Tag Archives: Racing

NASCAR And Twitter partner to bring fans closer to the sport on race day

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Graphic courtesy of NASCARMedia

NASCAR and Twitter announced today a unique digital partnership that will create a new way for the sport’s millions of fans to experience what happens inside NASCAR and its teams on race day.

Built to support the live race broadcast, this new experience will give fans a complementary insider’s view of the action as it unfolds on the track and on Twitter. During a race, when fans click on #NASCAR, search for #NASCAR on Twitter.com or visit twitter.com/#NASCAR, they’ll reach a new Twitter experience where they will see the most relevant tweets from their favorite NASCAR drivers, NASCAR families, teams, commentators, celebrities and other racing fans and personalities.

NASCAR is the first organization to team with Twitter to create an enhanced live event experience on the Twitter platform.

“Twitter has been an important piece of our effort the last several years to further engage our fan base and help grow the sport,” said Steve Phelps, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of NASCAR. “This new, complementary live race experience product is an evolution of that relationship with Twitter, and we’re excited about continuing to provide our millions of fans with greater access to our athletes and further engagement with our drivers, teams, tracks and executives.”

Twitter.com/#NASCAR will be available starting with the Pocono Raceway race weekend and will be most active on Sunday, June 10 in conjunction with TNT’s first of six television broadcasts of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season (1 p.m. ET on TNT). This new product will provide a complementary Twitter experience to TNT viewers looking for in-depth access to the happenings at the track and in the garage of a NASCAR race weekend.

“Twitter amplifies the excitement of live sporting events and gives NASCAR fans insider access to the drivers and teams they love,” said Dick Costolo, chief executive officer of Twitter Inc. “When sports fans around the world see a hashtag displayed on the air during a game or race, that’s a signal to them that there is a bigger conversation happening on Twitter. Between the talented NASCAR personalities on Twitter and the fact that they have some of the most loyal fans in the world of sports, they were a natural choice to partner with as we experiment with ways to create the best experience on Twitter during a big event.”

Twitter.com/#NASCAR will use a combination of algorithmic and editorial signals to select and feature the best Tweets and photos from NASCAR insiders in an effort to bring the behind-the-scenes story to life during NASCAR race weekends. Twitter’s media team will be curating Tweets to highlight on the page come race weekend from a highly selective list of accounts from the world of NASCAR including drivers, pit crews, families, media, fans and NASCAR representatives.

NASCAR RELEASE

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

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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

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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.

 

 

 

 

Phoenix Racing’s Kurt Busch flies off handle after Darlington incident

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According to Jayskis, several of Ryan Newman’s crewmen confronted Phoenix Racing’s Kurt Busch Saturday night at Darlington Raceway following Kurt Busch’s angry burnout through Newman’s pit box.

After Busch had a flat tire and crashed with six laps remaining – an incident which also collected Newman – the Phoenix Racing driver lost his cool and began yelling on the team radio. When Busch completed his pit stop to fix damage shortly after the wreck, he did a loud, angry burnout while leaving his pit box.

However, during the burnout, Busch drove through Newman’s pit box as well – and several Newman crew members were still over the wall after recently completing service on the #39 car. Among the angry crewmen was Newman’s gas man, Andy Rueger, who went to the Phoenix Racing hauler to await Busch’s arrival. Busch’s crew chief Nick Harrison instructed Busch to stop at the entrance of pit road and leave the car there instead. The driver was livid on the radio and had been screaming obscenities during the final few laps, and the team felt it would be a good idea for him just to get off the track.

Words were exchanged between the crewmen and Busch, and a NASCAR official fell onto Busch’s hood in the process. Robin Pemberton said the official just lost his footing.

It’s unclear whether NASCAR will issue any penalties in this situation.

Happy Mother’s Day – NASCAR style

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— n
MOTHER  
A female who has given birth to offspring
b. ( as modifier ): a mother bird
c. ( often capital, esp as a term of address ) a person’s own mother

A female substituting in the function of a mother

Motherly qualities, such as maternal affection: it appealed to the mother in her
b. ( as modifier ): mother love
c. ( in combination ): mothercraft
A female or thing that creates, nurtures, protects, etc, something
b. ( as modifier ): mother church ; mother earth

A title given to certain members of female religious orders: mother superior

— vb
To give birth to or produce to nurture, protect, etc as a mother  

— Related
maternal   [Old English mōdor;  compare Old Saxon mōdar,  Old High German muotar, Latin māter, Greek mētēr ]

NASCAR moms have always been an important part of all the racing families. From their ‘little driver’ learning how to ride a bike to getting a finger stuck in a steering wheel to watching their (grown) child tackle the toughest of all tracks – MOMS have been on quite a ride with their kids as they continue to compete in all three top NASCAR Series.

