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ESPN Extends Contract of Rusty Wallace Through 2014

By
Official Release
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Champion NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace, ESPN’s lead studio analyst for auto racing, has reached a new contract extension to remain with ESPN through the 2014 season, it was announced by Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president, production.

“Rusty Wallace is a NASCAR legend,” Williamson said. “We’re very happy that he will continue to share his knowledge and experience with our viewers for the remainder of our current relationship with NASCAR. It’s a very strong property and we look forward to the next four years.”

Wallace joined ESPN after retiring from driving following the 2005 NASCAR season. A 55-time winner in NASCAR’s top series and the 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, Wallace is lead analyst for ESPN’s NASCAR studio programs, including NASCAR Countdown and NASCAR Now. Wallace also contributes NASCAR analysis to SportsCenter, First Take and ESPNEWS and calls selected NASCAR Nationwide Series races from the booth. He spent the 2006 season as an analyst for ESPN’s coverage of the IndyCar Series before moving to NASCAR in 2007 as the stock car racing series returned to ESPN.  

“ESPN has given me the opportunity to do a lot of great things,” said Wallace. “I got to call two Indianapolis 500s, call a lot of races from the booth and be on SportsCenter. Now I’m at home in the pit studio and I love working with Allen Bestwick and Brad Daugherty and all of the people at ESPN. I’m glad to be able to be a part of it for the next four years.”

Wallace, whose 706th career start ended his 2005 season-long “Last Call” tour, led nearly 20,000 laps in his 25-year career. The 1984 Rookie of the Year ended his 22nd consecutive full-time Sprint Cup season eighth in the standings, the 17th time he finished among the top 10. At the time of his retirement, Wallace ranked as one of the top five money winners in NASCAR history, with nearly $50 million in career winnings.

In his last year on the NASCAR circuit, every race facility honored Wallace and nine race tracks now on the NASCAR schedule offered permanent dedications. More than a dozen state, city, and county seats of government declared race day as an officially recognized Rusty Wallace Day. In addition, bestowed upon Wallace were Delaware’s Order of the First State and North Carolina’s Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian honors in those states.

In 1998, NASCAR named the St. Louis area native one of its 50 greatest drivers of all time and he is a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Hall of Fame. Wallace is owner of RWI Racing, which fields a NASCAR Nationwide Series car driven by his son, Steve Wallace. In addition, he helped design Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.

Visit www.espnmediazone.com for ESPN’s latest releases, schedules and other news, plus photos, video and audio clips and more.

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About NASCAR on ESPN:

ESPN produces comprehensive, multi-platform coverage featuring telecasts of the final 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup races, including the 10-race “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Additionally, ESPN2 is the home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series all season. All television programming is produced in high definition. ESPN’s NASCAR coverage extends to ESPN.com, SportsCenter, ESPN the Magazine, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio and ESPN International, among other ESPN platforms. ESPN aired 262 NASCAR Cup Races over a 20-year period starting in 1981 and returned to NASCAR coverage in 2007. The network’s award-winning, live flag-to-flag coverage on ESPN has been honored with 19 Sports Emmy Awards, as well as many industry honors. It is widely credited for helping to popularize the sport nationwide.

NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway Notes and Quotes – Monday, Jan. 24

By
Official Release
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Michael Waltrip Unveils New Book About 2001 Daytona 500

During breakfast on the second day of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway, two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip introduced his new book to the motorsports press.

“In the Blink of an Eye: Dale, Daytona, and the Day that Changed Everything” tells Waltrip’s story as he experienced the highest and lowest points of his career within a matter of minutes on February 18, 2001.

Written by Waltrip and New York Times Bestseller Ellis Henican, the memoir takes readers through Waltrip’s early career and into Daytona International Speedway’s victory lane after 462 failed attempts at a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win. Over the span of just a few moments, the Owensboro, Ky., native won the Daytona 500 then learned that his friend, mentor, car owner and seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Dale Earnhardt Sr. was killed during a crash on the final lap of the race.

How Earnhardt’s death affected Waltrip and the NASCAR community is the subject of the final third of the book.

“When I started writing the book,” Waltrip said, “I thought it would be therapeutic and I would come out of it with a better grasp of that day. I think it is healthy to delve into things from your past that hurt, and I did that. Even after going through this experience, I still can’t explain how that day turned out the way it did. That’ll be a question I’ll find out when I’m not on this earth anymore.”

Knowing the 10th anniversary of that victory/tragedy was coming up, Waltrip wrote “In the Blink of an Eye” to anticipate the questions people would have for him.

“Going back [to race the Daytona 500] in 2011 is another chance for me to celebrate Dale’s life and the fact that he believed in me like he did,” Waltrip said. “NAPA Auto Parts believed in me and gave me the opportunity to race a championship-caliber car like I got to drive for Dale.”

Waltrip also unveiled a commemorative paint scheme he designed for the No. 15 NAPA Toyota he will drive in the 2011 Daytona 500 on Feb. 20.

“It honors both Dale and the sponsor that is still with me in 2011,”

Waltrip said.

NASCAR Nationwide Series Features New Challenges For Teams

The second day of the annual NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway featured a discussion of the new challenges and rules faced by teams and drivers in 2011 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

To open the event, Nationwide announced that returning for 2011 will be the company’s Code Spotter Sweepstakes program where fans recognize codes given at track and during the race broadcast and can register to win prizes.

