Important dates/times for BUDWEISER SPEEDWEEKS

Posted on February 2, 2013 by Karen Pistone

Saturday, February 16th
4:30 PM ESTSPEED
ARCA RACING SERIES
Lucas Oil 200 Presented by MAV TV American Real
Twitter: #LUCASOIL200

Saturday, February 16th
8:00 PM EST
FOX
THE SPRINT UNLIMITED (formerly Bud Shootout)
Twitter: #SPRINTUNLIMITED

Sunday, February 17th
1 p.m.
FOX
DAYTONA 500 QUALIFYING PRESENTED BY KROGERTwitter: #DAYTONA500

Mon. & Tue., February 18-19th
Time TBA
UNOH BATTLE AT THE BEACH
NASCAR K&N Pro Series, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tours,and Late Model division of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series at Daytona’s new 0.4-mile short-track oval.
Twitter #NASCARBATTLE

Thursday, February 21st
2:00 PM EST
SPEED
BUDWEISER DUEL
Twitter: #BUDWEISERDUEL

Friday, February 22nd
7:30 PM EST
SPEED
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
NEXTERA ENERGY RESOURCES 250
Twitter: #NE250

Saturday, February 23rd
1:00 PM EST
ESPN
NASCAR Nationwide Series
DRIVE4COPD 300
Twitter: #DRIVE4COPD300

Sunday, February 24th
1:00 PM EST
FOX Sports
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
DAYTONA 500
Twitter: #DAYTONA500

Driver updates for NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series in 2013

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Karen Pistone

So what has been happening in the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series during the off season? Where exactly are the drivers at now? Are drivers staying with their same team?

I’ll bring you up-to-date:

(REMINDER: NNS being cut back from a 43 car field to 40 in 2013)

TRAVIS PASTRANA
Travis Pastrana will make the move to full-time NASCAR racing in 2013, driving Roush Fenway’s historic No. 60 Ford Mustang in all 33 events on the NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule. Pastrana will team up with veteran NASCAR crew chief Chad Norris and will be partnered with a variety of sponsors during the season.

The No. 60 will be one of two full-time RFR Nationwide Series entries in 2013, with Pastrana being paired with Roush Fenway teammate and 2010 Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne in the No. 6 Ford Mustang.

DANICA PATRICK
Danica Patrick will drive for Turner Motorsports in her 10-race commitment to this year’s Nationwide Series schedule. She will begin her partial campaign in NASCAR’s Nationwide series on Feb. 23 at Daytona International Speedway in conjunction with her first full Sprint Cup season with Stewart-Haas Racing the same weekend. Richard Childress Racing vice president of competition Mike Dillon had discussed the possibility of Patrick driving his team’s #33 Chevy, but the team had already re-signed three-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart for the season opener at Daytona. Patrick’s Turner Motorsports car would be sponsored by GoDaddy.com, sources said. Her schedule is expected to include events at Talladega and Watkins Glen.

JR MOTORSPORTS
(Kasey Kahne, Brad Sweet, Regan Smith & Dale Earnhardt, Jr.)
JR Motorsports will field cars for Kasey Kahne and Brad Sweet for the 2013 Nationwide Series season. Great Clips has moved its sponsorship from Turner Motorsports to JRM to support the Nationwide Series effort. Kahne and Sweet will split time in the No. 5 Chevrolet for 27 races. Regan Smith will compete full time for a NNS championship in the No. 7, and Earnhardt Jr. will carry his No. 88 in a limited schedule. Earnhardt’s only announced races are Feb. 23 at Daytona International Speedway and March 9 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, both in the #88 TaxSlayer.com Chevy.

PARKER KLIGERMAN
Kyle Busch Motorsports posted a YouTube video announcing Parker Kligerman was joining the team to drive the the No. 77 Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for the 2013 season. Eric Phillips has been promoted to the position of crew chief for the team. Since joining KBM for its inaugural Truck Series season in 2010, Phillips has guided the #18 team to 17 victories, 8 poles, 2,243 laps led, 38 top-five and 54 top-10 finishes across 72 starts. Kyle Busch will run partial season in team’s No. 54 car in addition to Kligerman’s full season in the No. 77.

