Tag Archives: NASCAR Nationwide Series

NASCAR Nationwide Series News – Darlington

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Race #: 9 out of 33
Track Size: 1.366 miles
Race Length: 200 miles
Banking Turns 1 & 2: 25 degrees
Banking Turns 3 & 4: 23 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 6 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 6 degrees
Frontstretch: 1,229 feet
Backstretch: 1,229 feet

Friday
Qualifying – ESPN2 @ 3:30 p.m. ET
NASCAR Countdown airs at 6:30 p.m. ET
VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 airs live Friday Night on ESPN2 at 7 p.m.

IN THE DRIVERS’ SEAT
Danny Efland will drive the #4 for Johnny Davis;
Matt Frahm will be in the #08 for Randy Hill Racing;
Eric McClure will not race this weekend. Jeff Green will be the driver of the #14 Hefty/Reynolds Wrap
Black Koch returns to the Rick Ware #15;
Jamie Dick will drive the #23;
Brendan Gaughan will drive the RCR #33;
Ryan Blaney returns to the #36;
Josh Richards will again drive the Go Green #39;
The #52 for Jimmy Means is TBD;
David Green will drive the #70 in a deal with ML Motorsports to keep team in the top 30;
Travis Pastrana will run his second race in the RAB #99.
Casey Roderick is now listed as driver of the #24, in place of Benny Gordon.
Derrike Cope will be in the #70 for ML Motorsports.
Tony Raines will be in the #10 for TriStar Motorsports

TOP 10 STANDINGS

RANK +/- DRIVER POINTS BEHIND
1 +1 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 325 Leader
2 -1 Elliott Sadler 320 -5
3 – Austin Dillon* 290 -35
4 – Sam Hornish Jr. 265 -60
5 +1 Cole Whitt* 248 -77
6 -1 Michael Annett 241 -84
7 – Justin Allgaier 228 -97
8 – Tayler Malsam 202 -123
9 +1 Mike Bliss 201 -124
10 +1 Joe Nemechek 189 -136

RICKY STENHOUSE, JR.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has fought back from ninth in the standings following Daytona to retake the No. 1 position five points ahead of second-place Elliott Sadler.

TOP DRIVERS IN NNS RACE

Darlington Raceway has caused many of NASCAR’s top drivers to sign up for this Friday’s VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 under the lights. Not only will the field have the likes of NSCS drivers Kasey Kahne, Joey Logano, Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin, but also NNS standouts Travis Pastrana and Danica Patrick. Patrick will be pulling double duty, driving the No. 10 Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet in the NSCS race Saturday night. The weekend will be Patrick’s and Pastrana’s NASCAR national series track debut at Darlington Raceway.

CARL EDWARDS

Carl Edwards will move to analyst for ESPN on two upcoming telecasts of NASCAR Nationwide Series races. Edwards will make his debut during ESPN2′s live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Darlington Raceway joining announcer Allen Bestwick and analyst Andy Petree in the booth on Friday night, May 11, at 6:30 p.m. ET.

ERIC McCLURE

It is NASCAR’s policy that a driver that receives a concussion must be cleared by a neurosurgeon with at least five years of experience with sports-related head injuries before being allowed back in the car. In some sports leagues the athlete must wait at least seven days before returning to action. There will be only six days between Saturday’s crash and Friday’s race. Brandt said McClure will meet with a specialist on Tuesday or Wednesday to determine his status. He is scheduled to hold a press conference on Friday at Darlington.

McClure’s sister and PR representative reported “He’s sore and just needs to rest a few days and be with his family and go to his doctor appointments,” Brandt said. After his release McClure was driven back to his Chilhowie, Va., home by his father, who has been with him at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center since the accident.

KURT BUSCH

Kurt Busch says he’s planning to run both Nationwide series races at Iowa Speedway this season. Busch says he’s slated to run both the May 20 and August 4 races in Iowa this season in the #54 Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports.

PATRICK VS HORNISH

Danica Patrick will hear from NASCAR officials about sending Sam Hornish Jr. into the wall following the Nationwide Series race last Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway, but she likely won’t be penalized. The two drivers, whose rivalry goes back to their days racing go-karts and extended to the IndyCar Series, likely will both be talked to by NASCAR officials prior to practice tomorrow (Friday) at Darlington Raceway for what happened after the Aaron’s 312 on Saturday.

NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton indicated that Patrick’s actions did not rise to the level of Kyle Busch retaliating against Ron Hornaday in a Truck Series race last November at Texas Motor Speedway, where Busch was suspended for the Nationwide and Cup events later that weekend.

 

 

NASCAR Stats & Notes for Darlington Raceway

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Race #: 11 of 36
Track Size: 1.366 miles
Race Length: 501.322 miles
Banking Turns 1 & 2: 25 degrees
Banking Turns 3 & 4: 23 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 6 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 6 degrees
Frontstretch: 1,229 feet
Backstretch: 1,229 feet

Bojangles’ Southern 500
Airs: NSCS – Saturday night, (FOX, live 7 p.m. ET)

2011 pole winner: Kasey Kahne (181.254 mph, 27.131 seconds, 05-06-11)
2011 race winner: Regan Smith (129.678 mph, 05-07-11)
Track qualifying record: Kasey Kahne (181.254 mph, 27.131 seconds, 05-06-11)
Track race record: Kyle Busch (140.350 mph, 05-10-08)

Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina going into the Bojangles’ Southern 500 on May 12.

Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M / OH / ES Ford)
·         Two wins, two top fives, five top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 14.2

Kyle Busch (No. 18 Wrigley Toyota)
·         One win, one top five, three top 10s
·         Average finish of 17.1

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew / National Guard Chevrolet)
·         Three top fives, seven top 10s
·         Average finish of 15.2

Carl Edwards (No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)
·         Three top fives, five top 10s
·         Average finish of 13.9

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet)
·         Seven wins, 18 top fives, 21 top 10s; three poles
·         Average finish of 11.1

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Sport Clips Toyota)
·         One win, two top fives, five top 10s
·         Average finish of 6.5

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s / KOBALT Tools Chevrolet)
·         Two wins, six top fives, nine top 10s
·         Average finish of 9.8

Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Rockwell Tools Chevrolet)
·         Three top fives, three top 10s; four poles
·         Average finish of 14.6

Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
·         One top five, two top 10s
·         Average finish of 7.3

Jamie McMurray (No. 1 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet)
·         Three top fives, five top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 14.5

Ryan Newman (No. 39 WIX Chevrolet)
·         Seven top fives, nine top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 11.6

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot / Mobil 1 Chevrolet)
·         Three top fives, 10 top 10s
·         Average finish of 12.3

Martin Truex Jr. (No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota)
·         Two top 10s
·         Average finish of 12.3

FACTS:
Gas, leaded of course, cost 18 cents a gallon, the average price of a new automobile was $1,510 and the average wages were $3,210.

HISTORY
·  Built as a 1.25-mile paved superspeedway in 1949-50, Darlington Raceway hosted the first 500-mile race in NASCAR history and the first on asphalt on Sept. 4, 1950.
·  The track was re-measured to 1.375 miles in 1953.
·  The track was re-configured to 1.366 miles following the spring race in 1970.
·  The track was repaved in 1995.
·  The 2005 race was the first Saturday night race at Darlington.
·  The track was repaved again prior to the 2008 season.
·  There have been 108 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Darlington Raceway since the track opened in 1950.
·  There was one race per year in 1950, 1951, from 1953-1959, and again every year since 2005. Darlington held two races a season in all other years.
·  Curtis Turner won the first pole, in 1950.
·  Johnny Mantz won the first race, in 1950.
·  47 drivers have posted poles at Darlington.
·  David Pearson leads all drivers with 12 poles at Darlington.
·  45 drivers have won races at Darlington; 25 drivers have won more than once there.
·  David Pearson leads all drivers with 10 victories, followed by Dale Earnhardt with nine.
·  Jeff Gordon is third overall and leads all active drivers with seven victories.
·  Hendrick Motorsports has won 13 races at Darlington, more than any other organization.
· 19 races at Darlington have been won from the pole, the most productive starting position. Dale Jarrett was the last driver to win from the pole in 1997.
·  The deepest in the field that a race winner has started was 43rd, in the track’s inaugural race in 1950 by Johnny Mantz. That race had a 75-car field.
·   Darlington is the site of one of the closest race finishes in NASCAR history. Ricky Craven edged Kurt Busch by 0.002 seconds on March 16, 2003 – which is tied with Talladega (April 17, 2011) as the two smallest margins of victory since NASCAR instituted electronic timing in 1993.
· Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Darlington Raceway winner: Kyle Busch (05/10/2008 – 23 years, 0 months, 8 days).
·   Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Darlington Raceway winner: Harry Gant (05/06/1991 – 51 years, 7 months, 22 days)

RACE CHATTER
Regan Smith was the surprise winner of last year’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 – the second of three, first time winners of NASCAR’s biggest events.
Darlington dates to 1950 and as the series’ first asphalt oval over a ½-mile in length ushered in the sport’s future.

MOM POWER
As an annual tradition the Darlington race will fall on Mother’s Day weekend.  The track will recognize the driver’s mothers during the pre-race ceremonies.  All of the moms in attendance will receive a bouquet of flowers and will give the command for “start your engines”.

REUTIMANN RETURNS
David Reutimann will return behind the wheel of the No. 93 BK Racing Toyota this week at Darlington Raceway for the Bojangles’ Southern 500. Reutimann raced the season-opening Daytona 500 with BK Racing, but has driven the balance of 2012 events with Tommy Baldwin Racing. Travis Kvapil will return to drive the No. 93 Burger King/Dr Pepper car next week at Charlotte.

JR. MUST NOT REPEAT LAST YEAR’S DARLINGTON RACE
Dale Earnhardt Jr. must reverse his recent Darlington trend – two finishes outside the top 15 in his past three starts – and have a top-10 finish to set a career record for consecutive top 10 finishes.

PASTRANA-PEARSON 101
To prepare for Darlington Raceway, Travis Pastrana sought out a Darlington 101 lesson from NASCAR legend and Hall of Fame member David Pearson at Greenville-Pickens Speedway last March. Pearson, who owns 10 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins and 12 pole positions at Darlington Raceway, educated the 28-year-old rookie on how to master driving the track dubbed “Too Tough to Tame.”