Nationwide will also continue with the Dash 4 Cash program for drivers at select speedways and events. New this year however will be the Nationwide Spotlight program, which will feature a topic of interest to fans through chat and video.

NASCAR Nationwide Series Director Joe Balash gave an overview of the new 2011 challenges.

“I’m very excited to be the steward of the NASCAR Nationwide Series,” said Balash. “We have a great partner in Nationwide that allows us to reach out to fans, which are the core of what we do. We have a number of things that are happening, changes coming to the sport. First of all, there has been a lot of talk about the drivers having to select the series that they were going to run for the championship. There has been a lot of involvement with the teams, the drivers and the sponsors. It really adds emphasis to the Nationwide Series, putting that emphasis back on the Nationwide drivers.

“Next is the new Nationwide car. We ran it in four events last year and it was very, very successful. Now, we will be able to showcase the car in each and every event in 2011. The drivers really hone their skills in this series and will have their work cut out for them.

“There will also be a change in qualifying in the Nationwide Series.

We are speeding up our qualifying sessions, paralleling with our friends in the (NASCAR Camping World) Truck Series with a quick qualifying process. I think this will really offer a lot of excitement to the series and to our fans.

“We also have changes in our fuel system in all three of our series.

The E15 fuel is a very important step in what we are doing. It will also make some changes on our crew rosters as we will no longer have a catch can man on pit road.”

Drivers are also excited about the new things the series has to offer.

“Either way you still have to go out and beat everybody,” said Ricky Stenhouse, current Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year and driver of the No. 6 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing. “We have a great group of guys here. The championship is going to be just as tough whether the Cup guys are running it or not. I think it is going to make it a little bit more interesting.

It’s a good thing for the series.”

“You still have to go out and run good,” said Elliott Sadler, driver of the No. 2 CitiFinancial Chevrolet for Kevin Harvick Incorporated. “You still have got to get all the points you can every weekend. I just saw a perfect fit with Kevin and Delana Harvick and racing for the championship.

We think we have something here and can make this happen.”

Charlotte Motor Speedway Gives World’s Largest HDTV Construction Update

NASCAR Sprint Media Tour participants visited the future site of the world’s largest high-definition video board on the backstretch of Charlotte Motor Speedway’s 1.5-mile tri-oval Tuesday afternoon.

When completed, the structure will tower 110 feet above the track and measure 200 feet wide by 80 feet tall. The steel frame alone, which will be supported on 12 concrete piers anchored 50 feet into the ground, will weigh 500,000 pounds. Adding the 165,000-pound 720p high-definition screen means the whole project will weigh as much as a fueled Boeing 747 aircraft.

Earth-moving equipment has been working since mid-January and will ultimately relocate 18,900 cubic yards of dirt and 3,000 cubic yards of concrete. The screen will replace bleachers that were first used during the speedway’s inaugural 600-mile race in 1960.

Charlotte Motor Speedway President and General Manager Marcus Smith spoke about the addition of Panasonic’s 16,000-square-foot “flat screen to end all flat screens.”

“With more than nine million LED lamps, this video board will give people the benefit of being at the race – having the whole race experience – and getting to see replays and important events up close,” Smith said. “I can’t wait to see it. Every time I look out of my office window, I wonder, is it here yet?”

NASCAR television commentators Jeff Hammond and Mike Joy helped Smith with the presentation.

Hammond said, “Bruton, Marcus, and the speedway are always raising the bar. Once again, here it is. My question is, will guys going down the back straight try to look up to see how good they are doing?”

Joy said, “This is a fantastic project. A lot of ballparks put in big screens so fans don’t miss replays of important events. This is a groundbreaking project. No fan is ever going to miss the action because it will be right here.”

Members of the speedway’s Fan Council, whose ideas and suggestions drove the project to reality, were in attendance. Daniel Sain, of Maiden, N.C., and Helen Bailey, from Cornelius, N.C., were on hand to inspect the screen’s progress.

“I’ve been coming to the races here for 15 years,” Sain said. “I watched my first race from the infield, where the view isn’t so good. This screen will give those folks an experience they’ve never had.”

“This is the biggest Fans First initiative we have ever undertaken,”

said Scott Cooper, vice president of communications for Charlotte Motor Speedway. “The Fan Council is a key part of everything we do here. We will work with them throughout the year to find out what we can do to benefit our fans even more.”

RCR Features Drivers and Announces New Sponsor

The Tuesday afternoon NASCAR Sprint Media Tour visit to Richard Childress Racing (RCR) in Welcome, N.C., featured the team’s driver lineup for 2011 and a new sponsor for the organization.

All of the RCR drivers were on hand to talk about their upcoming seasons. Among those attending were Childress’ grandsons, Austin and Ty Dillon, along with development drivers Tim George Jr., Joey Coulter and Michael Selt. Most of the attention however focused on RCR’s four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick and new addition Paul Menard, who are each trying to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship in 2011.

“I’m proud of all three of our guys and then having Paul Menard come over with the fourth team,” said Childress. “This time we are ready for it.

I couldn’t be happier with what we came out of there with (in 2010). This year is the year to kick Jimmie off that throne. We were close with Kevin last year. This is the year to do it. It’s going to be RCR I feel certain.

Is that putting too much pressure on anybody?”

RCR announced that sandwich chain Jimmy Johns will serve as a primary sponsor for six races and an associate sponsor for the remainder of the season on the No. 29 Chevrolet driven by Harvick.