A special THANK YOU to all Mom’s out there and congratulations on a job well done!

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart poses with his mother Pam Boas.

He said: “She’s a pretty patient woman. Anyone that could actually raise me and not want to kill me or kick me out of the house has got to be a very patient person. That’s my mom. She’s a very patient lady with a great heart and she’s really good with people.”

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin with his mother, Mary Lou Hamlin.

She tells him to “Keep your confidence up even though things aren’t going well. Don’t let discouragement take over your ability.”

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jamie McMurray with his mother, Sue McMurray.

She told him to… “Live within your budget! I think that was the best advice that I would get. Mom was always very conservative and maintained a disciplined habit of paying all the bills on time. She was a school teacher and always worked hard to manage our family finances. I grew up in a home of modest means, but she taught me to not spend money that I didn’t have for things that were non-essential.”

NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Elliott Sadler with his mother, Bell Sadler.

“One thing that my mom taught me was to be able to laugh at yourself. If you can’t laugh at yourself and have fun, there’s no need to even do it.”

NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Justin Allgaier with his mother Dorothy Allgaier and family.

She told him to  “Treat others as you would want to be treated and treat your wife like a princess.”

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Jennifer Jo Cobb with her mother, Connie Cobb.

“My mama always reminded me, ‘Comparison is the thief of joy.’ And, boy, was she right.”

NASCAR Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series driver Johanna Long with her mother Brenda Long.

Brenda’s race day advice to Johanna: “Don’t ever leave anything on the table. As long as you give 110 percent you will always be able to walk away with a clear conscience knowing that you gave it your all!”

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver John King with his mother Myra King.

Her best advice? “If you don’t separate your colors you’re gonna end up with a pink shirt” and “Always keep a clean pair of drawers.”

ESPN Pit Reporter Jamie Little. Photo by ESPN PR

Also, Happy 1st Mother’s Day to ESPN Pit Reporter Jamie Little and DeLana Harvick  as well as to ALL Mom’s in NASCAR Nation!

*All photos were submitted to NASCARMedia.

 

 

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.

 

 

MWR transport driver to drive FDNY Rescue 4 in Darlington Hauler Parade to honor brother killed on 9/11

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Photo from The Rememberance Rescue Project

Michael Waltrip Racing’s No. 15 5-hour ENERGY transport driver Al Nelson, a native of Long Island, N.Y., will get the special opportunity on Thursday night in Darlington to honor his brother Peter Allen Nelson. Peter Nelson was a firefighter in FDNY Rescue 4 killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.

Members of the Remembrance Rescue Project, a not-for-profit created by firefighters to restore, preserve and operate Rescue 4 and Rescue 5 from 9/11 as educational tools, historical artifacts and memorials, reached out to Al Nelson last month. The group informed Nelson that former FDNY Rescue 4 will be in Darlington at the same time as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events and asked if he would be willing to drive the Rescue 4 truck in the Darlington Car Hauler Parade on Thursday night.

Nelson agreed and will now drive the Rescue 4 truck in Thursday night’s festivities.

“I learned about the Remembrance Rescue Project about a month ago, but I think what they are doing is truly special,” said Nelson. “My brother Pete and I used to be volunteer firefighters together at Huntington Manor Fire Dept. in Huntington Station, Long Island. Being a firefighter is something that people can’t take away from you. It was something that we enjoyed doing together and it had a camaraderie and brotherhood that is hard to explain.

“Pete was a really good firefighter and moved up the ranks pretty quick. He moved to Queens to be a part of Rescue 4 and worked his way up to third assistant chief by Sept. 11. He was on the fast track at the time he died and since then had his rank elevated to Honorary Chief. To be able to honor him in this way and see the things that the Remembrance Rescue Project are doing to honor the legacy of the men that passed and educate the young people on Sept. 11 is even better.”

Michael Waltrip Racing’s No. 15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota will also run a special Remembrance Rescue Project decal on the lower rear quarter panel throughout the race weekend at Darlington.

