Home Blog Page 5858

Martinsville Speedway Extends Ticket Hours Headed Into Goody’s Fast Relief 500

By
Official Release
-

MARTINSVILLE, VA. (February 14, 2011) – Martinsville Speedway’s ticket office will have expanded hours beginning this Saturday, February 19 and running until the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 on April 3.

Beginning this Saturday, the Speedway ticket office will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the next four Saturdays, Feb. 19, Feb. 26, March 5 and March 12. On Saturday, March 19 and Saturday, March 26, the ticket office will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Martinsville Speedway ticket office is open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“We know a lot of people like to come out and go into the grandstands and pick their seats out and that can be hard to do during the week,” said Martinsville Speedway president W. Clay Campbell. “With the extra hours on Saturdays, it will give anyone the chance to come out, walk around the grandstands and pick out the seats they want.

Fans have many great deals to choose from for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500, including: The $99 Family 4 Pack, which includes two adult tickets and two children’s tickets (18 and under) to the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 along with vouchers for The Famous Martinsville Speedway Hot Dog® (four) and four Pepsi.

The $99 Family 4 Pack seats are located in rows 6 through 14 of the Clay Earles Tower overlooking the second turn.

Backstretch seats are $25 along with the first five rows of seats in the Sprint Tower, the Clay Earles Tower and the South Annex. Seats in the Clay Earles Tower overlooking the second turn are $55. Children’s tickets in the Clay Earles Tower are only $10 when purchased with an adult ticket. All seats in Bill France Tower are $40. Seats in the Sprint Tower are $65

Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 on Sunday, April 3, the Kroger 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Saturday, April 2 and NASCAR Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series practice on Friday, April 1 are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.racetickets.com.

Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 begin at just $25.

PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY ANNOUNCES TRAFFIC PATTERNS FOR UPCOMING NASCAR EVENT

By
Official Release
-

Fans encouraged to plan ahead when traveling to and from the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™

(PHOENIX, Ariz.) – Track officials at Phoenix International Raceway are making preparations to ensure a safe and efficient travel route for the thousands of race fans who will arrive for the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™ NASCAR event weekend Feb. 24-27. PIR will open the 2011 West Coast NASCAR season and debut a new February race date by hosting four races in four days, including Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at 1 p.m.

A multi-agency collaboration with the Department of Public Safety, Arizona Department of Transportation, Maricopa County’s Department of Transportation and Sheriff’s Office, and the cities of Avondale and Goodyear will ease travel for fans as they move through numerous communities and jurisdictions on their way to and from the raceway.

During the this month’s event weekend at PIR, “Road Safe” deploys more than 4,000 traffic cones, 600 barricades, approximately 75 people, and numerous special signs and vehicles to help ensure safe travel for the nearly 100,000 fans heading to the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™. (Note: A complete listing of equipment is available upon request to the Phoenix International Raceway Communications Department.)   Track officials encourage race fans to plan ahead for the 1 p.m. start time of Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series race – the busiest event of the weekend. The race will conclude at approximately 5 p.m. with the heaviest outbound flow for the Feb. 27 race expected to take place from 5 to 7 p.m. During this period, motorists traveling on I-10 will experience intermittent closing of Exit 131 (Avondale Boulevard) to allow for the successful egress of race traffic.

Phoenix International Raceway encourages motorists – passengers, not drivers – to call 511 and press *7 when prompted for traffic updates. Additionally, fans can check for traffic updates on Twitter at Twitter.com/PhoenixRaceway.   Park ‘N Ride Encouraged After much success in recent years, the Park ‘N Ride program returns to Cricket Pavilion, located just two blocks north of I-10 on 83rd Avenue (Exit 135). All NASCAR fans heading to PIR are advised to enter at the 83rd Avenue entrance and park on Pavilion grounds. From there, a shuttle from First Student Charter of Phoenix will transport patrons to the vicinity of Gate 7 at the track.Cost for parking and shuttle services to PIR will remain $7 per car.

“Park ‘N Ride” services will be available for 12 hours – from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. – on Sunday, giving all NASCAR fans an alternate transportation option, before and after the race. The first shuttle will depart at 7:30 a.m. The raceway opens to the public at 8 a.m.   Guests with PIR-issued parking passes can park and ride at no charge. Shuttle buses will escort guests to PIR via preferential traffic routes, offering guests an earlier arrival to the facility.

Guests with PIR-issued parking passes can “Park N Ride” at no charge. Shuttle buses will escort guests to PIR via preferential traffic routes, offering guests an easy arrival to the track.

Parking Pass Determines Exit Fans driving their own vehicles to the track should remember that their parking pass – or lack thereof – determines the exits they should take from I-10 to the race. Fans without passes and planning to use the free general parking lots must exit the roadway at either Litchfield Road (Exit 128) or Estrella Parkway (Exit 126) and travel south following directions.

Fans with special passes and permits – and only those fans – should exit at Avondale Boulevard (Exit 131). Motorists who take the wrong routes may face major delays as they approach the track. At all times, motorists should follow the directions of officers and deputies. Guests with facility parking passes may refer to the reverse side of their parking pass for directions to and from the track.

Directions for General Parking Admission – Eastbound: Take Exit 126 – Estrella Parkway. Drive south approximately five miles to Vineyard Road. Follow the signs and directions from officers and deputies while traveling east about three miles to the entrance to the parking lot.   Directions for General Parking Admission – Westbound: Take Exit 128 – Litchfield Road or Exit 126 – Estrella Parkway. Drive south approximately five miles to Vineyard Road. Follow the signs and directions from officers and deputies as, depending on traffic flow, traffic may be diverted for a short time onto MC 85 or Broadway Road. When traffic reaches Vineyard, motorists will travel east for about two miles to the entrance to the parking lot.   Directions for Parking Pass Admission – Eastbound and Westbound: Take Exit 131 – Avondale Boulevard. Drive south approximately six miles to the entrance to the parking lot. Fans taking this exit without a parking permit will be re-routed several miles to the proper roadway.

