logano said. "It's all going to come down to Homestead. Making sure you have a fast car down here is important because that's going to be the difference of winning a championship or not. I think you're going to have to win here to win the Championship."
    "This is really a key test for us," #2-Brad Keselowski said. "It's our final test, with NASCAR's testing ban, so there's something to be said for that. We've have solid performances here, but we want to find a little bit more to be able to win. You have to enter Homestead with the expectation that you have to win to win the Championship and we've got two cars here in the hunt to be able to do that."
    Two drivers also testing at Homestead-Miami Speedway today are #24-Jeff Gordon and #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. for Hendrick Motorsports. The pair finished first and second at Martinsville Speedway last weekend, respectively, and Gordon is still in contention for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship in the Eliminator Round. Earnhardt was eliminated following the final race of the Contender Round at Talladega. "We're in a bit of a different situation than Jeff is," Earnhardt said. "We're looking forward to the race. We feel like we had a good car here last year, we just want to learn a few more things and looking forward to the race."
    "It's all about speed," Gordon said. "This is a very challenging racetrack, especially in the heat of the day. It's difficult to get the balance right on this track. We have had some good cars here the last couple of years and want to simulate that. We hope that we're in the battle for the Championship when we come back here, and if we are, we have a car that can win the race."
    #99-Carl Edwards is also still in contention for the Championship title, and headed to South Florida to work on his car as well and learn more about the 1.5-mile oval. "It's nice to come down here, the weather is beautiful and this is one of my favorite racetracks," Edwards said. "We're hoping to be as prepared as we can be for a championship battle at Ford Championship Weekend. It's an opportunity to make sure if we are one of the final four that we can perform."(HMS)(10-29-2014)

  • Brad Daugherty to Remain with ESPN: Brad Daugherty, a former five-time NBA All-Star and college basketball standout, will serve as an NBA and college basketball analyst beginning in November. Daugherty will appear regularly on NBA Tonight, NBA Coast to Coast, SportsCenter and on additional news and information programming. He will also serve as an analyst for most games in ESPNU's ACC Sunday night package, in addition to other select games, beginning Dec. 1. "I'm ecstatic about having the opportunity to remain a part of the ESPN family," said Daugherty. "I thoroughly look forward to working with the talented individuals and crews that bring basketball into millions of homes on ESPN throughout the season."
    Daugherty most recently served as an ESPN NASCAR analyst on NASCAR Countdown, NASCAR Now and across ESPN platforms. He previously covered college basketball as a reporter for ESPN and ABC on ACC telecasts from 1999-2001. Before joining ESPN, Daugherty served as a game analyst for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the San Antonio Spurs local telecasts. Daugherty played eight seasons in the NBA for the Cavaliers after being selected as the first overall pick in the 1986 Draft. Throughout his career, Daugherty averaged 19 points and 9.5 rebounds a game. His No. 43 jersey, a number he wore in honor of Richard Petty, was retired by the Cavaliers in 1997. A 1986 graduate of the University of North Carolina, Daugherty joined the Tar Heels as a 16-year-old freshman. He was a two-time All-ACC player and a first-team All-America in his senior year, when he averaged 20.2 points and 9 rebounds per game.(ESPN)(10-29-2014)

  • Scott Lagasse Jr. Joins RCR for Homestead: Richard Childress Racing will have Scott Lagasse, Jr. driving the #33 Alert Today Florida/Boy Scouts of America Chevy Camaro in the NASCAR Nationwide Series season finale at Homestead-Miami 300 with Nick Harrison as crew chief. Lagasse will pair with the Florida Department of Transportation in their "Alert Today Alive Tomorrow" initiative. The campaign helps raise awareness that safety doesn't happen by accident, reminding everyone on the roadways to pay attention while following the rules of the road. The Boy Scouts of America will also ride along as a sponsor for the 200-lap event.(Richard Childress Racing), see an image of the car on the #33 team paint schemes page.(10-29-2014)

  • Alex Bowman returns to the #5 at Phoenix: JR Motorsports announced that LINE-X, North America's largest retail automotive aftermarket franchise and leading provider of high-performance spray-on bedliners, will sponsor Alex Bowman in the #5 Chevy for the upcoming NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Phoenix International Raceway. LINE-X is recognized as the industry leader in spray-on bedliners and an innovator of versatile protective coatings. The company's product line includes items that are utilized in commercial, industrial, agricultural, military and custom applications. LINE-X boasts more than 500 locations in 46 countries. The Phoenix race marks the 21-year-old Tuscon, Ariz., native's second start for JR Motorsports. Bowman started seventh and finished 12th in his JRM debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 10. Over the past two seasons, Bowman has made 71 combined starts across NASCAR's top-two series, posting two top-five and six top-10 finishes. He also recorded a pair of pole awards in Nationwide Series competition at Texas Motor Speedway in 2013.(JRM), see an image of the car on the #5 team paint schemes page.(10-29-2014)

  • Jamie Dick gets Phoenix sponsor: Viva Motorsports is hoping to have a fiesta in Phoenix to celebrate a good finish for their new sponsor, Fiesta Auto Group. Fiesta Auto Group is a brand new car dealership located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, specializing in both new and used cars. The #55 Camaro will be making a stop in Albuquerque on its way to the racetrack to show off the new look and to thank the Fiesta customers and employees for their support. Additional support will come from Viva Auto Group, Viva Powersports, and Bestway Autos. Dick has made 5 previous NASCAR Nationwide Series starts at Phoenix with a best result of 18th place.(Viva Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #55 team paint schemes page.(10-29-2014)

  • Mackena Bell to make Nationwide debut at Phoenix: Have you ever wanted to sponsor a big-time race car? Well, now's your chance to sponsor a NASCAR Nationwide racer in one of the final races of the 2014 season. Carson City's own Mackena Bell, who started racing an Outlaw Kart at 11 years old at Champion Speedway, will make her debut in one of NASCAR's premier touring series on Nov. 8. Bell will drive the Rick Ware Racing #23 Chevy Camaro in the NASCAR Nationwide series DAV200 "Honoring America's Veterans" race at Phoenix International Raceway. Bell will be one of only a few female drivers to compete in the Nationwide series, following in the footsteps of Patty Moise, Erin Crocker, Joanna Long, Jennifer Jo Cobb, and Danica Patrick, who's now a Sprint Cup regular. Bell is also the only female graduate of NASCAR's Drive for Diversity Program to race in the Nationwide series. This is an important career move for Bell, who has been running in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East the past two seasons. It means she will be certified by NASCAR to run bigger tracks, something that makes her more valuable to teams in the ARCA, Camping World Truck, and Nationwide series. But in order to do this, she needs funding.(Nevada Appeal)(10-29-2014)

  • Contreras to make 100th NASCAR start this weekend: A week after watching his nephew make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Martinsville, Carlos Contreras will exchange a radio for a steering wheel and compete in Saturday's O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway. More importantly, Contreras' start on Saturday will reach a huge milestone for the Hispanic racer. By taking the green flag in the final stretch of the NASCAR Nationwide Series season, Contreras will have competed in 100 national series races across the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the NASCAR Nationwide Series, dating back to 1999. RaceTrac will adorn the hood of the #87 Chevy Camaro as the primary marketing partner in Contreras' 13th race of the season.(Rick Ware Racing)(10-29-2014)

  • Toyota can clinch in Texas: Toyota can clinch its second consecutive NCWTS manufacturer championship if its top-finishing driver places seventh or better in Friday's WinStar World Casino and Resort 350. A competitor in the truck series since 2004, Toyota boasts six manufacturer titles.(NASCAR)(10-29-2014)

  • Young honoring hospital that saved his father's life: Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender, Tyler Young, will carry the colors of Baylor All Saints Medical Center on board the #02 Chevy Silverado for Friday night's WinStar World Casino and Resort 350k at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. Young, who hails from Midland, Texas, about 315 miles from the 1.5-mile tri-oval, has a reason to celebrate as he heads into the 20th race on the 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule at his home track. October, 2014 commemorates five years ago that Randy Young, Tyler's father and the owner of Young's Motorsports, had an unexpected health issue and the entire Young's family found themselves in a different type of race - the race for life. Randy needed a liver transplant. In March, 2009, doctors diagnosed Randy with primary biliary cirrhosis of the liver and he was immediately put on the transplant list. In October, 2009, the father of three received his liver transplant at Baylor Simmons Transplant Institute at Baylor All Saints Medical Center. This weekend, the #02 Young's Motorsports team will pay tribute to the Fort Worth, Texas hospital, specifically the Baylor Annette C. and Harold C. Simmons Transplant Institute at Baylor All Saints Medical Center, for the care Randy received before and after his transplant. Young, who has three starts in the "Lone Star State," including his first top-15 finish (June, 2014) hopes to "treat" his dad to his first top-10 finish of the season in Friday night's Halloween special.(See an image of the truck on the #02 Team Paint Schemes page)(Young's Motorsports)(10-29-2014)

  • Nemechek showcasing co-owner's company in Texas with sportier scheme: Joe Nemechek will pilot a new sporty version of the SWMTX.com #8 Tundra at Texas this weekend and looks to improve on his season-best finish of third that came at TMS in June. Nemechek has six top-five and seven top-10 finishes in 43 starts at TMS including a NASCAR Nationwide Series win in March of 2003. Nemechek will carry the banner of co-owner Sid Mauldin's company, SWM Gun Runner and SWMTX.com. SWM International, Inc. is a premier manufacturing facility in Pampa, TX that specializes in the custom design and development of the highest quality oil field completion tools. This includes the best oil well perforating guns in the industry. Mauldin's passion for being at the forefront of technology has given the company cutting-edge machines and production capabilities unsurpassed by any other company in this industry. The shop also produces suspension and frame parts for the NASCAR market. (See an image of the truck on the #8 Team Paint Schemes page)(SWM NEMCO Motorsports)(10-29-2014)

  • Different look for Sauter in Texas: For the sixth time this season, Johnny Sauter will carry the colors of Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff, America's original and best-selling tobacco-free chew. The smokeless brand comes in seven flavors and pouches and this weekend the #98 Toyota Tundra will trade-in its Wintergreen colors to showcase "Peach," a tangy, sweet and juicy flavor - just in time for Halloween. In 12 starts at TMS, Sauter has two poles, has led 224 laps and swept both NCWTS races in 2012.(See an image of the truck on the #98 Team Paint Schemes page)(ThorSport Racing)(10-29-2014)

  • March Phoenix Tickets on sale: Phoenix International Raceway announced tickets for its 2015 spring race weekend, headlined by the Camping World 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race are on-sale. Tickets start at just $25 and can be purchased by visiting PhoenixRaceway.com or by calling 866-408-RACE (7223). When NASCAR announced the 2015 schedule in August, it included a change in PIR's spring race date. The Camping World 500 race weekend is now the fourth race of the NASCAR season and will take place March 13-15, 2015. That date coincides with Spring Break for nearly every school district and college in Arizona, making the Camping World 500 an ideal entertainment destination. The event weekend also features the NASCAR XFINITY Series 200 race on Saturday, March 14 and the Toyota 120 NASCAR Toyota Mexico Series race on Friday, March 13. Tickets for Friday's Toyota 120 race also include admission to Gatorade Pole Qualifying for the Camping World 500. Race fans can take advantage of PIR's 'Value Pricing' period through December 31 and receive a $5 discount off of the face value of most seats by purchasing their tickets for the races during the Camping World 500 event weekend early. Beginning January 1, 2015, ticket prices will return to regular pricing, with event week pricing going into effect on Monday, March 9. Race fans who wish to secure their seats for the entire 2015 PIR schedule can also purchase season tickets, which start at $99.(PIR)(10-29-2014)


    News from October 28, 2014

  • Homestead testing UPDATE: Five teams will test at Homestead-Miami Speedway next Tuesday and Wednesday (Oct. 28-29): Stewart Haas Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Team Penske, Roush Fenway Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing.(NASCAR)(10-24-2014)
    UPDATE: Six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams and more than 15 of the top NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars are slated to test at Homestead-Miami Speedway tomorrow, Oct. 28, with an optional testing day on Wednesday Oct. 29. Testing will run from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Seven of the eight drivers in the Eliminator Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup are set to test their cars at Homestead-Miami Speedway in preparation of competing at the Ford EcoBoost 400, where the Championship 4 drivers will compete for the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship. Testing will be open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the infield Pit Road Cabanas. Fans may enter and park in the parking lot on SW 336th Street and 137th Ave and take a tram to the infield to watch testing. Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase in the infield in the Pit Box.
    NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Teams Testing
    #2 - Brad Keselowski, Team Penske*
    #22 - Joey Logano, Team Penske*
    #5 - Kasey Kahne, Hendrick Motorsports
    #24 - Jeff Gordon, Hendrick Motorsports*
    #88 - Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Hendrick Motorsports
    #48 - Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports
    #16 - Greg Biffle, Roush Fenway Racing
    #17 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Racing
    #99 - Carl Edwards, Roush Fenway Racing*
    #11 - Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing*
    #18 - Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing
    #20 - Matt Kenseth, Joe Gibbs Racing*
    #14 - Tony Stewart, Stewart-Haas Racing
    #4 - Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing*
    #41 - Kurt Busch, Stewart-Haas Racing
    *Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers in the Eliminator Round. #31-Newman is the Chase driver not testing.(HMS)(10-28-2014)

  • Gordon delivers millionth meal for Drive To End Hunger to 89-year-old race fan: As a four-time Sprint Cup champion and one of the most recognized and popular drivers in NASCAR, Jeff Gordon admits he "gets to do a lot of really cool things." On Thursday [Oct 23rd], Gordon was able to do another "really cool thing," but it was also extremely meaningful in the process, delivering the one millionth meal served by one of Gordon's key sponsors, the Drive To End Hunger. On his way to Martinsville Speedway, Gordon stopped by the house of 89-year-old Freida Evans, who lives not far from the speedway in Stoneville, NC. "It's opened my eyes so much to this cause and how many millions of people are dealing with hunger issues in America," Gordon said during Friday's weekly media availability at Martinsville. "Yesterday was definitely one of the highlights. A woman named Freida (Evans) ... relies on Meals on Wheels to deliver her meals every day. She's the classic story of individuals who need those meals desperately because she worked so hard to feed her family throughout her whole life and gave everything for them. And now, she relies on those meals. And it was pretty cool to be able to deliver that one-millionth meal for Meals on Wheels to her in the state of North Carolina." Gordon didn't just drop off the meal. He spent a significant amount of time talking and visiting with Evans, who confided she watched him race on TV this past Sunday at Talladega.(NBC Sports)(10-28-2014)

  • Gordon's driver's ed teacher killed in crash: A retired Indiana school principal who was #24-Jeff Gordon's driver's education teacher was killed with his wife in a Tennessee crash while returning from watching Gordon race at Matinsville, VA. Officials say 78-year-old Larry Sparks and 77-year-old Jacqueline Sparks of Pittsboro, Indiana, died in Monday's crash. WBIR-TV reports their recreational vehicle went off Interstate 75 near Jellico, Tennessee, and ran into a tree. Larry Sparks was a teacher and principal at Tri-West High School near Indianapolis and his wife was a retired elementary teacher. District superintendent Rusty King tells WTHR-TV that Sparks loved telling people about being Gordon's driving instructor. Gordon posted Facebook messages saying he was saddened by Sparks' death.(Associated Press)(10-28-2014)

  • Plea deal for Tyler Walker in chase: A former NASCAR driver accused of leading police on a 150-mph chase through parts of Nevada, Arizona and Utah last year is expected to take a plea deal Tuesday. Utah Highway Patrol troopers arrested 35-year-old Timothy Tyler Andrew Walker in January 2013 near St. George to end a chase that began in Nevada and crossed into Arizona before reaching Utah. They reported finding methamphetamine, marijuana and vodka in the car. Walker has pleaded not guilty to the DUI and drug charges filed in Utah. A hearing has been set for Tuesday morning in St. George to discuss a plea deal on the table. Walker competed in 28 NASCAR races before the association suspended him in 2007 for violating its drug policy.(Associated Press)(10-28-2014)

  • Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau on the #51: HScott Motorsports announced that the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau has returned to HScott Motorsports for the Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau sponsored HScott Motorsports and the #51 driven by Kyle Larson in last year's November race at TMS. The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau is an independent, non-profit organization that promotes Dallas as a business and pleasure destination. Dallas is the ninth-largest city in the nation and is part of the fourth-largest metropolitan area. Each year, more than 30 million people visit the area, making the surrounding metropolitan area the top visitor destination in Texas.(HScott Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #51 team paint schemes page.(10-28-2014)

  • NASCAR sends memo to teams about Ebola: NASCAR sent a memo to teams [Monday], sharing guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outlining the transmission of the Ebola virus. All three NASCAR National Series travel to Texas Motor Speedway this weekend. Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas has treated at least two Ebola patients in recent weeks, raising concern in come corners over the safety of teams, officials and fans. The memo confirmed that Ebola can be contracted only by traveling to countries where there are outbreaks in progress, by coming into physical contact with individuals who have treated Ebola patients or by "coming into contact with someone who recently traveled from West Africa AND has symptoms of Ebola." The memo says NASCAR will "continue to closely monitor the situation and remain in communication with our group of consulting physicians as well as our track partners and local public health officials." The sanctioning body did not recommend any changes to the daily routines for drivers or crewmembers, who come in regular contact with large numbers of fans.(Godfather Motorsports)(10-27-2014)

  • NASCAR Numbers:
    33: Kevin Harvick's point deficit to Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup leader Jeff Gordon after contact from Matt Kenseth rocketed Harvick into the outside wall on Lap 228 at Martinsville. Last in the Chase standings, Harvick likely faces a must-win scenario at Texas or Phoenix to keep his title hopes alive.
    10: The number of top-five finishes recorded by Chase driver Joey Logano in the last 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. During that stretch, Logano has won twice in the Chase and earned four other top fives in seven Chase races. His worst finish in the last 14 races was 14th at Atlanta.
    4: The number of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories recorded this season by Dale Earnhardt Jr., the first time Earnhardt has won more than one race in a year since collecting a career-best six victories in 2004. Earnhardt added to his stellar year on Sunday with his first career win at Martinsville.
    4: The finishing position of Tony Stewart in the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 on Sunday at Martinsville. Staying out on old tires for a restart with five laps left, Stewart surrendered the lead on Lap 497 of 500 but held fourth at the finish for his best result since March at Bristol.
    5: The current number of consecutive top-10 finishes posted by Chase driver Ryan Newman, who has remained in contention for the championship with solid, consistent performances. Newman has run eighth, sixth, seventh, fifth and third in the last five Chase races.(NASCAR Wire Service)(10-28-2014)

  • Top 10 Driver Ratings at Texas:
    #20-Matt Kenseth 106.1
    #48-Jimmie Johnson 103.6
    #16-Greg Biffle 102.2
    #18-Kyle Busch. 102.2
    #14-Tony Stewart 99.2
    #99-Carl Edwards 96.9
    #11-Denny Hamlin 93.8
    #15-Clint Bowyer 92.7
    #24-Jeff Gordon 92.3
    #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr 90.4
    Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2014 races (19 total) among active drivers at Texas 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)

  • Crescent Companies joins Clements at Texas UPDATE: Crescent Companies will serve as the primary sponsor of the #51 Chevy for Jeremy Clements and Jeremy Clements Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway. Crescent Companies is a diversified independent oilfield service company that operates through two primary business segments, Crescent Services and Crescent Consulting. Crescent Services is focused on fluid logistics and provides high and low volume water transfer services to facilitate drilling and hydraulic fracturing operations by pumping water directly to the well site.(Clements Racing PR)(10-27-2014)
    UPDATE: Jeremy Clements and Jeremy Clements Racing will be paying tribute to the two Canadian soldiers - Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Corporal Nathan Cirillo - who lost their lives as a result of two separate fatal terrorist attacks last week. The names of both soldiers will appear on the #51 Crescent Companies Chevrolet for the NASCAR Nationwide Series O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend. Clements has multiple family members in the Montreal area and throughout Canada, as well as JCR Team member who resides in Toronto. The tragedy that struck Canada last week and the loss of both soldiers impacted the entire team. Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent served in the Canadian military for 28 years and was working with the Canadian Armed Forces Joint Personnel Support Unit, which provides support services to the families of fallen soldiers and to ill and injured active and former military personnel and their families, when he was fatally struck by a vehicle in a parking lot on October 20, 2014 by a suspected terrorist. Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, 24, a reservist based out of Hamilton, Ontario, was fatally shot while performing the duties of a sentry at the National War Memorial on October 22, 2014 by another suspected terrorist. An authorized trust fund set has been set-up for Cirillo's 6 year old son via TD Bank by Lt. Col. Rick Kennedy, chair of the Argyll Regimental Foundation.(Clements Racing PR)(10-28-2014)

  • Bit-O-Honey sponsoring Chris Buescher: Chris Buescher heads to his home track of Texas Motor Speedway this weekend. Buescher's home town of Prosper is located just under an hour away from the 1.5-mile track. The #60 Ford Mustang carries the Bit-O-Honey colors this weekend. The honey flavored taffy and almond candy was first manufactured in 1924 and is now produced by Pearson Candy Company in Minneapolis.(Roush Fenway Racing), see an image of the car on the #60 team paint schemes page.(10-28-2014)

  • Austin Dillon in the #33 at Texas: Austin Dillon will pilot the #33 in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway. Grainger joins Dillon and the #33 team in the Nationwide Series team this weekend. Grainger is a distributor of more than 1.2 million products used to maintain, repair or operate facilities. Millions of organizations worldwide rely on Grainger for safety gloves, ladders, cutting tools, motors, hand tools, janitorial supplies, fasteners and much more.(RCR)(10-28-2014)

  • Berryhill ready for Texas: Tanner Berryhill will be competing at Texas in the Vision Racing Toyota Camry #17 with sponsorship from New Gulf Resources, Excel Sports Therapy and Nuke Optics. The hood of the car will also feature the Scholarship Foundation of a former fallen racer and personal friend of the Berryhill family, Donny Ray Crawford.(Berryhill PR)(10-28-2014)

  • The Motorsports Group selling Nationwide team: Curtis Key's The Motorsports Group is closing their NASCAR Nationwide team (#40 and #46) at the end of the season and moving to Sprint Cup next year. All assets of the team are for sale.(TMG)(10-28-2014)

  • Texas names race dignitaries: A distinguished but diverse group from varying arenas, ranging from the iconic Harlem Globetrotters to Texas Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott, will serve as the dignitaries for Sunday's AAA Texas 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Eliminator 8 race at Texas Motor Speedway. The Harlem Globetrotters, known for their basketball wizardry and antics around the world since being formed in 1926, have been named the Grand Marshals of the AAA Texas 500 and will have the honor of giving the start command to the 43-driver Sprint Cup Series field. Anthony "Buckets" Blakes will give the command, but will be joined by teammates Jonte "Too Tall" Hall, Kris "Hi-Lite" Bruton, Shane "Scooter" Christensen and Will "Bull" Bullard at the stage with a unique presentation planned. The Globetrotters also will be performing three shows Sunday for speedway season ticket holders on a basketball floor set up in the Nationwide Series garage during the "No Limits" Garage Party presented by WinStar World Casino & Resort.
    Abbott, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, is vying to succeed retiring Rick Perry as the next Governor of Texas and pays a visit to Texas Motor Speedway just two days before the Nov. 4 election. Abbott, a native Texan who has spent his career fighting for conservative values, was re-elected as the 50th Attorney General of Texas in 2010. Prior to serving three terms as Attorney General, he served as a Justice on the Texas Supreme Court and as a State District Judge in Harris County. Abbott's pre-race role will involve the Boys Scouts as he will lead a contingent of more than 30 scouts and the NASCAR crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance prior to the invocation and National Anthem.
    Texas Rangers pitcher Derek Holland will serve as the honorary pace car driver and have the rare opportunity to drive the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro SS that leads the 43-car field to the green flag for the start of the AAA Texas 500.
    Rounding out the dignitaries is David Tiger, who will serve as the Honorary Starter and wave the green flag from the flag stand to start the AAA Texas 500. Tiger, a branch manager at the Houston Memorial offices of AAA Texas, earned the position through a AAA Texas employee recognition event where colleagues and employees nominated him for the honor based on his commitment, professionalism and diligence during his career.(TMS)(10-28-2014)

  • North East Motor Sports Museum to be built at NHMS: The south entrance of New Hampshire Motor Speedway will begin to take on a new look once the snow melts. Speedway officials announced plans to break ground there for the future home of the 20,000 square foot state-of-the-art North East Motor Sports Museum. The museum will be built in two phases. The first 10,000 square feet will begin in the spring of 2015, while an additional 10,000 square feet will be added at a later date. New Hampshire Motor Speedway will be celebrating a quarter century of racing in 2015. Tracing its roots back to the original 1/5-mile dirt oval at Bryar Motorsports Park, the more modernized 1.058-mile oval and 1.6-mile road course of today gives the affectionately known Magic Mile its own rich history of racing that makes it the perfect locale for such a project. The speedway currently hosts everything from NASCAR's three major touring series to regional series like the American-Canadian Tour, K&N Pro Series East, and Whelen Modified Tour to local racing series like the Granite State Legends Cars, Bandoleros, and Loudon Road Race Series (motorcycles). IndyCar and the Global RallyCross Championship have also held events at the speedway over the years, as well as various car clubs, racing schools, and driving experiences. The RHPG, the parent corporation for the NEMSM, is made up of local prominent motorsports personalities, including Dick Berggren, Ricky Craven, Lew Boyd, Joe Freeman, Ken Smith, Russ Conway and Ric Mariscal to name a few. The NEMSM will be used to house the history of motorsports from the Northeast area with a plethora of displays, vehicles and racing-related artifacts. To learn more about the North East Motor Sports Museum or to donate, visit the museum website at www.nemsmuseum.com.(NHMS)(10-28-2014)


    News from October 27, 2014

  • Entry List for the AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway is posted, 43 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including: #21-Bayne, #32-Gase, #33-Stremme, #66-Moffitt, #83-Yeley, #95-McDowell.
    Since only 43 cars are entered, all drivers will make the race.
    See the full entry list at my Jayski.com's Texas Entry List

  • Craven to remain with ESPN: Former NASCAR Sprint Cup race winner Ricky Craven has agreed to a new contract and will remain with ESPN as NASCAR analyst for SportsCenter and other ESPN news platforms. Craven, who started with ESPN as an analyst in 2008, will make regular appearances in the ESPN studio around NASCAR Sprint Cup races and to analyze breaking news as warranted. ESPN is in its final year of televising live NASCAR racing. "Our news and information platforms will continue to provide NASCAR fans with coverage of the sport and insightful analysis going forward," said Michael Shiffman, senior coordinating producer, SportsCenter. "Ricky Craven has proven to be a valuable voice and analyst and we are very happy that he is remaining part of the ESPN team into the future."
    As the 2014 NASCAR season heads toward the finish line, NASCAR fans will see Craven and hear his analysis on SportsCenter on the day before, day of and day after each of the three remaining races in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. "I'm completing my seventh year with ESPN and I've been challenged and rewarded," said Craven. "I've thoroughly enjoyed my experience and greatly appreciate the vote of confidence."(ESPN)(10-27-2014)

  • Harvick not happy with Kenseth after Martinsville wreck: #4-Kevin Harvick put #20-Matt Kenseth on notice at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday. Harvick told reporters following the Goody's 500, "He will not win this championship. I can promise you that." On Lap 228, Kenseth bounced off the back of Denny Hamlin, slowed and wheel-hopped, then clipped Harvick and sent the #4 Chevy spinning into the wall in Turn 2. Tony Stewart was also collected in the melee but recovered and finished fourth. Harvick was forced to retire to the garage for repairs and didn't return until 40 laps later. He restarted in 40th, 41 laps off of the pace. Harvick, who started 33rd moved up into the top 10 on Lap 113. When Harvick returned to the track, he brake-checked Kenseth "four or five times" according to the driver of the #20, who added, "he's trying to knock my radiator out."
    "I don't blame (Harvick) for feeling that way, honestly," Kenseth said. "It was a mistake - he was an innocent bystander and was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I totally understand how he feels and I totally understand why he would say that. I totally get it. He knows it was a mistake, too, but that doesn't really help him. I don't really blame him. He got taken out of the race for being in the wrong place at the wrong time."
    Harvick finished 33rd. Although he tried to take the situation in stride, he was clearly frustrated. "The good thing about this format is you have two more weeks and two race tracks that we can win on," Harvick said. "Everybody was so worried about us starting in the back and we wrecked at the front. Unfortunate."(Motorsport)(10-27-2014)

  • Kahne and Vickers disagree on actions of one another: In the case of #5-Kasey Kahne vs. #55-Brian Vickers, it's he said, he said. Kahne claims innocence, while Vickers didn't hesitate in his accusations. The two drivers were involved in a Lap-161 incident that left Vickers without a hood on his car and looking for payback. Kahne, feeling pressure from leader Jeff Gordon, caught Vickers in the left-rear corner panel of his car in Turn 4, sending the #55 around and into the inside wall. The Hendrick Motorsports driver said he had no intention of spinning Vickers, but that Vickers was using every lane that he could, coming close to hitting Kahne earlier in the lap in Turn 2. "I was passing him and he ran me into the Turn 2 wall or he was going to, so I lifted. Then he blocked into 3, so I turned to go low and then he comes low and spun himself out," Kahne said after being released from the infield care center for an unrelated incident on Lap 438. Vickers disagreed. "He definitely wrecked us on purpose the first time, I mean look at the video," Vickers said. "He just hooked us in the bumper and just wrecked us, I don't know why."
    Vickers showed his displeasure 61 laps later. Going into Turn 1 and with Kahne on his outside, Vickers veered his car to the right and into Kahne's #5 Chevy. Kahne spun and hit the outside wall and would go to the garage for repairs until Lap 253. It only took 25 laps for Kahne to find Vickers again, turning him around in Turn 2 with 222 laps to go. Vickers was heard on the radio saying "we could do this all day." However, any further retaliation was squashed by a warning issued by NASCAR.(Sporting News)(10-27-2014)

  • Martinsville 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 at 1:30 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 5:51 PM (all times are EST). ESPN was the broadcast team for this event.
    Total number of commercials: 138
    Total number of companies or entities advertised: 53
    Number of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 80
    Total number of companies or entities advertised: 42
    Number of 'Side-by-Side' commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 58
    Total number of companies or entities advertised: 26
    Number of times ESPN utilized 'Side-by-Side' commercials during this broadcast: 11
    Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast (including company logos 'floating' in corners of the screen): 147
    Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 5 min. 35 sec.
    Start time to record race/commercial periods: 1:30 PM
    End time to record race/commercial periods: 5:51 PM
    Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 261
    Minutes of race broadcast: 225
    Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 36
    Minutes of 'Side-by-Side' commercials (split-screen): 24
    Number of missed restarts: 0
    Number of 'mystery cautions' (debris not shown): 0
    Total race brdcst time 225 Total comm. brdcst time 36
    See past races, links to full reports and sponsor links and more on the 2014 TV Commercials page.(10-27-2014)

  • Crescent Companies joins Clements at Texas: Crescent Companies will serve as the primary sponsor of the #51 Chevy for Jeremy Clements and Jeremy Clements Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway. Crescent Companies is a diversified independent oilfield service company that operates through two primary business segments, Crescent Services and Crescent Consulting. Crescent Services is focused on fluid logistics and provides high and low volume water transfer services to facilitate drilling and hydraulic fracturing operations by pumping water directly to the well site.(Clements Racing PR)(10-27-2014)

  • Congrats: to #14-Eric McClure and his wife Miranda. They announced Miranda is pregnant via a YouTube video. It will be their 6th child.(10-27-2014)

  • Nationwide Entry List: There are 42 cars on the preliminary entry list for Saturday's O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway. A few notes:
    Ryan Blaney will drive the Penske #12;
    Austin Dillon will drive the #33 for RCR;
    Chad Boat will be in the #84;
    Carlos Contreras will drive the #87;
    Morgan Shepherd is entered in his #89;
    Corey LaJoie returns to the #98.(10-27-2014)
    See the complete list on the Texas entry list page.

  • Tweaker sponsoring Bliss at Texas: TriStar Motorsports announced that Tweaker Energy Shots will be back on board the #19 Camry this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. The #19 Camry will feature a new paint scheme during the O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge on November 1st. Tweaker Energy Shots new flavor, Extra Strength Green Apple, will adorn Bliss's Camry. This new flavor can be found at most convenient stores and grocery stores.(TriStar Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #19 team paint schemes page.(10-27-2014)

  • Goody's to sponsor Earnhardt, Jr. in one 2015 race: Goody's announced that it is expanding its partnership with Dale Earnhardt Jr., the most popular driver in NASCAR. The expanded partnership marks the first time Earnhardt-who has been a spokesperson for Goody's for the past two years-will drive a Goody's-sponsored car. Beginning in 2015, and extending through 2017, Earnhardt will drive the #88 Goody's car in one race each year in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. "It has been a pleasure having Dale Jr. as a partner on the Goody's team," said Joseph Juliano, brand director for Goody's. "His success on the track and his commitment to his fans is an inspiration to all of us. We're thrilled he won our sponsored race at Martinsville-it is the perfect start to our expanded partnership."(JR Motorsports)(10-27-2014)

  • Whataburger returns to sponsor Starr at Texas: David Starr will partner once again with San Antonio, Texas-based Whataburger for the O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway. Starr will be behind the wheel of the #44 Whataburger Toyota Camry for TriStar Motorsports on November 1st. Earlier this season, Starr piloted the #44 Whataburger Camry at Texas Motor Speedway and brought home a 15th place finish. With over 40 starts across NASCAR's top three national series at the 1.5-mile speedway, Starr is ready to race this weekend at his home track.(TriStar Motorsports)(10-27-2014)

  • Truck Series Texas Entry list: There are 29 trucks on the preliminary entry list for Saturday's WinStar World Casino 350 at Texas Motor Speedway. A few notes:
    Caleb Roark in the #0;
    Cameron Hayley in the #30;
    The #35 is TBA;
    Blake Koch is in the #36;
    The #9 and #20 NTS teams are not on the initial entry list, but expected;
    (10-27-2014)
    See the complete list on the Texas entry list page.

  • Shelton leaves TSM UPDATE: Hearing that Michael Shelton has left Turner Scott Motorsports where he served as crew chief on the #31 Chevy driven by Ben Kennedy in the Camping World Truck Series. Shelton led the 31 team and driver James Buescher to the championship in 2012. Doug George, who had been calling the shots for the now closed #30 team will move to the 31 with rookie Kennedy.(9-5-2014)
    UPDATE: Shelton is listed as the crew chief for John Wes Townley on the entry list for Texas Motor Speedway on the #05 Zaxby's Toyota, replacing Mike Beam.(10-27-2014)


    News from October 26, 2014

  • Earnhardt, Jr. wins at Martinsville: #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway for his 4th win of the season, 1st at Martinsville and his 23rd career win. He took the lead from #14-Stewart with 3 laps to go. Stewart had stayed out after a late race caution while Earnhardt and most of the leaders pitted.
    #24-Gordon finished 2nd followed by #31-Newman, #14-Stewart, #22-Logano, #20-Kenseth, #15-Bowyer, #11-Hamlin. #47-Allmendinger, and #34-Ragan.
    Polesitter #1-McMurray finished 16th.
    Among the Chase drivers, #4-Harvick suffered damage after contact with #20-Kenseth. He had to go behind the wall for repairs and finished 33rd. #2-Keselowski broke an axle with less than 70 laps to go and finished 31st.
    There were 24 lead changes among 11 drivers. There were 15 cautions for 105 yellow flag laps. The race was red flagged twice, one on lap 436 for nearly 11 minutes and on lap 490 for almost 9 minutes, both for track cleanup after accidents.
    The average speed was 70.725mph.
    See unofficial race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Unofficial Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Penalty Report (pdf) and Lap Summary Report (pdf).
    (10-26-2014)

  • Where the 2014 Sprint Cup Chase Drivers finished at Martinsville:
    [listed by driver chase points position before the race](started)
    1) #22-Joey Logano, 5th (2)
    2) #4-Kevin Harvick, 33rd (33)
    3) #31-Ryan Newman, 3rd (9)
    4) #11-Denny Hamlin, 8th (5)
    5) #20-Matt Kenseth, 6th (3)
    6) #99-Carl Edwards, 20th (11)
    7) #24-Jeff Gordon, 2nd (13)
    8) #2-Brad Keselowski, 31st (6)
    (10-26-2014)

  • Race Fast Facts - Martinsville:
    Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the 66th Annual Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500, his 23rd victory in 538 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
    This is his fourth victory and 18th top-10 finish in 2014. Only in 2004 has Earnhardt won more races (six).
    This is his first victory and 17th top-10 finish in 30 races at Martinsville Speedway. His previous best finish was second (twice, 2008 and 2011).
    Jeff Gordon (second) posted his 35th top-10 finish in 44 races at Martinsville Speedway. It is his 21st top-10 finish in 2014.
    Ryan Newman (third) posted his 12th top-10 finish in 26 races at Martinsville Speedway.
    Jeff Gordon leads the point standings by 3 points over Ryan Newman.
    (NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(10-26-2014)

  • Sprint Cup Driver Chase Standings:
    [after Martinsville, race 33 of 36]
    drivers who win in round 3 automatically advance to the Championship race at Homestead
    1) #24-Jeff Gordon [4 wins] 4044 [+7]
    2) #31-Ryan Newman, 4041, -3 [+4]
    3) #22-Joey Logano [5 wins] 4040, -4 [+3]
    4) #20-Matt Kenseth, 4039, -5 [2 points ahead of 4th]
    5) #11-Denny Hamlin [1 win] 4037, -7 [2 points behind 4th]
    6) #99-Carl Edwards [2 wins] 4024, -20 [-16]
    7) #4-Kevin Harvick [3 wins] 4013, -31 [-27]
    8) #2-Brad Keselowski [6 wins], 4011, -33 [-29]
    Chase drivers eliminated in the first 2 rounds:
    9) #18-Kyle Busch [1 win] 2230
    10) #47-AJ Allmendinger [1 win], 2198
    11) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [4 wins], 2196
    12) #48-Jimmie Johnson [3 wins], 2186
    13) #16-Greg Biffle [1 win], 2178
    14) #5-Kasey Kahne [1 win], 2173
    15) #41-Kurt Busch [1 win], 2155
    16) #43-Aric Almirola [1 win], 2124
    (ties are broken by wins, 2nds, 3rds, etc, with in that round of the Chase)
    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).
    (10-26-2014)

  • Unofficial Top 25 in 2014 Sprint Cup Driver Points Standings (not the Chase):
    [after Martinsville, race 33 of 36]
    (using current points system, but not the Chase rules, unofficial)
    1) #24-Jeff Gordon(C1), 1159
    2) #22-Joey Logano(C3), 1117, -42
    3) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 1070, -89
    4) #2-Brad Keselowski(C7), 1056, -103
    5) #4-Kevin Harvick(C8), 1033, -126
    6) #20-Matt Kenseth(C4), 1032, -127
    7) #31-Ryan Newman(C2), 1031, -128
    8) #99-Carl Edwards(C6), 985, -174
    9) #42-Kyle Larson, 981, -178
    10) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 979, -180
    11) #16-Greg Biffle, 931, -228
    12) #15-Clint Bowyer, 923, -236
    13) #18-Kyle Busch, 914, -245
    14) #3-Austin Dillon, 910, -249
    15) #1-Jamie McMurray, 906, -253
    16) #5-Kasey Kahne, 905, -254
    17) #11-Denny Hamlin(C5), 874, -285
    18) #27-Paul Menard, 856, -303
    19) #55-Brian Vickers, 847, -312
    20) #47-AJ Allmendinger, 806, -353
    21) #41-Kurt Busch, 803, -356
    22) #9-Marcos Ambrose, 802, -357
    23) #78-Martin Truex Jr., 773, -386
    24) #43-Aric Almirola, 749, -410
    25) #13-Casey Mears, 723, -436
    (C# is chase driver and current Chase position)
    (EC is chase driver that has been eliminated from the Chase)
    (10-26-2014)

  • Martinsville Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #3-Dillon, finished 12th, 11 rookie points
    #51-Allgaier 17th, 10
    #26-Whitt, 18th, 9
    #7-Annett, 24th, 8
    #23-Bowman, 29th, 7
    #42-Larson, 30th, 6
    Truex, Did Not Race
    Kligerman, Did Not Race
    See the 2014 Rookie of the Year page for rules, standings and more.(10-26-2014)

  • Martinsville paint schemes: added the #4 Outback, #7 Allstate Peterbuilt, #9 Stanley, #10 Pink GoDaddy, #15 AAA Insurance, #16 Pink 3M, #17 Pit for a Pair, #18 M&Ms Halloween, #23 Dip Your Car, #26 Uponor, #27 Richmond / Menards, #16 Pink 3M, #32 CorvetteParts.net, #33 Circle Sport, #34 Wendell Scott, #36 Zing Zang, #38 A&W All-American Food, #40 Newtown Building Supplies, #44 Phoenix Warehouse, #51 Auto-Owners Insurance, #66 Testoril, #83 Dip Your Car, #93 Burger King, #98 Phil Parsons Racing, and #99 Ford Ecoboost.(10-25-2014)

  • Logano, Patrick talk about Charlotte wreck UPDATE: On Oct. 11 at Charlotte, contact from Joey Logano's Ford turned the #10 Chevy of Danica Patrick and ruined her night. Patrick's immediate instinct was to get revenge, but she realized that wrecking Logano at Charlotte would have no impact on his run for the championship since Logano had won on the previous weekend at Kansas and was guaranteed a spot in the Chase's Eliminator Round. Martinsville, site of Sunday's Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500, is another matter. With points reset, and with the remaining eight Chase drivers entering the race on equal footing, revenge could be devastating. That's why Logano has taken measures to ensure Martinsville won't become a payback track. "We've actually talked about it since then, and I feel like we've come to a good conclusion of what happened there," Logano said. "That's in the past. That's in the mirror, and we'll move forward." From Logano's point of view, the hatchet is buried, but the driver of the #22 Team Penske Ford still has to hope that Patrick doesn't decide to bury it in his back.(NASCAR Wire Service)(10-22-2014)
    UPDATE: Things may not be as rosy between Danica Patrick and Joey Logano as Logano believes. Logano said earlier this week he had smoothed things over with Patrick and did not expect retaliation over an incident earlier this month between the two at Charlotte. Patrick cautioned Saturday she will not be pushed around by Logano or anyone else on the race track. "If he keeps proving that he's sorry, then everything will be fine," Patrick said in a measured tone. Patrick said Logano was contrite, but didn't sound Saturday as if that was enough. "When we talked, he wanted to say sorry for a few things and he said 'I don't expect you to do anything different but I just wanted to let you know that I was sorry,'" she said. "And I said 'Ok.' Look, it's not my style to want to start a fight, but I have to stand up for myself at some point in time." Patrick also gave Logano a message that she believed he heard loud and clear based on how he treated her in Saturday's practice. "I told him 'If you see me in your mirrors, you can get me out of your mirrors or you can leave me there and one is more dangerous than the others,'" she said. "That's what I told him. So he pointed me by in practice before it was too late today. That was a good start."(Associated Press)(10-26-2014)

  • Martinsville Notes & Facts - Sunday - race:
    " There have been 131 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway, one in the inaugural year and two races per year since 1950.
    " The deepest in the field that a race winner has started was 36th, by Kurt Busch in the fall of 2002.
    " There have been five NSCS green-white-checkered finishes at Martinsville Speedway: fall 2007 (500/506), fall 2008 (500/504), fall 2009 (500/501), spring 2010 (500/508), and spring 2012 (500/515).
    " 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers have posted consecutive wins at Martinsville Speedway. Fred Lorenzen won four NSCS races straight (the most) from the fall of 1963 through the spring of 1965.
    " All eight active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers who have won at Martinsville Speedway participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Tony Stewart won at Martinsville with the fewest previous appearances (three).
    " Ryan Newman competed at Martinsville Speedway 20 times before winning in the spring of 2012; the longest span of any the eight active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners.
    " Four drivers have made eight or more attempts before their first win at Martinsville Speedway: Kevin Harvick (19) and Ryan Newman (20).
    " Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway is the 4/1/2007 race won by Jimmie Johnson with a MOV of 0.065 second.
    (NASCAR)(10-26-2014)


    News from October 25, 2014

  • Race Coverage of the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is scheduled for Sunday, October 26, 2014.
    Television (TV): FOX at 1:30 pm/et; Pre-Race show at 1:00pm/et; green flag approx. 1:43pm/et
    Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 90
    Scheduled Race Re-Airs: October 27, 1:30am/et on ESPN2

  • Final practice for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over after 50 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
    #4-Harvick 97.322
    #17-Stenhouse, Jr. 97.242
    #2-Keselowski 97.182
    #18-Busch 97.158
    #24-Gordon 97.133
    slowest: #83-Yeley 94.111 & #32-Fowler 93.520. 40 drivers were on track.
    See fastest speeds and laps run on the Martinsville Practice 3 Speeds page (pdf).(10-25-2014)

  • First Saturday practice for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over after 50 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
    #48-Johnson 98.023
    #24-Gordon 97.699
    #78-Truex, Jr. 97.679
    #1-McMurray 97.674
    #4-Harvick 97.664
    slowest: #32-Fowler 94.115 & #98-Wise 94.055. no speed: #93-Rogers
    See fastest speeds and laps run on the Martinsville Practice 2 Speeds page (pdf).(10-25-2014)