DANICA’S CHALLENGE
Danica Patrick faces her greatest challenge since coming to NASCAR as she competes in her second Sprint Cup race on Saturday. Her No. 10 Chevrolet, prepared by Stewart-Haas Racing, has a guaranteed starting position by virtue of owner Tommy Baldwin’s 33rd ranking in Owners Championship standings. Patrick finished 38th in her series debut at Daytona in February. She will do double duty also competing in Friday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race.

LAST CHANCE FOR ALL-STAR RACE
Saturday’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 is a last-chance race for automatic admission to the May 19 Sprint All-Star Race. Drivers yet to qualify include Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Burton, Jamie McMurray, Juan Pablo Montoya, Martin Truex Jr., Jeff Burton and former NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Bobby Labonte. Absent a Darlington win, a driver still can qualify via fan vote or transfer from the Sprint Showdown race. Fans can still vote up ’till May 19th for their favorite driver to make it into the show.

NNS Airs: Friday night, live ESPN2 (7:15 p.m. EDT )

NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES

QUIET SURPRISE
Tayler Malsam, driver of the No. 19 G-Oil Toyota for TriStar Motorsports, remains one of the surprises of the NASCAR Nationwide Series for 2012. In his first full season in the series, Malsam is currently eighth in the standings and has been ranked in the top 10 following each race this year.

NNS DRIVER ERIC McCLURE RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL
Eric McClure, driver of the No. 14 Hefty®/Reynolds Wrap® Toyota, was released Monday evening from the UAB Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama, where he was airlifted Saturday afternoon following a racing incident at Talladega Superspeedway.

McClure suffered a concussion and mild internal bruising and is expected to make a full recovery. This week he will follow up with specialists regarding his injuries.

McClure has said he will make himself available to the media in the Jim Hunter Media Center at Darlington Raceway on Friday, May 11. Stay tuned for updates.

 

Six NASCAR Nationwide Series teams penalized for infractions at Richmond International Raceway

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 1, 2012) – NASCAR announced today that six NASCAR Nationwide Series crew chiefs had been fined and placed on probation for violations during this past weekend’s event at Richmond International Raceway. In addition, the teams’ respective car chiefs have also been placed on probation for the remainder of the year.

Crew chiefs Luke Lambert (No. 2 team), Danny Stockman (No. 3 team), Trent Owens (No. 30 team), Jimmy Elledge (No. 31 team), Ernie Cope (No. 33 team), and Mike Shiplett (No. 38 team) have each been fined $10,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. Additionally, the teams’ respective car chiefs – Phil Gould (No. 2), Robert Strmiska (No. 3), Shannon Rursch (No. 30), Ronald Hornaday III (No. 31), Paul Balmer (No. 33), and Christopher Meyers (No. 38) – have likewise been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.

The rules violations referred to Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules detailed in Section 20-A of the rule book); 20A-2.1E (streamlining of the contours of the car, beyond what is approved by the series director will not be permitted. Installation of air directional devices, underpans, baffles, shields or the like beneath the car or the car’s hood and fender area, front firewall, floor, rear firewall area, rear deck and quarter panel will not be permitted. If, in the judgment of NASCAR officials, any part or component of the car not previously approved by NASCAR has been installed or modified to enhance aerodynamic performance, will not be permitted. All cars must remain standard in appearance); 20A-3.10A (front upper bumper cover must be from the respective OEM manufacturer and must be approved by NASCAR. The front lower bumper cover and rear bumper cover must be from an approved manufacturer and must be approved by NASCAR. Once approved, the front lower bumper covers may be used on all approved models. NASCAR officials may use bumper covers provided by the respective manufacturer as a guide in determining whether a competitor’s bumper cover conforms to the specifications of the NASCAR rule book. Unless otherwise authorized by the series director, cutting and reshaping of bumper covers will not be permitted.)

The infractions were discovered during opening day inspection on April 26.

NASCAR Media Release

NASCAR Nationwide Series News – Heading to ‘Dega

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Race #: 8 out of 33
Track Size: 2.66 miles
Race Length: 311.22 miles
Banking/corners: 33 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 16.5 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 2 degrees
Frontstretch: 4,300 feet
Backstretch: 4,000 feet

NNS Qualifying: Friday, May 4, at noon on ESPN2

NASCAR Countdown: 3 p.m. ET, ESPN2

Race: Aaron’s 312 ABC, Saturday, May 5th. Green flag at 3:34 p.m.

Top 10 Driver standings following Richmond:
1) #2-Elliott Sadler
2) #6-Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
3) #3-Austin Dillon
4) #12-Sam Hornish Jr.
5) #43-Michael Annett
6) #88-Cole Whitt
7) #31-Justin Allgaier
8) #19-Tayler Malsam
9) #60-Trevor Bayne
10) #44-Mike Bliss

RACIN’ NOTES

There are 44 cars on the preliminary entry list for Saturday’s Aaron’s 312 at Talladega Superspeedway.

Kurt Busch will be in the #1 for Phoenix Racing;

Danny Elfand returns to the #4 for JD Motorsports;

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will drive the #5;

Tim Andrews returns to the Randy Hill #08;

Jeffrey Earnhardt will drive the Rick Ware #15, Timmy Hill remains in the #41, and Blake Koch will be in the #75;

Ryan Truex returns to the JGR #20;

Kenny Wallace returns to RABs #99

DID YOU KNOW?
The twelve extra miles are tacked on to what would normally be a 300-mile race for targeted advertising purposes. The race’s sponsor, Aaron’s, is a lease-to-own retailer. The distance was set to reflect the sponsor’s slogan (“3 ways to buy, 12 reasons to shop at Aaron’s”).