Directions for Local Traffic – MC 85 (Buckeye Road): Local fans who travel on MC 85 (Buckeye Road) should exit on Litchfield Road or Bullard Avenue. Fans with special passes and permits – and only those fans – may use Avondale Boulevard.   A PDF file of the inbound and outbound traffic plans is attached to this electronic release.   Tickets to the exciting Feb. 24-27 SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™ NASCAR event weekend are available with prices starting at just $25. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.phoenixraceway.com/ticketsor call 866-408-RACE (7223).   About Phoenix International Raceway Since 1964, Phoenix International Raceway has served race fans as the premier motorsports venue in the Southwest. Watch the brightest stars in NASCAR take on PIR’s famed one-mile oval – including five-time defending Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Tony Stewart and many more – on February 27, 2011 in the Subway Fresh Fit 500. Tickets for the entire Subway Fresh Fit 500 weekend at Phoenix International Raceway can be purchased online at PhoenixRaceway.com/Ticketsor by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223). For more, visit PhoenixRaceway.com, Facebook.com/PhoenixRacewayand Twitter.com/PhoenixRaceway.

Ricky Carmichael, No. 4 Monster Energy Chevrolet Silverado, Daytona Preview

By
Official Release
-

Ricky Carmichael No. 4 Monster Energy Chevrolet Silverado Event Preview Fact Sheet   Event/Date:         

NextEra Energy Resources 250 – Feb. 18, 2011 Venue:                  

Daytona International Speedway – Daytona Beach, Fla.    * This Week’s Monster Energy Chevrolet Silverado … Ricky Carmichael will pilot Chassis No. 16 from the Turner Motorsports stable in Friday night’s season-opening NextEra Energy Resources 250. Built new last season, this is the same Monster Energy Chevrolet Silverado Carmichael drove to a fifth-place finish last fall at Talladega Superspeedway.

* A New Era … The 2011 NASCAR season-opener will mark the start of a new era for Turner Motorsports.  The team has expanded in 2011 from a two-truck NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) operation to become the largest stand-alone multi-series team in NASCAR’s top-tier touring series, fielding three entries in the NCWTS and four entries in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS). * Daytona by the Numbers … Ricky Carmichael will make his third NCWTS start at Daytona International Speedway (DIS) in the NextEra Energy Resources 250. In his previous two starts at the “World Center of Racing”, the 15-time American Motorcycle Association (AMA) National Champion boasts a pair of top-six qualifying efforts. Restrictor-plate racing got the best of Carmichael in both starts leaving him with just a 24th-place result to call a career-best in Truck Series action.

* Just Getting Warmed Up … In an effort to get a head start on the 2011 season and garner a little extra seat time, Carmichael competed in last weekend’s Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 ARCA Series race at DIS. The 31-year-old driver started seventh, raced in the top five for the majority of the event, and went on the earn a personal-best fourth-place finish.

* Tough Act to Follow … Carmichael has a proud heritage at DIS and is the winningest rider in motocross history at the fabled Daytona Beach race course with a total of six overall victories. The Tallahassee, Fla.,- resident notched his first win in 125cc competition in 1998 and followed that up two years later with his first career win in the AMA’s premier class, becoming the first rider to win both a 125cc and 250cc race at Daytona. He went on to record four consecutive Supercross wins (2000-2003) to tie Jeff Stanton for the most victories and set the record three years later with a win in 2006. Carmichael has been the architect of the Daytona Supercross track since 2008. Additionally, he hosts his own amateur Supercross race at Daytona along with the Ricky Carmichael University riding school. His likeness is also enshrined on hallowed ground – the entrance to Victory Lane.

* In a Nutshell … The 2011 season will mark Carmichael’s second season competing on a full-time basis in the NCWTS. Since making his series’ debut 43 races ago at DIS, the 31-year-old driver has gone on to earn three top-five and 11 top-10 finishes. Over those same 43 races, Carmichael has logged a 13.9 average start, a 16.7 average finish, completed 91.9 percent of the laps run and earned just over $500,000 in purse money.

* New Wrench on the Box … NASCAR veteran Mark Rette will assume the role of crew chief for Carmichael’s NCWTS sophomore campaign. Rette has a wealth of experience including stints at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates and Roush Fenway Racing. Rette earned the 2009 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards championship with driver Justin Lofton where the duo combined for five poles and six wins. Most recently, Rette served as Lofton’s crew chief in the NCWTS at Red Horse Racing.

* Meet the Driver … Carmichael will meet race fans and sign autographs Friday afternoon at the Chevrolet display from 1 – 1:30 p.m. The Chevy display is located outside Turn 4, adjacent to the SPEED stage, in the speedway’s midway. Later that afternoon, from 4 – 5 p.m., he will participate in the NCWTS driver’s autograph session in the Sprint FANZONE.

* See the Monster Energy Silverado … The Monster Energy Chevrolet Silverado show truck will make four stops in the Daytona Beach area during Speedweeks. On Wednesday, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., the truck will visit Gate store No. 1144 located at 1001 North Woodland Blvd., in Deland. On Thursday, the No. 4 machine will make a stop at the brand-new 7-Eleven on International Speedway store at the west end of the race track from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. On Friday the truck will make two stops. The first stop is scheduled from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at K-Mart located at 1300 International Speedway Blvd. West. From 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. the truck will be displayed directly across from the track at the 7-Eleven on the corner of Fentress and International Speedway Blvd.