JAMES BUESCHER

Turner Motorsports (TMS) today announced that NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion, James Buescher will return to the seat of the No.31 Chevrolet Silverado competing in a full 2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) schedule . Much like the 2012 season, Buescher will also continue to hone his skills running select NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) events in 2013. Buescher will aim to become the first back-to-back NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion. Buescher will drive a minimum of fifteen races for new Turner Motorsports sponsor, Rheem Manufacturing Company. In addition, 2012 Champion crew chief, Michael Shelton will return to his previous role serving as Crew Chief for Buescher and the No. 31 Rheem Chevy Silverado in 2013.

JUSTIN LOFTON
Justin Lofton (voted as “Comeback Driver of the Year” in 2012 for the NCWTS) has decided to scale back his NASCAR schedule in 2013, instead focusing his title aspirations towards the newly-formed Stadium Super Trucks Series organized by Robby Gordon. Lofton cited the lack of sponsorship and funding as the primary reasons he couldn’t return full-time in 2013 but believes success in off-road can catapult him back towards NASCAR. Lofton hasn’t finalized his 2013 NASCAR schedule yet but expects to run at least 10 Truck Series races on tracks longer than a mile.

The Stadium Super Truck Series is 10-race rally-style series that will contest events on temporary circuits constructed on some of the largest stadium venues in the United States. Rallies will be contested at University of Phoenix Stadium, Soldier Field, Cowboys Stadium and the Metro Dome just to name a few.

JOEY COULTER
Kyle Busch Motorsports announced that veteran crew chief Harold Holly has joined the organization with Joey Coulter in his quest for the 2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship. Coulter will pilot the team’s No. 18 Tundra, while team owner Kyle Busch will run a partial schedule in the team’s second entry, the No. 51 Tundra.

JOHN WES TOWNLEY
Red Horse Racing (Voted as NCWTS “Top Team” of 2012) has signed John Wes Townley (formerly Parker Kligerman’s seat) to join the team in 2013. Veteran crew chief Mike Beam will join John Wes Townley at Red Horse Racing on the #7 Toyota Tundra.

TODD BODINE
Currently without a sponsor in place for Red Horse Racing to run a third truck in 2013, Bodine is once again scrambling for sponsorship. Bodine confirmed that the Red Horse team has laid off personnel. Bodine struggled in the series in 2012 with eight DNF’s, one win, and five top-five finishes out of 22 events. He ended up a career-low 14th in the final standings.

BRENDAN GAUGHAN
Brendan Gaughan will reunite with crew chief Shane Wilson to run a full season and compete for the 2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship in Richard Childress Racing’s #62 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet Silverado.

RON HORNADAY / BRENNAN NEWBERRY
Joe Denette Motorsports merged with NTS Motorsports to create a three-truck stable for the 2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. The team will field three full-time NCWTS entries under the NTS Motorsports banner with Ron Hornaday back behind the wheel of the No. 9 Chevrolet Silverado & Brennan Newberry continuing in the No. 14 Chevrolet Silverado. The team will also field the No. 24 entry full-time with a full driver lineup to be announced at a future date. However, NSCS driver Kevin Harvick will pilot the machine in both Martinsville Speedway events in April and October.

You are now up-to-date. Looking forward to the 2013 racing season. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Sources:
Team Press Releases (Red Horse Racing, Turner Motorsports, JR Motorsports); ESPN

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series releases 2013 Schedule

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Karen Pistone

2013 NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES SCHEDULE
Date Site
2/22 Daytona International Speedway
4/6 Martinsville Speedway
4/14 Rockingham Speedway
4/20 Kansas Speedway
5/17 Charlotte Motor Speedway
5/31 Dover International Speedway
6/7 Texas Motor Speedway
6/27 Kentucky Speedway
7/13 Iowa Speedway
7/24 Eldora Speedway
8/3 Pocono Raceway
8/17 Michigan International Speedway
8/21 Bristol Motor Speedway
9/1 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
9/8 Iowa Speedway
9/13 Chicagoland Speedway
9/28 Las Vegas Motor Speedway
10/19 Talladega Superspeedway
10/26 Martinsville Speedway
11/1 Texas Motor Speedway
11/8 Phoenix International Raceway
11/15 Homestead-Miami Speedway

NASCAR Series Award Banquet broadcast schedules

Posted on November 25, 2012 by Karen Pistone

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES AWARD BANQUET

Friday, Nov. 30th
SPEED at 8:00pm/et with live coverage from The Wynn Las Vegas

Also covered LIVE on Motor Racing Network Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

NASCAR NATIONWIDE & CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES AWARD BANQUET
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 25, and James Buescher, 22, officially were proclaimed champions of the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, respectively, on the Americana Ballroom stage at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel following the season finale at Homestead Motor Speedway. .

