Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 One Of Season's Most Memorable Races

Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 One Of Season's Most Memorable Races

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (December 29, 2010) – Denny Hamlin’s late-race charge to the front in last spring’s Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway kept fans on their feet and competitors shaking their heads in disbelief.
Nine months later, the race and Hamlin’s performance are still drawing rave reviews. Tuesday the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 was named one of the five most memorable races of the year by NASCAR.com as part of a year-end series of stories.
In case anyone has forgotten, Hamlin was leading the race with 10 laps to go when Jeff Burton’s blown tire brought out a caution. Hamlin gave up the lead for fresh tires and most thought his chances for a win for doomed.
He put those new tires to work, though. He pushed, shoved and dodged his way through traffic to move to fourth when Kyle Busch slammed into the third-turn wall and brought out the final caution of the day forcing a green-white-checkered finish.
Hamlin watched on the final restart as second-place Matt Kenseth knocked leader Jeff Gordon out of the way, only to be repaid a turn later. The retaliation cost Gordon, though, as Hamlin slipped by for the win, his first the season.
"I had to bully my way through there toward the end, but everybody was just running into everyone," said Hamlin, who would up with eight wins on the season. "I flattened my tires with Kenseth going down the backstretch and just somehow made it work."
“It was Martinsville Speedway racing at its best,” Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell said of the Goody’s Fast Relief 500. “It was wild racing all day long. That’s what fans expect when they come to Martinsville.”
They can expect more of the same on April 3 when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars return to Martinsville Speedway for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500. The Kroger 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race is scheduled for April 2.

Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 begin at $25 and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.

Talladega Superspeedway Announces Fan Advisory Network

12/20/10
TALLADEGA, Ala. – Talladega Superspeedway has selected 30 race fans to serve as the first members of the Talladega Superspeedway Fan Advisory Network (TSS FAN). The TSS FAN will focus on creating constructive dialogue with the Talladega Superspeedway administration team.
“Our goals is to have a team of race fans that can help us identify areas the track can improve upon that will benefit all fans attending races at Talladega Superspeedway,” said Chairman Grant Lynch. “It gives us the ability to look at ourselves through the eyes of a race fan and make the best decisions concerning their experiences.”
The TSS FAN members will serve a one-year term which will include two race weekends at Talladega. After serving for two race weekends, the member’s term will expire and new members will be chosen.
In addition to periodic teleconferences, onsite meetings will take place at Talladega Superspeedway during race weekends.
The TSS FAN is a part of a series of fan-appreciation initiatives coined the “Fan Salute”. For more information on Talladega Superspeedway’s Fan Salute, please visit
Talladega Superspeedway is already gearing up for the 2011 Aaron’s Dream Weekend featuring qualifying for the NASCAR Nationwide Series, followed by the ARCA Racing Series 250 race on Friday, April 15. On Saturday, April 16, fans will see qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, followed by the Aaron’s 312 NASCAR Nationwide Series race. On Sunday, April 17, the greatest drivers in the world face off in the Aaron’s 499 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

For more information on tickets to Talladega Superspeedway, please visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 1-877-Go2-DEGA.

Fan Advisory Network Members
· Linda Mitchell – Columbus, OH · Anita Barkley – Lynn, AL · Connie Doering – Watertown, SD
· Sherrie Perry – New Market, AL · Ronald Frazier – Montgomery, AL· Rusty Dossett – Pascagoula, MS
· Candace Melancon – Sorrento, LA· Steve Daniels – Birmingham, AL· Camaran Williams – Pell City, AL· Scott Young – Baldwin City, KS· Bill Steele – Columbus, NJ· Melissa Harris – Haleyville, AL
· Deborah Coggins – Evans, GA· Nathan Thomas – Conway, AR· Hardy Graham Jr. – Meridian, MS
· Dale Eichler – Vidor, TX· Richard Sebren – Jackson, MS· John Lovvorn Jr. – Albertville, AL
· Mike Edwards – Tupelo, MS· Chuck Estey – Oxford, MS· Sherie Yates – Clanton, AL
· Jeremy Cooper – Thornton, CO· Robyn Brown – House Springs, MO· Stephen Ingram – Columbus, GA
· Jeannie Quick – Jacksonville, FL· Don Adelmund – Milwaukee, IA· Jeff Bookout – Cantonment, FL
· Katie Loftus – Buford, GA· Joshua Elliott – Tuscaloosa, AL· Diane Lund – Charlotte, NC

Daytona International Speedway. :Paving Complete

12/10/10
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – On Friday, the checkered flag waved for the paving crew of Lane Construction as they finished the final paving of Daytona International Speedway.


The paving crew wrapped up the final pass on the apron in Turns 1 and 2 in the late afternoon, following some inclement weather in the morning. While all the paving is complete on the racing surface, skid pad, pit road and the apron, there’s still a punch-list of items being worked on during the 23rd week of repaving of Daytona International Speedway:

Installation of the lights is complete but finishing touches such as connectivity and adjustments of the lights still need to be made

The striping of the track has begun and is ongoing.

The process of hanging the eight caution lights around the track is ongoing

Installation of the scoring loops is ongoing

Finishes touches are being put on the catch fence in Turns 1, 2, 3 and 4

At least 18 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers are expected to participate in a Goodyear tire test on Wednesday, Dec. 15 and Thursday, Dec. 16

About the Daytona Repave: Lane Construction, which repaved other ISC race tracks including Talladega Superspeedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Richmond International Raceway and Darlington Raceway, used an estimated 50,000 tons of asphalt to repave more than 1.4 million square feet of Daytona International Speedway.

