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SMOKE DETECTOR: Tony Stewart autograph session, IL

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Autograph session with Tony Stewart:
 
Thursday, September 13, 2012
 
4:45 – 5:45 p.m. local time
 
Office Depot
392 East Rand Road
Arlington Heights, IL
 

NOTES: Stewart will sign autographs for 300 fans at the event. Wristbands are required for the autograph session (limit one per person) and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at the 392 East Rand Road Office Depot store beginning at 8 a.m. local time on the day of the event only (Thursday, September 13). Fans with a wristband must be in line no later than 5:15 p.m. local time to receive an autograph. One autograph per wristband.

The No. 14 Office Depot show car will also be at location.

NASCAR driver stats, broadcasting info: RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

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Race #: 26 of 36 (09-08-12)
Track Size: 0.75-miles
Banking/Corners: 14 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 8 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 2 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 1,290 feet
Backstretch Length: 860 feet
Race Length: 400 laps / 300 miles

Qualifying/Race Data
2011 pole winner: David Reutimann, Toyota (127.383 mph, 21.196 sec., 09-08-11
2011 race winner: Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet (89.910 mph, 3:20:12, 09-10-11)
Track qualifying record: Brian Vickers, Chevrolet (129.983 mph, 20.772 sec., 5-14-04)
Track race record: Dale Jarrett, Ford (109.047 mph, 2:45:04, 9-6-97)

NSCS Practice - Noon & 2:30 p.m on Friday, September 7 on ESPN2

NSCS Qualifying: Friday, September 7 at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN2

Race Coverage: (TV): ESPN at 7:30 p.m.; NASCAR Countdown Pre-Race show at 7:00 p.m.; Green flag approx 7:43 p.m.

Clint Bowyer (No. 15 5-hour Energy Toyota)
·         One win, one top five, seven top 10s
·         Average finish of 10.2
Kurt Busch (No. 51 Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet)
·         One win, four top fives, seven top 10s
·         Average finish of 17.9
Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota)
·         Four wins, 12 top fives, 13 top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 4.7
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew / National Guard Chevrolet)
·         Three wins, nine top fives, 11 top 10s
·         Average finish of 13.9
Carl Edwards (No. 99 Kellogg’s Ford)
·         Three top fives, eight top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 14.8
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet)
·         Two wins, 15 top fives, 24 top 10s; five poles
·         Average finish of 14.7
Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota)
·         Two wins, seven top fives, nine top 10s; two poles
·         Average finish of 7.3
Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet)
·         Two wins, six top fives, 14 top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 11.8
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
·         Three wins, five top fives, eight top 10s; two poles
·         Average finish of 16.7
Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Quaker State Chevrolet)
·         One win, four top fives, seven top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 18.4
Mark Martin (No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota)
·         One win, 17 top fives, 29 top 10s; five poles
·         Average finish of 12.1
Ryan Newman (No. 39 Quicken Loans Chevrolet)
·         One win, five top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 11.8
Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet)
·         Three wins, 10 top fives, 18 top 10s
·         Average finish of 10.6

History

·         Originally known as the Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds, Richmond International Raceway held its first race in 1946 as a half-mile dirt track.

·         The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was April 19, 1953.

·         The spring 1964 race was run on a Tuesday night under temporary lighting.

·         The track name changed to Virginia State Fairgrounds in 1967.

·         The track surface was changed from dirt to asphalt between races in 1968.

·         The track name changed to Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway in 1969.

·         The track was re-measured to .542-mile for 1970.

·         The track was rebuilt as a three-quarters-mile D-shaped oval following the Feb. 21, 1988 race.

·         The first race under permanent lights was Sept. 7, 1991.

·         The first season with both races as night races was 1999.

Notebook

·         There have been 112 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Richmond since the track opened in 1953.

·         The current 400-lap race length was established on the .542-mile measurement in March 1976.

·         Buck Baker won the pole in 1953.

·         Lee Petty won the first race in April 1953.

·         There have been 50 different pole winners, led by Bobby Allison and Richard Petty (eight).

·         Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin lead all active drivers with five poles each.

·         47 different drivers have posted victories at Richmond, led by Richard Petty (13).

·         Kyle Busch leads all active race winners with four.

·         Petty Enterprises has won 15 races at Richmond, more than any other team. Hendrick Motorsports has the second most wins with 10.

·         63 of 112 races have been won from the top five starting positions, including 22 from the pole.

·         The last driver to win from the pole was Kyle Busch on May 1, 2010.