Thursday, Nov. 29th
SPEED at 8 to 10 p.m. ET

Phoenix International Raceway is the place to be this weekend – plan ahead

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Karen Pistone

SOLD OUT!
Phoenix International Raceway’s grandstands are sold out for the AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race on November 11th. Fans may still purchase general admission tickets to PIR’s hillside area by calling 866-408-RACE or visiting PhoenixRaceway.com.

REMINDER: Phoenix International Raceway announced that NASCAR has moved Gatorade Pole Qualifying for the semi-final race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup to Friday, Nov. 9 at 4:10 p.m. Gates open to the public Friday at 9 a.m. A full day of activity on the track will be highlighted by Gatorade Pole Qualifying and the running of the Lucas Oil 150 Camping World Truck Series race at 6 p.m.

PRACTICES/QUALIFYING/RACES
Thursday, November 8th:
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Practice & NASCAR K&N Pro Series – West Practice
3:00 p.m.    Spectator Gates Open
3:30 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.    NCWTS Practice
4:35 p.m. – 5:25 p.m.    NKNPS-W Practice
5:35 p.m – 7:35 p.m.    NCWTS Final Practice

Friday, November 9th:
2:30 p.m. NCWTS Qualifying
4:10 p.m. NSCS Qualifying
Lucas Oil 150 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race

Saturday, November 10th:
8:30 a.m. NKNPS-W Qualifying
10:35 a.m. NNS Qualifying
2:00 p.m. Great Clips 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series Race. (200 laps, 200 miles)
5:00 p.m. Casino Arizona 50 NASCAR K&N Pro Series – West Race (50 laps, 50 miles)

Sunday, November 11th:
AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race

PRE-RACE PERFORMANCES/SPECIAL APPEARANCES
Country music duo The Lost Trailers- known for their current hit “American Beauty”- will perform at 11 a.m. on Sunday, November 11 at the Budweiser ROLL-BAR main stage prior to the AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway.

Country singer Chelsea Bain will be singing National Anthem for Phoenix Nationwide race
Pop singer/songwriter and actress JoJo will sing “The Star Spangled Banner” prior to the AdvoCare 500 Semi-Final NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, November 11.

Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight champion, and former star of The Ultimate Fighter Live on FX, Dominick Cruz has been named Honorary Pace Car Driver for the AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, November 11.

ENTERTAINMENT
Fans attending the AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekend at Phoenix International Raceway will be treated to hearing from some of NASCAR’s top drivers prior to the action on the track Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 10-11. PIR race fans will have an opportunity to visit with 2012 Chase contender Kevin Harvick, racing legend and five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series runner-up Mark Martin, Arizona native Michael McDowell and 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series runner-up Elliott Sadler and much more.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Event	Time	Location
Harry Luge Jr.	9pm-11pm	SPEED Cantina

Friday, November 9, 2012

Event	Time	Location
Furious George Band	9pm-10:30pm	Budweiser ROLL-BAR Stage
Harry Luge Jr.	9pm-11pm	SPEED Cantina

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Event	Time	Location
Harry Luge Jr.	7pm-8:30pm	SPEED Cantina
Chad Freeman and Redline	9pm-11pm	SPEED Cantina

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Event	Time	Place
The Lost Trailers	11am-11:45am	Budweiser ROLL-BAR Stage

(Entertainment schedule and locations subject to change)

Texas Motor Speedway offering a NASCAR triple header weekend

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Karen Pistone

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
NASCAR Sprint Cup Race #34 of 36
NASCAR Countdown Pre-race: ESPN – 2:00pm/et
Television Race Coverage: ESPN, 3:00pm/et
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 3:16pm/et
Practices:  Fri, Nov. 2, 12:30 – 2:00 pm/et on SPEED  Sat, Nov. 3, 3:00 – 3:50pm/et on SPEED
Happy Hour ‘Final’ practice: Sat, Nov. 3, 5:45 – 6:45pm/et on SPEED
Qualifying: Fri, Nov. 2 at 4:40 pm/et on ESPN2

Coming out as the winner of Martinsville, Jimmie Johnson reclaimed the points lead – by 2 points – from Brad Keselowski – with three races remaining. But remember last season with three races to go – Tony Stewart trailed then-leader Carl Edwards by eight points.