* Up to Speed … Live coverage of The NextEra Energy Resources 250 from Daytona International Speedway will be televised on SPEED Fri., Feb. 18 beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The race will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM Satellite Radio Channel 128. Qualifying for the first of 25 races on the 2011 NCWTS calendar will be televised live on SPEED Thurs., Feb. 17 at 6:30 p.m. EST.

  RICKY CARMICHAEL QUOTES   What would it mean for you to win at Daytona? “I think about it every time I go down there. Personally, I’ve had a lot of success on two wheels at Daytona.  I can’t even describe what I would mean to possibly be the first guy to win on two wheels and on four wheels at Daytona. There’s so much history at that race track.  I want to win there and go to Victory Lane so bad. It’s not possible to put into words what that would mean to me.”

  You’ve had some success on superspeedways with a limited number of starts. You started seventh and finished fifth in the truck race at Talladega last year so that has to give you some confidence heading into Speedweeks. “I’m looking forward to it. I really am. To be able to take the same Monster Energy Silverado that we raced at Talladega last year and be able to improve on it is going to make it that much better going down to Daytona. I’m very optimistic about our chances. For the most part, I run up near the front of the pack on speedways but I’ve been in a bad spot a couple of times and been a victim of circumstance. But, every time I’ve finished a superspeedway race, I’ve been easily inside the top 10. I’m looking forward to it for sure. I enjoy it.”

  What’s your overall outlook for the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season? “I’m putting a lot of pressure on myself.  I made a lot of improvements last season and I want to do the same thing in 2011. There’s no reason we shouldn’t finish in the top 10 in points and I’m itching to get a race win. That’s my goal and I can’t stop thinking about it. This year will be the first time where I’m coming back with an entire season under my belt so I’m expecting big things from myself. Knowing what I know from last year, I feel like I can make a lot of improvements. I have a lot of confidence in myself, in my team and in our equipment to where I can get the job done and be able to turn some heads. We’ve got great equipment so it’s all on me and I like having that responsibility. To be able to get Turner Motorsports its first win would be awesome. I feel like I owe that to Steve Turner.”   You’ve been with Turner Motorsports from the very beginning. How has the team progressed in the last year? “It’s amazing how much Steve Turner wants to win and the effort he puts forth so these teams can do that. The man is dedicated … there is no doubt. He gave me a great opportunity and as I look back on it that decision, it was a no-brainer. I’m very blessed and happy to be a part of it. I want to do my best and try my hardest for him and the entire organization.”   Monster Energy has been very loyal to you over the last several years. How satisfying is it for you, personally, to have such a high-profile sponsor in your corner? “I’m very fortunate to have Monster Energy’s support and backing. They followed me when I first got into four-wheel racing three years ago. Obviously, we were very dominant together in the motocross world and they stayed with me when I retired from that. Monster has a lot of confidence in me. It’s a great program and we’ve been together forever. I really value my relationship with them and they do the same for me. As much as I want to get a win for Steve Turner, I want to get that first win for everyone at Monster. They’ve won in every other sport where they participate except for NASCAR so I want to be the guy who gets them their first win. Monster is a winning company and they stand behind their athletes. I’m very thankful to be part of the Monster Army.”   Follow Ricky Carmichael at: Rickycarmichael.com Twitter.com/RickyCarmichael Facebook.com/RickyCarmichael About Turner Motorsports: Turner Motorsports, LLC, established in 1999, is in the midst of its sophomore season of NASCAR competition. Owned by Texas-native, Steve Turner, the organization has expanded in 2011 from a two-truck operation in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) to become the largest stand-alone multi-series team in NASCAR’s top-tier touring series.  Turner Motorsports operates out of an 110,000 square-foot state-of-the art facility in Mooresville, N.C., and will house three entries in the Camping World Truck Series and four entries in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.  The team boasts an all-star driver line-up that includes Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin, Jason Leffler, Reed Sorenson, Justin Allgaier, Ricky Carmichael, James Buescher and Brad Sweet.  The Chevrolet-backed team has created alliances with General Motors’ powerhouse teams Hendrick Motorsports, which will provide engine support for both its NNS and NCWTS programs, Kevin Harvick Inc. for body and aero support, and Earnhardt Technology Group for drive train and suspension technology assistance. Turner Motorsports’ marketing partners include Dollar General, Great Clips, Monster Energy, BRANDT, Rexall, Exide, AccuDoc Solutions, Wolfpack Rentals, Fraternal Order of Eagles and ABF Freight. For more information on Turner Motorsports, visit www.turnermotorsportsllc.com.

____________________________________________________________________________________ Don’t pick lemons. See all the new 2007 cars at Yahoo! Autos. http://autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html

Clint Bowyer No. 33 Nationwide Series Advance: Daytona International Speedway

By
Official Release
-

No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet Impala

NASCAR Nationwide Series Race 1 of 34 – Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway

BOWYER ON BOARD: Driver Clint Bowyer will kick-off the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series season behind the wheel of the No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet Impala for Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) on February 19 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Bowyer has two preview starts with KHI in the Nationwide Series at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway and Darlington (S.C.) Raceway in 2004. The Emporia, Kansas native will compete in nine events this season in the No. 33 Rheem machine.

DAYTONA SUCCESS: KHI is no stranger to success at Daytona. The team returns to the newly resurfaced 2.5-mile superspeedway as the defending race winner. Tony Stewart drove the No. 4 Ritz/Oreo Chevrolet Impala to victory lane last February giving KHI their third season-opening win. Behind the wheel of the No. 33 car, Stewart grabbed KHI’s first win in the Nationwide Series in the 2005. The following year, Stewart not only claimed victory again but also gave KHI its first one-two finish as the No. 77 KHI Chevrolet Impala placed a close second behind the No. 33.

