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LICATA SIGNS ‘WRONG’ SPONSOR FOR ARCA AT DAYTONA

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Official Release
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LAKE BALBOA, CALIF.(February 9, 2011)– Joey Licata, Jr. has announced that WRONG Clothing will sponsor his #77 Cunningham Motorsports Dodge in his ARCA Racing Series debut at Daytona International Speedway on February 12th.  

W.R.O.N.G. (World Riders on New Ground) is a company embedded in the surf, skate, and MX markets for those who “go big and invent new challenges.”  Licata’s debut at Daytona will be his chance to go big as he looks to challenge for the win as a rookie.  

The ARCA Racing Series cars travel at speeds nearing 200 miles per hour at the newly repaved Daytona International Speedway.  Licata ran the sixth fastest lap in the Daytona testing sessions, with an average speed of 185.670 around the 2.5 mile “world center of speed.”  

“I am excited to begin this new relationship with W.R.O.N.G. Clothing,” Licata said.  “This is a great fit for me and I am proud to represent them in the world of stock car racing.”  

Race fans can tune in to SPEED live on Saturday at 1 p.m.Pacific time for the “Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200” to see Licata driving the W.R.O.N.G. Dodge.  

“I am hoping that the ARCA and NASCAR fans will get behind W.R.O.N.G. as they help support our awesome sport!” Licata said.   Licata, 19, is a member of the Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle driver development program based in Sacramento, CA.  Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle is a NASCAR-oriented program that works with an international roster of talented drivers who have the commitment and potential to succeed in NASCAR racing.  

Licata is a six-time IKF Grand National champion and two-time ASA TRUCK SERIES champion.  Throughout his career he has accumulated 90+ wins.  

Joey Licata, Jr. Racing and Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle thank partners: W.R.O.N.G. Clothing, K&N Filters, Scribner Plastics, Allstar Performance, Sunoco Race Fuels, and Star Racing Supply.  Licata would also like to thank supporters Jordan Kidushim and Luke Forstmann.  

Joey Licata, Jr. Racing is online at www.joeylicata.com   For more information on Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle, log on to www.winners-circle-racing.com

Tire Kingdom to Sponsor Todd Bodine’s Trifecta Attempt During Daytona Speedweeks

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Official Release
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Germain Racing driver is entered in Daytona 500, Nationwide and Truck events at Daytona International Speedway   

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 9, 2011) — Tire Kingdom®, a leading brand of automotive service centers for the Florida-based TBC Retail Group, announced that it will be the primary sponsor in Todd Bodine’s quest to compete in NASCAR’s three national racing series for Germain Racing at Daytona International Speedway.  

A 36-time NASCAR winner, Bodine is entered in the No. 30 Tire Kingdom Toyota Tundra for the Feb. 18 Camping World Truck Series race, the No. 15 Tire Kingdom Toyota Camry for the Feb. 19 Nationwide Series event and the No. 60 Tire Kingdom Toyota Camry for the Feb. 20 Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series opener.  

Bodine’s vehicles for the season-opening races will also carry associate sponsorship from Valvoline and TBC Retail’s other automotive service centers — NTB – National Tire and Battery®, Merchant’s Tire and Auto Centers® and Big O Tires®.    

“Featuring Tire Kingdom as the primary on these vehicles is a great complement to our automotive service centers in the Florida market,” said Bob Crostarosa, senior vice president of marketing and advertising, TBC Retail Group. “We are able to maintain the consistent theme of our Service Central Racing program. The red, white and blue color scheme is synonymous with integrity, trustworthiness, and quality, which is the foundation of Service Central® and our service centers Tire Kingdom, NTB-National Tire and Battery, Merchant’s Tire and Big O Tires.”

Bodine is the reigning and two-time NASCAR truck season champion. Since 2005 – his first season driving full time for Germain Racing — he has never finished lower than fourth in the season point standings. Along with winning the series title last year, he also took home the truck championship in 2006.

Bodine’s truck record at Daytona has been impeccable with two wins, two runners-up, a third and a fifth for a finishing average of 2.3 in six starts. Bodine’s overall truck record includes: 21 wins, 82 top fives and 106 top 10s in 165 starts.  

“I am very excited to have Tire Kingdom and Valvoline for all of my races in Daytona and being part of the Service Central Racing program,” said Bodine. “It does not happen often that you get to represent one great company, let alone two in all three races in a weekend. Hopefully with a little luck we can run up front and get into Victory Lane.”  

Bodine, a native of Chemung, N.Y. and the youngest (46) of the three famous racing brothers with Geoffrey and Brett, has a career total of 238 Cup starts (including four in the Daytona 500) and 324 Nationwide Series starts. He has captured 15 victories in the Nationwide Series.

“It is with great honor that we can bring world class brands such as Tire Kingdom, Service Central and Valvoline together with Germain Racing and our reigning NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion, Todd Bodine,” said team owner Bob Germain Jr.  “It is a perfect complement in both brand and sport, and a partnership we are very much looking forward to cultivating as we have done with Valvoline.”    

