NASCAR Cup Series

In the waning moments of last Sunday's AAA Texas 500 we learned that our two championship contenders were very capable of getting aggressive without losing their sense of class. We saw further evidence that the #48 team is in traditional championship mode. We saw two cars hit each other after the Nationwide Series race and then watched a parachute strike a car before the Sprint Cup race. With those thoughts in mind, let's begin with.

Preparations for the rollout of the new NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car continue with a great deal of excitement and NASCAR has secured two additional dates at Charlotte Motor Speedway – Dec. 11-12 and Jan. 17-18 – as an option for those teams that want to supplement their new car testing schedule. Daytona Preseason Thunder, the annual three-day NASCAR Sprint Cup test session at Daytona International Speedway, will be held Jan. 10-12.

NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Nur Ali and Ali Motorsports announced today that they have partnered with Tweaker Energy Shot for the Great Clips 200 at Phoenix International Raceway on November 10. This partnership marks Tweaker Energy Shot’s first NASCAR endeavor. Ali will drive the Rick Ware Racing prepared No. 70 Tweaker Energy Shot Chevrolet Impala.

As a passionate ambassador for the Armed Forces Foundation, Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway carries a special meaning for Furniture Row Racing driver Kurt Busch.

Phoenix International Raceway and NASCAR fans in attendance at the AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race will celebrate Veterans Day by paying tribute to the generations of men and women who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces during the pre-race show beginning at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 11.

BUSCH BOUNCE BACK: Camry driver Kyle Busch crossed the finish line third in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday -- his fourth top-five result in the last five NSCS races.

Kevin Harvick and the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet team travel to Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) this week for Sunday’s AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race.

Michael Annett on Racing in Phoenix: “We’ve only got two races left to try and finish out the season with a win, and I think we’ve got a good shot at it this weekend. Phoenix has been a good track for me and I’ve run well there the past couple of races."

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has been selected as the Honorary Starter for the AdvoCare 500, Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber announced today. As the Honorary Starter, Governor Brewer will wave the green flag to start the AdvoCare 500, as well as greet the drivers during pre-race ceremonies on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012.

First time at Phoenix... Cale Gale will make his first start at Phoenix International Raceway on Friday, Nov. 9. The Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender has attended races at the one-mile oval in Avondale, Ariz., but has never driven on the circuit and has not been to the track since it was reconfigured in 2011.