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Kevin Harvick Inc. Signs Brazilian Driver Nelson Piquet Jr.

By
Official Release
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Formula One driver to compete full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

Kernersville, N.C. (December 13, 2010) – Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) announced today the addition of Formula One driver Nelson Piquet Jr. to the organization’s 2011 line-up. The 25-year-old native of Brazil will compete full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and for the series’ Rookie of the Year honors next season. Further details regarding the program will be released at a later date.

“This is a very unique opportunity to have a driver like Nelson be a part of KHI,” said KHI co-owner Kevin Harvick. “In five starts in the Truck Series this season he not only gained valuable seat time but proved himself by getting some solid finishes. We are excited to have Nelson as a part of our Truck Series program as he takes another step forward in his career.”

“I am very excited to join KHI and to drive in the Truck Series,” said Piquet. “I look forward to combining what I have learned this year from running five races in the series with the professionalism and experience of the KHI organization. I want to thank Kevin, DeLana and everyone at KHI for this opportunity. I am looking forward to our partnership and I can’t wait to get out on the track in a KHI Chevrolet Silverado and start winning races.”

The young driver made his NASCAR debut in the Truck Series season opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in February 2010. Piquet finished sixth in the event and competed in four additional races in the series. He also made his Nationwide Series debut at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International in August 2010 where he qualified 10th and finished seventh.

About Kevin Harvick Inc.

Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI), established in 2001 by Kevin and DeLana Harvick, is an over 80,000 sq. ft. facility located in Kernersville, N.C. KHI enters 2011 in its eighth full year of competition with three full-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams and two full-time NASCAR Nationwide Series teams. With a roster comprised of both up-and-coming and veteran championship-caliber drivers, KHI will compete for the 2011 Truck Series and Nationwide Series championships and continue to establish itself as one of the top teams in NASCAR competition. For more information about KHI and its teams, please visit www.KevinHarvickInc.com.

BRANDT MAKES DEBUT AS A NASCAR SPONSOR WITH TURNER MOTORSPORTS IN 2011

By
Official Release
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Justin Allgaier to pilot the No. 31 BRANDT Chevrolet Impala for the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series season

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (December 13, 2010) – Turner Motorsports is pleased to announce that BRANDT will serve as primary sponsor of the No. 31 Chevrolet Impala, driven by NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) championship contender, Justin Allgaier during the 2011 racing season. Allgaier, who finished the 2010 season fourth in the NNS championship points standings, joins Turner Motorsports in 2011 for his third full season of Nationwide Series competition.

BRANDT, located near Allgaier’s hometown in Illinois, was founded in 1953 to help Illinois farmers adopt new technologies for their operations. Today, the Springfield, Ill.-based company is a global enterprise consisting of three operating divisions: Specialty Formulations, Retail Agronomy and Dealer Support. This will mark BRANDT’s first endeavor as a primary sponsor with a NASCAR team.

BRANDT President and CEO, Rick C. Brandt, is very enthusiastic about the company’s jump into NASCAR Nationwide Series competition.

“We are extremely excited to team up with Justin and Turner Motorsports for the 2011 racing season,” said Brandt. “BRANDT is an exciting, aggressive and family values-based company. We feel we are teaming up with a driver who embodies these same qualities, and we are looking forward to seeing him exemplify that on the track. Coming from the small town of Pleasant Plains, Illinois and having the opportunity to team with such a great driver from nearby Riverton, Illinois adds to the excitement of the collaboration! Also, NASCAR’s upcoming transition to ethanol fuel embodies BRANDT’s leadership as a premier producer of environmentally sustainable products for agriculture. We look forward to representing American farmers on the track!”

Turner Motorsports owner, Steve Turner, is pleased to welcome BRANDT on board as part of his NASCAR Nationwide Series program.

“I am very happy to welcome BRANDT as a Turner Motorsports marketing partner,” said Turner. “It is a company that I feel has the same core values and the same qualities that we do at Turner Motorsports. They have seen the value in NASCAR and how it can help move the needle from both a marketing and sales perspective. We are confident we will win with them both on and off the track. I am honored they want to be a part of our organization and are looking forward to a long-term successful relationship.”

