Tag Archives: NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race

Events, pre/post-race concerts scheduled leading up to Coca-Cola 600

Posted on by
Reply

A full schedule of events for the upcoming week and beyond:

Thursday, May 17, 7 p.m., Time Warner Cable Arena – Kicking off the festivities, the eighth edition of the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge will take place Thursday, May 17, at 7 p.m. at Time Warner Cable Arena (SPEED to televise on delayed basis beginning at 8 p.m.). This competition between 24 of the top NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pit crews features the “unsung heroes” of the sport in a popular tournament-style battle. The event’s finishing order determines pit selection for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. The No. 11 Toyota team is the two-time defending champion.

Those eligible for the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge: No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge; No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet; No. 9 Stanley Ford; No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota; No. 14 Office Depot / Mobil 1 Chevrolet; No. 15 5-Hour Energy Toyota; No. 16 3M Ford; No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford; No. 18 M&M’s Toyota; No. 20 Home Depot Toyota; No. 21 Good Sam / Camping World Ford; No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet; No. 27 Moen/Menards Chevrolet; No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet; No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet; No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford; No. 39 US Army / Quicken Loans Chevrolet; No. 48 My Lowes Chevrolet; No. 51 Phoenix Construction Services Chevrolet; No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota; No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota; No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet; No. 88 National Guard/Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet; No. 99 Fastenal Ford.

Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased online at www.pitcrewchallenge.com or by calling the Time Warner Cable Arena box office at (800) 745-3000.

Friday, May 18, NASCAR Day – The ninth celebration of NASCAR Day on Friday, May 18, encourages fans to join The NASCAR Foundation’s initiative in the “Pin It Forward” campaign. Fans are invited to connect and share their pride for NASCAR by posting stories and uploading pictures on the Foundation’s Facebook page. To continue raising awareness, fans can visit The NASCAR Foundation’s Facebook page between now and NASCAR Day to “Pin It Forward” with their $20 donation for a pair of commemorative pins – one for yourself, one for a friend. In addition to helping the cause online, fans may post pictures displaying their spirit – and their pins – and share the story of what it means to “Pin It Forward.” Accounts to engage with this promotion are The NASCAR Foundation’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/NASCARFoundation, and @NASCAR_FDN on Twitter. The associated Twitter hashtag for this initiative is #NASCARDay.

Friday, May 18, 5 p.m., Charlotte Motor Speedway – NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Coors Light Pole Qualifying. For tickets, call 1-800-455-FANS or log onto www.charlottemotorspeedway.com – SPEED to televise.

Friday, May 18, 8 p.m., Charlotte Motor Speedway – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series North Carolina Education Lottery 200. For tickets, call 1-800-455-FANS or go to www.charlottemotorspeedway.com – SPEED to televise.

Saturday, May 19, 7:30 p.m., Charlotte Motor Speedway – Sprint Showdown (top two finishers qualify for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race). For tickets, call 1-800-455-FANS or go to www.charlottemotorspeedway.com – SPEED to televise.

One final option remains for those not already locked in after the Sprint Showdown, and it’s all in the hands of the fans. The Sprint Fan Vote gives the most loyal fans in all of sports the opportunity to lock in their favorite driver. To vote, click here: http://nas.cr/a32m

Saturday, May 19, 9 p.m., Charlotte Motor Speedway – NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. For tickets, call 1-800-455-FANS or go to www.charlottemotorspeedway.com – SPEED to televise.

Those drivers already locked into the main event: Marcos Ambrose, Trevor Bayne, Greg Biffle, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Mark Martin, Paul Menard, Ryan Newman, David Ragan, Regan Smith and Tony Stewart.

Saturday night’s all-star race consists of a unique – and lucrative – format. The race will be run in five segments. The first four segments will be 20 laps each. The fifth and final segment will be a 10-lap dash to the finish, where only green flag laps count. The winners of the first four segments will move to the front of the field and line up in positions 1-4 prior to the field coming to pit road for the final mandatory pit stop prior to Segment 5 (if there is a repeat segment winner, the second-place finisher will start in his place). The winner gets a $1 million payout, and likely more.

Those fans in attendance get an extra treat – a pre-race concert by one of the biggest names in country music, Blake Shelton. Shelton, a three-time GRAMMY nominee and CMA’s reigning Male Vocalist of the Year, will perform prior to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race in the infield between Turns 1 and 2. Admission to the show is free with the purchase of a ticket to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

You can also keep up to date with all the week’s events by following @NASCAR on Twitter (Hashtag: #SprintAllStar) and logging onto www.nascar.com/allstar.