Speedweeks 2011 will kick off with the 49th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series race on Jan. 29-30 and conclude with the 53rd annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 20, the prestigious season-opening event to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Daytona International Speedway is posting updates on the project at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/repave and on its social sites on Twitter (www.twitter.com/DISUpdates) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/daytonainternationalspeedway). For fans interested in purchasing pieces of asphalt, they can visit www.jostens.com/Daytona

JANURARY RACING

JANUARY Roar Before The Rolex 24

January 7 - 9, 2011
See the world's greatest drivers prepare for the Rolex 24 At Daytona in the annual Roar Before The Rolex 24 test sessions.

 NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest
January 20 - 22, 2011
Race fans will see their favorite drivers on the new Daytona racing surface for the first time in advance of Speedweeks 2011 and the 53rd annual Daytona 500.

 GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Challenge 200
January 28, 2011
The GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Challenge 200 is a prelude to the Rolex 24 At Daytona and the season-opening event to the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge.

Rolex 24 At Daytona
January 29 - 30, 2011
The Rolex 24 At Daytona features the stars of racing in Daytona Prototypes and GT-class cars in the ultimate test of driver and machine.

Goodyear Tire Testing At Daytona International Speedway

Goodyear tire testing on the new racing surface at Daytona International Speedway

Goodyear tire testing on the new asphalt of Daytona International Speedway
Wednesday, Dec. 15, and Thursday, Dec. 16, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
At least 18 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams will participate in the two-day Goodyear tire test on the new racing surface at Daytona International Speedway in advance of the 53rd running of the Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Feb. 20.

Drivers tentatively scheduled to participate in the test include:
2010 Daytona 500 champion Jamie McMurray
Brad Keselowski
Mark Martin
Jeff Gordon
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
David Ragan
Kurt Busch
Casey Mears
Matt Kenseth
Bill Elliott
Paul Menard
Jeff Burton
Juan Pablo Montoya
Bobby Labonte
Todd Bodine
Regan Smith
Reed Sorenson
Brian Keselowski

DAYTONA SPEEDWAY WINS TRACK AWARD

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Daytona International Speedway received the 2010 NASCAR Foundation Track of the Year Award at the NASCAR National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon held on Thursday at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III accepted the award from Steve Gaffney, Director of Sports Marketing for Sprint.
“On behalf of the staff at DIS, I want to thank NASCAR and the NASCAR Foundation for this fantastic recognition,” Chitwood said. “The passion the staff has at Daytona for NASCAR racing is not just about the race itself, it’s about the community, the charitable involvement and this family that we're all in. I couldn't be more proud of what they do on a daily basis.”
Beginning this year, the NASCAR Foundation implemented a year-long fundraising and awareness contest among NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide tracks. Tracks were awarded points for funds raised and marketing activities that they engage in with the NASCAR Foundation with the top track being awarded the NASCAR Foundation Track of the Year award.
One of the highlights of Daytona International Speedway’s work with the NASCAR Foundation in 2010 was serving as one of the NASCAR Day “Big Five” Service Projects. As part of the program, the “World Center of Racing” hosted 100 middle school students in the Nationwide Series garages where they learned around the education side of racing.

For information on tickets for all Daytona International Speedway events, fans can visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.

DAYTONA REPAVING

During the 22nd week of the Daytona Repave project, paving of the wearing course – the final layer of asphalt – is taking place on pit road, pit exit and the tie ins to the road course.


Other highlights from the past two weeks include:

• Reinstallation of the Musco lights in Turns 1, 2, 3 and 4 is ongoing
• Reinstallation of the catch fence in Turns 1 and 2 is ongoing
• The SAFER barrier reinstallation in Turns 1 and 2 is complete
• Paving of the asphalt in the aprons in both Turns 1, 2, 3 and 4 is ongoing
• Daytona International Speedway will host a Goodyear tire test on Wednesday, Dec. 15 and Thursday, Dec. 16

Talladega Leads The Way In Most Competitive Year In NASCAR

Talladega Leads The Way In Most Competitive Year In NASCAR


 2010 was the most competitive year in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history and the racing at Talladega Superspeedway was one of the prime reasons. Talladega Superspeedway set NASCAR records of 29 different leaders and 88 lead changes in the April 25 Aaron’s 499, smashing the previous records, also held by Talladega, of 28 leaders and 75 lead changes. The October 31 AMP Energy Juice 500 at Talladega showed that the new records were no fluke by producing a near record 26 different leaders and 87 lead changes.
The combined 55 leaders and 175 lead changes are both NASCAR Sprint Cup Series single season records.
“2010 was a great year for our fans at Talladega Superspeedway,” said Chairman Grant Lynch. “The record breaking competition speaks for itself. Talladega is the fastest, most competitive, most exciting racing in NASCAR. We look forward to another exciting year in 2011 and hopefully breaking some more records.”
Talladega Superspeedway is already gearing up for the 2011 Aaron’s Dream Weekend featuring qualifying for the NASCAR Nationwide Series, followed by the ARCA Racing Series 250 race on Friday, April 15. On Saturday, April 16, fans will see qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, followed by the Aaron’s 312 NASCAR Nationwide Series race. On Sunday, April 17, the greatest drivers in the world face off in the Aaron’s 499 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

Daytona Repave update

Week 20 Daytona Repave update: Superstretch work complete: Even though paving is complete on the racing surface of Daytona International Speedway's 2.5-mile tri-oval, the paving crew from Lane Construction continues to be busy with work around the "World Center of Racing" during the 20th week of the Daytona Repave project. Work on the Superstretch is finished with the paving of new asphalt now in place on the skid pad, apron and the existing chicane. This week, milling and paving is occurring in the apron in Turns 3 and 4 and paving is moving forward on the pit exit area.