Bowyer also knows his way to Daytona’s victory lane. After starting from the pole, the driver led 48 laps en route to winning the July Nationwide Series event in 2009. This season’s opener will mark Bowyer’s 12th-career series start at the track. In addition to a win, he has collected seven top-five and nine top-10 finishes. Bowyer has completed 99.9 percent of laps attempted and has an average finishing position of 6.7.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: In 2011, KHI will celebrate their 10th year of competition in NASCAR. Team co-owner Kevin Harvick made KHI’s first start in the Truck Series event at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway in 2001, narrowly missing the win by inches to series veteran Jack Sprague. Ten years later Kevin and DeLana Harvick have two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championships to their credit and multiple wins with a host of drivers to boast in their over 80,000 square foot facility in Kernersville, North Carolina. During 2011 all KHI vehicles will carry a commemorative decal as the company celebrates their accomplishments over the last 10 years.

CHASSIS HISTORY: The No. 33 Rheem team will utilize chassis No. 067 this weekend at Daytona International Speedway. Chassis No. 067 is a new chassis that has undergone extensive testing in the wind tunnel during the off season.

NEW TO THE RHEEM TEAM:

Driver Scott Speed will join the KHI family and the No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet team for two Nationwide Series races this season. Speed will pilot the No. 33 car at Iowa Speedway on August 6 and at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal on August 20. Speed made 13 starts in the Nationwide Series in 2009. He collected one pole and posted eight top-10 finishes.

BOWYER’S THOUGHTS ON DAYTONA:

What are your thoughts going into the race at Daytona International Speedway?

“I’m really excited to get behind the wheel of this No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet this season. KHI builds quality equipment and they’ve shown they are definitely competitive every weekend. I will have great teammates with Elliott Sadler and Tony Stewart. Both of those guys are really good superspeedway drivers so I’ll definitely look to hook up with them. I’ve been fortunate to win at Daytona in the Nationwide Series and I’d love nothing more than to start the season right off the bat in victory lane.”

ARCA: Milka Duno Caught Up In Crash, Finishes 31st

By
SM Staff
-

Milka Duno had worked her way up to the top 10, to only be taken out in a wreck with 16 laps remaining in a nine-car accident in the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona.

“We had a really good race going,” said Duno. “I really appreciate the car that the team gave me.  It was a really good car.  It was a great team effort.  We ran close to the top-10 for much of the night.  We were running some of the fastest laps of the race.  I am just really sorry for what happened and very disappointed for my guys.  They gave me such a great car and Jon (Wolfe) had a great strategy.  The No. 25 just made a bad move, and we got caught in a wreck.”

Duno started the race from the 23rd position and by lap two, she was already up to the 16th position. She continued to move up through the field, before making a fuel-only pit stop under the second caution on lap 18. However, she got blocked in, causing her to fall back to the 25th position. Once the green came back out, Duno once again worked her way through the field, all the way back up to 16th at lap 40 and then into the top 10. Unfortunately, Duno didn’t get to finish her charge to the front as when Hal Martin suffered a blow tire, Steve Arpin went to avoid him and caught Duno, sending both of them into the wall. In total, nine cars ended up being collected.

“Milka ran a great race today,” said Crew Chief Jon Wolfe. “She did exactly what we asked her to do.  We were close to our goal of a top-10 finish, we just got taken out.”

“Milka did a real good job,” said team owner and 2010 ARCA Champion Patrick Sheltra. “She stayed out of trouble and drove a clean race. It’s unfortunate that (Steve) Arpin got in to her. I was very impressed with her.  She learned a lot during the race and showed a lot of potential for the future.”

The next race for the ARCA Series is on April 15th at Talladega Superspeedway and will be shown live on SPEED.

Doug Yates Discusses Daytona Rules Change

By
Official Release
-

For the second time in a week, NASCAR has made a change to the cars during Speedweeks. On Saturday, the sanctioning body requested teams disconnect air hoses to the radiator and air cooler. On Sunday, Robin Pemberton, NASCAR’s Vice President of Competition, said that teams will be required to have a maximum size of 2.5 inches tall by 20 inches wide on the front grille opening and install a pressure-relief valve on the water system that will be set at 33 psi before they return to Daytona on Wednesday.

Doug Yates, head engine builder for Roush Yates Engines, spoke with Ford Racing about what the change means for his operation and how he wouldn’t be surprised if more changes were on the way.

DOUG YATES, Head Engine Builder, Roush Yates Engines – HOW MUCH WORK IS INVOLVED WITH THESE CHANGES TO GET READY FOR THIS WEEK? “The Daytona 500 is an historic event, it’s our Super Bowl, and with a new track and new noses on the cars, I think everybody did their best to try to set the rules so when we got there we would have a good, competitive race. Obviously, as we ran practice and the Bud Shootout those speeds are too high, which is a big concern. Second, NASCAR doesn’t like the way the guys can push other cars for many laps. So, I think the first objective with these rules changes is it looks like NASCAR is trying to break the cars up and they’re trying to limit how hot we can run these engines. As a result, they’re gonna limit the front-end opening and put a pressure release valve at 33 psi, which is gonna bring down the operating limits of the engine. What we’ve done this morning, probably like other shops, is we’ve gone to work on the dynamometer and understanding the system and we’re working to optimize what we can, so when we go back we can have a safe, reliable race. The engines are turning more RPM than we had planned and what we feel comfortable with, and they’re also gonna run hotter, so with this rule change it’s gonna bring down how hot we can run them and it is concerning.”