· The furthest back in the field a race winner has started was 31st, by Clint Bowyer in the 2008 spring race.

· Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Kyle Busch (4.7), Denny Hamlin (7.3) are the only active drivers with an average finish in the top 10.

· Kyle Petty became the first third-generation NASCAR race winner when he won his first race at Richmond, on Feb. 23, 1986. Richard Petty posted his first Richmond victory in 1961 and Lee Petty won the very first Richmond race in 1953.

· Three of the last five races have had a margin of victory less than one second.

· Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Richmond International Raceway winner: Richard Petty (04/23/1961 – 23 years, 9 months, 21 days)

· Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Richmond International Raceway winner: Harry Gant (09/07/1991 – 51 years, 7 months, 28 days)

Source: NASCAR Media

 

“America’s Got Talent” host Nick Cannon to appear with SHR’s No. 14 Office Depot Chevy show car

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Three-time and reigning NASCAR® Sprint Cup Series™ champion Tony Stewart’s No. 14 Office Depot Chevrolet show car (only) will be on display at a special Office Depot “Back-To-School Celebration” event featuring award-winning actor, comedian and “America’s Got Talent” host Nick Cannon.

Thursday, August 16 at 10 a.m.

Office Depot
6325 N. Andrews Ave.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309

Those in attendance will be able to get an up-close and personal look at Stewart’s No. 14 Office Depot show car, which is a near replica of what he drives on track, and have an opportunity to take a photo alongside it.

In addition, Cannon will join the Office Depot Foundation, the independent charitable giving arm of Office Depot, to donate 10,000 colorful new sackpacks to children served by non-profit organizations and schools in Greater Fort Lauderdale and Broward County.

The “Back-To-School Celebration” will also feature special guests including Fort Lauderdale Mayor John P. “Jack” Seiler and Cannon’s Ncredible recording group, 4Count – who will perform live.

 

SOURCE: Office Depot PR

 

Michigan Infield RV Camper Twitter contest; winner to meet Sam Hornish, Jr.

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Sam Hornish Jr.  Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Race fans who camp at the Michigan International Speedway infield are invited to Tweet for a chance to meet Penske Racing NASCAR driver Sam Hornish, Jr.

Race fans can use Twitter to upload a picture of themselves and their friends using SCOTT® Pro Shop Towels. Fans can simply tag their photos using the hashtag #ScottPro from Aug. 14-17. (Infield RV Camper Twitter contest, Aug. 14-17. Last tweet accepted 11:59 p.m. CT on Aug. 17. See official rules.)

The grand prize winner and three of their friends will receive a 45-minute meet and greet session with Sam Hornish, Jr. on Sun., Aug. 19.

SCOTT® Pro Shop Towels Brand Ambassadors will visit infield campers at Michigan International Speedway on Sat. morning, Aug. 18. Fans will receive free samples of SCOTT® Pro Shop Towels and coupons for other Kimberly-Clark Professional products.

Jeff Hammond, NASCAR analyst on FOX and Speed Channel and former Cup Series Champion crew chief,will join in the fun on Sat., Aug. 18, by helping distribute the SCOTT® Pro Shop Towels samples to race fans in the infield.

Woodward Dream Cruise
Dodge Motorsports Display, Aug. 18 from 8 a.m. CT- 8 p.m. CT

SCOTT® Pro Shop Towels will also be a part of the Dodge Motorsports Display at the Woodward Dream Cruise, alongside a 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT, allowing auto enthusiasts to see the grand prize up close. Car fanaticscan also interact with SCOTT® Pro Shop Towels Brand Ambassadors to learn about the product and enter the “Take the Challenge” Sweepstakes.

 

NASCAR Sprint Cup & Nationwide race info – WATKINS GLEN

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Track: Watkins Glen International
Size: 2.45-mile paved road course
Laps: 90 laps, 220.5 miles (355 k)
# of Turns: 11
Variety of Banking: In turns ranging from 6 degrees to 10 degrees
Frontstretch: 2,141 feet
Backstretch: 1,839 feet.
First WGI Race: 1986
Grandstand Capacity: approx 41,000
Opened: 1956

COVERAGE:
NSCS Practices: Friday, August 10, 12:00 – 1:50 pm/et on SPEED
NSCS Happy Hour ‘Final’ practice: Friday, August 10, 4:10 – 5:30 pm/et on SPEED
NSCS Qualifying: Saturday, August 11 at 11:40 am/et on ESPN2
NASCAR Countdown Pre-Race show: 12:00 pm/et on ESPN2
Race Coverage: Sunday, August 12, 2012 on ESPN at 1:00 pm/et
Green flag: Approx 1:18pm/et
Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) & Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 90
Race Re-Airs: on SPEED, Wednesday, August 15 at 12:00pm/et

STORY LINES
2012 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Wild-Card Race -  after Pocono, race #21 of 36
A look at the race for the two wild-card positions for the Chase based on wins and being inside the top 20 in points.