So heading into the AAA Texas 500 on Sunday, Keselowski has yet to score a top-10 finish within his last eight starts. As a matter of fact, five were outside the top 20 – and Keselowski has yet to finish on the lead lap.

It is still anyone of the Chaser’s Championship. No driver has been mathematically eliminated from championship contention – though a couple may be following Texas (any driver 97 points behind the leader after Texas will be officially eliminated).

Greg Biffle holds two wins at Texas and has moved back into 10th in points.

Clint Bowyer comes into this race with three top 10s in the last four Texas races, and boasts momentum at 1.5-mile tracks after capturing his first victory on an intermediate track at Charlotte. Kasey Kahne enters the weekend with two consecutive top 10s at Texas, along with a win there in 2006.

NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES
NASCAR Nationwide Series Race #31 of 33
Television Race Coverage: Sat, Nov. 3rd on ESPN2, 7:00 pm/et
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 7:41pm/et
Practice: 2 p.m. ET /6 p.m. ET on Fri., Nov. 2nd on SPEED
Qualifying: Sat., Nov. 3rd, 3:05 PM (4:05 PM/ET) on SPEED

On Saturday, the NNS will be coming off of their last ‘off week’ for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway.

Elliott Sadler holds the advantage in the championship standings with a six-point lead over Ricky Stenhouse Jr. with only three races remaining. It’s going to be a tight race between these two drivers. Stenhouse won at Texas Motor Speedway earlier this season in April to earn his fourth career NNS victory. In 2004, Sadler won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held at Texas.

For Kyle Busch Motorsports, Kyle Busch has six top-five and 11 top-10 finishes, including two runner-up finishes at Talladega and Chicago. Unfortunately for the NNS Chaser’s, Busch owns Texas Motor Speedway when it comes to the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He has five wins, 10 top fives and two poles in just 13 starts.

In other news, Danica Patrick is on her way to making history. Currently 10th in points, if Patrick finishes 12th or better in the NNS point standings, she will become the highest-finishing female in national series history. The record is currently held by Sara Christian – 13th, Cup, 1949; Jennifer Jo Cobb – 17th, Truck, 2010 and Patty Moise 22nd, NNS, 1990. Johanna Long – currently ranked 20th in the standings – could move ahead of Moise’s record.

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race #20 of 22
TV Race Coverage: Fri, Nov. 2nd, 8:00pm/et on SPEED
Qualifying: Fri, Nov. 2nd 3:00pm/et on SPEED
Practice: Thur, Nov. 1st 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM [6:00 PM - 7:00 PM EN] on SPEED
Final Practice: Thur, Nov., 1st 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM [7:30 PM – 9:00 PM ET on SPEED

Texas native James Buescher will be shuffling into Texas Motor Speedway for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Friday night. Buescher captured a sixth-place finish in his Turner Motorsports Chevrolet and heads to his home state this weekend with a 21-point advantage over previous points leader, Ty Dillon. Dillon sustained damage to his vehicle after having a tire go down and suffered his worst finish of the season, 28th.

Buescher has the upper hand heading to Texas Motor Speedway with four wins at 1.5-mile tracks this season. Though he has never won in his backyard, Buescher brings Chassis No. 212 that has sent him to Victory Lane four times in 2012.

Timothy Peters remains in the third position (-25) after his seventh-place finish at his home track, followed by teammate Parker Kligerman (-36) in fourth and Joey Coulter rounding out the top five, 46 points out of first.

Other drivers to watch is Brendan Gaughan, who owns four wins and four top-five finishes and Todd Bodine (The Onion) holding six wins and three top-five finishes.

NASCAR Driver Q&A / Autograph Sessions – MARTINSVILLE

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Karen Pistone

Friday, October 26
Clint Bowyer, Brian Vickers & Jamie McMurray
5:45pm/et.
Participating in a NASCAR autograph session located in a tent outside the main Martinsville Speedway ticket office.