Here are the other highlights from the 20th week of the Daytona Repave:

· The reinstallation of the catch fence in Turns 1 and 2 is ongoing

· Renovations to the Turn 4 tunnel including a new concrete driveway, stem wall and sidewalk are now complete

· Reinstallation of the Musco lights in Turns 3 and 4 near completion

· The underdrain trench and fabric installation is complete all around the track

About the Daytona Repave: Lane Construction, which repaved other ISC race tracks including Talladega Superspeedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Richmond International Raceway and Darlington Raceway, will use an estimated 50,000 tons of asphalt to repave more than 1.4 million square feet of Daytona International Speedway and has a target completion date of Jan. 1, 2011.

Homestead-Miami Speedway

Homestead-Miami Speedway:



History
· Groundbreaking for Homestead-Miami Dade Motorsports Complex – as the track was originally named – began Aug. 24, 1993. The first race was a NASCAR Nationwide Series event on Nov. 5, 1995.
· The original configuration was a four-turn, rectangular oval based on Indianapolis Motor Speedway's layout.
· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Homestead was held on Nov. 14, 1999.
· 2002 was the first season of the Championship Weekend at Homestead, with all three of NASCAR’s national series holding their season finale at the same track.


Notebook
· Since the inception of the current points system in 1975, only two drivers have made up a points deficit in the season finale: Richard Petty in 1979 (made up two points on Darrell Waltrip) and Alan Kulwicki in 1992 (made up 30 points on Davey Allison).
· There have been 11 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Homestead, one per season since 1999.
· Five drivers have competed in all 11 races: Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte, Elliott Sadler and Tony Stewart.
· David Green won the first pole, in 1999.
· Tony Stewart won the inaugural race, in 1999.
· There have been nine different pole winners. Kurt Busch and Jimmie Johnson lead all drivers, with two.
· There have been eight different race winners, led by Greg Biffle, with three.
· Jack Roush has won six races, most among owners.
· The race has been won from the pole twice: Bill Elliott (2001) and Kurt Busch (2002).
· The race has been won from a top-10 starting position eight of 11 times.
· Denny Hamlin won last season from the 38th starting position, the furthest back a race winner has started.
· Three active drivers have averaged a top-10 finish: Carl Edwards (6.5), Jeff Gordon (9.5) and Kevin Harvick (8.4).


NASCAR in Florida
· There have been 164 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Florida.
· 162 drivers in NASCAR’s three national series have their home state recorded as Florida.
· There have been 10 race winners from Florida in NASCAR’s three national series:


Homestead-Miami Speedway Data
Race #: 36 of 36 (11-21-10)
Track Size: 1.5 miles
Race Length: 267 laps/400.5 miles
· Banking/Corners: 18-20 degrees
· Banking/Straights: 4 degrees
· Frontstretch: 1,760 feet
· Backstretch: 1,760 feet


Driver Rating at Homestead
Carl Edwards 111.0
Matt Kenseth 105.3
Martin Truex Jr. 103.8
Kevin Harvick 101.1
Greg Biffle 99.0
Jeff Gordon 95.1
Denny Hamlin 94.7
Jimmie Johnson 92.9
Mark Martin 91.9
Jeff Burton 88.7
Note: Driver Rating compiled from 2005-2009 races (4 total) at Homestead.


Qualifying/Race Data
2009 pole winner: Jimmie Johnson (173.919 mph, 31.049 seconds)
2009 race winner: Denny Hamlin, 126.986 mph, 11-22-09)
Track qualifying record: Jamie McMurray (181.111 mph, 29.816 seconds, 11-14-03)
Track race record: Tony Stewart (140.335 mph, 11-14-99)


Pit Window: Every 50-55 laps

Infineon Raceway to use solar power in 2011

Infineon Raceway to use solar power in 2011


By Tripp Mickle
Special to the Sporting News NASCAR Service
(November 16, 2010)

Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., has signed a marketing partnership with Panasonic that will result in the installation of 1,652 solar panels at the track early next year.
The panels, which are developed by Panasonic’s subsidiary Sanyo, will provide the track with more than 350 kilowatts of electricity and make it the second track in NASCAR, after Pocono Raceway, to use solar-powered energy.
Panasonic will become the official solar partner of Infineon in a multiyear agreement valued in the low seven figures annually. It will receive signage and promotion at the track, and its executives plan to use the track as a showcase of the solar technology Panasonic can provide other facilities.
“Everyone that’s renovating their facility, we’re trying to get solar into the mix,” said Lesley Poch, group director of marketing at Panasonic Enterprise Solutions, a division of the company that specializes in LED boards, security systems and other facility technology. “This is the first big one.”
The solar panels will offset 35 percent of the power load for Infineon Raceway.
“This will be a significant part of what we do and the way we promote ourselves,” said Steve Page, president of Infineon Raceway. “Our environmental profile is something we’re proud of.”
The combination of the Panasonic marketing agreement, which offsets some of the initial costs, and an agreement with Bank of America, which is paying for the panels and leasing them to the track, makes the deal financially beneficial for Infineon.
“The track can go green and have it be affordable,” said Robert Zerner, business development manager at Panasonic Enterprise Solutions. “It’s savings from day one.”
The deal is part of Panasonic’s larger agreement with Speedway Motorsports Inc. It also is providing a giant LED board to Charlotte Motor Speedway and a new scoring tower at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Tripp Mickle is a reporter with SportsBusiness Journal.