“It’s great to see the progression of that sponsorship from the Nationwide Series,” said Harvick. “People get their feet on the ground, and to see it move to the Cup car is great for not only RCR but me as well.”

Harvick’s car will primarily be sponsored by Budweiser in 2011.

“We had a good 2010 season with two wins,” said Bowyer, driver of the No. 33 Chevrolet. “But that is all in the past. You are only as good as your last race, your last performance. We just got back from Daytona and we are ready for them. Our cars are fast. Going through the motions, we found gains and we things that could make it better. It’s important to get that out of the way now.”

“To compete on a week to week basis was very important to us,” said Harvick. “I’m glad we had that experience. Hopefully, we can build upon that and make things better. I’m proud of the job everyone has done. I’m just ready to race. As we go into the year, we want to be as good as we were last year. We want that trophy. And that’s what we’re out to get.”

“We put ourselves in the position to win a lot of races early in the year,” said Jeff Burton, driver of the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet. “We just never were able to execute on that. A lot of ways last year was the most fun I have ever had and also the most frustrating I have had. This year I feel good about everything the team is doing.”

Childress Wins “Sporting News” Owner of the Year Award

Richard Childress was also presented with the “Sporting News” Owner of the Year Award for the third time Tuesday afternoon during the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour.

“I’m really excited about this,” Childress said. “Each time I have been fortunate enough to get this award it’s not about Richard Childress.

This is for all our people at RCR, our drivers, our teams and our sponsors.

My name is on it but this belongs to RCR.”

Penske Racing Unveils 2011 Sponsor Lineup

Penske Racing unveiled its 2011 NASCAR driver lineup and sponsor lineup during the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour.

Penske Racing patriarch Roger Penske started the Media Tour stop with a state of the sport address. Last season Penske Racing amassed nine NASCAR wins, including Kurt Busch’s victory in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, as well as 10 poles and the NASCAR Nationwide Championship with Brad Keselowski.

Penske then outlined several position swaps within the organization for 2011 and thanked the organization’s sponsors. He noted that while Penske Racing downsized from three NASCAR Sprint Cup teams to two, the organization expanded its engineering and technical departments and personnel.

“You know this was a vision of mine, to consolidate our race teams under one roof,” said Penske. “And I think we have seen the success over the last three or four years. We have had the opportunity to move our people from one area to another with in the sport. As we go into 2011 I feel a lot better because the economy certainly is stronger. You can see that in our businesses.

“The job for our drivers is to drive race cars, and for crew chiefs to work on them,” said Penske. “Making the Chase (for the NASCAR Sprint Cup) last year and having a competitive Nationwide Series car was very important to us.”

Penske driver and 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Kurt Busch said he is excited about the new season with his new sponsor, as he takes over the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge.

“We are proud of the cars that we put out there on the track,” he said. “We have beautiful cars with the Shell Pennzoil colors. Of course we’ve done things internally to continue to get stronger, with different personnel changes including key people we have added to teams. Going into my sixth year, this is the strongest I have felt going into the season. So, I’m really looking forward to hitting the track at Daytona and get the season underway.”

For the reigning NASCAR Nationwide Series Champion Brad Keselowski, expectations are again high, particularly as he takes over the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge for the Penske organization.

“We are real proud of what we have here, having nicer stuff and stuff we can win with,” said Keselowski. “It’s all possible because of the progress we have made. Having our Nationwide sponsors return is a tremendous help for us. We are looking forward to starting the year here at Penske Racing.”

Keselowski will again pilot the No. 22 Discount Tire/Ruby Tuesday Dodge in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

In additional sponsor news, Penske announced that driver Sam Hornish Jr. will race the No. 12 Dodge and compete full time in the Nationwide Series with new partner Alliance Truck Parts.

AAA will sponsor driver Helio Castroneves in select events in the Izod IndyCar Series. Coca-Cola will also join Penske Racing and Kurt Busch will serve as one of the drivers in the Coca-Cola Racing Family. Another partner coming on board with Penske is Kimberly-Clark with its WYPALL brand.

This season marks the ninth year Dodge has been with Penske Racing.

Kurt Busch to race in NHRA Pro Stock

Kurt Busch announced he is planning to race in select NHRA Pro Stock drag racing events in a Shell Pennzoil Dodge. Busch will field vehicles out of his own shop through an association with Alan Johnson Racing.

“For me the drag racing thing caught on when I got to hang out with Don Prudhomme up at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis a few years back,”

Busch said. “At the same time they built zMAX Dragway here in my back yard.

Last year going to the Gator Nationals and running in the sportsman ranks in Super Gas, we got rained out the whole weekend. Yet the pro divisions were still out there running. And I was like, man, if I am going to do this, I am going to the pro division. So I got a Pro Stock car. It is definitely over my head right now. It’s a tough challenge. The testing has been going really well. If we hit our marks and do the right things, we can make the show at the Gator Nationals. That’s my objective.

“It’s a great way to cross promote and have some fun. I’m doing this all in house and not with Penske Racing. I also went through all the schools and with Roy Hill. I plan on testing a couple more times.”

SPEED to Honor Earnhardt with “The Day: Remembering Dale Earnhardt”

To recognize the 10th anniversary of Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s death in the 2001 Daytona 500, SPEED announced it would broadcast a one-hour special titled “The Day: Remembering Dale Earnhardt” on Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m. EST.