Allgaier, a Riverton, Ill.-native, has made a name for himself coming through the national stockcar racing ranks. “Little Gator”, a nickname Allgaier earned for his size and aggressive nature behind the wheel, started racing Midget and Sprint cars at age six before moving onto stockcars as a teenager. After capturing the ARCA Racing Series championship in 2008, he graduated to the NASCAR Nationwide Series the following year and claimed the Rookie of the Year honors with three top-five and 12 top-10 finishes. The 24-year-old scored his first NNS victory in 2010 at Bristol Motor Speedway and rounded out the season with two pole awards, eight top-five and 20 top-10 finishes.

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

Testing Daytona Pavement A Familiar Task For the Wood Brothers

By
Official Release
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More than 50 years after Glen Wood and his 1958 Ford Fairlane No. 21 tried out the pavement on the then-new Daytona International Speedway, the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion with Trevor Bayne behind the wheel will test the brand new asphalt on the historic track.

Bayne and the Wood Brothers are among 18 drivers and teams that are set to participate in a Goodyear tire test on Dec. 15-16.

This week’s test is the first time that race cars have run at speed on the track since the track was repaved for just the second time ever.

Team co-owner Eddie Wood said he’s particularly proud that his team is among the participants.

“Anything that’s brand new is exciting,” he said. “And it’s special for us because our dad drove on the new asphalt in 1959, when the track was built, and here we are all these years later running at Daytona with a 2011 Ford Fusion and the same number 21.”

Wood also said he and his team are looking forward to working with Bayne as he adjusts to driving a Sprint Cup car on Daytona’s high banks. Bayne’s only previous experience at the Cup level came at Texas Motor Speedway in November when he finished an impressive 17th in the Wood Brothers’ Ford Fusion.

“This will be a good chance for us to work together with Trevor and get to know each other better,” Wood said.

The Wood Brothers and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion will make their official return to the track in February with the 53rd running of the Daytona 500.

Christmas Comes Early At Martinsville Speedway With Successful Toy Drive

By
Official Release
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MARTINSVILLE, Va. (December 11, 2010) – Christmas came two weeks early at Martinsville Speedway Saturday.

Hundreds of people donated toys, took hot laps in their own cars and hotter laps in a pace car wheeled by Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell, enjoyed a Famous Martinsville Speedway Hot Dog™, sat on Santa’s knee, and in general had a big time while helping raise more than 1,200 toys for the Martinsville Speedway Toy Drive.

Those toys will go to help 233 children in the Martinsville and Henry County area have a brighter Christmas morning.

“It was an amazing day. Everybody had a wonderful time and in the end so many children in this area are going to be helped,” said Campbell. “It’s a fun day for all of us here at the Speedway. We see so many of our friends and make so many new friends this day every year.

“And it’s always unbelievable that no matter how bad times are, this community and the racing community come through and make it such a big and beneficial day. It’s truly a humbling experience every year.”

Each of the 233 children will receive a new bicycle. Activate Martinsville is donating a helmet to go along with each one of the bicycles.

The Grace Network, a group of about 85 churches in the Martinsville and Henry County area, handles the toy collection and distribution. Last year they had 159 families to serve from the toy drive. This year that number grew to 233, but enough toys and money was donated to make sure all those families are served.

The Grace Network also will distribute 84 homework boxes, which include school supplies, to the 233 children.

The Grace Network’s efforts were boosted by a $15,000 grant from the Hughes Memorial Foundation. With that additional funding, the Grace Network was able to purchase bicycles and other toys for older children.

The monetary donations on Saturday will also go to purchasing Christmas gifts.

“The folks with the Grace Network do an amazing job. They are the ones that deserve the credit. They identify families in need and handle the hard work of getting all the toys bought, boxed and distributed,” said Campbell.”We couldn’t do this without them.”

The Grace Network utilized about 50 volunteers Saturday. They collected toys and cash from those people who wanted to drive around the track in their cars. They transported toys to the infield, sorted them by age group and then boxed them for distribution to families.

The staff of Martinsville Speedway donated their time Saturday to man the infield concession stand to cook and sell hot dogs, coordinated the hot laps and pace car laps with Campbell.