• 2005, 2007, & 2009: Race extended due to a Green-white-checker finish.

• 2010: Race postponed from Saturday to Sunday due to rain and extended due to a Green-white-checker finish.

• 2011: Race extended due to a Green-white-checker finish (2 attempts). This was the first time a NASCAR Nationwide Series race used the Green-white-checker format 2 times to finish a race:

In the most frantic race in the history of the class in its various incarnations from Late Model Sportsman division to Busch Grand National to Nationwide Series, points leader Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. hit the wall and caused a red flag, then on Lap 88 Michael Waltrip got turned into the backstretch wall by Jamie McMurray, who was attempting to draft pole sitter Elliott Sadler. The wreck ended up taking out sixteen cars and bringing out another red flag. Kyle Busch and Joey Logano finished 1-2 while Mike Wallace got blasted by Sadler and flipped on his roof once, crossing the finish line in 17th. The race also broke the record of the most lead changes in Nationwide Series history with 56.

Since Bristol, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. has one win and two other top fives bringing the reigning series champion to within two points of Elliott Sadler’s lead heading to ‘Dega.

There’s also a manufacturer challenge to go along with the Sadler-Stenhouse clash. Chevrolet, despite being the series’ all-time winner (12) at Talladega – hasn’t won at there since 2007. Ford last won in 2009.

The No. 3 Chevrolet will make its first series run at Talladega since 2000 this weekend with driver Austin Dillon. … Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his nephew Jeffrey Earnhardt will be sharing the track with the No. 3 Chevy.

Brad Sweet, will make his second start of the season in the #38 Great Clips Chevy this weekend at the famed Talladega Superspeedway. His first start of 2012 came at Auto Club Speedway where he proved impressive by bringing home a sixth-place finish. Sweet shares driving duties of the #38 with Kasey Kahne this season with Kahne scheduled to compete in 15 races and Sweet competing in the balance of the 33-race schedule.

Danica Patrick will be making her series debut at Talladega. She won her first career Nationwide Series pole in February at Daytona. Along with Patrick, Johanna Long will be making her NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Talladega as well. Long, age 19, is the youngest female to compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and a current Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate. She more than held her own in her NASCAR debut at Talladega last October, starting eighth and finishing 16th in the NASCAR Camping World Series race. Long drives for ML Motorsports in the Nationwide Series and the team collected its only top five to date at ‘Dega in 2008.

Source: NASCARMedia, Wikipedia

Richard Petty Motorsports forms new Nationwide team

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Richard Petty Motorsports announced today the formation of a new NASCAR Nationwide Series team with driver Michael Annett and his long-time partner Pilot Flying J. The team will be run out of RPM’s Concord, N.C. race shop and will vie for the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship.

Annett, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, comes to Richard Petty Motorsports after spending last season at Rusty Wallace, Inc. He has posted 13 top-10 finishes in 105 Nationwide Series starts and drove to a ninth-place finish in the championship points standings last season.

Born into a family with a rich racing heritage, Annett began his own racing career in 2007 competing in the ARCA Series. In only his fourth start, Annett drove his Pilot Travel Centers machine to victory lane at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. He drove to victory once again in the ARCA Series the next season at Daytona International Speedway and also piloted an entry in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in eight events that season. In 2009, he moved to the Nationwide Series with Germain Racing and posted four top-10 finishes en route to a 10th-place effort in the point standings. He remained at Germain through 2010 and in 2011 competed for RWI.

Source: RPM Press Release

Review on NASCAR national series heading to Charlotte and Las Vegas Motor Speedways

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Race #: 31 of 36 (10-15-11)
Track Size: 1.5 miles
Banking/Corners: 24 degrees
Banking/Straights: 5 degrees
Frontstretch: 1,980 feet
Backstretch: 1,500 feet

Have you realized that with Jimmie Johnson’s win at Kansas Speedway, that placed Hendrick Motorsports knocking on the door to their 200th victory? Will the 200th victory happen at Charlotte Motor Speedway? You betch’ ya! Pretty much during the last ten races of the Chase, Johnson reveals his dominance – and will shine at the 1.5 mile Charlotte Motor Speedway Saturday night. Johnson carries six wins at Charlotte, tied for most all-time with NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison and Hall of Fame nominee Darrell Waltrip. But for all those nay-sayers, he had a 28th place finish in May’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte because of engine problems.

Carl Edwards, on the other hand while holding a bit of gentleman luck, finished fifth at Kansas, but locked in the lead in points.

What about Brad Keselowski? Keselowski has turned up the heat by a few notches with his fellow Chase drivers. Keselowski surprised at Kansas Speedway with a third-place finish and moved on up to fourth in the standings, only 11 points behind leader, Carl Edwards.

It’s a tight race, and anything can happen. Drivers sitting in the top eight currently are: Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch.

Just 20 points separate eighth-place Kyle Busch and points leader Edwards.

Jamie McMurray won the Charlotte race last year, the only non-Chase driver to win one of the final 10 races last season.