HOW BIG OF A DEAL IS THIS FOR YOU AND YOUR GROUP? “It is a very big deal. We’ve worked for a long time, especially on the water systems, to be able to run the temperatures that we do today. What’s concerning about this is it’s mainly a driver-driven decision. If the driver is pushing somebody, he has to pay attention not only to what’s in front of him, but also to his water temperature gauge. He has to know when to get air to the nose, so whenever you put that much emphasis on the driver watching the gauges, you open yourself up to some potential failures just because it’s not easy to do. As an engine builder, this is a big change for a big race, so we’re gonna do a lot of homework today and tomorrow and, hopefully, be prepared when we go back there on Wednesday and Thursday. If we need to do some more research before the 500, then we will.”

ROBIN SAID THEY CAN STILL GO TO THE PLATE AND MAKE A CHANGE, IF NECESSARY. SO IS THIS A WEEK WHERE YOU PLAN FOR ALL POSSIBILITIES? “Absolutely. I wouldn’t be surprised from the speeds that I’ve seen that we could have a plate change, so we are preparing as if that might come. The guys are working on that right now, and the one thing we can do today is work on the car as far as better jetting and the tune-up because the components are already built and at the track, so we can work on the things around them and try to make the best decisions, or have our notebook full of data so if we need to make a decision based on a plate change, we will.”

WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS WHEN YOU SAW THE RPM’s BEING TURNED AND THE KIND OF RACING THAT WENT ON IN THE SHOOTOUT? “First, I was a bit surprised that there weren’t more failures, but it is a short race. We’ll obviously get those parts back and do our post-race analysis like we normally do and are likely to see more distress in those parts, but it’s concerning. For years, NASCAR has wanted to have more gear in the car so the guys have more throttle response, but the engines are really over where normal operating range would be for a plate engine. We’re turning almost as much RPM at Daytona as we turn at Michigan with an engine that’s designed to turn 1,000 RPM less. It’s a little bit of an odd situation, but everybody is in the same boat, and I feel like our guys and our team have done a good job reacting. I was quite pleased with qualifying yesterday. Obviously, we would like to be on the front row, but the Wood Brothers did a really good job with their effort and, for the most part, most of our cars were in the top 20, so I think we’ve made some good strides from Talladega to now.”

ROBIN ALSO SAID THAT EVERYONE HAS DONE A GOOD JOB – FROM THE TRACK TO THE TEAMS AND NASCAR. IS IT A CASE NOW OF JUST CONTINUING TO TWEAK THINGS UNTIL THE RIGHT PACKAGE IS FOUND? “That’s exactly right. Robin Pemberton and John Darby do a great job and it’s challenging because as competitors we’re looking to build as much speed in the car. Whatever situation we’re given, it’s our job to try to take those rules and win races with it. No matter how much data you have, when everybody got back down there for the race with their best cars and their best efforts, it was faster than we were at the test. The track is beautiful. I think a little bit of the feedback I heard from the fans is that they were really excited about the racing. It came down to the finish line for the win, so it’s different. As a guy that’s been around this sport for a long time, it was unconventional to what I’ve ever seen, but it was actually pretty interesting how two cars could hook up and chase down another two-car combination and pass them. At the end, there were three groups of two racing for the win, so it’s different, but it was actually quite interesting.”

Brad Sweet looks to veteran Turner Motorsports teammates for tips in debut race at Daytona (NCWTS)

By
Official Release
-

BRAD SWEET QUICK FACTS

No. 32 Great Clips Chevrolet Silverado

Daytona International Speedway

NextEra Energy Resources 250

February 18, 2011

No. 32 Great Clips Chevrolet Silverado News and Notes

. Start of a new era for Turner Motorsports. The NASCAR season-opener weekend will mark the start of a new era for Turner Motorsports. The team has expanded in 2011 from a two-truck operation in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) to become the largest stand-alone multi-series team in NASCAR’s top-tier touring series, fielding three entries in the NCWTS and four entries in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS). The goal for team owner, Steve Turner? Championships in both series.

. Brad Sweet behind the wheel of the No. 32 Great Clips Silverado at Daytona Int’l Speedway (DIS) . In this weekend’s NCWTS season-opener, Brad Sweet will return to action in the seat of the No. 32 Great Clips Chevrolet Silverado for Turner Motorsports. No stranger to the Great Clips Racing family, Sweet made 10 NCWTS starts with Great Clips in 2009 and 2010 with one top-10 finish to his credit. He even made his NNS debut with the sponsor adorning the hood of his No. 11 entry in October, 2010, all while still racing in the USAC Mopar Midget Series.

. Sweet following if the footsteps of his mentor, Kasey Kahne. Sweet is following in the footsteps of his mentor, owner and teammate, Kasey Kahne. He is making the same transition from open-wheel to stock cars with the continued support of Great Clips, just as Kahne did. Kahne drove the No. 38 Great Clips machine in the NNS from 2003-2005, before stepping back into the ride for select races in 2010 and 2011. Kahne will continue to be a mentor to the young driver as he progresses into NCWTS competition and beyond.

. A little bit about Brad Sweet. Like his Turner Motorsports and Great Clips Racing teammate, Jason Leffler, 25-year-old Brad Sweet is a California kid who made a name for himself in the national open-wheel racing circuits. After being tapped to drive for Kasey Kahne Racing (KKR) in 2007 by the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star himself, Sweet became superstar in his own right in the USAC racing world with victories including the Belleville Midget Nationals, the Knoxville Midget Nationals and both the Sprint Car and Midget “Four Crown Nationals” at Eldora Speedway. Showing no signs of slowing his success, he will race a limited schedule in the NCWTS in 2011 in the Turner Motorsports No. 32 Great Clips Silverado.

Q & A with Brad Sweet:

Q: This is going to be your first superspeedway race. What are your thoughts going into Daytona?