First two would make the chase as wild cards:
No. 5-Kasey Kahne [2 wins] 11th -57 points out of 10th
No. 24-Jeff Gordon [1 win] 13th -68

Jeff Gordon joined Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kasey Kahne at the top of the “wild card” standings with five races remaining until the post-season lineup of 12 drivers is set. Gordon might need another victory to cement his “wild card” status but has won a combined 18 races at tracks left in the Race to the Chase. He is a four-time winner at the next stop – Sunday’s road race at Watkins Glen International – but not since 2001.

Eight other drivers currently in the running for the wild cards:
No. 39-Ryan Newman [1 win] 14th -68
No. 18-Kyle Busch [1 win] 15th -80
No. 20-Joey Logano [1 win] 17th -104
No. 99-Carl Edwards 12th -60
No. 27-Paul Menard 16th -82
No. 9-Marcos Ambrose 18th -126
No. 1-Jamie McMurray 19th -144
No. 31-Jeff Burton 20th -152
(ties broken by 1sts, 2nds, 3rd, etc)

Five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson was well on his way to the provisional No. 1 Chase seed at Pocono until spinning from the lead on a 91st lap restart. Johnson, Tony Stewart and Brad Keselowski remain deadlocked at three wins apiece. This week could be Stewart’s time to shine. The three-time and reigning champion is the leading winner at The Glen (five) most recently in 2009. Johnson, a road course winner at Sonoma, has yet to score at Watkins Glen while Keselowski finished second there a year ago.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. retained the NASCAR Sprint Cup points lead despite a transmission failure at Pocono Raceway. The difference of just eight points are between first and fourth place with Earnhardt trailed by Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle and Johnson.

NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES

 

 

 

 

 

Watkins Glen
Race #21 of 33
82 Laps, 200.9 Miles

Practice: Friday, August 10th at 2:00 pm-4:00 pm on SPEED
Qualifying: Saturday, August 11th at 9:35 am on ESPN2
Race: Saturday, August 11, 2012 in Watkins Glen, NY
TV Race Coverage: ABC, 2:00 pm/et
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 2:35pm/et

STORY LINES
Elliott Sadler extended his championship lead over Richard Childress Racing teammate Austin Dillon to 18 points and became the first points-eligible driver to score four wins in his “home” national series. Leader Sadler has the most experience at turning right and left – notably in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as well as in NASCAR Nationwide. Sadler finished 10th a year ago at Watkins Glen International where racing resumes on Saturday. He was 15th in June’s first road course event at Road America in Wisconsin.

To become a first-time Glen winner, however, will require vanquishing Canadian Ron Fellows. The international road racing star won three out of four NASCAR Nationwide starts from 1998 to 2001. Ron Fellows will drive the JR Motorsports #5.

Carl Edwards, the 2007 series champion, will make his first start of the year in the Roush Fenway Racing No. 60 Ford. Other NASCAR Sprint Cup competitors entered are former champions Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski, Kasey Kahne, Paul Menard and Joey Logano.

Source: NASCARMedia/Stats

SMOKE DETECTOR: Tony Stewart autograph session in Indy

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Three-time champion and driver of the No.14 Office Depot/Mobil1 Chevrolet, Tony Stewart, will be holding an autograph session on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at 5 p.m.- 6 p.m. local time.

Stewart will sign autographs for 300 fans at the event. Wristbands are required for the autograph session (limit one per person) and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at:

Office Depot
4200 South East Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46227

beginning at 8 a.m. local time on the day of the event only (Wednesday, July 25). Fans with a wristband must be in line no later than 5:30 p.m. local time to receive an autograph. One autograph per wristband.

Stewart, who grew up in Columbus, Indiana, will be assisting in donating 6,000 sackpacks that contain essential school supplies to Indianapolis-area children in need, as part of the Office Depot Foundation’s National Backpack Program.

