Michael Waltrip says Dale Earnhardt was the inspiration to start his team

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February 13, 2013

Waltrip_Atlanta09_Scoggins_400 — Photo Credit: Simon Scoggins

When Michael Waltrip takes to the track this coming Daytona Speedweeks, it’ll be a memorable weekend. The two-time Daytona 500 champion has put together a deal with Swan Racing to try and qualify for this year’s Daytona 500.

“Racing the 500 is a big deal to me,” Waltrip said. “It’s something that means a lot. That race defines my career. That’s the race that we all grow up inspiring to go win as a kid so I just love it. So greatful to be in it.”

The deal reunites him with Tony Eury Jr. and Steve Hmiel, whom he worked both with at Dale Earnhardt Incorporated. Also, members of the team that Eury Jr. and Hmiel have brought in were part of the team at DEI.

“I went over there the other day and it’s like going back eight years seeing all the people working there,” Waltrip said this past weekend. “The last time I went to the Daytona 500 with Tony Eury Jr. as my crew chief, we won the 150 qualifier and were leading the Daytona 500 when our engine broke. Tony Jr. was a lot of fun to work with then and the car I will be driving in the 500, Tony Jr. will be my crew chief. So looking forward to that.”

The deal for Waltrip at Dale Earnhardt Incorporated came together virtue of his friendship with Dale Earnhardt. Earnhardt put Waltrip behind the wheel of the No. 15, with the promise to deliver Waltrip his first ever Sprint Cup Series career victory.

Those pieces came together with their first race together – the 2001 Daytona 500 – as Waltrip took the checkered flag ahead of Dale Earnhardt Jr. However, the other side of that fateful day was the crash in turn three that saw Earnhardt die. Waltrip released a book called In The Blink of an Eye, which he talks about that day and his mixed emotions.

“I believed in writing the book was to try to figure it out,” Waltrip explained. “It was hard to talk about the details of that day because it was too painful, but the day – talking in relation to my team and how I started it – if you ever see me heading towards the final turn with two of my cars going to win the Daytona 500 and I get plucked from the earth, just know that I went out as happy as I’ll ever be. The Daytona 500 is one of the greatest races ever to win as a car owner and a racecar driver. That day, we were hurting cause Dale left us, but I bet no one ever had a bigger smile on their face when they left us.”

Having watched Earnhardt grow his team from a small simple garage to what was known as the Garage Mahal, it was Earnhardt that inspired Waltrip to put his team together.

“Dale was a tremendous amount of inspiration for me to start that team,” Waltrip said. “I wanted to have a team ever since forever. It started out as a little shop behind my house, and that’s how Dale Earnhardt Incorporated started. He just had a late model team, and he raced some Nationwide races with his car and grew it into DEI. Dale was my buddy and I really admired him and looked up him and always wanted to have a team like Dale’s. We’re not anywhere near where DEI was when Dale left it, but we’re gaining on it and I bet that makes him proud.”

As part of the deal with Swan Racing for this year’s Daytona 500, Waltrip will be unveiling a special paint scheme.

“We have a really neat announcement next Thursday with what the car will look like, what will be on the car,” Waltrip announced. “The media tour in Daytona is next Thursday and this time, in the middle of two sessions, we’re going to unveil our car and let the world know what our plan is. it’s really special.”

Leavine Family Racing Energized with Associate Sponsorship from TeaZa

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February 13, 2013

Leavine-Family-Racing — Photo Credit: lfr95.com

Is It Time For NASCAR To Ditch The Bricks? Why NASCAR Needs To Leave Indy

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February 13, 2013

120729084938-jjohnson-indy-win-allcuts-homepage-t1 — Photo Credit: Getty Images for NASCAR

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is well regarded as one of the meccas of Motor Sports. Since it opened in 1909 it has been labeled as the greatest race course in the world. It is practically a who’s who as to who has been fortunate enough to add their name to a winner’s trophy at the Brickyard. From AJ Foyt to Rick Mears to Dan Wheldon in Indy Car. Jeff Gordon,Tony Stewart, and Jimmie Johnson in NASCAR and F1 legend Michael Schumacher. With a seating capacity of well over 250,000, the Brickyard is the largest venue attendance wise in the sport. With all this being said it is time for NASCAR to leave a place more noted for Open Wheel Racing and return to a venue that has a tradition more geared towards Stock Car Racing. Here are a few reasons why.

First reason is attendance. In 1994 the inaugural Brickyard 400 drew 350,000 fans which is the largest crowd ever to witness a sanctioned NASCAR event. Fast forward to five years later in 1999. Attendance for the Brickyard 400 was an estimated 250,000. The 2012 Brickyard 400 only managed to draw 125,000 fans. Half of the speedway’s permanent seating capacity. So while yes attendance is a major issue. What are the factors driving down attendance? I have a couple of theories.

Summertime in July at Indianapolis can be described in one word. Hot okay miserably hot. Last year’s Brickyard 400 was contested in almost 100 degree temperatures. NASCAR and the speedway only have a couple of viable options. One the speedway could install lights and contest the race at night or NASCAR and IMS could work to move the race to an earlier date on the schedule. But would that even in itself draw fans back to the speedway. My guess is no for this very next reason.

It can be summed up as basically you get what you pay for. Fans are not going to pay the money for race tickets and travel if they can’t see all the action on the race track. Obstructed fan views on the front stretch leaves many of race fan relying on video boards and scanners to follow their favorite driver on the track. Tradition and history can only provide so much. Fans want bang for their bucks.