The program will reflect on the tragic events of that Sunday from sunrise to sunset and focus on how that moment forever changed NASCAR. The Day:

Remembering Dale Earnhardt, will mark the first time Michael Waltrip, who won the 2001 Daytona 500, will give a television interview to discuss the death of his former car owner, friend and mentor.

SPEED Prepares for 100 Hours of Speedweeks Coverage

SPEED will broadcast more than 100 hours of programming from Daytona Speedweeks this year, highlighted by live coverage of the Gatorade Duel at Daytona on Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. EST and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season opener Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m. EST.

SPEED will open its Daytona Speedweeks lineup with coverage of NASCAR Media Day on Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. EST, followed at 8:30 p.m. EST by the series premiere of The 10, a fast-paced list program highlighting the best of the best from the world of NASCAR, whose premiere counts down “NASCAR’s Closest Calls.”

NASCAR RaceDay Built by The Home Depot returns for its sixth season in 2011 starring John Roberts, Kyle Petty, Kenny Wallace, Hermie Sadler and Wendy Venturini. The cast will deliver a special three-hour edition on Feb.

20 at 9 a.m. EST, leading into NASCAR on FOX coverage of the Daytona 500.

Quotes of the Day

Michael Waltrip on the 2001 Daytona 500: “I basically was in a fog for a few months after Dale’s death. Getting back [to Daytona] in July of

2001 was a really important event for me. That was the best night in my racing career. Leaving Daytona that night, I thought, ‘Good, we can move on.’ That obviously wasn’t the case, because part of me still feels like Dale’s death happened just yesterday.”

NASCAR Nationwide Series Director Joe Balash: “2011, we think, will be the most competitive season the NASCAR Nationwide Series has seen.”

Elliott Sadler on a Nationwide Series-only driver running for the championship in 2011: “I do think it is a big deal to Nationwide. They want their own Nationwide champion. It’s good for the fans. It gets us back to the grass roots of racing. There is going to be some great racing. There are a lot of good guys up here.”

Jason Leffler, driver of the No. 38 Great Clips Chevrolet for Turner

Motorsports: “One thing that I am proud of is that we have a series sponsor that cares enough about the series to want to stimulate change. It’s great for a sponsor like we have in Great Clips who is a Nationwide sponsor and not in the Cup series. I’m very excited about it.”

Richard Childress on the 2010 season had by his drivers: “We had what I thought was a good 2010 season. The only guy who had a better season was Jimmie Johnson because he won the championship. I am really proud of what every one of these guys have done. This is still a great sport and I’m proud to be a part of it. I feel I am the luckiest car owner out there to have the drivers and talent we have here, and to be able to run for that championship.”

More From Charlotte: The Media Tour Continues

By
SM Staff
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The NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway continued into day two.  Though it was dreary outside, the outlook was sunny with owners, drivers and teams who wait for the start of Speedweeks in Daytona.

[media-credit name=”David Yeazell” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]The morning started off with Michael Waltrip unveiling his new book, In The Blink of an Eye, and the new look on the NAPA car he will drive in the Daytona 500.

The book, which will be released February 1, deals with the life changing moments in Waltrip’s life. It speaks of how the tempered joy of his Daytona 500 win ten years ago affected his life when his boss and good friend, Dale Earnhardt, was killed on the last lap.

The car is a tribute to Earnhardt with it’s black paint, a departure from the blue and yellow NAPA colors that are only obvious on the hood and logos.

NASCAR Nationwide Series Director, Joe Balash, spoke of expectations for an exciting season in 2011 with the new style cars running a full season.  Fans only got a peak at the cars during four races in 2010.

Cup drivers will not be running for the series title which will allow the up and coming drivers in NASCAR’s second tier to run for the championship. 

The general consensus from Cup drivers, who will run in that series, is that they are there to race and win.  The fact they are not eligible for the title is no big deal.

Charlotte Motor Speedway continues with construction of the largest high-definition video board in the world.

The 16,000 square-foot screen will be located on the backstretch of the speedway.  Piers will be installed at the construction site to support the 500,000 pound steel frame that will hold the 165,000 pound video board.

Fans will have an awesome view of the board when it is lit up with the more than nine million LED lamps during each event beginning in the spring.

Charlotte Motor Speedway is never shy on new things including the record they hope to set with the “Light Up the Night” event that will take place May 21 during the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

Thousand of fans will be sporting LED Headlights with the help of Energizer.  During pre-race activities, an attempt to break a world record will be monitored by Guiness World Record officials when fans “flash their brights.”

At Richard Childress Racing, Richard Childress announced, “Rome isn’t burning.  This is still a great sport.”  His comment reflects the upbeat attitude that continues to resound in the NASCAR community for the 2011 season.

Childress claims to have a gut feeling, RCR will knock NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion, Jimmy Johnson from his throne.  Childress said, “Nothing lasts forever in life.”

The statement had a bit of irony, as members of the media questioned Childress on his feelings about the ten year anniversary of the death of his best friend and driver, Dale Earnhardt.

Childress was asked why he felt going back to a four-car team would work this time when it didn’t work too well last time.  His response was, “We are a lot more prepared.  You have to add personnel and we beefed up stuff.”

Paul Menard is the fourth driver to join the stable of Cup drivers for RCR alongside Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer.  He was asked what the biggest change was at RCR and said, “Everything under one roof, crew chiefs can explore and push forward.”