Tim George Jr.
7:00pm/et
Applebee’s
281 Commonwealth Blvd. West
Martinsville, VA

Saturday, October 27
James Buescher, Nelson Piquet & Miguel Paludo
12:15pm/et
Q&A session at the Chevy stage located in the Fan Midway at Martinsville Speedway

Cale Gale, Justin Lofton & Max Gresham
9:15pm/et
Q&A session at the Chevy stage located in the Fan Midway at Martinsville Speedway

Sunday, October 28
Bobby_Labonte10am
Sprint Experience Display with Miss Sprint Cup located in the Martinsville Speedway midway area.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.
10:45am/et
Q&A session at the Chevy stage located in the Fan Midway at Martinsville Speedway.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick & Kyle Busch
Times TBD
Appearances in the Martinsville Speedway Fan Zone. Tickets for the Martinsville Speedway Fan Zone presented by Diet Mountain Dew are $99 and include: hot brunch buffet, four beverage coupons for Pepsi products and wine and beer (patrons 21 and older), pre-race Track Pass. The $99 price does not include a ticket to the TUMS Fast Relief 500. Autographs will not be allowed. The Martinsville Speedway Fan Zone will open from 8:00am – 1:00pm/et. For more information and tickets, visit the Martinsville Speedway website.

Denny Hamlin
Tentatively scheduled for 10:10am
Q&A session as part of the Hamlin Old Dominion Package at Martinsville Speedway. It will be a 15-minute emceed appearance. The Hamlin Package includes a seat in the Old Dominion Tower and admission to a question-and-answer session with Hamlin for just $73. For more information, see the Martinsville Speedway website.

Kasey Kahne
11:00am/et
Q&A session at the Chevy stage located in the Fan Midway at Martinsville Speedway

Jamie McMurray
10:15am/et
Q&A session at the Chevy stage located in the Fan Midway at Martinsville Speedway

Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, Junior Johnson, Ned Jarrett, Dale Inman and Leonard Wood
12:00pm/et
Scheduled to appear at Martinsville Speedway on the pre-race stage on the start-finish line for an informal conversation recounting their many Martinsville Speedway stories. Iconic Motor Racing Network announcer Barney Hall and MRN pit reporter and NASCAR Hall of Fame Executive Director Winston Kelley will moderate the event, which will be live over the track’s public address system. It will also be shown live on the track’s video scoreboard.

#42 Over-the-Wall Pit Crew
11:15am/et
Participating in an autograph session at the Chevy stage located in the Fan Midway at Martinsville Speedway.

NASCAR announces changes coming for 2013

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Karen Pistone

DAYTONA SPEEDWEEKS
Budweiser will become the official title sponsor of Speedweeks – the ten-day stretch of stock-car races from the Shootout to the Daytona 500.

DAYTONA 500 QUALIFYING
Budweiser also will secure entitlement of the Budweiser Duel at Daytona, two 150-mile qualifying races that determine the starting lineup for the Daytona 500.

The qualifying will be the same. As you know, the front row is set from our Pole Day. Those times will set the Duels. How you finish in the Duels will set the field through the first 36 or so spots, and then we’ll go on with our provisionals and past champion. Qualifying will mean the same as it did, but the Duels will take on a larger role in making the Daytona 500. Basically it all wraps around it being the fastest cars and also the ones that perform in the Duels to set the 500 lineup.

TESTING
Each team will get four additional testing opportunities. If you’re a one car, a two, three or four car operation, you get four tests per organization. ANy testing at the beginning of the season at Daytona will not count against the teams.

For the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, starting in 2013, there will be up to two tests per organization at tracks where those series compete. If the organization has an official Sunoco Rookie of Year candidate, then that team will receive one additional test. Additionally, NASCAR will open track activity early for extended practice at two additional events per series, to be determined.

REDUCING THE NATIONWIDE SERIES FIELD
NASCAR stated it’s best served to reduce the field from 43 to 40 cars, and therefore it gives teams an opportunity to put a better quality field of cars in play at those Nationwide events.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will hold steady at 36.

NEW SPRINT CUP QUALIFYING FORMAT
In 2013, the qualifying order for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events will return to a random draw. However, in the event qualifying is canceled due to rain, the field will be set per the rule book and the starting lineup will continue to be determined by practice speeds.
In NASCAR Sprint Cup competition, the series will move to a 36-6-1 format where the fastest 36 cars will make the race on speed.
The next six highest ranking cars in owners points that have not already earned a starting position through qualifying and who have entered the event by the posted entry deadline will also make the field. 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 owners’ points.
Provisional positions in the 36-6-1 format will be lined up by owners’ points, not speed.
Since 2005, the top 35 cars in owners’ points were guaranteed a spot in the field. Now, only a maximum of seven cars will be locked into a given race.

SPRINT CUP PROVISIONALS
Provisional positions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be based upon the previous year’s owner points for the first three races, as opposed to the first five races in previous years for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and four races for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

ATLANTA: NASCAR Stats / Track Data / Broadcasting Info.

