NASCAR Notebook: Kansas opts for Saturday qualifying for June race
By Reid Spencer and Matt Crossman Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service In what is a growing philosophical division between International Speedway Corporation and Speedway Motorsports properties, Kansas Speedway joined the ranks of ISC tracks that will hold Sprint Cup qualifying for at least one of its events on Saturday. According to track president Pat Warren, the move is appropriate in an economic climate where gas prices are approaching $4 per gallon. “We feel that moving Sprint Cup qualifying from Friday to Saturday will allow fans to be more involved in the entire weekend’s festivities while easing some travel and lodging concerns,” Warren said. “Our fans will be able to see Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series qualifying in addition, to the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 … Read entire article »
Filed under: NASCAR
NASCAR mandates smaller restrictor plate for Talladega
By Reid Spencer Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service NASCAR will reduce the size of the openings in restrictor plates provided to Sprint Cup teams for the April 17 race at Talladega, Sporting News has learned. The diameter of holes in the plates will measure 7/8 inches, down 1/64 inches from the openings in plates used in the Feb. 20 season-opening Daytona 500. NASCAR confirmed the change, indicating that the plate size at Talladega often is smaller than at Daytona, given that Talladega is a slightly longer track (2.66 miles versus 2.5 miles). However, the plate size for this year’s Aaron’s 499 is 4/64 inches smaller than that used for the last two races at Talladega, a tacit acknowledgement on NASCAR’s part that Cup teams have gotten a better handle on their setups … Read entire article »
Filed under: NASCAR
Roush Fenway hopes to continue strong start to season this week in California
CONCORD, N.C. – Fresh off a strong showing last weekend in Bristol, Roush Fenway Racing will look to continue it’s fast start in 2011 at one the team’s most successful race tracks, Auto Club Speedway. The organization placed three teams in the top eight in last week’s Sprint Cup race and if history means anything, improving on that feat this weekend at California may be quite likely. “The mile-and-a-half and two-mile race tracks have historically been our strong point,” said team owner Jack Roush. “Even in the worst of times that’s a place when we’ve still been able to muster a great effort and in a good time like this, I think there’s certainly as much hope and expectation of a good result as there was at Las Vegas.” Roush … Read entire article »
Filed under: NASCAR
Kyle Busch has mellowed but not when it comes to winning
By Reid Spencer Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service At some point, Kyle Busch will thank Rick Hendrick for creating the monster that drives the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. There is nothing ordinary about Kyle Busch, and there never has been. There’s a different drummer in Busch’s brain. At driver introductions before Sunday’s Jeff Byrd 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, Busch strode down the gangway to his own music, “Rowdy Busch,” a song written for him by Raytona500. “Why can’t we all just be friends?” Busch asked the crowd with just the right amount of sass—and elicited a derisive chorus from the grandstand. Afterward, he proceeded to spank all comers for the fifth straight time at the world’s fastest half-mile. Busch, 25, is on pace this season to move into second place all time … Read entire article »
Filed under: NASCAR, Nationwide Series, Sprint Cup, Truck Series
Driver agent Moskowitz creating own agency
By Tripp Mickle Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service Longtime NASCAR driver agent Rod Moskowitz is spinning off from Motorsports Management International to create his own agency by acquiring the contracts of top drivers Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne and Jamie McMurray. The new agency, which will be known as Fuel Sports Management Group, will be run by Moskowitz, who worked for MMI for 11 years, and former Ray Evernham Motorsports executives Rick Russell and David Jessey. Evernham, who at one time considered buying MMI, will be an adviser and member of the board along with Jack Giarraputo, Adam Sandler’s partner at Happy Madison Productions. MMI founder Cary Agajanian will continue to represent Tony Stewart and work in NASCAR, as well as drifting and other motorsports. He expects to maintain a close relationship with Fuel Sports … Read entire article »
Filed under: NASCAR
Mars Extends Partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing
HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – Mars, Incorporated announced today that it is continuing its partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) through a new multi-year deal. The deal will extend the winning partnership that has brought the No. 18 Toyota to victory lane 14 times since 2008. The centerpiece of the partnership will continue to be the popular M&M’S® brand as the primary paint scheme on JGR’s No. 18 Toyota. “From connecting with NASCAR fans to engaging our retail partners, our partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing has proved to be tremendously successful,” explained Debra A. Sandler, Chief Consumer Officer at Mars Chocolate North America. “We’re thrilled to extend this partnership and look forward to celebrating more wins both on and off the track.” “Mars and its iconic brands are a big part … Read entire article »
Filed under: NASCAR
Bristol Golden Giveaway Offers Fans A Chance To Win A Ford Mustang Pace Car
CONCORD, N.C. – Race fans love having their picture taken with the Bristol Motor Speedway pace car. Now they have the opportunity not just to go home with a photo, but the car itself. Beginning March 18, Bristol Motor Speedway, Scotts EZ Seed and Ford, will give fans the chance to win the official 2011 BMS 50th Anniversary Edition Ford Mustang pace car plus a pallet of Scotts EZ Seed product to beautify their lawn. Fans can register for the Bristol Golden Giveaway, which honors the Speedway’s 50th anniversary, at www.bms50.com. The Mustang, valued at more than $44,000, features a number of upgrades, including a custom metallic gold paint job, Ford Racing wheels, Goodyear Eagle F1 tires and a power exhaust upgrade. Three fans ultimately will be selected as finalists for … Read entire article »
Filed under: NASCAR
Win Tony Stewarts Camaro SS Convertible
INDIANAPOLIS – Chevy Runs Deep, but when it comes to the Chevrolet Camaro, some Chevys run deeper than others. Such is the case with the new Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible, which one lucky person will receive thanks to the Tony Stewart Foundation. Raffle tickets, priced at only $25 each, are available now only through www.SmokesChevy.com. Each ticket purchased allows for the chance to win a 2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible, with a presentation by Tony Stewart, the two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet Impala for Stewart-Haas Racing. But wait, there’s more. The second and third tickets drawn will be for a 2012 season race package. The second ticket drawn will be for a VIP race … Read entire article »
Filed under: NASCAR
Variety of racers to chase speed records at Bristol
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Ford NASCAR drivers in a street-legal Mustang, a Tony Stewart-owned sprint car, two supermodifieds and a world superbike champion will attempt to establish half-mile closed-course records in the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile Speed Trials” immediately following the Scotts EZ Seed 300 Nationwide Series race on March 19. “The World’s Fastest Half-Mile issued a challenge to the fastest of the fast,” Bristol executive vice president and general manager Jerry Caldwell. “For the first time in years, fans will witness an all-out attack for speed. This challenge ignites new creativity in the racing world to stretch speed boundaries in the most intense, close-quarters setting in motorsports.” As part of Bristol Motor Speedway’s 50th anniversary celebration, the Speedway extended invitations to several motorsports champions from wide-ranging motorsports disciplines to set class half-mile closed-course … Read entire article »
Filed under: NASCAR
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