Could another non-Chase driver be a repeat? It’s certainly possible, so watch out for Kasey Kahne as the prime candidate. Kahne has been the top finishing non-Chase driver in each of the last two races, and has three wins at Charlotte, including a sweep there in 2006.

NSCS takes on Charlotte Motor Speedway, Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. on abc.

 

NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES

You do realize that Roush Fenway Racing is in a position to make NASCAR National Series History with possibly winning two different Championships in the same series in the season?

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. leads the driver championship standings. He’s 20 points in front of second-place Elliott Sadler with five races to go.

Friday night’s race marks the fourth and final NASCAR Nationwide Series “Dash 4 Cash” event of the 2012 season.

The highest finisher among Elliott Sadler, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ryan Truex and Kenny Wallace will collect $100,000 on top of the race prize money.

Four drivers have been eligible for the bonus in each of the four “Dash 4 Cash” races during the season’s second half – Daytona, Iowa, Richmond and the finale at Charlotte. The first field at Daytona’s July race was set via the top four in driver points entering that event. For the next three “Dash 4 Cash” races, the field was set by the four highest finishers in those races among driver championship contenders.  This quartet was decided by their finishes at Richmond last month: Stenhouse was third, Truex a career-best fourth, Wallace, fifth and Sadler, sixth.

The NNWS hits Charlotte Motor Speedway Friday night at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

 

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

The championship battle in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is down to a mere three points separating Austin Dillon from James Buescher with five races left.

Upcoming races at Talladega and Martinsville are already being pegged as the wild card events. It will be the first daytime race at the 1.5-mile tri-oval since 2002.

2011 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Champion Max Gresham will make his NASCAR national series debut at Las Vegas. He will compete in the No. 66 Chevrolet fielded by Turn One Racing. Gresham scored two wins and nine top-five finishes this season in the K&N Pro Series East Series.

NCWTS hits Las Vegas 3:30 p.m. Saturday on SPEED.

Information compiled by NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications

NASCAR Chase standings, driver stats heading to Kansas Speedway

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Race #: 30 of 36 (10-9-11)
Track Size: 1.5 miles
Banking/Corners: 15 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 10.4 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 5 degrees
Frontstretch: 2,685 feet
Backstretch: 2,207 feet

Qualifying/Race Data
2010 pole winner: Kasey Kahne (174.844 mph, 30.920 seconds)
2010 race winner: Greg Biffle, 138.077 mph, 10-03-10)
Qualifying record: Matt Kenseth (180.856 mph, 29.858 seconds, 10-08-05)
Race record: Greg Biffle (138.077 mph, 10-03-10)

After three races in the Chase, Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards technically sit 1-2 in the points – though both are tied at the top with 2,122 points. It’s the first tie for the points lead since after the first Chase race in 2008.

Heading into Kansas, Brad Keselowski, now sixth in points, conquered Kansas during the series’ first visit in June, leading nine laps and besting the field with solid fuel mileage strategy. t was his first victory with Penske Racing, and the first of third wins on the season. During the post-race interviews, Keselowski mentioned how his goal was to make the Chase. Will he repeat and move up getting ever so closer to the NASCAR Championship? What about Greg Biffle? Biffle has two wins at Kansas, and has finished in the top 10 in each of the last five races (and in the top five in four of the last five). He is one of three active driver who average a top-10 finish at Kansas: (Biffle, 8.3; Jeff Gordon, 8.1; Jimmie Johnson, 9.1).

Current NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standings leader – Austin Dillon – will attempt to make his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut this weekend at Kansas Speedway at the age of 21.

Drive History for Kansas in Point Standings after Dover

1 – Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet)
·         One top five, four top 10s
·         Average finish of 14.3 in 11 races

2 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 AFLAC Ford)
·         Three top fives, six top 10s
·         Average finish of 11.4 in eight races

3 – Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet)
·         Two wins, five top fives, eight top 10s
·         Average finish of 11.9 in 11 races

4 – Kurt Busch (No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge)
·         Three top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 18.1 in 11 races

5 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
·         One win, three top fives, eight top 10s; three poles
·         Average finish of 9.1 in 10 races

6 – Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
·         One win, one top five, one top 10
·         Average finish of 12.3 in three races

7 – Matt Kenseth (No. 17 Crown Royal Ford)
·         Two top fives, five top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 19.3 in 11 races

8 – Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&Ms Toyota)
·         One top 10
·         Average finish of 22.4 in eight races

9 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
·         Two wins, eight top fives, nine top 10s
·         Average finish of 8.1 in 11 races

10 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet)
·         One top five, five top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 17.5 in 11 races

11 – Ryan Newman (No. 39 Haas Automation Chevrolet)
·         One win, three top fives, four top 10s
·         Average finish of 17.3 in 11 races

12 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Freight Toyota)
·         Two top fives, two top 10s
·         Average finish of 15.7 in seven races

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 Sept. 30, 2001.

Notebook

· There have been 11 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Kansas

since the track opened in 2001.

· All of the races have been scheduled for 267 laps.

· 10 drivers have competed in all 11 races at Kansas.

· Jeff Gordon won the first two NASCAR Sprint Cup races.

· Jason Leffler won the first pole in September 2001.

· Eight different drivers have won poles, led by Jimmie Johnson with three.