ON DECK

Further major events follow the all-star extravaganza, both taking place in the Charlotte area. Here’s a run of show for next week:

Wednesday, May 23, 6 p.m., NASCAR Hall of Fame – The fourth annual NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Day is set for next Wednesday, May 23. Following voting procedures, NASCAR will announce the five inductees who will make up the 2013 NASCAR Hall of Fame class. The NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel, consisting of members of the Nominating Committee and others representing NASCAR, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, major race track ownership groups, retired drivers, owners and crew chiefs along with motorsports media representatives, will meet in a closed session to deliberate and vote on the 25 candidates eligible for this fourth class.

Once again, fans will help decide who earns entry into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. To cast your vote, click here: http://nas.cr/bgac

Wednesday’s announcement is once again open to fans who purchase a ticket to the NASCAR Hall of Fame that day. Adult tickets cost $18.95 and the Hall will offer extended hours (9 a.m. to 8 p.m.) on Wednesday.

Thursday, May 24, 7:10 p.m., Charlotte Motor Speedway – NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying. For tickets, call 1-800-455-FANS or go to www.charlottemotorspeedway.com – SPEED to televise.

Saturday, May 26, 2:45 p.m., Charlotte Motor Speedway – NASCAR Nationwide Series History 300. For tickets, call 1-800-455-FANS or go to www.charlottemotorspeedway.com – ABC to televise.

Sunday, May 27, 6 p.m., Charlotte Motor Speedway – NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600. One of the sport’s crown jewels, NASCAR’s longest race is scheduled for 400 laps and 600 miles. For tickets, call 1-800-455-FANS or go to www.charlottemotorspeedway.com – FOX to televise.

Country music star Darius Rucker will perform prior to the Coca-Cola 600, immediately following the speedway’s signature military-themed pre-race show.

The Memorial Day Weekend festivities kick off the at-track activation of “NASCAR Unites – An American Salute,” a patriotic initiative uniting the NASCAR industry and fans to celebrate America and support U.S. military families. The initiative, which launched at the White House on April 9, will run through the next six weeks, continuing until the Independence Day race weekend at Daytona International Speedway. To participate in “NASCAR Unites – An American Salutes,” visit www.NASCAR.com/Unites.

No points means no holding back in NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race

Posted on by
Reply

 

Track Size: 1.5 miles
Banking Turns: 24 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 5 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 5 degrees
Frontstretch: 1,980 feet
Backstretch: 1,500 feet

Notebook

·         There have been 27 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Races.

·         The first NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race was in 1985.

·         26 have been held at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In 1986, the event was held at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and won by Bill Elliott. That season was also the first year for what is now known as the Sprint Showdown.

·         86 drivers have run in at least one all-star race.

·         There have been 19 different winners of the all-star race.

·         Mark Martin has participated in 22 races, more than any other driver.

·         The race has featured a field that ranged from 10 drivers in 1986 to 27 in 2002.

·         Dale Earnhardt (1987, 1990 and 1993) and Jeff Gordon (1995, 1997 and 2001) are the only three-time winners of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

·         There have been eight different winners in the last eight NASCAR Sprint All-Star Races.

·         Davey Allison (1991 and 1992), Terry Labonte (1988 and 1999), Mark Martin (1998 and 2005) and Jimmie Johnson (2003 and 2006) are the only other drivers to post multiple victories in the all-star races. Allison is the only driver to ever win consecutive all-star events.

·         Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2000) and Ryan Newman (2002) are the only drivers to win the all-star race in their rookie season.

·         Jeff Gordon is the youngest winner of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at 23 years, 9 months and 18 days (1995). Mark Martin is the oldest at 46 years, 4 months and 12 days (2005).

·         In two starts Joey Logano leads the series with an average finish of 5.5 in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race; followed by Matt Kenseth with a 6.5 average finish in 11 appearances and Tony Stewart with a 7.1 average finish in 13 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race appearances.

·         The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race has been won from the pole position four times; the first three came in consecutive years: Dale Earnhardt (1990) and Davey Allison (1991 and 1992). Kurt Busch posted the fourth win from the pole in 2010.

·         The deepest in the field an all-star race winner has started was 27th, by Ryan Newman in 2002.