So as the media tour continues, it may be Marcus Smith of Charlotte Motor Speedway who best summed up the theme during the events of the week.  Smith said, “2011 will be a springboard to the future of NASCAR.”

Springtime in Florida

By
SM Staff
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When you think about springtime in Florida what comes to mind? Maybe the warm sunshine or the palm trees gently swaying in the tropical breezes. Perhaps you think about a family vacation to visit Mickey Mouse, how about the beaches, the blue water of the Atlantic Ocean. For most people that reside somewhere other than the sunshine state, any of these things could justify the trip, if for no other reason to get out of the snow.

[media-credit name=”Cg Photography” align=”alignright” width=”187″][/media-credit]For those individuals that have a need for speed, springtime in Florida means one thing, and one thing only, Racing. Most of the racing world begins their respective seasons in Florida. Racers and fans alike make an annual pilgrimage to compete, and support their favorite series. There is a series for almost any race fan to enjoy, the high profile events like the 24Hr. sports car race, the pageantry surrounding the high banks of Daytona. Maybe you prefer the world of dirt track racing, no problem there, the sprint cars that normally run in the mid west all start their seasons in Florida, the modifides, and late models storm into Tampa in February. One of the best, but often overlooked, national series to visit Florida in February is the Inex Legends cars.

The INEX legend cars start the 2011 season with the annual Winternationals at Auburndale Speedway in Winter Haven. This is a series that offer great racing and affordable costs for the competitors and fans too.  The legend cars are scaled down replicas of the old Chevy coupes, and Ford sedans. They are all powered by a factory sealed motorcycle engine; engines are sealed to allow a level playing field. Drivers range in age from twelve to over sixty, and are divided into four separate classes according to age, and experience. This series has fast become the true grassroots of motorsports worldwide. Founded in 1992 INEX had a vision of building an affordable, yet competitive series using Spec cars, and Sealed engines to allow younger drivers to develop, and older drivers to continue to race, with every racer having the chance to capture the glory. To date INEX has over 3500 members and sanctions around 2000 events at tracks worldwide.

If you plan to be in Florida in February to satisfy your speed addiction, weigh your options. Skip all the high profile events, and check out the Legend cars, five days of racing, over 100 race teams, all for less than the cost of just one ticket to those other events. For more details visit the legend cars website at uslegendcars.com or the track website at Auburndaleracing.com.

Steve Arpin Looks to 2011 After Successful 2010 Season

By
SM Staff
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This past 2010 season, Steve Arpin had his breakout year as it saw him having success on a magnitude of scales. It welcomed a solid year in the ARCA Series with multiple visits to victory lane and a chance to move up and run some Nationwide Series races for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Arpin was honored for his success at the 2011 Canadian Motorsports Expo as the 2010 Inside Track Reader’s Choice Awards Canadian Racer of the Year at the Highest Levels of International Competition.

[media-credit name=”stevearpin.net” align=”alignright” width=”200″][/media-credit]“It was a complete success for us,” Arpin said of the season. “Everything about 2010 was a definite success. There was definitely some learning curves throughout the year. We accomplished everything we wanted to accomplish. We wanted to go out there and run strong, run strong consistently and run upfront consistently. We wanted to open eyes and get an opportunity at a higher level, and we did that with JR Motorsports. We won the most races in the ARCA series. Unfortunately with the timing of the deal with JR Motorsports, we weren’t able to compete for the championship in the ARCA series. But everything I learned, the progression I made was all a true success.”

The season started off solid for the Fort Frances, Ontario native as he finished 10th and fifth in the first two ARCA races of the season. Though following a win in the third race of the season at Salem, the season took a whole new course in a 24-hour period.

“I would say the coolest part of my career is a 24 hour span,” Arpin said of the moment. “Last year, when we won Salem on Sunday night and Monday morning, we signed Mike’s Hard Lemonade to sponsor the ARCA program and then Monday afternoon, Dale Jr. called me to drive his racecars. I say that has to be the biggest memory of my life.”

Arpin drove seven races for JR Motorsports in 2010, including a 10th place finish at Daytona last July. Arpin says that lessons learned there led to the ARCA Series success that he would have in winning three races, seven top fives and 10 top 10s. Arpin comes from a dirt background so he has worked at taking advantage of all the seat time to learn more.

“The biggest thing for me is that in my career, I’ve only got 47 asphalt races to this day and there’s a lot to learn,” he told me. “These are a whole different type of racecar so we’ve been really working hard at a developing myself, developing me to the point where I’m comfortable in every situation. Its not so much being comfortable, but making the right decisions and there’s a lots of things you got to learn the hard way and do wrong before you know what’s right, and we went through a lot of that. I shouldn’t say we went that a lot this year – we made a lot of wrong decisions in 2009 and I was able to go back and be put in those same situations this year and come out ahead of the game making the right decisions.”

For 2011, Arpin is working at continuing to run more NASCAR races to continue moving up the ladder and growing as a driver.

“I’ve got all my plans – I’ve just got to convince all the teams owners to go along with it,” he said. “We’ve been working feverishly on it and we actually had a lot of big meetings this past week. I’m not at liberty to say exactly what the plans are, but we’re hoping in the next two or three weeks that we have an announcement.”

Arpin has already been behind the wheel in 2011 season as he tested at Daytona for Venturini Motorsports during the ARCA test.