BOWYER VISITS VICTORY LANE Todd Bodine Captures Second Truck Championship

BOWYER VISITS VICTORY LANE AT PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY IN NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES RACE


Todd Bodine Captures Second Truck Championship in Lucas Oil 150 Race

PHOENIX – There were two winners in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Lucas Oil 150 on Friday night at Phoenix International Raceway. Clint Bowyer, strong on restarts all night, ran away with the victory in his Kroger Chevrolet, while Todd Bodine locked up the Truck Series title by finishing 12th.
Following the race, Bodine’s season points lead stands at 202 points, too many for Aric Almirola to overcome with only one race to go in the 2010 season. It marks Bodine’s second Truck championship after having won in 2006.
“Tonight’s race was pretty bad,” admitted Bodine. “We wanted to come out of here as the champions. It never hit me (as the race ended) that we won the title. We couldn’t go ‘wee-eee’ until later.”
Bowyer, in his only Truck race of the year, stepped into the same Chevrolet that had won three straight at PIR. “I didn’t know that until just before the race, so I felt a bit of pressure. But the truck was so good, it made me feel like Superman out there.”
Driving the Kevin Harvick Inc. machine, Bowyer took the lead for the first time from pole-sitter Austin Dillon on lap 25 shortly after the first restart. Bowyer battled Kyle Busch most of the race, protecting his lead over Busch four times on restarts. Busch, who finished second, led a few laps in the middle of the race when “we made some changes (on pit road) that I thought could win the race.” But subsequent changes “just missed and we went backwards a little bit.”
Twenty-year-old Dillon started on the pole for the sixth time this season. “We ran good out front (for a while),” but he couldn’t stay with Bowyer and Busch and ultimately finished seventh, the 16th top-10 of his rookie year in the Bass Pro Shops/Remington/Tracker Boats Chevrolet.
Caitlin Shaw of Albuquerque, NM made her second career start in the Truck Series. She qualified 33rd, joining Jennifer Jo Cobb in the field, and becoming the sixth different female driver to race in a Truck Series race this season. That set a new record in the history of major NASCAR touring series. Shaw spun and backed into the wall to bring out the race’s fourth caution on lap 88. Cobb finished 23rd, while Shaw finished 30th.

Tickets for Saturday’s doubleheader, featuring the WYPALL 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series race and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race are still available, as well as Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.phoenixraceway.com/tickets or call 866-408-RACE (7223) today!

About Phoenix International Raceway
Since 1964, Phoenix International Raceway has served race fans as the premier motorsports venue in the Southwest. Watch the brightest stars in NASCAR take on PIR’s famed one-mile oval – including four-time defending Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Tony Stewart and many more – on November 14, 2010 in the Kobalt Tools 500. Tickets for the entire Kobalt Tools 500 weekend at Phoenix International Raceway can be purchased online at PhoenixRaceway.com or by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223). For more, visit PhoenixRaceway

PURSLEY TAKES POLE FOR NASCAR’s ‘3 AMIGOS 125’ RACE AT

PURSLEY TAKES POLE FOR NASCAR’s ‘3 AMIGOS 125’ RACE AT


PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

Two-time Daytona 500 Champ Michael Waltrip Qualifies Seventh for K&N Pro Series West finale

PHOENIX – Greg Pursley captured the pole and beat his own track record for the “3 Amigos Tequila 125” NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race on Thursday, Nov. 11 at Phoenix International Raceway. The race starts at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 13 and is the season finale for the series and part of double-header action following PIR’s WYPALL* 200 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at 2:30 p.m.
The No. 26 finished the one-lap qualifier in 27.700 seconds, ahead of the record of 27.784 seconds he set on April 16, 2009 qualifying for the Jimmie Johnson 150.
Following today’s qualifying, the entire West Series garage moved into PIR’s interactive midway behind Turn 2 for an unprecedented West Series Garage Open House from 12-5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 12 – free of charge – prior to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Lucas Oil 150 at PIR. As part of this first-ever midway garage open house at PIR, all fans in attendance that day will have an opportunity to see K&N Pro Series West cars up close and will be able to interact with teams and drivers. All PIR patrons will also be able to take in the official pre-race inspection process, autograph sessions, driver/team Q&A’s and more. PIR Season Ticket holders will be granted early entry to the open house at 11:30 a.m.
Included in preliminary entry lists for the 3 Amigos 125 is two-time Daytona 500 Champion Michael Waltrip. Waltrip, a popular NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team owner and TV personality, retired from driving full-time following the 2009 season. He is expected to compete at PIR in a special car that will be partially sponsored by 3 Amigos Tequila.
Spectator gates will open at 9 a.m. and fans will have the opportunity to view NASCAR Nationwide Series qualifying at 10:05 a.m., along with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practices at 11:30 a.m. and 12:50 p.m.
Competition on Friday, Nov. 12, will feature the Lucas Oil 150 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race beginning at 6 p.m., with qualifying at 2:30 p.m. Gates will open at 10 a.m. and fans will also have the chance to watch the NASCAR Nationwide Series practices at 10 a.m. and 1:40 p.m., as well as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice at 12 p.m. and qualifying at 3:45 p.m. The aforementioned K&N Pro Series West Garage Open House also takes place from 12-5 p.m. on Friday.

Tickets for the exciting Nov. 11-14 NASCAR event weekend are still available with prices starting at just $25! For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.phoenixraceway.com/tickets or call 866-408-RACE (7223) today!

About Phoenix International Raceway
Since 1964, Phoenix International Raceway has served race fans as the premier motorsports venue in the Southwest. Watch the brightest stars in NASCAR take on PIR’s famed one-mile oval – including four-time defending Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Tony Stewart and many more – on November 14, 2010 in the Kobalt Tools 500. Tickets for the entire Kobalt Tools 500 weekend at Phoenix International Raceway can be purchased online at PhoenixRaceway.com or by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223). For more, visit PhoenixRaceway.com, Facebook.com/PhoenixRaceway and Twitter.com/PhoenixRaceway

Phoenix International Raceway

Phoenix International Raceway:


History
· Construction was completed in January 1964.The facility consisted of a one-mile oval and a 2.5-mile road course.
· Alan Kulwicki won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix on Nov. 6, 1988.
· The first spring race was held on April 23, 2005 and also the first night race, which was won by Kurt Busch.

