The 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Champion and Sonoco Rookie of the Year, Kyle Larson, battled Kyle Busch Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway in the all time second closest Nationwide finish at the “World’s Fastest Half Mile.”
Nearing the finish line and closing in on lapped cars, Larson tried to squeeze his way past Busch in the final seconds of the Jeff Foxworthy Grit Chips 300. Despite Larson’s Cottonelle Chevrolet crowd pleasing race to the finish, Busch nipped Larson at the finish line by .023 seconds.
Kyle Larson, Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing Development Driver, made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at the DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway. Larson’s Clorox Chevrolet finished 13th despite one of the most horrific crashes in recent NASCAR history on the final lap, injuring more than 30 fans.
After a 2nd place finish at the Jeff Foxworthy Grit Chips 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway, Larson ranks 9th in overall Nationwide driver standings. Larson was named 2013 Top Sprint Cup Prospect by Sporting News, and will be racing a full Nationwide Series season for Turner Motor Sports with financial support from Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing.
Larson’s next battle for Victory Lane will be March 23rd at the Royal Purple 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana California.
RACEDAY FOOD CITY 500 PREVIEW – Roger Holtsclaw of SpeedwayMedia.com will join Greg to preview the 4th race of the Sprint Cup season with updated odds, analysis and picks on every key driver including defending champion, Brad Keselowski.
Bumper-to-bumper racing, beating and banging, and hot tempers can all be found during a race at the Bristol Motor Speedway. Those aspects are what make Bristol special and they are some of the best and most classic characteristics in racing. Race fans fell in love with the sport by watching short track racing which is some of the most exciting racing in the world. Drivers don’t play nice at short tracks and by them doing that, the excitement level of those races increases. The classic short-track racing will be on display this weekend at Bristol and the races will feature the best of NASCAR.
Single-lane racing is synonymous with short tracks. When the racing groove is smaller, it’s harder to pass the driver ahead of you so; drivers have to come up with unique ways to make passes. The famous way to make a pass at Bristol is the “bump and run” and that technique is what makes the racing exciting. Almost every driver will make that move during the race and it can get controversial. Tempers flare when drivers bump a guy out of the way and that leads to confrontation following the race. Pure excitement just tags along with classic short-track racing and those are just a few examples of how short-track racing puts on display the best racing in all of NASCAR.
When a track is only half of a mile long like Bristol is, the cars tend to stream out in a single-file line along the groove of the track. That is what creates the bumper-to-bumper racing since the cars are usually lined up bumper-to-bumper. You have to be daring to make a pass when the cars are streamed out in a single file line because, there’s only one way to do so: move the car ahead out of your way. Doing that creates the most exhilarating racing and it also could feature some pay-back later in the race. Fans love Bristol for the short-track racing feel the track offers and when sheet-metal is torn up after the race, the fans will leave happily because, they know they just witnessed a great race.
Fans flock in from all-over the world to watch a race at the Bristol Motor Speedway. Why do they do that? They do that because; we see the best racing in NASCAR at Bristol and Bristol often offers the most exciting racing. When the cars are beating and banging around a half-mile track, enthusiasm just fills the air. The racing environment at Bristol is indescribable. There’s no place besides Bristol that any fan would want to be when the cars are maneuvering their way around the World’s Fastest Half-Mile. The way of racing at Bristol is the best in NASCAR and it always is thrilling to watch.
Every race fan on earth would have to admit that short-track racing often is the most electrifying racing in the world. The thought of a race at Bristol brings smiles to people’s faces because, of that short-track racing feel. Bumper-to-bumper action and hot tempers are what make short-track racing a fan favorite event and when short-track racing occurs at Bristol; NASCAR is at its best. Short-track racing is where NASCAR’s roots happen to lie. It is what brought millions of fans to our sport and it’s also the reason why millions of fans still make our sport run today. The racing at Bristol this weekend will be simply amazing and it will be the best of NASCAR so far this season. Get ready to witness greatness because, the best of NASCAR has arrived this weekend at Bristol.
