Race fans need to know – What’s happenin’ at Richmond International Raceway

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Karen Pistone

TWO LOCAL CONNECTIONS – ONE TEAM

Hamlin, who nabbed his 19th career win last week, looks to become the fourth Virginia native to record 20 or more NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories, joining Joe Weatherly (25), Ricky Rudd (23) and Jeff Burton (21). A second “local” connection for the No. 11 team is crew chief Darian Grubb. Grub, who is from Floyd, Va. and earned an engineering degree from Virginia Tech.

HAMLIN’S SHORT TRACK SHOWDOWN

Also this week is Hamlin’s Short Track Showdown which is part of a Thursday night doubleheader that also features the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Blue Ox 100. Read more about the Showdown, HERE.

SHHH…. ZZzzz RICHMOND TO WAKE UP KYLE BUSCH? ZZzzz

It’s been kind of a quiet season so far for Kyle Busch. But this weekend at Richmond may be just what’s need for Kyle to jump start his season. Kyle Busch goes into Richmond with three spring wins. Busch ranks 13th in the standings 31 points out of the top 10. Busch’s last victory came last August at Michigan International Speedway, 20 starts ago.

IT’S PASTRANA TIME!!!

The time has finally arrived for Travis Pastrana to make his racing debut. Originally scheduled to make his first start last July at O’Reilly Raceway Park, Pastrana’s bid was put on hold due to injuries suffered in an X-Games stunt the night before. Now after injury rehab, plenty of testing and a couple of runs in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East – including Thursday night’s Blue Ox 100 – Pastrana is finally set for his big-stage NASCAR moment Friday night at Richmond. Almost a year to the day (April 28, 2011) after making his K&N East debut at Richmond, Pastrana is set to embark on a NNS schedule that encompass at least seven races in 2012. Pastrana will compete in the NNS for RAB Racing as that team and Michael Waltrip Racing last week announced an alliance between the organizations that will feature RAB equipment and MWR technical and marketing support. The No. 09 Toyota now becomes the No. 99.

COCA-COLA FAMILY TRACK WALK

The Coca-Cola Family Track Walk begins at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 28 (near Gate 70, outside of Turn 4), just a few hours before the green flag drops on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 400. Fans can get moving alongside Coca-Cola Racing Family members and Virginia natives Denny Hamlin and Jeff Burton. The free event is open to all Saturday, April 28 race ticket holders. Ticket holders who wish to participate must show their ticket at Gate 70.

NASCAR DRIVERS AUTOGRAPH SESSION

All fans who have tickets for the Saturday, April 28, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 400 race at Richmond International Raceway are invited to attend a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver autograph session featuring Clint Bowyer, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jamie McMurray and David Ragan.

The autograph session takes place at 3:30 p.m. in the Amphitheatre, located next to the Commonwealth Mall. Fans may line up at the Commonwealth Mall entrance to the Amphitheater. The first 200 guests in line with race tickets will receive a wristband that will enable them to attend the autograph session.

Each of the 200 fans may receive one autograph from each of the four drivers. Driver participation is subject to change and without notice.

NCWTS ON SPRING BREAK

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to action on Friday, May18 at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the N.C. Education Lottery 200.

Sources: RIR.com, NASCARMedia

SMOKE ALERT: Stewart to sign autographs at Davie, FL Office Depot TODAY

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Karen Pistone

Tony Stewart will sign autographs for fans at the local Office Depot store in Davie, Florida TODAY, Nov. 15th at 4 p.m. Office Depot is the Official Office Products Partner of NASCAR® and co-primary sponsor of Stewart and the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevy.

Stewart is currently second in the Championship point standings (3 points behind leader Carl Edwards) and became the second driver in history to open the 10-race Chase with back-to-back wins. The Chase’s final race of the season will take place on November 20 with the Ford 400.

Office Depot

1940 S. University Drive

Davie, Florida 33324

There will be 600 wristbands distributed for autographs (one per person). Wristbands may be obtained on a first-come, first-served basis at the store beginning at 8 a.m. local time on the day of the event only. Fans with a wristband must be in line no later than 5:00 p.m. local time to receive an autograph.

Dover International Speedway offers NASCAR Sprint Cup Series autograph session

Posted on August 5, 2011 by Karen Pistone

You still have plenty of time, so it’s better to be early than late and miss out…..it’s time to plan now and get your Oct. Sept. 30-Oct. 2 race weekend ready for Dover International Speedway. You know that saying…time flies when you’re planning a race weekend!

In a press release posted by Dover International Speedway, there will be a driver autograph session held on Oct. 1 at 10:30 a.m. at Dover International Speedway inside the Hospitality Village, just located outside of Turn 1. Gates will open at 1 p.m.

Driver’s scheduled to attend include:

Carl Edwards

Denny Hamlin

Kasey Kahne

Kurt Busch

Jeff Burton

Martin Truex Jr.