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Karen Pistone

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
The Race: AdvoCare 500
Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway
NASCAR Sprint Cup Race: #25 of 36
Practices: Fri, Aug. 31, 2:30 – 4:30 pm on SPEED; Sat., Sept. 1, 2:30 – 3:25 pm on SPEED
Happy Hour ‘Final’ practice: Sat, Sept. 1, 5:30 – 6:20pm on SPEED
Qualifying: Fri., Aug. 31, 6:10 p.m. on SPEED
NASCAR Pre-race: ESPN – 6:30 pm
TV Race Coverage: Sun. Eve, 7:30 pm on ESPN
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 7:46 pm

Track Data
Track/Race Length: 1.54 mile quad oval, 325 laps, 500.5 miles
Degree of Banking: Turns: 24 degrees; Straightaways: 5 degrees
Straights: Frontstretch – 2332 feet; Backstretch – 1800 feet
Pit Road Speed: 45mph
Pace Car Speed: 55mph
Grandstand Seating: 99,000
Opened: 1960

Qualifying/Race Data
2011 pole winner: Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet (186.196 mph, 29.775 sec., 09-04-11)
2011 race winner: Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet (124.623 mph, 4:00:58, 09-06-11)
Track qualifying record: Geoffrey Bodine, Ford (197.478 mph, 28.074 sec., 11-15-97)
Track race record: Bobby Labonte, Pontiac (159.904 mph, 3:07:48, 11/16/97)
Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia going into the AdvoCare 500 on Sept. 2.

Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M/Manheim Auctions Ford)
· Three top fives, nine top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 16.1

Kurt Busch (No. 51 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet)
· Three wins, four top fives, nine top 10s
· Average finish of 17.4

Kyle Busch (No. 18 Wrigley Toyota)
· One win, three top fives, three top 10s
· Average finish of 17.7

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet)
· One win, eight top fives, 10 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 12.8

Carl Edwards (No. 99 Subway Ford)
· Three wins, eight top fives, 10 top 10s
· Average finish of 13.6

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
· Five wins, 15 top fives, 24 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 12.2

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Sport Clips Toyota)
· One top five, four top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 17.5

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet)
· Three wins, 11 top fives, 13 top 10s
· Average finish of 10.0

Kasey Kahne (No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet)
· Two wins, six top fives, eight top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 18.3

Matt Kenseth (No. 17 Roush Fenway 25 Winning Years Ford)
· Eight top fives, 13 top 10s
· Average finish of 12.9

Juan Pablo Montoya (No. 42 Target Chevrolet)
· Three top fives, four top 10s
· Average finish of 16.9

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet)
· Three wins, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s
· Average finish of 11.2

Martin Truex Jr. (No. 56 NAPA Shocks and Struts Toyota)
· Two top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 22.8

Chase Contenders

The Top 10

Following Race 24 of 36

Driver	Points	Wins	Poles	Week	Rating
1. Greg Biffle	849	2	2	1	103.9
2. Jimmie Johnson	838	3	1	4	108.8
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr.	834	1	0	3	99.9
4. Matt Kenseth	823	1	1	2	102.8
5. Martin Truex Jr.	797	0	1	6	97.6
6. Clint Bowyer	794	1	0	7	91.8
7. Brad Keselowski	790	3	0	5	95.3
8. Denny Hamlin	774	3	2	10	99.2
9. Kevin Harvick	767	0	0	8	90.4
10. Tony Stewart	746	3	0	9	87.8

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2012 Top 12 at Atlanta Motor Speedway

	Driver	Races	Poles	Wins	Top Fives	Top 10s	DNFs	Average Finish	Driver Rating
1	Greg Biffle	17	1	0	3	9	2	16.1	92.9
2	Jimmie Johnson	20	0	3	11	13	1	10.0	109.5
3	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	24	2	1	8	10	2	12.8	94.3
4	Matt Kenseth	23	0	0	8	13	3	12.9	96.2
5	Martin Truex Jr.	13	1	0	0	2	4	22.8	88.9
6	Clint Bowyer	11	0	0	0	5	1	17.4	83.3
7	Brad Keselowski	3	0	0	0	1	1	22.3	76.1
8	Denny Hamlin	12	1	0	1	4	1	17.5	96.2
9	Kevin Harvick	21	0	1	4	7	4	19.9	83.5
10	Tony Stewart	25	0	3	10	15	3	11.2	102.3
11	Kasey Kahne	15	2	2	6	8	3	18.3	91.0
12	Carl Edwards	14	0	3	8	10	2	13.6	101.8