  • Johnson open to team changes next season; except crew chief: #48-Jimmie Johnson talked to the media Friday at Martinsville Speedway:
    WE'RE INTERESTED TO KNOW YOUR MINDSET OVER THESE FOUR RACES. YOU CAN'T DEFEND YOUR CHAMPIONSHIP BUT YOU CAN CERTAINLY WIN RACES.
    The mindset is simple. We want to close out the year well and finish as high as we can in points. We want to win races. That's what we're here for. We did not have a good last three races for a variety of reasons. The results weren't there. Frankly, two of those results would have eliminated us from championship hope (in past years). I felt like at Talladega, we were given a pretty big gift and we came close to taking advantage of that opportunity. We want to do well. We want to win races. At the same time, this does open up an opportunity for us to work on '15 from a personnel standpoint and even from a 2015 test plan. Obviously testing is gone next year, so anything we can do to work on the 2015 package will suit us well. We're not slowing down any. These last four weeks are going to be about as busy as any as we're getting geared up for 2015."
    THE PAIRING OF GREAT DRIVERS AND GREAT CREW CHIEFS IN THE SPORT EVENTUALLY COME TO AN END. DO YOU SEE THE DAY WHEN MAYBE CHAD ISN'T ON YOUR PIT BOX?
    "Yeah, that day is out there. I think a crew chief's lifespan is much shorter than a driver's. They live in dog years and drivers can carry on much longer. I've been accused of being loyal to a fault in the past, that's me. I have no plans or desires to make a change. When Chad decides he's had enough of being the guy on the box, it will be his decision to step down. As far as I'm concerned, we've made it 13 years in this thing. I want to see it go as long as it can. We're honest with each other and know each other well enough to work through the bad times. It might not be pretty, and I'm sure you guys have heard things on the radio that got your attention. We're like family, and we fight like family. We can call each other out on that stuff, and you only hear a piece of it on the radio. There is plenty more that goes on behind closed doors and in meetings. It's more of a timeframe of when Chad says, 'I've put in my time here as crew chief and I need to slow down a little bit.'"(Chevy PR)(10-25-2014)

  • Zippadelli talks about crew swap, possible changes to #14 team: Greg Zipadelli met with the media Friday at Martinsville to discuss the crew swap between the #10 & #41 teams that was announced this week:
    TAKE US THROUGH THE CHANGES THIS WEEK:
    "This week obviously we have made some changes for Texas between the #10 and the #41. We are just basically looking to try to get both teams to be a little more consistent. They have had speed throughout the year, but haven't necessarily put the whole season together all the races at the level that we expect from them. Tony Gibson has got a lot of experience. That group has been with a lot of veteran drivers. We just felt like it was worth moving him over to Kurt (Busch). We feel like his experience and things will help put that group together and get the finishes that we need out of that team. As far as Daniel (Knost) he is a young aggressive, very smart engineer. Danica (Patrick) is used to more of that dealing with the engineers from her background. She actually, a while ago, talked about having the opportunity to work with a younger engineer and build the relationship over time. I just kind of feel like it was the time to do it. We have three races with us not sure what the testing policy is for next year. This is a good opportunity for us to switch things up for Texas. The last three races and just see how things go."
    DANIEL (KNOST) IS THE INTERIM DOES HE HAVE THREE RACES TO EARN THAT JOB?
    "No, we just have a lot of things going at Stewart-Haas. We have a lot of people moving here this fall. I would like to believe that Daniel will have that position. I think it is just kind of wait and see, Danica how she works with him and how they get along. Then with Haas F1 Matt (Borland) moving over there we have got a lot of things moving in our company. Daniel is going to be with SHR for a long period of time. It's not a matter of whether he doesn't do a good job there. He has done a great job. We really fed him to the wolves. He was a guy without a lot of experience. He won a race, made the Chase, it's just been and up and down year. I think he has a lot of potential, we put him with Danica. I think they have got the opportunity to learn and grow together as Danica continues to grow every week. Like I said Kurt and (Tony) Gibson have a lot of experience in the past and hopefully the experience the two of them have we can put that together and make a pretty solid team."
    ANYTHING COMING FOR THE #14?
    "The #14 car is a different subject. These guys have gone through a lot. Chad (Johnston) has come in, new engineer, they are trying to learn each other plus deal with the situations they have gone through. We are looking at that situation completely different right now and we haven't quite got to the end of what we are doing there. If changes need to be done we are just really trying to get that group to bond to work together to figure out what Tony (Stewart) needs. They went to this rules package and a lot of these things. They missed a lot of the testing last year with his (Tony Stewart's) broken leg, this year with the incident that he had. That is a completely different element that I really don't want to get into today."(Chevy PR)(10-25-2014)

  • Tater Bug's joins Germain as associate at Martinsville: Just a week after the grand opening of their second location, Tater Bug's of Greensboro and Lexington, NC, will be seen by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race fans as an associate sponsor on the #13 GEICO Chevy SS. Tater Bug's is proud to offer the Castrol Edge to their customers in the Piedmont area and Lexington. This is a new offering for Tater Bug's - one they were very proud to announce in mid-September. Last week, Tater Bug's Drive-Thru Oil Change and Quality Automotive Repair opened its second location in Lexington, NC. The NC oil change and repair location enjoys providing Castrol's liquid engineering to customers who visit for the drive-thru oil change service. The company also offers NC State Inspections.(Germain Racing)(10-25-2014)

  • Martinsville Notes & Facts - Saturday - drivers:
    " 599 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville; 376 in more than one.
    " NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty has the all-time most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Martinsville with 67 starts; Jeff Gordon has the most among active drivers with 43.
    " 47 different drivers have won at Martinsville Speedway, led by Richard Petty with 15; Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon lead the series among active drivers with eight wins each.
    " 24 drivers have multiple wins at Martinsville Speedway only five active drivers have multiple wins: Jimmie Johnson (eight), Jeff Gordon (eight), Denny Hamlin (four), Tony Stewart (three) and Kurt Busch (two).
    " Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in wins at Martinsville Speedway with 21.
    " NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the series in runner-up finishes at Martinsville Speedway with seven; Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson lead all active drivers with four each.
    " Richard Petty leads the series in top-five finishes at Martinsville Speedway with 30; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 27, followed by Jimmie Johnson with 18.
    " Richard Petty leads the series in top-10 finishes at Martinsville Speedway with 37; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 34, followed by Jimmie Johnson with 22.
    " Jeff Gordon leads active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Martinsville Speedway with a 7.186. Ryan Newman (9.680) and Denny Hamlin (9.765) are the only two other active drivers with an average starting position at Martinsville inside the top-10.
    " Three active drivers have a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series average finish in the top-10 at Martinsville: Jimmie Johnson (5.200), Jeff Gordon (6.953) and Denny Hamlin (8.765).
    " Jeff Gordon has participated in the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway without a DNF (43).
    " Mike Bliss (09/27/1998), Travis Kvapil (10/24/2004), Michael McDowell (3/30/2008) and Scott Speed (10/19/2008) made their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career starts at Martinsville Speedway.
    " Danica Patrick is the only female driver to compete at Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
    (NASCAR)(10-25-2014)

  • Wallace wins truck race at Martinsville: #34-Darrell Wallace, Jr. started from the pole and won the Kroger 200 at the Martinsville Speedway on Saturday. Wallace, running a special #34 paint scheme in honor of 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Wendell Scott, earned his fourth career Truck Series win. #17-Timothy Peters finished second followed by: points leader #88-Matt Crafton, #51-Erik Jones, #29-Ryan Blaney, #19-Tyler Reddick, #98-Johnny Sauter, #0-Matt Tifft, #32-Alex Guenette, and #77-German Quiroga.
    There were 11 caution flags for 71 laps and 9 lead changes among 5 leaders.
    Complete results are on the Martinsville race results page (pdf).(10-25-2014)

  • Martinsville Race Fast Facts:
    Darrell Wallace Jr., who was running a special paint scheme honoring NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Wendell Scott, won the 16th Annual Kroger 200, his fourth victory in 41 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
    This is his third victory and 12th top-10 finish in 2014.
    This is his second victory and fourth top-five finish in four races at Martinsville Speedway.
    This is Toyota's record-breaking 12th victory at Martinsville Speedway. It is also Toyota's 15th win this season, matching its single-season high (2010).
    Timothy Peters (second) posted his 12th top-10 finish in 18 races at Martinsville Speedway. It is his 11th top-10 finish in 2014.
    Matt Crafton (third) posted his 14th top-10 finish in 26 races at Martinsville Speedway.
    Matt Crafton leads the point standings by 18 points over Ryan Blaney.
    (NASCAR Statistics)(10-25-2013)

  • Driver standings following Martinsville:
    1) #88-Matt Crafton, 716
    2) #29-Ryan Blaney, 698 -18
    3) #54-Darrell Wallace Jr., 694 -22
    4) #98-Johnny Sauter, 676 -40
    5) #17-Timothy Peters, 639 -77
    6) #77-German Quiroga, 608 -108
    7) #21-Joey Coulter, 607 -109
    8) #31-Ben Kennedy #, 590 -126
    9) #13-Jeb Burton, 597 -129
    10) #9-Ron Hornaday Jr., 494 -222
    See complete standings on the driver standings page (pdf).(10-25-2014)

  • Owner Standings following Martinsville are posted (pdf).(10-25-2014)

  • Wallace on truck pole at Martinsville: #34-Darrell Wallace, Jr. will start from the pole for the Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway with a speed of 96.224mph. #17-Timothy Peters will start second, followed by #88-Matt Crafton, #00-Cole Custer, #29-Ryan Blaney, #20-Gray Gaulding, #98-Johnny Sauter, #77-German Quiroga, #13-Jeb Burton, and #19-Tyler Reddick.
    #13-Jeb Burton was quickest in the opening qualifying session at 96.122mph.
    Did Not Qualify: #93-Dustin Hapka and #87-Charles Buchanan, Jr.
    See complete lineup on the Starting lineup (pdf) page.(10-25-2014)

  • Martinsville Qualifying Notes:
    Darrell Wallace Jr. won the Keystone Light Pole Award for the 16th Annual Kroger 200 with a lap of 19.679 seconds, 96.224 mph.
    This is his third pole in 41 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
    This is his second pole and 13th top-10 start in 2014.
    This is his first pole in four races at Martinsville Speedway.
    Timothy Peters (second) posted his 13th top-10 start of 2014 and his 13th in 18 races at Martinsville Speedway.
    Matt Crafton (third) posted his 12th top-10 start at Martinsville Speedway. It is his 14th in 19 races this season.
    Gray Gaulding (sixth) was the fastest qualifying rookie
    (NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(10-24-2014)

  • Hawg Heaven Bacon Nachos available at Texas Motor Speedway: The folks that brought together three important food groups - bacon, beer and ice cream - to create the bacon-infused beer milkshake for its race fans are back at it again with America's meat candy obsession. Bacon lovers will be able to unite Oct. 31-Nov. 2 for the AAA Texas 500 NASCAR tripleheader weekend as Texas Motor Speedway and its official concessionaire Levy Restaurants unveil their latest creation - Hawg Heaven Bacon Nachos - that features bacon in four forms. White nacho bacon cheese sauce, chunks of hickory smoked bacon, candied bacon and bacon powder are incorporated to transform this staple sports venue concession item into a meat lover's delight. Hawg Heaven Bacon Nachos consists of tri-color tortilla chips sprinkled with bacon powder and topped with white cheese bacon nacho sauce, candied bacon, jalapenos, black beans, pico de gallo and sour cream. The item will sell for $8 and only be available at the concession stand on the concourse inside the Gate 4 main grandstand entrance. And what better way for an adult to wash down those tasty bacon-enhanced nachos than with a Texas craft beer. Levy Restaurants will have its Craft Beer Brewery located in section 405 of the concourse near the Gate 4 entrance and offer sixvarieties of Texas craft beers.(TMS)(10-25-2014)


    News from October 24, 2014

  • Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway have been made.
    Pole sitter #1-McMurray chose pit stall 17, the first pit stall in front of it.
    Outside pole sitter #22-Logano took pit stall #2, right behind McMurray.
    #20-Kenseth, who starts 3rd took the 11th pit stall, with an opening in front of it.
    The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #41-Busch, who starts 10th.
    To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(10-24-2014)

  • McMurray wins Martinsville pole: #1-Jamie McMurray won the Coors Light pole for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway with a speed of 99.905mph for his 2nd pole of 2014, 2nd at Martinsville and 11th of his career.
    #22-Logano is on the outside pole, followed by #20-Kenseth, #14-Stewart, #11-Hamlin, #2-Keselowski, #48-Johnson, #18-Busch, #31-Newman, #41-Busch, #99-Edwards, and #15-Bowyer.
    Missing the race were: none, only 43 cars entered.
    See the Starting lineup, round by round qualifying results, notes and links on Jayski.com's Martinsville Starting Lineup / Qualifying Page.(10-24-2014)

  • Where the 2014 Sprint Cup Chase Drivers will start at Martinsville:
    [listed by current driver chase points position]
    1) #22-Joey Logano, 2nd
    2) #4-Kevin Harvick, 33rd
    3) #31-Ryan Newman, 9th
    4) #11-Denny Hamlin, 5th
    5) #20-Matt Kenseth, 3rd
    6) #99-Carl Edwards, 11th
    7) #24-Jeff Gordon, 13th
    8) #2-Brad Keselowski, 6th
    (10-24-2014)

  • Qualifying Fast Facts - Martinsville:
    Jamie McMurray won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 66th Annual Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 with a lap of 18.954 seconds, 99.905 mph.
    This is his 11th pole in 435 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
    This is his second pole and 13th top-10 start in 2014. His first pole of 2014 came at Sonoma. It's the second multi-pole season of his career (2010).
    This is his second pole in 24 races at Martinsville Speedway. He last won the pole at Martinsville in 2011.
    Joey Logano (second) posted his 23rd top-10 start of 2014 and his seventh in 12 races at Martinsville Speedway.
    Matt Kenseth (third) posted his eighth top-10 start at Martinsville Speedway. It is his ninth in 33 races this season.
    (NASCAR Statistics)(10-24-2014)

  • First Round of Qualifying for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over, after 30 minutes..
    #20-Kenseth 99.816
    #1-McMurray 99.490
    #11-Hamlin 99.412
    #48-Johnson 99.198
    #2-Keselowski 99.178
    the rest of the top 12: 15 22 18 31 41 99 14;
    out of the top 12 and not advancing to the final round: 24 27 47 42 55 17 3 13 16 51 88 5 9 78 43 40 34 10 36 23 4 38 98 26 7 93 33 83 44 32 66
    Driver who will miss the race: none, only 43 entered.
    (10-24-2014)

  • Rookie of the Year Candidates Qualifying Results:
    #3-Austin Dillon, starts 19th
    #7-Michael Annett, 37th
    #23-Alex Bowman, 32nd
    #26-Cole Whitt, 36th
    #42-Kyle Larson, 16th
    #51-Justin Allgaier, 22nd
    Ryan Truex, Did not race
    Parker Kligerman, Did not race

  • Friday practice for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is over after 80 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
    #24-Gordon 99.250
    #22-Logano 99.198
    #11-Hamlin 99.141
    #1-McMurray 99.115
    #2-Keselowski 99.069
    slowest: #93-Rogers 94.106 & #32-Fowler 93.952.
    notes: #51-Allgaier spun at the start of the session, but did not hit anything. #1-McMurray made contact with the wall with the rear of his car, suffering only minor damage.
    Qualifying is scheduled for today at 4:40pm/et on FoxSports 1. Speeds from this practice would set the starting lineup for the race if qualifying was cancelled, but the weather is not an issue today.
    See fastest speeds and laps run on the Martinsville Friday Practice Speeds page (pdf).(10-24-2014)

  • Qualifying Order for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is posted. 43 cars/drivers are listed.
    The first of the drivers scheduled to go out is #26-Whitt.
    The final driver scheduled to go out is #17-Stenhouse, Jr.
    Qualifying order is set by a random draw, held about an hour before the first practice and is drawn to determine how the drivers will go on the track at the start of qualifying and go thru inspection.
    See the full qualifying order on the Martinsville Qualifying Page.(10-24-2014)

  • Coverage of Qualifying for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is scheduled for Friday, October 24, 2014 at 4:40pm/et.
    Television (TV): FS1, 4:30pm/et
    Radio: Live online at Motor Racing Network (MRN)
    Scheduled Qualifying Re-Air: none

  • DipYourCar.com on the #23 & #83 for 2 races: BK Racing announced a partnership with Coral Springs, Fla. based DipYourCar.com for the Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway on October 26 and the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 16. The colors of blue and purple will adorn the #23 Toyota Camry for Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Alex Bowman and #83 Toyota Camry for veteran JJ Yeley. "We make a product that finally gives the everyday person the control to decide how they want their vehicle to look. We offer unique products that allow a durable, temporary change of any part of the car - from small trim, to wheels up to an entirely new paint job. In addition, DipYourCar.com coatings help to protect the life of the original paint color by defending the factory paint against every day wear and tear as well as the elements of the outdoors. We offer an endless variety of colors and finishes, and the products can be removed at any time. We are thrilled to be associated with BK Racing, and Ron Devine's group."(BK Racing), see an image of the car on the #23 team paint schemes page.(10-24-2014)

  • Uponor sponsoring Whitt at Martinsville: BK Racing announced a partnership with Uponor for the Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway . Uponor will ride-along with the #26 car driven by Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Cole Whitt. Uponor is a leading manufacturer and supplier of plumbing, fire sprinkler and radiant heating and cooling systems for commercial and residential building markets across North America and Europe.(BK Racing), see an image of the car on the #26 team paint schemes page.(10-24-2014)

  • BLUE-EMU joins RPM as assoicate sponsor: America's number one over-the-counter muscle and joint cream is joining an America icon, Richard Petty and Richard Petty Motorsports. RPM announced their newest partner, BLUE-EMU, the odorless, non-greasy and deep-penetrating topical emu oil formula that soothes muscles and joints. BLUE-EMU will be an associate sponsor of RPM with their logo appearing on the roof strip and the lower-rear quarter panel of the #9 Ford Fusion beginning this weekend at the Martinsville Speedway. The multi-year agreement will also integrate Richard Petty as a spokesperson for the brand. This will not be the first venture into sports marketing for BLUE-EMU, but it will be the first to combine two legendary and Hall of Fame sports figures, Johnny Bench and Richard Petty. Bench and Petty will be featured together in new television ads to debut in 2015 for BLUE-EMU. The company has already grown expediently with Bench and expects the same with their latest partnership with RPM and Petty.(RPM)(10-24-2014)

  • Pink cars for Roush Fenway at Martinsville: Roush Fenway Racing drivers #16-Biffle, #17-Stenhouse, Jr., and #99-Edwards will go pink for Martinsville Speedway in support of the National Breast Cancer Foundation and the early detection plan app.(Roush Fenway), see images of the cars on the #16 team paint schemes, #17 team paint schemes, and #99 team paint schemes pages.(10-24-2014)

  • Homestead testing next week: Five teams will test at Homestead-Miami Speedway next Tuesday and Wednesday (Oct. 28-29): Stewart Haas Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Team Penske, Roush Fenway Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing.(NASCAR)(10-24-2014)

  • Gase in the #32 at Texas: Joey Gase tweeted that he will return to the #32 at Texas Motor Speedway, "Happy to announce I will be racing in AAA 500 at Texas Motor Speedway for @GoGreenRacing". 24/7 E-cigarettes will be the sponsor. Gase has driven two races this season in the #32 - Chicago and Kansas in October. See an image of the car on the #32 team paint schemes page.(10-24-2014)

  • Roush to be inducted into Kentucky Motorsports Hall of Fame: Legendary motorsports team owner and innovator Jack Roush has long been identified with the state of Michigan, where his corporate empire is headquartered in Livonia (suburban Detroit). While he may have committed the last several decades of his racing career to the blue oval of Ford, the man nicknamed "The Cat In the Hat" is actually a native of the Bluegrass State. And because of that distinction, Roush, who was born in Covington, Ky., will be one of 13 new members inducted Saturday into the Kentucky Motorsports Hall of Fame in Owensboro. Induction into the Kentucky Hall is one of countless honors Roush has received in his career, including the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.(NBC Sports)(10-24-2014)

  • Martinsville Notes & Facts - Friday - poles:
    " Curtis Turner won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Martinsville Speedway in 1949.
    " 58 drivers have Coors Light poles at Martinsville, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip with eight; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with seven.
    " 12 drivers have won two or more consecutive Coors Light poles at Martinsville Speedway. Four of the 12 have won three consecutive poles at Martinsville: Glen Wood (Fall of 1959 and 1960 sweep); Darrell Waltrip (1979 sweep and spring 1980); Mark Martin (fall of 1990 and 1991 sweep); Jeff Gordon (2003 sweep and spring 2004).
    " 21 of 131 races (16.0%) at Martinsville Speedway have been won from the Coors Light pole; seven of those 21 wins came from active drivers: Tony Stewart (2000), Jeff Gordon (2003 twice), Jimmie Johnson (2008, 2012, spring 2013) and Denny Hamlin (2010).
    " The Coors Light pole is the most proficient starting spot in the field at Martinsville producing more wins (21) than any other starting position.
    " 36 of the 131 (27.4%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway have been won from the front row: 21 from the pole and 15 from second-place.
    " 95 of the 131 (72.5%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Martinsville Speedway have been won from a top-10 starting position.
    " Six of the 131 (4.5%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
    " Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions eight times in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway; the most recent was the fall race of 2011.
    " Tony Stewart (4/18/1999) and Scott Riggs (4/10/2005) won their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light poles at Martinsville Speedway.
    (NASCAR)(10-24-2014)

  • Wallace fastest in final truck practice: #34-Darrell Wallace, Jr. was fastest in final practice for the Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway with a speed of 95.888mph. He was followed by # 88-Matt Crafton, #51-Erik Jones, #00-Cole Custer, #17-Timothy Peters, #98-Johnny Sauter, #13-Jeb Burton, #77-German Quiroga, #21-Joey Coulter, and #20-Gray Gaulding. 37 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Martinsville practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(10-24-2014)

  • Blaney fastest in first truck practice: #29-Ryan Blaney was fastest during opening practice at Martinsville Speedway with a speed of 95.185mph. #20-Gray Gaulding was second, followed by #33-Brandon Jones, #92-Austin Hill, #98-Johnny Sauter, #32-Alex Guenette, #88-Matt Crafton, #21-Joey Coulter, #77-German Quiroga, and #02-Tyler Young. 38 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Martinsville practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(10-24-2014)

  • Junior Johnson to drive pace car at Martinsville: One of the most successful and iconic drivers in the history of NASCAR will be back behind the wheel for Sunday's Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 at Martinsville Speedway. And, as he was most of his career, he will be leading the pack. Junior Johnson, a charter member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame and winner of 50 Sprint Cup races, will be the honorary pace car driver for Sunday's Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500. Johnson recorded two wins and eight top-five finishes in just 19 starts at Martinsville Speedway. In a short career Johnson had 50 Sprint Cup wins and 121 top-five finishes. He retired suddenly in 1966 when he was just 35 years old and turned his efforts to fielding cars for other drivers. In 31 years as a car owner, he notched 139 wins and picked up six NASCAR Sprint Cup championships.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-24-2014)

  • Tickets for the 2015 Coke Zero 400 on sale: On Friday, Oct. 24 at 9:00am/et, tickets go on sale for the 57th annual Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race scheduled for Sunday, July 5. Fans will be able to purchase tickets to the Independence Day holiday weekend classic in one of three convenient ways: Online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com, by calling 1-800-PITSHOP, or visiting the Daytona International Speedway ticket office. The 2015 Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola will be one of the most unique event experiences staged at Daytona International Speedway. Approximately 50,000 new frontstretch seats will be available for the 2015 Independence Day holiday weekend event with 40,000 seats located on the west side of the structure, from Turn 1 toward the center of the track, while 10,000 seats will be located in Turn 4. Fans seated in both locations will enjoy new amenities being created by DAYTONA Rising, including new and additional concessions and restrooms, the Speedway's first-ever escalators and vertical transportation options, and several new "neighborhood" areas where they can socialize without missing any of the on-track action. The 2015 Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola Weekend will take place during a crucial period in the DAYTONA Rising construction process, during which the bulk of the frontstretch construction initiatives are scheduled to take place. The remaining seating areas will not be available to guests as they will be under construction.(DIS)(10-24-2014)


    News from October 23, 2014

  • Changes to #44 team: Team Xtreme Racing, formerly known as Xxxtreme Motorsport has recently some major changes during their time off from their limited race schedule for the 2014 season. Along with the name change the team has also added a new, but familiar, face as Peter Sospenzo has recently been named crew chief for the #44 Phoenix Warehouse Chevy which is now in its new home located on Knob Hill Drive in Mooresville, North Carolina. Timmy Hill of Port Tobacco, Maryland and son of former NASCAR driver Jerry Hill will be behind the wheel of the #44 Phoenix Warehouse Chevy for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 at Martinsville Speedway. The car will be carrying a special pink ribbon in memory of two very special ladies who lost their lives to breast cancer recently. Donna Gmooch, sister of Alan Antonucci, President/CEO of Phoenix Warehouse and All City Leasing, and Chris Antonucci who is CFO for the corporation. Miriam Gonzales, girlfriend of Chris Antonucci also lost her battle with the disease that has claimed so many lives.(Team Xtreme Racing)(10-23-2014)

  • Wurth renews sponsorship with Penske: Team Penske has reached a multi-year extension agreement with the Wurth Group to continue as a key partner in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Under the terms of the new agreement, Wurth will be a primary sponsor of the #2 Team Penske Ford Fusion for three 2015 NSCS races and Wurth will once again serve as an associate sponsor for the balance of the season on the #2 Ford. After initially joining forces for the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series season, Wurth and Team Penske took their partnership to a new level this year with Wurth stepping up as a primary sponsor of the #2 Ford driven by 2012 NSCS champion Brad Keselowski for select races. A leading supplier of high-quality automotive and industrial parts, cabinet supplies and fasteners that includes more than 40,000 customers across the nation, The Wurth Group will continue to support Keselowski and the #2 Team Penske Ford team moving forward.(Team PenskeM)(10-23-2014)

  • Kyle Fowler to make Sprint Cup debut at Martinsville: 22-year-old driver Kyle Fowler will make his Sprint Cup debut this weekend at Martinsville Speedway behind the wheel of the #32 Ford of Go Green Racing. Fowler has 15 career Nationwide Series starts.
    He posted to his Facebook page, "Ecstatic! Making my 1st [Sprint Cup] start [at Martinsville Speedway for Go Green Racing] in the #32 CorvetteParts.net Ford Fusion. It's the realization of a lifelong dream since age 7! I have a lot to learn but going to make the best of this opportunity at a track I've never raced at before in a car I've never driven before with the best drivers in the world (our goal is to go and make all the laps and stay out of trouble) on the tight 1/2 mile paperclip! I have to thank everyone who has been a part of, given advice, sponsorship, dedication and hard work to help me get to this point."(10-23-2014)

  • Earnhardt, Jr. helping raise concussion awareness: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. knew immediately something was wrong during a 2012 crash at Talladega, where his car was hit hard from behind. He was asked on his radio if he was OK, and it was clear Earnhardt was not. "I don't know. I mean, I don't know how many of them hits like that I can take," NASCAR's most popular driver told his crew. He recounts the crash in his personal story of his own battle with a concussion in a video made for the Sports Medicine Concussion Program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. UPMC on Wednesday launched the website ReThinkConcussions.com to detail treatments. Featured on the site are Earnhardt and baseball catcher David Ross, who were both treated at UPMC by Dr. Micky Collins, the clinical and executive director of the Concussion Program. Collins is considered one of the leading experts in athlete concussions. A 30-second version of Earnhardt's video will air nationally during the upcoming NASCAR races at Martinsville and Homestead. It will also be shown regionally during the World Series and evening news broadcasts. Other pro athletes who will be featured in the ReThinkConcussions.com initiative include quarterback Brady Quinn, second baseman Brian Roberts and Tyler Hansbrough of the NBA.(Associated Press)(10-23-2014)

  • Marty Smith to remain with ESPN: Marty Smith, who has been lead NASCAR reporter for SportsCenter and other ESPN platforms since 2007, has agreed to a new contract and will remain with ESPN as a bureau reporter. From his base in Charlotte, N.C., Smith will travel to cover a variety of sports for the network, including NASCAR, pro and college football and basketball, and other sports. He also will still write for ESPN.com on NASCAR and other topics and will continue the popular Marty & McGee podcast on ESPN.com, which he co-hosts with ESPN the Magazine senior writer Ryan McGee. Smith's new role officially begins January 1 but as he focuses on covering the final four weeks of the NASCAR season, he will be expanding his duties, including reporting on the Oct. 28 home opener for the NBA's Charlotte Hornets. ESPN is in its final year of televising live NASCAR racing. Prior to joining ESPN, Smith was a senior writer for NASCAR.com, an analyst and host on the former SPEED Channel and a NASCAR analyst on Fox Sports Net. A Radford University graduate, Smith covered sports for daily newspapers in Roanoke and Lynchburg, Va., before joining NASCAR.com. Over the past eight years, Smith has broken multiple big news stories from the NASCAR world on various ESPN platforms. In addition to reporting for SportsCenter and writing news and features for ESPN.com, Smith also has contributed to ESPN's NASCAR event television coverage with numerous unique features and extensive, in-depth and revealing interviews with nearly every top driver in the sport.(ESPN PR)(10-23-2014)

  • Auto-Owners Insurance returns to the #51: This weekend, Justin Allgaier's #51 Chevy will sport the blue and white colors of Auto-Owners Insurance. Martinsville is the second and final race of the season that Auto-Owners will adorn the SS. Auto-Owners was also on the car at Atlanta Motor Speedway in August. Auto-Owners Insurance, a Fortune 500 company, is the 15th-largest property and casualty insurer in the country, based on written premiums. Headquartered in Lansing, Michigan, Auto-Owners Insurance employs more than 4,200 associates. The company is comprised of five property and casualty companies and a life company, and writes business in 26 states through 6,200 local independent agencies.(HScott Motorsports PR), see an image of the car on the #51 team paint schemes page)(10-23-2013)

  • Danica Patrick promotes breast cancer awareness UPDATE: Danica Patrick is swapping out her traditional GoDaddy green paint scheme to support the fight against breast cancer with a powerful pink message. Through GoDaddy's "Put the Brakes on Breast Cancer" campaign, the #10 Stewart-Haas Racing livery will feature the names of people affected by disease for the Martinsville Speedway event on October 26th. For a $10 donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation through GoDaddy.com/Donate by 12noon/et on Thursday, contributors can honor their loved ones. Patrick will also don a pink firesuit for in the final three races in October to support the cause (Motorsport), see images of the scheme on the #10 Team Schemes page.(10-1-2014)
    UPDATE: Danica Patrick's #10 GoDaddy Breast Cancer Awareness Chevy SS for Stewart Haas Racing will look the same for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 at Martinsville Speedway as it did the last two weekends at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. But, in addition to the pink paint scheme designed to raise awareness for breast cancer, the car will also feature a multitude of names of those affected by the disease. Fans who donated at least $10 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation through www.GoDaddy.com/Donate got their name or a loved one's name on the car. Fans, SHR and GoDaddy employees, crew chief Tony Gibson's wife Beth, and even Patrick put names on the car of people they care about who have been affected by breast cancer. One name Patrick put on there is NASCAR.com reporter Holly Cain, who is continuing to battle breast cancer. She has interviewed Patrick many times throughout the last 10 years and both are pulling for a strong recovery. There are hundreds of names on the car and it is a fitting way to end October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.(Stewart Haas Racing)(10-23-2014)

  • Martinsville Notes & Facts - Thursday - history:
    " Opened in September 1947 by H. Clay Earles, Martinsville, originally a dirt track, is one of the oldest continuously-operating race tracks in the United States.
    " The first NASCAR-sanctioned race at Martinsville was on July 4, 1948.
    " The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was Sept. 25, 1949.
    " The track was paved in 1955.
    " The first 500-lap event at Martinsville was in 1956.
    " Concrete corners were added atop asphalt in 1976.
    (NASCAR)(10-23-2014)

  • Martinsville Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series will run the same Goodyear tire codes at Martinsville this weekend . . . this is the same left-side tire code (D-4588) that teams ran at this track in April . . . this is a different right-side tire code (D-4468) than the one run at Martinsville this spring, though it has been run at this track before . . . compared to what was run in April, this right-side features a slight compound change to help 'rubber in' the race track . . . Martinsville is the only track at which NASCAR teams have run either of these two tire codes in 2014 . . . as on most NASCAR ovals one mile or less in length, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at Martinsville.(Goodyear), see full notes, tire codes, pressures, set limits on the Martinsville Race Info page - Goodyear section.(10-23-2014)

  • 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 Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway on the Martinsville Race Info page - Chassis selection area.

  • Gaughan to return to RCR: Richard Childress Racing and South Point Hotel & Casino announced the renewal of their partnership for the 2015 NASCAR XFINITY Series season with driver Brendan Gaughan. South Point Hotel & Casino's partnership with Richard Childress Racing began in 2012 with Gaughan running a limited Nationwide Series schedule and eight NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races. The partnership continued in 2013 with a full time Camping World Truck Series schedule where the team finished seventh in the driver championship point standings. South Point Hotel & Casino made the full time move to the Nationwide Series for the 2014 season. The Las Vegas-native collected his first-career win at Road America in June, which was only the third time in NASCAR history a race has been run in the rain. This victory came after he made 98 Nationwide Series starts. Gaughan returned to victory lane three months later at Kentucky Speedway in September. With only three races left this season, the 39-year-old driver leads the Nationwide Series regulars with most green flag passes (1,813), earning two top-five and six top-10 finishes with 54 laps led.(RCR)(10-23-2014)

  • Sellers joins WinTron for Martinsville: In an 11th hour agreement, short track racing ace Peyton Sellers will drive Win-Tron Racing's #35 Danville Toyota / Pembelton Forrest Products Toyota Tundra in Saturday's Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway. The pairing seems like a natural fit, as Win-Tron Racing hails from the short track ranks, while Sellers will compete at his hometown track, often dubbed as the paperclip. Sellers will make his third start at the 0.526-mile oval.(WinTron Racing)(10-23-2014)

  • Contreras to debut at Martinsville UPDATE: Carl Long posted on his Facebook page that he would serve as crew chief on the #07 this weekend with Enrique Contreras, nephew to Carlos Contreras, adding that the Rick Ware Racing crew would be assisting the entry. "I will be calling the shots for Cody Ware on his truck. George Church the normal crew chief has it all set up but could not attend this weekend so I will be a top the box with the rest of Rick Ware Racing," Long said. BJ McLeod was initially entered in the 07.(10-23-2014)
    UPDATE: Following in the footsteps of his uncle, Carlos Contreras, Enrique Contreras III is poised to make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut in this weekend's Kroger 200 from Martinsville Speedway. In a joint partnership between SS Green Light Racing and Rick Ware Racing, the younger Contreras will pilot the #07 RaceTrac Chevy Silverado in the highly anticipated 200-lap slugfest Saturday afternoon. 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. The 22-year old driver advances his career to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, after participating in the full 2014 NASCAR Toyota Series season, where four top-10 finishes contributed to his 18th place championship standings placement. With the goal of acquiring seat time, Contreras, the 2011 NASCAR Toyota Series rookie of the year, will utilize his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut to strengthen his racing resume, but also make a bid for participation in further NCWTS races next season.(Catchfence.com)(10-23-2014)

  • Hill set for Martinsville debut: Ricky Benton Racing Enterprises announced today that Austin Hill will be behind the wheel of its #92 BTS Tire and Wheel Distributors/Goodyear FleetHQ/A&D Welding/Wynn's Ford F-150 in this weekend's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway. Hill, a two-time winner in 2014 in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, will be making his first NCWTS attempt. Hill follows Corey LaJoie in the seat of the #92. LaJoie had an RBR season best 10th place finish in the team's last effort at Bristol in August, but is focusing on the Nationwide Series for the remainder of 2014. Knowing that RBR needed a driver to finish its season, racing veterans Phil Parson and Mike Herman reached out to Benton to make a pitch for putting Hill behind the wheel of the #92.(See an image of the truck on the #92 Team Paint Schemes page )(RBR Enterprises)(10-23-2014)

  • Buckcherry headlines Phoenix race weekend: A pre-race concert by the popular rock band Buckcherry headlines a packed entertainment lineup for the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. In addition to Buckcherry's performance on Sunday from 11-11:45am on the Budweiser ROLL-BAR stage, race fans at PIR will be treated to performances by well-known local acts Whiskey's Quicker, Harry Luge, Jr. and Chad Freeman & Redline, along with the Las Vegas-based WolfCreek Band. Whiskey's Quicker kicks off the weekend with a performance in SPEED Cantina on Thursday night from 7:00 - 8:30pm Formed in 2011, the Phoenix-based group is one of the most popular rock cover bands in Arizona and has been a mainstay at Phoenix International Raceway ever since. Friday's music lineup is headlined by a post-race concert on the Budweiser ROLL-BAR stage by WolfCreek Band. Harry Luge, Jr. will hit the SPEED Cantina stage on Thursday and Friday from 9:00-11:00pm each night, and again on Saturday from 7:00-8:30pm. Chad Freeman & Redline will headline Saturday's concert lineup, following Harry Luge on stage at 9:00pm in SPEED Cantina.(PIR)(10-23-2014)


    News from October 22, 2014

  • Stewart Haas swaps crew chiefs, road crews on #10 & #41 teams: Stewart-Haas Racing, the championship-winning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team, will swap crew chiefs and road crews between its #10 and 41 teams beginning with the AAA Texas 500 race weekend Oct. 31-Nov. 2 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. Crew chief Tony Gibson will move from the #10 GoDaddy team of Danica Patrick to the #41 Haas Automation team of Kurt Busch. Crew chief Daniel Knost will move from the #41 team to serve as the interim crew chief for Patrick and the #10 team. The road crews assembled by each crew chief will also make the swap. However, the pit crews for each respective team will not be moved. "We made this change to evaluate our program and to get a head start on 2015," said Greg Zipadelli, vice president of competition, Stewart-Haas Racing. "With the ban on testing next year, the last three races of this season take on even greater importance. For Tony Gibson and Kurt, they'll get three races together that will provide direction for next year. And for Daniel Knost and Danica, this is an opportunity for them develop a rapport that could potentially continue into 2015."(Stewart Haas Racing), see earlier updates on the #10 team news page.(10-22-2014)

  • Cheez-Its will sponsor Biffle in 2015: Roush Fenway Racing has announced a multi-year partnership with Kellogg Company's Cheez-It brand to serve as a primary partner on the #16 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (Ford with driver Greg Biffle beginning in 2015. Kellogg has a long history of success with Roush Fenway, with Cheez-It and other Kellogg's brands adorning several of the organization's cars over the past five years. The partnership has also resulted in numerous trips to victory lane, including a NSCS triumph this spring for Cheez-It at Bristol Motor Speedway. "Roush Fenway is a great partner, helping us share the excitement of NASCAR racing with Cheez-It fans across the country," said Melissa Pawlowicz, senior director of Integrated Promotions for Kellogg Company. "We are also thrilled to be associated with Greg Biffle - a great driver who will be a tremendous representative of our products."
    "We have enjoyed a great relationship with Cheez-It and Kellogg for several years," said Roush Fenway president Steve Newmark. "And we are very pleased to continue that partnership with Greg and the No. 16 team into the future. They are a truly iconic brand and a wonderful ambassador for our sport. I know they will be a great fit with Greg and the #16 team and we look forward to rolling out fun and exciting marketing initiatives with them in the coming years."(Roush Fenway Racing)(10-22-2014)

  • Johnson going red at Texas: Lowe's is rallying around its employees and introducing the #48 Lowe's Red Vest Chevy SS at Texas Motor Speedway during the AAA Texas 500 race weekend. The #48 Lowe's Chevy will don the famous red and blue colors to celebrate the more than 260,000 Lowe's employees who perform like champions every day. The red vests employees wear have become symbolic of Lowe's commitment to its customers and providing outstanding service each and every day. "I know what the red vest means to everyone at Lowe's. That's why I'm proud to have red on my car at Texas. I want to show Lowe's 260,000 employees that this is for them," said Jimmie Johnson. "It takes a team to run a race like this one, and it takes a team at Lowe's, day in and day out, to win!"(Lowes Racing), see an image of the car on the #48 team paint schemes page.(10-22-2014)

  • Gibson will return to Stewart-Haas UPDATES: Danica Patrick's crew chief is not going anywhere. Tony Gibson tweeted on Saturday afternoon that he has a contract extension with Stewart-Haas Racing. Gibson came on board as crew chief for Patrick for the last two races during her 10-race partial Sprint Cup schedule in 2012. Since then, he's been the only crew chief she's had in her two full-time seasons in NASCAR's top series. With Gibson, Patrick won the Coors Light Pole Award for the season-opening Daytona 500 in 2013. Together, they have four top-10 finishes together and he has overseen Danica's gradual growth this season. Gibson has three Sprint Cup victories, all atop the pit box for Ryan Newman from 2010-12 during that driver's tenure with Stewart-Haas. He made his crew chief debut in NASCAR's top series at the 1994 season finale for veteran Jimmy Hensley. Gibson has also worked with Michael Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin among others.(NASCAR Illustrated)(10-19-2014)
    UPDATE: Tony Gibson is keeping the band together - but that might not include Danica Patrick. For more than a dozen seasons, the veteran crew chief has been supported by the same cast of racers that were assembled at Dale Earnhardt Inc. - and have survived through driver and ownership changes. Gibson has been at Stewart-Haas Racing since the beginning. Although he was originally assigned to Ryan Newman and the #39 team, Gibson was named crew chief for Patrick in her penultimate race of 2012 and has been with her ever since. While there has been distinct improvement in her second full season in the Sprint Cup Series, rumors circulated last month that Patrick might be shopping for a new crew chief. "That's for Stewart-Haas and them to figure out," Gibson said. "I told them when I signed up, I'll do whatever they need me to do - wherever I need to be placed that they think I can do the best job, that's what I'll do. I don't think any of that has been decided as far as I know. I know they'll work on all that stuff and decide who needs to be placed where, for the best, and what makes the most sense for our company. My deal isn't for one particular driver. It's where I can be the most beneficial for the company and that's kind of where we left it."
    Still, team owner Gene Haas believes that his teams could benefit from restructuring. Despite both #41-Kurt Busch and #4-Kevin Harvick qualifying for Chase and posting four wins between them, he's not pleased with the results. "Kurt is a unique driver," Haas said. "He has a lot of passion for what he does. That kind of driver requires some special members to make it work and I don't feel we have the right combination. So we're looking at that and make some changes on that team to make it work better. We're really not happy. That team should have done better. Kevin Harvick's team should have done better, too. He's been fast all year long, seven or eight poles, leading a huge amount of laps, but we haven't won as many races as we should. So, I think there's a little bit of evaluation with all the teams, but that's pretty common."(Motorsport)(10-21-2014)
    UPDATE 2: Stewart-Haas Racing teammates Danica Patrick and Kurt Busch will swap teams and crew chiefs beginning with the Nov. 2 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. An official announcement of the change could come as early as Wednesday, sources said. SHR officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. On Saturday, Tony Gibson, who has served as the only crew chief Patrick has had as a fulltime Cup series driver, signed a contract extension with SHR but the organization would not specify what his role was to be in the future. Beginning at Texas, crew chief Daniel Knost and the members of Busch's current #41 team will move over to Patrick's #10. Gibson, along with the members of Patrick's current #10 team, will move to Busch's #41 team.(Charlotte Observer)(10-22-2014)

  • Kurt Busch to participate in Race of Champions: American NASCAR superstar Kurt Busch has accepted the invitation to participate in the 2014 Race Of Champions, to be held at the Bushy Park Circuit in Barbados on December 13-14. Busch has been a major force in America's most popular racing series ever since he became the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion in 2004, the first year the 10-race Chase for the title was introduced. He has now amassed 25 top flight wins, including victory at this year's STP 500 at the Martinsville Speedway in Virginia. In 2014 Busch also became only the fourth driver in motor sport history to attempt a very special double-header. On the same day in May, he raced both in NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 at North Carolina's Charlotte Motor Speedway and the world-famous Indianapolis 500. His run to 6th place on his debut at the IndyCar classic earned him the prestigious Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award. That mix of ability will now certainly serve Busch well as he bids for even more glory at his Race Of Champions debut in December. Busch will also have the honour of racing for his home country as he partners this year's Indianapolis 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay for Team USA in the ROC Nations Cup. Busch and Hunter-Reay were team-mates in this year's Indianapolis 500, both piloting cars for Andretti Autosport. Team USA last won the ROC Nations Cup title in 2002 with a NASCAR-heavy team of Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Colin Edwards. This year Busch and Hunter-Reay will be part of a ROC line-up featuring stars from all over the world: nine-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Tom Kristensen, Formula 1's Romain Grosjean (the reigning ROC Champion of Champions) and Susie Wolff (Williams development driver), Australian V8 Supercar legend Jamie Whincup and 2014 FIA World Rallycross Champion Petter Solberg are already confirmed. The rest of the ROC 2014 field will be announced in the run-up to December's event.(Race of Champions)(10-22-2014)

  • Logano, Patrick talk about Charlotte wreck: On Oct. 11 at Charlotte, contact from Joey Logano's Ford turned the #10 Chevy of Danica Patrick and ruined her night. Patrick's immediate instinct was to get revenge, but she realized that wrecking Logano at Charlotte would have no impact on his run for the championship since Logano had won on the previous weekend at Kansas and was guaranteed a spot in the Chase's Eliminator Round. Martinsville, site of Sunday's Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500, is another matter. With points reset, and with the remaining eight Chase drivers entering the race on equal footing, revenge could be devastating. That's why Logano has taken measures to ensure Martinsville won't become a payback track. "We've actually talked about it since then, and I feel like we've come to a good conclusion of what happened there," Logano said. "That's in the past. That's in the mirror, and we'll move forward." From Logano's point of view, the hatchet is buried, but the driver of the #22 Team Penske Ford still has to hope that Patrick doesn't decide to bury it in his back.(NASCAR Wire Service)(10-22-2014)

  • Tire test upcoming at Auto Club Speedway: Several NASCAR teams will be at Auto Club Speedway for the Goodyear Tire Test on Oct. 28-29, 2014. After the tire test at Auto Club Speedway, there are only 3 races left until the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion is crowned. Teams scheduled to test are: #6-Trevor Bayne, #42-Kyle Larson, #78-Martin Truex, Jr., and #55-Brian Vickers. The Goodyear Tire Test at Auto Club Speedway is the perfect opportunity to experience NASCAR at Auto Club Speedway before this season concludes. Fans will be able to watch the Goodyear Tire Test from the infield Terrace Suite rooftops, just above Pit Road on Tuesday, Oct. 28 between 9:00am-5:00pm. Ticket holders will be admitted for free (must present Auto Club 400 ticket or proof of purchase) or fans can purchase an Auto Club 400 ticket or make a #10 donation to the Auto Club Speedway Foundation benefiting Lefty's Reading Challenge and local schools.(Auto Club Speedway)(10-22-2014)

  • Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown winners named: A technician trained to service Hondas helped assemble a Chevy NASCAR engine in record time and also won the 13th annual Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown. Elmer Javier, a Master Certified Technician from Hendrick Honda in Charleston, South Carolina, teamed with Van Nguyen of Hendrick Motorsports to assemble the 358ci Chevy R07.2 engine in a winning time of 21 minutes, 48 seconds. Earlier in qualifying the duo assembled their engine in 21:40, which set a new record for the fuel-injected engines. When the competition featured earlier earlier generation race engines that were carbureted, assembly time was around 17 minutes - an indication that NASCAR engines are getting more complicated. The first time fuel-injected engines were used in competition, winning time was 27:46. Taking second in the competition were Dan Ryan of Gwinnett Place Honda in Duluth, Georgia, who teamed with Scott Vester of Hendrick Motorsports to assemble their engine in 22:53. That was quicker than last year's winning time of 24:38. The showdown pairs 12 master technicians from the Hendrick Automotive Group - which encompasses 94 dealerships around the country - with 12 members of the Hendrick Motorsports engine department. Qualifying rounds are held over two days at the Hendrick Motorsports facilities in Concord, North Carolina. Teams with two best qualifying times then go head-to-head in the final. Teams can be penalized for errors, such as loose bolts. Although the competition has been staged for 13 years, it was renamed a few years ago to honor Randy Dorton, the chief engine builder for Hendrick Motorsports who died in a 2004 plane crash. The engines are similar to but not exact replications of the 900-plus-horsepower versions raced in NASCAR competition. They do start with GM blocks, heads and intakes and work with most of the supporting accessories, such as the water pump and fuel system.(Engine Labs)(10-22-2014)

  • NASCAR, AMP Group USA partner on indoor karting facility: Retail conglomerate and property developer, AMP Group USA, announced a partnership with NASCAR to form I-DRIVE NASCAR, a new indoor high performance kart racing facility set to open in Orlando on December 19. The family-friendly entertainment complex located at 5228 Vanguard Street will feature kart racing, a bowling alley, gaming arcade, dine-in restaurant and corporate meeting space. The I-DRIVE NASCAR logo was unveiled on October 21 at the 65,000-square-foot facility as part of a special event featuring the two Central Florida-based companies and Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer. The new business is part of AMP Group's ongoing efforts to revitalize the north end of International Drive and will create approximately 150 jobs. The I-DRIVE NASCAR facility will feature a half-mile indoor track and environmentally friendly electric karts, powered by Sodikarts and capable of safely reaching speeds up to 45 miles per hour. Individual racing experiences will begin at $22. I-DRIVE NASCAR will have entertainment options for the entire family. AMP Group plans to build the blueprint for I-DRIVE NASCAR in Orlando before expanding to other U.S. markets and internationally to Mexico, Brazil and Argentina.(NASCAR)(10-22-2014)

  • NASCAR XFINITY Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series To Incorporate Updates In 2015: NASCAR announced three key enhancements in the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for the 2015 season. The updates include:
    " Beginning next season, the qualifying rule for the NASCAR XFINITY Series (currently the NASCAR Nationwide Series) and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will resemble that of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and will emphasize speed.
    " The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series maximum starting field will be set at 32 trucks.
    " The drivers' last name will be featured on the back window of each series' cars and trucks, helping fans to better identify the drivers.
    2015 NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Qualifying Procedure
    Next season in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, cars starting in positions 1-33 will be determined by their fastest single lap during qualifying in descending order with the fastest qualifier starting first. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will follow the same procedure for positions 1-27. In the XFINITY Series, the next six positions will first be assigned to the highest ranking cars in owner points that have attempted all of the races, have not already earned a starting position through qualifying and have entered the event by the posted entry deadline. The final starting position will be awarded to the most recent eligible past champion driver. If there is no eligible past champion driver, then a seventh car will make the field based upon owner points. In the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, the next four positions will first be assigned to the highest ranking trucks in owner points that have attempted all of the races, have not already earned a starting position through qualifying and have entered the event by the posted entry deadline. The final starting position will be awarded to the most recent eligible past champion driver. If there is no eligible past champion driver, then a fifth truck will make the field based upon owner points. Prior to this enhancement, the top 30 cars and top 25 trucks in owner points in each series, respectively, were guaranteed a starting spot in each of those series' events. Starting next year, a maximum of seven cars and five trucks will be locked into a given NASCAR XFINITY Series or NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, respectively. If a qualifying session is cancelled because of inclement weather, each series' field will be set per the rule book with starting lineups determined by practice speeds.
    Maximum Field Set At 32 Trucks For NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
    As NASCAR continues to encourage and reward hard racing, help solidify and build the ownership base, add even more drama and intrigue to the race weekend and most importantly, provide fans the best competition possible, the maximum starting field for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be set at 32 trucks starting in 2015, as opposed to the 36-truck field in previous years. A maximum NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starting field continues to stand at 43 cars while the NASCAR XFINITY Series will remain at 40.
    Drivers' Last Names On Rear Window
    This new design element is part of the implementation of NASCAR's Industry Action Plan, specifically in the area of Driver Star Power. This enhancement will feature the drivers' last name displayed on the upper rear window of cars and trucks, helping fans more easily identify the drivers. The window treatment will not affect the on-track competition and placing it on the back window allows for both series sponsors - XFINITY (starting in 2015) and Camping World - to continue to maintain placement on the front windshield.(NASCAR)(10-22-2014)

  • Wallace to run number 34 in honor of Scott at Martinsville UPDATE: NASCAR, Front Row Motorsports, Kyle Busch Motorsports and Martinsville Speedway announced today they will honor 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Wendell Scott, the first African-American driver to win a NASCAR premier series event, with a series of tributes during the Martinsville race weekend from Oct. 24-26. Kyle Busch Motorsports will change the number of Darrell Wallace Jr.'s truck from 54 to 34 in honor of Scott. A NASCAR Drive for Diversity graduate, Wallace became the first African-American to win a NASCAR national series race since Scott's historic 1963 triumph when he captured the checkered flag in last season's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Kroger 200 at Martinsville.(NASCAR)(See an image of the truck on the #54 Team Paint Schemes page).(9-16-2014)
    UPDATE: Darrell Wallace, Jr. enters this weekend's Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway as the defending race winner after etching his name in history last October when he won his first National Series race and became the first African American to win a NASCAR premier series race since Wendell Scott in 1963. Wallace has recorded three starts at the half-mile paperclip track, earning one win and never finishing outside the top five. This weekend Kyle Busch Motorsports, NASCAR and Front Row Motorsports will honor 2015 Hall of Fame Inductee Wendell Scott with various tributes throughout the race weekend at Martinsville Speedway. Scott became the first African American to run in NASCAR's premier series, and the first to win a race in a NASCAR premier series when he visited Victory Lane at Jacksonville Speedway on December 1, 1963. To honor Scott and his induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Darrell Wallace, Jr.'s #54 Toyota Tundra will temporarily change to the #34 Toyota Tundra, the number run by Scott throughout his career, and the paint scheme will be reminiscent of the blue and white scheme Scott drove. In addition to the number and paint scheme change, Wallace will sport a throwback firesuit for the Kroger 200.(Kyle Busch Motorsports)(10-22-2014)

  • Changes made for 2015 including starting field and qualifying procedures: NASCAR today announced three key enhancements in the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for the 2015 season. The updates include:
    - Beginning next season, the qualifying rule for the NASCAR XFINITY Series (currently the NASCAR Nationwide Series) and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will resemble that of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and will emphasize speed.
    - The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series maximum starting field will be set at 32 trucks.
    - The drivers' last name will be featured on the back window of each series' cars and trucks, helping fans to better identify the drivers.
    "Our mission of providing the best on-track product possible is always among our top objectives," said Robin Pemberton, senior vice president of competition and racing development. "We're confident in the direction these changes will take these series."
    2015 NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Qualifying Procedure:
    Next season in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, cars starting in positions 1-33 will be determined by their fastest single lap during qualifying in descending order with the fastest qualifier starting first. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will follow the same procedure for positions 1-27. In the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, the next four positions will first be assigned to the highest ranking trucks in owner points that have attempted all of the races, have not already earned a starting position through qualifying and have entered the event by the posted entry deadline. The final starting position will be awarded to the most recent eligible past champion driver. If there is no eligible past champion driver, then a fifth truck will make the field based upon owner points. Prior to this enhancement, the top 30 cars and top 25 trucks in owner points in each series, respectively, were guaranteed a starting spot in each of those series' events. Starting next year, a maximum of seven cars and five trucks will be locked into a given NASCAR XFINITY Series or NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, respectively. If a qualifying session is cancelled because of inclement weather, each series' field will be set per the rule book with starting lineups determined by practice speeds.
    Maximum Field Set At 32 Trucks For NASCAR Camping World Truck Series:
    As NASCAR continues to encourage and reward hard racing, help solidify and build the ownership base, add even more drama and intrigue to the race weekend and most importantly, provide fans the best competition possible, the maximum starting field for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be set at 32 trucks starting in 2015, as opposed to the 36-truck field in previous years. A maximum NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starting field continues to stand at 43 cars while the NASCAR XFINITY Series will remain at 40.
    Drivers' Last Names On Rear Window:
    This new design element is part of the implementation of NASCAR's Industry Action Plan, specifically in the area of Driver Star Power. This enhancement will feature the drivers' last name displayed on the upper rear window of cars and trucks, helping fans more easily identify the drivers. The window treatment will not affect the on-track competition and placing it on the back window allows for both series sponsors - XFINITY (starting in 2015) and Camping World - to continue to maintain placement on the front windshield.(NASCAR)(10-22-2014)

  • Murphy to debut with SS: Eighteen year old driver Camden Murphy of Itasca, Illinois will make his inaugural start in the NASCAR Camping World Truck at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, October 25th for SS Green Light Racing in the #08 Ronald McDonald House Chevy Silverado. Murphy gained national attention after winning the Midwest Truck Series event at the famed Milwaukee Mile during ARCA Fest back in June taking the lead at the nation's oldest speedway with a bold three-wide pass with eleven laps to go. Murphy's racing resume includes an impressive array of experience behind the wheel that drivers twice his age would envy competing at several NASCAR-level tracks including the Milwaukee Mile, the Nashville Superspeedway, Rockingham Speedway and Lucas Oil Speedway in Indianapolis. A three-time Mini-Cup champion, Murphy finished 2014 with top five finishes in both the Midwest Truck Series and Madison International Speedway Truck Series final point standings. He has also competed in UARA and ASA Truck Tour competition.(SS Green Light Racing)(10-22-2014)

  • Winn-Dixie to sponsor Xfinity Series race at Talladega: Winn-Dixie, a subsidiary of Jacksonville, Florida-based BI-LO Holdings, announced Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway it is entering into a new partnership with NASCAR's Most Competitive Track to sponsor the "Winn-Dixie 300" NASCAR XFINITY Series race on Saturday, May 2, 2015. With 68 Winn-Dixie stores spread throughout the state of Alabama, the company is proud to sponsor the Winn-Dixie 300 at NASCAR's biggest and baddest track, which opened in 1969. The goal is to make meaningful connections with customers throughout the state of Alabama and beyond by being a part of events they are passionate about. This isn't the first time that Winn-Dixie has had its name on races at the world's fastest speedway. From 1997 through 2001, Winn-Dixie was the entitlement sponsor for the ARCA Racing Series events, and in 2008, had its name on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at TSS.(Talladega Superspeedway)(10-22-2014)

  • Michigan recognizes for leading green power use: Michigan International Speedway officials announced that the racetrack is using green power as part of a partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Consumers Energy. The track uses nearly five million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, enough green power to meet 100 percent of the organization's electricity use. MIS is the first facility in all of motorsports and one of the first sporting venues in the country to join the EPA's Green Power Partnership and offset its energy use from green power. Michigan International Speedway participates in Consumers Energy's Green Generation Program. This demonstrates a proactive choice to support cleaner renewable energy alternatives. MIS and Consumers Energy are working together to improve the environment through the track and its campground. The two organizations will work together to develop wind, solar and renewable energy at the track as well as identify ways to cut energy usage for the speedway. In addition, MIS and Consumers will plant more than 3,000 trees in Michigan for the two race weekends.(MIS)(10-22-2014)


    News from October 21, 2014

  • Talladega TV Ratings: ESPN's live telecast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, Oct. 19, earned a 2.7 U.S. household rating, averaging 4,328,000 viewers, according to Nielsen Media. Last year's race earned a 3.1 rating and averaged 4,916,000 viewers. Nearby Birmingham, Ala., led the nation's 56 metered markets with a 10.1 rating, with Greensboro, N.C., second at 9.0 and Greenville, S.C., third at 8.5. Charlotte, N.C., was fourth at 7.2 with Indianapolis fifth at 6.5. Rounding out the top 10 were Norfolk, Va., 5.9; Raleigh-Durham, N.C., 5.8; Orlando, Fla., 5.7; and a tie for ninth between Nashville and Knoxville, Tenn., at 5.5.(ESPN)(10-21-2014)

  • Newman's car fails post-race inspection UPDATE: #31-Ryan Newman's great Sunday has apparently hit a bit of a snag. Newman picked up a fifth-place finish in the Contender Round elimination race at Talladega Superspeedway to make the Eliminator Round of the Chase with a 27-point cushion over the ninth-place cutoff. But now comes late word from 'Dega that Newman's #31 Richard Childress Racing Chevy has failed post-race inspection after being found to be too low on both sides according to NASCAR. The sanctioning body will take the car back to its Research and Development Center in North Carolina, along with those of race winner Brad Keselowski, runner-up Matt Kenseth, and Kasey Kahne. Obviously, the question is whether Newman will be penalized championship points for the infraction on his car - and if so, how many? USA Today writer and NASCAR on NBC contributor Nate Ryan leafed through the NASCAR rulebook to perhaps find an answer.
    "Newman's car will be examined by #nascar. Per the 2014 rulebook, it seems it could be a P3 penalty, which would be a 15-point deduction."
    A penalty such as that would not affect Newman's Chase standing. It also bears noting that Newman was among those involved in today's crash at Lap 102 of 188, so that could play into how NASCAR decides this matter, too.(NBC Sports)(10-19-2014)
    UPDATE: The #31 car has cleared post-race inspection from Talladega; there are no issues. Race damage caused the rear to be low.(NASCAR)(10-21-2014)

  • Sorenson picks up Phoenix sponsor: FLASR, the 4-oz. pocketsize, portable spittoon, will join NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Reed Sorenson and his #36 Tommy Baldwin Racing team as the primary sponsor partner for the Cup Series race weekend at Phoenix International Raceway, from Nov. 7-9. The race will take place Sunday, Nov. 9. "It means a great deal to us that FLASR will join us for Phoenix," said Sorenson. "This group of guys at TBR have been working hard on the #36 car all season and for someone like FLASR to join us is proof that we're doing what is needed to attract good partners. Now, it's on us to make sure we give the FLASR folks a great race."(Tommy Baldwin Racing), see an image of the car on the #36 team paint schemes page.(10-21-2014)

  • Gibson will return to Stewart-Haas UPDATE: Danica Patrick's crew chief is not going anywhere. Tony Gibson tweeted on Saturday afternoon that he has a contract extension with Stewart-Haas Racing. Gibson came on board as crew chief for Patrick for the last two races during her 10-race partial Sprint Cup schedule in 2012. Since then, he's been the only crew chief she's had in her two full-time seasons in NASCAR's top series. With Gibson, Patrick won the Coors Light Pole Award for the season-opening Daytona 500 in 2013. Together, they have four top-10 finishes together and he has overseen Danica's gradual growth this season. Gibson has three Sprint Cup victories, all atop the pit box for Ryan Newman from 2010-12 during that driver's tenure with Stewart-Haas. He made his crew chief debut in NASCAR's top series at the 1994 season finale for veteran Jimmy Hensley. Gibson has also worked with Michael Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin among others.(NASCAR Illustrated)(10-19-2014)
    UPDATE: Tony Gibson is keeping the band together - but that might not include Danica Patrick. For more than a dozen seasons, the veteran crew chief has been supported by the same cast of racers that were assembled at Dale Earnhardt Inc. - and have survived through driver and ownership changes. Gibson has been at Stewart-Haas Racing since the beginning. Although he was originally assigned to Ryan Newman and the #39 team, Gibson was named crew chief for Patrick in her penultimate race of 2012 and has been with her ever since. While there has been distinct improvement in her second full season in the Sprint Cup Series, rumors circulated last month that Patrick might be shopping for a new crew chief. "That's for Stewart-Haas and them to figure out," Gibson said. "I told them when I signed up, I'll do whatever they need me to do - wherever I need to be placed that they think I can do the best job, that's what I'll do. I don't think any of that has been decided as far as I know. I know they'll work on all that stuff and decide who needs to be placed where, for the best, and what makes the most sense for our company. My deal isn't for one particular driver. It's where I can be the most beneficial for the company and that's kind of where we left it."
    Still, team owner Gene Haas believes that his teams could benefit from restructuring. Despite both #41-Kurt Busch and #4-Kevin Harvick qualifying for Chase and posting four wins between them, he's not pleased with the results. "Kurt is a unique driver," Haas said. "He has a lot of passion for what he does. That kind of driver requires some special members to make it work and I don't feel we have the right combination. So we're looking at that and make some changes on that team to make it work better. We're really not happy. That team should have done better. Kevin Harvick's team should have done better, too. He's been fast all year long, seven or eight poles, leading a huge amount of laps, but we haven't won as many races as we should. So, I think there's a little bit of evaluation with all the teams, but that's pretty common."(Motorsport)(10-21-2014)

  • NASCAR Numbers:
    12: The number of laps led by Brad Keselowski in Sunday's GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, a race he had to win to advance to the Eliminator Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Keselowski led laps 187 through 192, and after surrendering the top spot to Ryan Newman on the white-flag lap (193) retook the lead from Newman on the one that counted.
    31: The number of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races run this year by Denny Hamlin, who missed the event at Fontana, Calif., in March because of an eye injury. Should Hamlin win the championship this year, he would be the first series champion since Richard Petty in 1971 to win the series title without competing in a full schedule of races.
    1: The number of top-five finishes for driver Landon Cassill in 147 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts. Cassill ran a superb race in Sunday's GEICO 500 at Talladega, avoided the pitfalls that beset other drivers and sped across the finish line in fourth place for a career-best result.
    7.0: Jeff Gordon's average finish in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway, best among the eight drivers still eligible for the series championship. Denny Hamlin is second at 8.8. Surprisingly, the driver among the eight with the worst average finish at Martinsville is Kevin Harvick at 15.8.
    5.2: The average finish at Martinsville for six-time champion Jimmie Johnson, who has won eight times at the historic .526-mile short track. Johnson may have been eliminated from the Chase on Sunday, but it's a virtual certainty he'll be a contender for the victory this weekend at Martinsville-Chase or no Chase.(NASCAR Wire Service)(10-21-2014)

  • Top 10 Driver Ratings at Martinsville:
    #48-Jimmie Johnson 124.8
    #24-Jeff Gordon 119.0
    #11-Denny Hamlin 109.6
    #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. 99.9
    #14-Tony Stewart 97.0
    #18-Kyle Busch 96.1
    #15-Clint Bowyer 94.6
    #4-Kevin Harvick 93.2
    Jeff Burton 87.4
    #31-Ryan Newman 86.9
    Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2014 races (19 total) among active drivers at Martinsville 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)

  • Rockingham Speedway avoids receivership UPDATE: Like a real-life Rocky Balboa' Andy Hillenburg refuses to stay down. After spending the last seven years battling to revive the legendary Rockingham Speedway' the former ARCA racing champion has taken his share of lumps. Hillenburg and his partners returned NASCAR racing to The Rock in 2012' when the track hosted an event on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The Trucks raced there again in late 2013' but a NASCAR K&N Pro Series East event scheduled for November of last year was cancelled' with the sanctioning body saying that the track "failed to meet its obligations." Since then' there has been little in the way of good news from the Richmond County oval. Until [now]. Battered' bloodied' but unbowed' Hillenburg climbed off the canvas yet again ....' confirming that after a hearing in Richmond County Superior Court' a new plan is in place to save the track from financial receivership. Farmers and Merchants Bank of Salisbury' NC' had asked that the track be placed into receivership as a first-step toward seizing control of the facility and putting it up for auction. However' with the assistance of a group of advisors' Hillenburg has assembled a new business plan that he hopes will put the speedway back on solid financial ground. "We went in front of a judge recently and presented our proposal'" said Hillenburg. "We explained that we need 90 days to perform the necessary due diligence' and he issued a Bridge Order to continue the case until today. Now' he has approved our request' and the speedway will remain in our hands." Hillenburg stressed that the deal is not yet complete' saying' "Our request was for the procedings to be delayed' in order to allow us to assemble a new financial plan. We now have until Jan. 1' 2015 to finalize a workable financial plan with our new partners. Our goal is to return racing to The Rock' put the track on solid financial footing and continue to make a positive contribution to our community."(Godfather Motorsports)(10-16-2014)
    UPDATE: The Rockingham Speedway, formerly the North Carolina Speedway, is going to be sold for the second time in less than a decade because its current owners have run into financial trouble. Back in 2012, Andy Hillenburg did what a lot of people thought was impossible and brought NASCAR racing back to a track that it left. The NASCAR truck series came back in 2013, but didn't get a race date this year. NASCAR also cancelled a minor league event there as well. Now we know the track has hit hard times. Court documents now show Hillenburg and his co-owners owe more than $4 million in loans and taxes, and the bank threatened to foreclose. To avoid that, Hillenburg agreed last week to sell or auction off the track. NBC Charlotte was unable to contact the owners on Monday, but court documents say there has to be a sale or auction in place by the first of the year, and a new owner in place by March 15, 2015. Hillenburg paid a little more than $4 million to buy the track at auction in 2007.(WCNC)(10-21-2014)

  • Drivers' meeting at Martinsville to be held on pit road: Whether it's before the race or during it, Martinsville Speedway prides itself on getting fans as close to the action as possible and the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 on Oct. 26 will be no exception. In an effort to give fans more access than ever before, the historic half-mile track is moving the drivers' meeting to pit road, just inside turn four. "Our number one goal is to make sure the fans have the best experience possible when they come to a race here," said Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell. "They've grown accustomed to feeling a part of the action during the race and now, by getting a view of what goes on in the drivers' meeting, they will feel a part of what goes on before the race as well." Fans who have added the Green Flag Experience to their ticket package will be able to be on the track, while the drivers' meeting takes place. In addition to being on pit road, the drivers' meeting will be broadcast live on SprintVision.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-21-2014)

  • Michigan International Speedway, MEDC Pure Michigan 400 partnership extended: Two of Michigan's best-known brands - Michigan International Speedway and Pure Michigan - are extending their partnership to host the Pure Michigan 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, August 16, 2015. Since 2011, the Pure Michigan 400 has proved to be an effective way to bring the Pure Michigan message to 75 million NASCAR fans nationwide. Further brand exposure has resulted from working with nationally recognized grand marshals, including Desmond Howard, Kid Rock, Carter Oosterhouse and Amy Smart and Olympic gold medalists Charlie White and Meryl Davis. Additionally, MEDC has been able to use the event to host business leaders and national site selectors to showcase the quality of life Michigan has to offer. Each year about 385,000 people visit MIS, generating an economic impact of more than $414 million. Nearly 60 percent of the guests on race weekends come from outside Michigan, making MIS the largest welcome center in the state. The partnership joining these two brands, both focused on attracting new visitors to Michigan, continues what is believed to be the first time a state's branding agency has sponsored NASCAR's premier stock car series. The partnership includes title sponsorship of the August 16, 2015 Sprint Cup race with the option to extend the contract for two additional one-year periods.(Michigan International Speedway)(10-21-2014)


    News from October 20, 2014

  • Entry List for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway is posted, 43 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including: #32-Kyle Fowler, #33-Kvapil, #44-Hill, #66-Mike Wallace, #83-TBA, #93-TBA.
    Since only 43 cars are entered, all drivers will make the race.
    See the full entry list at my Jayski.com's Martinsville Entry List

  • The Four drivers eliminated from Chase...comments:
    #5-Kasey Kahne:
    DESCRIBE WHAT YOU ARE FEELING AFTER JUST MISSING MOVING ON TO THE NEXT ROUND OF THE CHASE BY THREE POINTS:
    "You just try and get the best finish you can. Basically the restart before, they all checked up in front of me so I went high to get momentum and that didn't work. I don't know why that didn't work, but it didn't. Anyways, I'm in 20th and got back to 11th. It was tough if you weren't in the top few spots. Once we were up there early on we could race. We had a great Farmer's Insurance Chevy - led laps and ran in the top-three and back to the lead. Once I was 10th or eighth, it was just really difficult to get back to that point. I think we got back to fifth or sixth, but that was about it."(Chevy Racing)
    #18-Kyle Busch:
    Busch's crew chief Dave Rogers talked to the media:
    How hard did the team work to try to advance to the next round following the accident?
    "My hats off to all these guys -- everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing and everyone at TRD (Toyota Racing Development). It's a shame, everyone has been working really hard. I felt like we got off to a slow start early in the season and we were advancing through the playoffs pretty well with hard work and good decisions and good teamwork. The team was performing really well and working extremely hard. I thought we were in a decent spot coming into the race and rode around in the back. Kyle (Busch) got checked up for the wreck and had everything saved up, but he got run over from behind. There is no safe place in here. Everyone, every time we come to a speedway everyone will strategize -- we're going to ride in the back, we're going to ride in the front, we're going to do this. The truth is that if you're out there on the race track at Talladega or Daytona, you have a pretty good chance that you're going to get in a wreck and today was our day."
    How did Kyle Busch react?
    "I can't praise him (Kyle Busch) enough. He's really stepped up to be a great leader of this race team in the Chase. We've had a couple things go against us -- getting the nose knocked off at Loudon, today and Kyle's done a really good job of biting his lip and just backing the race team to let us do our job. Kyle, I can't say enough good about him. I'm really proud of him. It's been a lot of fun working with him and we're not done yet. We can't win the championship, but we can still advance in points and work our way up to fifth. We're going to go to Martinsville working hard and we're going to try to win all these races."(Toyota Racing PR)
    #48-Jimmie Johnson:
    TALK ABOUT YOUR EMOTIONS:
    "It feels relieving to go down swinging. The last two weeks were really poor. At least we went down swinging. I'll take some pride in that."
    YOU'LL GO INTO THE FINALE WITHOUT HAVING A CHANCE OF WINNING THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
    "The last I can think of is with Carl (Edwards) and Tony (Stewart). I vividly remembered the lunch presser that took place with the champions and how much that ate at me to watch it on TV and not be a part of it. I get the pleasure of going through that again. Today I went down swinging, and I take pride in that. Am I disappointed in our Chase? Absolutely. In the last two weeks, people have tuned on the radio and there have been plenty of articles have been written this week. Frustration was high between Chad (Knaus, crew chief) and I and the fact that we haven't been able to produce like we wanted to. Today we went down swinging. We had a chance and came up short. We have to make the best of '15. We have a chance to finish fifth in points, which would mean the world to me. The worst I've finished is sixth in the points, so it's not time to put our feet up. We need to finish strong and try to be in the top-five."
    HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE THIS RACE TODAY?
    "Two restarts from the end, I was trying to make something happen on the restart. I was in a weird position there behind the No. 2 (Brad Keselowski), and if I pushed him to the win, he moves on and I don't. So I tried going to his outside. I looked up and I had no friends in the mirror. If I had known we were going to have a second green-white-checker, I would have stayed in line. That would have shuffled the order around and I wouldn't have been behind him, and maybe we would have had another shot at it. We had a fast, fast Lowe's Chevrolet today. Disappointed we didn't advance, but truthfully the way the last two races went, today was an opportunity for us, and we were kind of playing with house money and just didn't get it done."
    CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF NOT GOING TO THE NEXT ROUND?
    "Truthfully, I showed up this weekend thinking I've been playing with house money and I've had a very unique opportunity to advance. In any Chase, after two bad races like we had the last two weeks, you wouldn't have a shot at the championship. So, the frustration was kind of peaking over the last two weeks. This week's been chill. We qualified second and ran up front all day. And it's so hard to win one of these races. You can't come in here and say you're doing to dominate Talladega and win the race. We dominated it. We just didn't lead the lap that counted."(Chevy Racing PR)
    #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr:
    TELL US ABOUT YOUR AFTERNOON AND WHAT ULTIMATELY HAPPENED OUT THERE?
    "I still really don't know. I haven't had a chance to look at it. Got with the #16 (Greg Biffle) a little bit. I don't know if I came down on him or what it. I thought I was holding my line, but we were all kind of tight back there."
    INCREDIBLE SEASON, BUT NOW HEARTBREAK, DESCRIBE YOUR THOUGHTS NOW:
    "The race is over, it's time to go home."
    ON THE RACE IN GENERAL
    "We worked real hard all day long trying to run up front. I knew we needed to be up front all day long. We got shuffled to the back. I made a move trying to get up front and it didn't work out. So, we lost a lot of track position and never got it back."
    WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON NOT MOVING ON IN THE CHASE?
    "Well we will just go try to win some more races before the year is out. That is all we have left."(Chevy Racing PR)(10-20-2014)

  • Harvick sells vacation home: Even before NASCAR star Kevin Harvick grabbed the checkered flag at Charlotte Motor Speedway, he already had closed out another impressive accomplishment: More than a week earlier, he and wife DeLana sold their Kiawah Island vacation home for about $1.8 million more than they paid for it four years ago. The oceanfront spread at 99 Surfsong Road fetched $8.2 million in a sale that closed Oct. 2. The buyers are from New Jersey. The Harvicks, who live in North Carolina, bought the home in October 2010 as a getaway, a spokesman told The Post and Courier at that time. They paid slightly more than $6.4 million, or about $2 million less than what it had sold for three years earlier. An online marketing brochure from Kiawah Island Real Estate shows the property had been on the market for $9.5 million recently. The 5,348-square-foot, five-bedroom home was built in 2002 with 14 tons of antique building materials shipped from Europe, including ancient white columns imported from the French Provencal countryside, limestone fireplaces from aging castles and kitchen floor tiles from Italy. It also has a pool, county record show. The property tax bill for this year is $74,236.60.(Charleston Post and Courier)(10-20-2014)

  • Talladega 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 at 2:02 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 5:36 PM (all times are EST). ESPN was the broadcast team for this event.
    Total number of commercials: 134
    Total number of companies or entities advertised: 51
    Number of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 88
    Total number of companies or entities advertised: 44
    Number of 'Side-by-Side' commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 46
    Total number of companies or entities advertised: 21
    Number of times ESPN utilized 'Side-by-Side' commercials during this broadcast: 9
    Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast (including company logos 'floating' in corners of the screen): 70
    Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 4 min. 25 sec.
    Start time to record race/commercial periods: 2:02 PM
    End time to record race/commercial periods: 5:36 PM
    Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 214
    Minutes of race broadcast: 182
    Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 32
    Minutes of 'Side-by-Side' commercials (split-screen): 20
    Number of missed restarts: 0
    Number of 'mystery cautions' (debris not shown): 0
    Total race brdcst time 182 Total comm. brdcst time 32
    See past races, links to full reports and sponsor links and more on the 2014 TV Commercials page.(10-20-2014)

  • Sad News - Raymond Beadle: Legendary drag racer and team owner Raymond Beadle passed away Monday following a heart attack, at the age of 70. Beadle gained fame as the owner-driver of the "Blue Max" Funny Cars in which he won three straight NHRA Funny Car championships from 1979-'81. His first title in 1979 ended Don Prudhomme's four-year reign in that class. He also won three IHRA championships. All told, Beadle won 13 NHRA nationalevents and appeared in 28 final rounds. He made the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association's prestigious All-American team in 1980 with Shirley Muldowney and Bobby Unser, Johnny Rutherford, Dale Earnhardt, and Cale Yarborough. He and his Blue Max crew chief Dale Emery were among the 11th class of inductees into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame and was inducted earlier this year into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in Detroit. Retired as a driver since 1987 and as an owner since 1990, Beadle had dabbled in cattle and quarter horses but recently had moved back to Dallas with his wife Roz. After he retired as a driver, Beadle transitioned to the role of full-time car owner successfully, building a championship-winning NASCAR team that won the 1989 Cup title with Rusty Wallace. He also fielded a World of Outlaws sprint car that was driven by Outlaws ace Sammy Swindell. Beadle's cars always carried #27 and he maintained an allegiance to Pontiac for much of his career in motorsports.(FoxSports)(10-20-2014)

  • Koch in the #44 at Homestead: Blake Koch is back with TriStar Motorsports for the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Koch will pilot the #44 Celsius Flo Fusion Camry, as he will attempt to top his break out performance from the 2013 season finale. Blake Koch is teaming up with Grammy nominated and multi-award winning hip-hop artist, Flo Rida for the final race of 2014. Both who call Southern Florida home, have teamed up to promote Flo Rida's new work out powder, Celsius Flo Fusion. Celsius Flo Fusion is a great tasting Pre-Workout energy drink to fuel those who live an active lifestyle. Using the same formula as your favorite Celsius products, Flo Fusion is powered by scientifically tested, calorie burning MetaPlus.(TriStar Motorsports)(10-20-2014)

  • Truck Series Martinsville Entry list: There are 37 trucks on the preliminary entry list for Saturday's Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway. A few notes:
    Matt Tifft is in the #0;
    Cole Custer is in the #00;
    Camden Murphy is in the #08;
    Max Gresham is in the #23;
    Alex Guenette is in the #32;
    Brandon Jones is in the #33;
    Wendell Chavous is in the #74;
    Jody Knowles is in the #80;
    Cody Erickson is in the #82;
    Brandon Brown is in the #86;
    Charles Buchanan Jr. is in the #87;
    Austin Hill is in the #92:
    (10-20-2014)
    See the complete list on the Martinsville entry list page.


    News from October 19, 2014

  • Newman's car fails post-race inspection: #31-Ryan Newman's great Sunday has apparently hit a bit of a snag. Newman picked up a fifth-place finish in the Contender Round elimination race at Talladega Superspeedway to make the Eliminator Round of the Chase with a 27-point cushion over the ninth-place cutoff. But now comes late word from 'Dega that Newman's #31 Richard Childress Racing Chevy has failed post-race inspection after being found to be too low on both sides according to NASCAR. The sanctioning body will take the car back to its Research and Development Center in North Carolina, along with those of race winner Brad Keselowski, runner-up Matt Kenseth, and Kasey Kahne. Obviously, the question is whether Newman will be penalized championship points for the infraction on his car - and if so, how many? USA Today writer and NASCAR on NBC contributor Nate Ryan leafed through the NASCAR rulebook to perhaps find an answer.
    "Newman's car will be examined by #nascar. Per the 2014 rulebook, it seems it could be a P3 penalty, which would be a 15-point deduction."
    A penalty such as that would not affect Newman's Chase standing. It also bears noting that Newman was among those involved in today's crash at Lap 102 of 188, so that could play into how NASCAR decides this matter, too.(NBC Sports)(10-19-2014)

  • Keselowski wins at Talladega: #2-Brad Keselowski won the GEICO 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway for his 6th win of the season, 3rd at Talladega and his 16th career win.
    #20-Kenseth finished 2nd followed by #15-Bowyer, #40-Cassill, #31-Newman, #33-Kvapil, #41-Busch, #9-Ambrose, #4-Harvick and #13-Mears.
    The win allows Keselowski to advance to the 3rd round of the Chase.
    Polesitter #55-Vickers finished 20th.
    #32-Terry Labonte, driving what is expected to be the final race of his career, qualified 9th but had to fall to the back for the start of the race for unapproved adjustments. He was invovled a wreck just past halfway and finished 33rd.
    The four drivers eliminated from the Chase after the race were #5-Kahne, #18-Busch, #48-Johnson, and #88-Earnhardt, Jr.
    There were 38 lead changes among 19 drivers. There were 6 cautions for 25 yellow flag laps.
    The average speed was 160.302mph.
    See unofficial race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Unofficial Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Penalty Report (pdf) and Lap Summary Report (pdf).
    See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Race & Points Report (pdf).(10-19-2014)

  • Where the 2014 Sprint Cup Chase Drivers finished at Talladega:
    [listed by driver chase points position before the race](started)
    1) #22-Joey Logano, 11th (40)
    2) #18-Kyle Busch, 40th (41)
    3) #4-Kevin Harvick, 9th (39)
    4) #31-Ryan Newman, 5th (11)
    5) #99-Carl Edwards, 21st (15)
    6) #24-Jeff Gordon, 26th (43)
    7) #11-Denny Hamlin, 18th (38)
    8) #5-Kasey Kahne, 12th (8)
    9) #20-Matt Kenseth, 2nd (13)
    10) #2-Brad Keselowski, WON (5)
    11) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 24th (2)
    12) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 31st (28)
    (10-19-2014)

  • Race Fast Facts - Talladega:
    Brad Keselowski won the 46th Annual GEICO 500 , his 16th victory in 193 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
    This is his sixth victory and 17th top-10 finish in 2014.
    This is his third victory and seventh top-10 finish in 12 races at Talladega Superspeedway.
    Matt Kenseth (second) posted his 10th top-10 finish in 30 races at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his 19th top-10 finish in 2014.
    Clint Bowyer (third) posted his 10th top-10 finish in 18 races at Talladega Superspeedway.
    Austin Dillon (13th) was the highest finishing rookie.
    (NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(10-19-2014)

  • Sprint Cup Driver Chase Standings:
    [after Talladega, race 32 of 36]
    drivers who won in round 2, automatically advanced to the Eliminator round
    1) #22-Joey Logano [5 wins, 1 win in round 2] 3121
    2) #4-Kevin Harvick [3 wins, 1 win in round 2] 3117, -4
    3) #31-Ryan Newman, 3117, -4
    4) #11-Denny Hamlin [1 win] 3100, -21
    5) #20-Matt Kenseth, 3099, -22
    6) #99-Carl Edwards [2 wins] 3099, -22
    7) #24-Jeff Gordon [4 wins] 3093, -28
    10) #2-Brad Keselowski [6 wins, 1 win in round 2], 3085, -36
    Chase drivers eliminated after round 2
    8) #5-Kasey Kahne [1 win] 3090, -31
    9) #18-Kyle Busch [1 win] 3086, -35
    11) #48-Jimmie Johnson [3 wins], 3053, -68
    12) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [3 wins], 3046, -76
    Chase drivers eliminated after round 1
    13) #47-AJ Allmendinger [1 win], 2163
    14) #16-Greg Biffle [1 win], 2147
    15) #41-Kurt Busch [1 win], 2146
    16) #43-Aric Almirola [1 win], 2101
    (ties are broken by wins, 2nds, 3rds, etc, with in that round of the Chase)
    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 Race & Points Report (pdf).(10-19-2014)

  • Sprint Cup Driver Chase Standings - Eliminator Round Reset:
    1) #22-Joey Logano [5 wins], 4000 points
    2) #4-Kevin Harvick [3 wins], 4000
    3) #31-Ryan Newman, 4000
    4) #11-Denny Hamlin [1 win], 4000
    5) #20-Matt Kenseth, 4000
    6) #99-Carl Edwards [2 wins], 4000
    7) #24-Jeff Gordon [4 wins], 4000
    8) #2-Brad Keselowski [6 wins], 4000
    Points are reset after each round. For the Eliminator Round it goes to 4000, no points for wins.
    The order is set by the points standings after the last round.
    (ties are broken by wins, 2nds, 3rds, etc, with in that round of the Chase)
    See reset points for the Eliminator Round (Chase races 7-9) on the Eliminator Round Reset Points Standings page (pdf).(10-19-2014)

  • Unofficial Top 25 in 2014 Sprint Cup Driver Points Standings (not the Chase):
    [after Talladega, race 32 of 36]
    (using current points system, but not the Chase rules, unofficial)
    1) #24-Jeff Gordon(C8), 1115
    2) #22-Joey Logano(C1), 1077, -38
    3) #2-Brad Keselowski(C3), 1043, -72
    4) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 1023, -92
    5) #4-Kevin Harvick(C2), 1022, -93
    6) #20-Matt Kenseth(C6), 993, -122
    7) #31-Ryan Newman(C4), 990, -125
    8) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 967, -148
    9) #42-Kyle Larson, 967, -148
    10) #99-Carl Edwards(C7), 961, -154
    11) #5-Kasey Kahne, 901, -214
    12) #16-Greg Biffle, 900, -215
    13) #15-Clint Bowyer, 885, -230
    14) #18-Kyle Busch, 881, -234
    15) #3-Austin Dillon, 878, -237
    16) #1-Jamie McMurray, 877, -238
    17) #11-Denny Hamlin(C5), 837, -278
    18) #55-Brian Vickers, 830, -285
    19) #27-Paul Menard, 826, -289
    20) #41-Kurt Busch, 794, -321
    21) #9-Marcos Ambrose, 781, -334
    22) #47-AJ Allmendinger, 771, -344
    23) #78-Martin Truex Jr., 767, -348
    24) #43-Aric Almirola, 726, -389
    25) #13-Casey Mears, 716, -399
    (C# is chase driver and current Chase position)
    (EC is chase driver that has been eliminated from the Chase)
    (10-19-2014)

  • Talladega Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #3-Dillon, finished 13th, 11 rookie points
    #26-Whitt, 15th, 10
    #42-Larson, 17th, 9
    #23-Bowman, 43rd, 8
    #7-Annett, 37th, 7
    #51-Allgaier, Did Not Race, 1 point for race attempt
    Truex, Did Not Race
    Kligerman, Did Not Race
    See the 2014 Rookie of the Year page for rules, standings and more.(10-19-2014)

  • Richard Petty Motorsports needs to find new location UPDATE: Richard Petty Motorsports is in the process of finding a new home for next season after the facility it currently uses in Concord, N.C., has been sold, a team spokesman confirmed. RPM, which fields two fulltime Sprint Cup Series teams [#s 9 & 43], is currently housed on Zephyr Place NW near the Concord Regional Airport. The organization moved to its current location from Statesville, N.C., in 2010. The organization is in the process of looking at several different facilities, team officials confirmed.(Charlotte Observer)(10-18-2014)
    UPDATE: Richard Petty Motorsports announced their race operations will move from their current location in Concord, N.C. to Mooresville, N.C. at the end of the 2014 NASCAR race season. RPM's new address will be 112 Byers Creek Road located inside Talbert Pointe in Mooresville. This location was the home for Richard Petty's race teams from 2007 to 2008. The return to the former location is an expansion of space from the current race shop, allowing for growth in the race operation and further opportunities to increase performance capabilities. One immediate performance capability, the new shop will allow for RPM to hang bodies onto the chassis. The team will also have additional space for engineering and simulation. The new site will be the home of RPM's two NASCAR Sprint Cup race teams and Nationwide Series team.(Richard Petty Motorsports)(10-19-2014)

  • Confusion reigns about Talladega qualifying: NASCAR's new qualifying format put Brian Vickers on the pole at Talladega Superspeedway but left many drivers angry and confused, and three full-time teams failed to make Sunday's race. Kevin Harvick called the format "the dumbest thing I've ever seen in my life," and Kyle Busch said heat races should be used to set the field at superspeedways. Dale Earnhardt Jr. called for a return to single-car qualifying at Daytona and Talladega instead of the group formats, and Jeff Gordon tweeted, "Wow never been so frustrated & confused trying to qualify for a race. Not the way we intended to start the weekend." Drivers admitted when they arrived at Talladega that they didn't understand the qualifying format, and it showed as there were no clear strategies throughout the field. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. [Reed Sorenson] and Justin Allgaier, ... full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers, failed to make the field.
    NASCAR cut the field in half for the first round of qualifying, when 23 cars had five minutes to make their qualifying lap. Nobody wanted to be the first driver on the track, and many sat on pit road waiting for traffic to pull out. The first drivers were beat by the clock as they tried to time it to make their fast lap at the end of the five minutes, but their times were not counted because many of them failed to cross the start/finish line in the allowable time.
    "I thought being the last car in line would be beneficial for us. We had Jeff Gordon leading the pack there I thought we would have a good shot at putting a good lap in, but my spotter was telling me, 'Hey, you have 30-seconds to get across the start-finish line' as we were entering Turn 3," Stenhouse said. "(Gordon) kept slowing the pack down and we didn't get a good lap and never got across the start-finish line in time. My spotter was giving me the information I needed and I wish (Gordon's) would have been doing the same."
    The bottom of the field consisted of championship contenders Denny Hamlin, Harvick, Joey Logano and Busch and many other NASCAR heavyweights. Tony Stewart will start 37th and is followed by Hamlin, Harvick, Logano, Busch, Kyle Larson and Gordon. Brad Keselowski and Matt Kenseth will drop to the back of the field because Keselowski changed his alternator and Kenseth changed his engine.(Associated Press)(10-19-2014)

  • Gibson will return to Stewart-Haas: Danica Patrick's crew chief is not going anywhere. Tony Gibson tweeted on Saturday afternoon that he has a contract extension with Stewart-Haas Racing. Gibson came on board as crew chief for Patrick for the last two races during her 10-race partial Sprint Cup schedule in 2012. Since then, he's been the only crew chief she's had in her two full-time seasons in NASCAR's top series. With Gibson, Patrick won the Coors Light Pole Award for the season-opening Daytona 500 in 2013. Together, they have four top-10 finishes together and he has overseen Danica's gradual growth this season. Gibson has three Sprint Cup victories, all atop the pit box for Ryan Newman from 2010-12 during that driver's tenure with Stewart-Haas. He made his crew chief debut in NASCAR's top series at the 1994 season finale for veteran Jimmy Hensley. Gibson has also worked with Michael Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin among others.(NASCAR Illustrated)(10-19-2014)