Germain, along with brothers Steve and Rick, formed Germain Racing in 2004. The team has collected six consecutive top-five point finishes in the Truck Series, including two championships, 22 wins and nine pole awards. Follow Germain Racing on Twitter @GermainRacing, on the web at Germainracing.com or become a fan on Facebook: Facebook.com/pages/Germain-Racing/198863890135.

ABOUT SERVICE CENTRAL: Service Central® is the automotive service offering available exclusively at Tire Kingdom®, NTB-National Tire and Battery®, Merchant’s Tire and Auto®, and Big O Tires®. Available at nearly 1,300 locations nationwide, its trained and certified ASE technicians use state-of-the art equipment to provide quality service on cars or trucks. The nationwide warranty provides peace of mind while it protects consumers and their investment in over 40 states. (http://www.facebook.com/ServiceCentralRacing)   

ABOUT TBC RETAIL GROUP Headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida, TBC Retail Group, Inc., a subsidiary of TBC Corporation, operates more than 800 tire and automotive service centers under the brands: Tire Kingdom®, NTB – National Tire and Battery®, and Merchant’s Tire and Auto Centers®, along with nearly 500 franchised Big O Tires® locations. The contingent of nearly 1300 stores has trained and certified ASE technicians who use state-of-the-art equipment to provide quality service on cars and trucks.  The nationwide warranty provides peace of mind while it protects consumers and their investment in over 40 states.  TBC Retail Group employs more than 300 associates at its Juno Beach, Fla. headquarters and approximately 10,000 associates nationally.  To locate a store near you, call 800-NEW-TIRE. TBC Corporation, headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, is one of the nation’s largest marketers of automotive replacement tires through a multi-channel retail and wholesale strategy.

Team Lowe’s Racing – Jimmie Johnson – Budweiser Shootout / Qualifying Preview

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Official Release
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Team 48 Daytona International Speedway
Budweiser Shootout/Qualifying Preview

OVER-THE-WALL ROSTER FOR THE BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT
WILL BE AVAILABLE RACE DAY.
RACE NOTES
Budweiser Shootout Chassis Information

• Jimmie Johnson piloted primary chassis No. 618 to a seventh place finish at Talladega Superspeedway in October 2010.
• He last drove backup chassis No. 482 at Talladega in 2009, finishing sixth.

Daytona 500 Qualifying Notes

• Johnson started third in last year’s Daytona 500.
• He has started the historic event from the pole two times: in his 2002 Daytona 500 debut and again in 2008.
• In nine Daytona 500 starts, Johnson has qualified outside the top 10 only once. He started 21st in 2007.

JIMMIE JOHNSON QUOTES
ON THE BUD SHOOTOUT:
“I think the Shootout will be a very good sign for what the 500 will be like. We will be using the push draft, the bump draft, three wide, potentially four wide…it will be a very good prelim for the 500 and show how crazy we can be on this track.”

HOW MUCH FUN IS A SHORT RACE LIKE THE SHOOTOUT?
“It is fun. Especially at the start of the season and coming into such a big race like the Daytona 500, it is nice to get out, get in the flow, make some mistakes. Yes, there is a lot on the line, but it’s not the Daytona 500. It is nice to knock the rust off and go racing.”

HOW AWESOME IS THE TRACK SINCE THE RE-PAVE?
“It is great. There is a part of the racer in us that is missing the old surface because it was a handling exercise and the guy’s car who handled the best won and we had some tools to work with. Now, it is fast for anyone which will put on one heck of a show. As long as we don’t wreck too early, it will be an amazing finish to the Daytona 500.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE CHANGES IN THE POINT SYSTEM?
“If you go through and look at it, NASCAR did a very good job of explaining the points and dividing out the math so you could see what the value was before to what it is now and it really trends the same until you get it down to 25th or so and on down, you have a lot more to lose if you have a bad day. I get what they are doing. They are trying to simplify the point system for the fan base. There is certainly going to be a learning curve and I’m sure there is some griping about that now. NASCAR is doing everything in their power to help the sport grow and I think there are some other positive changes as you look at our race weekend and how much takes place at the track. Now practice counts. Practice is important and practice is televised. There is going to be more drama all weekend long and I think a better experience for our fans.”