* – Based on last 13 races at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The Wild Card Standings Following: Bristol Motor Speedway

Pos.	Driver	Wins	Pts. Pos.	Points	Pts. From 10th
1	Kasey Kahne	2	11	730	-16
2	Kyle Busch	1	13	707	-39
3	Jeff Gordon	1	14	691	-55
4	Ryan Newman	1	15	688	-58
5	Marcos Ambrose	1	16	679	-67
6	Joey Logano	1	18	638	-108
7	Carl Edwards	0	12	712	-34
8	Paul Menard	0	17	674	-72
9	Jamie McMurray	0	19	598	-148
10	Jeff Burton	0	20	577	-169

History
·         Originally called Atlanta International Raceway, the track was then a 1.5-mile paved speedway.
·         The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Atlanta was on July 31, 1960, won by Fireball Roberts from the pole.
·         The track was re-measured to 1.522 miles in the spring of 1970.
·         It was renamed Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1990.
·         The track layout was reversed and the track was re-configured to 1.54 miles between the two races in 1997.

Notebook
·         There have been 104 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Atlanta Speedway, until 2010 there has been two races per year except 1961, which had three. This year marks the second season with only one event.
·         Fireball Roberts won the pole and race for the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race in 1960.
·         45 drivers have won a pole, led by Buddy Baker and Ryan Newman, each with seven.
·         Six of Newman’s seven poles came in consecutive races between March 2003 and October 2005.
·         42 drivers have won a race; 22 have won more than once.
·         Dale Earnhardt scored nine victories, more than any other driver. Cale Yarborough is second, with seven.
·         Bobby Labonte heads the list of active drivers with six victories. Labonte is tied with NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Richard Petty for third on the all-time win list at Atlanta.
·         The Wood Brothers have 12 victories, more than any organization. They last won there in 1993, with Morgan Shepherd. Hendrick Motorsports has 11 wins at Atlanta and could tie the Wood Brothers this weekend.
·         14 races have been won from the pole. The last to do so was Kasey Kahne in 2006. The last two races have been won from the fifth position.
·         60 races at Atlanta have been won from the first five starting positions.
·         Bobby Labonte won the 2001 fall race from the 39th starting position, the deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Atlanta.
·         Two drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory at Atlanta: Carl Edwards (3/20/2005) and Kevin Harvick (3/11/2001).
·         Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Atlanta Motor Speedway winner: Kyle Busch (03/09/2008 – 22 years, 10 months, 7 days).
·         Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Atlanta Motor Speedway winner: Morgan Shepherd (03/20/1993 – 51 years, 5 months, 8 days).

NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES
Race: NRA American Warrior 300
Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway
Race #: 24 of 33
Practice: 9 a.m. ET Sat. (TV: 11:30 ET) on SPEED
Qualifying: 3:30 p.m ET Sat. on SPEED
TV Race Coverage: Sat, ESPN2, 6:30 pm
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 7:16 pm

So far in 2012, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has three wins, 13 top-five, and 17 top-ten finishes. Stenhouse is currently second in the NASCAR Nationwide point standings; 19 points behind leader Elliott Sadler.

Mike Wallace will be wheeling the No. 01 entry for JD Motorsports w/Gary Keller, as he has all season. Joining him as a teammate will be Danny Efland, back in the No. 4 Tradebank Chevrolet, which will be his first ever start at AMS.

With six of their last finishes in the top-20, and one in the top-10, through the last seven races; the No. 01 team has utilized those finishes to move into 12th in points.
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES
Race: Jeff Foxworthy’s Grit Chips 200
Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway
Race #: 14 of 22
TV Coverage: SPEED
Final Practice: Actual – 11:30 am – aired at 1:00 pm [tape-delayed] on SPEED
Qualifying: 4:30 pm on SPEED
Pre-race: 7:30 pm on SPEED
Race: 8:00 pm on SPEED

NCWTS Point Standings

NOTES/STATS: NASCAR Sprint Cup, Camping World Truck Series’ head to Michigan

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Karen Pistone

Race #: 23 of 36
Track Size: 2-miles
NSCS Practice(s): 12:30 p.m. ET Friday on SPEED; 8:30 a.m. / 11 a.m. ET Saturday on SPEED
NSCS Qualifying: 4 p.m. ET Friday on SPEED
Race Coverage: Noon ET Sunday on ESPN
Banking/Corners: 18 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 5 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 2 degrees
Race Length: 200 laps / 400 miles