Notebook
· There have been 28 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Phoenix International Raceway, one per season from 1988-2004 and two each season since.
· Geoffrey Bodine won the first pole in 1988.
· There have been 18 different pole winners, led by Ryan Newman with four.
· Ryan Newman and Jeff Gordon are the only drivers to win consecutive poles. Newman won three straight (2002-04), while Gordon won the fall of 2006 and spring of 2007.
· There have been 20 different race winners, led by Jimmie Johnson, with four. Johnson has won four of the last six races. Mark Martin (spring 2009) and Ryan Newman (spring 2010) won the other races in that span.
· The race has been won from the pole three times: Jeff Gordon (spring 2007), Jimmie Johnson (fall 2008) and Mark Martin (spring 2009).
· The race has been won from a top-10 starting position in 14 of 28 events.
· Denny Hamlin won his first career pole in November 2005. AJ Allmendinger won his first career pole earlier this season.
· Ricky Rudd won the 1995 race from the 29th-place starting position, the furthest back a race winner has started.
· Mark Martin has 12 top-five finishes, more than any other driver. Martin (8.7) and Jimmie Johnson (4.9) are the only active drivers who average a top-10 finish.
· Three of the last four races have ended with a margin of victory under one second.
· Two perfect Driver Ratings of 150.0 have been recorded at Phoenix. Kurt Busch did it with his win in April of 2005, and Kevin Harvick did it in November of 2006.

Phoenix International Raceway Data
Race: 35 of 36 (11-14-10)
Track Size: 1 mile
· Banking/1 and 2: 11 degrees
· Banking/3 and 4: 9 degrees
· Banking/Frontstretch: 3 degrees
· Banking/Backstretch: 9 degrees
· Frontstretch: 1,179 feet
· Backstretch: 1,551 feet

Driver Rating at Phoenix Jimmie Johnson 123.7
Mark Martin 102.3
Jeff Gordon 101.1
Kurt Busch 98.7
Carl Edwards 98.6
Greg Biffle 96.2
Tony Stewart 96.2
Denny Hamlin 95.2
Kyle Busch 94.8
Kevin Harvick 94.6
Note: Driver Rating compiled from 2005-10 races (11 total) at Phoenix.

Qualifying/Race Data
2009 pole winner: Martin Truex Jr. (135.120 mph, 26.643 seconds)
2009 race winner: Jimmie Johnson (110.486 mph, 11-15-09)
Track qualifying record: Ryan Newman (135.854 mph, 26.499 seconds, 11-5-04)
Track race record: Tony Stewart (118.132 mph, 11-7-99)

Pit Window: Approximately 70-78 laps, based on fuel mileage.

NASCAR in Arizona
· There have been 33 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Arizona.
· 30 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Arizona.
 There have been no race winners from Arizona in NASCAR’s three national series.

Texas Motor Speedway:

Texas Motor Speedway:



History
· Construction began in 1995.
· The first NASCAR race was a NASCAR Nationwide Series event on April 5, 1997.
· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was on April 6, 1997.


Notebook
· There have been 19 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway, one per season from 1997 through 2004 and two races per year since 2005.
· Four drivers have competed in all 19 races: Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte and Mark Martin.
· Jeremy Mayfield was the first pole winner, in 1998. Qualifying for the inaugural race in 1997 was canceled.
· Jeff Burton won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race.
· 13 drivers have scored poles, led by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Bobby Labonte, Ryan Newman and Jeff Gordon with two.
· 16 drivers have won races, led by Carl Edwards, with three. Jeff Gordon won at Texas for the first time, last season. Gordon has won at every track he has run except Homestead-Miami Speedway.
· 14 of 19 races have been won from a top-10 starting position. Only one has been won from the pole (Kasey Kahne in 2006).
· Matt Kenseth started 31st en route to his victory at Texas in 2002, the deepest in the field that a race winner has started. Denny Hamlin started 29th in his win earlier this season.
· Both Jeff Burton (1999) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2000) scored their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win at Texas.
· Six of the last eight races have had a margin of victory under one second. Last November’s race had an MOV of 25.686 seconds, the largest since the inception of electronic timing and scoring in 1993.
· Denny Hamlin (9.6) and Matt Kenseth (9.9) are the only active drivers to average a top-10 finish.
· Roush Fenway Racing leads all owners in victories, with seven.
· There has been one season sweep, by Carl Edwards in 2008. Edwards is looking to break a 69-race winless drought. Jeff Gordon’s last win came at Texas, 62 races ago.


Texas Motor Speedway Data
Race #: 34 of 36 (11-7-10)
Track Size: 1.5 miles
Race Length: 501 miles
· Banking/corners: 24 degrees
· Banking/straights: 5 degrees
· Frontstretch: 2,250 feet
· Backstretch: 1,330 feet


Driver Rating at Texas
Tony Stewart 105.7
Matt Kenseth 101.6
Jimmie Johnson 99.0
Kyle Busch 98.3
Carl Edwards 97.8
Denny Hamlin 97.2
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 96.4
Greg Biffle 95.5
Kurt Busch 94.5
Jeff Gordon 93.7
Note: Driver Rating compiled from 2005-2010 races (11 total) at Texas.