· Eight different drivers have posted victories, led by Greg Biffle, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart (each with two).

· Seven of the 11 races have been won from a top-10 starting position.

· Two drivers have won from the pole: Joe Nemechek in 2004 and Jimmie Johnson in 2008.

· The furthest back in the field that a race winner started was 25th, by Brad Keselowski earlier this season.

· Three active drivers with more than one start have averaged a top-10 finish: Greg Biffle (8.3), Jeff Gordon (8.1) and Jimmie Johnson (9.1).

· Jeff Gordon leads all drivers in top fives (eight) and top 10s (nine). Gordon’s only two non-top 10s were a 39th in 2006 and a 13th in 2004.

· Seven of the 11 races that ended under green had a margin of victory under one second. The 2007 race ended under caution.

NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES

This year upon his return to Kanas, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. – who celebrated his 24th birthday on Oct. 2, has a 22-point lead over second-place Elliott Sadler in the driver championship standings.

The 2010 Sunoco Rookie of the Year contenders are Timmy Hill and Blake Koch, with Koch holding off Hill by only two points. Hill and Koch may need to consider a third contender for the rookie title. Ryan Truex, who was the odds-on-favorite to win the award at the start of the season, has worked his way back in to the conversation thanks to a late-season surge with his new team, Joe Gibbs Racing. Although Truex may not have enough time to overtake the rookie lead, but his recent results have been eye-opening. Since joining JGR at Chicago last month, he has finished no lower than 13th in those four races – including a career-best fourth at Richmond and an eighth-place last week at Dover.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver, James Buescher, will compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Kansas for Turner Motorsports. It will be his eighth NNS start this season.

This is an open week for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Sereis.

Ron Hornaday Jr. has accomplished just about everything possible in the NCWTS during his 14-year career – by clinching his 50th victory at Kentucky Speedway – and a record four series championships. Winning an unprecedented fifth series championship seems very unlikely at this point, Hornaday sits in fifth place, 42 points out of the championship. Hornaday has three wins (Texas, Atlanta & Kentucky) this season. He has led an impressive 9,386 laps in his truck series career.

Austin Dillon holds a two point lead in the NCWTS standings over James Buescher.

Next race for the NCWTS:

Oct. 15th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway / 3:30 p.m. on SPEED

Source: NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications/NASCAR Media

NASCAR Nationwide, Camping World Truck Series’ head to Nashville this weekend

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NASCAR Nationwide Series

Federated Auto Parts 300

Nashville Superspeedway

Saturday, July 23

7 p.m. (ET)

ESPN, 7:30 p.m. (ET)

Radio: MRN, Sirius XM Ch. 90

Distance: 300 miles (225 laps)

Elliott Sadler, the current points leader, is seven points ahead of second-place Reed Sorenson and 18 points ahead of third place Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

And don’t forget the most coveted trophies amongst drivers in all of NASCAR’s national series is the custom Sam Bass Gibson Les Paul guitar trophy that is awarded to the winner at Nashville Super Speedway.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

Lucas Deep Clean 200

Nashville Superspeedway

Friday, July 22

8 p.m. (ET)

SPEED, 7:30 p.m. (ET)

Radio: MRN, Sirius XM Ch. 90

Distance: 200 miles (150 laps)

Drew Herring, who will drive the No. 18 Toyota at Nashville this weekend, knows he’s fortunate to be able to race in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for Joe Gibbs Racing. However, Herring also knows that there is more to life than just getting to race; like getting to live it. Herring is still pursuing his racing dreams despite nearly losing his life in a hunting accident when he was just 17 years old. Herring and a number of friends were out raccoon hunting when a wild raccoon, scared by another hunter’s shot, came out of a tree right on top of Herring and several of his friends. As everyone tried to scrabble out of the way of the wild animal, Herring and a friend ran into each other and lost their balance, falling to the ground. When they hit the ground, his friend’s .22-calibur discharged, shooting Herring through the side. The bullet hit Herring’s stomach, colon and pancreas. Fortunately, after spending nine days in the hospital, Herring made a full recovery. Now, he’s back on track to go after his passion, racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, while celebrating life each and every day.

HISTORY

Johnny Benson is the only titleholder with two Sam Bass Gibson Les Paul guitar trophies .

• The past three winners – Todd Bodine, Ron Hornaday Jr. and Benson – captured Nashville Superspeedway’s late-summer race on the way to the series champion’s table in Miami Beach.

• Mike Bliss, his face seriously rearranged after chasing a fly ball into the outfield fence during the previous day’s driver/media softball game, won both Nashville and the championship in 2002.

• Bobby Hamilton was the track’s 2004 winner and series champion.

• Travis Kvapil, the 2003 champion, won Nashville’s 2007 race.

Bodine and Ron Hornaday Jr. are the only NCWTS concrete track winners expected to compete in the Lucas Deep Clean 200.

Source: NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications

Voting opens for 2011 Most Popular Driver in NASCAR’s Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series

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Thought I’d better bring this to your attention:

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 7, 2011) – For the fourth consecutive year, fans can vote online for the 2011 Most Popular Driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (Twitter hashtags: #NNSMPD, #NCWTSMPD).