·         Hendrick Motorsports drivers have won six all-star races: Jeff Gordon (three), Jimmie Johnson (two) and Terry Labonte (one).

·         Five drivers have won the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship in the same year: Darrell Waltrip (1985), Dale Earnhardt (1987, 1990, 1993), Rusty Wallace (1989), Jeff Gordon (1995, 1997, 2001) and Jimmie Johnson (2006).

·         The record for lead changes in a NASCAR Sprint All-Star race is 10 in 2004. The most different leaders is nine in 2002.

 

Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. going into the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 19.

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet)

·         One win, eight top fives, nine top 10s

·         Average finish of 7.1

Ryan Newman (No. 39 Tornados Chevrolet)

·         One win, three top fives, six top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 9.2

Mark Martin (No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota)

·         Two wins, six top fives, 10 top 10s

·         Average finish of 10.9

Matt Kenseth (No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)

·         One win, four top fives, eight top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 6.5

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Patriotic Chevrolet)

·         Two wins, six top fives, six top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 7.2

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)

·         Three wins, six top fives, nine top 10s

·         Average finish of 9.3

Carl Edwards (No. 99 Fastenal Ford)

·         One win, three top fives, four top 10s

·         Average finish of 9.3

Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota)

·         One top five, two top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 13.8

Kurt Busch (No. 51 Phoenix Construction Services Inc. Chevrolet)

·         One win, four top fives, five top 10s

·         Average finish of 11.1

Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M/ American Red Cross Ford)

·         Two top fives, three top 10s

·         Average finish of 12.3

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES

NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race festivities kick off on Thursday night with the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge at Time Warner Cable Arena in Uptown Charlotte at 7 p.m. ET. SPEED will broadcast the event on tape delay at 8 p.m.

On Saturday, the Sprint Showdown starts at 7 p.m. on SPEED, with the top-two finishers advancing into the main event. The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race starts at 9 p.m. on SPEED.

First-timers usually don’t fare too well in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. The last driver to win in his first appearance was Ryan Newman in 2002.

Those attempting to accomplish a feat that hasn’t occurred in a decade: Paul Menard, Trevor Bayne and Marcos Ambrose.

Other drivers could join those three as first timers, depending on the results of the Sprint Showdown and the Sprint Fan Vote.

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the N.C. Education Lottery 200 on Friday, May 18 and will air at 7:30 p.m. on SPEED.

Timothy Peters leads the championship standings by four points over James Buescher. Justin Lofton, Ty Dillon and Nelson Piquet Jr. round out the top five.

Brad Keselowski will return to the series for the third time this season to pilot his BKR No. 19 entry at Charlotte.

The former trucks series competitor could become the 24th different driver to win in all three national series with a victory in the N.C. Education Lottery 200.

NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES

NASCAR Nationwide Series heads to the much anticipated short-track at Iowa Speedway. The Pioneer hi-Bred 250 will run Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPN.

Since winning his first NASCAR race in 2010 at a NASCAR K&N Pro Series East record age of 16 years, five months, 19 days, the countdown was on for Darrell Wallace Jr. – AKA “Bubba” – to start taking his steps on “The Ladder” toward his ultimate national series goal.

 

His ascension officially begins Sunday at Iowa Speedway where he’ll make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut for Joe Gibbs Racing. This is the first of four stand-alone events for the series this season and the first of two visits to the .875-mile track designed by NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee Rusty Wallace.

 

 

Stenhouse, the reigning series champion, swept both Iowa races last year, defeating his Roush Fenway Racing teammate – and 2007 series champion – Carl Edwards each time. The second of those victories was perhaps the most dramatic moment of 2011: Stenhouse sliding across the finish line just ahead of Edwards, who had slammed into the rear of Stenhouse’s No. 6 Mustang thanks to a thick smoke shield from its expiring engine.

 

Now Stenhouse (@StenhouseJr) returns to his turf brimming with confidence. Not only because of those wins but as the series’ points leader. He’s 23 up on his rival, Elliott Sadler, who’s in second.

 

 

 

 

NASCAR Pit Crew Challenge 101: Sweet labor of competition

Posted on by
Reply

The 2012 NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew, a fan-friendly, pit-crew competition featuring the top-24 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pit crews, is scheduled for Thursday, May 17, 2012, at Time Warner Cable Arena beginning at 7pm. Tickets are on sale with prices starting at $15.

The event’s finishing order determines pit selection for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

The No. 11 FedEx Toyota team is the defending Pit Crew Challenge champion.