Roush Fenway replaces crew chief on No.99 Fastenal Sprint Cup Team

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2012 Daytona International Speedway, NSCS Test – Crew Chief Bob Osborne and Carl Edwards. Photo credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR

In a statement released by Roush Fenway Racing, Bob Osborne is transitioning away from his role as crew chief of the No. 99 Fastenal Sprint Cup team at Roush Fenway Racing, team owner Jack Roush announced today. Roush Fenway veteran Chad Norris will be the crew chief for the No. 99 effective immediately. Osborne will remain with the organization as a senior member of the organization’s management team and steering committee.

“At this time in my life, however, concerns with my health have necessitated that I change my role within the organization,” Osborne added. “This transition is not an easy one, but I’m thankful to have the full support of Jack, Carl and the entire organization. I also have every confidence in Chad Norris, and I look forward to working with him as we continue to pursue a championship in 2012. I also appreciate the privacy and respect that the community will give me and my family during this difficult time.”

Osborne was Edwards’ first crew chief for his Sprint Cup debut in 2004, and the two have combined for 18 wins and two runner-up finishes in season-ending Sprint Cup Series point standings.

Norris has been with Roush Fenway Racing since 2005, and since 2011 has led Roush Fenway’s research and development test program that has seen him serve as crew chief for Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., in his limited Sprint Cup Series schedule and Trevor Bayne in his limited Nationwide Series schedule.

Norris’ first role as crew chief at Roush Fenway came in 2005 with the No. 17 Nationwide Series team. In his eight years with Roush Fenway, Norris has led multiple teams to victory lane, including Bayne’s inaugural Nationwide Series win at Texas Motor Speedway in November of 2011.

The change comes after Edwards has reached a 52 race winless streak after a season where he tied for the championship with SHR’s, Tony Stewart. Stewart won the 2011 Championship as a “Walk-Off” meaning which ever driver had the most wins, broke the tiebreaker.

Currently, Edwards is 11th in the point standings, leaving him 46 points out of 10th place coming up behind teammates Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle, who are first and third in the standings. Edwards likely will need two victories in the next seven races to secure a Chase spot as one of two wild cards, if he can’t crack the top 10 in points.

“Our commitment to winning a championship with the No. 99 in 2012 has not waivered,” said team owner Jack Roush. “I’m committed to providing the resources to Carl and to his team to do that, and this restructuring of Bob’s role and the introduction of Chad Norris as the crew chief for the No. 99 will put us in the best possible position for these final seven races before the ‘Chase’ begins.”

“We’re very fortunate to have Chad Norris as part of our organization to take over for the No. 99,” Edwards said. “I’ve known Chad for a long time and he is a fierce competitor.

Source: Roush Fenway Racing

NASCAR releases timeline for A.J. Allmendinger’s ‘A’ & ‘B’ sample test

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL (July 17, 2012) – NASCAR has been informed by the NASCAR Substance Abuse Policy Program Administrator (Dr. David Black of Aegis Sciences Corporation) that the test of AJ Allmendinger’s “B” sample will take place on Tuesday, July 24. The test will be conducted in Nashville, Tennessee at Aegis headquarters, per the NASCAR rule book.

Review of timeline:

· On June 29, NASCAR member Allmendinger, driver of the #22 car in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, was randomly tested by Aegis at the NASCAR event in Kentucky, per Section 19-6C.

· On July 4, the Program Administrator (PA) sent a positive “A” sample test result to the program’s Medical Review Officer (MRO) Dr. Douglas Aukerman, M.D., and on July 5, Aegis sent final paperwork to the MRO, per Section 19-11, which allows him to begin his review.

· On July 6, the MRO and competitor exchanged phone messages.

· On July 7, the MRO connected by phone with the NASCAR member and informed him of the positive “A” test. The MRO also informed him he could choose to have the “B” sample tested, per Section 19-11A, B.

· Later that day, July 7, the MRO notified NASCAR of the positive “A” test, and NASCAR temporarily suspended the NASCAR member, as stated in Section 19-11B(6,7).

· The NASCAR member officially notified the MRO on July 9 of his request to have his “B” sample tested, which was within the allotted 72-hour window from the time he was informed that his “A” sample was positive, per Section 19-11B.

· Once a member requests to have the “B” sample tested, NASCAR’s substance abuse policy provides its members up to 30 business days to have the “B” sample test conducted and results finalized, per Sec. 19-11B(5). These 30 days are designed to provide the member with reasonable time to prepare to attend the “B” sample test or be represented by a qualified toxicologist, per Sec. 19-11B(2).