Voting begins today and runs through Nov. 17, prior to the season-ending race for both national series at Homestead-Miami Speedway during Ford Championship Weekend.

This year, fans have dedicated sites on NASCAR.com to vote. For the NASCAR Nationwide Series, fans can go to www.NASCAR.com/nnsmpd and to www.NASCAR.com/ncwtsmpd for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Fans may vote once per day leading up to the Nov. 17 deadline.

To be eligible to receive votes, drivers must have selected either the NASCAR Nationwide Series or NASCAR Camping World Truck Series to receive 2011 driver championship points. Additionally, drivers must have attempted at least half of each series’ races this season.

The winners will be announced at the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Awards Banquet. The combined post-season gala will again take place in South Florida at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel on Monday, Nov. 21.

With eligibility tied to their selected series for points, a new Most Popular Driver will be crowned in both series this year. Brad Keselowski, the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion, earned a record-setting third consecutive series Most Popular Driver award via fan vote following last season. Kenny Wallace also has three Most Popular Driver awards in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, though not consecutively. Narain Karthikeyan captured the most votes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series to earn that series’ Most Popular Driver honor in 2010.

Press Pelease – NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications

NASCAR driver Donnie Neuenberger overcomes life’s obstacles, keep outlook in upward motion

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NOTE FROM KAREN:

I had the opportunity to meet NASCAR Nationwide driver Donnie Neuenberger when I flew up to Dover International Speedway back in May for race weekend. We didn’t get a chance to “chat” at the track because of our different schedules, but we have since talked quite a bit since. I’ve enjoyed our conversations through the ‘social media’ and cell phone, (hahaha!) and am looking forward to seeing Donnie at the track again someday soon.

I’m sure you will find Donnie Neuenberger to have a heart of gold, who’s a very caring, outgoing person as well as a diehard racecar driver who’ll do anything just to race.

Here’s HIS story.

NASCAR Nationwide driver, Donnie Neuenberger takes to the Monster Mile at Dover International Speedway on May 14th in his No. 81 Eagle Convenience Stores Dodge Charger. Photo credit: Sandi Goodall for Racingal.com

Donnie Neuenberger is a Maryland native and currently lives on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Born on August 10, 1962, Donnie has been racing off and on since his mid 20′s. Donnie has always been into cars and did his share of drag racing down the street. “Yeah, it was a lot easier to do that back then,” said Neuenberger. Racing became his passion when he started going to stock car races with some good friends. Donnie had to see if he could do it, and see exactly how far he could take it. Donnie currently drives the No. 81 Eagle Convenience Store Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

NASCAR Nationwide driver of the No. 81 Eagle Convenience Stores Dodge Charger, Donnie Neuenberger taken at Dover. Photo courtesy of The Donnie Neuenberger Foundation/Jerseygirl Soprano

And as with any driver, who are best known for thanking their sponsors every opportunity they can – and even now, here’s a driver who wants to thank his sponsor even before an interview for an article! “Before anything, I have to thank Darryl Saucier, owner of Eagle Convenience stores for the sponsorship and friendship we have; also Randy and Pat MacDonald along with their Macdonald Motorsports team for working with us,” an appreciative Neuenberger said.

‘HIS’ TORY

Back in the day, around 1990 – 1991, Bill Davis introduced Donnie to a guy named Barry Owens. Donnie started working with Barry, who was then working with Clifford Allison, right along with Bobby Allison. ”I always knew how to turn wrenches and Barry made me a deal – if I helped him, he would find me a ride,” said Donnie. Allison (Clifford) was a NASCAR Goody’s Dash Series champion car builder at the time, and was doing work for Bill Davis’ NASCAR Busch Series team – who, by the way had just signed with, then unknown, Jeff Gordon. Barry Owens set Donnie up and started him out – Donnie recalls the job he had to accomplish: Just finish the race, don’t worry about the lap count, don’t tear up race car, and protect your sponsors.

Barry once told Donnie that it is the worst cut throat business and everyone will try to steal sponsors. “Barry was so right on both accounts and I appreciate his honesty back then,” said Donnie.

Donnie’s first real racing series consisted of going up and down the east coast running in the NASCAR Goody’s Dash Series. He had met so many great people over the years. Neuenberger had run Daytona in both the Goody’s Dash and ARCA Series with lots of success stemming from the Goody’s Dash Series. Donnie’s big break came in 2000. His first run in a NASCAR [then] Craftsman Truck Series race was at Daytona International Speedway. Donnie’s friends, the Long brothers – Charlie & Robert, had taken over a truck team and previously chosen Scott Riggs to pilot it. Unfortunately, Riggs couldn’t get approved to run at Daytona, so they asked Neuenberger to drive. While prepping for the race, Neuenberger and Riggs became instant friends while they both worked on the truck – which Neuenberger finished in 9th. Donnie then ran part-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for a few years and then went on to the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Donnie made his Nationwide Series debut at Lowe’s Motor Speedway (Charlotte) in the of fall 2002. With his alma mater, the University of Maryland, College Park on the #77 Moy Racing Ford, he started 41st and finished 26th. Donnie has been racing off and on since.

THE BUMP ON THE TRACK

Donnie continued racing, but after Talladega in 2004, Donnie was diagnosed with Stage 4 Follicular Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. The chemotherapy and the recovery forced Donnie out for the rest of the year.