Questions, Answers and Conundrums from the SpeedwayMedia Mailbag

By
SM Staff
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The 2010 NASCAR season is officially over, well, except for some suspensions and probations issued over the past year. Those are not officially over until December 31st. That’s a whole different article.

Wire services, official press releases and even news around the sport has slowed to a trickle. It is officially the off season in NASCAR.

Sitting at my desk admiring the most recent construction of another cobweb, I decided it was time to do some digging through the Speedway Media mailbag.

The mailbag at Speedway Media isn’t exactly like traditional mailbags, actually, it’s more like a large round Tupperware bowl that’s so worn out it stopped burping years ago.

Once in a while the staff writers take turns reading and responding to the miniscule amount of fan letters, questions and even occasional suggestions that almost never pour in.

After spending a few hours of reading and a little consternation, I came across four letters I thought were relevant, topical, well thought out, and begged to be answered.

Honestly, there were only four letters in the bowl and I needed at least 500 words for this article, so I thought I would just answer them all.

Mary Anne from Mobile writes:
Dear Speedway Media: Do you think Jimmie Johnson will win his fifth championship in a row this year?
Well Mary Anne as you can see it’s been a while since we checked the mail bag. Jimmie Johnson did in fact win his fifth championship in a row this year. Since there is not much change scheduled for next year in the Chase system or in NASCAR, Johnson is certainly the favorite to occupy the podium again.

Karl from Kalamazoo writes:
Dear Speedway Media: Has Hendrick Motorsports found a sponsor for Kasey Kahne in 2012 yet?
Karl, that’s a very good question. As of right now there have been no announcements of any sponsorship deals for Kahne beyond 2011. Given the most recent turn of events at HMS; swapping crews in the middle of a race and a multitude of personnel changes after the final race, except for JJ and Knaus, it’s quite possible a sponsor like Manpower Temporary Services would be best suited for Kahne in 2012.

Louise from Lubbock writes:
Dear Speedway Media: Why is Dale Earnhardt Jr. once again NASCAR’s most popular driver? Shouldn’t Jimmie Johnson’s five championships in a row make him the most popular driver?
Louise I am surprised you are the only one who has asked this question. Johnson has won quite a few awards over the past couple of years, including Athlete of the Year.

Even though he has won five championships in a row, the answer to your question has two parts and is quite simple.
First: Dale Earnhardt Jr. gets more attention for not winning than Johnson does for winning.

Second: Everyone likes Jr.

Speaking of Jr. and not winning, Robert from Richmond writes:
Dear Speedway Media: Do you think Dale Earnhardt Jr. will extend his contract with Hendrick Motor Sports?
Thanks for the question Robert. I doubt it will happen by the end of this year, but who knows, this year has had its share of strange events.

Macy’s fired Santa Claus, Urban Meyer abruptly resigned, Auburn went undefeated, and Joe Nemechek actually ran a full race.

The marriage between Rick Hendrick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. started off as traditional as unions go. Hendrick brought money, Earnhardt brought his name along with some extra baggage of a cousin. It was consummated quickly with a Duel win at Daytona.

Since then there hasn’t been much bliss. Hendrick has tried to keep the romance going by supplying Jr. with new equipment and even a new crew chief. It still didn’t seem to be enough. So once again Jr. is getting another new crew chief and also moving in with Jimmie Johnson.

The move with Johnson could be strategic, or a veiled attempt at marriage counseling.

I doubt that Hendrick and Earnhardt Jr. will get a divorce at the end of 2012, but it’s possible a trial separation is in their future. This would give both of parties a chance at finding what they did or didn’t have during their union.

That’s all for this edition of Speedway Mailbag.

Feel free to send your questions, comments and suggestions to mailbag@speedwaymedia.com.

Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect opinions of the management.

Meet Jimmie Johnson’s Chase Kryptonite: Texas Motor Speedway

By
SM Staff
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After winning his fifth straight Sprint Cup Series championship or even back to when he won his fourth, Jimmie Johnson likes to make it known that each championship season is different.

“It is a different year, a different Chase,” said Johnson during the contender’s press conference before Homestead. “I kind of think every year is different for that matter. I know the last four years we’ve had the same result. But every year, every championship battle has had its own little quirks to it.”