Regan Smith

Bobby Labonte

Michael McDowell

The autograph session is open to ticket holders for the Oct. 2 “AAA 400” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Beginning Friday, Aug. 12 at 10 a.m., ticket holders and those who wish to purchase tickets can call the Dover ticket office at 800-441-RACE and request an autograph session pass and the driver they wish to receive an autograph from. Passes will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and a limited number of passes will be available for each driver. *Please note: Driver appearances and number of autographs is subject to change without notice.

Tickets are still available for the Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2011 race weekend, which includes the Sept. 30 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race, the Oct. 1 “OneMain Financial 200” NASCAR Nationwide Series race and the Oct. 2 “AAA 400” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. For more information or tickets, call 800-441-RACE

Lack of NASCAR driver participation with fans one cause for ticket sale decline?

Posted on July 23, 2011 by Karen Pistone

I’ve said it all along: Speedways and sponsors are killing themselves by taking away the free autograph sessions fans look forward to and then charging up to $100 per fan, in addition to a race day ticket, to attend a special hospitality tent where their driver is attending.

Someone in the industry saw an opportunity that would be a major money maker, and took it away from the fans. But in a way, it has back fired. Yes, some fans do pay the additional cost, but yet, there are some fans that just got plain tired and fed up with everything and just don’t attend any events. Remember when races use to be sold out or close to it? Then they raised ticket prices. You see where that got speedways. Any type of increase is not well received by anyone.

Speedways and sponsors thought if the fan wants the opportunity to see their driver, they would pay the extra money, no matter what. In the earlier days, driver’s would be all over the local towns having autograph sessions… for free. That was race weekend!! Almost everywhere you would go, signs were posted saying “….driver autograph session, today…” That’s how I received most of my autographs…I accidentally fell upon them. But now, as I search for NASCAR driver autograph sessions, there will be MAYBE, 2 or 3 happening outside of the track that weekend. It use to be a cycle where the driver would draw race fans out into the community, participating in local events, spending money at local establishments…. while putting money back into the economy – it was a win-win situation.

The top named drivers, as many of you would agree, are Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Mark Martin…. (all Hendrick Motorsports). For these driver’s, you must pay those extra costs just to be allowed to attend an appearance and/or autograph session whether it’s in a hospitality tent or a speedway club. Why don’t we see Jimmie Johnson at a Lowe’s signing autographs race weekend, or Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in a grocery store next to an AMP display? It’s not gonna happen…. but why? Too important? Too high and mighty? Tony Stewart is a top rated driver, yet he has personal appearances and autograph sessions at Office Depot almost every race weekend.

Well, apparently someone either at NASCAR or the speedway is noticing and knocking these driver’s down a few notches….

This coming weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (July 31) will be yielding the largest ever NASCAR driver autograph session for the race fans…. (find out who will be signing) and I’m sure you can guess why. Indianapolis Speedway has noticed, yet another decrease in ticket sales for this upcoming Brickyard 400…. “worse than previous years.”

In a memo obtained by the Charlotte Observer, which was distributed by email on Friday, team public relations representatives were thanked ahead of time for their drivers’ participation in a Sprint Cup Series autograph session at the track. The memo said, “ticket sales are significantly behind from previous years” at IMS. The memo goes on to say, the track believed there would be a large walk-up crowd for the July 31 race and hoped the autograph session would be well received by race fans.

Have they found the cure? Will this autograph session increase walk-up ticket sales on Sunday? Indianapolis Motor Speedway is hoping it will.

And thank you Indianapolis Motor Speedway for making it an”official” complaint.

Largest 2011 Sprint Cup Autograph Session set for Brickyard

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Karen Pistone

The largest driver autograph session of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season is scheduled for Saturday, July 30 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Race Day ticket holders for the Brickyard 400 presented by Big Machine Records.com.

Drivers will be split into two groups, signing in pairs from noon-12:45 p.m. and 1-1:45 p.m. at Pavilion 1A and 1B, adjacent to the Pagoda Plaza.

Among the drivers signing will be past Brickyard 400 winners Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick and Jamie McMurray, fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. and many more.

Brickyard 400 ticket holders can obtain an autograph session wristband at 9 a.m. Saturday at Pavilion 1A and 1B. Fans can choose from the pairing of drivers they wish to receive autographs, with a maximum of 150 wristbands allotted per driver pairing. Only one wristband will be distributed to each ticket holder, first come, first served.

Driver autograph pairings and groupings will be posted soon at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com. Pairings and groupings are subject to change.

The autograph session is one of the many fan-friendly activities during Race Weekend. Other events Saturday besides Sprint Cup qualifying and practice include Brickfest, highlighted by a free concert from hard rock stars Hinder, a vintage stock car show and more.