A: “Obviously, I’m excited. I think every young driver wants to eventually have the opportunity to race at Daytona. It’s one of the most famous race tracks in America, so this is a huge opportunity for me. Anytime someone like me can race at a place like Daytona is very exciting especially knowing I’ll have a fast truck when I get there. It’s been awesome to go there the last three or four years to watch all the races. I’ve been down in Florida racing Sprint Cars and there have always been tons of fans. The truck race is always one of the most exciting races of the weekend so I’m excited to be a part of that. To be able to drive on the banking at Daytona is what I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid.”

Q: Have you been picking anyone’s brain about racing at Daytona?

A: “My first race at Daytona will be on a newly paved track so I don’t think it will be quite as technical as it has been in the past. That should take out a lot of the handling aspects out of the equation and allow me to focus more on drafting. I’ll definitely talk to Kasey (Kahne) and Jason (Leffler) about it. I’ll also work with my teammates Ricky (Carmichael) and James (Buescher) and basically, just try to keep my nose clean. I’ve been watching a lot of video and it seems like half the battle is just surviving and being there at the end. You never know what can happen.”

Q: What have those guys told you?

A: “Basically, ‘good luck.’ A lot of it was ‘keep your nose clean and hopefully, you don’t get in the wreck.’ There are certain times when you need to be careful if you’re going to bump draft with someone. They also told me to pick someone who’s fast and knows what’s going on. I don’t really need to be working with another rookie. I need to try and find someone who will work with me who has some experience. They’ve been giving me little tips. I’m sure when we get down there I’ll get a lot more.”

Q: You’re running the first eight races of the year. What are your thoughts about that opportunity and working with Turner Motorsports?

A: “Over the last couple of years I’ve run a total of 11 truck races and they’ve been so spread out that I haven’t really been able to build any momentum or focus on one thing. Being able to run the first eight races at the beginning of the year and kind of being able to see where we’re at will be good for me. Working with Turner Motorsports will be great. They showed a ton of speed last year. It’s going to be a huge improvement for me. I think we should be able to run really well.”

Q: Do you see this as a legitimate opportunity to show people what you can do in the right situation?

A: “Absolutely. This is, by far, the best opportunity that I’ve had to show people who I am. There were times last year where we’d be fast but I was still learning and we were still trying to build trucks so there’s always a lot behind the scenes that people don’t necessarily see. At Turner Motorsports, people know those trucks are fast. I think as long as we can run good and show that we can do it, maybe more opportunities will present themselves. It’s definitely a great opportunity for me. Trent Owens is going to be on the box calling the race so that’s going to go a long way for me.”

Follow Turner Motorsports on Facebook! http://www.Facebook.com/TurnerMotorsports Facebook.com/TurnerMotorsports

Follow Brad Sweet on Twitter! Twitter.com/BradSweet49

Kasey Kahne back in the No. 38 Great Clips Machine for Turner Motorsports in 2011 NNS Season-Opener at Daytona

By
Official Release
-

KASEY KAHNE QUICK FACTS

Daytona International Speedway

DRIVE 4 COPD 300

February 19, 2010

Kasey Kahne Career Race by Race NNS Stats at Daytona Int’l Speedway

No. 38 Great Clips Chevrolet News and Notes

. Start of a new era for Turner Motorsports. The NASCAR season-opener weekend will mark the start of a new era for Turner Motorsports. The team has expanded in 2011 from a two-truck operation in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) to become the largest stand-alone multi-series team in NASCAR’s top-tier touring series, fielding three entries in the NCWTS and four entries in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS). Three of the team’s regular NNS drivers (Jason Leffler, Reed Sorenson and Justin Allgaier) have been pegged as viable contenders to win the 2011 NNS driver championship.

. Kasey Kahne behind the wheel of the No. 38 Great Clips machine at Daytona Int’l Speedway (DIS) . In this weekend’s NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) season-opener, Kasey Kahne will return to the seat of the No. 38 Great Clips Chevrolet Impala for Turner Motorsports. Kahne drove the No. 38 Great Clips machine from 2003-2005, before becoming a star in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Kahne will drive the No. 38 Chevy in eight races throughout 2011 with Jason Leffler completing the remaining balance of races.

. Kahne’s Daytona Highlights. In 15 NNS starts at Daytona, Kahne has accumulated two top-five and seven top-10 finishes, with 15 laps led. His best performance at the 2.5-mile tri-oval occurred in 2009 (July), when he finished fifth after starting 15th. In NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition, Kahne has one top-five and five top-10 finishes in 14 starts, with nine laps led.

. Who’s on the pit box? Stewart Cooper will call the shots for Kahne and serve as crew chief for the No. 38 Great Clips team in the eight races that Kahne is behind the wheel.

. Happy 10-Year Anniversary, Great Clips. This Saturday’s race at DIS marks Great Clips’ 10 year anniversary as a primary sponsor in the NNS. The Minneapolis-based Great Clips, Inc., which is currently the longest-running primary sponsor in the series, came onto the scene in 2001 as a primary sponsor of Akins Motorsports No. 38 entry, then driven by Christian Elder.

. Kahne brought Great Clips their first win! From 2003-2005, Kahne and his sponsor, Great Clips, Inc., reached momentous milestones, including capturing Kahne’s first Nationwide Series victory in 2003 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It was also Great Clips’ first win as a primary sponsor. In 2005, Kahne captured his second career win at Texas Motor Speedway before leaving the Nationwide Series to allow more time for his Sprint Cup Series efforts.

.

Kahne on racing at Daytona International Speedway

“You have to make the right decisions, but a lot of it is luck. You have to depend on other cars to help you get to the front. You’re really at the mercy of the cars behind you, and for whatever reason, I haven’t been able to make it work at the end and win one of these things. There are so many things out of your control when it comes to plate racing, so you better hit all the marks on everything you can control, or you can really dig yourself a hole.”