In the aftermath of 9/11, Rescues 1 and 2 lost their rigs at the World Trade Center, and those of Rescues 3 and 5 required major repairs before being placed back into service. Immediately after 9/11, Rescue 4 was the only rescue company covering the City of New York.

The Project involving former FDNY Rescue 4 and Rescue 5 is an educational effort focused at society, especially those who are too young to understand the events of September 11th and what that day means to members of the fire service and to the country as a whole.

The Eighth Annual Darlington Car Hauler Parade takes place on Thursday, May 10. The event starts at 4 p.m. with entertainment and live music at the Florence Civic Center in Florence, S.C. The parade begins at 7 p.m. and makes its way along a 12-mile route to Darlington Square.

Peter Allen Nelson’s obituary as published in the New York Times on Nov. 21, 2001 can be found here.

For more information or to make a donation to the Remembrance Rescue Project, please visit www.remembrance.co.

Source: MWR Media Release

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.

 

A.J. Allmendinger official spokesperson for SCOTT® Pro Shop Towels “Take the Challenge” sweepstakes

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Ok race fans – here’s a sweepstakes for you to participate in for your chance to win a 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT!!

SCOTT® Pro Shop Towels “Take the Challenge” sweepstakes runs now through October 15, 2012. Fans can enter to win at www.scottproshoptowels.com.

A.J. Allmendinger, driver of the No. 22 Penske Dodge will serve as the official spokesperson for the SCOTT® Pro Shop Towels “Take the Challenge” sweepstakes. Allmendinger will also present the keys of the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT to the winner of the SCOTT® Pro Shop Towels “Take the Challenge” sweepstakes.

SCOTT® Pro Shop Towels “Take the Challenge” Sweepstakes Grand Prize Package:
•    2012 Dodge® Challenger® SRT
•    Trip for two to Nashville, Tenn., in November 2012
•    Winner featured on segment of Powerblock on SPIKE TV
•    Customized Cover Craft Car Cover
•    One-year supply of SCOTT® Pro Shop Towels

Two ways to enter the SCOTT® Pro Shop Towels “Take the Challenge” Sweepstakes:
•    Enter online at www.ScottProShopTowels.com
•   Mail an entry form (3” x 5” piece of paper) and include your name, address, phone, and email address (if available) and product UPC code (optional) to P.O. Box 705, North Branford, CT 06471

This promotion marks the first time SCOTT® Pro Shop Towels, a brand of Kimberly-Clark Professional, has used motorsports as a marketing platform.

To be eligible to participate in the SCOTT® Pro Shop Towels “Take the Challenge” Sweepstakes, consumers must be 21 years or older and a legal resident of the 50 United States or District of Columbia. The grand prize winner must be able to travel to Nashville, Tenn., in November 2012. Entry is limited to one per person. No purchase necessary.

NASCAR driver Mark Martin discusses his greatest fear

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Michae Waltrip driver Mark Martin. Photo courtesy of MWR.

Mark Martin has spent 30 years in NASCAR Sprint Cup racing.

He has raced against many of the sport’s greatest drivers including Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt, Darrell Waltrip and modern day heroes like Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.

Martin raced at the 200 mph superspeedways and banged fenders on the notorious bullrings in the days before SAFER barriers, HANS devices, full-faced helmets and roof flaps.

Nothing he’s encountered has ever unnerved the 53-year-old Batesville, Ark. native who’s made 40 trips to victory lane.

But, there’s still one thing in racing that makes his skin crawl. “It’s good luck charms,” laughs Martin. “I don’t like them at all.”

To this day, Martin immediately hands off anything that most consider “lucky.”

“I try not to insult fans when they give me something,” he said. “I try to be nice and say thank you, but I can’t get rid of them fast enough.”

That’s unusual in a sport where some drivers carry a rabbit’s foot in the car, tape verses to the dash, put lucky coins in their uniform pockets. Through the years drivers have shunned green paint schemes, eating peanuts near the car before the race and driving the No. 13.

But, Martin said he has good reason to shun the supposed bringers of good fortune.

His dim view of good luck charms dates back to one Sunday afternoon in 1993 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. A well-meaning fan gave Martin a four-leaf clover he taped to the dash of his car.

 “I got hit in the back right after the green flag came out,” Martin recalled. “I got hit so hard it destroyed my car and ruined our race. We got all tore up.”

That was the end of good luck charms for Martin. “I have been anti lucky charm ever since.”

MWR press release