[media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignleft” width=”300″][/media-credit]While the road to the title may go through the same 10 tracks in the Chase and the same 36 tracks that circle the country, how the championship is won is different. Johnson has come from behind and he’s dominated to win it.

Whether it was battling Carl Edwards, Mark Martin or Denny Hamlin or even the style of racecars – from twisted sister to half a season with the COT, to a full season of the COT then changes from the wing to the spoiler – nothing stays the same.

The last three seasons however, Johnson has seen one constant which threw an obstacle in his way: Texas Motor Speedway.

Like most tracks the Sprint Cup Series visits, his statistics at the 1.5-mile track in Forth Worth, TX are worth noting. He’s led laps, finished well and has even won before.

Since the win, which came in November of 2007, Johnson hasn’t performed to standard at Texas. That’s in the Chase events, the spring races have been nothing short of Johnson perfection. In nine spring races, Johnson’s results: sixth, eighth, ninth, third, 11th, 38th, second, second, and second.

But, back to the Chase, a time when the 48 is at their best, Texas has been their Achilles heel. A year after their win, Johnson went to Texas and ran embarrassingly. Carl Edwards, whom he was battling for the championship with, and, who won the race, lapped him early.

Johnson and team struggled from the beginning with the handling of the car and never got their lap back. In a rare occurrence, Johnson didn’t even lead a lap in the race and wound up finishing 15th.

“It’s like getting kicked in the balls over and over. That sucked,” Johnson said afterwards. In the end it wasn’t enough to keep Johnson from winning his third straight championship.

November of 2009, what many thought was unimaginable, happened: Johnson wrecked. Not only did he wreck, he wrecked in a Chase race.

On lap three Johnson jumped to the outside of Sam Hornish Jr., who was hit by David Reutimann. Hornish was sent sideways into Johnson, causing the 48 to start spinning and come back down the track where hit Hornish and then the inside wall.

To the garage Johnson went where crew members from every Hendrick Motorsports team came to the aid to repair his mangled Chevrolet. The work was enough to send Johnson back to the track where he was able to finish (38th) but with valuable points. Again though, he didn’t lead a lap.

Afterwards Johnson said, “I don’t think I could have done anything different. 77 lost it. I wish he could have waited a few more laps before he lost control of his car.”

Three months after the incident, when the NSCS hit media day in Daytona, the now four-time champion still wasn’t happy. Johnson ripped into Hornish saying, “The guy I wouldn’t want to learn from would be Sam Hornish. He hits way to much stuff, including me.”

Johnson was also miffed that Hornish hadn’t called to apologize or say anything about the wreck. When asked, Hornish said Reutimann had called him to take the blame but Hornish wasn’t going to reach out to someone that was mad at him.

When Johnson continued his assault, Hornish said it surprised him and that, “Jimmie’s had ample opportunity to look at the tape.”

For the second year in a row, Texas had shaken up the Chase. Should the speedway need a new slogan, they should jump on the fact that they know how to produce championship drama and have made it three years in a row where the championship was almost lost there.

The 2010 AAA 500 was more than Denny Hamlin winning and Johnson having to swap pit crews. The 48 team again showed up to the Lone Star state off of their game, betraying Johnson’s confidence heading into the weekend.

“Texas and Phoenix have been really good tracks and we’ve always raced well at those racetracks,” he said.

In the first three practice sessions Johnson never ended a session higher than ninth and he qualified 17th. On Sunday evening of raceday he ran between eighth and 15th, again fighting the handling of the car and fighting pit road.

Pit road selections saw Hamlin’s team, winners of the pit crew challenge, pitting the 11 car in front of the 48. Stop after stop Johnson was beaten off pit road and suffered slow stops by his team.

His finish wasn’t as bad at 2008 and 2009, he finished ninth and led one lap on a green flag pit stop, but it was enough to lose the point lead. Leaving Texas with two races to go, Johnson sat 33 markers behind Hamlin.

Oh the Chase drama at night is big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas!

The latest drama has been thought to be the biggest. Championship was over, Hamlin had Johnson down and almost out. It was an unfamiliar and unwanted territory for Johnson.

“It sucks,” he said. “I don’t want to be there. Every year feels different being here this late in the game. We all know how special a run we’ve been on and how rare it is in sports period … I know I’m down and I need to get back on top.”