SPRINT CUP SERIES CAREER NOTES
Career Wins

• Johnson has 53 wins in his Sprint Cup Series career, his most recent coming at Dover International Speedway on Sept. 26, 2010.
• The El Cajon, Calif.-native is currently 10th on NASCAR’s all-time wins list, one victory behind Lee Petty.
• He is second in total wins among active drivers, behind Jeff Gordon (82).
• Johnson needed only 296 starts to hit the 50 mark. Only three drivers have reached 50 victories quicker – Gordon (232), Darrell Waltrip (278) and David Pearson (293).
• Johnson has won at least three Cup races a season since he posted his first victory in 2002. He is the only driver in the modern era to win at least three races in each of his first eight full-time seasons.
• Johnson has won Sprint Cup Series races at all but four (Michigan, Chicago, Watkins Glen, Homestead) of the 22 tracks on which the series competes.
• Johnson’s 10 wins in 2007 was the highest number recorded in a single season since Jeff Gordon posted 13 victories in 1998.
• The four-consecutive wins scored by the No. 48 team in the 2007 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup ties a modern-era NASCAR record.

Career Poles

• Johnson has collected 25 poles in his Sprint Cup career.
• The championship driver has earned at least one pole a year since his first full-time season in 2002.
• He had a career-high six poles in 2008.
• Johnson’s most recent pole position was at Dover International Speedway on Sept. 24, 2010.

Career Starts

• Johnson has finished in the top five in the Sprint Cup Series point standings each year since his first full season in 2002.
• Johnson is the only driver to qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup every year since the format was adopted in 2004.
• In 327 Sprint Cup Series starts, Johnson has posted 134 top-five and 203 top-10 finishes.
• He has a top-five finish at every track on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series circuit.
• Johnson has led a total of 10,996 laps (of 94,228) in his Sprint Cup career, covering over 126,257 miles.
• He has finished on the lead lap 253 times.

Primary Car History – Chassis No. 618

Date Event Start Finish
10/31/10 Talladega 19 7

Backup Car History – Chassis No. 482

Date Event Start Finish
04/27/08 Talladega 10 13
01/05/08 Daytona 30 23
02/15/09 Daytona 7 31
11/01/09 Talladega 1 6

Jimmie Johnson – Budweiser Shootout Statistics

YEAR FINISH HOW HE QUALIFIED TO COMPETE IN THE SHOOTOUT
2010 13 2005 Bud Shootout Winner; Top six teams from each manufacturer based on final
2009 car owner points. No. 48 team finished first in standings.
2009 14 2005 Bud Shootout Winner; *Top six teams from each manufacturer based on final 2008 car owner points. No. 48 team finished first in standings. (*new format)
2008 3 2005 Bud Shootout Winner; Won Poles at Richmond Int’l. Raceway (9/8/07), Dover Int’l. Speedway (9/23/07), Kansas Speedway (9/30/07) and Homestead-Miami Speedway (11/18/07)
2007 4 2005 Bud Shootout Winner; Won Pole Martinsville Raceway (4/2/06)
2006 5 2005 Bud Shootout Winner; Won Pole at Chicagoland Speedway (7/10/05)
2005 1 Won Pole at Lowe’s Motor Speedway (5/30/04)
2004 9 Won Poles at Pocono Int’l. Raceway (6/6/03) and Kansas Speedway (10/5/03)
2003 7 Won Poles at Daytona Int’l. Speedway (2/9/02), Talladega Superspeedway (4/21/02), Lowe’s Motor Speedway (5/23/03) and Richmond Int’l. Raceway (9/6/02)

Danica Patrick’s 2011 NASCAR Schedule Announced

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Official Release
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Patrick to compete in 12 Nationwide Series races with JR Motorsports, 11 with Go Daddy  

[media-credit name=”David Yeazell” align=”alignright” width=”133″][/media-credit]MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 9, 2011) – Danica Patrick, the 28-year-old racer who transitioned into NASCAR Nationwide Series competition last year with JR Motorsports in the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, has finalized her 2011 Nationwide Series plans.  JR Motorsports general manager Kelley Earnhardt, on behalf of the team and primary sponsor GoDaddy.com, announced those plans today.  

Patrick’s tour will closely resemble her rookie campaign in that she will compete in a cluster of races on the front and back ends of the Nationwide Series schedule. She will appear in select races during the middle parts of the year while competing full time in the IZOD IndyCar Series. Patrick’s 2011 NASCAR plans feature 12 races across 10 NASCAR markets. Four of those markets will host Patrick for the first time in a stock car.  

As announced last October, Patrick will compete in the first four Nationwide Series races – Daytona International Speedway (Feb. 19), Phoenix International Raceway (Feb. 26), Las Vegas Motor Speedway (March 5) and Bristol Motor Speedway (March 19).  

Patrick will continue with races at Chicagoland Speedway (June 4), Daytona International Speedway (July 1), Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (Aug. 20), Richmond International Speedway (Sept. 9), and Kansas Speedway (Oct. 8). She will conclude her second NASCAR season with the final three races on the Nationwide Series schedule — Texas Motor Speedway (Nov. 5), Phoenix International Raceway (Nov. 12) and Homestead-Miami Speedway (Nov. 19).  