  • Go FAS Racing forced to change #32 paint scheme: Retiring Sprint Cup driver Terry Labonte isn't into sentimental talk of his last race, and when he saw a tribute paint scheme with various colors to commemorate some of his past rides, he said it was cool but also quick to crack a joke. "If I had known they were going to do a paint job, I would have told them after (this was my last race)," Labonte said Friday with a laugh at Talladega Superspeedway. The Go FAS Racing team had hoped to surprise Labonte with the scheme Friday but then opted to tell him earlier in the week - because Labonte isn't a big fan of surprises. Among the tributes was a driver side that has red-and-yellow colors of his Kellogg's paint scheme (his 1996 championship), and a passenger side that is light blue to commemorate his Piedmont Airlines ride (his 1984 championship). Labonte apparently wasn't the only one surprised. NASCAR has a fairly long-standing rule that the cars must have the same colors on both the driver side and passenger side of the car. The rule is designed for safety reasons so drivers, spotters and NASCAR officials don't get confused. Various sponsors, wanting to promote two different products on a race car, have been denied permission to split the car side-to-side. Front and back can be different colors but side-to-side is a no-no and must be the same color.(Sporting News)(10-19-2014)

  • Talladega Notes & Facts - Sunday - race:
    " There have been 90 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega Superspeedway' one NSCS event in 1969 and two races per year since 1970.
    " Talladega Superspeedway is tied with Michigan International Speedway for holding the ninth most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points paying races (90).
    " The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Talladega was 36th' by Jeff Gordon in the spring of 2000.
    " Buddy Baker and Tony Stewart are tied for the series' most runner-up finishes at Talladega with six each.
    " There have been seven NSCS races resulting with a green-white-checkered finish at Talladega Superspeedway: spring of 2005 (188/194)' fall of 2005 (188/190)' spring of 2007 (188/192)' fall of 2008 (188/190) spring of 2010 (188/200)' fall of 2012 (188/189) and spring of 2013 (188/192).
    " Only two of the 90 races at Talladega Superspeedway have been shortened due to weather conditions: spring of 1987 and fall of 1996.
    " Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway was the (04/17/2011) race won by Jimmie Johnson with a MOV of 0.002 second - the MOV is tied with the 2003 Darlington race as the closest finishes in the NSCS using electronic scoring.
    (NASCAR)(10-19-2014)

  • Kentucky Speedway Accepting Fan Council Applications: Kentucky Speedway is accepting applications for 10 openings on its 2015 Fan Council from passionate race enthusiasts willing to share ideas that fuel our future success. Council members are asked to commit to a two-year council term and are called upon to provide valuable perspective Kentucky Speedway will use to enhance the entertainment experience for guests. Members also have opportunities to serve as ambassadors during special events. An application can be download on the Kentucky Speedway website. Applications sent by U.S. Mail must be postmarked by Nov. 1. New members will be contacted when selected.(Kentucky Speedway)(10-19-2014)


    News from October 18, 2014

  • Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the GEICO 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway have been made.
    Pole sitter #55-Vickers chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
    Outside pole sitter #48-Johnson took pit stall 17, with an opening in front of it.
    #47-Allmendinger, who starts 3rd took the 29th pit stall, the 2nd stall with an opening in front of it.
    The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #78-Truex, Jr, who starts 12th.
    To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(10-18-2014)

  • Vickers wins Talladega pole: #55-Brian Vickers won the Coors Light pole for the GEICO 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway with speed of 196.129mph for his 1st pole of 2014, 1st at Talladega and 12th of his career.
    #48-Johnson is on the outside pole, followed by #47-Allmendinger, #12-Blaney, #2-Keselowski, #95-McDowell, #33-Kvapil, #5-Kahne, #32-Labonte, #7-Annett, #31-Newman, and #78-Truex, Jr.
    NASCAR used a different qualifying format, breaking the first session into two groups and shortening the session to 5 minutes. Several teams did not leave pit road on time during the first session to get a lap at full speed. Therefore, drivers having to take provisionals were: #14-Stewart, #11-Hamlin, #4-Harvick, #22-Logano, #18-Busch, #42-Larson, and #24-Gordon.
    #29-Nemechek initially made the race, but failed inspection. That put #36-Sorenson into the race.
    Missing the race were: #17-Stenhouse Jr., #51-Allgaier, #29-Nemechek.
    See the Starting lineup, round by round qualifying results, notes and links on Jayski.com's Talladega Starting Lineup / Qualifying Page. (10-18-2014)

  • Where the 2014 Sprint Cup Chase Drivers will start at Talladega:
    [listed by current driver chase points position]
    1) #22-Joey Logano, 40th
    2) #18-Kyle Busch, 41st
    3) #4-Kevin Harvick, 39th
    4) #31-Ryan Newman, 11th
    5) #99-Carl Edwards, 15th
    6) #24-Jeff Gordon, 43rd
    7) #11-Denny Hamlin, 38th
    8) #5-Kasey Kahne, 8th
    9) #20-Matt Kenseth, 13th
    10) #2-Brad Keselowski, 5th
    11) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 2nd
    12) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 28th
    (10-18-2014)

  • Qualifying Fast Facts - Talladega:
    Brian Vickers won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 46th Annual GEICO 500 with a lap of 48.825 seconds, 196.129 mph.
    This is his 12th pole in 312 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
    This is his first pole and 11th top-10 start in 2014.
    This is his first pole in 16 races at Talladega Superspeedway.
    Jimmie Johnson (second) posted his 17th top-10 start of 2014 and his 16th in 26 races at Talladega Superspeedway.
    AJ Allmendinger (third) posted his fourth top-10 start at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his fourth in 32 races this season.
    Michael Annett (10th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
    (NASCAR Statistics)(10-18-2014)

  • Second Round of Qualifying for the GEICO 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is over after five scheduled minutes.
    #33-Kvapil 196.907
    #48-Johnson 196.899
    #5-Kahne 196.879
    #78-Truex, Jr 196.859
    #7-Annett 196.851
    the rest of the top 12: 31 12 2 47 95 55 32;
    out of the top 12 and not advancing to round 3: 20 23 99 21 43 41 13 27 38 26 49 29
    (10-18-2014)

  • First Round of Qualifying for the GEICO 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway after each group is combined, by speed, two groups for 10 minutes.
    #27-Menard 198.903
    #13-Mears 198.269
    #31-Newman 197.472
    #5-Kahne 196.839
    #78-Truex, Jr. 196.689
    the rest of the top 24, advancing to group 2: 21 32 12 7 2 47 55 33 26 99 29 38 23 43 95 49 48 20 41;
    out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 16 34 9 10 88 40 3 1 83 15 66 98 11 4 22 18 42 24 14 36 17 51
    Drivers who will miss the race: #17-Stenhouse Jr., #51-Allgaier, #36-Sorenson.
    (10-18-2014)

  • Congrats to Kyle & Samantha Busch: #18-Kyle Busch and wife Samantha announced on Twitter Saturday that Samantha is pregnant and expecting the couple's first child in May 2015.(10-18-2014)

  • Terry Labonte returns to the #32 for 890th career start UPDATE: Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Terry Labonte will be competing in the GEICO 500 with C&J Energy Services and the #32 Go FAS Racing team in Talladega. His start at the Talladega Superspeedway will be the 890th of his 37-year long run and 61st at the famed superspeedway. As a tribute to a legend of the sport, C&J Energy Services and the #32 team created a special paint scheme for Labonte, honoring his remarkable career in stock car racing's most elite series. Throughout Labonte's storied career, beginning in 1978, he has finished in the top ten on 361 occasions; 22 of those finishes ended with a trip to victory lane. Labonte's very first start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series was at the Darlington Raceway with Duck Industries. At the young age of 21, Labonte finished fourth in the #92 car owned by Billy Hagan. A few short years later, in 1984, Labonte went on to win the first of his two championships in the #44 Piedmont car, also owned by Hagan. Following the '84 championship, Labonte encountered many ups and downs in NASCAR. The sport became more and more competitive with multi-car teams growing and sponsorship needs increasingly demanding. In 1994, Labonte signed with Hendrick Motorsports. This was an incredible turning point in his career, culminating in 1996, when Labonte went on to win his second championship in the #5 Kelloggs Chevy. With 12 years between his two championships, the second title was a significant triumph that helped define his career. Many of today's NASCAR fans and industry leaders still remember and cherish the second championship.
    The paint scheme created by C&J Energy and FAS Lane Racing for Labonte at this year's GEICO 500 will include a replication of Labonte's first Sprint Cup car, his first championship car and his second championship car. Fans and members of the NASCAR community will recognize the combination of paint schemes from the cars that have defined Labonte and his extraordinary career: the Duck Industries car, the Piedmont Airlines car and lastly, the yellow, red and green Kellogg car. Since 2005, Labonte has run a limited schedule with various teams including Hendrick Motorsports, Michael Waltrip Racing, Petty Enterprises and most recently the FAS Lane team. Outside of racing, Labonte is known for being an avid hunter and fisherman.(Go Green Racing), see an image of the car on the #32 team paint schemes page.(10-15-2014)
    UPDATE: Terry Labonte, two-time NASCAR premier series champion, will attempt his last NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at Talladega Superspeedway in the GEICO 500. "I told (owner Frank Stoddard) at the beginning of the year this was going to be my last season, which I told him that last year, too, so this is about the third time I've run my last race," Labonte said. "But I told him at the beginning of the year this would be my last season...It's been fun. It's been exciting. I still love the sport. I wish I was 10 years younger."(NASCAR.com)(10-18-2014)

  • Kenseth and Hamlin don't regret actions at Charlotte:
    Are you disappointed or regret your actions from last weekend?
    Kenseth: "None of it -- you never want to get into confrontations, at least I don't. I like to avoid them. I'm definitely not built for fighting and it's not really in my genes -- not something I ever really want to do, but I guess everybody has their breaking point. Last week was bad enough to run bad all night and to be frustrated and then get two tires and get towards the front and Brad (Keselowski) clearly saw me roll outside of him and he hung a right on purpose and ran me right into the wall and ruined my night and possibly took us out of Chase contention. So, I was mad enough about that and then to come down afterwards and have your stuff off and your net down and come and pull those high school stunts playing car wars after the race was just absolutely unacceptable. That definitely put me over the edge. I don't regret my actions. I'm not proud of them or happy about them or any of that, but I don't regret them. I don't know that I would do anything different if the same thing went down again."
    Were you expecting a fine from NASCAR?
    Kenseth: "I was not. You never know, but I think that in the past if you go in there and first of all it was not a planned action and I didn't go in there with fists flying or anything else like that. I just really wanted to get to him (Brad Keselowski) I guess, I'm not sure what I wanted to do when I got there, but I wasn't really expecting one. It was obvious I didn't really have a plan right?"
    Do you regret any of the actions from Saturday night at Charlotte?
    Hamlin: "I really didn't do anything. Honestly, I gave him (Brad Keselowski) a brake check down the backstretch, but besides that I didn't do anything. My team guys wouldn't let me do anything -- that was kind of a bummer. The only thing I was trying to do in the garage and even on pit road was just box him in so I could get to him before his team guys got there. I didn't ram into him on pit road or anything like that, if you watch I just kept trying to box him in to where he couldn't go anywhere and I talked to Brad and told him that. I don't regret anything and I really didn't feel like I did anything wrong. Obviously, from the penalties NASCAR didn't feel like I did either."
    Did you hit Brad Keselowski in the garage?
    Hamlin: "No, I boxed him (Brad Keselowski) in and he was in a position where he knew he was boxed in and he wanted to get out very quickly so that's when he got into our right front and spun the tires."(Toyota Racing)(10-18-2014)

  • Richard Petty Motorsports needs to find new location: Richard Petty Motorsports is in the process of finding a new home for next season after the facility it currently uses in Concord, N.C., has been sold, a team spokesman confirmed. RPM, which fields two fulltime Sprint Cup Series teams [#s 9 & 43], is currently housed on Zephyr Place NW near the Concord Regional Airport. The organization moved to its current location from Statesville, N.C., in 2010. The organization is in the process of looking at several different facilities, team officials confirmed.(Charlotte Observer)(10-18-2014)

  • Red Buck partners with Go FAS Racing as assoicate sponsor: Red Buck Premium Cigars will once again be an associate sponsor of the Go FAS Racing #32 Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 500 at Talladega. Red Buck Premium cigars are hand rolled with the finest of tobaccos and offered to retailers throughout the United States. Red Buck Premium is a product of Russell Springs, KY-based Tantus Tobacco Sales LLC.(Go Green Racing)(10-18-2014)

  • Take 5 with Mears as associate sponsor for GEICO 500: With locations in coastal Alabama, Take 5 is happy to return to Talladega Superspeedway as an associate sponsor of Casey Mears and the #13 GEICO Chevy SS for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series "GEICO 500" this Sunday. Take 5, "Home of the 5-Minute Oil Change," has been on the GEICO Chevy at Richmond, Talladega and Charlotte. Take 5 Oil Change offers convenient drive-thru oil changes featuring liquid engineering in Castrol products. Similar to the "stay in your car, have a beverage, too" service the Germain Racing crew offers Mears during each NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pit stop, Take 5 offers customers "stay in your car" service with a complementary beverage and the overall experience is in a low-pressure, high-speed oil change environment. Founded in Metairie, Louisiana, Take 5 Oil Change understands the value of the daily automobile driver's time. The company delivers competitively priced, quick-service Castrol oil changes at 30 locations in North and South Carolina, south Louisiana and coastal Alabama.(Germain Racing)(10-18-2014)

  • Talladega Notes & Facts - Saturday - poles:
    " 37 drivers have Coors Light poles at Talladega' led by Bill Elliott with eight. Joe Nemechek leads all active drivers with four; followed by Jeff Gordon with three.
    " 10 drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Talladega. Bill Elliott holds the record for most consecutive poles at Talladega with six (1985 - 1987).
    " 13 of the 90 (14.4%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega have been won from the Coors Light pole. Jeff Gordon (2007) is the only active driver to be able to accomplish the feat.
    " The outside front row (second-place) starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field' producing more winners (20) than any other starting position at Talladega.
    " 33 of the 90 (36.6%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega have been won from the front row: 13 from the pole and 20 from second-place.
    " 62 of the 90 (68.8%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Talladega have been won from a top-10 starting position.
    " 8 of the 90 (8.8%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega 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 Talladega Superspeedway five times; most recently fall of 2013.
    (NASCAR)(10-18-2014)

  • Peters wins truck race at Talladega: #17-Timothy Peters won the Fred's 250 at the Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday. It was his first win of 2014 and the 8th of his career. #32-Tayler Malsam finished second followed by: #23-Spencer Gallagher, pole sitter #19-Tyler Reddick, #29-Ryan Blaney, #51-Erik Jones, #84-Chris Fontaine, #05-John Wes Townley, #54-Bubba Wallace, and #8-Joe Nemechek. Points leader #88-Matt Crafton finished 14th.
    There were 6 caution flags for 22 laps and 18 lead changes among 9 leaders.
    Complete results are on the Talladega race results page (pdf).(10-18-2014)
    (10-18-2014)

  • Talladega Race Fast Facts:
    Timothy Peters won the 9th Annual fred's 250 Powered by Coca-Cola, his eighth victory in 180 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
    This is his first victory and 10th top-10 finish in 2014.
    This is his first victory and third top-10 finish in six races at Talladega Superspeedway.
    Tayler Malsam (second) posted his first top-10 finish in two races at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his fifth top-10 finish in 2014.
    Spencer Gallagher (third) posted his first top-10 finish at Talladega Superspeedway.
    Tyler Reddick (fourth) was the highest finishing rookie.
    Matt Crafton leads the point standings by 16 points over Ryan Blaney.
    (NASCAR Statistics)(10-18-2013)

  • Truck Series Driver standings following Talladega:
    1) #88-Matt Crafton, 674
    2) #29-Ryan Blaney, 658 -16
    3) #54-Darrell Wallace Jr., 646 -28
    4) #98-Johnny Sauter, 638 -36
    5) #17-Timothy Peters, 597 -77
    6) #21-Joey Coulter, 593 -81
    7) #77-German Quiroga, 574 -100
    8) #31-Ben Kennedy #, 562 -112
    9) #13-Jeb Burton, 555 -119
    10) #9-Ron Hornaday Jr., 494 -180
    See complete standings on the driver standings page (pdf).(10-18-2014)

  • Truck Series Owner Standings following Talladega are posted (pdf).(10-18-2014)

  • Lucky Dogs - Who got a lap back on each caution at Talladega: (and their finish)
    Caution 1: none, no one on track a lap or more down.
    Caution 2: #29-Blaney, 5th
    Caution 3: #10-Cobb, 18th
    Caution 4: #6-Benning, 20th
    Caution 5: #6-Benning (2), 20th
    Caution 6: #63-Stenzel, 22nd
    (10-18-2014)

  • Las Vegas Motor Speedway kicks off Champion's Week with fanfest: Las Vegas Motor Speedway will put the 'fan' in fanfest when it kicks off NASCAR Champion's Week on Wednesday' Dec. 3' at the Fremont Street Experience with a free event featuring all 16 Chase drivers' including the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion. Beginning at 2:00pm' the drivers will walk a red carpet through the crowd en route to the Third Street Stage. The highlight of the fanfest' which is hosted by Las Vegas Motor Speedway' will be a Win' Lose or Draw-type game show involving all 16 Chase drivers. Fans will be chosen through local media outlets and LVMS social media to join the drivers on stage during the show' which will be hosted by two-time Daytona 500 winner and Dancing With The Stars contestant Michael Waltrip and ESPN pit reporter Jamie Little. The fanfest will mark the first public appearance in Las Vegas by the 16 drivers who qualified for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The week will culminate with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony on Friday' Dec. 5' at Wynn Las Vegas.(LVMS)(10-18-2014)


    News from October 17, 2014

  • Final practice for the GEICO 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is over after 50 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
    #18-Busch 195.205
    #42-Larson 195.118
    #5-Kahne 195.106
    #24-Gordon 195.015
    #13-Mears 194.983
    slowest: #16-Biffle 187.964 & #22-Logano 160.510. Only 21 drivers were on track.
    notes: This is the final practice session of the weekend. Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 4:40pm/et (ESPNews). Cars will be impounded after qualifying.
    See fastest speeds and laps run on the Talladega Practice 2 Speeds page (pdf).(10-17-2014)

  • First Friday practice for the GEICO 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is over after 60 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
    #15-Bowyer 200.385
    #43-Almirola 200.268
    #1-McMurray 200.117
    #95-McDowell 199.971
    #33-Kvapil 199.883
    slowest: #32-Labonte 187.221 & #36-Sorenson 187.097.
    notes: There will be two Sprint Cup practices today.
    In the event that qualifying is cancelled (unlikely), speeds from this practice would set the starting lineup for the race.
    Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 4:40pm/et (ESPNews).
    See fastest speeds and laps run on the Talladega Practice 1 Speeds page (pdf).(10-17-2014)

  • Qualifying Order for the GEICO 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is posted. 46 cars/drivers are listed.
    Due to the new qualifying procedure at Talladega this weekend, the first session will be split into two groups.
    Drivers with an odd numbered draw (1, 3, 5, etc) will go out in the first group.
    Drivers with an even numbered draw (2, 4, 6, etc) will go out in the second group.
    Qualifying order is set by a random draw, held about an hour before the first practice and is drawn to determine how the drivers will go on the track at the start of qualifying and go thru inspection.
    See the full qualifying order on the Talladega Qualifying Page.(10-17-2014)

  • Cole Whitt picks up Talladega sponsor: Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender #26-Cole Whitt will sport the colors of Batesville, Ark., based Bad Boy Mowers, Inc. for the final NASCAR Sprint Cup Series restrictor plate race of the 2014 season at Talladega Superspeedway. Bad Boy Inc. began operation in 1998, with the sole purpose of producing the Bad Boy zero-turn commercial lawn mower. The Bad Boy Mowers research team started working with one goal in mind: to develop the strongest, most durable zero-turn mower available and to deliver excellent quality of cut, reliability, productivity and comfort. Bad Boy Mowers are now manufactured, assembled, and stored in multiple facilities comprising over 850,000 square feet in Batesville, Arkansas.(BK Racing)), see an image of the car on the #26 team paint schemes page.(10-17-2014)

  • Dustless Blasting returns to the #23 at Talladega: Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Alex Bowman will have a different look to his #23 BK Racing Toyota Camry at the final restrictor plate race of 2014. The green and white colors of Houston, TX based Dustless Blasting will ride with Bowman during this weekend's Geico 500 Talladega Superspeedway. Dustless Blasting has revolutionized the surface preparation industry. With the ability to strip all paint, primer, rust and body filler from the average car in only two hours without warping, Dustless Blasting is quickly becoming the new gold standard in surface preparation. Dustless Blasting's anti-spark, anti-dust, and anti-static properties have also made it extremely useful in the refinery, oilfield, mining and other industries. MMLJ Inc., the parent company of Dustless Blasting, has been manufacturing top quality abrasive blasters for over 70 years, but they say Dustless Blasting is the greatest advancement in paint stripping technology since the original sand blaster all those years ago.(BK Racing), see an image of the car on the #23 team paint schemes page.(10-17-2014)

  • Carsforsale.com to sponsor Hillman Racing Talladega: Carsforsale.com, one of the Internet's largest online automotive inventory websites, announced that the #40 Carsforsale.com Chevy SS will make its sixth appearance of the season with Landon Cassill and Hillman Racing at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 500 on October 19. For the fourth and final superspeedway event of the season, Cassill will again pilot the same car he raced to a 12th-place finish at the season-opening Daytona 500 and later scored a career-best 11th-place finish at Talladega in May. Carsforsale.com offers a portal for the consumer to search millions of vehicles from over 17,000 dealers across the nation as well as a suite of dealer solutions for dealership management. With the reach of NASCAR and its millions of fans across the country, Carsforsale.com has enjoyed the opportunity to increase brand awareness.(Hillman Racing), see an image of the car on the #40 team paint schemes page.(10-17-2014)

  • Special scheme for Leavine Family Racing at Talladega: Michael McDowell and Leavine Family Racing are on the go this week with a three-day test taking place mid-week at Phoenix International Raceway and then heading straight to Talladega Superspeedway for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekend. The team is looking forward to taking their #95 Jordan Truck Sales Ford Fusion to Talladega Superspeedway this weekend as their season best performance has come at a superspeedway - a seventh place finish at Daytona this summer. The #95 will sport a pink paint scheme at Talladega for Breast Cancer Awareness month.(Leavine Family Racing), see an image of the car on the #95 team paint schemes page.(10-17-2014)

  • Redd's returns to the #2: This weekend the #2 Team Penske Ford will be back in black' white and red as it features the Redd's Wicked Apple Ale colors and branding. In its two previous outings this season' the Redd's Apple Ale machine has a 1.5-average finishing position with a second-place result at Pocono and a victory at Loudon.(Team Penske), see an image of the car on the #2 team paint schemes page.(10-17-2014)

  • NASCAR Revises National Series Qualifying Format At Talladega REPOST: NASCAR revised its national series qualifying format for Talladega Superspeedway which, in turn, should elevate the on-track competition for fans at the high speed 2.66-mile track. For the Oct. 17-19 events at Talladega featuring both the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, national series qualifying will take on a more rapid pace that should bring out the best in the competitors and provide fans with an extra element of excitement.
    Keystone Light Pole Qualifying for the Fred's 250 powered by Coca-Cola NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 17 at 5:30pm/et and will air live on FOX Sports 1. Coors Light Pole Qualifying for the GEICO 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 18 at 4:30pm/et and will air live on ESPNEWS, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
    National series qualifying at Talladega will now consist of the following:
    · Three rounds with the first round divided into two groups amongst the competitors. The first qualifying round is five minutes in length for each group.
    · Competitors will be assigned to a first qualifying round group based on the random draw held earlier in the event.
    · The 24 eligible competitors that post the fastest single lap speed from either of the first qualifying round groups will advance to the second round. The remaining competitors will be sorted based on their speed posted in the first round of qualifying in descending order.
    · There will be a 10-minute break after the completion of the first qualifying round and the 24 remaining competitors that advance to the second round will have their times reset.
    · The second qualifying round is five minutes in length and the 12 eligible competitors that post the fastest single lap speed will advance to the third and final round.
    · The fastest remaining competitors will earn positions 13-24 based on their fastest single lap speed posted in qualifying in descending order.
    · Following a five minute break, the 12 eligible competitors that advance to the final round will have their posted speeds reset.
    · The final qualifying round is five minutes in length and the fastest single lap speed will determine positions 1-12 in descending order.
    "This revision in national series qualifying at Talladega should be more exciting for our fans," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR senior vice president of competition and racing development. "It will feature a more accelerated pace, provide greater opportunity for team strategy to come into play and it should more closely resemble actual racing conditions."(NASCAR)(9-4/10-17-2014)

  • Talladega Notes & Facts - Friday - drivers:
    " 438 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega; 299 in more than one.
    " Dave Marcis leads the series in starts at Talladega with 61. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 43 starts; followed by Joe Nemechek with 38.
    " Bobby Isaac won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Talladega in 1969 with a speed of 199.466 mph. Isaac won the first three poles at the 2.66-mile superspeedway.
    " 44 different drivers have won at Talladega Superspeedway' led by Dale Earnhardt with 10. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with six.
    " Richard Childress Racing has the most wins at Talladega in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with 12; followed by Hendrick Motorsports with 11.
    " Nine different manufacturers have won in the NSCS at Talladega; led by Chevrolet with 39 victories; followed by Ford with 20 and Toyota with three.
    " NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the series in top-five finishes at Talladega with 23. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 15.
    " Dale Earnhardt leads the series in top-10 finishes at Talladega with 27. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 19.
    " Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Talladega with a 10.520.
    " Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Talladega with a 15.000.
    " Jamie McMurray (10/06/2002) made his series debut at Talladega Superspeedway.
    " Brian Scott (05/04/2014)' David Gilliland (10/08/2006) and Travis Kvapil (10/05/2008) posted their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light poles at Talladega.
    " 2012 series champion Brad Keselowski (04/26/2009) and Brian Vickers (10/08/2006) posted their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins at Talladega.
    " Nine drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series have posted consecutive wins at Talladega; Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the series in consecutive wins at Talladega after posting four straight from the fall of 2001 - 2003.
    " Brad Keselowski is the only active series driver to win at Talladega in his first appearance.
    " Matt Kenseth competed at Talladega Superspeedway 25 times before winning the fall of 2012; the longest span of any the 12 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners.
    " Matt Kenseth (25)' Tony Stewart (19)' Kevin Harvick (18)' and David Ragan (12) all made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Talladega.
    " Joe Nemechek leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Talladega without visiting Victory Lane at 38; followed by Kurt Busch with 27.
    " Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Talladega with 844 laps led in 43 starts.
    " Three female drivers have competed at Talladega in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Janet Guthrie' Patty Moise and Danica Patrick.
    " 70 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Alabama.
    " Nine drivers from Alabama have won at least one race in NASCAR's three national series; five have won in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
    (NASCAR)(10-17-2014)

  • Reddick on truck pole at Talladega: #19-Tyler Reddick won the Keystone Light pole award for the Fred's 250 at Talladega Superspeedway with a speed of 186.827mph. #32-Tayler Malsam will start second, followed by #88-Matt Crafton, #98-Johnny Sauter, #29-Ryan Blaney, #51-Erik Jones, #13-Jeb Burton, #8-Joe Nemechek, #05-John Wes Townley, and #15-Mason Mingus.
    Fastest in the second round of qualifying was #51-Erik Jones with a speed of 191.161mph.
    #15-Mason Mingus was quickest in the opening qualifying session at 188.422mph.
    See complete lineup on the Starting lineup (pdf) page.(10-17-2014)

  • Truck Talladega Qualifying Notes:
    Tyler Reddick won the Keystone Light 21 Means 21 Pole Award for the 9th Annual fred's 250 Powered by Coca-Cola with a lap of 51.256 seconds, 186.827 mph.
    This is his first pole in 13 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
    This is his first pole and seventh top-10 start in 2014.
    This is his first pole at Talladega Superspeedway.
    Tayler Malsam (second) posted his third top-10 start of 2014 and his second in two races at Talladega Superspeedway.
    Matt Crafton (third) posted his second top-10 start at Talladega Superspeedway. It is his 13th in 18 races this season.
    Tyler Reddick (first) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
    Erik Jones set a new track qualifying record in Round 2 of 3 and fastest qualifying speed in series history at 191.161 mph. Previous fastest qualifying speed in series history was held by Joe Ruttman (187.563 mph) at Daytona.
    (NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(10-17-2014)

  • Kennedy fastest in truck practice: #31-Ben Kennedy was fastest during the first practice at Talladega Superspeedway wi th a speed of 188.902 mph. #15-Mason Mingus was second, followed by #32-Tayler Malsam, #39-Ryan Sieg, #23-Spencer Gallagher, #9-Ron Hornaday, Jr., #20-Brennan Newberry, #84-Chris Fontaine, #51-Erik Jones, and #8-Joe Nemechek. All of the entered 36 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Talladega practice speeds page (pdf).(10-17-2014)

  • Richard Petty named Grand Marshal at Martinsville: They say the best relationships are formed over time, and two of the longest in NASCAR are the ones Richard Petty has formed with Goody's and Martinsville Speedway. The three will come together Oct. 26 as Petty has been named Grand Marshal of the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500. Petty, whose 15 career Martinsville wins stand alone as the most all-time at the historic half-mile track, will say the most famous words in motorsports when he gives the command to start the engines. "Having Richard Petty serve as the Grand Marshal of the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 at a historic track like Martinsville is a testament to his legendary career in NASCAR and his long-time partnership with the Goody's brand," said Joseph Juliano, Brand Director, Goody's. "It is a true honor to be associated with the King of Speed, and we are extremely fortunate to have a living legend like Richard Petty on the Goody's team."(Martinsville Speedway)(10-17-2014)

  • Mixed Martial Arts star Miesha Tate to wave green flag at Martinsville: Close quarters' full-contact action is something mixed martial arts star Miesha Tate does every time she steps into the octagon. Martinsville Speedway is also no stranger to close quarters' full-contact action. The two will come together when the Sprint Cup Series returns to the iconic half-mile track on Oct. 26. UFC's number two ranked women's bantamweight fighter was named the honorary starter and will drop the green flag to start the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-17-2014)


    News from October 16, 2014

  • 2015 team sponsorships coming together: Some top NASCAR Sprint Cup teams have sold their primary sponsorships for all of next season, but space remains on the cars of #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #5-Kasey Kahne, Carl Edwards and #15-Clint Bowyer four months before the 2015 season begins. Among the teams that have sold all their primary sponsorship for next year are #24-Jeff Gordon, #48-Jimmie Johnson, #22-Joey Logano, #4-Kevin Harvick, #20-Matt Kenseth, #18-Kyle Busch and #11-Denny Hamlin. "It's certainly not easy finding a sponsor, but there was an abundant amount of interest in our sport and in our team," said Dave Alpern, chief marketing officer at Joe Gibbs Racing, which expands to four cars next season. Steve Newmark, president of Roush Fenway Racing, says that the three-car organization has fewer primary sponsorship openings then it did at this time a year ago. Ben Schlosser, chief marketing officer at Richard Childress Racing, says that his three-car organization also is ahead in selling sponsorships, noting some companies were willing to start negotiations earlier. "I think the climate is getting better," Newmark said. "It's not where we need to be, but I think the whole sport is doing a better job of marketing." Newmark credits more collaboration with NASCAR compared to when he arrived at Roush four years ago. Newmark also said that the team has made many changes to better serve sponsors. See more team-by team info at Motor Racing Network and check out the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Team / Driver Chart.(10-16-2014)

  • Ragan expects to return to Front Row: Richard Petty Motorsports recently signed Sam Hornish Jr. to drive the team's #9 car next season but there was a lot of talk during the weeks leading up to the announcement that David Ragan was the favorite to replace the departing Marcos Ambrose. Ragan says that wasn't the case and despite his sincere desire to join RPM' they never had anything more than preliminary conversations. "I had my contract coming up at the end of the year and we haven't talked a whole lot about the 2015 season'" Ragan told Popular Speed on Wednesday. "My goal was to get myself in a real good competitive situation and I didn't have a contract and I showed them some interest' but that's it." Ragan added that Richard Petty and his co-owners had a game-plan for what they wanted to do with the #9 moving forward and those plans simply didn't include him. With his casual interest in Petty aside' Ragan expressed pride and satisfaction in his relationship with Front Row Motorsports and believes that they will come to an agreement prior to the start of the 2015 season. The team owners' including Bob Jenkins' are working to finalize their sponsorship agreements first and the driver lineup will come next. "I haven't finalized anything with the team yet but we're working on it'" Ragan said. "We've got to get the sponsors lined up. The owners have to get their budgets sorted and the drivers are usually the last things to come together. Hopefully' over the next few weeks' we'll get that sorted. I would definitely love to be back."(Popular Speed)(10-16-2014)

  • Energizer serving as Larson's sponsor at Talladega: For the final superspeedway race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, Kyle Larson welcomes Energizer to the track as the primary sponsor on his #42 Chevy SS. Larson will trade in the familiar Bullseye on his hood for the iconic Energizer Bunny, as he looks to keep "going and going" around the fast Talladega Superspeedway. At Talladega, Energizer once again looks to provide fans with fun, exciting and unique experiences. Larson looks to bring the excitement on the track, and a SWAP team will provide some fun off the track. During the race weekend, the SWAP team will take to the campgrounds to trade out race fans' batteries with Energizer Powerseal batteries. The Powerseal batteries give consumers peace of mind by protecting devices from damaging leaks, which has been a longstanding, industry-wide issue with alkaline batteries.(Chip Ganassi Racing), see an image of the car on the #42 team paint schemes page.(10-16-2014)

  • 400th superspeedway start for Wood Brothers: Assuming Trevor Bayne successfully qualifies the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday' Sunday's GEICO 500 will mark the Wood Brothers' 400th start on a Sprint Cup speedway two miles in length or longer. Throughout their history' the Woods have focused on NASCAR's biggest' fastest tracks. And they've had some of their biggest successes on them. Nine drivers have delivered wins for the Woods on superspeedways with NASCAR Hall of Fame member David Pearson accounting for half of them. Another Hall of Famer' Cale Yarborough has six superspeedway victories for the Wood Brothers. A.J. Foyt has four and Neil Bonnett three. Hall of Fame member Dale Jarrett has one' as do Tiny Lund' Donnie Allison' Buddy Baker and Trevor Bayne' who got the team's most recent win in the 2011 Daytona 500. Success on the big' demanding tracks also helped propel two of the original Wood Brothers' team founder Glen Wood and the team's long-time crew chief Leonard Wood into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte.(Wood Brothers Racing)(10-16-2014)

  • Special scheme for Kenseth: This weekend at Talladega' Matt Kenseth will have a special Home Depot paint scheme aboard his #20 Toyota in recognition of The Home Depot's 15 years of partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing.(JGR)' see an image of the car on the #20 team paint schemes page)(10-16-2014)

  • Talladega Notes & Facts - Thursday - history:
    " There have been 109 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races among seven different tracks in Alabama.
    " Construction began on what was then known as the Alabama International Motor Speedway on May 23' 1968.
    " The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on Sept. 14' 1969 - won by Richard Brickhouse.
    " The name changed to Talladega Superspeedway in 1989.
    " Fourth repaving completed on Sept. 19' 2006.
    (NASCAR)(10-16-2014)

  • 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 GEICO 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway on the Talladega Race Info page - Chassis selection area.

  • Silas reels in Talladega sponsor: T3R2 with driver Bryan Silas heads to Talladega Superspeedway this weekend looking for their third top-10 finish of the season, with new partner HUK Performance Fishing in Saturday afternoon's fred's 250 powered by Coca-Cola. Anglers are united by a single piece of equipment: the HUK (pronounced hook). From freshwater to salt, offshore to inshore, bait to artificial, spinning to casting, to fly, their passion is all the same. HUK performance apparel unites all anglers regardless of their pursuit. To welcome HUK Performance Fishing's apparel line, soon to hit the online market, as well as store shelves, the company will utilize the 18th race of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season to reel in potential customers. Silas's #99 Chevy Silverado will feature a colorful underwater paint-scheme to attribute to their marketing partners' platform designed by renowned artist K.C. Scott. Scott, a former professional golfer's passion for art and the underwater world, fueled the design concept for Silas's truck, which will also carry pink truck numbers this weekend at Talladega, in support of national Breast Cancer Awareness Month.(T3R2)(10-16-2014)

  • Jones joins GMS: GMS Racing announced today that 17-year-old driver Brandon Jones will join the organization for the remainder of the 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. Jones, a former winner in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (NKNPSE) and ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, will pilot the #33 Chevy Silverado in two NCWTS races this season beginning with the Kroger 200 on October 25 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The Atlanta, Ga native will also make his track debut in the Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway on November 7. Jones' 2014 campaign will be led by crew chief Shane Huffman.(GMS Racing)(10-16-2014)

  • Sieg returns to truck competition: RSS Racing returns to the Truck Series as a late entry into the Fred's 250 at Talladega this Saturday. Ryan Sieg will pilot the Pull-A-Part Chevy for his third truck start of the season. Sieg has been turning heads with an impressive rookie season in the Nationwide Series completing 96% of the laps run for his family owned team. Sieg has been particularly extraordinary on the restrictor plate tracks this year highlighted by a third place finish at Daytona in July.(See an image of the truck on the #39 Team Paint Schemes page)(Ryan Sieg Racing)(10-16-2014)

  • Talladega big hurdle for Crafton to become first repeat champion: Equipped with a commanding 19-point lead over his ThorSport teammate Johnny Sauter with five races left in the season, Matt Crafton seems well on his way to becoming the first repeat champion in the 20-year history of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Despite his lead and momentum from a trio of consecutive top-three finishes, the 38-year-old does not want to set his sights on his second driver points championship just yet. "I'm looking forward to the next thing we're going to do at Talladega. We get through that and then I'll start looking (towards Homestead)," Crafton said. "I'm not even going to worry about it to be honest. "I'm going to go into each and every race to just go to win. If we get through Talladega, I'll feel a lot better at that point."(NASCAR Wire)(10-16-2014)

  • Rockingham Speedway avoids receivership: Like a real-life Rocky Balboa' Andy Hillenburg refuses to stay down. After spending the last seven years battling to revive the legendary Rockingham Speedway' the former ARCA racing champion has taken his share of lumps. Hillenburg and his partners returned NASCAR racing to The Rock in 2012' when the track hosted an event on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The Trucks raced there again in late 2013' but a NASCAR K&N Pro Series East event scheduled for November of last year was cancelled' with the sanctioning body saying that the track "failed to meet its obligations." Since then' there has been little in the way of good news from the Richmond County oval. Until [now]. Battered' bloodied' but unbowed' Hillenburg climbed off the canvas yet again ....' confirming that after a hearing in Richmond County Superior Court' a new plan is in place to save the track from financial receivership. Farmers and Merchants Bank of Salisbury' NC' had asked that the track be placed into receivership as a first-step toward seizing control of the facility and putting it up for auction. However' with the assistance of a group of advisors' Hillenburg has assembled a new business plan that he hopes will put the speedway back on solid financial ground. "We went in front of a judge recently and presented our proposal'" said Hillenburg. "We explained that we need 90 days to perform the necessary due diligence' and he issued a Bridge Order to continue the case until today. Now' he has approved our request' and the speedway will remain in our hands." Hillenburg stressed that the deal is not yet complete' saying' "Our request was for the procedings to be delayed' in order to allow us to assemble a new financial plan. We now have until Jan. 1' 2015 to finalize a workable financial plan with our new partners. Our goal is to return racing to The Rock' put the track on solid financial footing and continue to make a positive contribution to our community."(Godfather Motorsports)(10-16-2014)

  • Larger High-Definition Video Boards for fans at Talladega: Talladega Superspeedway will host the most anticipated race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup at Sunday's GEICO 500. Fans in the grandstands will not only witness the spectacular action LIVE and in person' but will have the added luxury of seeing it with larger than life Sprint Vision Digital High-Definition Video Screens. The new screens are even bigger than what was showcased during the Aaron's 499 weekend this past May. In fact' there will be a new mammoth 40' x 80' video board which will tower above Gatorade Victory Lane' where many of the sport's top drivers hope they will be at the conclusion of 500 miles. Five video boards will line the frontstretch' offering fans in every grandstand seat an unbelievable view of the incredible content to be projected throughout the event weekend. The high-definition pictures will be even bigger' brighter' crisper and clearer. Talladega Superspeedway served as a test track for the new International Speedway Corporation (ISC) initiative in May. The multi-phase project plans are to implement the video boards at all ISC facilities over the next few years.(TSS)(10-16-2014)

  • Daytona Rising October Update: Daytona International Speedway held a topping out ceremony Wednesday to install the highest piece of steel associated with its $400 million DAYTONA Rising project and celebrate the halfway point in the project. Florida Secretary of Commerce Gray Swoope and Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Director Jesse Panuccio were in attendance for the important milestone. As part of the event' members of the France family signed and unveiled a special commemorative plaque that was placed at the center of the steel beam (previously signed by the project's construction team). International Speedway Corporation CEO Lesa France Kennedy also spoke about the significance of the DAYTONA Rising project. Utilizing special DAYTONA Rising whistles' Barton Malow (design-builder for DAYTONA Rising) joined International Speedway Corporation employees as well as Daytona International Speedway employees and longtime ticket holders for a ceremonial command to raise the steel beam. To honor construction traditions' a tree was attached to the beam along with a massive American flag' Florida's state flag as well as flags honoring Daytona International Speedway and Barton Malow.
    DAYTONA Rising Construction Statistics At The Halfway Point
    " Surpassed one million man-hours
    " Installed 89 percent of the total steel
    " Poured more than 105 million pounds of concrete
    " Installed 26 escalators and 4 elevators
    (DIS)(10-16-2014)


    News from October 15, 2014

  • Talladega Goodyear Tire Notes: While teams in both NASCAR series in action at Talladega this weekend will run the same left-side tire code (D-4596), they will run distinct right-side codes . . . Sprint Cup teams will be on a new right-side tire code (D-4630) . . . compared to what these teams ran at Talladega in May, this right-side features a compound change for better wear . . . Goodyear engineers made the change based on what they have seen of the track surface, which is now eight years from it's last re-pave (2006) . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Talladega . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.(Goodyear), see full notes, tire codes, pressures, set limits on the Talladega Race Info page - Goodyear section.(10-15-2014)

  • Dogecoin and reddit return at Talladega: Dogecoin and reddit will partner with Phil Parsons Racing for the final time this season at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday afternoon. The partnership was made possible by funding from t-shirt sales after the team experienced an overwhelming demand for the shirts worn by the Phil Parsons Racing crew earlier this season. With presales reaching 6500 shirts in just 10 days, a partnership with Dogecoin and reddit was confirmed for the #98 Ford Fusion driven by Josh Wise at Talladega Superspeedway. Now, the team looks to extend both the partnership and creative fundraising into the 2015 race season. Earlier this week, the website TheDogeCar.com launched to share the story of the historical crowd funding effort that brought this sponsorship to life. Additionally, it also offers a new selection of merchandise to carry this partnership into the 2015 NASCAR race season. Available items include an "official Dogecar sponsorship coin" minted by Provident Metals, 2015 DogeCrew t-shirts, hoodies, and crew shirts. Preorders will be accepted through November 15, 2014, with the proceeds being applied to the 2015 race season. This weekend, the No. 98 Dogecoin / reddit Ford Fusion will have a slightly different look than it has in past weeks. Included in the paint scheme will be the word "dogecoin" written in Chinese characters to symbolize its status as a worldwide currency, and help incorporate the entire Dogecoin community on a worldwide scale. Earlier this year, reddit user and tech fan Denis Pavel noticed a plain black car with a driver he felt 'raced the wheels off the car' during a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The lack of sponsorship caused Pavel to think of some of the significant fundraisers that he's witnessed on the reddit platform, and drove the 16-year-old to utilize the Dogecoin currency to raise sponsorship funds for Wise. Setting and exceeding their goal within the opening week, Dogecoin and reddit partnered with Phil Parsons Racing for the spring race at Talladega Superspeedway, the Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and now again this fall at Talladega Superspeedway.(Phil Parsons Racing), see an image of the car on the #98 team paint schemes page.(10-15-2014)

  • Terry Labonte returns to the #32 for 890th career start: Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Terry Labonte will be competing in the GEICO 500 with C&J Energy Services and the #32 Go FAS Racing team in Talladega. His start at the Talladega Superspeedway will be the 890th of his 37-year long run and 61st at the famed superspeedway. As a tribute to a legend of the sport, C&J Energy Services and the #32 team created a special paint scheme for Labonte, honoring his remarkable career in stock car racing's most elite series. Throughout Labonte's storied career, beginning in 1978, he has finished in the top ten on 361 occasions; 22 of those finishes ended with a trip to victory lane. Labonte's very first start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series was at the Darlington Raceway with Duck Industries. At the young age of 21, Labonte finished fourth in the #92 car owned by Billy Hagan. A few short years later, in 1984, Labonte went on to win the first of his two championships in the #44 Piedmont car, also owned by Hagan. Following the '84 championship, Labonte encountered many ups and downs in NASCAR. The sport became more and more competitive with multi-car teams growing and sponsorship needs increasingly demanding. In 1994, Labonte signed with Hendrick Motorsports. This was an incredible turning point in his career, culminating in 1996, when Labonte went on to win his second championship in the #5 Kelloggs Chevy. With 12 years between his two championships, the second title was a significant triumph that helped define his career. Many of today's NASCAR fans and industry leaders still remember and cherish the second championship.
    The paint scheme created by C&J Energy and FAS Lane Racing for Labonte at this year's GEICO 500 will include a replication of Labonte's first Sprint Cup car, his first championship car and his second championship car. Fans and members of the NASCAR community will recognize the combination of paint schemes from the cars that have defined Labonte and his extraordinary career: the Duck Industries car, the Piedmont Airlines car and lastly, the yellow, red and green Kellogg car. Since 2005, Labonte has run a limited schedule with various teams including Hendrick Motorsports, Michael Waltrip Racing, Petty Enterprises and most recently the FAS Lane team. Outside of racing, Labonte is known for being an avid hunter and fisherman.(Go Green Racing), see an image of the car on the #32 team paint schemes page.(10-15-2014)