Kahne on returning to the familiar Great Clips machine

“It’s really been a great experience to partner up with Great Clips again. Having got my start with them as my sponsor back in 2003 is something I have never forgotten. We are not running for a championship so my ultimate goal is take this Great Clips team back to victory lane. If we can get it done right out of the gate here at Daytona, it would be awesome! With the equipment Steve Turner is providing, to the dedication of the guys back at the shop and Hendrick horsepower under the hood, it’s going to be a great eight races for me with this team.”

Follow the No. 38 team on Twitter! http://www.Twitter.com/NoXXTurnerNNS Twitter.com/No38TurnerNNS

Follow Kasey Kahne on Twitter! http://www.Twitter.com/KaseyKahne Twitter.com/KaseyKahne

Follow Turner Motorsports on Facebook! http://www.Facebook.com/TurnerMotorsports Facebook.com/TurnerMotorsports

About Turner Motorsports: Turner Motorsports, LLC, established in 1999, is in the midst of its sophomore season of NASCAR competition. Owned by Texas-native, Steve Turner, the racing organization has expanded in 2011 from a two-truck operation in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series to become the largest stand-alone multi-series team in NASCAR’s top-tier touring series. Turner Motorsports operates out of an 110,000 square-foot state-of-the art facility in Mooresville, N.C., and will house three entries in the Camping World Truck Series and four entries in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The team boasts an all-star driver line-up that includes Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin, Jason Leffler, Reed Sorenson, Justin Allgaier, Ricky Carmichael, James Buescher and Brad Sweet. The Chevrolet-backed team has created alliances with General Motors powerhouse teams Hendrick Motorsports, who will provide engine support for both its NNS and NCWTS programs, Kevin Harvick Inc. for body and aero support, and Earnhardt Technology Group for drive train and suspension technology assistance. Turner Motorsports’ marketing partners include Dollar General, Great Clips, Monster Energy, BRANDT, Rexall, Exide, AccuDoc Solutions, Wolfpack Rentals, Fraternal Order of Eagles and ABF Freight. For more information on Turner Motorsports, visit www.turnermotorsportsllc.com

Jason Leffler – Quick Facts – Daytona

By
Official Release
-

JASON LEFFLER QUICK FACTS

No. 30 AccuDoc Solutions Chevrolet Impala

Daytona International Speedway

DRIVE 4 COPD 300

February 19, 2011

No. 30 AccuDoc Solutions Chevrolet News and Notes

. Leffler looks to capture the 2011 Nationwide Series driver’s championship. With the recent announcement that drivers may only compete for one series championship, Jason Leffler is among the top-picks to win the 2011 Nationwide Series driver’s championship. Leffler has finished inside the top-10 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) driver’s points standings every year since 2006. Had the new rule been in effect in 2007, he would have claimed the NNS championship, rather than finishing third behind Sprint Cup Series regulars Carl Edwards and David Reutimann.

. Team Swap. As in 2010, Leffler will share seat time in the No. 38 Great Clips machine with Sprint Cup Series star, Kasey Kahne. In eight events throughout 2011, Leffler and his team, including crew chief, Eddie Pardue, will make the jump to the No. 30 Chevrolet. The number swap proved valuable for Leffler and his team in 2010, in eight starts behind the wheel of the No. 10 machine he scored seven top-10 and three top-five finishes!

. Proven Qualifier at Daytona International Speedway (DIS). Leffler has proven he knows how to qualify upfront at DIS. In 14 attempts, he has captured one pole award and started inside the top-10 on seven occasions, of which, four were inside the top-five. He is credited with four top-10 finishes and leading two laps.

. Start of a new era for Turner Motorsports. The NASCAR season-opener weekend will mark the start of a new era for Turner Motorsports. The team has expanded in 2011 from a two-truck operation in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) to become the largest stand-alone multi-series team in NASCAR’s top-tier touring series, fielding three entries in the NCWTS and four entries in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS). Three of the team’s regular NNS drivers (Jason Leffler, Reed Sorenson and Justin Allgaier) have been pegged as viable contenders to win the 2011 NNS driver championship.

. This week’s Impala. In this weekend’s NNS season-opener, the No. 30 AccuDoc Solutions team will hit the track with chassis number TMS-108. Chassis TMS-108 is a newly build chassis and has never been raced.

Jason Leffler on racing at Daytona

“The season-opener at Daytona is crazy! Not only is it like having our Super Bowl to start the season, but there is so much history here. Everyone has been off for three months and everyone is at the top of their game. The momentum that winning the first race of the season brings to a team could really shape your season. I would give anything to win here and I think this is the best chance we have had to win in a really long time. The guys have worked really hard in the shop over the last few months to make sure we can come out in 2011 and contend for a championship. I’m really excited to get on the track in the No. 30 AccuDoc Solutions Chevy and battle for the first win of the year.”

Jason Leffler on 2011 with Turner Motorsports

“Everyone at Turner Motorsports is really excited for 2011. You walk into the shop and the feeling is contagious. Mr. Turner has provided us with amazing equipment and the best opportunity to be competitive. One of the first things he expressed when he got here was his desire to win both the Nationwide and Truck championships in 2011. He promised he would do everything in his power to provide that opportunity and he has kept his word. I have no doubts that I will be battling both Justin and Reed for the championship in November!”

Follow the No. 30 team on Twitter! http://www.Twitter.com/NoXXTurnerNNS Twitter.com/No30TurnerNNS

Follow Jason Leffler on Twitter! http://www.Twitter.com/JasonLeffler Twitter.com/JasonLeffler

Follow Turner Motorsports on Facebook! http://www.Facebook.com/TurnerMotorsports Facebook.com/TurnerMotorsports

Jason Leffler Career Race by Race NNS Stats at Daytona Int’l Speedway

Year/Event

Start

Finish

Laps

Status

Led

2000 (Feb.)