“This is going to be an exciting year in the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet,” said Patrick, who scored a career-best fifth-place start and 19th-place finish in the 2010 finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. “I have a much different perspective heading into this season. I know a little more of what to expect, and I’m not as out of my element. I’ve had a year to work with my team, and there is a comfort level that comes with returning to some of these tracks. It’s obvious experience goes a long way in this sport. Thanks to everyone at Go Daddy and JR Motorsports that have been incredibly supportive throughout this process.”  

Race tracks that were not on Patrick’s 2010 schedule but among her 2011 plans are Bristol, Richmond, Kansas and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, which is located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Patrick has raced at Richmond and Kansas in the IZOD IndyCar Series. GoDaddy.com sponsors Patrick in both open-wheel and stock car racing.  

“Danica is smart, she’s beautiful and she’s successfully competing in a male-dominated sport,” said Bob Parsons, the company’s CEO and founder. “To jump into a stock car and take on veteran NASCAR drivers is a testament to Danica’s grit – our Go Daddy Girl is an undeniable inspiration for anyone who dreams big!”   GoDaddy.com, the world’s largest Web hosting provider and top domain name registrar, will serve as primary sponsor for 11 of the 12 races with Patrick on the No. 7 Chevrolet. This season marks Patrick’s fifth year as a Go Daddy Girl for the Internet powerhouse. For more information on Patrick and Go Daddy racing, visit www.GoDaddy.com/Danica.  

ABOUT JR MOTORSPORTS: JR Motorsports is the management company and racing operation for Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s eight-time Most Popular Driver and winner of more than 40 NASCAR-sanctioned races. JR Motorsports competes in multiple racing divisions, including the NASCAR Nationwide Series; however, the Dale Jr. business model has grown well beyond the race track and now includes multiple business ventures. Among those entities is the full-service production company Hammerhead Entertainment (www.hammerheadent.com) , DEJ Realty (www.dejrealty.com), JR Nation Retail Store (www.ShopJrNation.com), The Dale Jr. Foundation (www.thedalejrfoundation.org), and Whisky River (www.whiskyrivercharlotte.com), the bar and nightclub located in the uptown Charlotte Epicenter. 

Danica Patrick’s 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series Schedule
Date Venue
2/19 Daytona International Speedway
2/26 Phoenix International Speedway
3/5 Las Vegas Motor Speedway
4/19 Bristol Motor Speedway
6/4 Chicagoland Speedway
7/1 Daytona International Speedway
8/20 Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
9/9 Richmond International Raceway
10/8 Kansas Speedway
11/5 Texas Motor Speedway
11/12 Phoenix International Speedway
11/19 Homestead-Miami Speedway

NAPA Racing/Michael Waltrip Daytona Preview

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Official Release
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CORNELIUS, N.C. —  Two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip embarks on his 25th consecutive start in the Great American Race when he climbs behind the wheel of the No. 15 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota. This year his NAPA Toyota boasts a Waltrip-designed paint scheme to commemorate the 10th anniversary of his first 500 victory as well as the life of his friend Dale Earnhardt.

Entering his 27th season as a driver, Waltrip’s so-called scaled schedule includes overseeing Michael Waltrip Racing, running in all three NASCAR divisions during Daytona Speedweeks, promoting his new book “In the Blink of an Eye,” and hosting a comedy tour. 

QUOTES

 

WALTRIP ON RUNNING HIS 25TH CONSECUTIVE DAYTONA 500: “I love the fact that I raced against great drivers like David Pearson, Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. I started in 1985 and that was before any of the new tracks started coming on line. I am really fortunate to have raced in an interesting era. I have pretty much raced against the guys who were there or right near the beginning and the stars of today. I don’t think there are many athletes whose careers or “strings” have stretched that far back. It means a lot to me to race at Daytona that’s for sure.”

ON CAR DESIGN: “I wanted a black car to honor Dale’s life. NAPA agreed to it which was very special to me because I understand they put their name on cars to sell parts. The NAPA blue and yellow is who they are, and I am real fortunate over the last 10 years to have them with me. They are the cornerstone to Michael Waltrip Racing, and I asked them to depart from the usual design a little bit for this one event. They agreed to do so. That’s what the whole two weeks in Daytona will be about for me no matter what I am racing. I’ll be reflecting back over the last 10 years and the years Dale and I bonded and became friends. It’s through our friendship that led me to drive his car. Dale believed that I would win in his car. A lot of people didn’t understand that. I understood it, and I believed it. By the time I took the green flag for the Daytona 500 in 2001, Dale had me right where I had never been before and that was confident. That’s something over the course of my career I have lacked a little bit. Dale saw that and fixed it.”

ON WRITING HIS BOOK: “I believe the book accomplished everything I wanted. It’s a nice account of what led me to Daytona and then where I have gone since then. It wasn’t easy writing it. It was an emotional process. I was able to talk about everything and think about it. I was able to deal with it somewhat. But it didn’t fix anything. I think that’s what surprised me the most. I didn’t come out of it feeling any better about the whole situation. I say in the book that my dumb way of dealing with drama was to just ignore it. I figure if I didn’t deal with it, it would go away. I think through this process, I now understand a more healthy way of living my life.”