Back on top he was two weeks later for a fifth title.

For three years Texas came close to crowning a new champion and while it didn’t, Texas did set up dramatic Chase conclusions. Texas has also shown that Johnson and company are human even if the past five years have had many watching them do inhuman things.

With three straight second place finishes in the spring Texas race, what has made the Chase race slow him down? As Johnson has faltered at Texas, drivers he was battling for in the Chase won two of those three races.

The best news for the competition is that Texas will again be in the Chase in 2011 as 42 drivers again try to dethrone Johnson. All of which is helping  Texas quickly become the Chase race you don’t want to miss.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Reality Is, Races Are Run on the Track, Not at the Shop

By
SM Staff
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For the second straight season, Hendrick Motorsports team owner Rick Hendrick, was able to keep the fans as well as the media right where he likes them, poking around his organizations race shops looking for the hottest story to finish off the year.

We already know one the hottest stories to come out from behind the doors of one of NASCAR’s most decorated organizations is Jimmie Johnson’s record setting fifth straight championship in-a-row.

It’s not hard to see that most of the fans are still trying to convince themselves that somehow NASCAR got it all wrong by allowing such a travesty to enter the sport by way of a fiasco called the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship.

[media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]Even though Johnson walked away the big winner for the fifth straight year, the biggest question to come out of the HMS camp during the season was the poor showing by NASCAR’s most popular driver again.

No other driver received the amount of publicity for such a poor season then the son of one of the true legends of the sport, Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Question after question was posted, along with many fictional answers as to why this 36 year-old driver from Kannapolis, North Carolina has not been able to perform according to their standards.

These standards are what every NASCAR fan hopes their favorite driver can achieve, but unfortunately, not all drivers are capable of reaching them, whether it be because of talent, skill, heart, desire, equipment or whatever excuse will be placed upon them.

Excuses have become second nature whenever Earnhardt’s fans have tried to justify or explain why he is having trouble with an organization that is said to have the best equipment in the sport.

How many organizations can boast of having a four-time, along with a five-time champion, on the same team?

Wasn’t it just last season when a 50 year-old driver by the name of Mark Martin, who was driving in his first season with the organization won five races, along with finishing second in the points behind cup champion Jimmie Johnson?

Martin just about stole the headlines away from Johnson towards the end of the season, but the big story was the signing of IZOD IndyCar Series star Danica Patrick, only a few days after NASCAR’s season ending awards banquet.

The signing of Patrick took the focus off of Johnson’s fourth championship, when a legion of doubters began flooding the NASCAR social sites explaining why the GoDaddy.com poster girl should not be allowed to race in NASCAR’s second tier series.

Marketing has always been the cornerstone of this great sport of ours, and it’s no wonder that Mr. Hendrick has made it one of his key ingredients when it comes to building a successful organization.

After all, when you look back to Earnhardt’s last three seasons with the organization, the majority of the fans began putting him into the same category as Patrick with the moniker that Hendrick only hired him because of his popularity.

Now, whether it is true or not has yet to be proven, especially after Hendrick heard the cry from the fans and replaced Earnhardt’s long time crew chief Tony Eury Jr. with Lance McGrew.

It wouldn’t take long before Earnhardt’s fans would begin questioning whether McGrew was the right man for the job, and once again, the focus of Earnhardt’s poor results would be back in the hands of his crew chief.

So when Hendrick made the announcement at the end of the season that Earnhardt would be getting Gordon’s crew chief Steve Letarte to start the 2011 campaign, along switching the shops of the 24 and 88 teams, almost immediately Earnhardt’s legion of fans went into a frenzy saying this should be the move that puts their driver back in victory lane.

Now from a marketing standpoint, it made all the sense in the world, especially when you are dealing with the sport’s most popular driver and part of the focus being on keeping his fans happy.

Changing shops is not the answer to the problems which Earnhardt has faced since coming on board with HMS in 2008, and when you think about it the only difference is the car number sitting next to his.

Earnhardt will be working with a new group of team members, which will be led by his new crew chief Steve Letarte.

Sharing a race shop with five-time champion Jimmie Johnson will not make him a better driver, nor will it help the team since each driver has their own driving style and set-ups which they prefer.