Qualifying/Race Data
2009 pole winner: Jeff Gordon (191.117 mph, 28.255 secs.)
2009 race winner: Kurt Busch, 146.372 mph, 11-8-09)
Track qualifying record: Brian Vickers (196.235 mph, 27.518 seconds, 11-3-06)
Track race record: Carl Edwards (151.055 mph, 11-6-05)


Pit Window: Every 50-55 laps, depending on fuel mileage

Dover Motorsports, Inc. Announces Closing of Gateway International Raceway

Dover Motorsports, Inc. Announces Closing of Gateway International Raceway


DOVER, Del. -- Dover Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE: DVD) announced today that it was ceasing all operations at Gateway International Raceway.
The company previously announced that it would not seek to run any NASCAR Series events at the facility in 2011. The track ran its final NASCAR Nationwide Series event on October 23, 2010.
Denis McGlynn, President and CEO of Dover Motorsports, stated: “Gateway is a tremendous facility in a great racing community, but we are simply unable to operate it with an acceptable return. We truly appreciate the many years of dedication shown by our Gateway employees and their efforts to make Gateway such a great destination for all those passionate about our sport – from racing fans and drivers to sponsors, team owners and sanctioning bodies.”
The majority of the track is leased from third parties. The company owns approximately 150 acres of the facility and has been in discussions with several interested purchasers.

Texas speedway's ticket campaign makes waves

Texas speedway's ticket campaign makes waves



By Tripp Mickle
Special to Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service


Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage doodles for inspiration, and while drawing last spring, he developed an idea for a new marketing campaign driven by "hot cars and hot chicks."
The resulting "No Limits" campaign, which launched in August with a $500,000 Goo Goo Dolls concert at the House of Blues, features MMA-style lettering, an edgier Texas Motor Speedway logo, flashy hot rods with flame paint schemes and scantily clad women known as "The Great American Sweethearts." The campaign is featured on 15 area billboards, poster-sized calendars, online and print advertisements.
The cost of the campaign is far greater than anything the speedway has spent in the past. The $500,000 party alone cost $400,000 more than the speedway had ever spent on a previous campaign, Gossage said. But the results have been encouraging.
Since rolling it out, the speedway has seen season-ticket renewals surge to more than 80 percent, well above its historic highs of 70 percent, Gossage said. The season-ticket packages include tickets for 12 events at the speedway.
"That's quite strong," he said. "We finally found something that moves the needle a bit, and that's what we're always looking for."
The campaign has not triggered a high number of new sales, but former season-ticket holders have begun buying packages again, Gossage said. He expects a "No Limits" Garage Party at the AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup race Nov. 7 to trigger new sales. The speedway will turn the Nationwide Series garage into an entertainment complex with a giant pool that will host wakeboarding demonstrations. It will be free to season-ticket holders.
"We want people to see it and say, 'Why can't I go in there?'" Gossage said. "You just have to buy season tickets. We want them to want the forbidden fruit."


Tripp Mickle is a reporter with SportsBusiness Journal.

JOURNALIST TOM HIGGINS RECALLS THREE SPECIAL MARTINSVILLE RACES

JOURNALIST TOM HIGGINS RECALLS THREE SPECIAL MARTINSVILLE RACES


MARTINSVILLE, Va. (Oct. 15, 2010) – For more than two decades, Tom Higgins chronicled NASCAR Sprint Cup racing and its personalities in The Charlotte Observer, painting a picture of the sport that earned him national recognition and his induction into the National Motorsports Press Association's Hall of Fame next year.

NOTE: TUMS is the sponsor of the TUMS Fast Relief 500, the sixth race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, at Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 24.

A Western North Carolina native, Higgins often sat in Martinsville Speedway's press box and marveled at Dale Earnhardt's approach to the short track. The seven-time NASCAR champion often appeared to be enjoying a Sunday afternoon drive, laying his right arm on the roll cage while steering his race car with only one hand.
However, there were three races during the years that stand out in the personable man's mind. One was the Sept. 23, 1979, Old Dominion 500. It was Buddy Baker's second and last short-track victory, and his only win at the 0.526-mile Martinsville track.
"Buddy led the final 207 laps and won despite having no brakes for almost all of the distance," Higgins recalled. "He said with a car that handled as well as his Ranier Chevy that he didn't need brakes. Buddy won by 18 seconds over Richard Petty."
Next on Higgins' memorable list was the April 28, 1985, Sovran Bank 500.
"Harry Gant's victory in this race came just two days after he stated that NASCAR should 'get rid of all its short tracks’," Higgins said. "Naturally, the first questions Harry heard when he came to the press box were about his blast against short tracks. Harry made the usual excuse 'I was misquoted.' Then, someone played Harry a tape of him making the remark. Harry glowed red in embarrassment, then claimed he meant NASCAR should get rid of heavier cars on short tracks.
"Martinsville Speedway owner Clay Earles was not amused. He didn't take kindly to anyone criticizing his track. Clay, known to carry a firearm, said he had a pistol and he was willing to use it. Few, if any, drivers downgraded Martinsville again."
The third race at the forefront of Higgins' memories was the Sept. 27, 1988, Goody's 500.
"Darrell Waltrip, running third on the last lap, got 'two for one' in an accident that enabled him to win," Higgins explained. "Waltrip wrecked both Terry Labonte and Dale Earnhardt entering turn three and raced around them as they spun. After the race, Waltrip exulted in the press box, 'I shot into Terry, he shot into Dale and I shot into the lead.'
"Earnhardt and Labonte recovered to finish second and third. Both howled in anger. Earnhardt demanded that Waltrip be 'put in the penalty box.' NASCAR officials checked video tape, declared the incident a 'racing accident' and refused to take any action."
Higgins' memorable moments clearly show the one thing the fans and teams can expect at Martinsville Speedway is the unexpected.

Memorable Moments in 50 Years at Atlanta Motor Speedway

Memorable Moments in 50 Years at Atlanta Motor Speedway :


Night Racing Comes to Atlanta and Bruton Buys AIR

Highlighting Atlanta Motor Speedway ’s 50th Anniversary Season as the track’s Labor Day NASCAR night racing weekend approaches, the following release is the third in a five-part series featuring memorable moments in Atlanta Motor Speedway ’s history.