Another reason for the decline at the Brickyard is the races lack competition. In the 19 year history of the Brickyard 400 the race winner has led an average of 54 laps over those 19 races. 2008 was the most damaging year for NASCAR at Indy. Tire failures plagued most of the event leaving NASCAR to throw a competition caution every 10 laps leaving many fans outraged. Last year’s Brickyard was won by almost 5 seconds and seeming there was no real action on track unless it was a restart.

So where does this leave NASCAR’s future at the Brickyard? It is a question that has many answers. Will they stay the course and keep coming back every July for the 400 or Will NASCAR look for greener pastures and go to a venue where it won’t have to compete with Indy Car? For me personally I think it is time for NASCAR to look at getting back to its roots. 20 years at the Brickyard is long enough. .

Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion To Sport New Look, Old Colors At Daytona

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February 13, 2013

The Sprint Unlimited, Daytona 500 Qualifying Signal Opening of 2013 Season

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February 13, 2013

JEFF FOXWORTHY HEADLINES SPEEDWAY CHILDREN’S CHARITIES EVENT

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February 13, 2013

ARCA Racing Series to celebrate 50 years at Daytona with Saturday’s Lucas Oil 200

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SM Staff

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February 13, 2013

The ARCA Racing Series, presented by Menards, will officially kick off their 61st racing season this Saturday, February 16th, at the Daytona International Speedway. The running of the Lucas Oil 200, presented by MAV TV-American Real, is going to be extra special this year. That’s because it will be ARCA’s 50th anniversary of racing at Daytona.

Traditionally, ARCA’s annual season opener at the all American center of speed is always an exciting event. However, this 50th anniversary event appears to have the making of something extra special. The Lucas 200 has 45 entries that features a mix of distinguished veterans combined with talented youngsters who are looking to launch a racing career at the national level.

Topping the list of those veteran drivers is Lebanon, Pennsylvania’s Bobby Gerhart, the driver of the #5 MAV TV Chevrolet. When it comes to ARCA racing at Daytona, Gerhart is on top of every major category you can name. He has the most series’ starts at Daytona-25, the most wins-8, the most top five finishes-10 and the most top tens-14. Gerhart also rules the ARCA qualifying sessions at Daytona as well. He has a series’ high four pole positions, the most starts from the front row at 6 and the most wins from the pole position at three. Another major plus here is the presence of crew chief Bill Gerhart. The Gerharts are regarded as the most effective racing brother duos in Daytona ARCA history.

Also topping the ARCA veterans list is Frank Kimmel. The Clarksville, Indiana native will be driving the #44 Ansel-Menards Toyota in Saturday’s race. Kimmel is a nine time ARCA champion with 76 series wins which places him second on the all time winner’s list just behind Iggy Katona’s 79 wins. Kimmel will be making his 22nd, consecutive, start in the Lucas Oil 200 and will be looking to rectify a long over due situation: he has never won at Daytona.

Keeping it in the family, while also representing the young guns of ARCA racing, is Will Kimmel, Frank Kimmel’s nephew, who will be behind the wheel of the #68 Gary Yeomans Ford driving for his father-team owner-crew chief Bill Kimmel Jr. This young driver finished third in last year’s Daytona event and should be regarded as someone to keep an eye on this Saturday.

Reigning ARCA series champion Chris Buescher will also be looking for checkers in the Lucas Oil 200. Buescher returns with his championship team from last year and will be driving the #17 Raulo Brothers Racing Ford. However, the Prosper, Texas native will not be defending his title this year. Buescher will be driving a partial ARCA schedule while dividing his time in some selected NASCAR Nationwide Series events for Roush Fenway Racing.

When it comes to prominent young guns in Saturday’s race, Turner-Scott Motorsports may have the definitive answer: Kyle Larson. The 20 year old Elk Grove, California resident will be driving the #4 Cessna Chevrolet. There are many racing observers who are pointing at this young driver and saying “real deal.” His on track accomplishments in just the last two seasons alone are nothing short of amazing. He has been successful in both NASCAR stock cars and USAC open wheel cars. For Larson, the Lucas Oil 200 will be an opportunity for extra seat time. He will be driving for Turner-Scott Racing full time this season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. This arrangement is with the blessing and support of Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing who has a driver development deal with Larson. There are many observers saying that this talented young man will be behind the wheel of an EGR Sprint Cup ride much sooner than later.

Never to be overlooked is the presence of Venturini Motorsports, one of the true veteran organizations in ARCA racing. The Venturinis will be fielding four teams in Saturday’s race. Topping that list is Mobile, Alabama’s Darrell Wallace who is yet another young driver who has garnered a lot of attention with the term “real deal” also attached to his name. Wallace will be making his Daytona Debut this Saturday in the #55 Toyota Manufacturing Toyota Camry. His presence in the Lucas Oil 200 is also additional seat time. Wallace was recently signed to drive full time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for Kyle Busch Motorsports with the support of Joe Gibbs Racing who has a driver development deal with him.

Also in Saturday’s race for Venturini Motorsports will be John Wes Townley. Already driving in NASCAR’s Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series, the Watkinsville, Georgia driver will be behind the wheel of the #15 Zaxby’s Toyota. Former Indy Car driver Milka Duno returns to the ARCA series this year on a full time basis with VMS. The Caracas, Venezuela driver will campaign the #35 CAN TV-Milka Way Toyota. Rounding out the Venturini effort will be ARCA newcomer Justin Boston, from Baltimore, Maryland, in the #25 ZLoop Computer and Electronics Recycling Centers Toyota. Boston will also be competing for the ARCA Rookie of the Year title.

With that diverse mix of series veterans combined with all that young talent, the Lucas Oil 200, presented by MAV TV-American Real, has the makings of a very exciting race. You can catch the action on the SPEED Channel this Saturday beginning at 4pm eastern time. A replay of the race will be aired by SPEED on Sunday morning at 1am eastern.