As time went on, Donnie was able to return to the track which made for what many may consider a feel-good story. The No. #72 MacDonald Motorsports team invited him back to Daytona. For 2010, Donnie drove part-time in both the #52 IHOP Chevrolet for Means and the #41 Chevrolet for Rick Ware Racing.

As of right now, Donnie is in remission. His Follicular Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma is not curable without a bone marrow transplant, which is not 100% certain, either. He undergoes scans every year to monitor the tumors. “I never had a chance to thank Larry McRenolds and the other broadcasters that give me kudos along with the many race fans and friends… so through you, (Racingal.com Blog) I am able to do so,” said Neuenberger.

NASCAR Nationwide driver Donnie Neuenberger and children at the Children's Hospital in Washington D.C. Photo courtesy of The Donnie Neuenberger Foundation

In the meantime, Donnie started the Donnie Neuenberger Foundation to give back – because of the chance he has been given – and hopes that everyone will check out the Foundation by simply going to dgnf.org or dgnracing.com. Race fans can order a Driven to Survive bracelet for a donation of $8 while supporting the foundation. The Donnie Neuenberger foundation has recently taken delivery of 5,000 bracelets.

Graphic courtesy of The Donnie Neuenberger Foundation website

MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of  The Donnie Neuenberger Foundation is to support children and families battling cancer
by funding programs that improve quality of life thru hospital visitations and financial grants.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ORDER FORM TO ORDER A ‘DRIVEN TO SURVIVE’ BRACELET
Simply click on the picture of the bracelets to download your form.


GET TO KNOW DONNIE

When asked if he was superstitious, as most drivers are, Donnie went on to explain, “Naaah … I say a prayer before we start the engines, so that’s the one consistent thing I do.” However, one “close call” to being labeled a little odd was right before a Nationwide race at Dover, a fan walked up to Donnie and asked for an autograph. The fan then continued to ask him if he had ever flipped a car before. Donnie said, “Nooo!!!!” The fan, who ended up being a racer himself, went on to tell Donnie that he had flipped a midget car. “And don’t you know it, the next day….I flipped my car at Dover!!! Where’s that kid at today? ….. lol,” Donnie said.

I asked him if his number had any significance – the No. 81. “Well, yes and no,” replied Donnie. “The No. 81 was my high school football jersey number, so that makes it cool, but I’ve run so many numbers in my career that it doesn’t matter as long as I’m running! It just happened to be the number the team has, so I’m ok with it.”

When it comes to the question of who his biggest race fan is, you can believe it is his Mother, JoAnn. I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with JoAnn for an extended amount of time up at Dover International Speedway, where Donnie last raced. She had recently sent me a story that I asked her to share with the fans, about Donnie that is very memorable to her:

When a driver loses his ride…literally!!

“A few years ago, Donnie was racing in Daytona in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
and was going to race one night at a local track for another owner and was hauling the car.
He had parked it in the Mall near where we were staying. A few hours later we were taking
him to get the car and trailer and while looking for the car and trailer, the owner called Donnie
and was asking how everything was going and when he expected him to be at the track.

Well, Donnie didn’t panic and told him “everthing is cool” not knowing where the
truck and trailer was!! It turns out it had been towed. That in itself is another story just
getting it back and getting it out of the impounded lot.

He got to the track in plenty of time and the owner never knew this story,
which we still laugh over today.”

* * * * * * * * * *

Donnie ran at Daytona International Speedway this year with Lilly Trucking in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. “Unfortunately, we had all kind of problems, but were poised to have a top 10 finish, and then the “big one” happened right in front of us. Our brakes failed, taking us out of the running…it was a fun, but tough night,” said Donnie. Neuenberger has made over 50 starts in the top-tier of NASCAR and has proven his abilities time and time again.

PLANS FOR 2011?

Neuenberger has no plans that are etched into stone – YET. As for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, there are no more scheduled races, but he would love to do a few more. “There just isn’t any money out there … I see it getting worse, not better,” said Donnie.

So in the meantime, Donnie keeps working hard, just like other drivers in the search for sponsorship, and to do whatever they have to do just to keep racing. When I asked Donnie what he likes to do when he’s not racing, Donnie stated the two things he DOESN’T want (to have) for his “off time” and that is a boat or an RV. Fortunately for Neuenberger, he knows enough people that do have those “toys,” so he’s good… “I say that because I get asked all the time if I have one or both.”  Neuenberger stated that he’s more into muscle cars. “I had a 1970 Boss 302 Mustang for almost 15 years, but I sold it to keep racing …. imagine that,” stating with a slight case of sarcasm. Today he has a 1968 Shelby KR 500 Mustang that he owns with his twin brother, Ron. “It’s not finished yet, but I’m working on it slowly… just money items left so that answers that.” Donnie’s owned a Mustang as long as he’s been driving. Donnie is also busy working on raising money for his foundation and visiting kids that have been diagnosed with cancer in local hospitals.

Donnie has given up a lot in order to race the past 18 years, but wouldn’t trade friends and relationships he’s made over that time for anything in the world.

“Like I say every day I’m alive, thank you Lord,” replied Donnie.

Be sure to “Like” The Donnie Neuenberger Foundation Facebook Fan Page. Donnie takes the time to reply to race fans and answer any questions they may have.