HAMPTON, Ga. – As Atlanta Motor Speedway celebrates it’s 50th Anniversary season, many moments from the track’s past have come to define the Speedway as one of the most storied in NASCAR’s history.
Two such Atlanta Motor Speedway moments include Atlanta ’s first-scheduled NASCAR night race and O. Bruton Smith purchasing the then Atlanta International Raceway.
No. 6: Bruton Buys Atlanta Raceway to Add to Stable of SMI Tracks
Atlanta had always been known for hosting great NASCAR racing, but the Speedway south of Atlanta was far from the racing paradise known today when first purchased by O. Bruton Smith in 1990.
Bruton Smith purchased Atlanta International Raceway on Oct. 23, 1990 and renamed the facility Atlanta Motor Speedway. Armed with a vision for the future, Smith immediately commissioned Project 2000, a long-term renovation development aimed to make Atlanta the most-fan friendly racing facility in the world.
Within his first year of ownership, Smith added the Turn 3 Elliott Grandstand and increased the track’s seating capacity by 25,000. Perched above the Turn 3 grandstand, 30 suites rimmed the massive seating structure and redefined “luxury” at the Speedway .
Ed Clark began overseeing Smith’s project when he was named Atlanta Motor Speedway general manager in 1992. In the immediate years, renovations at the Speedway would include the erection of the nine-story Tara Place condo building, the adjacent Tara Clubhouse building and the construction of the Earnhardt Grandstand.
“Bruton’s dedication to making Atlanta one of the nation’s premier sporting facilities was nothing short of remarkable. He acquired a basic track and, in just a few short years, completely transformed Atlanta ,” explained Clark, now Atlanta Motor Speedway president and general manager. “If you look at today’s Atlanta Motor Speedway, it’s almost difficult to imagine how much Bruton changed – the track layout, the construction of the condo building, the creation of Georgia State Route 20 – it’s impossible to consider what Atlanta would be like today without Bruton’s influence.”
Smith had Atlanta ’s track layout completely redesigned in 1997. The track’s frontstretch and backstretch were swapped, as the then Weaver Grandstand becoming the backstretch grandstand and the newer Earnhardt Grandstand now faced front. In an effort to standardize Atlanta with Smith’s other Speedway Motorsports, Inc. facilities, the track’s previous oval layout was tossed aside in favor of a quad-oval design that would add two doglegs to the track’s frontstretch.
And when completed, the redesign was a success: The first race in Atlanta following the redesign, the 1997 ARCA Reese’s 400, featured a three-car wide photo finish, and was won by Georgia-native Harris DeVane.
In all at Atlanta , Smith would add grandstands, new media facilities, garages and an increased menu of entertainment that has featured NASCAR racing, International Race of Champions (IROC) and Indy Car events, concerts, car shows and more.
“Bruton told me before he ever bought the track, ‘I’d like to see what could be done with this place,’” said Frances Goss, the longtime Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket manager who retired in 2003 after 38 years with the raceway. “He’s made it. I never would have believed Atlanta Motor Speedway would look like it does today.”
No. 5: Night Racing Finally Comes to Atlanta
After years of fans clamoring for night racing in Georgia , NASCAR night racing finally came to Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2009.
The 2009 Pep Boys Auto 500 on Labor Day weekend marked Atlanta Motor Speedway’s inaugural NASCAR night racing weekend. Fans showed their support, descending upon the Speedway en mass to immediately make the Labor Day weekend festivities a marquee event on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule.
Locked into a fall race date for years, Atlanta Motor Speedway coordinated a scheduling coup unmatched in recent history when the track completed a three-date swap to exchange an October race date for a night race on Labor Day weekend. In an event well received by fans, drivers and NASCAR legends, Kasey Kahne took the checkered flag in what might be the start of a new NASCAR tradition.
“It felt awesome to win at Atlanta , especially at that point in the season where everything was coming together for the Chase,” Kasey Kahne recalled. “It was great to see the crowd that turned out at Atlanta for that race. Since I've been racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, I haven't seen a crowd like that, especially one that excited.”
Having seen the excitement surrounding the 2009 event, five-time Atlanta winner and 1983 NASCAR champion Bobby Allison sees the potential for the Labor Day race in Atlanta to become one of NASCAR’s top events.
“Having a Sprint Cup event at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Labor Day will, over time, create its own storied past just like we’ve seen at Darlington all those years,” said the NASCAR legend. “There’s an incredible amount of great drivers who have enjoyed great wins at both of those tracks. I honestly enjoyed racing on and winning on both tracks, even though each of them went through changes to track surface and layout at times during the past 50 years. But racing on Labor Day has always been a tradition in NASCAR and fans have always and continue to turn out to support NASCAR. That tradition will now continue at Atlanta .”
The new Labor Day NASCAR night racing tradition continues during the Emory Healthcare 500 race weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Sept. 3-5.

-AMS-

Memorable Moments in 50 Years at Atlanta Motor Speedway :

Memorable Moments in 50 Years at Atlanta Motor Speedway :
Who Won the 1978 Dixie 500 and AMS Toppled by Tornado

Highlighting Atlanta Motor Speedway ’s 50th Anniversary Season as the track’s Labor Day NASCAR night racing weekend approaches, the following release is the second in a five-part series featuring memorable moments in Atlanta Motor Speedway ’s history.


HAMPTON, Ga. (Aug. 4, 2010) – As Atlanta Motor Speedway celebrates it’s 50th Anniversary season, many moments from the track’s past have come to define the Speedway as one of the most storied in NASCAR’s history.
Two such Atlanta Motor Speedway moments include a confusing finish to the 1978 Dixie 500 and a natural disaster at the racing facility.