11

20

119/120

running

0

2004 (Feb.)

6

8

120/120

running

0

2004 (July)

7

13

100/100

running

0

2005 (July)

18

9

104/104

running

0

2006 (Feb.)

24

6

120/120

running

0

2006 (July)

28

18

103/103

running

0

2007 (Feb.)

2

22

120/120

running

2

2007 (July)

1

9

102/102

running

0

2008 (Feb.)

3

18

120/120

running

0

2008 (July)

8

23

104/105

running

0

2009 (Feb.)

4

33

115/120

running

0

2009 (July)

24

19

102/102

running

0

2010 (Feb.)

22

33

76/120

crash

0

2010 (July)

20

14

102/102

running

0

Avg. Start

Avg. Finish

Total Laps

Total Led

12.7

17.6

1507/1558

2

Career NNS Stats at Daytona Int’l Speedway

Starts

Poles

Wins

Top-fives

Top-10’s

DNFs

14

1

0

0

4

1

Reed Sorenson – Daytona International Speedway Quick Facts

By
Official Release
-

REED SORENSON QUICK FACTS

Daytona International Speedway

DRIVE 4 COPD 300

February 19, 2011

Media Contact:

Martha McGrath | 704-299-0368

martha.mcgrath@turnermotorsportsllc.com

No. 32 Dollar General Chevrolet News and Notes

. Sorenson Ready for New Season – Reed Sorenson returns to the No. 32 Dollar General Chevrolet for Turner Motorsports in this weekend’s NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) season-opener. His start in the DRIVE4COPD 300 marks his eighth at the 2.5-mile superspeedway in the NNS. While competing for the series championship, Sorenson will spend the majority of his time in the No. 32 Dollar General Chevrolet but will also race the No. 30 Chevrolet in select events.

. Sorenson at Daytona International Speedway (DIS) – In seven NNS starts at Daytona, Sorenson has notched three top-10s with a career best finish of seventh in 2007. His first Daytona start for Turner Motorsports was last summer in the Nationwide Series new car where he finished 22nd.

. Consistency a Key for Sorenson and Dollar General Team – Hoping for continued success in 2011, Sorenson looks to bring a great deal of consistency from his 2010 season. His crew remains virtually intact with crew chief Trent Owens at the helm of the No. 32 Dollar General team. Sorenson looks to build on last season’s solid finishes, boasting 21 top-10s in 28 starts throughout 2010.

. Dollar General Returns for Another Solid Season – Dollar General returns to the No. 32 Chevrolet in 2011 looking for its first win with Reed Sorenson and the newly expanded Turner Motorsports. The Goodlettsville, Tenn.- based company is in its fourth season as a marketing partner with the organization. Dollar General scored its first win with the No. 32 team in 2008 with Kyle Busch at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

. Start of a new era for Turner Motorsports – The NASCAR season-opener weekend will mark the start of a new era for Turner Motorsports. The team has expanded in 2011 from a two-truck operation in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) to become the largest stand-alone multi-series team in NASCAR’s top-tier touring series, fielding three entries in the NCWTS and four entries in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS). Three of the team’s regular NNS drivers (Jason Leffler, Reed Sorenson and Justin Allgaier) have been pegged as viable contenders to win the 2011 NNS driver championship.

. This Week’s Impala – Sorenson will pilot TMS-109 in this weekend’s DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway. This race will be the maiden voyage for this chassis, as it has yet to see on-track action.

.

Sorenson on starting the season and heading to DIS

“I cannot wait to get back on the track at Daytona. To me, it seems like the off season has taken longer than normal. I think I was ready to get back racing right after Christmas. I’m really excited about the new surface at Daytona and I think it is going to provide some really great racing for the fans. I think this Dollar General team has the opportunity to pick up right where we left off last season- turning in solid finishes and contending for wins. I’m excited to have Trent [Owens, crew chief] back this season because I think we have the ability to bring home that first win for Turner Motorsports and contend for the championship.”

Sorenson on the opportunity to run for the NNS driver’s championship

“I think NASCAR’s new rule having drivers run for only one series championship is going to be a really good thing for me and for Turner Motorsports. I’m excited at the opportunity that we have to shoot for a goal like that; especially for my team and Dollar General. Mr. Turner has invested a lot in this team and it would be great to be able to bring the championship home for him. I feel like we have all the tools- great equipment, a strong team, a dedicated sponsor and solid leadership and now we need to put them together and get the results to show it on track.”

Follow the No. 32 team on Twitter! @No32TurnerNNS

Follow Dollar General on Twitter! @myDollarGeneral

Follow Turner Motorsports on Facebook! http://www.Facebook.com/TurnerMotorsports Facebook.com/TurnerMotorsports

Reed Sorenson Career Race by Race NNS Stats at Daytona Int’l Speedway

Year/Event

Start

Finish

Laps

Status

Led

2005 (Feb.)

5

9

120/120

running

0

2005 (July)

8

20

104/104

running

0

2006 (Feb.)

13

9

120/120

running

0

2006 (July)

6

40

60/103

crash

0

2007 (Feb.)

25

38

80/120

engine

0

2007 (July)

10

7

102/102

running

0

2010(July)

32

22

102/102

running

0

Avg. Start

Avg. Finish

Total Laps

Total Led

14.1

20.7

688/771

0

Career NNS Stats at Daytona Int’l Speedway

Starts

Poles

Wins

Top-fives

Top-10’s

DNFs

7

0

0

0

3

2

1...5,8575,8585,859...6,017Page 5,858 of 6,017

© SpeedwayMedia.com. All rights reserved.

Site Map

Archives

Popular Category