ADDITIONAL NOTES OF INTEREST

 

  • The NAPA AUTO PARTS driver will be attempting to make his 764th NASCAR Sprint

       Cup Series start and when the season opener, the Daytona 500, gets underway at Daytona International Speedway (DIS) in Daytona Beach, Fla. He will be attempting to start in his 48th Sprint Cup race at DIS.

  • Waltrip is one of only eight drivers to win more than two Daytona 500 titles.

 

  • Waltrip is scheduled to appear on SPEED’s live edition of Trackside. It airs on Feb. 18 at

       6 p.m.

  • Check out NAPA Reserve On Line. Visit napaonline.com to make shopping for an auto part easier. Order online and pick up at your favorite NAPA AUTO PARTS store.

NAPA Racing/Martin Truex Jr. Daytona Advance Release

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Official Release
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CORNELIUS, N.C. — Martin Truex Jr. and the No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS team are back on the road as the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season kicks off with qualifying for the Daytona 500 on Sunday at the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway.

Three weeks ago, Truex tried out the newly-paved superspeedway driving his NAPA Toyota that boasted a new front nose. The Daytona test saw the No. 56 fast in the draft.

For the second-straight year, Truex will team up with owner Michael Waltrip as they compete under the NAPA AUTO PARTS banner. 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of Waltrip’s first Daytona 500 victory with NAPA.

 

QUOTES

 

TRUEX ON EXPECTATIONS HEADING INTO DAYTONA: “Athlon Sports predicted the NAPA team to be in the top 10 in points this year. I like the way they think. It’s definitely a possibility. We’ve worked very hard on this NAPA team over the off season. We talked at the end of last year and again this winter about how happy I was with the way the team performed at the end of the season. I feel really good about what we accomplished and what we got done in the off season. I haven’t felt this confident going into a season since 2006. I am definitely looking forward to great things. It’s all about getting the season off to a strong start and we certainly can do that.”

ON SITTING OUT THE BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT: “It’s the strangest thing. Somehow I have gotten excluded from the Shootout over the last two years. Both of the last two years, the previous year’s rule, I was in. Going into the winter, I thought I was in, but they changed the rules on me again. I will be in Daytona for media day on Thursday and the first chance I will get to be on the track is Saturday. It’s going to be tough not getting on track for the Shootout practices and race.”

ON HOW THE CAR FEELS IN SINGLE CAR RUNS WITH THE CHANGES TO THE NOSE: “When I tested, I really didn’t notice a change. We’ve actually done a little bit of downforce testing and short track testing with it, and I don’t think it’s a huge difference from what we had. I think the playing field will be a little bit more level, the way the noses are mounted, the structure behind it that holds the nose on the car at the height it’s supposed to be. I think it’ll be a little bit more even across the board. Other than that I think it’s fairly similar, it just looks a whole lot better, which is good.”

 

ADDITIONAL NOTES OF INTEREST

 

  • Martin Truex Jr. will be competing in his 190th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race when the Daytona 500, gets underway in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Feb. 20. In 12 races at DIS, his best start is first (Feb. 15, 2009). His best finish of sixth came last year driving for NAPA.

 

  • NAPA Racing will once again host the Honorary Pit Crew Member program at the Daytona 500. Marc Goodrich of Midway, Ga. and Kevin Edmunds of Tampa, Fla., will be honored in NAPA pre-race festivities and have their names decaled on the No. 56 and No. 15 NAPA Toyotas.

 

  • On Feb. 12, NAPA will debut its 2011 television commercials on SPEED.

 

  • Check out NAPA Reserve Online. Visit napaonline.com to make shopping for an auto part easier. Order online and pick up at your favorite NAPA AUTO PARTS store.

PHOENIX INT’L RACEWAY ASKS FANS TO VOTE FOR MOST MEMORABLE NASCAR MOMENT ON TRACK’S CURRENT SURFACE: 1990-2010

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Official Release
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SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™ marks final event before 1-mile oval undergoes repave

 

(PHOENIX, Ariz.) – Phoenix International Raceway wants to hear from its fans. Before the track begins a large-scale track paving project following the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™ on Feb. 27, PIR is asking its fans to vote on the most memorable NASCAR moment in the desert over the past 20 years.

PIR’s one-mile oval track was last resurfaced in 1990 and the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™ will mark the final NASCAR event held on the facility’s current racing surface. Motorsports media from around the country selected the top six defining NASCAR events at PIR and now it’s time for fans to choose their top moment.  The winning memory will be announced during February race week with a special acknowledgement during pre-race ceremonies for the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™.

Please see the list of NASCAR moments as selected by media and vote for your favorite at www.phoenixraceway.com/moments, no later than Feb. 21.