“The new surface is awesome,” he said. “It’s going to make for awesome racing. I tested twice there since the new surface has been down – the tire test for Hoosier and the ARCA test for Venturini Motorsports. Venturini had a whole fleet of fast racecars there; it’d be cool to go back there and drive one, but the new race track is going to make for awesome racing. I think you’re going to see the whole bunched up, nose-to-tail, a lot tighter, more so like you do at Talladega. But then in token with the transitions so much more aggressive at Daytona, it’s going to make for a lot of interesting scenarios throughout the race.”

Arpin would like to run the Daytona race, though is still working at locking down a deal to do it. He originally just went down to just coach Venturini Motorsports young drivers Hal Martin and Kyle Fowler, though ended up also testing a car for them.

“Billy brought me down as he knows I work well with the young guys and Kyle and Hal are doing absolutely great,” he said. “Hal has done a couple speedway races before so he knows a little bit more of what’s going on and Hal is really going to come on strong and fit in real good.”

With having a diverse background, Arpin has hit a lot of tracks throughout his career, whether dirt and asphalt, so it equals no wonder that he has a diverse list of favorites.

“Every time we go to a racetrack and at the end of the race, I say ‘God, that’s my favorite track’ and so, I couldn’t honestly tell you what my favorite track would be,” he said. “As far as dirt tracks, my favorite track by far is Deer Creek Speedway up in Rochester, MN. Asphalt so far – asphalt racing, every track is completely different. A short track – my favorite one would be Salem, just because it’s high-banked, its rough and you’re just up on the wheel every lap. And then you go to the intermediate tracks and that’s more of a mental focus. It’s more of a mental chess game as you have to figure how to use the air and do things like that right. So intermediate tracks, I’d have to say Texas for sure and Daytona is just Daytona – it’s the coolest place ever, just the history there.”

Florida United Promoters Late Model Series

By
SM Staff
-

Late model pavement racing in the state of Florida over the past few years has at best, been “iffy”.  Everyone involved in the sport were left scratching their heads trying to figure out why the premier division in short track racing was in such decline. It seems that the tracks outside of the sunshine state were doing very well with their late model programs, and promoters were anxious to run their next scheduled event, so, what was the problem in Florida?

[media-credit name=”Cg Photography” align=”alignright” width=”187″][/media-credit]First, lets’ look at short track racing in general. No matter how you shake it out, short track racing falls into the category of “entertainment” meaning the people that buy the tickets for the show expect to be entertained, to enjoy the experience, not to be left wanting more. Now how does this relate to late model racing you ask? Simple, you can’t put on a show with eight, or ten race cars, and expect the fans to flock back for the next scheduled show. This unfortunately seemed to be the root of decline in Florida.

Race promotion is a vicious circle, to get more race cars, you need to raise the purse, in order to up the purse you need more race cars, are you starting to see how this works? With this in mind, any promoter will tell you the Late Model Division is the premier class to schedule at your track; the Late Models will always draw a crowd. So, in Florida, it is not unusual to see two or three late model races scheduled on the same night at different tracks as promoters struggled to get their fair share of the market. Of course this strategy would fail. Low car counts would bring smaller crowds than expected, and leave the promoters to bite the bullet and ultimately go in the hole to cover the purse for the night. This left the promoters with a sour taste concerning the validity of the late models to draw a crowd, and the fans would express their displeasure that they paid good hard earned money to watch eight late models race.

As the 2010 race season was winding down, promoters throughout the state all knew something had to happen, not to just to keep the doors open at their facility, but for the betterment of short track racing in general. With this goal in mind, six promoters from six different tracks came together to resolve the differences, and work together. Thus the foundation of the Florida United Promoters Late Model Series.

[media-credit name=”Cg Photography” align=”alignleft” width=”210″][/media-credit]First they worked out a twelve race series, with each track hosting two races, this will allow a touring series within the state, and will be the only late model race on any given week end throughout the state. Care was taken to come up with a unified rules package that will allow the teams to compete without making major, costly changes to their cars, a simple tire rule, all six tracks run Hoosier tires, so all teams will race on Hoosiers. Hoosier has also signed on as primary sponsor for the series and will fund the points fund. Promoters also hired a race and technical director to take charge of the operation, and no promoter will have anything to do with the everyday nuts, and bolts of this series.  The purses will remain constant, and entry fees will be the same one hundred dollars for every race. Hoosier Tire will also be giving away two tires at each race. Additional sponsors are said to be in negotiations with the series, but there have been no formal announcements at this point.

Will the formation of this series bring the late models back to the forefront of Florida short track racing? Will it accomplish bringing the crowds back? Only time will tell, whatever the results,  this is a positive step forward, not only for the promoters, and late model teams, but for the race fan that supports  their local short tracks.  For more information on this new series visit www.auburndaleracing.com.

Travis Pastrana, No. 99 Boost Mobile Toyota All-Star Showdown Preview

By
Official Release
-

CORNELIUS, N.C. — Eleven-time X Games Gold medal winner Travis Pastrana makes his NASCAR debut this weekend in the Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale Speedway. Pastrana will drive the No. 99 Boost Mobile Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing in the K&N Pro Series East-West race.