  • Nemechek to make second attempt with RAB: RAB Racing will attempt to make their first Sprint Cup Series race this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. In six NASCAR Nationwide Series starts here, RAB Racing entries have earned one top-10 finish and four top-20 finishes. Joe Nemechek will pilot the RAB Racing #29. ToyotaCare will serve as primary sponsor. Making his Sprint Cup Series debut at Talladega Superspeedway, crew chief of the #29 Toyota Camry Matt Lucas has sat atop the pit box at the 2.5-mile tri oval six times in the Nationwide Series, boasting one win with Matt Kenseth in 2013 and a near perfect lap completion record (97.4%).(RAB Racing) the team attempted the Daytona race in July with Nemechek but failed to qualify.(10-15-2014)

  • Hamlin's jackman injured at Charlotte UPDATE: #11-Denny Hamlin's jackman Nate Bolling suffered an injury Saturday night that sidelined him for half the race. After stop 3, the #11 car had back up jackman Kenneth Purcell in the race and ended up finishing the race with him. We're not exactly sure what happened to Nate but talking to sources close to the team, it looks like it could be a torn bicep or tricep. Nate is an exceptional jackman and a tuff dude, so if he went out of the race after stop 3 then we can expect the injury is substantial. Filling in for Nate was veteran jackman and JGR back up, Kenneth Purcell. Kenneth has been jacking a long time and has 4 championships to his name with the #48 team.
    AND The MRI came back and it showed a torn Tricep. Nate is obviously out for the rest of this year but should be back for the start of the 2015 season. We've heard he could have surgery as early as this week to repair the tear. Back up Kenneth Purcell will take over duties for the rest of the season.(Pit Talks)(10-15-2014)
    UPDATE: Nate Bolling, the jackman on the #11 FedEx Sprint Cup Series race team had successful surgery on a torn right triceps this morning and is expected to make a full recovery in time for the 2015 Daytona 500.(JGR)(10-15-2014)

  • Ryan Blaney returns to the #12: Ryan Blaney will continue his busy end-of-the-season driving schedule this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway as he makes his second career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start. Blaney has raced in the last two NASCAR Nationwide Series events for Team Penske and is scheduled to compete in the next NNS race at Texas Motor Speedway. Blaney also has four more NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts scheduled for the remainder of the season. While the #12 NSCS team does not compete on a full-time basis for Team Penske, the crew leading Blaney at Talladega is certainly experienced. Blaney will have the #22 Discount Tire/Hertz Ford NNS team working with him this weekend, much like he did earlier this year when he made his NSCS debut at Kansas Speedway. Crew chief Jeremy Bullins will lead the team with the regular #22 NNS team over-the-wall pit crew servicing the car on Sunday.(Team Penske)(10-15-2014)

  • Golden Corral again sponsoring TBR: Golden Corral will continue its longstanding partnership with Tommy Baldwin Racing and, for the first time, join NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie Michael Annett as the primary partner on his #7 Chevy SS in the upcoming Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, Oct. 19. If Annett finishes inside the top 10 at Talladega, Golden Corral will offer a one-day "Kids Eat Free" promotion on Monday, Oct. 20. Kids' buffets will be free (limit of two per purchase) with the purchase of an adult buffet purchase at regular price.(TBR)(10-15-2014)

  • ESPN employees visit Hendrick Motorsports: Five years ago, Rich Feinberg - ESPN vice president, motorsports, production - came up with an idea. "At ESPN, we cover all sports, but it's a very stick-and-ball culture," Feinberg explained. So he brought a concept to ESPN management and eventually NASCAR management. Why not gather a group of ESPN employees and bring them inside the world of NASCAR? "By immersing people in it, they learn about it, they have a new respect for it, and when it comes down to working on it, they do better," he said. ESPN and NASCAR loved the idea, and for five years, Feinberg has hand-picked a group to make the trek to Hendrick Motorsports headquarters in Concord, North Carolina. In the 2014 version of the immersion program, that certainly proved true. In addition to NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports employees, among the participants were SportsCenter anchors Jay Harris, Chris Hassel, Darren Haynes, Lisa Kerney and Jaymee Sire in addition to ESPN Radio host Freddie Coleman, executive producers Mike Shiffman and Andy Tennant, senior news editor Jodi Herbert and Director of Talent, Planning and Development Chris Duffy. Included in the immersion was an overview of the human performance element of the race teams, featuring a tour of the training field, gym and pit pad. At the pit pad, the group got a chance to take a shot at changing a tire, splitting into two teams racing against the clock for the win. After the competition, the group went on to tour the engine shop and the race shops for the #5, 24, 48 and 88 teams. Finally, the group got to take an exclusive tour of Hendrick Motorsports Owner Rick Hendrick's Heritage Center, featuring his extensive car collection. It was just part of their immersion, as the group later got the chance to take in the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.(Hendrick Motorsports)(10-15-2014)

  • Nationwide race at Phoenix to honor Disabled American Veterans: Phoenix International Raceway announced that DAV (Disabled American Veterans) will be recognized as the title sponsor of the track's November NASCAR Nationwide Series race. The DAV 200 - Honoring America's Veterans will be the featured event on the third day of PIR's Veterans Day race weekend. The DAV 200 - Honoring America's Veterans will be the semifinal race in the NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule. With the Nationwide Series title on the line, the green flag will drop at 5:00pm/et on Saturday, November 8. DAV's National Commander, Ron Hope, said this race weekend is a fitting addition to the many events across the country that remember America's fallen, wounded, ill or injured. "This is the time of year our country pauses to reflect on those who ensured we enjoy the freedoms we sometimes take for granted'" said Hope. "This event, in addition to the excitement of attendance for a semi-final event, will make veterans aware of the free services available to them and educate the public on volunteer opportunities and other ways they can say 'thanks' to those who served."(PIR)(10-15-2014)

  • Bully Hill Vineyards partners with NEMCO: NEMCO Motorsports announced today that its #8 Toyota Tundra driven by Joe Nemechek will be sponsored by Bully Hill Vineyards for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Talladega Superspeedway. NEMCO Motorsports, which is operated by Nemechek and his family, has been active in NASCAR for nearly 25 years and boasts 25 wins on the NASCAR circuit. Today, father Joe and son, John Hunter, represent the team on the track racing in all three of NASCAR's national series and have shared driving duties in the #8 Tundra this season. While this will be the first time Joe Nemechek will carry the colors of Bully Hill Vineyards, the partnership between NEMCO Motorsports and the Hammondsport, NY winery carries a rich racing history that dates back 15 years. From 1999-2001, the duo collected a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win, two NASCAR Nationwide Series wins and a runner-up finish in a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race with driver Ron Fellows at Watkins Glen International. Coupled with Nemechek's penchant for drafting and past successes at Talladega Superspeedway, the time is right for a return to victory lane.(See an image of the truck on the #8 Team Paint Schemes page)(NEMCO Motorsports)(10-15-2014)

  • QOLIX to sponsor Ware during debut at Talladega: Teenager racing sensation Cody Ware, a part-time NASCAR Nationwide Series competitor will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut in Saturday's fred's 250 at Talladega Superspeedway. This season, the third-generation driver has been competing in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship Series, where he has earned multiple podium wins at Watkins Glen International, as well as the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta in his Lamborghini Super Trofeo class. Additionally, he has made multiple NASCAR Nationwide Series starts with a best finish of 15th in his debut at Mid-Ohio. Ware, 18, continues an uphill, but successful climb in stock cars driving for father Rick Ware. QOLIX will sponsor Ware in his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut this weekend, entering their second foray into Motorsports sponsorship. Recently, they also sponsored stunt man Stanton Barrett at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. QOLIX is a web-based Patient-Reported Outcomes monitoring system that integrates newly-developed generic and condition-specific PRO measures to improve the comprehensiveness and efficiency of measurement in comparison with familiar legacy PROs.(See an image of the truck on the #5 Team Paint Schemes page)(Rick Ware Racing)(10-15-2014)

  • Co-sponsors on board with Cobb: V.G. Pride Group, an oilfield consulting and assessment company from Hammond, Louisiana and Oohrah! Hydration Drink will be co-primary sponsors on the Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing (JJCR) #10 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chevy at this week's Fred's 250 Powered by Coca-Cola at Talladega Superspeedway. The companies have joined Cobb in unique endeavors to honor our Nation's military members.V.G. Pride Group answered the call with a corporate donation of 100 wreaths and is encouraging other businesses to do the same. Oohrah! Hydration Drink, which announced a 3-race primary sponsorship with Cobb beginning at New Hampshire, is also a champion for giving to military causes. Each Oohrah! label tells a story with Thunder Cloud, Fightin' Green and Chargin' Blue honoring those who fight from air, land and sea, as an example. Cobb represents Oohrah!'s Rockin' It Pink flavor honoring Lady Warriors and breast cancer survivors. This week at Talladega, Driven2Honor will honor two female military members and Cobb will present each honoree with a special gift, a custom leather jacket on behalf of Oohrah! CEO, Lisa Bremmer. Fans who wish to support Oohrah! in its mission to give back can receive special military pricing and free shipping on the purchase of Oohrah! Hydration Drinks and Oohrah! Purified Water at www.OohrahHydration.com.(Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing)(10-15-2014)

  • Talladega announces race officials: Talladega Superspeedway announced the individuals who will give the command "Drivers Start Your Engines" and those who will waive the green flag to start the fred's 250 and GEICO 500. The performers for the rendition of the National Anthem were unveiled as well and will showcase a military theme.
    GEICO 500
    "Grand Marshal: Rhett Rayburn, Regional Vice President and Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter for GEICO Macon Southeast, will give the most famous command in motorsports - "Drivers, Start Your Engines."
    "Honorary Starter: Sergeant First Class (SFC) James W. Knight, an Alabama native and member of the US Army since 2000, will be high above the start-finish line in the flag stand and will wave the green flag to start what promises to be one of the most exciting events in the history of Talladega Superspeedway.
    fred's 250 Powered by Coca-Cola
    "Grand Marshal: Teresa Gabor, Senior Vice President of Merchandising for fred's Super Dollar will deliver the message to drivers to start their engines.
    "Honorary Starter: Keith Curtis, Senior Vice President of Merchandising at fred's Super Dollar, will serve as the Honorary Starter.
    GEICO 500 National Anthem
    "The 313th United States Army Band, formed in 1943, will perform the National Anthem prior to the GEICO 500. The unit, comprised of 40 citizen-soldiers, train and perform as Army musicians during monthly Battle Assembly weekends and do weeks of annual training. Its mission is to provide music throughout the spectrum of military operations, to instill in our forces the will to fight and win, to foster support of our citizens, and to promote our national interests at home and abroad.(TSS)(10-15-2015)


    News from October 14, 2014

  • NASCAR issues penalties for Charlotte post-race: NASCAR has assessed behavioral penalties to drivers #2-Brad Keselowski and #14-Tony Stewart for their involvement in post-race incidents on Oct. 11 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Keselowski has been fined $50,000 and placed on NASCAR probation for the next four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship events through Nov. 12 for violating:
    " Section 12-1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing
    " Section 12-4.9: Behavioral penalty -- involved in post-race incidents
    Stewart has been fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR probation for the next four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship events through Nov. 12 for violating:
    " Section 12-1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing
    " Section 12-4.9: Behavioral penalty -- involved in a post-race incident
    "These penalties are about maintaining a safe environment following the race," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR senior vice president, competition and racing development. "We knew that the new Chase format was likely going to raise the intensity level and we want our drivers to continue to be themselves. However, the safety of our drivers, crew members, officials, and workers is paramount and we will react when that safety could be compromised."(NASCAR)(10-14-2014)

  • Charlotte TV Ratings: ABC's live telecast of the Bank of America 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday night, Oct. 11, earned a 3.1 U.S. household rating, averaging 5,096,000 viewers, according to Nielsen Media. The only Saturday night race in the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the Charlotte event was the highest-rated and most-viewed of the five races so far in the Chase. Last year's race earned a 3.4 rating and averaged 5,560,000 viewers. Of the nation's 56 metered markets, Greenville, S.C., was the highest rated with an 8.4 rating, with Greensboro, N.C., second at 8.3. Charlotte, N.C., and Tulsa, Okla., tied for third at 7.9 with Indianapolis fifth at 7.7. Rounding out the top 10 were Raleigh-Durham, N.C., 7.3; Richmond, Va., 6.1; Nashville, Tenn., 5.9; Jacksonville, Fla., 5.5 and Dayton, Ohio, 5.4.
    ESPN2's live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Charlotte on Friday night, Oct. 10, earned a 0.8 U.S. rating, the same as last year's race, and averaged 1,249,000 viewers, slightly down from last year's average of 1,302,000. See past races for 2014 and 5-year comparison chart on the 2014 NASCAR TV Ratings page.(ESPN)(10-14-2014)

  • Sad News - Richard Cozze: Richard A. Cozze Sr., "Dick" 87, of Jutland NJ passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Sunday October 12 2014, at Hunterdon Medical Center. Born in Union Township, Hunterdon County, NJ on September 14, 1927, he resided in Jutland most of his life. He attended Clinton High School and served in the Merchant Marines. He was well-known and highly respected in the sport of auto racing, mostly stock cars. He was a car owner for such famous drivers as Al Tasnady, Budd Olsen, Stan Ploski and Robert Pickell, who raced his car in the 1967 Daytona 500. Racing was a family affair. He and his sons were behind the Cozze Brothers Engineering race team, which was known for its well-constructed and best prepared rides. Many years prior to becoming a car owner, he raced for one season in 1950 at tracks in Newark and Morristown. His sons also raced and one continues to race today. He was inducted into Eastern Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2006. And, in 2011, he was recipient of the Northeast Modified Hall of Fame Gene DeWitt Outstanding Car Owner Award. A funeral service will be held at 10:00a.m. on Thursday October 16, at Martin Funeral Home, 1761 Route 31, Clinton, NJ 08809. Visiting will be held on Wednesday October 15, from 2:00 to 4:00p.m and from 6:00 to 9:00pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Shannon Daley Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 1271, Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889. Services are under the direction of Martin Funeral Home.(10-14-2014)

  • Three Sprint Cup Races to Air Live in Spanish: ESPN Deportes will air live telecasts in Spanish of three of the last five races in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup starting with the race at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, Oct. 19, at 2:00pm/et. ESPN Deportes also will air live telecasts of the Oct. 26 event at Martinsville, Va., and the Nov. 9 event in Phoenix. The network airs all NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series races but normally on a delayed basis. The leading multimedia, Spanish-language sports brand dedicated to providing the widest variety of sports to the U.S. Hispanic sports fan, ESPN Deportes is the highest rated and most watched Spanish-language sports cable network, currently available in 6.1 million Hispanic households. Featuring more than 2,500 live and/or original hours of sports programming, the network is also available via WatchESPN. Andres Agulla and Alex Pombo will call the NASCAR action on ESPN Deportes.(ESPN)(10-14-2014)

  • NASCAR Numbers:
    2.8: Joey Logano's average finish in the first five races of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Logano has two victories and three fourth-place results and is already assured of advancing to the Chase's Eliminator Round by virtue of his victory Oct. 5 at Kansas Speedway.
    15.4: Jimmie Johnson's average finish in the first five races of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, one reason why Johnson is tied for 11th in the standings with only one more race left in the Contender Round. Realistically, Johnson needs a win on Sunday at Talladega to keep his hopes for a record-tying seventh title alive.
    3: The current number of consecutive top 10s Ryan Newman has posted in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. Newman has been the quiet man in the Chase, but he stands an excellent chance of advancing to the Eliminator Round, if he can only get past Talladega without a catastrophe.
    162: The number of laps led by Kevin Harvick in Saturday night's Bank of America 500 at Charlotte, bringing his season total to 1,815, far and away a career best. For once, Harvick and his team weren't subject to Murphy's Law and won the race the way they ran it-in dominating fashion.
    5: The number of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories recorded by Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Talladega Superspeedway, the site of Sunday's final race in the Chase's Contender Round. Earnhardt hasn't won at Talladega since 2004, but he's looking to end his decade-long drought with a win that would propel the #88 team into the next round of the Chase.(NASCAR Wire Service)(10-14-2014)

  • Top 10 Driver Ratings at Talladega:
    #42-Kyle Larson 94.8
    #20-Matt Kenseth 90.9
    #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. 90.3
    Jeff Burton 89.1
    #41-Kurt Busch 87.1
    #55-Brian Vickers 86.9
    #48-Jimmie Johnson 85.9
    #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 85.0
    #11-Denny Hamlin 83.1
    #34-David Ragan 82.1
    Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2014 races (19 total) among active drivers at Talladega Superspeedway.
    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)

  • NTS gets sponsorship to support Hornaday at Talladega: NTS Motorsports proudly announced that four-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion Ron Hornaday, Jr. will race another NTS event in the #9 Armour Vienna Sausages/Bad Boy Buggies Chevy Silverado at Talladega Superspeedway on October 18, 2014. Hornaday has 15 combined series starts at the 2.5-mile superspeedway, with four top-5 and six top-10 finishes and one NCWTS pole award in 2010.(See an image of the truck on the #9 Team Paint Schemes page)(NTS Motorsports)(10-14-2014)

  • Marching Tar Heels to play National Anthem at Martinsville: From presidential inaugurations to Final Fours, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Marching Tar Heels have performed nearly everywhere; everywhere except Martinsville Speedway. That is, until now. Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell announced The Marching Tar Heels will perform the National Anthem as part of the prerace ceremonies for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Oct. 26. The UNC Band was formed in the fall of 1903 and performed for the first time at a 1904 baseball game. In the early 1930s the band began performing at home football games and other university events. As they enter their second 100 years of existence, the UNC Bands continue to represent the Department of Music, the Athletic Department and the University at events on campus and around the country. More than 450 students, representing nearly every major on campus, participate in the UNC Bands.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-14-2014)


    News from October 13, 2014

  • Entry List for the GEICO 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is posted, 46 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including: #12-Ryan Blaney, #21-Bayne, #29-Nemechek, #32-Terry Labonte, #33-Stremme, #66-Michael Waltrip, #87-Mike Wallace.
    Drivers who need to be in the top-36 in speed and have no provisional available to them (lowest in owners points): #12-Blaney, #87-Wallace, #29-Nemechek
    Drivers who would miss the race if qualifying is canceled (least race attempts): #12-Blaney, #87-Wallace, #29-Nemechek
    See the full entry list at my Jayski.com's Talladega Entry List

  • Tempers flare after race UPDATE: After the race, #2-Brad Keselowski and ninth-place finisher #11-Denny Hamlin traded insults on pit road, as NASCAR officials and their crews kept them apart in the wake of a late race incident between their two cars. Keselowski clipped Hamlin's rear bumper on the cool-down lap, then hit Kenseth's Toyota with his Ford on pit road after the race. After sustaining collateral damage on pit road during the melee, #14-Tony Stewart backed into Keselowski's Ford, crumpling the nose of the car. Keselowski insisted it was Kenseth's car and not his #2 Ford that bumped Stewart's Chevy. "I rubbed into the #20 (Kenseth), and I think he gassed up and ran into Tony, and I don't think Tony knew what was going on," Keselowski said. "He's upset, and he has every right to be. His car was tore up. There was a whole lot of other stuff going on. I'm sure when he sees the whole situation, he'll understand."
    Kenseth, whose #20 Toyota had been damaged by contact from Keselowski's car on a restart with 63 laps left, jumped Keselowski as he was walking between haulers in the garage, and the drivers scuffled before being separated. "I had my HANS (head and neck restraint) off and my seat belts off and everything," Kenseth said of the hit from Keselowski on pit road. "He clobbered me at 50 (mph). And the access we have around here... the race is over, trying to come back to pit road... If you want to talk about it as a man, do that, but to try and wreck someone on the race track, come down pit road with other cars and people standing around with seat belts off and drive in the side of me-it's inexcusable. There is no excuse for that. He's a champion. He's supposed to know better than that."
    Hamlin also had some harsh words for the 2012 champion. "There's a corner there, so you have to back off, and he just plowed into us," Hamlin said. "He's just out of control. He's desperate, obviously, and it's either four or five of us are wrong or he's wrong, because he's pissed off everyone. Just disappointing -- but we're trying to get in this deal. We're sitting in a decent spot, but we've lost six spots or so with the last restart when he ran into us and knocked us up the track. That was unfortunate. Matt (Kenseth) was nearly out of his car and he just plowed into Matt and then ran into Tony (Stewart) and then went in through the garage and cleared out transmissions and did burnouts in the garage."(NASCAR Wire Service)(10-12-2014)
    UPDATE #2-Brad Keselowski met with NASCAR after a cooling-off period. #20-Matt Kenseth crew chief Jason Ratcliff went voluntarily to talk to NASCAR, and Kenseth crew member Jesse Sanders was summoned by officials. It's not clear if Keselowski - or Hamlin or Kenseth - will be punished by NASCAR on Tuesday, the day penalties are traditionally issued. NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton said the sanctioning body will review the final on-track laps, and everything that occurred on pit road and in the garage. NASCAR in May fined Marcos Ambrose and Casey Mears for fighting in the garage after a race at Richmond. Harvick was fined in 2011 for a pit-road confrontation with Kyle Busch in which NASCAR cited safety concerns of Busch using his car to push Harvick's car away. The next year, Kurt Busch was fined $50,000 for dangerous driving on pit road when he hit Ryan Newman's car during a confrontation. But in the case of Saturday, with so much focus on the new Chase and the attention for the post-race skirmishes, it's not clear if NASCAR will punish those involved or pat them on the back. Harvick said there was no way NASCAR takes any action. "They love it. They were fighting afterwards, that's what it's all about," Harvick said.(Associated Press)(10-13-2014)

  • Clinch scenarios at Talladega: The restrictor-plate madness of Talladega Superspeedway could easily deliver multiple championship twists and turns before the end of next Sunday's GEICO 500. And the only two drivers that are immune to such chaos are Kansas winner #22-Joey Logano and Saturday night's winner at Charlotte, #4-Kevin Harvick, who are safely in the Eliminator Round.
    As for the rest of the Chasers, here's where everybody needs to finish in order to guarantee their own Eliminator spot regardless of the finish of any other driver:
    #18-Kyle Busch (+26 points over ninth place): 24th or better, 25th and at least one lap led, 26th and most laps led
    #31-Ryan Newman (+21 points): 19th or better, 20th and at least one lap led, 21st and most laps led
    #99-Carl Edwards (+20 points): 18th or better, 19th and at least one lap led, 20th and most laps led
    #24-Jeff Gordon (+18 points): 16th or better, 17th and at least one lap led, 18th and most laps led
    #11-Denny Hamlin (+17 points): 15th or better, 16th and at least one lap led, 17th and most laps led
    #5-Kasey Kahne (+1 point), #20-Matt Kenseth (-1 point behind eighth place), #2-Brad Keselowski (-19 points), #48-Jimmie Johnson (-26 points) and #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. (-26 points) only control their own destiny by winning Sunday at Talladega.(NBC Sports)(10-13-2014)

  • All Chase drivers to appear at After the Lap: Race fans attending NASCAR After the Lap during Champion's Week in Las Vegas will get 33 percent more for the cost of admission this year. Instead of 12 drivers, all 16 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup will appear with emcee Marty Smith at the Pearl Palms Concert Theater on Thursday, Dec. 4. Previous editions of NASCAR After the Lap have proven to be both spirited and unpredictable, to put it mildly. Fans can purchase tickets at www.NASCARafterthelap.com. At the same site they can also enter the NASCAR After the Lap sweepstakes through Nov. 16.(NASCAR Wire Service)(10-13-2014)

  • Newberry and Qore-24 Go Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness at Martinsville, Texas: Each year, it is estimated over 220,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime and because of these staggering numbers, October in America is recognized as "Breast Cancer Awareness Month". To help promote the importance of early detection through yearly mammograms for women over the age of 40, Brennan Newberry, NTS Motorsports, and Qore-24 Antimicrobial Hand Purifier will be racing a special pink paint scheme for this month's Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway, in Martinsville, Virginia, and the WinStar World Casino 350K at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. Statistics show, when breast cancer is caught at its earliest states, the 5-year survival rate is 98%. Newberry will not only carry pink logos on his Chevrolet Silverado, but also the names of NTS Motorsports employees' loved ones who are breast cancer survivors and those currently battling the disease. Newberry will pilot a pink paint scheme on the #9 NTS Motorsports entry at Martinsville Speedway on October 25th and will continue his drive for awareness with the No.20 Qore-24 Chevrolet at Texas Motor Speedway on October 31st. If you would like more information about early detection, Breast Cancer Awareness, or to learn how you can donate to find a cure, go online to www.BreastCancer.org.(See an image of the truck on the #9 Team Paint Schemes page)(NTS Motorsports)(10-13-2014)

  • Truck Series Talladega Entry list: There are 36 trucks on the preliminary entry list for Saturday's Fred's 250 at Talladega Superspeedway. A few notes:
    Milka Duno is in the #1;
    Michael Affarano is in the #03;
    Cody Ware is in the #005;
    Ron Hornaday is in the #9;
    Ryan Ellis is in the #28;
    Daniel Suarez is in the #35;
    Derek White is in the #50;
    TJ Bell is in the #56;
    Clay Greenfield is in the #68;
    Chris Fontaine is in the #84;
    (10-13-2014)
    See the complete list on the Talladega entry list page.


    News from October 12, 2014

  • Charlotte Race and Commercial Breakdown: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, here is the breakdown for Saturday's race. Began recording the times at at 8:07 PM, despite the race commencing at 7:54 PM. (This was due to college football coverage on ABC.) I stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 11:21 PM (all times are EST). ESPN on ABC was the broadcast team for this event.
    Total number of commercials: 130
    Total number of companies or entities advertised: 56
    Number of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 91
    Total number of companies or entities advertised: 45
    Number of 'Side-by-Side' commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 39
    Total number of companies or entities advertised: 20
    Number of times ESPN utilized 'Side-by-Side' commercials during this broadcast: 8
    Total number of companies or entities advertised in brief promos or crawlers: 22
    Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 3 min. 55 sec.
    Start time to record race/commercial periods: 8:07 PM
    End time to record race/commercial periods: 11:21 PM
    Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 194
    Minutes of race broadcast: 157
    Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 37
    Minutes of 'Side-by-Side' commercials (split-screen): 16
    Number of missed restarts: 0
    Number of 'mystery cautions' (debris not shown): 0
    Total race brdcst time 157 Total comm. brdcst time 37
    See past races, links to full reports and sponsor links and more on the 2014 TV Commercials page.(10-12-2014)

  • Tempers flare after race: After the race, #2-Brad Keselowski and ninth-place finisher #11-Denny Hamlin traded insults on pit road, as NASCAR officials and their crews kept them apart in the wake of a late race incident between their two cars. Keselowski clipped Hamlin's rear bumper on the cool-down lap, then hit Kenseth's Toyota with his Ford on pit road after the race. After sustaining collateral damage on pit road during the melee, #14-Tony Stewart backed into Keselowski's Ford, crumpling the nose of the car. Keselowski insisted it was Kenseth's car and not his #2 Ford that bumped Stewart's Chevy. "I rubbed into the #20 (Kenseth), and I think he gassed up and ran into Tony, and I don't think Tony knew what was going on," Keselowski said. "He's upset, and he has every right to be. His car was tore up. There was a whole lot of other stuff going on. I'm sure when he sees the whole situation, he'll understand."
    Kenseth, whose #20 Toyota had been damaged by contact from Keselowski's car on a restart with 63 laps left, jumped Keselowski as he was walking between haulers in the garage, and the drivers scuffled before being separated. "I had my HANS (head and neck restraint) off and my seat belts off and everything," Kenseth said of the hit from Keselowski on pit road. "He clobbered me at 50 (mph). And the access we have around here... the race is over, trying to come back to pit road... If you want to talk about it as a man, do that, but to try and wreck someone on the race track, come down pit road with other cars and people standing around with seat belts off and drive in the side of me-it's inexcusable. There is no excuse for that. He's a champion. He's supposed to know better than that."
    Hamlin also had some harsh words for the 2012 champion. "There's a corner there, so you have to back off, and he just plowed into us," Hamlin said. "He's just out of control. He's desperate, obviously, and it's either four or five of us are wrong or he's wrong, because he's pissed off everyone. Just disappointing -- but we're trying to get in this deal. We're sitting in a decent spot, but we've lost six spots or so with the last restart when he ran into us and knocked us up the track. That was unfortunate. Matt (Kenseth) was nearly out of his car and he just plowed into Matt and then ran into Tony (Stewart) and then went in through the garage and cleared out transmissions and did burnouts in the garage."(NASCAR Wire Service)(10-12-2014)

  • Gibbs says crew chief changes on hold: NASCAR team owner Joe Gibbs told FOXSports.com Saturday that he his holding off on planned crew chief changes with his Sprint Cup team while his drivers battle for the championship and the team finalizes its NASCAR Nationwide Series sponsorship deals for next year. The hot rumor in the garage area is that #18-Kyle Busch's crew chief, Dave Rogers, will become JGR's competition director next year, with Adam Stevens moving to Busch's Cup car from the Nationwide Series. Likewise, Darian Grubb is thought to be in line to move from #11-Denny Hamlin's Cup car to the new fourth JGR Cup car with Carl Edwards for next year. But Gibbs said Saturday those plans are not final yet. "Our biggest concern is, we want to do everything at once," said Gibbs. "We've got a lot up in the air on the Nationwide side, still. And so, I think as soon as we get that settled down, we can kind of make an announcement." Typically, major Sprint Cup primary sponsorship deals are three years or so in duration. But on the Nationwide side, the deals are usually only one year at a time, and often not wrapped up until late January or early February, right before the racing season starts.(Fox Sports)(10-12-2014)

  • Toytota teams have limited time to test new Camry: Toyota unveiled its 2015 Sprint Cup Camry on Saturday with five weeks left in the 2014 season. That means the teams have five weeks to test. With a testing ban going into effect after Nov. 16's 2014 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Joe Gibbs Racing and Michael Waltrip Racing will experiment with the car. The 2015 car conforms with NASCAR's new lower horsepower, less downforce rules package. "We'll be at Nashville and things like that," MWR driver Clint Bowyer said. "We have (Goodyear test at) Auto Club Speedway, we have a Phoenix test coming up. We've got opportunities to get in this race car. I really see the new rule package that NASCAR has implemented being a bigger change feel-wise for a driver than this new car. If you're going to unveil a new car, this is a perfect time to do that because it's basically start over from scratch across the board for everybody."
    The 2015 car includes changes to the hood, nose, tail and quarter windows. Both Ford and Chevy racing engineers were present at wind tunnel tests conducted by NASCAR to approve the Toyota design. "We hope it races better," said Dave Wilson, president of Toyota Racing Development. "But realistically, practically speaking, it's not outside the box. It's still working with the same set of rules that we've had. We've got until the Sunday of Homestead. We'll test our guts out. We'll have this car on the race track a couple of times." While his drivers will want to test, JGR owner Joe Gibbs said the team must focus on 2014. All three of his drivers remain in the hunt for the title. "It'll be hard" to test, Gibbs said. "Our whole focus is on right now with where we are with the Chase and everything. I can't see us being able to do much."(Sporting News)(10-12-2014)


    News from October 11, 2014

  • Harvick wins at Charlotte: #4-Kevin Harvick won the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway for his 3rd win of the season, 3rd at Charlotte and his 26th career win.
    #24-Gordon finished 2nd followed by #1-McMurray, #22-Logano, polesitter #18-Busch, #42-Larson, #31-Newman, #99-Edwards, #11-Hamlin, and #5-Kahne.
    The win allows Harvick to advance to round 3 of the Chase, after Talladega.
    #88-Earnhardt, Jr. was the Chase driver to suffer the most problems. He broke a shifter early in the race and struggled to a 20th place finish.
    There was a lot of pushing and shoving in the garage after the race. Once the checkered flag flew, Hamlin and Keselowski got together on the track. Coming down pit road, Keselowski got into the side of Kenseth and then hit the rear of Stewart's car. Stewart backed up and damaged Keselowski's front end. Once drivers were out of their cars Hamlin had to be prevented from going up to Keselowski. As Keselowski walked off, between haulers, Kenseth rushed up to him and more shoving began. Everyone was separated.
    There were 32 lead changes among 14 drivers. There were 8 cautions for 39 yellow flag laps.
    The average speed was 145.346mph.
    See unofficial race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Unofficial Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Penalty Report (pdf) and Lap Summary Report (pdf).
    (10-11-2014)

  • Where the 2014 Sprint Cup Chase Drivers finished at Charlotte:
    [listed by driver chase points position before the race](started)
    1) #22-Joey Logano, 4th (13)
    2) #18-Kyle Busch, 5th (1)
    3) #99-Carl Edwards, 8th (10)
    4) #31-Ryan Newman, 7th (5)
    5) #11-Denny Hamlin, 9th (3)
    6) #4-Kevin Harvick, WON (7)
    7) #24-Jeff Gordon, 2nd (2)
    8) #20-Matt Kenseth, 19th (22)
    9) #5-Kasey Kahne, 10th (19)
    10) #2-Brad Keselowski, 16th (17)
    11) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 20th (9)
    12) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 17th (21)
    (10-11-2014)

  • Race Fast Facts - Charlotte:
    Kevin Harvick won the 55th Annual Bank of America 500, his 26th victory in 497 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. With the victory, he clinches a spot in the Eliminator Round.
    With the victory, Harvick ties NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Fred Lorenzen for 25th on the all-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins list.
    This is his third victory and 16th top-10 finish in 2014.
    This is his third victory and 11th top-10 finish in 28 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
    Jeff Gordon (second) posted his 24th top-10 finish in 44 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his 20th top-10 finish in 2014.
    Jamie McMurray (third) posted his 10th top-10 finish in 25 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
    Joey Logano leads the point standings by 6 points over Kyle Busch.
    (NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(10-11-2014)

  • Sprint Cup Driver Chase Standings:
    [after Charlotte, race 31 of 36]
    drivers who have won in round 2, automatically advances to round 3 after Talladega
    1) #22-Joey Logano [5 wins, 1 win in round 2] 3088
    2) #18-Kyle Busch [1 win] 3082, -6 [26]
    3) #4-Kevin Harvick [3 wins, 1 win in round 2] 3081, -7 [25]
    4) #31-Ryan Newman, 3077, -11 [21]
    5) #99-Carl Edwards [2 wins] 3076, -12 [20]
    6) #24-Jeff Gordon [4 wins] 3074, -14 [18]
    7) #11-Denny Hamlin [1 win] 3073, -15 [17]
    8) #5-Kasey Kahne [1 win] 3057, -31 [+1 ahead of 9th]
    the cut off line for being eliminated after Talladega
    9) #20-Matt Kenseth, 3056, -32 (-1 pt out of 8th)
    10) #2-Brad Keselowski [5 wins], 3038, -50 (-19)
    11) #48-Jimmie Johnson [3 wins], 3031, -57 (-26)
    12) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [3 wins], 3031, -57 (-26)
    Chaser drivers eliminated after round 1
    13) #47-AJ Allmendinger [1 win], 2142
    14) #16-Greg Biffle [1 win], 2127
    15) #41-Kurt Busch [1 win], 2109
    16) #43-Aric Almirola [1 win], 2096
    (ties are broken by wins, 2nds, 3rds, etc, with in that round of the Chase)
    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).
    (10-11-2014)

  • Unofficial Top 25 in 2014 Sprint Cup Driver Points Standings (not the Chase):
    [after Charlotte, race 31 of 36]
    (using current points system, but not the Chase rules, unofficial)
    1) #24-Jeff Gordon(C6), 1096
    2) #22-Joey Logano(C1), 1044, -52
    3) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.(C12), 1009, -87
    4) #2-Brad Keselowski(C10), 996, -100
    5) #4-Kevin Harvick(C3), 986, -110
    6) #20-Matt Kenseth(C9), 950, -146
    7) #31-Ryan Newman(C4), 950, -146
    8) #48-Jimmie Johnson(C11), 945, -151
    9) #42-Kyle Larson, 940, -156
    10) #99-Carl Edwards(C5), 938, -158
    11) #16-Greg Biffle (EC), 880, -216
    12) #18-Kyle Busch(C2), 877, -219
    13) #5-Kasey Kahne(C8), 868, -228
    14) #1-Jamie McMurray, 867, -229
    15) #3-Austin Dillon,2 847, -249
    16) #15-Clint Bowyer, 844, -252
    17) #27-Paul Menard,2 818, -278
    18) #11-Denny Hamlin(C7), 810, -286
    19) #55-Brian Vickers, 806, -290
    20) #41-Kurt Busch (EC), 757, -339
    21) #47-AJ Allmendinger (EC), 750, -346
    22) #78-Martin Truex Jr., 749, -347
    23) #9-Marcos Ambrose, 745, -351
    24) #43-Aric Almirola (EC), 721, -375
    25) #13-Casey Mears, 682, -414
    (C# is chase driver and current Chase position)
    (EC is chase driver that has been eliminated from the Chase)
    (10-11-2014)

  • Charlotte Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #42-Larson, finished 6th, 16 rookie points
    #3-Dillon, 13th, 10
    #51-Allgaier, 15th, 9
    #26-Whitt, 28th, 8
    #23-Bowman, 30th, 7
    #7-Annett, 33rd, 6
    Truex, Did Not Race
    Kligerman, Did Not Race
    See the 2014 Rookie of the Year page for rules, standings and more.(10-11-2014)



  • Steve Byrnes' cancer has returned UPDATES: Longtime NASCAR on FOX on-air personality Steve Byrnes is taking an indefinite medical leave of absence, effectively immediately, to focus on his health after receiving news he has suffered a recurrence of cancer. Byrnes, who was diagnosed and successfully treated for head-and-neck cancer in late 2013, steps away from his NASCAR Race Hub co-hosting and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series play-by-play duties for FOX Sports 1 to concentrate on his upcoming medical treatment and time with his family. Any further updates on Byrnes will come at the discretion of the family.(FoxSports)(10-8-2014)
    UPDATE: Byrnes tweeted, "On behalf of my family, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the kind expressions. Starting chemo next week and I'm ready to fight!"(10-11-2014)
    UPDATE 2: Leavine Family Racing will be running a special decal on the #95 at Charlotte Motor Speedway Saturday night in support of Fox reporter Steve Byrnes.(LFR PR)(10-11-2014)

  • Toyota unveils 2015 race car: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. and Toyota Racing Development introduced the new 2015 Toyota Camry race car that will compete in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition beginning next season. With the announcement of the 2015 Camry race car, Toyota becomes the first manufacturer in the series to update the NASCAR 'Gen-6' model -- which was initially introduced in 2012 for competition beginning during the 2013 season. In addition, a redesigned Camry will also be used in next year's NASCAR Xfinity Series, currently the Nationwide Series. The 2015 Camry race car marks the culmination of a redesign to provide the vehicle with a more unique identity -- and a look similar to the 2015 production Camry that was introduced earlier this year. TRD worked together with Calty Design, part of Toyota's global network design team, to update the on-track Camry and incorporate design elements from the new 2015 production Camry into the race car. The boldest change to the new 2015 NSCS Camry is the aggressive front end and grill area, which looks exactly like its production counterpart. In addition, the new Camry boasts an all new, sleek hood and nose, along with a new tail of the car. A distinct change in the quarter windows also adds to the sleeker look. For 12 straight years, and 16 of the past 17 years, the Camry has been the best-selling car in America. In an effort to create more distinct and stock vehicles for the race track, NASCAR worked together with the three series manufacturers prior to the 2013 season to determine what areas were either 'locked in' or 'open' for unique design. NASCAR along with the manufacturers have also worked together to allow for updates to each manufacturer's design -- with Toyota being the first manufacturer to work through that update process.(Toyota Racing), see images of the car on the Toyota news page.(10-11-2014)

  • Race Coverage of the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, October 11, 2014.
    Television (TV): ABC at 7:30 pm/et; Pre-Race show at 7:00pm/et; green flag approx. 7:46pm/et
    Radio: Performance Racing Network (PRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 90
    Scheduled Race Re-Airs: Sunday, October 12, 3:00am/et, ESPN2

  • Goodyear warns teams that high speeds could impact tires: Goodyear has warned teams that increased speeds at Charlotte Motor Speedway will put a heavy emphasis on the right front tires in Saturday night's race - a potentially key development for drivers trying to advance in the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship. Stu Grant, general manager of worldwide racing for Goodyear, said Friday the tire manufacturer provided durability guidelines a day earlier for teams to use in their preparations. #41-Kurt Busch set the track record in Thursday qualifying with a lap at 198.771 mph. It broke #11-Denny Hamlin's record of 195.624 set in 2013 and was the fastest lap ever recorded on a 1.5-mile track. Busch's speed was also almost 4 mph faster than the lap #48-Jimmie Johnson turned to win the pole in May. Although the pace of Saturday night's race will slow compared to qualifying speeds, Goodyear felt teams needed to be informed, particularly after championship contenders #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #2-Brad Keselowski both blew right front tires last week at Kansas and are in danger of being eliminated from the Chase. Keselowski's tire went back to North Carolina from Kanas with Team Penske, and was received by Goodyear on Thursday for further analysis at its Akron, Ohio, facility. Goodyear does not have Earnhardt's tire because Hendrick Motorsports was doing its own examination and had yet to ship it to Akron. Goodyear officials did look over both tires at Kansas, but Grant said "nothing jumped out at us." Damage appeared to be to the inside shoulder, belt-edge. In the past, Goodyear has found that teams were too aggressive with either their air pressure or camber settings, causing tire failures. Earnhardt crew chief Steve Letarte and Keselowski crew chief Paul Wolfe both told Goodyear their setups were not aggressive enough to cause tire failures.(Associated Press)(10-11-2014)

  • Testing coming up at Martinsville: Drivers #2-Brad Keselowski, #22-Joey Logano, #31-Ryan Newman, #27-Paul Menard, #3-Austin Dillon, #13-Casey Mears, Joe Nemechek,and Ryan Blaney will be testing at Martinsville Speedway in advance of the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 on Tuesday, October 14.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-11-2014)

  • Steve Byrnes' cancer has returned UPDATE: Longtime NASCAR on FOX on-air personality Steve Byrnes is taking an indefinite medical leave of absence, effectively immediately, to focus on his health after receiving news he has suffered a recurrence of cancer. Byrnes, who was diagnosed and successfully treated for head-and-neck cancer in late 2013, steps away from his NASCAR Race Hub co-hosting and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series play-by-play duties for FOX Sports 1 to concentrate on his upcoming medical treatment and time with his family. Any further updates on Byrnes will come at the discretion of the family.(FoxSports)(10-8-2014)
    UPDATE: Byrnes tweeted, "On behalf of my family, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the kind expressions. Starting chemo next week and I'm ready to fight!"(10-11-2014)

  • Rockwell Watches partners with Joey Logano: Rockwell Watches announced it has added #22-Joey Logano to its team of athletes. Rockwell has built its brand identity through sponsorships of premier athletes in extreme sports, and Logano will be the first NASCAR driver amongst their team of athletes. "I'm thrilled to become a part of the Rockwell Team", said Logano. "I've always been a big fan of their watches and they really fit my style. I'm excited to work on designing my own watch with Rockwell, and even more excited to get it on my wrist."(Rockwell Watches PR)(10-11-2014)

  • Charlotte Notes & Facts - Saturday - race:
    · There have been 111 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points races at Charlotte Motor Speedway, two races per year since the track opened in 1960. In 1961, there were two 100-mile qualifying points races held the week before the May race. The first six fall races at Charlotte were 400-mile events (1960-65).
    · Hendrick Motorsports has the most wins at Charlotte in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with 18: Jimmie Johnson (seven), Jeff Gordon (five), Darrell Waltrip (two), Ken Schrader (one), Terry Labonte (one), Casey Mears (one) and Kasey Kahne (one).
    · Eight different manufacturers have won in the NSCS at Charlotte; led by Chevrolet with 42 victories; followed by Ford with 29. Toyota has two wins at CMS.
    · The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Charlotte is 37th, by Jimmie Johnson in the Coca-Cola 600 of 2003.
    · Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway was the May 29, 2005 race won by Jimmie Johnson over Bobby Labonte with a MOV of 0.027 second.
    · There have been three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races resulting with a Green-White-Checkered finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but only once for the Coca-Cola 600 (Scheduled No. of Laps/Actual No. of Laps): Chase race of 2005 (334/336), Chase race of 2007 (334/337) and the 2011 Coca-Cola 600 (400/402).
    · Five of the 111 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway have been shortened due to weather conditions; the most recent was the 2009 Coca-Cola 600 won by David Reutimann and Michael Waltrip Racing. Four of the five races shortened were the 600-mile events (1968, 1997, 2003 and 2009).
    (NASCAR)(10-11-2014)

  • Warbirds Will Take To The Air Over Martinsville Speedway History will come alive once again, both on the track and in the air, as Martinsville Speedway welcomes back The Warbirds Flyover Team for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Oct. 26. The Warbirds, a group of five former military pilots flying vintage post-World War II-type aircraft, will present the pre-race flyover. The Warbirds have performed since 2009 at other sporting events, including the 2013 CokeZero 400 at Daytona International Speedway, the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins football games, and the Players Championship golf tournament. The Warbirds are based out of the Southeast and are led by Henry K. "Hoot" Gibson, a former naval aviator and Gulf War veteran.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-11-2014)


    News from October 10, 2014

  • Final practice for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over after 80 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
    #22-Logano 190.597
    #41-Busch 190.463
    #4-Harvick 190.087
    #24-Gordon 190.007
    #2-Keselowski 189.893
    slowest: #83-Yeley 181.849 & #32-Koch 181.439
    notes: #77-Lajoie had a tire go down slid up into the wall in turn 4. He only suffered sheet metal damage. #48-Johnson scraped the wall with 5 minutes remaining. The team will repair the car.
    See fastest speeds and laps run on the Charlotte Practice 3 Speeds page (pdf).(10-10-2014)

  • First Friday practice for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over after 60 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
    #41-Busch 191.157
    #22-Logano 190.476
    #11-Hamlin 190.295
    #4-Harvick 189.967
    #27-Menard 189.727
    slowest: #83-Yeley 180.959 & #33-Hill 180.802.
    notes: most drivers are using the practice more as a test session, knowing race conditions under the lights tomorrow night will be much different.
    See fastest speeds and laps run on the Charlotte Practice 2 Speeds page (pdf).(10-10-2014)