No. 8: Young Brian France Determines 1978 Dixie 500 Winner
The 1978 Dixie 500 ended in controversy and fans were left to wonder who actually won the race until an unexpected player, 16-year-old Brian France, stepped forward to settle the matter.
Richard Petty appeared to edge Dave Marcis to the finish line by a fender in an Atlanta photo finish to claim the win in the 1978 Dixie 500. However, before Petty was able to pull into Victory Lane , the track’s Public Address announcer proclaimed Donnie Allison the winner.
Allison had blown past Petty and Marcis with only seven laps remaining, but after being two circuits down earlier in the race, the race leaders and most fans assumed Allison was still one lap down. However, the NASCAR veteran had in fact previously reemerged on the lead lap and overtook Petty and Marcis to claim the race lead.
But just after Allison had conducted his winner’s interview in Victory Lane , Atlanta International Raceway officials announced Petty was the winner, further confusing the matter.
When continued conversation between track officials, scorers and drivers failed to definitively confirm the winner, France emerged from the Scorer’s Booth to confidently verify Allison was the winner. The victory marked Allison’s 10th and final NASCAR win and his only victory in Atlanta . The win also completed an Allison brother sweep of Atlanta ’s 1978 races, as older brother Bobby won the 1978 Atlanta 500 in March.

No. 7: Atlanta Motor Speedway Struck by F2 Tornado in 2005
Even in the dark of night, track officials could tell Atlanta Motor Speedway had suffered tremendous damage. Light posts had snapped like toothpicks and the Speedway ’s flooded frontstretch parking lots looked more like a Great Lake than a tailgate haven for race fans.
As the sun came up, suspicions were confirmed as it was even more apparent the Speedway suffered a direct strike from a tornado spawned from the remnants of Hurricane Cindy on July 6, 2005.
Now illuminated, the damage was unimaginable. The Speedway ’s backstretch Weaver grandstand lay in ruin. A scoring tower and sponsor billboards had been slammed to the ground and destroyed. And many of the track’s luxury suites featured a new convertible design, as the roof had been blown off by the F2 tornado’s pummeling winds.
“It was one of the most astonishing scenes I have ever seen in my life. The amount of damage was shocking,” said Ed Clark , Atlanta Motor Speedway president.
In total, the damage was estimated to exceed $40 million.
And if tension wasn’t high enough with Atlanta’s motorsports Mecca in ruins, the track had just three months to repair the facility for the 2005 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500.
Speedway officials had 100 days to complete a massive rebuild project that might take upwards of six months under normal circumstances, not including planning and preparation.
“Normally you would have months of lead time to execute a project of that nature, but we had to complete an essentially overnight rebuild,” explained Brandon Hutchison, Atlanta Motor Speedway vice president of events. “Our track’s objective is to always provide fans with a great experience and customer service, but overnight we had a facility no longer fit to host events. It was a juggling act to say the least and it took all 100 days and then some.”
With the track’s office building in shambles, the Speedway ’s staff was forced to juggle office locations and relocate during the rebuild.
“Imagine closing your office desk tonight and not being able to come back for three months,” added Hutchison.
But despite all the tribulations, work progressed at a rapid pace and the Speedway played host to a successful 2005 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 weekend without issue.
Coincidentally, the 2005 tornado marked the second time the track had been damaged by a twister, having faced a similar attack by Mother Nature during the 1970s. Track officials also hope the 2005 incident marks the last such occurrence.

Clay Earle's Martinsville Speedway

*This is the first in a series of stories by veteran motorsports writers sharing their favorite story from many years of covering races at Martinsville Speedway as we head into the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 weekend March 26-28.


By Tom Higgins

Clay Earles parked his car alongside U.S. 220, got out and sighed with resignation.
Before him was a briar patch that looked more intimidating than any he ever had seen. Even Brer Rabbit of the great old Uncle Remus stories would have hopped away from being thrown into that thicket.
Earles mumbled an expletive and waded into the tangled mess, which was heavy with thorns.
Within only a few feet Earles, then 33, was forced onto hands and knees, following a path probably worn through the years by rabbits, 'possums and other critters.
Finally, Earles, who was considering buying the land, reached the bottom of a hollow formed by a small creek. He found himself in something of a natural bowl. "I think this might do," Earles muttered, nodding approval while rubbing scratches inflicted by prickly blackberry bushes.
Might do, indeed.
The spot visited by Earles more than six decades ago soon became the site of Martinsville Speedway, a track destined to become a NASCAR treasure.
It's likely few modern era fans are aware of how the track came into being. Earles told me the tale in a wide-ranging interview in 1990 during a race weekend at Martinsville. The conversation is my favorite memory of him—and the speedway he loved so much.
Clay Earles had bulldozers clear away the briar patch and carve out a race track from the red clay of the Blue Ridge Mountain foothills.
The speedway was ready for racing in 1947. Or at least it seemed so.
Earles had been inspired to build his track after attending some races in North Carolina, where short tracks began springing up across the Piedmont in the car-crazy months following World War II. Earles had seen that clouds of dust were kicked up at these dirt tracks, and he was determined this wouldn't happen at Martinsville.
Earles, who passed away in 1999 at age 86, set out to provide a cleaner racing surface. He covered the clay with a 20,000-gallon mixture of oil, calcium chloride and water.
Excitement about the "clean track" was the talk of Virginia and North Carolina.
"We advertised in good faith and sincerely believed we had a dust-free speedway," the personable Earles said. "But it turned out to be the dustiest place I've ever seen. Just after the race started it looked like an A-Bomb had been dropped. There was a dust cloud so big hanging over the track that I'm sure it could be seen for miles.[clickon title for rest of article]