 

1.      THE INTIMIDATOR TAKES PHOENIX – November 4, 1990: Dale Earnhardt brought the No. 3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet to PIR’s Victory Lane for the first and only time with a narrow .53-second win over Ken Schrader in the 1990 Checker 500.

2.      MARTIN WINS CLOSEST RACE IN PIR HISTORY – October 31, 1993: Mark Martin won the closest Sprint Cup event in PIR history on Halloween, edging Ernie Irvan by .19 second to win the Slick 50 500.

 

3.      HAMILTON BRINGS THE 43 BACK TO VICTORY LANE – October 27, 1996: The late Bobby Hamilton won the 1996 Dura Lube 500, taking team owner Richard Petty’s iconic No. 43 car to Victory Lane for the first time since the King’s final Sprint Cup win in 1984.

 

4.      GORDON TIES EARNHARDT – April 21, 2007: Jeff Gordon opened the 20th season of NASCAR racing at Phoenix with a thrilling win in the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™ that tied him with Dale Earnhardt on the Sprint Cup career wins list at 76. Gordon celebrated with a victory lap while holding a “3” flag out of his driver’s side window in honor of Earnhardt. 

5.      JOHNSON DOMINATES THE DESERT – November 15, 2009: Jimmie Johnson won his third consecutive Chase for the Sprint Cup event at Phoenix and fourth race in five tries at PIR. The win propelled Johnson to a then-record fourth consecutive Sprint Cup.

6.      EDWARDS SWEEPS AWAY COMPETITION – November 14, 2010: Carl Edwards owned the November 2010 NASCAR weekend in Phoenix, setting a Sprint Cup qualifying record before sweeping both the WYPALL* 200 Nationwide Series race and the Kobalt Tools 500 Sprint Cup event. He celebrated not only with his traditional back-flip (twice), but also partied with fans in PIR’s Bryan Grandstand.

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/tickets or 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/Tickets or by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223). For more, visit PhoenixRaceway.com, Facebook.com/PhoenixRaceway and Twitter.com/PhoenixRaceway.

Milka Duno Aiming for Checkered Flag Finish at Daytona International Speedway

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Official Release
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The No. 63 CITGO Dodge is looking for a strong start to kick-off 2011 racing season

DAYTONA BEACH, FL  (February 8, 2011) – Milka Duno may be an ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards rookie, but she is certainly no ordinary rookie driver. As a record-setting, winning driver in the American Le Mans Series and Rolex Sports Car Series, as well as an IndyCar Series competitor, the Venezuelan-native has proven she has what it takes to get to the front of the field. Duno comes to Daytona with a championship team, championship crew chief and the 2010 ARCA Racing Series champion, Patrick Sheltra, as team owner.  Combined, Duno and the Sheltra Motorsports team will be ones to watch when the green flag drops on the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 Saturday, February 12th at Daytona International Speedway.

In 2007, with a 2nd-place overall result, Duno earned the highest finish ever by a female driver in the history of the legendary 24 Hours of Daytona.  

Duno took to Daytona International Speedway’s high-banks during the ARCA Racing Series test in January making a strong showing with the Sheltra Motorsports team.  While much of the three-day test session was devoted to single car runs and getting Duno reacquainted to a stockcar, she ended the test session 13th on the speed charts in a field of 58 drivers. 

“I’m very excited to get to Daytona,” said Duno. “The team has worked very hard since the test in preparation for the race.  We are looking forward to a good result this weekend at the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200.”  

With only one previous start in the ARCA Racing Series (Daytona, 2010), Duno will be sure to rely on advice from team owner, 2010 champion Patrick Sheltra, to help get her No. 63 Dodge to the front of the pack. 

“Daytona is tricky,” said the current champion, Sheltra. “I enjoy the superspeedways and will be there to give Milka all the help I can give to get her to the finish line first.  Jon Wolfe (crew chief) is one of the best at what he does, and we have the same crew we won the championship with last year. Milka will have a great opportunity to bring home a good finish.”

 

Milka Duno and the No. 63 CITGO Dodge Fast Facts:
Duno at Daytona:  Duno made her ARCA Racing Series debut at Daytona’s 2.5-mile Superspeedway in 2010.  Luck was not on Duno’s side as she was the victim of a lap six wreck that relegated her to a 43rd-place finish.

This Week’s Dodge:  Milka Duno will be piloting chassis No. SM. 001 at Daytona International Speedway. This chassis came from Richard Childress Racing and was converted to a Dodge.  Patrick Sheltra last used this car to score a fifth-place finish at Daytona and a second-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway in 2010.

CITGO Did You Know?: CITGO is more than just your friendly neighborhood gas station providing a good deal on good fuel. CITGO is also major supplier and refining giant with a directly owned or operated refining capacity of 750,000 barrels per day. For more information about CITGO logon to www.citgo.com.