As the days tick away towards the new season for the OSCAAR Super Late Models and Modifieds, the anticipation grows for the season ahead. With that, teams begin showing previews of their paint schemes and what they have in store for the season ahead. Three teams will showcase their new paint schemes for the season at the 2013 Mega Speed Custom Car and Truck Show as part of OSCAAR’s booth.
OSCAAR will have a booth at the Mega Speed Custom Car and Truck Show next weekend (March 22nd to 24th) at the International Centre in Toronto, Ontario. OSCAAR officials will be talking to show attendees about the cars, the schedule, and the season ahead.
As announced, OSCAAR will have three cars on display including sophmore driver Rob Poole and rookies Kevin Cornelius and Bobby Tolton.
Poole, who enters his second full OSCAAR season, will have his No. 45 OSCAAR Super Late Model on display. Last year saw Poole pick up a couple of heat wins on his way to finishing ninth in points. With the bad luck that Rob Poole Racing sustained in 2012, certainly they are hoping for a better season in 2013.
Cornelius will have his No. 17 OSCAAR Super Late Model on display as the 2011 Sunset Speedway Limited Late Model makes the jump up from limited late models to OSCAAR.
“Really excited about the 2013 race season,” the Orangeville, Ontario native said back in December. “I would have to go back to 1996 when I was in my first race at Sauble Speedway to compare the excitement. Really looking forward to racing in what I consider to be one of the top series in Ontario with the toughest competition with guys like Glenn and Brandon Watson, George Wilson, Derek Tiemersma, Rob Clarke, Rob Poole and the list goes on.
“I think OSCAAR is on the verge of getting real big and that Dave (Gainforth) and the group are heading in the right direction.”
As announced in December, Cornelius will be piloting a McColl Racing Enterprises chassis. It marks the first M.R.E OSCAAR built chassis.
Lastly, Tolton will have his No. 13 OSCAAR Modified on display as he enters his first season of competition at the modified level. Tolton brings six years of mini stock and limited late model experience to the table.
“It’s a collection of the greatest drivers in the province. You get the best of the best and everyone’s respectful,” Tolton explained earlier this year to OSCAAR journalist Clayton Johns. “They race against each other with a lot of respect. That’s what I like.”
(C)Mega Speed Custom Car and Truck Show
OSCAAR is known as Ontario’s premier tour division for Super Late Model and Modified action.
Coming off of a successful season last year with the Super Late Models, the field has continued to grow. Along with Poole and Cornelius, you have 2012 champion Brandon Watson, four-time OSCAAR Champion Glenn Watson, past champion Derek Tiemersma, plus veterans George Wilson, Rob Clarke and sophomore Jesse Kennedy. NASCAR Canadian Tire Series driver J.R. Fitzpatrick has also announced that he will be running some OSCAAR races this year. He will also be joined in the series by rookie Andrew Gresel, who comes off of his late model success at both Sauble Speedway and Delaware Speedway.
With the Super Late Models hitting seven tracks across 12 dates, it promises to be a season packed full of action across Ontario.
Not too far behind, the OSCAAR Modifieds enter their second full season, ready to bring more action packed racing to tracks across Ontario. Many of the drivers have announced that they will return, including champion Gary McLean and front runners Brent McLean, Davey Terry and Josh Gruntz. They will be joined by some rookies as they have announced that they want to get involved in the action.
The Modifieds will hit eight tracks across 15 dates, including some double headers with the Super Lates.
As previously noted, the Mega Speed Custom Car and Truck Show takes place at the International Centre from Friday March 22nd to Sunday March 24th. The show will include many custom vehicles on display, including some Corvettes to celebrate Corvette’s 60th Anniversary and some Camaros to celebrate Camaro’s 40th Anniversary. The show also includes a star studded line-up that includes Rally Racer Ken Block and car designer Chip Foose, with wrestler Bill Goldberg as the event Grand Marshall.
For full details on the show, check out www.megaspeedcarshow.com.