The 27-year old action sports star, along with co-owners Gary and Blake Bechtel, announced the formation of Pastrana-Waltrip Racing in November. Pastrana, a co-owner in the venture, plans to run seven NASCAR Nationwide Series races for Pastrana-Waltrip Racing in the No. 99 Boost Mobile Toyota in 2011. Pastrana will make his Nationwide Series debut on July 30th at Indianapolis – the same weekend he will make a cross-country trek to Los Angeles to compete in the ESPN X Games. 

Pastrana began preparation for his NASCAR career by testing at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway in December. He also tested at Gresham (Ga.) Motorsports Park and Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway in January. 

The four-time Rally America champion also plans to compete in the K&N Pro Series West race at Phoenix on Feb. 24.

Pastrana’s 2011 Nationwide Schedule

                                       July 30   – Indianapolis, Ind. 

                                       Sept. 9   – Richmond, Va.

                                       Oct. 1     – Dover, Del.

                                       Oct. 8     – Kansas

                                       Nov. 5    – Fort Worth, Texas

                                       Nov. 12  – Phoenix

                                       Nov. 19 – Homestead-Miami

QUOTES

 

TRAVIS PASTRANA ON HIS NASCAR DEBUT:  “This weekend is all about making laps and learning.   Driving a stock car is absolutely awesome. However, I think it’s going to be the biggest challenge of my career. I know this weekend and this year are going to be tough and frustrating at times.  I have had three different opportunities to test and I have learned a lot but I know there is a lot more for me to learn.  Honestly, this weekend I want to go out there and try to do the best we can, and earn the respect of all my competitors. You need the other guys to work with you and not against you. NASCAR is a team sport even if they’re not on your team.”

PASTRANA ON WHY HE DECIDED TO BEGIN A CAREER IN NASCAR:  “For me it’s all about waking up every morning with a passion. I have always been one to switch maybe before I needed to or maybe before other people thought it was wise. I think if you are passionate about something you can find a way to make it happen. In my 27 years I have been able to chase a lot of different dreams and I feel like I have done as much as I can do in that sport or been as successful as I want to. I need to wake up every morning thinking about nothing else other than what it’s going to take to get to the top of whatever sport I am in. I think this is the biggest challenge that I have ever had and it’s going to take a lot of time, but I am willing to put the time in.”

 

CREW CHIEF MIKE GRECI ON TESTING AT IRWINDALE:  “The first day was a little bit of a struggle for him.  He puts so much intensity making every lap perfect that he gets himself a little frustrated at times. So we ended the test a little early on the first day so he could sit back and evaluate some things.  We he came back on the second day he was spot on. Sometimes he is just so intense in doing well that he gets caught up in it a little. He thinks that he should be as fast as all the other cars on the track. He has succeeded in everything he has ever tried so he just gets frustrated when he isn’t the fastest car on the track.  I think he will be okay this weekend, he just needs to be patient.”

 

NOTES OF INTEREST

 

  • Last Friday night at L.A. Live, the sports and entertainment district in downtown Los Angeles, Pastrana announced that Boost Mobile would sponsor his No. 99 Toyota for the 2011 Nationwide Series.  Additionally, the action sports icon announced his Nationwide schedule with his debut set for July 30th at Indianapolis. 

 

· The Michael Waltrip Racing K&N Pro Series East team has won two consecutive championships with Ryan Truex.  The team has captured five wins, two poles, 15 top-five and 17 top-10 finishes in just 21 races.  Brett Moffitt will drive MWR’s East car in 2011.

Waltrip marks 25th Daytona 500 start with special ticket offer

By
Official Release
-

Two-time Daytona 500 champion part of the Michael Waltrip Daytona 500 Celebration Offer

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – For Michael Waltrip, there’s no better way to spend the morning of the Daytona 500 – NASCAR’s biggest and most prestigious race of the year – than interacting with his fans and enjoying cupcakes and Coca-Cola products.

As the two-time Daytona 500 champion approaches his 25th start in the 53rd running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 20, the popular NASCAR driver and owner of Michael Waltrip Racing will partner with Daytona International Speedway for the second straight year on a special ticket package – the Michael Waltrip Daytona 500 Celebration Offer.

Included in the ticket package, available for $129, is:

  • A Superstretch Daytona 500 ticket
  • Fan forum with Waltrip the morning of the Daytona 500
  • Celebration with Waltrip featuring cupcakes and Coca-Cola products
  • Gift bag that includes items from Michael Waltrip Racing partners
  • Commemorative item signed by Waltrip for each ticket holder

Waltrip holds a couple of significant distinctions in the storied history of the Daytona 500. Along with his older brother Darrell, the Waltrips are the only brother combination to have ever won the Daytona 500 and Michael is also one of only eight multi-time winners.

“The Daytona 500 is one of the greatest sporting events in the world,” said Waltrip whose book “In the Blink of Eye” chronicling his 2001 Daytona 500 victory hits the shelves Feb. 1. “It’s an honor to be called a two-time Daytona 500 champion. My goal is 2011 is to be a three-time winner.”

The Michael Waltrip Daytona 500 Celebration Offer is available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/mwr or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter (www.twitter.com/DISUpdates) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/DaytonaInternationalSpeedway)

Jimmy John’s to Sponsor RCR’s No. 29 Team with Kevin Harvick

By
Official Release
-

Primary sponsor for six races, associate sponsor for balance of season

WELCOME, N.C. (January 25, 2011) — Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches and Richard Childress Racing have reached a multi-year partnership agreement for the franchised sandwich shop restaurant chain to be the primary sponsor for six races and an associate sponsor for the balance of the season for Richard Childress Racing’s No. 29 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team and driver Kevin Harvick.