On Race Day, Big Machine Label Group is bringing some of the top superstars in country music, including Reba and Rascal Flatts, to IMS for live performances. Other stars performing acoustic sets between 9-11:30 a.m. include platinum sibling trio The Band Perry, Justin Moore, Brantley Gilbert, Thomas Rhett and more.

The Brickyard 400 presented by Big Machine Records.com is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 31.

SMOKE ALERT: Tony Stewart autograph session in Winter Haven, FL

Posted on June 24, 2011 by Karen Pistone

Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet in the NASCAR® Sprint Cup Series and team owner at Stewart-Haas Racing will participate in a special ribbon-cutting ceremony during the grand opening event for a new Office Depot store in Winter Haven, Florida on Wednesday, June 29th at 3:30 p.m. Stewart will also sign autographs for fans following the ribbon-cutting ceremony. 600 wristbands will be distributed for autographs (one per person). The wristbands may be obtained on a first-come, first-served basis at the store beginning at 8 a.m. local time on the day of the event only.

Store Location:

Office Depot

800 Cypress Gardens Blvd

Winter Haven, FL 33880

Fans who attend the event will be able to take photos with Stewart’s No. 14 Office Depot show car, try out the Office Depot racing simulators, spin to win free prizes and much more.

All customers who make a purchase in this store from now until July 2 will receive a “MYSTERY CARD”, which will reveal a coupon offer for use on their next purchase.

Tony Stewart held private autograph session for Wounded Warriors in Virginia

Posted on April 27, 2011 by Karen Pistone

NASCAR Star Tony Stewart Visits Service Members at Marine Corps Base Quantico. Photo credit: Action Sports Photography

All though this isn’t for the general public, Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet in the NASCAR® Sprint Cup Series™, had a special visit to U.S Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia this past Thursday and held a private autograph session for service members during the Quantico ServMart Customer Appreciation Day celebration event taking place on base at Barnett Field.

Stewart’s appearance at the base was in conjunction with Quantico’s Third Annual Customer Appreciation Day.

NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, Denny Hamlin Short Track drivers offer Autograph, Q & A Session April 28th

Posted on April 25, 2011 by Karen Pistone

Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown Driver Q&A

NASCAR drivers and personalities Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, Travis Pastrana, Michael Waltrip, Joey Logano, Trevor Bayne, Jason White, Hermie Sadler, Aric Almirola, Curtis Markham, Clay Campbell and Max Gresham will participate in a fan question and answer session inside Gate 40 at 4:30 p.m. The Q&A is held inside the grandstand gates, and it is open only to Thursday, April 28 ticket holders.

NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Autograph Session

Drivers competing in the Blue Ox 100 race will participate in an autograph session inside Gate 40 at 3:00 p.m. The autograph session is inside the grandstand gates, and it is open only to Thursday, April 28 ticket holders.

Thursday Pre-Race Pit Pass

Fans who have tickets for the Blue Ox 100 and Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown may upgrade their race experience with a Thursday-only pre-race pit pass. For $15, the pre-race pit pass allows fans to access the pit area and get an up-close look at the cars in both the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and the Late Model cars that will compete later that night. Pre-race pit access is valid from 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. To take advantage of the Pre-Race Pit Pass, guests must be 16 years of age or older. Under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian sign release form.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers autograph session

Posted on April 1, 2011 by Karen Pistone

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Driver Autograph Session

Saturday, April 2

9:00 – 10:00am

Camping World Truck Series Drivers

Scheduled to sign autographs at Martinsville Speedway across from the ticket office

Brendan Gaughan, Max Papis, Austin Dillon & Joey Coulter

Question and answer session as part SPEEDtv’s Grub-N-Rub package at Martinsville Speedway. Offer includes a ticket for the Kroger 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on April 2, a ticket for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 on April 3 and admission to a breakfast that will include appearances by NASCAR Camping World Truck series drivers along with SPEED personalities. The $85 price tag, $30 for children 18 and under, includes a reserved ticket in the Bill France Tower for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 and general admission seating for the Kroger 250. It also includes a breakfast in Martinsville Speedway’s hospitality area at 8:30am Saturday.

For more information and tickets, visit the Martinsville Speedway website.

Chase Suites to sponsor two teams at Kansas – Special autograph session TONIGHT!

Posted on October 1, 2010 by Karen Pistone

Chase Suites to sponsor two teams at Kansas

Chase Suite Hotel of Overland Park, KS will be the home away from home for the teams of Tommy Baldwin Racing and Latitude 43 Motorsports, so as part of the sponsorship, the Chase Suite logo will adorn the #36 Chevy [Yeley] for Tommy Baldwin Racing and the #26 Ford [Carpentier] of Latitude 43 Motorsports in the running of the Price Chopper 400 at Kansas Speedway.

Special Autograph Session
Friday, Oct. 1
7:00 p.m.
JJ Yeley and Patrick Carpentier

The hotel is located across the street from the Overland Park Convention Center and the event is open to the public.

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A NASCAR Fan Blog by Karen Pistone

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