Autographs:  Fans will have the chance to meet Milka Duno and all of their favorite ARCA Racing Series drivers on Saturday, February 12 from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. EST during an all-access open garage.
Keep Up With Milka: Want to learn more about Milka Duno?  Logon to her official website at www.milkaduno.com.   

Tune In: The green flag will drop for the start of the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at 4:30 p.m. EST. ARCARacing.com will have live audio and timing and scoring coverage with SPEED carrying the live race broadcast beginning at 4:30 p.m. EST.

Crew Chief Jon Wolfe on Daytona Expectations:

“I am looking forward to helping Milka gain valuable rookie experience in the ARCA season opener at Daytona.  A top-10 finish would be a really good, realistic goal for us. With the new track surface and the different strategies that will play out now, really anything is possible. I was encouraged with Milka’s progress during the test, and I’m looking forward to a great weekend.”

 ###
 
About Sheltra Motorsports:

Sheltra Motorsports, established in 2007, is in the midst of its fifth season of ARCA Racing Series competition.  Owned by Florida-native, Patrick Sheltra, the owner-driver team captured the 2010 ARCA Racing Series driver and owner’s championship titles on the strength of two wins, 12 top-fives and 17 top-10 finishes in 20 events.  Sheltra Motorsports is headquartered in Mooresville, N.C., with additional operations in Indiana and Florida.  For more information, visit www.sheltramotorsports.com. 

About CITGO:

CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products.  The CITGO familiar orange and blue triangle has been an enduring American success story since 1910.  Today CITGO operates nearly 7000 gas stations owned by a loyal group of 800 local business men and women.  CITGO has given back to the communities of the USA and the world through its Simón Bolívar Foundation.   For more information visit www.citgo.com

National Speed Sport News Pairs Up With Bryan Silas; Fast Track Racing For Daytona

By
Official Release
-

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (February 9, 2011) – – The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 is the Automobile Racing Club of America’s (ARCA) version of the Daytona 500, the Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing and with Stuart, Florida native nestled just two and a half hours away from the 2.5-mile superspeedway, it’s no wonder he has already been tapped as a pre-race favorite for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.  

And, if he isn’t a pre-race favorite because of his notoriety of being a native of the Sunshine State, his team’s announcement of hoisting the historic National Speed Sport News (NSSN), America’s Motorsports Authority as the primary sponsor on the team’s No. 11 Ford Fusion in Saturday afternoon’s race is bound to draw some attention which equals waives of new fan support.

Silas, always known for being one of the series’ most popular drivers will help spread the word of Andy Hillenburg’s Fast Track Blue Collar Hero Driver Challenge presented by Speed Sport News.

Andy Hillenburg’s Fast Track Blue Collar Hero Driver Challenge presented by Speed Sport News is the newest creation in an effort to find racing’s next future star. Set to begin in March and conclude in June at the track known as “The Little Rock” in Rockingham, North Carolina, the challenge is out to breed the next up-and-comers, who will have one shot during the three month contest (25 days of competition will be held during the three month run) and advance from a Fast Track High Performance Driving School car to a full-executed ARCA Racing Series stock car against one of racing’s finest stars all in one day. The overall winner will be approved to compete in ARCA’s return to Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis for the running of the Ansell Protective Gloves 200 on Thursday, July 28, 2011 live on SPEED. The best part is, it’s affordable!  

“What an honor it is to be associated with a respectable and award-winning organization like National Speed Sport News,” said Silas, who will make his fifth career start at the 2.5-mile superspeedway Saturday. “Also, what a neat idea Andy (Hillenburg) has created with the Fast Track Blue Collar Hero Driver Challenge. It’s an affordable contest with unimaginable results. Andy has always been on the racer’s side and this challenge fits right into his platform. I’m just thrilled to be associated with it.”

The ARCA pro knows that in order to put his owner’s newest conception into the spotlight, he must have an equal performance from last February. After qualifying a stout and superspeedway career-best of fifth, the Fast Track Racing pilot survived the chaos of the 80-lap event to notch a ninth place finish, his best ever on the 2.5-mile oval.

Silas speaks out freely about last year and how important it would be to kick off his fifth season of ARCA competition again in the right direction. “Last year was a lot of fun,” added Silas, who will make his 92nd ARCA start this weekend. “We had a good car and were able to capitalize on a strong weekend with a top-10 finish. This year, I’m looking for a little bit more as far as our finishing position is concerned. I’m hoping we can sneak in a top-five or maybe even earn that first win!”

Should Silas be able to pull off the biggest win in his racing career by capturing the checkered flag in the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200, the splashing of Gatorade and cheers and celebration from victory lane would be nothing new to the Fast Track Racing team as two-time DIS winner and former ARCA champion Andy Hillenburg will return to his duties as the primary spotter for the 23-year old sensation.

“It’s always refreshing to have Andy spot,” Silas mentioned. “He brings a sense of calmness over the radio, especially in a very intense and demanding type of race like Daytona. Dave (McClure) will crew chief the car this weekend, so it’s going to feel like old times again. I’m looking forward to having some fun and hopefully kick off the 2011 race season in S-T-Y-L-E!”