The announcement was made today at the RCR facility as part of the 29th annual NASCAR Sprint Media Tour.

The partnership is a continuation of an established relationship between Jimmy John’s Franchise, LLC, RCR and Kevin Harvick, Incorporated. Jimmy John’s, based in Champaign, Ill., was a primary sponsor of KHI’s No. 33 NASCAR Nationwide Series program the past two seasons and was an associate sponsor of RCR’s No. 29 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team in 2010. Founded in 1983, Jimmy John’s has grown to more than 1,000 stores in 39 states throughout the U.S.

“Jimmy John’s is looking forward to moving it’s sponsorship up to the Cup level. To partner with Richard at this level is a freakin’ hoot, and to be a partner with Harvick is about as good as it gets. I’m excited and so is my 55,000 strong sandwich making employee team! We’re stoked.” said Jimmy John Liautaud, founder and CEO of Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches.

The 2011 season will be Harvick’s 11th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The Bakersfield, Calif., native was the point leader for 20 weeks in 2010, including the final 16 weeks leading into the Chase for the Sprint Cup. He entered the season finale with an opportunity to win the championship and finished third in the point standings on the strength of three victories and 26 top-10 finishes. He also won the Budweiser Shootout for the second consecutive year.

“I have really enjoyed my relationship with Jimmy John’s over the last couple of years at KHI, and I’m happy that we can continue working together on the Cup side,” said Harvick.  “They have a reputation for being ‘freaky fast’ in their business, and I’d like to continue that motto on the track this year.”

RCR placed all three of its teams in the Chase for the Sprint Cup in 2011 and will return to a four-team program this season. Paul Menard joins Harvick, Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer as the drivers vying to bring RCR its seventh NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. RCR will also field two entries in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, with drivers Austin Dillon and Joey Coulter, Jr., as well as Tim George, Jr., and Ty Dillon in the ARCA Racing Series.

“Jimmy John’s prides itself on providing a quality product fast which is exactly what RCR likes to provide its race fans on the track,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “RCR is proud to have Jimmy John’s join our growing list of partners who are the best in their respective fields, and we look forward to providing them with a quality product on the race track and in the marketplace.”

About Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwich Shops

Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwich Shops was founded in 1983 by 19-year-old Jimmy John Liautaud in a converted garage in Charleston, Ill. Since its inception, the company has grown to over 1,000 corporate and franchised locations in 39 states throughout the U.S. The company is known for its obsession with fresh, quality products and high-speed execution. For more information, visit www.jimmyjohns.com.

About Richard Childress Racing 2011

Richard Childress Racing has earned more than 190 victories and 12 NASCAR championships, including six in the Sprint Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. Its 2011 Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Paul Menard (No. 27 Menard’s Chevrolet), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet), Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet) and Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet). Its Camping World Truck Series program includes 2010 Rookie of the Year Austin Dillon (No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) and Joey Coulter, Jr. (No. 22 RCR Development Chevrolet). Tim George Jr. (No 31 RCR Development Chevrolet) and Ty Dillon (No. 41 Chevrolet) will compete in the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. For more information, visit www.rcrracing.com.

NASCAR DRIVER MARTIN TRUEX JR. SUPPORTS KEEPAMERICAFISHING

By
Official Release
-

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – January 25, 2011 – Martin Truex Jr. announces his support for KeepAmericaFishing.  KeepAmericaFishing™ is leading the fight to preserve anglers’ rights to sustainably fish on our nation’s waterways.  As the voice of the American fisherman, KeepAmericaFishing™ works to keep our public resources – our oceans, lakes, rivers and streams – open, clean and abundant with fish.

“When I’m not racing the No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota, I enjoy being out on the water.  I fully support KeepAmericaFishing™ and their efforts to preserve our rights to fish.  As an avid fisherman, I help manage our fish populations by practicing sustainable methods of preserving our fisheries.” said Martin Truex Jr.

Across the country, preventing or limiting recreational anglers’ access to public waters fisheries is being touted as a new way to manage fish populations. This unprecedented shift undermines the achievements of proven fisheries management methods that focus on conservation and promote sustainable fishing. As a result, the past 10 years have seen a dramatic increase in bans on recreational fishing from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Who is KeepAmericaFishing™?

In an effort to combat access restrictions around the country, the American Sport Fishing Association launched KeepAmericaFishing™ to unite the nation’s 60 million anglers under one voice. Through policy, science and conservation, KeepAmericaFishing™ works to minimize access restrictions, promote clean waters and restore fish populations. With its conservation partners, KeepAmericaFishing™ works to limit and provide for review and revision science-based closures to areas in which they are clearly beneficial to the health of the fishery.  For more information, visit http://www.keepamericafishing.org.

About Martin Truex Jr.

In 2010, he climbed into the No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing. He teamed up with veteran crew chief Pat Tryson and they netted seven top 10s and one pole during the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Truex burst onto the NASCAR scene in 2003, after developing a friendship with famed driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr. He won back-to-back Nationwide Series Championships in 2004 and 2005. In 2006, he graduated to NASCAR’s premier division, the Sprint Cup Series.

When Martin is away from the track, he spends most of his time hunting and fishing.  He is also heavily involved with the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation, which was formed in 2007 to help children in need. For more information, visit http://www.mtjauthentics.com.

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