When looking back to 2002, when Johnson first came into the series, Gordon’s best season was in 2007 when he finished second in the point standings, with six wins while sharing the same shop with Johnson.

Gordon, who has proven to be a more experienced driver than Earnhardt, missed only one chase appearance in 2005, which happened to be the same year Steve Letarte took over for Robbie Loomis with 10 races left in the season.

Gordon would add an additional 10 wins, 78 top-five and 114 top-10 finishes in 190 starts with LeTarte as his crew chief, but in the end would only pick-up one win in the last three seasons which is way below Gordon’s standards.

“Five years is a long opportunity, and I had an opportunity to get him there, and we came close a few years but we never got there completely,” said Letarte who will not be back with Gordon next season.

Letarte also added that, “I’m definitely disappointed in that. … I’m a crew chief in this sport because of Jeff Gordon, and Rick Hendrick.”

Letarte knows he will have his hands full next season and the task at hand will not be an easy one, especially when you’re talking about a driver who means so much to the sport.

“I was excited for the opportunity. I was humbled. It’s a very important task for this company, for Dale Jr., for the sport, and I take it as that. I was very proud that I was the guy tagged for that. I’m excited, and I’m ready to go,” said Letarte when talking about the move to the No. 88 team.

Whether or not the changes will be beneficial to Earnhardt is a question mark that will be answered once the 2011 season begins, even though in the minds of the purist races are run on the track and not in the shop.

As far as Earnhardt’s fans are concerned, they need to realize a four-time champion encountered his own problems while sharing a shop with Johnson, and it’s not the shop that makes the driver, even though Earnhardt feels otherwise:

“I needed this to happen. Hopefully, this will get me back to winning races, running in the top five and running in the top 10.” said Earnhardt of the change.

Earnhardt also added, “The only person that can truly help me get where I need to go starts with me, then it goes to Rick, Steve [Letarte] and those guys in your inner circle every week and in your corner every week.”

How many crew chiefs will it take to get Earnhardt back into victory lane is anyone’s guess, but the answer may be plain and simple in the eyes of NASCAR’s most popular driver:

“My biggest problem, I think, is my confidence,”

Robert Yates Racing Back in Motorsports Headlines as NASCAR SPEC Engine Supplier

By
SM Staff
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After being eatten up through a merger with Richard Petty Motorsports and not even spoken about, Robert Yates Racing is back in the motorsports headlines.

NASCAR announced today that Robert Yates Racing Engines will be the exclusive supplier of the NASCAR SPEC engines in the SPEC engine program.

[media-credit name=”Getty Images” align=”alignleft” width=”300″][/media-credit]The program provides teams with the opportunity to buy the NASCAR-Approved SPEC engine from Robert Yates Racing Engines, a racing engine and parts company owned by Robert Yates and Chris Davy, pre-assembled or as a kit and have their own designated engine builder perform the assembly.

“The SPEC engine program has clearly established itself as a competitive, economical alternative for many of our teams,” said Richard Buck, NASCAR director of touring series, in a press release. “As the sport works to establish ways to better manage costs, the option to be able to run the SPEC engine has provided additional teams the opportunity to run in more races and be competitive.”

The engine, which was introduced in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series in 2006 as an optional means for managing costs and providing teams with additional opportunities to compete, is also available for use in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tours, and the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. It is also an option for NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams at select tracks.

“We’re excited to be part of NASCAR’s on-going efforts to provide affordable alternatives for racers throughout this sport,” said Robert Yates, the former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion car owner and engine builder. “Since its debut, the SPEC engine has clearly proven its worth under the rigor of competition. We look forward continuing with the same high-level of service, engine power and quality.”

The SPEC engine achieved tremendous success with Wegner Motorsports, which served as exclusive supplier from 2007-2009. Wegner is diversifying its business and will continue to produce engines for various forms of motorsports and support RYRE through the transition period.

“I am happy to have been involved with the NASCAR SPEC engine from its inception,” said Carl Wegner. “I will still be available to Robert Yates Racing Engines to help in the transition of this great program. I wish nothing but continued success to NASCAR and the SPEC engine program.”

Robert Yates Racing was formed in 1988 after Yates purchased the assets of Ranier-Lundy and started the team with Davey Allison, who had been with Ranier-Lundy at the time.