· On July 17, the PA informed NASCAR that the NASCAR member made the decision to select Tuesday, July 24, for the “B” test and has designated an independent toxicologist to be present on his behalf.

Miscommunication costs JGR’s No. 11 Denny Hamlin race at NHMS

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crew chief
~ noun
1. The head of a crew, especially for maintenance of aircraft or racing cars.
2. Crew chief (auto racing), the head person on a race team who directs both the driver and pit crew

Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR
A miscommunication on a late pit stop between Denny Hamlin and crew chief Darian Grubb dropped Hamlin from the lead to 12th.

Miscommunication can turn out to be lethal during a NASCAR race if it happens between crew chief and driver.

Take Joe Gibbs Racing. During the final laps of the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, driver Denny Hamlin of the No. 11 FedEx Camry, who finished second, respectively, and crew chief Darian Grubb had a major miscommunication before the last pit stop of the race.

The miscommunication centered around whether to take two tires or four on the final stop. Grubb wanted to go with two tires, which would have kept them on par with the rest of the field, but he thought Hamlin wanted fresh rubber on both sides — hence, the four-tire call.

“Darian asked me how much of the tires I felt like I used up,” Hamlin said. He said, “I think two’s the call.”

“I said, OK – just give me tires and no adjustments.” Grubb took that as I meant four tires. It was just a little miscommunication that turned a possible win into a second-place finish. You never know what could have happened on that last restart if we had taken two tires. The No. 5 of Kasey Kahne still may have been better, you never know.

The No. 11 FedEx Camry of JGR was the top-finishing Toyota in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Hamlin led the field five times for a race-high 150 laps (of 301) — after starting third.

Hamlin was very disappointed because he had the dominant car for most of the race. “They gave me a new package this time around. We dominated all the practices and it showed in the race what we had. It’s part of it,” said Hamlin. The last pit stop had put Hamlin from first place, back to 12th. The bottom line was they just didn’t have enough laps to catch Kahne and came up short. “It’s days like these that you can just build on,” said Hamlin, “We’re going to be back here in just a few months – when it really counts – and that’s when you want to win — so we know we have something to race with. I would have loved to get win 200 for No.11 team. That part of it is frustrating that we can’t break through and get that. We’re getting close.”

NASCAR Licensing launches throwback apparel & diecasts with “NASCAR Classics”

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                                                                                                                                Graphic by NASCARMedia

NASCAR announced today the creation of NASCAR Classics, a new brand identity within the licensing division. From the renegades that blazed the trail on country roads and the hard-packed beaches of Daytona, to the asphalt legends of later decades, NASCAR Classics represents the era that NASCAR established itself as the best racing in the world. NASCAR Classics is a brand that embodies the roots and heritage of NASCAR through high-end t-shirts, hats and original die casts.

NASCAR Classics enriches the NASCAR fan’s experience by providing a sense of tradition, meaning and heritage for the sport. And while it’s a throwback brand that encapsulates NASCAR’s history, it also represents the values that are still present in NASCAR today. The NASCAR Classics line provides a rich and extensive portfolio of textures and logos that bridges the NASCAR of today with its history.

“NASCAR Classics” pays homage to unbreakable men, fast cars, guts, glory and go-for-broke attitude. NASCAR fans and non-fans will enjoy this great new line of vintage products that captures the spirit and flavor of NASCAR through the decades.

The current product line includes t-shirts and hats, produced by Delta Apparel, featuring iconic imagery and fonts from the 1940’s, ’50s, ’60s and ’70s that create a sense of nostalgia. The collection’s apparel line includes logos and program covers from historic venues such as Daytona International Speedway, Darlington Raceway, North Carolina Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.

In addition to apparel, NASCAR Classics also features a line of historic die-cast cars from Lionel NASCAR Collectables. Included in the die-cast collection are Dale Earnhardt’s 1989 No. 3 Goodwrench Chevrolet, Junior Johnson’s 1965 No. 26 Holly Farms Ford, Richard Petty’s 1986 No. 6 STP Monte Carlo, Tim Flock’s 1940 No. 91 Taft Sloan Garage Ford and Ned Jarrett’s 1965 No. 11 Ford, among others.

NASCAR Classics apparel is available for purchase at the NASCAR.com Superstore and Americrown haulers during all NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekends. However, the NASCAR Classics die casts are only available at the NASCAR.com Superstore. NASCAR Classics will expand to other retail locations later in the year.

NASCAR PR