Qualifying/Race Data
2011 pole winner: Greg Biffle, Ford (190.345 mph, 37.826 sec., 08-19-11)
2011 race winner: Kyle Busch, Toyota (150.898 mph, 2:41:26, 08-21-11)
Track qualifying record: Marcos Ambrose, Ford (203.241 mph, 35.426 sec., 06-17-12
Track race record: Dale Jarrett, Ford (173.997 mph, 2:17:56, 08-13-99)

The Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan is going to be an exciting race behind the scenes as well as on track. A third-place finish at Watkins Glen International has placed Jimmie Johnson in the championship lead for the ninth consecutive season. The Pure Michigan 400 is giving four top competitors the opportunity to clinch a top-10 spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup – Jimmie Johnson, Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Greg Biffle, who trails Johnson by a single point, was the only one of the current four failing to make the Chase a year ago.

Remember Michigan is the track where Dale Earnhardt Jr. snapped a winless streak of 143 races (June). Earnhardt is one of four drivers ranked in the top 10 entering Sunday’s race with multiple victories at the 2.0-mile superspeedway. Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin also have two victories apiece. Michigan is one of five NASCAR tracks at which Johnson has yet to win.

Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan going into the Pure Michigan 400 on August 19.

Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
·         Two wins, eight top fives, 11 top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 12.4

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 National Guard/Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet)
·         Two wins, five top fives, nine top 10s; two poles
·         Average finish of 15.2

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota)
· Two wins, five top fives, seven top 10s
· Average finish of 13.8

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
· Four top fives, nine top 10s
· Average finish of 14.7

Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet)
· One win, six top fives, seven top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 16.5

Mark Martin (No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota)
· Five wins, 18 top fives, 31 top 10s
· Average finish of 13.6

Kasey Kahne (11th in points) and Ryan Newman (13th) are provisional holders of the two “wild card” spots. Kahne won Michigan’s spring race in 2006. Newman is a two-time Michigan winner. Two-time Michigan winner Ryan Newman displaced Jeff Gordon in the No. 2 “wild card” spot with four races remaining in the regular season.

Mark Martin’s five wins are the most at Michigan by an entered driver. Martin, driver of the No. 55 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota, last won in June 2009. He’s due for another win.

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

NCWTS Practice(s): 2 p.m. ET Friday on SPEED
NCWTS Qualifying: 9:30 a.m. ET Saturday on SPEED
NCWTS Race Coverage: Noon ET Saturday on SPEED
2011 Winner: Kevin Harvick
2011 Pole: Matt Crafton
Track Layout: 2 Miles
Length: 100 Laps, 200 Miles

Joining the NSCS this weekend at Michigan is the NCWTS. As the NCWTS heads into town this weekend, all eyes are on James Buescher and his Turner Motorsports team. Buescher is the only driver that has collected more than one NCWTS win this year, with all of his three victories (Kansas, Kentucky, Chicago) coming at a 1.5-mile track. The driver has collected each of those three wins with the same chassis in which he will race this weekend at MIS. On top of three wins, Buescher has earned six top-five and seven top-10 finishes, currently sitting third in the championship point standings only 15 points out of the lead.

Only 35 points separate the top-six drivers with Red Horse Racing’s Timothy Peters leading the field over Ty Dillon, James Buescher, Justin Lofton, Matt Crafton and Parker Kligerman. Peters heads Dillon by eight points. The battle for fifth position between Crafton and Kligerman is the closest for the contenders, with only two points separating them.

After starting his season with Brad Keselowski Racing, Parker Kligerman will begin the second half of the season this weekend at Michigan with a new team, Red Horse Racing. Kligerman joins the stacked driver lineup of Timothy Peters and Todd Bodine.

Other entry notes:

No. 2-Tim George, driver of the Applebee’s Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing
No. 7-Parker Kligerman, first start in the Red Horse Racing Toyota
No. 14-Brennan Newberry, returns driving the NTS/Iron Clad Performance Chevrolet
No. 18-Kurt Busch, first start driving the Shore Lodge Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports
No. 29-Brad Keselowski, driver of the Cooper Standard Ram for BKR

Camping World Truck drivers Justin Lofton and Jason White participated in July 30th test (along with 27 Sprint Cup teams).

As on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tires at Michigan.

Source: NASCARMedia

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A NASCAR Fan Blog by Karen Pistone

Tag Archives: Camping World Truck Series