  • Yeley wins Better Half Dash: Kristen Yeley, the "better half" of NASCAR driver J.J. Yeley, held off the field to win the 4th annual Better Half Dash race Thursday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The race was supposed to be a 25-lap event but was shortened due to time constraints after a caution-filled event, ending with a green-white-checkered finish after eight laps. "It feels pretty good," said Yeley. "I've been doing this for four years, so it is really special. The foundation I am racing for is really close to me heart. My dear friend lost a child this past May and my girlfriend started the foundation to raise awareness for organ donation for children." The "better halves" were thrilled to learn they had raised nearly $70,000 for charities including Motor Racing Outreach, Speedway Children's Charities and a charity of the winning driver's choice. Heidi Stoddard, wife of NASCAR team owner Frankie Stoddard, finished second, and Melanie Self of Motor Racing Outreach was third. "I made a promise to Sherry Pollex and Shawna Robinson that I would see them in Victory Circle," said Self. "This was for these ladies who are fighting cancer." Rounding out the top five were Ashton Bayne (wife of Trevor Bayne) and Adriene Pattie (wife of crew chief Brian Pattie). Bayne started from the pole by virtue of her having the highest donation total, but she slipped to second when Yeley overtook her on lap four. Bayne was charging hard to retake the lead late in the race when she spun, relegating her to fourth. The remaining competitors finished as follows: Jenna Robinson (sixth), Jordan Fish (seventh), Karlee Hensley (eighth), Ashley Allgaier (ninth), Ashley Stremme (tenth) and Amy Reimann (11th).(Charlotte Motor Speedway)(10-10-2014)

  • Several teams to test at Phoenix: Nearly a dozen NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers, including seven of the 12 drivers who advanced to the Contender round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup, will conduct a private testing session at Phoenix International Raceway on Tuesday, Oct. 14 and Wednesday, Oct. 15. The testing session will be closed to the public. The test will allow teams to gather data in preparation for the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at PIR on Sunday, Nov. 9. As the final Eliminator round race, after which the Chase field will be cut from eight to the final four drivers for the Championship round, the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 carries added significance this season. Drivers testing include: #5-Kasey Kahne, #24-Jeff Gordon, #48-Jimmie Johnson, #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #11-Denny Hamlin, #18-Kyle Busch, #20-Matt Kenseth, #15-Clint Bowyer, #55-Brian Vickers, #66-Brett Moffit, #95-Michael McDowell, Camping World Truck Series driver #00-Cole Custer.(PIR)(10-10-2014)

  • Jamie Price Wins 2014 Truck Driver Challenge: Jamie Price, transport driver for the #18 at Joe Gibbs Racing, has won the 2014 NASCAR Championship of the Pilot Flying J Truck Driver Challenge. Price wins his second title in the competition, along with the top prize of $30,000. Upon winning this year's NASCAR Championship, Price graciously thanked Pilot Flying J for the opportunity, stating, "Pilot Flying J does so much for us, I'm honored to be holding this trophy again!" Price continued, "I knew it was going to be close this year. I was really nervous after the final chicane, but this was worth the wait. There isn't anything else like this for the truck drivers in our sport, I make sure to only stop at Pilot Flying J to return the support they give us every year."
    Price was joined at the podium by the president of Joe Gibbs Racing, JD Gibbs. Gibbs recognized the transport drivers of the Sprint Cup Series, saying, "Transport drivers have one of the hardest jobs in racing, making sure everything is set for each race, and getting to the track safely every week." Gibbs continued, "Congratulations to Jamie for this victory, and to all of you transport drivers who are a huge part of a team's success."
    Finishing in second place was Tom McCrimmon, #20 Joe Gibbs Racing, claiming a prize of $7,500. Greg Sorber, #22 Team Penske, finished in the top-3 for the first time in his career, receiving a check for $2,500. Sorber makes good on his early-year promise to finish in the top-3, while McCrimmon finishes in the top-3 for an astounding seventh year consecutive year. For their promotion of safe driving, this year's top-3 NASCAR transport drivers also receive a new Rand McNally IntelliRoute TND 730 LM, the official GPS unit of the 2014 Pilot Flying J Truck Driver Challenge.(Pilot Flying J/Victory 500 Marketing)(10-10-2014)

  • Charlotte Notes & Facts - Friday - drivers:
    · 525 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points paying race at Charlotte Motor Speedway; 374 in more than one.
    · NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the series in starts at Charlotte with 64. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 43 starts; followed by Joe Nemechek with 36.
    · 46 different drivers have won at Charlotte Motor Speedway, led by Jimmie Johnson with seven wins.
    · Nine drivers have posted consecutive wins at Charlotte Motor Speedway, including three consecutive by Fred Lorenzen (fall 1964 and both 1965) and four straight by Jimmie Johnson (both in 2004 and 2005).
    · A season sweep at Charlotte has occurred eight times, including each season from 2004-2007.
    · Richard Petty leads the series in runner-up finishes at Charlotte with nine. Kasey Kahne and Matt Kenseth lead all active drivers with three.
    · NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Bobby Allison are tied for the series most top-five finishes at Charlotte with 23. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 16.
    · Richard Petty leads the series in top-10 finishes at Charlotte with 31. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 23.
    · Joey Logano leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Charlotte with a 10.545.
    · Joe Nemechek leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Charlotte without visiting Victory Lane at 36; followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. with 29.
    · Five active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers have made their first career start at Charlotte Motor Speedway: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (5/30/99), Jimmie Johnson (10/7/01), Brian Vickers (10/11/03), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (5/29/11) and Kyle Larson (10/12/2013).
    · Four active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers have posted their first career win at Charlotte Motor Speedway: Jeff Gordon (5/29/94), Matt Kenseth (5/28/00), Jamie McMurray (10/13/02) and Casey Mears (5/27/07).
    · Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Charlotte with 1,733 laps led in 26 starts.
    · Two female drivers have competed at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Janet Guthrie and Danica Patrick.
    (NASCAR)(10-10-2014)

  • Keselowski wins Nationwide race at Charlotte: #22-Brad Keselowski won the Drive for the Cure 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, for his 4th Nationwide win of the season. #54-Kyle Busch finished second followed by #20-Matt Kenseth, #12-Ryan Blaney, #4-Kyle Larson, #60-Chris Buescher, #6-Trevor Bayne, #9-Chase Elliott, #11-Elliott Sadler, and #2-Brian Scott.
    There were 8 cautions for 42 laps and 13 lead changes among 7 leaders. Complete results are on the Charlotte race results page (pdf).
    (10-10-2014)

  • Charlotte Nationwide Race Fast Facts:
    Brad Keselowski won the 33rd Annual Drive for the Cure 300 Presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, his 31st victory in 214 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
    With the victory, Keselowski ties NASCAR Hall of Famer Jack Ingram for fifth on the all-time NASCAR Nationwide Series wins list.
    This is his fourth victory and ninth top-five finish in nine starts in 2014. His average finish this season is 1.9.
    This is his third victory and 11th top-10 finish in 15 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
    Kyle Busch (second) posted his 20th top-10 finish in 23 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his 22nd top-10 finish in 2014.
    Matt Kenseth (third) posted his 15th top-10 finish in 24 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
    Chris Buescher (sixth) was the highest finishing rookie.
    Chase Elliott # leads the point standings by 42 points over Regan Smith.
    (NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(10-10-2014)

  • Driver standings following Charlotte [3 races remaining]:
    1) #9-Chase Elliott # 1106
    2) #7-Regan Smith 1064 -42
    3) #2-Brian Scott 1045 -61
    4) #11-Elliott Sadler 1043 -63
    5) #3-Ty Dillon # 1042 -64
    6) #6-Trevor Bayne 1008 -98
    7) #60-Chris Buescher # 912 -194
    8) #62-Brendan Gaughan 875 -231
    9) #16-Ryan Reed # 820 -286
    10) #99-James Buescher 792 -314
    See complete standings on the driver standings page (pdf).(10-10-2014)

  • Nationwide Owner Standings following Charlotte are posted (pdf).(10-10-2014)

  • Elliott on Nationwide pole at Charlotte: #9-Chase Elliott won the Coors Light Pole for the Drive for the Cure 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a speed of 181.354mph. #20-Matt Kenseth will start second followed by: #2-Brian Scott, #11-Elliott Sadler, #54-Kyle Busch, #42-Kyle Larson, #5-Alex Bowman, #6-Trevor Bayne, #16-Ryan Reed, #22-Brad Keselowski, #3-Ty Dillon, and #33-Cale Conley.
    Fastest in the second round of qualifying was #6-Bayne with a speed of 180.929mph.
    #5-Bowman was quickest in the opening qualifying session at 180.511mph
    Did Not Qualify: #74-Harmon, #77-Weller, #46-Ellis, #72-Carter, and #89-Shepherd. The starting lineup is posted on the Charlotte starting lineup page (pdf).(10-10-2014)

  • Charlotte Nationwide Qualifying Notes:
    Chase Elliott won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 33rd Annual Drive for the Cure 300 Presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina with a lap of 29.776 seconds, 181.354 mph.
    This is his second pole in 30 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
    This is his second pole and 23rd top-10 start in 2014.
    This is his first pole in two races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
    Matt Kenseth (second) posted his 16th top-10 start of 2014 and his 17th in 24 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
    Brian Scott (third) posted his seventh top-10 start at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his 27th in 30 races this season.
    (NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(10-10-2014)

  • St. Clair Foods returns as primary sponsor of the #51 at Charlotte: Jeremy Clements Racing welcomes back St. Clair Foods for the first time this season, as primary sponsor of the #51 Chevy for the Drive for the Cure 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. St. Clair Foods began operation in 1975 in Memphis, Tenn., becoming known for its four signature salad dressings. Since its initial retail offerings of salad dressings, St. Clair Foods has grown to become one of the premier restaurant and food service providers in the industry. The company continues to make its Blue Cheese, Honey French, Ranch and Thousand Island brand name dressing and now offers more than 90 different products including classic chilled salads, pasta and garden salads, dips, frozen entrees and side dishes.(Clements Racing)(10-10-2014)

  • RSS Racing names associate sponsor: RSS Racing has JoeUSA.com aboard this weekend at Charlotte. JoeUSA.com custom built websites, have been helping companies for years with their website, and hosting needs. The company has built sites for Cup teams, and now has added RyanSiegRacing.com as one of their new clients.(RSS Racing)(10-10-2014)

  • Suarez joins Win-Tron: Win-Tron Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing announced today that Monterrey, Mexico native Daniel Suarez will drive the #35 ARRIS Toyota Tundra next weekend at Talladega Superspeedway in the freds' 250 powered by Coca-Cola. Suarez, currently competing full time for Escuderia TELMEX in the NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series, will utilize his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut to adequately prepare him for restrictor-plate racing, ahead of his upcoming full-time campaign in the NASCAR XFINITY Series next year. Suarez, a product of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program, will also make select starts in the NCWTS in 2015. The former NASCAR Next member has spent this season building himself as a household name in the United States, between the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Suarez won the first two NASCAR K&N Pro Series East events this season driving the #6 Toyota Camry for Rev Racing. Additionally, the 22-year old made his debut in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in May at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway driving the #20 Silent Cirlce / Telcel Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing. Most recently, Suarez made his intermediate track debut at Kentucky Speedway in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, where he finished fifth, driving the #66 ARRIS Toyota Camry for Venturini Motorsports, after starting third. Mark Rette will serve as crew chief for Suarez in the 18th race of the season.(WinTron Racing)(10-10-2014)

  • Auto Club Speedway tickets on sale Monday: On Monday, Oct. 13, race fans can take advantage of early bird pricing for NASCAR's 2015 return to Southern California by purchasing tickets to the Auto Club 400 weekend, March 20-22, at Auto Club Speedway. For as low as $35, you can lock in the best prices and chose the best seats available. And if at some point, Auto Club Speedway offers a different ticket deal that you prefer, you can always switch. Race fans will never be penalized for committing early. To purchase tickets or for more information call 800-944-RACE, visit www.autoclubspeedway.com or stop by the Auto Club Speedway ticket office at 9300 Cherry Ave. in Fontana. Ticket office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm. In addition to race weekend tickets, Auto Club Speedway also offers several ticket packages to fit everyone's price range.(ACS)(10-10-2014)


    News from October 9, 2014

  • Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway have been made.
    Pole sitter #18-Busch chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
    Outside pole sitter #24-Gordon took pit stall 15, the first pit stall with an opening in front of it.
    #11-Hamlin, who starts 3rd took the 14th pit stall, with an opening behind it.
    The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #4-Harvick, who starts 7th.
    To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(10-10-2014)

  • Kyle Busch wins Charlotte pole: #18-Kyle Bucsh won the Coors Light pole for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway with speed of 197.390mph for his 3rd pole of 2014, 2nd at Charlotte and 16th of his career.
    #24-Gordon is on the outside pole, followed by #11-Hamlin, #14-Stewart, #31-Newman, #27-Menard, #4-Harvick, #55-Vickers, #88-Earnhardt, Jr., #99-Edwards, #41-Busch, and #16-Biffle.
    Kurt Busch set the track qualifying record in the second round, with a lap of 198.771 mph. It was the fastest qualifying lap at a 1.5-mile track in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history.
    Missing the race was: #6-Bayne.
    See the Starting lineup, round by round qualifying results, notes and links on Jayski.com's Charlotte Starting Lineup / Qualifying Page. (10-9-2014)

  • Where the 2014 Sprint Cup Chase Drivers will start at Charlotte:
    [listed by current driver chase points position]
    1) #22-Joey Logano, 13th
    2) #18-Kyle Busch, POLE
    3) #99-Carl Edwards, 10th
    4) #31-Ryan Newman, 5th
    5) #11-Denny Hamlin, 3rd
    6) #4-Kevin Harvick, 7th
    7) #24-Jeff Gordon, 2nd
    8) #20-Matt Kenseth, 22nd
    9) #5-Kasey Kahne, 19th
    10) #2-Brad Keselowski, 17th
    11) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 9th
    12) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 21st
    (10-9-2014)

  • Qualifying Fast Facts - Charlotte:
    Kyle Busch won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 55th Annual Bank of America 500 with a lap of 27.357 seconds, 197.390 mph.
    This is his 16th pole in 360 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
    This is his third pole and 16th top-10 start in 2014.
    This is his second pole in 22 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
    Kurt Busch set the track qualifying record in the second round, with a lap of 198.771 mph. The previous record was 195.624 mph, set by Denny Hamlin in May of 2013. It is the 21st track qualifying record set this season.
    Kurt Busch's speed was the fastest qualifying lap at a 1.5-mile track in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history. The previous fastest speed was set by Kevin Harvick at Texas Motor Speedway this past April (198.282 mph).
    Jeff Gordon (second) posted his 21st top-10 start of 2014 and his 26th in 44 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
    Denny Hamlin (third) posted his ninth top-10 start at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his 13th in 30 races this season.
    (NASCAR Statistics)(10-9-2014)

  • Second Round of Qualifying for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over after 10 scheduled minutes.
    #41-Busch 198.771
    #4-Harvick 197.933
    #24-Gordon 197.925
    #18-Busch 197.549
    #14-Stewart 197.361
    the rest of the top 12: 27 16 99 88 11 55 31;
    out of the top 12 and not advancing to round 3: 22 10 43 51 2 1 5 3 48 20 78 42
    (10-9-2014)

  • First Round of Qualifying for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over, after 25 minutes.
    #5-Kahne 197.976
    #4-Harvick 197.904
    #99-Edwards 197.462
    #22-Logano 197.267
    #18-Busch 197.116
    the rest of the top 24: 2 31 1 24 3 48 55 43 78 88 14 11 41 10 42 51 27 16 20;
    out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 15 47 9 17 13 36 95 40 23 34 7 26 38 6 98 66 33 83 77 32
    Driver who will miss the race: #6-Bayne.
    (10-9-2014)

  • Coverage of Qualifying for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled for Thursday, October 9, 2014 at 7:20pm/et.
    Television (TV): ESPN2, 7:00pm/et
    Radio: Live online at Performance Racing Network (PRN)
    Scheduled Qualifying Re-Air: none

  • Qualifying Order for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is posted. 44 cars/drivers are listed.
    The first of the drivers scheduled to go out is #66-Moffitt.
    The final driver scheduled to go out is #1-McMurray.
    Qualifying order is set by a random draw, held about an hour before the first practice.
    See the full qualifying order on the Charlotte Qualifying Page.(10-9-2014)

  • Thursday practice for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over after 90 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
    #4-Harvick 196.192
    #3-Dillon 196.107
    #14-Stewart 195.327
    #24-Gordon 195.016
    #41-Busch 194.911
    slowest: #32-Hill 187.480 & #32-Koch 187.253.
    notes: There is no TV coverage of this practice.
    In the unlikely event that qualifying is cancelled, speeds from this practice would set the starting lineup for the race.
    The track record speed was set by Hamlin in May 2013 at 195.6248mph.
    See fastest speeds and laps run on the Charlotte Practice 1 Speeds page (pdf).(10-9-2014)

  • Take 5 joins Germain as associate sponsor at Charlotte: Take 5, Home of the 5-Minute Oil Change, has been featured on the #13 GEICO Chevy SS at Richmond, Talladega Superspeedway and in May's 600-mile event at Charlotte Motor Speedway. This weekend the company returns to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series action on the GEICO Chevy with driver Casey Mears for Saturday night's Bank of America 500. Take 5 Oil Change offers convenient drive-thru oil changes featuring liquid engineering in Castrol products. Similar to the "stay in your car, have a beverage, too" service the Germain Racing crew offers Mears during each NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pit stop, Take 5 offers regular drivers "stay in your car" service and Take 5 oil changes come with a complementary beverage and the overall experience is in a low-pressure, high-speed oil change environment. Take 5 Oil Change was established in 1984 and currently operates 34 locations and is expanding throughout the United States.(Germain Racing)(10-9-2014)

  • Yeley gets Charlotte sponsor: BK Racing announced a partnership with North Myrtle Beach, SC based Original Painters Home Made Ice Cream for the upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 11. Original Painters Home Made Ice Cream will ride-along with the #83 Toyota Camry driven by veteran driver JJ Yeley. Original Painters Homemade Ice Cream has been manufacturing Homemade Ice Cream in North Myrtle Beach, SC since 1952. Their ice cream has been featured on many national television shows, books and magazines.(BK Racing), see an image of the car on the #83 team paint schemes page.(10-9-2014)

  • Petty plans to keep #9: With Chase Elliott expected to run a partial Sprint Cup schedule starting next season, some believed that Hendrick Motorsports would try to get the #9 car number for Chase to drive, since his father Bill drove that number for much of his Cup career. RPM was asked about that Tuesday during the press conference announcing Sam Hornish, Jr's hiring:
    THERE HAS BEEN SPECULATION RPM WOULD GIVE UP THE 9 TO HENDRICK WHEN CHASE ELLIOTT IS READY TO GO CUP RACING. HAVE YOU BEEN APPROACHED ABOUT CHANGING THE NUMBER NOW?
    SAMMY JOHNS, Director of Competition, Richard Petty Motorsports - "Currently, we're committed to racing the number 9 and we have no immediate plans to change."(Ford Racing)(10-9-2014)

  • Zing Zang returns to the #36: Coming off another solid race weekend at Kansas Speedway, Reed Sorenson and the #36 team are preparing to race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Back with Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix in a three-race stretch, Sorenson will be in the black and green Zing Zang colors for Charlotte, Talladega and Martinsville race weekends. Sporting an updated design on the car, the Zing Zang Chevrolet has touches on pink in honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness month.(Tommy Baldwin Racing), see an image of the car on the #36 team paint schemes page.(10-9-2014)

  • Jeremy Mayfield running Dirt Late Models: According to World of Outlaw Late Model series PR Director Kevin Kovac, former NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield, whom was suspended indefinitely from the series in 2009, will field a Dirt Late Model operation not far from his home in Denver, North Carolina. The 45-year-old has only about a handful of starts in Dirt Late Model type race cars, but has recently been back on the short tracks with Open Wheel Modified race cars around the Carolinas. The Aaron Thomas owned team has support from NASCAR elite like Humpy Wheeler and area promoter Clint Elkins and plan on competing with their Barry Wright Super Late Model in select events and in a Rayburn race car in some Crate Late Model races. Mayfield was quoted as saying he's received guidance recently from Jonathan Davenport, in the set-ups area and has an ultimate goal of racing with the Lucas Oil series full time. Mayfield's (#J2) Dirt Late Model is adorned with the "Take It Back" campaign, which references the fact he's taking back his "life and overall love of racing."(Chattanoogan)(10-9-2014)

  • Bowyer trying to move lawsuit over motorcycle: The South Dakota Supreme Court met for its second day of oral arguments, Tuesday, in Sioux Falls. One case faces NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer against Klock Werks Kustom Cycles in Mitchell and the allegations the driver failed to pay more than $30,000 for the work on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Attorney Alex Hagen representing NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer asked the Supreme Court, Tuesday, to move the lawsuit out of South Dakota. "Clint Bowyer never step foot in South Dakota related to this agreement. This agreement arose out of Phoenix, Arizona and involved many other states, beyond the border of our state," attorney Alex Hagen said. But the owners of Klock Werks Kustom Cycles want the case to stay here. Store owners sued the NASCAR driver back in 2009 after he allegedly failed to pay up for $30,000 of work done to his motorcycle. Bowyer's attorney says this was an oral agreement made in Phoenix. "Out of that original conversation arose a trade-out whereby Mr. Bowyer would provide a motorcycle to Mr Klock. In exchange, Mr Bowyer would provide him rare access to NASCAR events that took place outside of South Dakota," Hagen said. According to the affidavit, the motorcycle was purchased in Mankato, Minnesota and delivered to Bowyer in North Carolina. If the case were taken out of Davison County, South Dakota, Clint Bowyer's attorney suggests it resume in North Carolina. The Justices of the South Dakota Supreme Court are expected to make their decision on this case in the coming months.(KSFY)(10-9-2014)

  • Charlotte Notes & Facts - Thursday - poles:
    · Fireball Roberts won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway (World 600) in 1960 with a speed of 133.904 mph.
    · 42 drivers have Coors Light poles at Charlotte, led by David Pearson with 14. Ryan Newman and Jeff Gordon lead all active drivers in poles at CMS with nine.
    · 12 drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Charlotte. David Pearson holds the record for most consecutive poles at Charlotte with 11; from the fall of 1973 through 1978.
    · 15 of the 111 (13.5%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Charlotte have been won from the Coors Light pole; the three most recent were Jimmie Johnson in 2014 (Coca-Cola 600), 2009 (Chase race event) and 2004 (Coca-Cola 600).
    · The second-place starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (17) than any other starting position at Charlotte Motor Speedway (15.3% winning percentage).
    · 32 of the 111 (28.8%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Charlotte have been won from the front row: 15 from the pole and 17 from second-place.
    · 84 of the 111 (75.6%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Charlotte have been won from a top-10 starting position.
    · Nine of the 111 (8.1%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Charlotte have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
    · Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Charlotte with a 7.115.
    · Four active drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway: Jeff Gordon (10/10/93), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (5/28/00), Ryan Newman (5/27/01) and Aric Almirola (5/27/12).
    · Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway twice; the fall race of 2002 and the fall race of 2008.(NASCAR)(10-9-2014)

  • Charlotte Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will run the same Goodyear tire codes at Charlotte this week . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that these teams have run at Charlotte since 2012 . . . while Charlotte is the only track at which Sprint Cup and Nationwide teams have run this left-side tire code (D-4428) this season, these teams did run this right-side tire code (D-4552) at Darlington in April . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Charlotte . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.(Goodyear), see full notes, tire codes, pressures, set limits on the Charlotte Race Info page - Goodyear section.(10-9-2014)

  • 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 Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the Charlotte Race Info page - Chassis selection area.

  • Sad news - Lynn Olson: Lynn Olson, retired NASCAR Camping World Truck Series official, passed away on Saturday October 4. A memorial service will be held at Covenant Church of Harrisburg, 6900 Hickory Ridge Dr, Harrisburg NC 28075 at 5:00 p.m. October 12, 2014. Lynn retired as a truck official after working for approximately 17 years officiating in several of the NASCAR series. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made out to Camp Jim, a Christ centered camp in Brainerd MN. Donations can be sent to Covenant Church of Harrisburg.(10-9-2014)

  • Bowman fastest in Nationwide happy hour: #5-Alex Bowman was quickest during happy hour for the Drive for the Cure 300 with a speed of 181.245mph. He was followed by: #2-Brad Keselowski, #31-Dylan Kwasniewski, #20-Matt Kenseth, #54-Kyle Busch, #9-Chase Elliott, #11-Elliott Sadler, #6-Trevor Bayne, #42-Kyle Larson, and #2-Brian Scott. 44 drivers participated in the session. See complete results on the Charlotte practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(10-9-2014)

  • Bayne fastest in first Nationwide practice: #6-Trevor Bayne was fastest during opening practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a speed of 180.856mph. #54-Kyle Busch was second, followed by: #12-Ryan Blaney, #22-Brad Keselowski, #2-Brian Scott, #60-Chris Buescher, #20-Matt Kenseth, #9-Chase Elliott, #11-Elliott Sadler, and #42-Kyle Larson. 42 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Charlotte practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(10-9-2014)

  • Voting Opens For 2014 Most Popular Driver Award In NASCAR Nationwide Series: It's another showdown between the rising stars and seasoned veterans of the NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR's seven touring series, as voting for the Most Popular Driver Awards begins, Thursday, October 9. Additionally, fans can also vote on their top NASCAR Nationwide Series moment. Regan Smith looks to defend his NASCAR Nationwide Series Most Popular Driver title, while the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is guaranteed to have a new winner. Fans can vote once per day online for the Most Popular Driver Awards at www.NASCAR.com/mostpopulardriver, and for the NASCAR Nationwide Series top moment at www.NASCAR.com/nnstopmoment. Voting is open and runs through Friday, Nov. 14 for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Saturday, Nov. 15 for the NASCAR Nationwide Series, prior to the respective season finale races at Homestead-Miami Speedway during Ford Championship Weekend. Voting for the NASCAR touring series will also conclude Saturday, Nov. 15. The winners will be announced at the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Awards. The combined postseason gala will take place at the Trump National Doral Miami on Monday, Nov. 17. To be eligible to receive Most Popular Driver votes, drivers must have selected either the NASCAR Nationwide Series or NASCAR Camping World Truck Series to receive 2014 championship driver points. Additionally, for all voting, drivers must have attempted at least half of their respective series races this season. Selected by a panel of NASCAR industry representatives, here are the top NASCAR Nationwide Series moments from the past seven seasons that fans can vote on starting today:
    Aug. 1, 2009 - Brad Keselowski wins the inaugural NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Iowa Speedway, taking home the Dash 4 Cash bonus in front of 60,000 fans.
    July 3, 2010 - The new NASCAR Nationwide car makes its race debut at Daytona. Driving a blue-and-yellow #3 Wrangler Chevrolet reminiscent of his father's car, Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins the Subway Jalapeno 250 Powered by Coca-Cola.
    March 5, 2011 - Danica Patrick finishes fourth at Las Vegas, marking the best finish by a female driver in NASCAR national series history.
    Aug. 6, 2011 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Carl Edwards wreck coming across the finish line at Iowa Speedway battling for the win. Stenhouse would emerge as the winner, earning his first victory of the season.
    Aug. 26, 2011 - Kyle Busch's victory at Bristol Motor Speedway moves him past Mark Martin as the series' all-time wins leader (50). Busch has since upped his win total to 69.
    Nov. 5, 2011 - At Texas Motor Speedway, Kenny Wallace supplants Jason Keller as the series' all-time starts leader (520).
    Nov. 16, 2013 - Austin Dillon wins the series championship by a scant three points over Sam Hornish Jr. It was Dillon's second national series championship in three years.
    April, 2014 - Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Chase Elliott wins consecutive races at Texas Motor Speedway and Darlington Raceway, becoming the youngest driver to win back-to-back races in series history.
    Aug. 16, 2014 - Chris Buescher claims his first career win in the Nationwide Children's Hospital 200 at Mid-Ohio, while honoring six year-old patient champion Luke Benner.(NASCAR)(10-9-2014)

  • Charlie's Soap returns to the #70: Charlie's Soap is back on track with Derrike Cope. Mayodan, N.C.-based Charlie's Soap is co-sponsoring Derrike Cope for his final four races in NASCAR's 2014 Nationwide Series. Charlie's had put the former Daytona 500 winner behind the wheel this spring. You'll again see the green and white Charlie's Soap logo on the hood of Cope's Camaro this Friday night in the Drive for the Cure 300, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina.(System4)(10-9-2014)

  • Sad news - Lynn Olson: Lynn Olson, retired NASCAR Camping World Truck Series official, passed away on Saturday October 4. A memorial service will be held on October 12 at Covenant Church of Harrisburg, 6900 Hickory Ridge Drive, Harrisburg NC 28075 at 5:00 p.m. Lynn retired as a truck official after working for approximately 17 years officiating in several of the NASCAR series. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made out to Camp Jim, a Christ-centered camp in Brainerd MN. Donations can be sent to Covenant Church of Harrisburg.(10-9-2014)

  • Nashville Superspeedway sale delayed UPDATE: The sale of the Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon (TN) was delayed at the request of the buyer, NeXovation, and Dover Motorsports has issued an Oct. 25 deadline to close the deal. The Nashville Business Journal reported the development last week, and it was confirmed Monday by NeXovation public relations director Chris Goodrich. It is unclear what happens if the deadline is not met, but it is assumed the sale will be voided and Dover will retain ownership of the troubled Gladeville facility that has sat idle for three years. The Business Journal reported, "The would-be buyer of the Nashville Superspeedway has been given more time to complete the deal." Citing a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, the report said the $45.8 million deal between track owner Dover Motorsports Inc. and Nashville-based NeXovation was announced in May. Under the deal, NeXovation is to pay Dover Motorsports $27 million in cash and assume $18.8 million in outstanding bond obligations owned to Wilson County. According to the Business Journal, NeXovation could choose to back out of the deal before the Dover deadline. (full story at the Lebanon Democrat)(10-5-2014)
    UPDATE: Tuesday, NeXovation, Inc. and Dover Motorsports, Inc. amended the purchase agreement between them concerning NeXovation's acquisition of the Nashville Superspeedway. The amendment will allow NeXovation additional time to complete the required due diligence on certain survey items. "We intend to close before the end of the year, ideally, as soon as possible", said Robert J. "Robb" Sexton, CEO at NeXovation, Inc. NeXovation has already made a firm payment on the purchase transaction, according to Dover's statements in its recently released 8-K.(NeXovation)(10-9-2014)

  • Flo Rida to wave green flag at Homestead Nationwide race: South Florida native and rapper/pop star Flo Rida will serve as the honorary starter and wave the green flag for the NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship finale, the Ford EcoBoost 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, November 15. Tramar Dillard, also known as "Flo Rida," was born and raised in Miami Gardens, located in north Miami-Dade County. He is best known for his hit singles "Low" featuring T-Pain, which was a No. 1 hit for 10 weeks in 2008, and "Right Round" featuring Kesha, which was a No. 1 hit for six weeks. He has released four albums since breaking into the hip-hop scene in 2008, and his music has accumulated more than 80 million downloads worldwide. Flo Rida is currently working on his fifth studio album, set to be released in 2014. He will be introducing his new single, "Going Down for Real" during Ford Championship Weekend.(Homestead-Miami Speedway)(10-9-2014)


    News from October 8, 2014

  • Steve Byrnes' cancer has returned: Longtime NASCAR on FOX on-air personality Steve Byrnes is taking an indefinite medical leave of absence, effectively immediately, to focus on his health after receiving news he has suffered a recurrence of cancer. Byrnes, who was diagnosed and successfully treated for head-and-neck cancer in late 2013, steps away from his NASCAR Race Hub co-hosting and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series play-by-play duties for FOX Sports 1 to concentrate on his upcoming medical treatment and time with his family. Any further updates on Byrnes will come at the discretion of the family.(FoxSports)(10-8-2014)

  • Hornish Jr. to RPM's #9 to replace Ambrose? UPDATES: The rumored replacement for Marcos Ambrose in the Richard Petty Motorsports #9 Ford ride for next year now looks like it will be Sam Hornish Jr. Speculation is the former Indy Car star and current Joe Gibbs Racing part-time Nationwide Series driver will get another shot at a full-time Sprint Cup ride next year when Ambrose returns to his native Australia.(Motor Racing Network)(10-6-2014)
    UPDATE: NASCAR driver and former IndyCar Series star Sam Hornish Jr. will move fulltime to the Sprint Cup Series with Richard Petty Motorsports, the Observer and ThatsRacin.com have learned. An official announcement of Hornish's hire to replace Marcos Ambrose beginning in the 2015 season could come as early as Wednesday, multiple sources confirmed. Ambrose is returning to his native Australia. This would Hornish's second fulltime stint in the Cup series. He struggled in his first go-around which was with Team Penske. In three-plus seasons, Hornish had eight top-10 finishes in 108 starts. In recent seasons he has found success running in the Nationwide Series, where he finished second in points last season and fourth in 2012. An RPM spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.(Charlotte Observer)(10-7-2014)
    UPDATE 2: Richard Petty Motorsports announced that three-time IndyCar Series Champion turned NASCAR winner, Sam Hornish, Jr. will join the storied organization to drive the #9 Ford in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series full-time in 2015. Hornish, Jr. joins RPM from Joe Gibbs Racing where he competed part-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this season scoring one win and four Top-Five finishes in only eight starts. Hornish, Jr. has competed in three full seasons in the Sprint Cup Series as well as two full seasons in the Nationwide Series for Penske Racing where he finished second in points in 2013 by a mere three markers. In 2014, Hornish, Jr. has made the most of his time behind the wheel while driving a partial Nationwide Series schedule at Joe Gibbs Racing with two poles and a win. He is now ready to rejoin the Sprint Cup Series with RPM. "This is a great opportunity to join Richard Petty Motorsports and the No. 9 Ford team in the Sprint Cup Series," said Hornish, Jr. "Owners Richard Petty, Andrew Murstein and Doug Bergeron have built this organization into a championship-contending team with world-class sponsors and partners. Many people have noticed to the progress being made here and I'm ready to build off this momentum. My goal is to put the #9 team in victory lane in 2015 and be a competitor in 'The Chase'." The #9 team will continue to be led by Crew Chief Drew Blickensderfer who has three Sprint Cup Series wins to his credit. Co-Owner Richard Petty is proud to welcome Hornish, Jr. to the team. "Sam is a really good fit for RPM and will be a great addition to the team," said Petty. "He's a family man who fits well with our core values and he will be a great ambassador for our partners. Sam's also proven that he can win races and compete for a championship. He came into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with a steep learning curve from open wheel racing, but has shown in the Nationwide Series that he is a winner. We feel that he can get the #9 team to Victory Lane and compete in 'The Chase' for us."(Richard Petty Motorsports)(10-8-2014)

  • Bayne making Cup debut with Roush Fenway: Trevor Bayne will make his Roush Fenway Racing Sprint Cup debut this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway behind the wheel of the #6 AdvoCare Ford Fusion. This marks the first time that a #6 Roush Fenway Ford will start a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race since the 2012 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Bayne will take the wheel of the #6 Ford Fusion full time in 2015. "I am very excited to be behind the wheel of the #6 AdvoCare Ford Fusion this weekend," said Bayne. "The #6 is such a legendary number to both the sport and this company. To be able to say that I am one of a handful of drivers to race this number in the Cup series is a huge honor. I can't wait to get to Charlotte." Bayne is not locked into the field for Saturday's race and must qualify his #6 AdvoCare Ford based on time during Thursday night's three-round qualifying session. If Bayne makes the race on speed, he will become just the fourth driver to start the #6 in the NSCS for team owner Jack Roush, joining former Roush Fenway drivers Mark Martin and David Ragan, as well as current Roush Fenway teammate Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. This weekend also marks the return of 18-time NSCS race-winning crew chief Bob Osborne, who will be atop the pit box for the AdvoCare team at Charlotte.(Roush Fenway Racing)
    AND: When the announcement was made in May at Charlotte that Bayne would be moving full-time to the Sprint Cup Series, Roush Fenway Racing president Steve Newmark indicated that there was a strong likelihood that Bayne would run a handful of Sprint Cup races with the team toward the end of the season. Newmark said at the time, "I still think that you'll see us try to position something where you'll see the 6 roll out the latter part of this year." There is no word if Charlotte will be the only Sprint Cup event that Bayne will run with Roush Fenway in 2014.(NASCAR.com) (10-8-2014)

  • Donlavey honored by NMPA: Longtime car owner Junie Donlavey was named the National Motorsports Press Association Spirit Award recipient for the third quarter of 2014. Donlavey, who passed away in June of this year at the age of 90, competed at NASCAR's highest level for more than four-and-a-half decades, beginning in 1950. Donlavey is credited with giving numerous drivers the opening they needed to begin, or further, their Cup careers. Among those whose first premier series starts came with Donlavey were two-time champ Joe Weatherly, Jimmy Hensley, Harry Gant and Robby Gordon. Donlavey also aided the careers of drivers such as Ken Schrader and Dick Trickle. Donlavey-owned teams made 863 starts, finishing in the top-10 in points on nine occasions. His lone win as an owner came in 1981 at Dover, Del., with driver Jody Ridley. Donlavey was inducted into the NMPA Hall of Fame in 2009. Also receiving votes for the third quarter were Sprint Cup drivers Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Kyle Larson. Other quarterly winners of the Spirit Award for 2014 are Lynda Petty (first quarter) and Martin Truex Jr. (second quarter). The NMPA Spirit Award is designed to recognize character and achievement in the face of adversity, sportsmanship and contributions to motorsports. Each year, quarterly winners are chosen, and an overall winner is selected by a vote of the NMPA membership.(NMPA)(1-8-2014)

  • McDowell to run special scheme at Charlotte: The Charlotte Motor Speedway race weekend will be a meaningful one for Michael McDowell and the Leavine Family Racing team as they honor a Davidson, N.C. child who recently lost his battle with cancer. Pieter Cornelis Swart, IV, age 5, passed away on Sept. 21, 2014 after a long battle with Neuroblastoma, an aggressive pediatric cancer. Pieter was diagnosed at age 3 and his family stated "he fought with dignity and strength, inspiring many along his journey." McDowell's son Trace, 5, has been a preschool classmate with Pieter for the past three years. To celebrate Pieter's life and bring awareness to this type of cancer, Pieter's Pals will be placed on the hood of the #95 KLOVE Ford Fusion. "It's really special to me and I'm thankful that Bob and Sharon (Leavine, team owners) are so supportive," McDowell said. "It's great for their friends and families and all the kids at the school to see. We want to bring some awareness to what this particular neurological cancer is and try to help prevent this from happening in the future." Race fans can offer words of support and find more information at the Pieter's Pals Facebook page. The family has stated that memorials may be made to: Pieter's Pals at DCPC Preschool, P.O. Box 337, Davidson, NC 28036. The donations will "be distributed to organizations helping kids & their families battling cancer and groups committed to finding a cure for childhood cancers."(Leavine Family Racing), see an image of the car on the #95 team paint schemes page.(10-8-2014)

  • Detroit Genuine Parts returns to the #2: This weekend the #2 Team Penske Ford Fusion will feature blue Detroit Genuine Parts colors. This marks the second race that the #2 Ford Fusion is appearing in the livery this season (Richmond). A key Alliance Truck Parts partner, Detroit Genuine Parts is a premiere brand in the transportation aftermarket that supplies remanufactured parts to commercial on- and off-highway customers around the world. After a tough result at Kansas last weekend, Keselowski is now ranked 10th in the Chase standings. This marks just the third time through 30 races this season that he has been that low in the standings. Keselowski was ranked 11th for races 10 and 11 (Talladega and Kansas). He had not been outside the top-five since the first Pocono race and had held the No. 1 spot for the four weeks heading into Kansas. Keselowski enters the Bank of America 500 race as the defending race winner after he notched his lone victory of 2013 during the annual Charlotte fall classic, leading just 11 laps en route to the win.(Team Penske), see an image of the car on the #2 team paint schemes page.(10-8-2014)

  • State Water Heaters debuts on #41 Kurt Busch will park his typical black-and-red Chevy SS for Saturday night's Bank of America 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in favor of an orange-and-black model. The #41 Chevy will sport new colors when State Water Heaters, a leading manufacturer of commercial and residential water heaters, adorns Busch's ride for the first time. Based in Ashland City, Tennessee, State Water Heaters has seven water heater manufacturing plants and hundreds of distribution centers across the United States to ensure efficient service to State's national customer base of residential homeowners, wholesalers, contractors, and members of the engineering community. Founded in 1946 by Herbert Lindahl, State Water Heaters began in a Nashville garage as a small entrepreneurial company producing coal- and wood-burning stoves. In the years that followed, State Water Heaters expanded and became a leader in the water-heating industry through steadfast commitments to seeking new materials, new technology and innovative engineering techniques.(SHR), see an image of the car on the #41 team paint schemes page.(10-8-2014)

  • Ragan's Ford to feature kids' signatures: CSX returns as primary sponsor of the #34 Ford with its safety message to "Play It Safe" around railroad tracks David Ragan, driver of the #34 CSX "Play It Safe" Ford, comments "We've got our friends at CSX back on the car for Charlotte, which is cool to host them at our home track. We're going to visit Harmony Elementary School on Thursday morning to talk to kids about safety and have them sign the hood of our CSX Ford to promise to keep away from railroad tracks."(FRM)(10-8-2014)

  • Charlotte Notes & Facts - Wednesday - track history:
    · Construction began on Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS) in 1959.
    · The track's first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on June 19, 1960 - won by Joe Lee Johnson.
    · The track was repaved midseason in 1994.
    · The track name changed from Charlotte Motor Speedway to Lowe's Motor Speedway in 1999. It changed back to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the 2010 season.
    · The track was re-paved again before the 2006 season.
    (NASCAR)(10-8-2014)

  • Lilly Diabetes/American Diabetes Association announce renewal with Roush, Reed: Lilly Diabetes and the American Diabetes Association have announced a multi-year renewal of their successful Drive to Stop Diabetes NASCAR program with Roush Fenway Racing and NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Ryan Reed. "I am very excited for the opportunity to move forward and expand the program," said Reed, who at the age of 17 was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. "As someone who was diagnosed and told that my dream of being a professional driver was over, I personally understand the importance of education and awareness as well as tapping into resources to manage my diabetes. With so many people living with or at risk for diabetes, it is so important that we continue to educate people about how to get out ahead of it and live with this disease." Over the past nine months, the Drive to Stop Diabetes platform has utilized a multi-faceted approach to reach children, parents and at-risk adults of all ages to bring education and awareness to diabetes. Through the program, Reed has been able to educate, inspire and personally connect with thousands of children living with diabetes, while raising unprecedented awareness of the disease across the country. The program has included visits to children's hospitals and summer camps as well as holding a major presence at diabetes scientific conferences, designed to educate those dealing with and affected by diabetes. In addition, the Drive to Stop Diabetes team launched a dynamic social media campaign to regularly engage those in the diabetes community and hosts an at-track activation experience at selected races that features educational materials, games and prizes, while providing insight to fans as to how Reed manages his diabetes with a successful racing career.(Roush Fenway Racing)(10-8-2014)

  • Pinnacle Food renews with JR Motorsports:JR Motorsports announced a multi-year sponsorship extension with Pinnacle Foods Inc. that will start with four NASCAR XFINITY Series races in 2015 with drivers Kasey Kahne and Kevin Harvick. Pinnacle Foods is a leading producer, marketer and distributor of high-quality branded food products, and its brands can be found in more than 85 percent of American households. The sponsorship will be leveraged in store at key retailers nationwide. As it did this year with Harvick, Pinnacle Foods will continue featuring the Armour brand on JRM's all-star car. Armour specializes in canned meats and includes Vienna sausages, chili, luncheon meat, beef stew and more. Additionally, the company's Vlasic and Wish-Bone brands will receive primary sponsorship placement on Regan Smith's #7 Chevy for the upcoming event at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 10, 2014.(JR Motorsports)(10-8-2014)

  • Unlimited Possibilities partners with Carter at Charlotte: James Carter Racing announced that Unlimited Possibilities will serve as an associate marketing partner for Friday night's Drive for the Cure 300 presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway. Unlimited Possibilities introduces The Villages at Mint Hill, a collection of private family care homes dedicated to caring for individuals with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. Matt Carter, son of legendary NASCAR crew chief and former car owner Travis Carter will pilot the team's #72 Chevy Camaro at Charlotte Motor Speedway, in the last of a 19-consecutive week race stretch for the NASCAR Nationwide Series tour. Carl Long, veteran NASCAR racer will serve as crew chief.(Matt Carter PR)(10-8-2014)

  • Vlasic / Wish-Bone scheme for Smith: This weekend Regan Smith will drive the #7 Vlasic / Wish-Bone Chevy Camaro at Charlotte. The familiar Vlasic brand with its iconic stork mascot, offers dozens of varieties of pickles, peppers, and relish in many cuts, flavors and sizes. Wish-Bone showcases a rich variety of delicious dressings, marinades and mixes. Both brands fall under the Pinnacle Foods umbrella. A leading producer, marketer and distributor of high-quality branded food products, Pinnacle Foods and its brands can be found in more than 85 percent of American households.(JR Motorsports)(10-8-2014)

  • Byrnes taking medical leave, will be absent from truck coverage: Longtime NASCAR on FOX on-air personality Steve Byrnes is taking an indefinite medical leave of absence, effectively immediately, to focus on his health after receiving news he has suffered a recurrence of cancer. Byrnes, who was diagnosed and successfully treated for head-and-neck cancer in late 2013, steps away from his NASCAR Race Hub co-hosting and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series play-by-play duties for FOX Sports 1 to concentrate on his upcoming medical treatment and time with his family.(FOX Sports)(10-8-2014)