Rockingham (N.C) Speedway join National Speed Sport News as an additional sponsor of Silas’s Ford Fusion.

The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona (80 laps / 200 miles) is the first of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 48th ARCA race held at Daytona is a three-day show. Practice begins Thursday, February 10 with a four hour practice session planned from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for Friday, February 11 slated to begin at 2:00 p.m. A forty-five minute final practice session is etched in on Saturday, February 12th from 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. The event will take the green flag later that day shortly after 4:30 p.m. The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional race coverage including live timing and scoring and radio broadcast through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com.  All times are local.

For more on Bryan Silas please visit, BryanSilasRacing.com.

For additional information on Andy Hillenburg’s Fast Track Blue Collar Hero Driver Challenge presented by Speed Sport News, please visit FastTrackRacing.com or call 704.455.1700. Hurry fast, because space is limited for this opportunity of a lifetime!

Be sure to get in the groove with NSSN and click online at NationalSpeedSportNews.com.

PHOTO CAPTION: Bryan Silas, driver of the No. 11 National Speed Sport News / Visit NSSN Online / Rockingham Speedway Ford Fusion.

DRIVER CONTACT:

NAME: Chris Knight, Knight Motorsports Management  

PHONE: 239.834.9797

EMAIL:  chris@chrisknightpr.com

FAST TRACK HIGH PERFORMANCE DRIVING SCHOOL CONTACT:

NAME: Christa Bowsher, Fast Track High Performance Driving School

PHONE: 704.907.4631

EMAIL:  Christabowsher21@aol.com

PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY TO LAUNCH TRACK PAVING PROJECT FOLLOWING FEBRUARY NASCAR EVENT WEEKEND

By
Official Release
-

New surface and track changes designed to ‘make a good thing even better’

 

(PHOENIX, Ariz.) – Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber today announced details related to the NASCAR facility’s first major track paving project since 1990. Construction will begin in March with the removal of the facility’s current racing surface and the subsequent installation of a new surface to go with a series of changes designed to promote side-by-side racing. While maintaining the integrity of PIR’s oval – including the 1-mile distance – the slight configuration changes will produce a racier track with average speeds that are expected to increase two to three miles per hour. The project is slated to conclude in September.

“When the time to repave PIR approached due to the life expectancy of our current racing surface, we wanted to make sure to take advantage of the opportunity to make a good thing even better for our fans,” Sperber said. “Our goal for this project was to not radically change a track that’s celebrated by fans and drivers alike, but to utilize new technology to ensure great moments in the next chapter of racing history at PIR.”

Aside from the installation of a new, four-layer asphalt and aggregate surface, PIR will make the following adjustments:

–          Widen the front stretch from 52 to 62 feet

–          Reconfigure pit road with the installation of concrete pit stalls

–          Push the dog-leg curve between Turn 2 and Turn 3 out 95 feet

–          Tighten the turn radius of the dog-leg from 800 to 500 feet

–          Implement variable banking to ensure the immediate use of two racing grooves, including 10-11 degree banking between Turn 1 and Turn 2; 10-11 degree banking in the apex of the dog-leg; and 8-9 degree banking in Turn 4

A rendering of the PIR Track Paving Project is attached to this press release, with a high-resolution version available by request.

Project leader Bill Braniff, Senior Director of Construction for North American Testing Corporation (NATC) – a subsidiary of PIR’s parent company, International Speedway Corporation – said the conclusion to tweak PIR’s layout came after spending hundreds of man hours on computer simulations. PIR’s pavement project will be the seventh of its kind for Braniff, including last summer’s high-profile repave at Daytona International Speedway.

“We’re very confident that we’ll have multi-groove racing at Phoenix from Day 1 because of the variable banking that will be implemented,” Braniff said. “All of the changes – including the adjustment of the dog-leg – will be put in place in order to present additional opportunities for drivers to race side-by-side.”

The project will include the removal of 684,000 square feet of asphalt from the current surface, followed by the installation of a new surface that will include 7,000 cubic yards of concrete, 600,000 pounds of metal reinforcement, 70,000 cubic yards of import fill and 23,000 tons of new asphalt.

To commemorate the last 20 years of NASCAR competition on Phoenix International Raceway’s current surface, fans may vote for their favorite moment at PIR from 1990-2010 at PhoenixRaceway.com/moments. The top fan moment will be announced during the upcoming SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™ race weekend and acknowledged during pre-race ceremonies.

Upon demolition, genuine pieces of PIR’s current racing surface will be made available to fans for purchase.  Visit PhoenixRaceway.com/repave starting in March for details. 

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/tickets or 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/Tickets or by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223). For more, visit PhoenixRaceway.com, Facebook.com/PhoenixRaceway and Twitter.com/PhoenixRaceway.

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