Through the years, Yates had drivers like Allison, Ernie Irvan, Kenny Wallace, Dale Jarrett, Ricky Rudd and Elliott Sadler behind the wheel

Robert Yates Racing Engines are best known for the years where they dominated Daytona International Speedway with Dale Jarrett behind the wheel.

A losing battle to find sponsorship, find the right combination and lack of funds forced them to merge with RPM in 2009.

POCONO RACEWAY SOLAR FARM HITS MILESTONE – One Million Kilowatt Hours of Electricity Produced

By
Official Release
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Long Pond, PA….December 9, 2010…. Today, less than four months since energy production began at Pocono Raceway’s solar farm, the total amount of electricity produced by the 25 acre facility reached the 1,000,000 kilowatt hour (kWh) mark. The solar installation consists of 39,960 American made photovoltaic modules that will produce more than 72 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy over the next 20 years. The environmental attributes associated with the system will offset more than 3,100 Metric Tons of carbon dioxide annually and will generate enough power to provide the electricity needs for over 1,000 homes beyond the power needs of Pocono Raceway.

“This is an important milestone for Pocono Raceway,” said Brandon Igdalsky, Raceway President. “Pocono Raceway strongly believes in the commitment to operate in a more environmentally responsible way and is proud to be the first race track to power our sport with clean, renewable sunlight making it the world’s largest solar-powered sports facility. This solar power system, built with timber, steel and solar panels made in the U.S., satisfies all the Raceway’s energy needs, while helping to power local homes. This project demonstrates real sustainability and proves that any business that truly wants to go green, can do it.”

The 1,000,000 (kWh) produced has already impacted the environment. The total energy generated equals the use of 5,705 light bulbs (60W) for one year at eight hours per day and represents a savings of 80,984 gallons of gasoline with a carbon dioxide (CO2) offset equaling that of 18,010 trees. The Raceway has been awarded a number of environmental awards for its sustainable energy efforts. To see what the Pocono Raceway solar farm is producing real-time go to www.poconoraceway.com .

The Pocono Raceway solar farm is located along Long Pond Road adjacent to Pocono Raceway’s storied two and one-half mile Super Speedway. Pocono is the host of two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekends each summer. The 30th annual Pocono 500 is scheduled for June 10-12. The 38th annual Pennsylvania is set for August 5-7. For ticket information visit: www.poconoraceway.com or call toll free 1-800-RACEWAY (1-800-722-3929)

Michael Waltrip Racing Hires Brett Moffitt To Drive No. 00

By
Official Release
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CORNELIUS N.C. – Michael Waltrip Racing announced today that Brett Moffitt will drive the No. 00 Toyota in 2011 as the team seeks its third consecutive K&N Pro Series East title.

The 18-year-old native of Grimes, Iowa replaces Ryan Truex who’ll race in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2011. Moffitt finished second to Truex in the 2010 standings.

“Hopefully I can get a chance to run for my first and their third championship this season,” said Moffitt who won East races at Martinsville and Dover in 2010. “This is a heck of an opportunity. I’m honored they chose me to contend for another championship. I plan to show them they made the right decision.”

Moffitt also won the pole for both races at New Hampshire Speedway and finished second in the point standings to Truex.

Moffitt started racing at age 11 and after three years in karts he became the youngest race winner at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway winning the 2007 edition of the Harris Clash. He finished second in the 2008 ASA Late Model North Series winning five races and Rookie of the Year honors.

Moffitt made his NASCAR debut in 2009 winning the pole in his first East race at Greenville-Pickens Speedway for Andy Santerre Motorsports. He finished third in the standings winning a race at Dover and South Boston and two poles before moving to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2010.

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Car owner Michael Waltrip said Moffitt has some big shoes to fill at MWR.

“Ryan Truex gave Michael Waltrip Racing its first and second championships so he’ll always be my hero,” said Waltrip. “But we have a lot of faith in Brett. We saw what he did the last two years on the track and we are confident he’ll do well with us. I think MWR fans and NASCAR fans are really going to like him.”

Moffitt joins crew chief Mike Greci who’ll bid for his fifth East Series title. Greci won titles with Truex in 2009 and 2010 and with Mike Stefanik in 1997 and 1998.

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