ELIGIBLE TEAMS
All teams currently qualified for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, which includes NASCAR Sprint Cup race winners from 2011 and 2012, NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race winners of the past 10 years and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions of the past 10 years who are active drivers and have competed in at least one Series event during the 2011 or 2012 season. Also eligible is the 2011 NSPCC winner. If there are no new event winners, the remaining unfilled positions will become available to the car owners ranked highest in the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship Owner point standings as of May 14, 2012, who are not otherwise eligible for this event. Seven (7) members of each team are allowed to compete.

SEEDING ROUND (Held before doors open at 4:30 pm)
This round features the top eight teams in NSCS Owner Points. Teams will compete in four head-to-toe runs, with the quickest tim receiving the top overall seed for the 2012 NSPCC. The remaining seven teams in the Seeding Round will be seeded Nos. 2-8 in order of their times (quickest to slowest).

FORMAT DETAILS
The individual skills stations in these two rounds are actual pit boxes with a full size NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car. All team members will begin simultaneously at the sound of a starter’s pistol. They will hit a stop button positioned on pit wall as they leave their respective pit box, creating their individual split time.

Additionally, the fastest crew member at each station will be crowned as the individual champion in the following categories:

Front Tire Changer and Carrier

Photo courtesy of Pitcrewchallenge.com

In this box, changers and carriers will work together to simulate race-day condition. Just like a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event, the front tire changer and carriers will start from along side pit wall, attacking the right side of the car first, and then moving onto the left. The second tire will be pre-positioned by the carrier at the pit wall. Competitors will use their own air guns, and a time penalty will be assessed for any lugs not properly installed. Tire Changer must hit split timer button upon exit of pit box.

Rear Tire Changer and Carrier
Very similar to the Front positions, but the starting position will be just over the wall, near the left rear of the car. Tire Changer must hit split timer button on exit of pit box.

Jack Man

Photo courtesy of Pitcrewchallenge.com

In this box, the jack man, using their own jack, must jack each side of the car high enough to lift both tires off the ground. A NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Official will signal when the tires on each side of the car are off the ground. The jack man must start from alongside pit wall and must set off both lights before hitting the split timer button and leaving his pit box.

Gas Man/Second Gas Can Man
In this box, the gas man and second gas can man will be responsible for filling a car with 18 gallons of non-flammable liquid, using two pre-loaded nine (9) gallon cans. A second gas can man is allowed to hand the second can to the gas man but not leave the established “batter’s box.” For this competition, the single point closed loop fueling system

Photo courtesy of Pitcrewchallenge.com

will not be utilized. Gas men will start with one fuel can in hand from just over the wall near left rear of the car, and will be timed through setting the second can down. If the fuel cell is not full, the competitor will receive a time penalty. The gas man must hit split timer on exit of pit box. Once the element is complete, the NASCAR Official will take the cans to be weighed.

40 Yard Push
As soon as each team member finishes their respective station, they can go to the center

Photo courtesy of Pitcrewchallenge.com

of the Bobcats Arena, where a special 40-yard lane is created. Each team will get to push their own 3,200 pound (w/ driver) race car across the finish line. Timing for this individual non-purse element will begin when the car start to move, finishing when the nose of the racing machine crosses the electronic finish line.

Prizes
Each of the winning individual crew members will receive a $10,000 cash prize. Teams competing in the Seeding Round and First Round will have their individual skill times count toward the Individual Skills Titles.

ROUND 1
All teams seeded No. 9 – No. 24 compete in a head-to-head singles-elimination format, with the eight winning teams advancing to the second round of competition.

ROUND 2

The eight winning teams from Round One advance to face the teams seeded No. 1 through No. 8. Wight heat winners advance to Round Three.

ROUND 3 (Quarterfinals)

The head-to-head competition continues with the same format from Round Two. Four heat winners advance to Round Four.

ROUND 4 (Semifinals)

The winning teams from Round Three compete head-to-head with the two winners advancing to the Championship Round.

ROUND 5 (Finals)

The two winning teams from Round 4 compete head-to-head with the winner crowned as 2012 NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge Champion.

In the event a tie should happen during any of the rounds, the car owner who is ranked higher in the current 2012 NSCS Championship point standings as of May 17, 2012 will win.

Tickets for the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge start at $15 and can be purchased online at www.pitcrewchallenge.com or by calling the Charlotte Bobcats ticket office at 800-745-3000.