  • 2015 Pocono tickets now on sale: Tickets to the 2015 NASCAR events at Pocono Raceway are now on sale to the public. In recognition of Dale Earnhardt Jr., sweeping both races this year, a prize will be awarded to 88 random fans who purchase full-priced tickets, within the next 88 days, to 2015 NASCAR events at 'The Tricky Triangle' as part of "The Great Pocono Postseason Pre-Sale." Additionally, fans who purchase full-price tickets within the first 88 hours of the pre-sale will be entered to win a VIP NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) driver experience. "The Great Pocono Postseason Pre-Sale" will run from October 6, 2014 - January 2, 2015. Individuals who purchase a full-price ticket to either the 2015 Pocono 400 or Pennsylvania 400 race weekends will be automatically entered, per transaction, to win one of 88 prizes. These prizes will include NASCAR driver autographed items, unique experiences and more. Anyone who purchases a full-priced event ticket, during the first 88 hours, will gain multiple entries in the 88 prize drawing, as well, as entry to win an exclusive NSCS driver Experience. For more information visit www.poconoraceway.com/presale.(Pocono Raceway)(10-8-2014)


    News from October 7, 2014

  • Hornish Jr. to RPM's #9 to replace Ambrose? UPDATE: The rumored replacement for Marcos Ambrose in the Richard Petty Motorsports #9 Ford ride for next year now looks like it will be Sam Hornish Jr. Speculation is the former Indy Car star and current Joe Gibbs Racing part-time Nationwide Series driver will get another shot at a full-time Sprint Cup ride next year when Ambrose returns to his native Australia.(Motor Racing Network)(10-6-2014)
    UPDATE: NASCAR driver and former IndyCar Series star Sam Hornish Jr. will move fulltime to the Sprint Cup Series with Richard Petty Motorsports, the Observer and ThatsRacin.com have learned. An official announcement of Hornish's hire to replace Marcos Ambrose beginning in the 2015 season could come as early as Wednesday, multiple sources confirmed. Ambrose is returning to his native Australia. This would Hornish's second fulltime stint in the Cup series. He struggled in his first go-around which was with Team Penske. In three-plus seasons, Hornish had eight top-10 finishes in 108 starts. In recent seasons he has found success running in the Nationwide Series, where he finished second in points last season and fourth in 2012. An RPM spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.(Charlotte Observer)(10-7-2014)

  • Kansas TV Ratings: ESPN's live telecast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, Oct. 5, earned a 2.3 U.S. household rating, averaging 3,601,000 viewers, according to Nielsen Media. The rating and viewership were down from last year's race, which earned a 2.6 rating and averaged 4,162,000 viewers. Greensboro, N.C., was the highest-rated of the nation's 56 metered markets with a 6.4 rating, followed by Greenville, S.C., at 5.9 and Dayton, Ohio, at 4.9. Raleigh-Durham, N.C., and Tampa-St. Petersburg tied for fourth at 4.8. Rounding out the top 10 local markets were Orlando, Fla., Tulsa, Okla., and Charlotte, N.C., tied at 4.6, Indianapolis at 4.5 and Jacksonville, Fla., Nashville, Tenn., and Birmingham, Ala., tied at 4.4.
    ESPN's live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Kansas Speedway on Saturday, Oct. 4, earned a 1.0 U.S. rating, averaging 1,539,000 viewers, both down from last year's 1.1 rating and viewership average of 1,629,000.(ESPN)
    See past races for 2014 and 5-year comparison chart on the 2014 NASCAR TV Ratings page.(10-7-2014)

  • Top 10 Driver Ratings at Charlotte:
    #48-Jimmie Johnson 112.7
    #18-Kyle Busch 106.3
    #5-Kasey Kahne 101.7
    #20-Matt Kenseth 97.1
    #11-Denny Hamlin 92.6
    #16-Greg Biffle 89.9
    #99-Carl Edwards 89.8
    #24-Jeff Gordon 89.7
    #22-Joey Logano 88.0
    #2-Brad Keselowski 85.4
    Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2014 races (19 total) among active drivers at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
    Formula combining the following categories: Win, Finish, Top-15 Finish, Average Running Position while on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.
    See an explanation how the Driver Rating is calculated at NASCAR.com.(NASCAR)

  • NASCAR Numbers:
    8: The series-best number of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series poles won this year by Kevin Harvick, who added his eighth of the season last Friday at Kansas Speedway. The bad news? The only pole Harvick has converted into a victory this year came at Darlington back in April.
    5: The number of NASCAR Sprint Cup victories recorded this season by Joey Logano, Sunday's winner at Kansas Speedway. Logano and Team Penske shop mate Brad Keselowski share the series lead in victories, but their fortunes at Kansas couldn't have been more disparate. Logano won. Keselowski finished 36th after a blown tire sent him rocketing into the wall.
    1: The number of top-five finishes posted by Kyle Busch in 15 starts at Kansas Speedway. With his breakthrough third-place run at Kansas on Sunday, Busch now boasts at least one top five at every active Sprint Cup track.
    44: In points, Jimmie Johnson's deficit to Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup leader Joey Logano after the first race in the Contender Round. More to the point, Johnson trails eighth-place Jeff Gordon by 27 points with only two races left to survive the cut from 12 to eight drivers.
    3.25: The average finish of Sunoco rookie of the year leader and Kansas runner-up Kyle Larson in the first four Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup races. Only Joey Logano, winner of two of the first four Chase races, has a better average-2.5. The only problem for Larson? He isn't in the Chase.(NASCAR Wire Service)(10-7-2014)

  • Ditech Mortgage Corp Increases Involvement with SHR: Ditech Mortgage Corp ("ditech"), one of the mortgage industry's best-known brands, has significantly increased its partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) for the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. ditech will expand its associate sponsorship of Kevin Harvick and the #4 team to include a two-race primary sponsorship. While the two races where ditech will adorn Harvick's #4 Chevy have not been determined, the look of the #4 ditech Chevrolet has been confirmed. "We are thrilled to expand our sponsorship with Kevin for two primary races in 2015," Smith said. "It's well known that NASCAR fans are steadfast in their support of team sponsors, and the surge in interest and awareness of the ditech brand is proof of that loyalty. Kevin continues to be a top performer in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, and we look forward to seeing all that he and the #4 team can do this year and in the years to come." Headquartered in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, ditech's overarching goal is to change the experience of securing a mortgage. The company views itself not as being in the mortgage business, but rather as being in the business of helping Americans reach their dream of homeownership. Ditech Mortgage Corp ("ditech") is a well-known home lender. Headquartered in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, the company provides residential mortgage products through a team of home loan specialists who are easily accessible by phone (1-800-700-9212), online and in-person. For more information, please visit www.ditech.com.(True Speed Communication/Stewart-Haas Racing), see an image of the scheme on the 2015 #4 Team Schemes page.(10-7-2014)

  • Chase Average Finish (4 races):
    Car#-Driver, Avg Fin
    #22-Joey Logano 2.5
    #42-Kyle Larson 3.25
    #18-Kyle Busch 7.0
    #4-Kevin Harvick 8.25
    #78-Martin Truex Jr 9.25
    #24-Jeff Gordon 10.75
    #2-Brad Keselowski 11.5
    #31-Ryan Newman 11.75
    #20-Matt Kenseth 12.25
    #99-Carl Edwards 13.25
    (NASCAR)(10-7-2014)

  • Crew chief changes at Front Row Motorsports: Front Row Motorsports has made some crew chief changes, effective this week for the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Competition Director Derrick Finley will serve as interim crew chief on the #34 team of David Ragan, and crew chief Jay Guy will move to the #38 team of David Gilliland. Former #38 crew chief Frank Kerr is no longer with the organization. Front Row Motorsports is actively looking for a full-time replacement for a crew chief on the #34 team to allow Finley to return to his role of competition director full-time.(FRM PR)(10-7-2014)

  • Corey LaJoie returns to the #77 with new sponsor: Essex Homes will sponsor the #77 Randy Humphrey Racing Ford when Corey LaJoie will attempt to make the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend.(Essex Homes Facebook), see images of the car on the #77 Team Schemes page. LaJoie, the son of two-time Nationwide Series Champ, Randy LaJoie, made his Sprint Cup Series debut at New Hampshire in the #77 on September 21, 2014, finishing 41st.(10-7-2014)

  • Biffle not sure what happened with Johnson: #16-Greg Biffle says he's not sure why he got into #48-Jimmie Johnson, causing the six-time champion to crash in Sunday's race at Kansas Speedway. Biffle made contact with Johnson on Lap 85. Johnson lost 68 laps for repairs. He finished 40th, jeopardizing his chances of advancing to the next round in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. "I don't know if (Johnson) got slowed up a little bit coming off the corner,'' Biffle said Monday at an appearance promoting this weekend's race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. "We were coming off the corner two-, three-, four-wide. My car started to lose the nose a little bit, started to slide up the race track. It looked like (Johnson) had good momentum off the corner. It looked like I was going to be able to move in behind him. I don't know if he got slowed up any from the cars in front of him or I tried to move over too early and caught his left rear. You're going to have that contact when you're back there two-, three-wide scrambling on a restart. We just got together.''(MRN)(10-7-2014)

  • McMurray & Larson to test Martinsville on Wednesday: Chip Ganassi Racing drivers #1-Jamie McMurray and #42-Kyle Larson are scheduled to test at Martinsville Speedway on Wednesday, Oct. 8 in preparation for the upcoming Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-7-2014)

  • Shell Saver Cardholders Can Save When #22 Ford Wins: Joey Logano took the #22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford to victory lane in Kansas, and now it's time for Shell customers who have a Shell $averSM Card to save! Shell is offering Shell Saver Cardholders the opportunity to save 22 cents per gallon in Fuel Rewards savings on all three grades of Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines, and Shell Diesel, up to 25 gallons at participating stations, this upcoming Wednesday, or WINsday, October 8. The season-long promotion, called WINsday, will be applicable after every points race in which Joey Logano takes the checkered flag. For additional information, visit www.shell.us/winsday.(10-7-2014)

  • Sad News - Gary Marshall: Statement on Gary Marshall - #51 Assembly Mechanic. We are saddened to announce that HScott Motorsports employee Gary Marshall died last night in a motorcycle accident on Interstate 85 in Spartanburg, S.C."Gary was part of the HScott family and it's a loss for all of us," said team owner Harry Scott Jr. "This is a very sad day for us and for Gary's family. We ask that you please keep them in your hearts and prayers during this time."
    "Gary was a good friend of mine and will very much be missed," said competition director and crew chief Steve Addington. "I hired Gary who was always a team player and I was proud of the work he did. My deepest condolences go out to his family and friends." Gary had been with HScott Motorsports all season and was a car assembly mechanic. The team will provide additional information about funeral arrangements when they become available.(HScott Motorsports)(10-7-2014)

  • Gaulding to run special pink scheme in Martinsville: NASCAR Next and Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender Gray Gaulding, will drive a special "Pink" #20 Gemini Southern Chevy Silverado on October 25th in the Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway to help raise awareness for breast cancer and the one out of eight women that will be diagnosed in their lifetime. Gaulding has a strong heart for breast cancer awareness month, as his grandmother is a survivor. Gaulding, in conjunction with running this special paint scheme, will honor and support the NTS Motorsports family, by running the names of the women who may be family and friends that have fought and/or are currently fighting breast cancer.(See an image of the truck on the #20 Team Paint Schemes page).(NTS Motorsports)(10-7-2014)



  • NASCAR releases Xfinity Series logo: NASCAR announced last month that beginning in 2015 Comcast's XFINITY brand will be the title sponsor for what is currently known as the NASCAR Nationwide Series. In preparation for the transition, planning has already begun with XFINITY in what will be an ongoing process in the coming weeks and months to be ready for January 1, 2015, when XFINITY officially takes the reigns of the entitlement.An integral part to that transition is the development of the official NASCAR XFINITY Series mark, which makes its debut today. The NASCAR XFINITY Series mark is creatively aligned, and in a similar genre, to the other NASCAR national series marks. Fans will see the new NASCAR XFINITY Series mark in the same places as they see the NASCAR Nationwide Series marks, including NASCAR XFINITY Series racecar windshields, NASCAR XFINITY Series officials' and drivers' uniforms, haulers, pace cars, headsets, grass stencils, banners / flags, credentials / hard cards, Victory Lane accessories, websites, media guides, schedules, souvenir programs, tickets, and the NASCAR XFINITY Series championship trophy. Nationwide remains the series entitlement partner through December 31, 2014, and continues on as an Official NASCAR Partner and Sprint Cup team sponsor for years to come.(NASCAR)(10-7-2014)

  • Special scheme for Jamie Dick at Charlotte: Viva Motorsports and Jamie Dick will be donning a black and pink paint scheme at this weekend's Drive for the Cure 300 Presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield in order to join in the effort to promote breast cancer awareness. Joining in the celebration of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the #55 Camaro will prominently feature pink graphics and pink ribbons, the international symbol of breast cancer awareness. Viva Auto Group will continue to support Jamie Dick's 2014 NNS campaign and will be featured on the hood and quarter panels. Dick has two previous Nationwide Series starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway however, both resulted in DNFs.(Viva Motorsports), see an image of the car on the #55 team paint schemes page.(10-7-2014)

  • Ryan Blaney returns to the #12 at Charlotte: Team Penske will return to a two-car NASCAR Nationwide Series organization this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, with Ryan Blaney driving the #12 Western Star Trucks Ford Mustang. Greg Erwin will return to the crew chief seat as part of the two-car effort. The duo worked together earlier this year at Kentucky, where they finished fifth driving a second NNS Mustang for Team Penske. This weekend, Western Star Trucks will make its debut as a Team Penske sponsor on the #12 Ford Mustang with driver Ryan Blaney. Western Star produces a range of class 8 commercial vehicles for highway and off-road use with a US and global presence and are a top-three Australian heavy-duty truck brand. Penske Commercial Vehicle is the exclusive importer and distributor of Western Star trucks, MAN trucks, MAN buses and Dennis Eagle trucks for Australia and New Zealand. Penske Commercial Vehicles Group has a network of 65 dealers across Australia and 16 dealers across New Zealand. Team Penske is also hosting a group of more than 60 Western Star dealers at the shop and track during Charlotte race week.(Team Penske)(10-7-2014)

  • Nature Made sponsoring Larson at Charlotte: As the NASCAR Nationwide Series returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the second and final time this season, Kyle Larson looks to return to Victory Lane as he welcomes Nature Made, a leading national vitamin and supplement brand, as the primary sponsor on his car. The Target Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates driver, who races for Turner Scott Motorsports in the NNS, will trade in his familiar Cartwheel by Target paint scheme for that of Nature Made KIDS FIRST on his #42 Chevy Camaro. In their first race partnering with Larson, Nature Made will highlight their new KIDS FIRST line of products, which will be available exclusively at Target and Target.com starting October 19. Created to help kids start a lifetime of healthy habits, KIDS FIRST, which includes vitamins, minerals and supplements, are designed for children and adolescents ages four to 18 years. In addition to helping kids start good habits, the purchase of KIDS FIRST products also benefits Make-A-Wish, with a donation made to the children's charity by Nature Made for each bottle of KIDS FIRST vitamin products purchased.(Chip Ganassi Racing), see an image of the car on the #42 team paint schemes page.(10-7-2014)

  • Ingersoll Rand returns to the #44 at Charlotte: TriStar Motorsports and Ingersoll Rand will team up once again this weekend for the Drive for the Cure 300 Presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Will Kimmel will pilot the #44 Ingersoll Rand Camry in his fifth and final race with TriStar Motorsports this season. Kimmel made his second career NASCAR Nationwide Series start earlier this season in the #44 Camry at Phoenix International Raceway. This weekend's race at Charlotte Motor Speedway will be Kimmel's sixth career NNS race. Kimmel's last NNS race this year will be a memorable one. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the #44 car will be sporting a pink and black wrap covered with names of people affected by breast cancer. The names were collected via a social media campaign hosted by Kimmel's associate sponsor, Ingersoll Rand Power Tools. Ingersoll Rand invited fans to submit the names of loved ones to be printed on the car that will race this Friday night. More than 100 names were collected on social media using the hashtag #IRRACINGforaCure.(TriStar Motorsports)(10-7-2014)

  • Charter makes first appearance of year on Brian Scott's #2: The #2 Richard Childress Racing Chevy Camaro team welcomes primary sponsor Charter Communications, a leading broadband communications company and the fourth-largest cable operator in the United States, this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Charter pairs with the #2 team for the first of a two primary-race partnership this season, and will join Brendan Gaughan and the #62 team in November at Phoenix International Raceway.(RCR)(10-7-2014)

  • Kansas Nationwide TV Ratings: ESPN's live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Kansas Speedway on Saturday, Oct. 4, earned a 1.0 U.S. rating, averaging 1,539,000 viewers, both down from last year's 1.1 rating and viewership average of 1,629,000.(ESPN)(10-7-2014)

  • Ashanti to perform the national anthem at Charlotte: Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer and actress, Ashanti will perform the national anthem before the green flag drops on Saturday night's Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Ashanti burst onto the music scene with her 2002 self-titled debut album "Ashanti." It landed the No. 1 spot on both the Billboard Top 200 and R&B album charts. The album topped the Billboard Album Chart and also won the GRAMMY for Best Contemporary R&B Album that year. As part of the biggest pre-race entertainment lineup in speedway history, the Charlotte Motor Speedway Country Jam will feature more than three hours of music and entertainment for fans. Headlined by 2014 Academy of Country Music Vocal Group of the Year, The Band Perry, the Country Jam will also feature performances by Parmalee and Jimmy Wayne. Fans in town for the Bank of America 500 weekend can also take in the sounds of up-and-coming musical acts including Celeste Kellogg and JRyan, among others, as part of the traveling Teen Nation Tour. The Teen Nation Tour is a peer-to-peer anti-bullying campaign and concert tour to educate/entertain youth about bullying and prevention. Teen artists spent more than a week in the Charlotte region spreading their anti-bullying message at area schools. Their visit wraps up with a three-day music festival during the Bank of America 500 weekend.(CMS)(10-7-2014)


    News from October 6, 2014

  • Entry List for the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is posted, 44 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including: #6-Bayne, #32-Koch, #33-Stremme, #66-Moffitt, #77-Cory LaJoie, #83-Yeley, #95-McDowell.
    Drivers who need to be in the top-36 in speed and have no provisional available to them (lowest in owners points): #6-Bayne
    Drivers who would miss the race if qualifying is canceled (least race attempts): #6-Bayne (no owners points)
    See the full entry list at Jayski.com's Charlotte Entry List

  • Hornish Jr. to RPM's #9 to replace Ambrose? The rumored replacement for Marcos Ambrose in the Richard Petty Motorsports #9 Ford ride for next year now looks like it will be Sam Hornish Jr. Speculation is the former Indy Car star and current Joe Gibbs Racing part-time Nationwide Series driver will get another shot at a full-time Sprint Cup ride next year when Ambrose returns to his native Australia.(Motor Racing Network)(10-6-2014)

  • Kansas 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 2:02 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 5:11 PM (all times are EST). ESPN was the broadcast team for this event.
    Total number of commercials: 133
    Total number of companies or entities advertised: 52
    Number of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 78
    Total number of companies or entities advertised: 37
    Number of 'Side-by-Side' commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 55
    Total number of companies or entities advertised: 26
    Number of times ESPN utilized 'Side-by-Side' commercials during this broadcast: 9
    Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 3 min. 30 sec.
    Start time to record race/commercial periods: 2:02 PM
    End time to record race/commercial periods: 5:11 PM
    Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 189
    Minutes of race broadcast: 157
    Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 32
    Minutes of 'Side-by-Side' commercials (split-screen): 25
    Number of missed restarts: 0
    Number of 'mystery cautions' (debris not shown): 1
    Total race brdcst time 157 Total comm. brdcst time 32
    See past races, links to full reports and sponsor links and more on the 2014 TV Commercials page.(10-6-2014)

  • NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Tickets on Sale Tuesday: Tickets for the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be available to the public beginning Tuesday, Oct. 7. Bill Elliott, Fred Lorenzen, Wendell Scott, Joe Weatherly and Rex White will be honored during this year's ceremony set for Friday, Jan. 30, 2015. Ticket prices range from $45 for Induction Ceremony General Seats to $350 for an Exclusive Driver Dinner Package. Following the ceremony, a special NASCAR Fan Appreciation Day will take place at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Saturday, Jan. 31. More details on driver appearances, activities and programming for this day will be provided in the coming weeks. Individual ticket and ticket packages will be available beginning Oct. 7 at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000. For more information, visit www.nascarhall.com.(10-6-2014)

  • Sad News - Dan Ford: Robert Daniel "Dan" Ford, 78, of Huntersville, NC, died Friday, October 3, 2014, at his residence. He was drafted by the Army serving at White Sands, NM, building tracking systems for NASA. After he was honorably discharged, he went to work for Holman & Moody building cars for Ford Motor Company that ultimately won at Le Mans. He was a crew chief for Mario Andretti in 1967. He continued working on the sports car program at Sebring with drivers AJ Foyt, Mark Donahue, Paul Hawkins, and Lloyd Ruby. In 1968 he switched to the stock car program with drivers David Pearson, and Bobby Allison. Although he worked for only three other teams during his 41-year career - Ranier, DiGard, and ultimately Hendrick Motorsports - he worked with a number of drivers, including: Neil Bonnett, Darrell Waltrip, Ricky Rudd, Cale Yarborough, Joe Ruttman, Buddy Baker, Benny Parsons, Geoff Bodine, Terry Labonte, Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Jimmy Johnson, Mark Martin, and Brian Vickers. Dan was well-respected among his NASCAR peers, winning the Copenhagen-Skoal All Pro Award in either the General Mechanic or Gear and Transmission Specialist categories. These awards were given by peer review, and Dan won every year the awards were given, with one exception: when he lost to his good friend and colleague, Howard "Slick" Poston. Upon his retirement in 2007, he divided his time between Huntersville and Sierra Vista, AZ. He loved the out-of-doors, enjoying hunting, and in his later years simply sitting outside reading a book or talking to the many visitors at Coronado National Memorial and the Friends of the San Pedro River where he and his wife, Bette, volunteered.(see full obituary, service info, online condolences and more at jamesfuneralhomelkn.com)(10-6-2014)

  • Nationwide Entry List: There are 44 cars on the preliminary entry list for Friday's Drive for the Cure 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. A few notes:
    Alex Bowman will drive the #5 for JR Motorsports;
    David Starr is in the TriStar #10;
    Ryan Blaney will drive the Penske #12;
    Brad Keselowski will be in the #22;
    Will Kimmel III will be in TriStar's #44;
    Jimmy Weller will be in the #77, a second car for Viva Motorsports.(10-6-2014)
    See the complete list on the Charlotte entry list page.

  • David Starr in the TriStar #10 at Charlotte: TriStar Motorsports announced that Build Your Future (BYF) and NCCER will be the primary sponsor on David Starr's #10 Toyota Camry under the lights on Friday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway. BYF and NCCER have partnered with David Starr and TriStar Motorsports multiple times throughout the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series season. Both of these organizations have a goal of leading individuals to opportunities for career placement, advanced education and training and long-term careers in the construction industry. NCCER is recognized by the industry as the training, assessment, certification and career development standards for the construction professional.(TriStar Motorsports)(10-6-2014)


    News from October 5, 2014

  • Logano wins at Kansas: #22-Joey Logano won the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway for his 5th win of the season, 1st at Kansas and his 8th career win.
    #42-Larson finished 2nd followed by #18-Busch, #78-Truex Jr., #99-Edwards, #31-Newman, #11-Hamlin, #3-Dillon, #27-Menard and #55-Vickers.
    Pole winner #4-Harvick led 61 of 267 laps but had handling problems and was able to finish 12th.
    The win allows Logano to advance to round 3 of the Chaser, after Talladega.
    Three Chase drivers had issues and finished deep in the field: #48-Johnson was involved in a wreck and finished 40th. #88-Earnhardt Jr. had a right front tire go down, hit the wall and finished 39th. #2-Keselowski had a right front tire go down, hit the wall and finished 36th.
    There were 25 lead changes among 9 drivers. There were 8 cautions for 34 yellow flag laps.
    The average speed was 141.951mph.
    See unofficial race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Unofficial Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Penalty Report (pdf) and Lap Summary Report (pdf).
    (10-5-2014)

  • Where the 2014 Sprint Cup Chase Drivers finished at Kansas:
    [listed by driver chase points position before the race](started)
    1) #2-Brad Keselowski, 36th (6)
    2) #22-Joey Logano, WON (4)
    3) #4-Kevin Harvick, 12th (1)
    4) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 40th (31)
    5) #24-Jeff Gordon, 14th (5)
    6) #18-Kyle Busch, 3rd (7)
    7) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 39th (8)
    8) #20-Matt Kenseth, 13th (27)
    9) #31-Ryan Newman, 6th (17)
    10) #99-Carl Edwards, 5th (12)
    11) #11-Denny Hamlin, 7th (25)
    12) #5-Kasey Kahne, 22nd (10)
    (10-5-2014)

  • Race Fast Facts - Kansas:
    #22-Joey Logano won the 14th Annual Hollywood Casino 400, his eighth victory in 213 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
    This is his fifth victory and 19th top-10 finish in 2014.
    This is his first victory and third top-10 finish in 11 races at Kansas Speedway.
    #42-Kyle Larson (second) posted his first top-10 finish in two races at Kansas Speedway. It is his 15th top-10 finish in 2014.
    #18-Kyle Busch (third) posted his third top-10 finish in 15 races at Kansas Speedway.
    #42-Kyle Larson (second) was the highest finishing rookie.
    #22-Joey Logano leads the point standings by 6 points over #18-Kyle Busch.
    (NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(10-5-2014)

  • Sprint Cup Driver Chase Standings:
    [after Kansas, race 30 of 36]
    drivers who have won in round 2, automatically advance to round 3 after Talladega
    1) #22-Joey Logano [5 wins, 1 win round 2] 3048
    2) #18-Kyle Busch [1 win] 3042, -6
    3) #99-Carl Edwards [2 wins] 3039, -9
    4) #31-Ryan Newman, 3039, -9
    5) #11-Denny Hamlin [1 win] 3037, -11 [14]
    6) #4-Kevin Harvick [2 wins] 3033, -15 [10]
    7) #24-Jeff Gordon [4 wins] 3031, 17 [8]
    8) #20-Matt Kenseth, 3031, 17 [+ 8 pts ahead of 9th]
    the cut off line for being eliminated after Talladega
    9) #5-Kasey Kahne [1 win] 3023, -25 (-8 pts out of 9th)
    10) #2-Brad Keselowski [5 wins], 3009, -39 (-22)
    11) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [3 wins], 3006, -42 (-25)
    12) #48-Jimmie Johnson [3 wins], 3004, -44 (-27)
    Chaser drivers eliminated after round 1
    13) #47-AJ Allmendinger [1 win], 2110
    14) #16-Greg Biffle [1 win], 2101
    15) #41-Kurt Busch [1 win], 2075
    16) #43-Aric Almirola [1 win], 2074
    (ties are broken by wins, 2nds, 3rds, etc, with in that round of the Chase)
    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).
    (10-5-2014)

  • Unofficial Top 25 in 2014 Sprint Cup Driver Points Standings (not the Chase):
    [after Kansas, race 30 of 36]
    (using current points system, but not the Chase rules, unofficial)
    1) #24-Jeff Gordon(C7), 1053
    2) #22-Joey Logano(C1), 1004, -51
    3) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.(C11), 984, -69
    4) #2-Brad Keselowski(C10), 967, -86
    5) #4-Kevin Harvick(C6), 938, -115
    6) #20-Matt Kenseth(C8), 925, -128
    7) #48-Jimmie Johnson(C12), 918, -135
    8) #31-Ryan Newman(C4), 912, -141
    9) #99-Carl Edwards(C3), 901, -152
    10) #42-Kyle Larson, 901, -152
    11) #16-Greg Biffle(EC), 854, -199
    12) #15-Clint Bowyer, 843, -210
    13) #18-Kyle Busch(C6), 837, -216
    14) #5-Kasey Kahne(C9), 834, -219
    15) #1-Jamie McMurray, 825, -228
    16) #27-Paul Menard, 816, -237
    17) #3-Austin Dillon, 815, -238
    18) #55-Brian Vickers, 799, -254
    19) #11-Denny Hamlin(C5), 774, -279
    20) #9-Marcos Ambrose, 726, -327
    21) #41-Kurt Busch(EC), 723, -330
    22) #78-Martin Truex Jr., 719, -334
    23) #47-AJ Allmendinger(EC), 718, -335
    24) #43-Aric Almirola(EC), 699, -354
    25) #13-Casey Mears 669, -384
    (C# is chase driver and current Chase position)
    (EC is chase driver that has been eliminated from the Chase)
    (10-5-2014)

  • Kansas Rookie of the Year Race Results & Points:
    #42-Larson, finished 2nd, 20 rookie points
    #3-Dillon, 8th, 12
    #26-Whitt, 23rd, 9
    #7-Annett, 24th, 8
    #23-Bowman, 32nd, 7
    #51-Allgaier, 41st, 6
    Truex, Did Not Race
    Kligerman, Did Not Race
    See the 2014 Rookie of the Year page for rules, standings and more.(10-5-2014)

  • Kansas Notes & Facts - Sunday - race:
    · There have been 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, one NSCS event from 2001 - 2010 and two races per year since 2011.
    · Hendrick Motorsports leads the series in wins at Kansas with five: Jeff Gordon (three) and Jimmie Johnson (two).
    · Chevrolet leads the series in wins at Kansas with nine victories; followed by Ford with four wins.
    · The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Kansas Speedway was 25th, by Brad Keselowski in the spring of 2011.
    · Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kansas Speedway was the (10/10/2004) race won by Joe Nemechek with a MOV of 0.081 second.
    · There has been one NSCS race resulting with a green-white-checkered finish at Kansas Speedway: fall of 2011 (267/272).
    · Only one of the 16 races at Kansas Speedway has been shortened due to weather conditions: fall of 2007.
    (NASCAR)(10-5-2014)

  • Johnson comments about his wreck: #48-Jimmie Johnson was involved in a multi-car crash on lap 85 of the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway, his comments: "We're going to try to get the car back out on the track and run some laps and get a few points if we can, and then this just puts a premium on next weekend and the weekend after."
    DESCRIBE WHAT THIS DOES IN THE CONTENDER ROUND GOING FORWARD: 'Well, it just means we've got to be on our game at Charlotte and Talladega. There is still a lot of racing left. Stuff can happen. We'll see how the other Chasers fare. If I can get taken out today, somebody else can later in this event or at Charlotte. We'll do our best to get on track and then certainly need W's, I would assume, going forward."
    Q) WHAT HAPPENED?
    Johnson: "Just got tagged in the left-rear. I heard on the radio that it was the #16 (Greg Biffle). I haven't seen the video or anything yet. I was cruising along the top, thought everything was fine, and then found myself sideways down the back straightaway."
    Q) HOW WAS THE CAR UP UNTIL THEN?
    Johnson: "It was okay. We were stuck in traffic. Our problem really started on Friday not qualifying right there. We were moving forward and in a good position. I felt like our times had us capable of a top-five finish. But just back there in that mess and ended up being the mess."
    Q) CAN YOU EVEN PROCESS THIS YET?
    Johnson: "It's really fresh, just trying to get the car fixed and get back out there and go to work. Definitely disappointing, but not much I can do. I hit from the inside. If I can put any blame anywhere it would be on our qualifying effort on Friday. If you are going to be in the back in qualifying you are putting yourself in harm's way and today is proof of that." Q) NEVER SAY DIE #48?
    Johnson: "Oh yeah."
    Q) WAS THE CAR GOOD ENOUGH THAT YOU COULD HAVE RAN IN THE TOP 10?
    Johnson: "For sure the top 10 was definitely within reach. I think a top five would have been in our cards. Just listen to lap times and watching myself catch the big group of cars in front of me I felt like we would have been a top-10/top-five."(Team Chevy)(10-5-2014)

  • Earnhardt Jr. comments about his tire issue at Kansas: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. experienced a tire failure while leading the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway on lap 122, his comments:
    Q) WHAT HAPPENED?
    Earnhardt Jr.: "I was going into Turn 3 and the surface of the tire unwound all the way across the surface. And I don't know; just the whole surface of the tire unwound like a string. It just came off the tire and it popped off the corner. I felt it coming apart through the corner and the surface of the tire is gone. The whole cap came off. Must have been a recap (laughs). But I've got to hand it to the guys. Man, that was a great race car. We hadn't been running very good the last several weeks. But man, when we came in here with a great attitude and a great fast car; this is the car that we won Pocono with both times. It's a good car. Hopefully we didn't hurt it too bad and we'll just try to go to the next one. This is going to hurt us in the points, obviously, but we've got a lot of racing left and a lot of racing to win. We're running good."
    Q) WHAT HAPPENED OUT THERE?
    Earnhardt Jr.: "The tread unwound off the tire going into (turn) three all the way through the middle of the corner. I felt the tire unwinding and the surface of the tire was gone by the time I got to the exit of the corner and it blew."
    Q) WE WERE TOLD IT WOULD BE ON THE EDGE TODAY DID YOU NOTICE ANY OF THAT?
    Earnhardt Jr.: "No, my car was good it was turning. Really wasn't running that hard. Sometimes the tires just unwind. I don't know why they do that. We have had it happen a couple of times this year. It just happens every once in a while. We haven't had any tire wear. We didn't wear the inside edge out down to the cords and pop the tire, the tread just came off." Q) WHAT ABOUT THE CHASE IMPLICATIONS? NOT THE WAY TO START THIS ROUND:
    Earnhardt Jr.: "Yeah, the points - it's going to hurt. It is what it is. We just have to go to the next race and try to win."(Team Chevy)(10-5-2014)

  • Contender Round starts at Kansas: The second segment of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, known as the Contender Round, kicks off Sunday, October 5, 2014, with the Hollywood 400 at Kansas Speedway. The Contender Round spans three events (Kansas, Charlotte, Talladega) and the four winless drivers with the lowest points totals will be eliminated from the Chase at its conclusion. #24-Jeff Gordon will try to become the first driver to sweep Kansas, but he faces stiff competition from championship-qualifying drivers who have also won before at the 1.5-mile tri-oval: #4-Kevin Harvick(pole sitter), #48-Jimmie Johnson, #2-Brad Keselowski, #20-Matt Kenseth, #11-Denny Hamlin and #31-Ryan Newman.(NASCAR)(10-5-2014)

  • Earnhardt Jr. may race for his own team in the future: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. met with members of the media at Kansas Speedway and discussed many topics, including:
    Q) WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES AND FUTURE PLANS FOR JR MOTORSPORTS WITH REGAN SMITH STAYING AT LEAST THROUGH NEXT YEAR? HAVE YOUR PLANS CHANGED? IS IT EVOLVING AND WILL WE SEE DIFFERENT THINGS THERE? WHAT DO YOU LOOK AHEAD TOWARDS?
    Earnhardt Jr.: "Well the Nationwide Series is a year to year deal. Our sponsorships are short term compared to the Cup level so our relationships with our drivers have to fit in those windows as well. That is nothing unusual about going year to year or every two years with a driver contract. We do the same thing with the sponsorships as well sometimes. We would love to have longer agreements, but that just depends on the money just like every other piece of the puzzle. The money really has a big effect on it. I am really happy that we are basically going to have a carbon copy of what we did this year next season. We have had a lot of success and I think we can build on that and everything is going to stay in place and we are going to go on down the road. On down the road is just 12 months. When you talk about the Cup Series you look a little further. I would like to race for that company one day, so I hope to keep it healthy until that opportunity presents itself. Whenever I'm done Cup racing to jump in a Nationwide car and do that for a couple of years in my own shop."(Team Chevy)(10-5-2014)

  • added the some more 2015 schemes:
    #2 Miller Lite, #4 Budweiser, Jimmy John's, Outback, #6 AdvoCare, #14 Bass Pro Shops, Mobil 1, Code 3, #22 Shell-Pennzoil, #41 Haas Automation, State Water Heaters, #43 Smithfield.

  • Nashville Superspeedway sale delayed: The sale of the Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon (TN) was delayed at the request of the buyer, NeXovation, and Dover Motorsports has issued an Oct. 25 deadline to close the deal. The Nashville Business Journal reported the development last week, and it was confirmed Monday by NeXovation public relations director Chris Goodrich. It is unclear what happens if the deadline is not met, but it is assumed the sale will be voided and Dover will retain ownership of the troubled Gladeville facility that has sat idle for three years. The Business Journal reported, "The would-be buyer of the Nashville Superspeedway has been given more time to complete the deal." Citing a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, the report said the $45.8 million deal between track owner Dover Motorsports Inc. and Nashville-based NeXovation was announced in May. Under the deal, NeXovation is to pay Dover Motorsports $27 million in cash and assume $18.8 million in outstanding bond obligations owned to Wilson County. According to the Business Journal, NeXovation could choose to back out of the deal before the Dover deadline. (full story at the Lebanon Democrat)(10-5-2014)


    News from October 4, 2014


    ESPN.com's Racecast - Live Coverage and Chat
    Racing Live! on ESPN.com
    Watch the race LIVE online at WatchESPN
    Listen Live Online at Motor Racing Network
    Ask in-race reporter #99-Carl Edwards


  • Race Coverage of the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is scheduled for Sunday, October 5, 2014.
    Television (TV): ESPN at 2:00 pm/et; Pre-Race show at 1:00pm/et; green flag approx. 2:18pm/et
    Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 90
    Scheduled Race Re-Airs: Monday, October 6, 1:00am/et on ESPN2

  • Happy Hour practice for the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is over, after 50 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
    #42-Larson 190.295
    #4-Harvick 189.607
    #5-Kahne 189.215
    #31-Newman 189.102
    #18-Busch 189.069
    slowest: #66-Wallace 181.622 and #33-Hill 182.716
    notes: just towards the end of practice, #23-Bowman hit the wall and pancaked the right side of the car, no word if the team will go to a backup car or make repairs. A minute and a half was added to the end of practice due to the #23 incident. #41-Busch spun off turn 4 early in practice and slid/spun the the front stretch infield grass, the car was stuck in the wet grass after damaging the Hollywood Casino 400 logo, a tow truck was able to winch the car out. The #41 team will go to a backup car.
    See fastest speeds, laps run, best 10 consecutive lap average on the Kansas Happy Hour Practice Speeds page (pdf).(10-4-2014)

  • Saturday's 1st practice for the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is over, after 50 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
    #9-Ambrose 191.652
    #1-McMurray 191.584
    #42-Larson 191.096
    #99-Edwards 191.076
    #17-Stenhouse Jr. 190.914
    slowest: #32-Gase 183.861 & #66-Wallace 184.319.
    notes: Happy Hour (final) practice is scheduled for 2:00pm/ewt on FS2.
    See fastest speeds, laps run, best 10 consecutive lap average on the Kansas Practice 2 Speeds page (pdf).(10-4-2014)

  • Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway have been made.
    Pole sitter #4-Harvick chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
    Outside pole sitter #55-Vickers took pit stall 18 the 2nd pit stall with an opening behind it.
    #43-Almirola, who starts 3rd took the 8th pit stall, the 1st pit stall with an opening in front of it.
    The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #99-Edwards, who starts 12th.
    To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(10-4-2014)

  • Kansas Notes & Facts - Saturday - drivers:
    · 116 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas; 86 in more than one.
    · Five drivers have started all 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway - Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman.
    · 11 different drivers have won at Kansas Speedway, led by Jeff Gordon with three.
    · Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth are the only two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers that have posted consecutive wins at Kansas Speedway: Gordon (2001 and 2002 - the first two NSCS events at Kansas) and Kenseth (fall of 2012, spring of 2013).
    · Martin Truex Jr., Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman are tied for the series most runner-up finishes at Kansas Speedway with two each.
    · Jeff Gordon leads the series in top-five finishes at Kansas Speedway with 10; followed by Greg Biffle with seven.
    · Jimmie Johnson leads the series in top-10 finishes at Kansas Speedway with 14; followed by Jeff Gordon (12), Edwards, Kenseth each have 10.
    · Jimmie Johnson (7.625) leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Kansas Speedway - he is the only driver with an average finish in the top-10 at Kansas.
    · Denny Hamlin has participated in the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway without posting a DNF (12).
    · 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion and 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Austin Dillon (10/09/2011) and Denny Hamlin (10/09/2005) made their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career starts at Kansas Speedway.
    · Nine of the 10 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners at Kansas Speedway participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Jeff Gordon won at Kansas in his first appearance.
    · Kevin Harvick competed at Kansas Speedway 15 times before winning last fall; the longest span of any the 10 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners at Kansas.
    · Kevin Harvick (15) and Matt Kenseth (13) have made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Kansas Speedway.
    · Kurt Busch leads the series with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Kansas Speedway without visiting Victory Lane at 17.
    · Jimmie Johnson leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Kansas Speedway with 586 laps led in 16 starts.
    · Danica Patrick is the only female driver that has competed at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:
    (NASCAR)(10-4-2014)

  • Cessna & McDonald's team up on the #1 at Kansas: The #1 Chevy SS of Jamie McMurray will feature a unique look this weekend at Kansas Speedway. The two primary partners on the #1 will share the primary sponsorship at Kansas to feature both the McDonald's Monopoly Game and Cessna. One of the prizes offered in The Monopoly game at McDonald's will be the opportunity to win a chartered flight on a Cessna jet (CGR), see an image of the car on the #1 Team Schemes page.(10-4-2014)

  • Regan Smith re-signs with JR Motorsports, but still eying Cup career: Though Regan Smith re-upped for a season of Saturdays, he still wants to be a Sunday driver. In the midst of a championship battle against teammate Chase Elliott, the driver of the #7 JR Motorsports Chevy recently agreed to another one-year deal with the Nationwide Series powerhouse owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kelley Earnhardt Miller and Rick Hendrick. Smith's longer-term goal is to return to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, where he last raced full-time in 2012 before losing his ride in the #78 Furniture Row Chevy to Kurt Busch. That's one reason why Smith signed a one-year deal with JR Motorsports. "I definitely want to get back to Cup," said Smith, who trails Elliott by 26 points with five races left in the Nationwide Series schedule. "I don't think I've ever denied that or said that I don't. That's the goal. I want to prove that I belong there and get to race on Sunday's and get to run the longer races again." Though there are several seats in the Cup series that have yet to be filled for next year, Smith wanted to get his 2015 plans squared away before the 11th hour. "Naturally, there are some openings-on paper, it would appear-on that (Sprint Cup) side," said Smith, who notched his only Cup victory in the 2011 Southern 500 at Darlington. "I think a lot of thing would still have to play out on the Cup side, and a lot of things look like they're still taking place over there, and some quality race teams that are still trying to figure out what they're going to be doing. But at the time, I just felt like it was time to go ahead and start trying to solidify some things for next year and know, generally speaking, where I'm going to be."(NASCAR Wire Service)(10-4-2014)

  • Barkley Asphalt will be an associate sponsor of the #66 car at Kansas: Barkley Asphalt Co, Inc. will be an associate sponsor with the #66 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Team for The Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. "We are excited that Barkley Asphalt Co, Inc. has joined us for the Kansas Race and look forward to having a good run on Sunday" says driver Mike Wallace. "We are thrilled to have Barkley Asphalt Co, Inc. represented on the #66 team with Mike Wallace, this Sunday for the big race at Kansas Speedway," stated Gary Barkley. Barkley Co, Inc is a full service asphalt paving, asphalt repair, and pavement maintenance company serving the Kansas City Metropolitan Area Since 1997.(PR)(10-4-2014)

  • Finalists for Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award, voting opens: The national finalists for the Fourth Annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award were announced today at Kansas Speedway by The NASCAR Foundation, kicking off the voting process for fans at NASCAR.com/award. The Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award honors the unwavering commitment that The NASCAR Foundation Chairwoman Betty Jane France has demonstrated through philanthropy and community service. The award is presented annually to a dedicated NASCAR fan that has made a profound impact on the lives of children in his or her local community.
    This year's impressive group of finalists includes:
    Tammy Anderson-Lee, representing Autism Society San Diego where she has developed adaptive swimming programs for children with autism;
    Amber Larkin of Windermere, Florida, founder of the Noah's Light Foundation, which is engaged in the fight against pediatric brain cancer;
    Chris McElwee of Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, founder of Michael's Way, an organization providing financial assistance to families of children with cancer; and
    Daniel Noltemeyer of Louisville, Kentucky, who helped establish Best Buddies Kentucky, which promotes social inclusion for people with developmental disabilities.
    The finalist with the most votes will receive $100,000 for the children's charity they represent and personally receive a 2015 Toyota Camry provided by Toyota, the award's 2014 Official Car Sponsor. The three remaining finalists will earn a donation of $25,000 for their children's charity from The NASCAR Foundation. Additionally, each finalist will also receive an at-track VIP experience during the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The national winner will be announced on Friday, Dec. 5 during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards show at Wynn Las Vegas, which will be nationally televised live on FOX Sports 2 (NASCAR), see more info and the full post on Jayski.com's NASCAR Charity News & Events page.(10-4-2014)

  • Waltrip to run K&N Pro West race: Green1.com Inc., the Industry Leader in true 100% Green Cleaning Technology, announced today the primary sponsorship of Bill McAnally Racing (BMR) driver Michael Waltrip in the NAPA Toyota 150 Race, to be held October 11, 2014 in Roseville, CA at All American Speedway. The announcement follows an agreement between G1 and BMR, whereby BMR will utilize the high quality proven G1 parts washers, and high tech aluminum spray bottles throughout the BMR NAPA locations in the Sacramento area. Michael Waltrip commented "I am looking forward to heading to the West Coast to pilot the Green1 BMR Toyota, and have been receiving positive feedback from many racers who use the aluminum Green1 spray bottles".(PRLOG)(10-4-2014)

  • Busch wins Nationwide race at Kansas: #54-Kyle Busch won the Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway. #5-Kevin Harvick finished second followed by #22-Ryan Blaney, #33-Paul Menard, #3-Ty Dillon, #20-Matt Kenseth, #11-Elliott Sadler, #6-Trevor Bayne, #2-Brian Scott, and #9-Chase Elliott.
    There were 9 cautions for 42 laps and 16 lead changes among 10 leaders. Complete results are on the Kansas race results page (pdf).(10-4-2014)

  • Kansas Race Fast Facts:
    Kyle Busch(i) won the 14th Annual Kansas Lottery 300, his 69th victory in 292 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
    This is his sixth victory and 21st top-10 finish in 2014.
    This is his second victory and eighth top-10 finish in ten races at Kansas Speedway.
    Kevin Harvick(i) (second) posted his seventh top-10 finish in ten races at Kansas Speedway. It is his 14th top-10 finish in 2014.
    Ryan Blaney(i) (third) posted his first top-10 finish in two races at Kansas Speedway.
    Ty Dillon (fifth) was the highest finishing rookie.
    Chase Elliott # leads the point standings by 38 points over Regan Smith.
    (NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(10-4-2014)

  • Driver standings following Kansas [race 29 of 33]:
    1) #9-Chase Elliott 1068
    2) #7-Regan Smith, 1030 -38
    3) #3-Ty Dillon, 1028 -40
    4) #2-Brian Scott, 1011 -57
    5) #11-Elliott Sadler, 1008 -60
    6) #6-Trevor Bayne, 971 -97
    7) #60-Chris Buescher, 874 -194
    8) #62-Brendan Gaughan, 846 -222
    9) #16-Ryan Reed, 791 -277
    10) #99-James Buescher, 779 -289
    See complete standings on the driver standings page (pdf).(10-4-2014)

  • Owner Standings following Kansas are posted (pdf).(10-4-2014)

  • Dillon on Nationwide pole at Kansas: #3-Ty Dillon won the Coors Light Pole for the Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway with a speed of 183.943mph. #22-Ryan Blaney will start second followed by: #60-Chris Buescher, #5-Kevin Harvick, #2-Brian Scott, #54-Kyle Busch, #11-Elliott Sadler, #33-Paul Menard, #42-Kyle Larson, and #62-Brendan Gaughan.
    Fastest in the second round of qualifying was #3-Ty Dillon.
    #2-Brian Scott was quickest in the opening qualifying session at 182.211mph.
    Did Not Qualify: #-89 Morgan Shepherd, # 17-Tanner Berryhill, #46-Ryan Ellis. The starting lineup is posted on the Kansas starting lineup page (pdf).(10-4-2014)

  • Kansas Qualifying Notes:
    Ty Dillon won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 14th Annual Kansas Lottery 300 with a lap of 29.357 seconds, 183.943 mph.
    This is his third pole in 41 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
    This is his third pole and 19th top-10 start in 2014.
    This is his first pole at Kansas Speedway.
    Ryan Blaney(i) (second) posted his 11th top-10 start of 2014 and his first in two races at Kansas Speedway.
    Chris Buescher (third) posted his second top-10 start at Kansas Speedway. It is his 15th in 28 races this season.
    Ty Dillon (first) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
    (NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(10-4-2014)

  • Senior Airman to award Freedom Trophy to Talladega winner: Talladega Superspeedway is known for history, tradition, prestige and honor that come with winning a Sprint Cup race at NASCAR's Most Competitive track. In May track officials announced a new tradition at Talladega: the presentation of the new and unique "Freedom Trophy" to each NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winner by a member of one of our countries five military branches.
    Senior Airman Donald L. Googe Jr., from Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, AL, will greet the winner in Gatorade Victory Lane at the conclusion of the GEICO 500 - the all-important third and final race of the Contender Round of NASCAR's revamped Chase for the Sprint Cup in which the eligible drivers for the title will be cut from 12 to eight. There, Googe, Jr., will award the impressive pentagon-shaped Talladega Superspeedway Freedom Trophy, which represents the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.
    The Freedom Trophy is a spectacular work of art. Silver aluminum panels, complete with a design of each military branch soldier and branch logo, are showcased, along with a star that is waterjet cut in the center. Black stained wood makes up the trophy's base, with circular discs at the bottom and top made of black acrylic, and includes the Talladega Superspeedway logo, the date of the race and the name of the base awarding the trophy.
    Googe, Jr., is a paralegal assigned to the 42nd Air Base Wing Legal Office where he is responsible for managing a comprehensive legal assistance program to 4,685 military and civilian personnel. He assists commanders in ensuring good order and discipline within 14 units assigned to Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex, and provides legal opinions to over 50 on-base private organizations. In addition to recognizing the military through the Freedom Trophy, Talladega Superspeedway is proud to offer special ticket prices for all members of the military and their families for its race weekends. For more information, visit talladegasuperspeedway.com/military.(TSS)(10-4-2014)


    News from October 3, 2014

  • Harvick wins Kansas pole: #4-Kevin Harvick won the Coors Light pole for the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway with a track record speed of 197.773mph [set in 2nd round], Harvick had a speed of 197.621mph to win the pole in the third round. This is Harvick's 8th pole of 2014, 3rd at Kansas, 3rd in a row at Kansas and 14th of his career. Harvick has won four races from the pole out of 13 previous poles.
    #55-Vickers is on the outside pole followed by #43-Almirola, #22-Logano, #24-Gordon. #2-Keselowski, #18-Busch, #88-Earnhardt Jr., #14-Stewart, #5-Kahne, #16-Biffle and #99-Edwards.
    Missing the race were: none, only 43 cars entered.
    See the Starting lineup, round by round qualifying results, notes and links on Jayski.com's Kansas Starting Lineup / Qualifying Page.(10-3-2014)

  • Where the 2014 Sprint Cup Chase Drivers will start at Kansas:
    [listed by current driver chase points position]
    1) #2-Brad Keselowski, 6th
    2) #22-Joey Logano, 4th
    3) #4-Kevin Harvick, POLE
    4) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 32nd
    5) #24-Jeff Gordon, 5th
    6) #18-Kyle Busch, 7th
    7) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 8th
    8) #20-Matt Kenseth, 27th
    9) #31-Ryan Newman, 17th
    10) #99-Carl Edwards, 12th
    11) #11-Denny Hamlin, 25th
    12) #5-Kasey Kahne, 10th
    (10-3-2014)

  • Qualifying Fast Facts - Kansas:
    #4-Kevin Harvick won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 14th Annual Hollywood Casino 400 with a lap of 27.325 seconds, 197.621 mph.
    This is his 14th pole in 496 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
    This is his eighth pole and 21st top-10 start in 2014.
    This is his third pole in 18 races at Kansas Speedway.
    #55-Brian Vickers (second) posted his ninth top-10 start of 2014 and his fourth in 11 races at Kansas Speedway.
    #43-Aric Almirola (third) posted his third top-10 start at Kansas Speedway. It is his sixth in 30 races this season.
    #3-Austin Dillon (16th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
    #4-Kevin Harvick set a new track qualifying record in Round 2 of 3 with a speed of 197.773 mph. The previous record was held by Kevin Harvick (194.252 mph - 5/10/2014).
    Today's track record is the 20th new track qualifying record in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2014.
    This is Kevin Harvick's sixth track qualifying record in 2014 - Texas, Kansas, Michigan, Indianapolis, Bristol and Kansas.
    This is the ninth track qualifying record for Chevrolet in 2014.(NASCAR Statistics)(10-3-2014)

  • Second Round of Qualifying for the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is over after 10 scheduled minutes. Eleven drivers ran faster than the track record of 194.252mph.
    #4-Harvick 197.773
    #16-Biffle 196.464 #22-Logano 196.185
    #2-Keselowski 196.064
    #18-Busch 195.050
    the rest of the top 12: 24 43 14 55 88 99 5;
    out of the top 12 and not advancing to the 3rd/final round: 27 1 78 3 31 42 15 47 51 9 17 41;
    (10-3-2014)

  • First Round of Qualifying for the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is over, after 25 minutes. 16 cars ran faster than the track record of 194.252mph.
    #2-Keselowski 195.950
    #4-Harvick 195.794
    #99-Edwards 195.688
    #22-Logano 195.419
    #24-Gordon 195.263
    the rest of the top 24: 88 43 14 16 55 5 47 3 1 78 27 9 17 42 41 51 14 18 31;
    out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 11 13 20 95 10 36 38 48 23 98 40 7 34 83 26 33 37 32 66
    Driver who will miss the race: none as only 43 entered.
    (10-3-2014)

  • Qualifying Order for the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is posted. 43 cars/drivers are listed.
    The first of the drivers scheduled to go out is #66-Wallace.
    The final driver scheduled to go out is #95-McDowell.
    Qualifying order is set by a random draw, held about an hour before the first practice.
    The order sets the order the cars are parked on pit road.
    See the full qualifying order on the Jayski.com's Kansas Qualifying Page.(10-3-2014)

  • Friday practice for the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway is over, after 90 scheduled minutes [was extended 10 minutes], the top five, slowest and notes:
    #24-Gordon 196.257
    #4-Harvick 196.178
    #16-Biffle 195.730
    #42-Larson 195.560
    #3-Dillon 195.532
    slowest: #66-Wallace 183.492 #32-Gase 187.201
    notes: in the event that qualifying is cancelled (looks like rain has moved out and will not be a factor the rest of the day), speeds from this practice would set the starting lineup for the race.
    track record speed was set by Harvick in May at 194.658mph.
    See fastest speeds and laps run on the Kansas Practice 1 Speeds page (pdf) .(10-3-2014)

  • added the some 2015 schemes:
    #3 DOW & Cheerios, #5 Farmers Insurance, Great Clips & Time Warner, #10 Aspen Dental, #16 Ortho, #17 Fastenal, #27 Menards / Pittsburgh Paints, #31 Caterpillar & Quicken Loans, #33 Yuengling Beer.

  • Kansas Notes & Facts - Friday - poles:
    · Jason Leffler won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Kansas Speedway in 2001 with a speed of 176.499 mph.
    · 11 drivers have Coors Light poles at Kansas, led by Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne with three each.
    · Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick are the only two drivers to win consecutive Coors Light poles at Kansas Speedway (Johnson - 2007, 2008 and Harvick - fall 2013, spring 2014).
    · Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Kansas Speedway with an 11.000.
    · Four of the 17 (23.5%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway have been won from the Coors Light pole; Joe Nemechek (2004), Jimmie Johnson (2008), Matt Kenseth (spring 2013) and Kevin Harvick (fall 2013).
    · Five of the 17 (29.4%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway have been won from the front row: four from the pole and one from second-place.
    · 10 of the 17 (58.8%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Kansas Speedway have been won from a top-10 starting position.
    · Two of the 17 (11.7%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
    · Qualifying has never been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kansas Speedway. (NASCAR)(10-3-2014)

  • Kyle Busch to get a new crew chief in 2015?: Multiple sources say #18-Kyle Busch and longtime crew chief Dave Rogers will end their long-running association at season's end, as part of a multi-divisional realignment involving both JGR and Kyle Busch Motorsports. While Rogers' departure from the #18 team was announced in-house on Tuesday of this week, no one from JGR has commented publicly on the move. Rogers is expected to remain a part of JGR's Sprint Cup Series operation, possibly as crew chief for newcomer Carl Edwards' and the #19 Stanley Tools / ARRIS Toyota. Sources close to the team say Adam Stevens will move from JGR's Nationwide Series operation to replace Rogers atop the #18 pit box. Stevens has gone to Victory Lane five times this season with Busch, and is the obvious heir-apparent to Rogers. There is no word on the 2015 status of Darien Grubb, who currently serves as crew chief for Denny Hamlin's #11 Fed Ex Toyota at JGR. Jason Ratcliff is expected to return as crew chief for Matt Kenseth's #20 Toyota next season.(Godfather Motorsports)(10-3-2014)

  • Different look for Patrick's car at Kansas: In a rare change from her normal green racecar, Danica Patrick's #10 Chevy this weekend at Kansas will sport the blue and white colors of Aspen Dental, one of the largest and fastest-growing networks of dental care providers in the U.S. with more than 460 locations in communities across 28 states, providing millions of Americans with access to quality, affordable dental care. Every Aspen Dental practice offers a full range of dental services - including comprehensive exams, cleanings, extractions, dentures, fillings, periodontal treatment, whitening, oral surgery, crown and bridge work (SHR), see images of the scheme on the #10 Team Schemes page. Aspen Dental looks like it will return to the #10 in 2015 as diecast images of the car for 2015 are posted, see the 2015 #10 Team Schemes page.(10-3-2014)

  • New sponsor for Whitt at Kansas: BK Racing announced a partnership with Moen for the upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway on October 5. Moen will ride-along with the #26 Toyota Camry driven by Cole Whitt. As the No. 1 faucet brand in North America, Moen offers a diverse selection of thoughtfully designed kitchen and bath faucets, showerheads, accessories, bath safety products and kitchen sinks for residential and commercial applications each delivering the best possible combination of meaningful innovation, useful features, and lasting value. "Buy it for looks, buy it for life." To learn more about Moen, visit moen.com.
    "We are delighted that Moen has decided to support Cole Whitt and BK Racing," said Anthony Marlowe BK Racing co-owner. "A substantial amount of Moen's consumers and prospective decision makers are NASCAR fans and we look forward to reminding all of them that Moen has the highest value innovative products and services in the industry."(BK Racing), see images of the scheme on the #26 Team Schemes page.(10-3-2014)

  • Johnson attends Moore school's ribbon cutting for storm-destroyed gyms: Jimmie Johnson and Lowe's Home Improvement are used to working as partners on and off the track. Johnson drives the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet SS in the racing sport's top series, and lends his celebrity status to the store's charity efforts. In 2013, the Jimmie Johnson Foundation and Lowe's joined forces to help three Moore schools whose gym facilities had been destroyed or damaged by the May tornadoes. On Thursday, the three schools - Highland East Junior High, Plaza Towers Elementary, and Briarwood Elementary - celebrated the opening of their new and improved gyms. Johnson attended the ribbon-cutting at Highland East along with 40 Lowe's employees and two basketball teams worth of grateful kids. Johnson's support of Moore began almost immediately after the tornado. Days after the catastrophe, he came to Oklahoma to help with Lowe's relief efforts, distributing food, water, and cleanup supplies to affected families. During his time there, he witnessed first-hand the devastation a tornado leaves behind. Johnson's wife, Chandra, is a Muskogee native and graduated from the University of Oklahoma. The state has a special place in both of their hearts, Johnson said, and he was thrilled to see how things had improved upon his return. Lowe's employees also pitched in to give the school a much-needed facelift. Volunteers from the Moore, south Oklahoma City, and Norman stores pitched in to landscape the school's campus, planting dozens of trees and shrubs. The store also donated two benches with Highland East's mascot, a cougar, carved into them.(The Oklahoman)(10-3-2014)

  • LeafFilter to Sponsor the #32 team at Charlotte: LeafFilter announced its sponsorship of the #32 Ford the Bank of America 500 Race at Charlotte. This race marks the first time LeafFilter has been involved in the NASCAR Sprint Series. "We are happy to announce our partnership with Go Green Racing and to sponsor the #32 car for the first time," mentions Matt Kaulig, president of LeafFilter North, Inc. "It is exciting for the entire LeafFilter team to finally be involved in the NASCAR community, and to be a part of the Sprint Cup Series."
    We're pleased to welcome LeafFilter to NASCAR as a sponsor of Go Green Racing. They're a passionate company that embodies many of the same principals of excellence and success that drive us at Go Green," states Owner of Go Green Racing, Archie St. Hilaire. J.J. Yeley is scheduled to drive the #32 Ford for Go FAS Racing at Charlotte. LeafFilter is the #1 rated gutter guard system by two leading consumer publications. LeafFilter's design features a surgical-grade, stainless steel micromesh gutter protection system. The openings within the stainless steel micromesh are specifically sized so that only water is channeled into the gutters. With 23 locations nationwide, LeafFilter North, Inc. has installed more than 19 million feet of gutter protection on homes throughout the United States.(LeafFilter)(10-3-2014)

  • Hendrick Motorsports going for pole #200: This weekend, Hendrick Motorsports could reach a milestone. With one more Sprint Cup Series pole position, the organization will have earned 200 in its 30-year history. Currently, Hendrick Motorsports sits at 199 poles, with Gordon and Johnson combining for three so far in the 2014 season.(HMS)(10-3-2014)

  • Castrol Premium Lube Express joins #13 team as associate sponsor: If NASCAR Sprint Cup Series fans need to freshen up their autos for the road trip to Kansas Speedway, they needn't look far to find a Castrol Premium Lube Express. The high quality and liquid engineering of Castrol can be installed at locations in St. Joseph and Independence, MO, as well as Ottawa, KS. Castrol Premium Lube Express will be featured as an associate sponsor on the #13 GEICO Chevy driven by Casey Mears in this weekend's Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway.(Germain Racing)(10-3-2014)

  • Blaney fastest in final Nationwide practice: #22-Ryan Blaney was quickest during happy hour for the Kansas Lottery 300 with a speed of 180.048mph. He was followed by: #60-Chris Buescher, #3-Ty Dillon, #54-Kyle Busch, #6-Trevor Bayne, #25-John Wes Townley, #20-Matt Kenseth, #33-Paul Menard, #39-Ryan Sieg, and #2-Brian Scott. All 43 drivers participated in the session. See complete results on the Kansas practice speeds page (pdf).(10-3-2014)

  • First Nationwide practice cancelled: The opening practice session for the Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway has been cancelled due to rain earlier this morning. The forecast looks good for the rest of the day and there shouldn't be a problem getting happy hour in.(10-3-2014)

  • Bowman in the #5 at Charlotte: JR Motorsports announced on this week's JRM360 podcast that NASCAR Sprint Cup rookie Alex Bowman will drive the #5 Dirty Mo Radio Chevy at Charlotte Motor Speedway.(10-3-2014)

  • Crew chief changes expected with JGR: They're preparing to shuffle the crew chief deck at Joe Gibbs Racing. Multiple sources say Kyle Busch and longtime crew chief Dave Rogers will end their long-running association at season's end, as part of a multi-divisional realignment involving both JGR and Kyle Busch Motorsports. While Rogers' departure from the #18 team was announced in-house on Tuesday of this week, no one from JGR has commented publicly on the move. Sources close to the team say Adam Stevens will move from JGR's Nationwide Series operation to replace Rogers atop the #18 pit box. Stevens has gone to Victory Lane five times this season with Busch, and is the obvious heir-apparent to Rogers. Stevens will be replaced in the Nationwide Series garage by Eric Phillips, who has served as crew chief on the #51 Kyle Busch Motorsports Camping World Truck Series entry. Under his guidance, the team has won eight times in 17 starts this season with Busch (six wins) and Erik Jones (two wins). He won the Truck Series owner's championship for KBM a year ago and is solidly in the running to defend that title this season.(Godfather Motorsports).(10-3-2014)

  • Regan Smith returning to JR Motorsports UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt, Jr., tweeted Wednesday morning, "@ReganSmith and @JRMotorsports just finished the paperwork that keeps him in the 7 car for 2015. Couldn't be more pleased about this."(10-1-2014)
    UPDATE: Regan Smith still harbors dreams of driving for a Sprint Cup team again. He just isn't in such a hurry to get there that he was willing to give up a pretty sweet gig. Smith has agreed to a one-year extension with JR Motorsports to continue driving in the Nationwide Series, which will be rebranded the Xfinity Series next season. Smith, who is second in points heading into Saturday's race at Kansas Speedway, said that the opportunity to continue driving for Dale Earnhardt Jr. on a championship-caliber team was a big enough incentive to put less certain Sprint Cup opportunities on hold. Smith has three wins over the past two seasons for JR Motorsports.(Associated Press)(10-3-2014)

  • Clements honoring fan at Kansas: This weekend, Jeremy Clements will honor the memory of a Spartanburg, SC fan, Wayne Chapman, who passed away earlier this year from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In August, Jacob Chapman, Wayne's son, emailed Jeremy Clements Racing, asking for their help in honoring his father and helping to create awareness of ALS. Jeremy and the team were honored to do what they could to pay tribute to not only a fan, but a man who dedicated his life to helping others in the community. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), more commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord. Each year, more than 5,600 people are diagnosed with ALS, and over 30,000 may currently be affected by ALS. A special blue and white ribbon honoring Wayne Chapman will adorn Clements' #51 Chevy this weekend for the NASCAR Nationwide Series Kansas Lottery 200.(Jeremy Clements Racing)(10-3-2014)

  • Phillips to move to NNS with KBM team: They're preparing to shuffle the crew chief deck at Joe Gibbs Racing. Multiple sources say Kyle Busch and longtime crew chief Dave Rogers will end their long-running association at season's end, as part of a multi-divisional realignment involving both JGR and Kyle Busch Motorsports. While Rogers' departure from the #18 team was announced in-house on Tuesday of this week, no one from JGR has commented publically on the move. Sources close to the team say Adam Stevens will move from JGR's Nationwide Series operation to replace Rogers atop the #18 pit box. Stevens has gone to Victory Lane five times this season with Busch, and is the obvious heir-apparent to Rogers. Stevens will be replaced in the Nationwide Series garage by Eric Phillips, who has served as crew chief on the #51 Kyle Busch Motorsports Camping World Truck Series entry. Under his guidance, the team has won eight times in 17 starts this season with Busch (six wins) and Erik Jones (two wins). He won the Truck Series owner's championship for KBM a year ago and is solidly in the running to defend that title this season.(Godfather Motorsports).(10-3-2014)


    News from October 2, 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 Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway on the Kansas Race Info page - Chassis selection area.

  • Kansas Notes & Facts - Thursday - track history:
    · Groundbreaking was held on May 25, 1999.
    · The official opening of Kansas Speedway was in 2001, with the first events being an ARCA race and a NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race on the same day - June 2.
    · The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was on Sept. 30, 2001 - won by Jeff Gordon.
    · During the 2012 season, between the April and October events the 1.5-mile track underwent a repave adding variable banking in the corners.
    · There have been 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, one NSCS event from 2001 - 2010 and two races per year since 2011.
    (NASCAR)(10-2-2014)

  • Leavine Family Racing's #95 set to race 6 of 7 final races in 2014: Leavine Family Racing will finish up the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season competing in six of the final seven races on the schedule. Michael McDowell will pilot the #95 Ford at Kansas, Charlotte, Talladega, Texas, Phoenix and Homestead (skipping Martinsville). "This is an important stretch of races for us," said McDowell. "We have an opportunity to build our data and information to prepare for the 2015 season. This season has really been about perseverance for us. We've had a steady course of action and have worked hard to continue on that path in spite of challenges." Leavine Family Racing's two best finishes this season have come at a superspeedway (seventh at Daytona) and a short track (18th at Bristol). The mile and a half tracks have proven a challenge for the team and Kansas will be an important race to further develop the team's intermediate race program. "We're looking forward to the race weekend and excited to be racing six out of the last seven events on the schedule," said crew chief Wally Rogers. "Our team had a good test at Kansas earlier this year where we learned a lot and we'll be looking to put that information to good use this weekend." KLOVE will be the primary sponsor at Kansas Speedway on the #95 Ford.(LFR)(10-2-2014)

  • Bowyer breaks out the pink scheme for three races: It's not the normal colors fans expect to see from Clint Bowyer but this weekend at Kansas his #15 5-hour Energy Toyota will sport a pink and white paint scheme to support the company's program with Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC). Now through the end of the year, five cents from the sale of every bottle of a limited edition, specially marked pink lemonade flavor of 5-hour ENERGY will go to the national nonprofit. The organization's mission is to provide trusted information and a community of support to individuals affected by breast cancer, their families, caregivers and medical professionals. The minimum guaranteed donation is $200,000. "5-hour ENERGY's breast cancer awareness program with LBBC provides funds for a fantastic organization, and I'm thrilled to help support the cause," said Bowyer. "Now go buy Pink Lemonade so we can give even more money this year!" Bowyer's pink car also runs at Charlotte on October 11th and Talladega on October 19th. A name of someone currently battling or who has survived breast cancer will be featured above the right side window. This week Holly Cain, a motorsports journalist currently battling breast cancer, will be featured. "I'm extremely honored to represent the thousands affected by this disease who appreciate the awareness Clint and his sponsor are bringing to our fight," said Cain (MWR), see images of the scheme on the #15 Team Schemes page.(10-2-2014)

  • Kansas Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will run the same combination of left- and right-side tires at Kansas this weekend . . . this is the same tire set-up Sprint Cup teams ran at this track in May . . . this combination came out of a Goodyear tire test at Kansas on April 14 . . . in Sprint Cup, teams have also run this right-side tire code twice at Michigan this season . . . in Nationwide, teams have run this left-side tire code at their only stop at Michigan in June . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Kansas . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire (Goodyear), see full notes, tire codes, pressures, set limits on the Kansas Race Info page - Goodyear section.(10-2-2014)

  • Waltrip makes it past third in Dancing with the Stars: Michael Waltrip and his partner Emma Slater made it past the third round of the multi-award-winning series Dancing with the Stars Monday night. Waltrip and Slater danced a waltz on Monday's show, earning a score of 28 from the judges (MWR)(10-2-2014)

  • Congrats - Clint Bowyer: #15-Clint Bowyer tweeted this morning (with an image): "Woohooooooo!!! Finally!!!! Baby boy and momma doing great."(10-1-2014)
    UPDATE: Well she wouldn't go for Cletus Bocephus, so we met in the middle. Meet Cash Aaron! (Clint Bowyer Twitter)(10-2-2014)

  • Sad News - Ben Blake: former NASCAR / Motorsports writer/reporter, Ben Blake, passed away. Blake covered NASCAR for many years with some of the outlets being the Richmond Times-Dispatch and RACER among others. Blake was one of the panelists on the defunct show Pit Bulls which aired on Speed in 2005. Blake also wrote or co-wrote five motorsport-related books, including the only authorized biography of Dale Earnhardt.(USA Today's Nate Ryan's Twitter)(9-30-2014)
    UPDATE From RACER: We learned today of the passing of Ben Blake. Ben was one of the best and brightest writing for RACER and he knew he had big shoes to fill as he took over the RACER NASCAR beat following the death of his friend Gerald Martin in 1999. Ben also worked closely with our RACER Special Projects editor Steve Nickless and produced much of the content in our Penske Motorsports race programs for California Speedway, Michigan Speedway, North Carolina Motor Speedway, Nazareth Speedway and Homestead Miami Speedway from 1997-1999. He also was a key player on the original RACER.com team in our Charlotte office where he joined Bill King, John Gardner, Eric Mauk and John Davison and the rest of our RACER crew in California in re-launching Speedvision.com (later known as SPEED.com) for network founder Roger Werner in January 2000. Ben was a wonderful writer and he was passionate about telling the real stories of NASCAR racers, mechanics and team owners. He wrote from the heart and we're proud that he sometimes made people in very high places nervous because he wrote it like it was, without any hint of political correctness. We believe they admired the fact that he would not be intimidated. Sure, Ben could drive us crazy on deadline but once we received his brilliant words it was always worth the battle to get them. Our sympathies go to Ben's family and his many friends in racing. He was truly one of a kind and we are forever grateful to have had him on our team. - Paul Pfanner, Founder and Executive Publisher (RACER), no word on services or any other info(10-2-2014)

  • Cassill gets Kansas sponsor: Landon Cassill will look to add to his seasonal accomplishments this weekend at Kansas Speedway, a track where he has a wealth of experience. Cassill will drive the AllDayParts.com Chevy in Saturday's Kansas Lottery 300 at the track. AllDayParts.com is sponsoring Cassill's car for a second straight year at Kansas. AllDayParts.com offers a unique approach to making automobile parts available to everyone from shadetree mechanics to professionals. For more than six decades, AllDayParts warehouses have quietly supplied professional mechanics with high quality auto parts from the best brands in the industry. Now that same level of service is available to do-it-yourselfers direct through AllDayParts.com.(JD Motorsports)(10-2-2014)

  • Logano helps dozens of breast cancer survivors paint the pit road wall pink at Charlotte: #22-Joey Logano and Charlotte Motor Speedway President and General Manager Marcus Smith joined more than 75 breast cancer survivors and supporters to paint the pit road wall pink as the speedway kicked off National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and race month on Wednesday. "It's a special time because we get to kick off October," said Smith. "It's race month for us here at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and it's also a time we can recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month. So many people are touched by breast cancer and this is a way we can recognize, draw attention and encourage our friends and family." In total, crews used 80 gallons of paint provided by PPG Porter and Glidden Paints to cover more than 6,000 square feet of pit wall. Logano also announced a $5,000 donation on behalf of The Joey Logano Foundation to Carolina Breast Friends, a local community group that provides support and outreach for breast cancer survivors in the Charlotte region. In addition to painting the pit road wall pink in an effort to raise awareness of breast cancer prevention, detection and treatment, the speedway announced a new entitlement sponsor for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Oct. 10. For the next three years, the pivotal fall race will be called the Drive for the Cure 300 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. From knockout qualifying on Thursday to the Drive for the Cure 300 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina on Friday and the only Saturday night race in the Chase, the Bank of America 500, fans can catch all the fun with weekend packages starting at just $99. To purchase tickets and pit passes, fans should call the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267) or buy online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.(CMS)(10-2-2014)

  • Kahne Helps Promote Breast Cancer Awareness At Martinsville: #5-Kasey Kahne is familiar with the curbs in the turns at Martinsville Speedway. He's raced around them, and sometimes over them, for a decade. Wednesday he got a different view of those curbs as he helped 10 breast cancer survivors paint a section of them pink in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. "Our curbs are famous in the sport. They are iconic," said Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell. "So it is fitting that we paint them pink for such a great cause."
    "It's a pretty tough curb," said Kahne, speaking from experience. The curbs will be pink for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot® 500 weekend Oct. 24-26. Chevrolet also rolled out the pink Chevrolet SS Sedan pace car that will be used for the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500. It is part of a larger program sponsored by Chevrolet that includes a contribution of $250 for every lap the pace car leads under caution during the race. "Last year we had 111 caution laps in the October race here," said Jeff Chew, marketing manager for Chevrolet's racing program. "I hate to say keep it up, Clay (Campbell), but keep it up and we'll generate some money." This is Chevrolet's fourth year of raising money for the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. To date Chevy's efforts have netted more than $3 million. Tickets to the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 on October 26, the Kroger 200 on October 25 and the Virginia Lottery Pole Day on October 24 can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.(Martinsville Speedway)(10-2-2014)


    News from October 1, 2014

  • Top 10 Driver Ratings at Kansas:
    #48-Jimmie Johnson 117.4 (CH)
    #20-Matt Kenseth 107.4 (CH)
    #16-Greg Biffle 104.7
    #24-Jeff Gordon 101.1 (CH)
    #4-Kevin Harvick 99.1 (CH)
    #14-Tony Stewart 97.3
    #99-Carl Edwards 97.1 (CH)
    #5-Kasey Kahne 93.0 (CH)
    #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. 91.5 (CH)
    #42-Kyle Larson 89.4
    (CH) = Chase Driver
    Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2014 races (13 total) among active drivers at Kansas Speedway.
    Formula combining the following categories: Win, Finish, Top-15 Finish, Average Running Position while on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race.
    See an explanation how the Driver Rating is calculated at NASCAR.com.(NASCAR)

  • Menard gets new crew chief: Richard Childress Racing has named Slugger Labbe to a leading role in their research and development efforts, which will be effective following the NASCAR race weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway later this month. Justin Alexander, currently a race engineer on the #27 Menards Chevy team, will take over the crew chief role with Paul Menard as the driver. Alexander, 33, is a native of Charlotte and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at North Carolina State University. He started his NASCAR career at Hendrick Motorsports as the shock specialist for the #24 and #48 teams in 2003, became lead engineer on the #48 team in 2005, moved to a R&D engineer in 2006 and then was named lead engineer for the #24 team in 2009. During his tenure there, Alexander was part of five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships. He joined RCR in January of this year. A native of Saco, Maine, Labbe has been in NASCAR since 1986 and in the crew chief capacity since 1998. During that time, Labbe worked at Robert Yates Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. It was at DEI when Labbe led Michael Waltrip to the 2003 Daytona 500 victory. "I'm looking forward to slowing down in my NASCAR career a little bit and spending more time with my family," Labbe said. "This is a good move for RCR, Paul and the #27 team and I'm going to be there to help Justin with the upcoming transition. With NASCAR's new rules for 2015, this is a unique opportunity for me to help RCR grow and be successful by helping out with their R&D efforts."(RCR)(10-1-2014)

  • Danica Patrick promotes breast cancer awareness: Danica Patrick is swapping out her traditional GoDaddy green paint scheme to support the fight against breast cancer with a powerful pink message. Through GoDaddy's "Put the Brakes on Breast Cancer" campaign, the #10 Stewart-Haas Racing livery will feature the names of people affected by disease for the Martinsville Speedway event on October 26th. For a $10 donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation through GoDaddy.com/Donate by 12noon/et on Thursday, contributors can honor their loved ones. Patrick will also don a pink firesuit for in the final three races in October to support the cause (Motorsport), see images of the scheme on the #10 Team Schemes page.(10-1-2014)

  • Congrats - Clint Bowyer: #15-Clint Bowyer tweeted this morning (with an image): "Woohooooooo!!! Finally!!!! Baby boy and momma doing great."(10-1-2014)

  • Dover TV Ratings: ESPN's live telecast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 28, earned a 2.3 U.S. household rating, averaging 3,786,000 viewers, according to Nielsen Media. The rating and viewership were down from last year's race, which earned a 2.4 rating and averaged 3,969,000 viewers. Greenville, S.C., was the highest-rated of the nation's 56 metered markets with a 7.1 rating for the race telecast, followed by Greensboro, N.C., at 7.0 and Birmingham, Ala., at 6.1. Indianapolis was fourth at 5.4 with Knoxville, Tenn., fifth at 5.2. Rounding out the top 10 were Nashville, Tenn., 5.0; Richmond, Va., Charlotte, N.C., and Orlando, Fla., tied at 4.9; and Jacksonville, Fla., and Louisville, Ky., tied at 4.6.
    ESPN's telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Dover on Saturday, Sept. 27, had a rise in its rating and viewership over the 2013 race. The telecast earned a 1.2 U.S. rating, up from a 1.1 last year, and averaged 1,859,000 viewers, up from 1,641,000 last year.(ESPN)
    See past races for 2014 and 5-year comparison chart on the 2014 NASCAR TV Ratings page.(10-1-2014)

  • Gordon gets 450th top-10 of career: The victory at Dover was #24-Jeff Gordon's 450th top-10 finish during his 22-year Sprint Cup career. The driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger Chevy is third all-time in that statistical category, three behind Mark Martin (453) and 262 behind Richard Petty (712). Gordon has collected a series-best 19 this season. Although Gordon ranks third all-time with 76 career pole positions, Kansas Speedway is one of four tracks where Gordon has yet to win a pole position. Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kentucky Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway are the other venues where Gordon has never won a pole position.(HMS)(10-1-2014)

  • Mike Ford leaves BK Racing for NNS team: Athenian Motorsports announced veteran NASCAR crew chief Mike Ford has joined the team as the crew chief for the #25 Zaxby's NASCAR Nationwide Series Toyota Camry with driver John Wes Townley. Mike Ford has more than 20 years in NASCAR and has worked as a NASCAR Sprint Cup crew chief since 2000. In late 2012, he moved to BK Racing as the Director of Competition where he remained until joining Athenian Motorsports. Ford will now lead the #25 Athenian Motorsports team as crew chief for the remainder of 2014 with driver John Wes Townley beginning at Kansas Speedway, October 3, 2014.(Athenian Motorsports)(10-1-2014)

  • American Ethanol sponsoring Dillon at Kansas: Richard Childress Racing's #3 Chevy of Austin Dillon will sport the black and green colors of American Ethanol this weekend at Kansas Speedway. American Ethanol, a renewable source of cleaner burning energy from the bounty of America's farmers, helps create new green jobs and a renewed sense of pride for the American worker, while helping to achieve greater energy security for our country. American Ethanol is a breakthrough brand that seeks to expand consumer awareness of the benefits of ethanol and E15, and takes the NASCAR Green initiative to the next level. Since the program launch for the 2011 season, NASCAR drivers have run more than six million miles on renewable Sunoco Green E15 (RCR), see images of the car on the #3 Team Schemes page.(10-1-2014)

  • New sponsor on the #98 at Kansas: Westsidevapor and Vapor Station are sponsoring the #98 Phil Parsons Racing Ford of Josh Wise at Kansas (Vapor Station Facebook). See an image of the scheme on the #98 Team Schemes page.(10-1-2014)

  • Bill Elliott sells land for housing project: A developer plans to build 300 upscale single-family homes in Cumming (GA) on 143 acres purchased from NASCAR champion Bill Elliott. SunBelt Atlanta/Cummings I LLC said the $120 million project, the second major project announced for the Forsyth County area in recent weeks, will be off Matt Highway, or State Route 369. Homes will be priced from $350,000 to $500,000. The developer said it closed on the property Friday, spokesman Roland Alonzi told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. SunBelt paid Elliott, a NASCAR hall of famer, $4.2 million for the land. SunBelt said it is working with local home builders to construct the homes. The project will get under way in October.(Atlanta Journal Constitution)(10-1-2014)

  • Young Multicultural And Female Drivers Compete For Spot In NASCAR: Twenty multicultural and female race car drivers from the United States, Canada and Latin America will participate in the 11th Annual NASCAR Drive for Diversity (D4D) Combine Oct. 13-15 with hopes of earning a spot in the 2015 NASCAR D4D Class in partnership with Rev Racing. The NASCAR D4D Combine - being held at Langley Speedway in Hampton, Virgina, for the fourth consecutive year - has been the proving ground for several current NASCAR national series drivers, including NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate Kyle Larson, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series three-time race winner Darrell Wallace Jr. and NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series driver Daniel Suarez, who recently announced a full-year NASCAR Nationwide Series ride with Joe Gibbs Racing for 2015. Under the leadership of Max Siegel, owner of Rev Racing and CEO of U.S. Track & Field, NASCAR D4D has evolved to an academy-style development program which will compete under one umbrella in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (NKPSE) and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (NWAAS). Rev Racing provides drivers with equipment, mentoring and competition experience throughout the season (NASCAR), see full post on the Driver Development page.(10-1-2014)

  • Dover International Speedway to install new catch fence for 2015 season: Dover International Speedway officials announced on Monday that the track will install a new catch fence that will be in place for the May 29-31, 2015 NASCAR race weekend. The process of removing the current fence began on Monday, Sept. 29, one day after the "AAA 400" NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the Monster Mile, is scheduled for completion by Jan. 1, 2015. The new fence will be installed by Smith Fence, a Florida-based contractor that has performed similar installations at other facilities on the NASCAR circuit. The project will incorporate the most up-to-date technologies and stand at 21-feet tall, up from its current 15-feet. "Because the track is known as a self-clearing racetrack, with steep banking, we are fortunate to have never had a NASCAR vehicle become airborne and hit the catch fence," said Michael Tatoian, executive vice president and COO of Dover Motorsports, Inc. "With that in mind, our current fence served us well. But as with anything at our facility, we've been looking for some time to update and improve it. With all of the new technologies and safety advances made in safety fencing, we wanted to do this right." Other improvements at the Speedway in recent years include the installation of SAFER barriers, the widening and lengthening of pit road, new fan care medical facilities and many fan experience improvements. Throughout the summer months, work was completed on drilling for the support structures that will hold the fence. Beginning this week after the completion of the track's 2014 season, demolition of the old fence began, with construction of the new fence occurring simultaneously.
    NASCAR returns to Dover International Speedway May 29-31, 2015 for the May 31 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, the May 30 "Buckle Up 200" presented by Click It or Ticket NASCAR Xfinity Series race and the May 29 "Lucas Oil 200" NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race; and again on Oct. 2-4, 2015 for the Oct. 4 "AAA 400" NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, Oct. 3 NASCAR Xfinity Series race and Oct. 2 "Drive Sober 150" presented by the Delaware Office of Highway Safety NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race. For tickets or more information, call 800-441-RACE or visit DoverSpeedway.com.(Dover International Speedway)(10-1-2014)

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield joins Charlotte Motor Speedway for Nationwide race: Both known for innovation and being at the forefront of their respective industries, officials from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) and Charlotte Motor Speedway announced a partnership aimed at raising awareness of breast cancer prevention, detection and treatment. The effort begins with the Oct. 10 NASCAR Nationwide Series race, which will be entitled the Drive for the Cure 300 Presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. Considered one of the premier events on the NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule, the Drive for the Cure 300 will air nationally on ESPN2 at 7:30pm/et BCBSNC has agreed to a three-year sponsorship of the race.The announcement was made during a press event at the speedway where officials were joined by up to 100 breast cancer survivors to paint the pit road wall pink to kick off National Breast Cancer Awareness month.(CMS)(10-1-2014)

  • Regan Smith returning to JR Motorsports: Dale Earnhardt, Jr., tweeted Wednesday morning, "@ReganSmith and @JRMotorsports just finished the paperwork that keeps him in the 7 car for 2015. Couldn't be more pleased about this."(10-1-2014)

  • 250th start for McClure: #14-Eric McClure will reach a milestone in his racing career this weekend at Kansas Speedway. Saturday's event will mark his 250th-career Nationwide Series race. His first race in the series dates back to 2003 where he competed at Rockingham Speedway. He posted a 26th-place finish that day in a Chevy prepared by his family's Sprint Cup Series team (Morgan McClure Motorsports).(TMI)(10-1-2014)

  • Cobb in the #87 at Kansas: Saturday October 4th will mark the return of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Kansas Speedway for the Kansas Lottery 300, and a ritual return home for Kansas City Kansas native and NASCAR driver Jennifer Jo Cobb. Cobb will drive the Rick Ware Racing #87 Mark One Electric Chevy. Mark One Electric, a leading Kansas City electrical contractor, returns for the 10th time as Cobb's primary sponsor. Arrow Truck sales which sells pre-owned medium and heavy duty trucks throughout North America, and Pizza Shoppe Kansas City's Original Neighborhood Pizza Place are also returning sponsors. Two new sponsors, Precision Roofing and 435 Overland Park Place Hotel, join the other locally owned businesses that are proud to support Jennifer at Kansas Speedway.(JJC Racing)(10-1-2014)

  • Dillon truck fails post race at Chicagoland UPDATE 2: The #20 NTS Motorsports Chevy driven by Austin Dillon at Chicagoland Speedway "was found too low in the front," in post race inspection according to NASCAR's Truck Series Twitter page. Dillon led 28 laps and finished third on Saturday night.(9-14-2014)
    UPDATE: The #20 team that competes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has been penalized for a rules infraction that occurred during post-race inspection Sept. 13 at Chicagoland Speedway. The infraction is a P2 level penalty and violates sections:
    - 12-1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing;
    - 20B-12.8: Truck failed to meet post-race body height/ground clearance requirements of the 2014 NASCAR rule book.
    Since crew chief Chris Rice was currently under probation through the end of the year from a P3 level penalty that occurred during a NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 15, the applicable Recurrence Multiplier as outlined in the rule book can be used when assessing the severity of this penalty. As a result Rice has been fined $7,500 and suspended from NASCAR through Sept. 24. His NASCAR probation remains intact through Dec. 31.Bob Newberry, owner of the #20 truck, has been penalized with the loss of 10 series championship owner points.(NASCAR)(9-17-2014)
    UPDATE 2: The National Motorsports Appeals Panel today heard and considered the appeal of the #20 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. The hearing concerned penalty notices issued by NASCAR on Sept. 17 to team owner Bob Newberry and crew chief Chris Rice for a rules infraction that occurred during post-race inspection Sept. 13 at Chicagoland Speedway.
    The infraction was a P2 level penalty with reference to the following sections in the 2014 rule book:
    - 12-1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing;
    - 20B-12.8: Truck failed to meet post-race body height/ground clearance requirements
    After hearing and reviewing the evidence presented and after deliberations, the National Motorsports Appeals Panel finds that the team did violate the rule(s) set forth in the penalty notice and upholds the original penalties levied by NASCAR, which was a $7,500 fine, suspension (from NASCAR for the next NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event), and probation for Rice. It also included the loss of 10 series championship owner points for Newberry. The hearing consisted of the following Appeals Panel Members: Bill Lester, Dale Pinilis, and Jay Signore. The team has the right under Section 15 of the rule book to appeal this decision to the National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer.(NASCAR)(10-1-2014)


Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Sprint Cup News Page
Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site

2017 News by Month June Feb Jan 2016 News by Month Dec Nov Oct Sept Aug | July | June | May Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan 2015 News by Month Dec | Nov | Oct | Sept
Aug | July | June | May
Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan

2014 News by Month
Dec | Nov | Oct | Sept
Aug | July | June | May
Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan

2013 News by Month
Dec | Nov | Oct | Sept
Aug | July | June | May
Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan

2012 News by Month
Dec | Nov | Oct | Sept
Aug | July | June | May
Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan

2011 News by Month
Dec | Nov | Oct | Sept
Aug | July | June | May
Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan

2010 News by Month
Dec | Nov | Oct | Sept
Aug | July | June | May
Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan

2009 News by Month
Dec | Nov | Oct | Sept
Aug | July | June | May
Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan

Race / Event Information

Advance Auto Parts Clash Info page

Daytona 500 Race Info page


Homestead Race Info page



Race Track News

XFINITY Series News & Race Info

Camping World Truck Series News & Race Info


NASCAR Hall of Fame

Born on Dates / Birthday's


21 NASCAR founded, J.D. Gibbs, Kevin Swindell, Ben Rhodes, Jim Reed, Gene Comstock, Cannonball Brown, Jimmy Thompson, Dave Terrell, Gary Sain, Wayne Jacks, Sean Corr

22 Marshall Teague, Larry Foyt, Chuck Bown, Grace Kenseth, Logan Styers, Karla Lampe, Scott Robinette

23 Ralph Earnhardt, Bobby Moody, Dean Combs, Mike Marriner, Dawn Purvis, George Alsobrook

24 Michael Ritch, Jason Schuler, Aaron Daniel, Gilbert King, J.C. Hall

25 Davey Allison, Timmy Hill, Jaklyn Woodland, Derick Jennings, Butch Gilliland, Jonathan Toney

26 Bob Eolin, Brad Coleman, Terry Cook, Kertus Davis, Carl Haas, Colton Meyer

27 Ty Dillon, Todd Bodine, Dennis Setzer, Kevin Sharpe, Mike Warnecker

28 Mario Andretti, Teddy McClure, Jeff Almond, Billy Wade

29 Noreen Hofmann, Bun Emery, Barney Shore, Scott Cluka, Chuck Romeo