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 29 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Phoenix International Raceway,
one per season from1988-2004 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 towin consecutive poles.
Newman won three straight (2002-04), while Gordon won the fall of 2006 and spring of 2007.
• There have been 21 different race winners, led by Jimmie Johnson, with four.
• The race has been won from the pole four times: Jeff Gordon (spring 2007),
Jimmie Johnson (fall 2008),
Mark Martin (spring 2009) and Carl Edwards (fall 2010).
• The race has been won from a top-10 starting position in 15 of 29 events.
• Denny Hamlin won his first career pole at Phoenix in
November 2005. AJ Allmendinger won his first career pole there last April.
• 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 (8.6 average finish) is one of two active drivers who averaged a top-10 finish.
Jimmie Johnson(4.9).
• 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: 2 of 36 (2-27-11)
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 122.6
Carl Edwards 101.7
Mark Martin 100.8
Jeff Gordon 99.8
Kurt Busch 99.3
Denny Hamlin 98.6
Kyle Busch 96.3
Greg Biffle 96.2
Tony Stewart 96.2
Kevin Harvick 95.2
Note: Driver Rating compiled from 2005-10 races (12 total) at Phoenix.
Qualifying/Race Data
2010 pole winner: AJ Allmendinger(134.675 mph, 26.731 seconds)
2010 race winner: Ryan Newman(99.372 mph, 4-10-10)
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)
STATISTICAL ADVANCE
NASCAR in Arizona
• There have been 34 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.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
PHOEXIX DATA
TRACK RECORDS
Most Wins: 4 – Jimmie Johnson
Most Poles: 4 – Ryan Newman
Most Top Fives: 12 – Mark Martin
Most Top 10s: 19 – Mark Martin
Most Lead Changes: 23 – 11/5/00
Fewest Lead Changes: 1 – 11/4/90
Most Leaders: 13 – 4 times, most recently 4/10/10
Fewest Leaders: 2 – 11/4/90
Most Cautions: 11 – 11/7/04
Fewest Cautions: 2 – 11/7/99
Most Caution Laps: 66 – 11/2/03
Fewest Caution Laps: 10 – 11/7/99
Most on the Lead Lap: 29 – 11/2/03
Fewest on the Lead Lap: 3 – 10/30/94
Most Running at the Finish: 41 – 3 times,most recently 4/21/07
Fewest Running at the Finish: 27 – 11/5/89
Most Laps Led by a Race Winner: 262 – 11/4/90
Fewest Laps Led by a Race Winner: 4 – 4/10/10
Most Wins by a Manufacturer: 14 – Chevrolet
Closest Margin of Victory: 0.130 Seconds – 4/10/10
Greatest Margin of Victory: 7.002 Seconds – 4/12/08
Margins of Victory under electronic timing since 1993.
STARTING POSITIONS OF RACE WINNERS
Races won from Pos. No. 1.................4
Races won from Pos. No. 2.................3
Races won from Pos. No. 3.................4
Races won from Pos. No. 6.................2
Races won from Pos. No. 7.................1
Races won from Pos. No. 9.................1
Races won from Pos. No. 11...............2
Races won from Pos. No. 12...............1
Races won from Pos. No. 13...............2
Races won from Pos. No. 14...............2
Races won from Pos. No. 15...............2
Races won from Pos. No. 17...............1
Races won from Pos. No. 19...............1
Races won from Pos. No. 21...............1
Races won from Pos. No. 29...............1
RACES WON FROM POLE (4 of 29)
Jeff Gordon...............................2007
Jimmie Johnson .......................2008
Mark Martin..............................2009
Carl Edwards ............................2010
RACE WINNERS
Jimmie Johnson .............................4
Davey Allison ..................................2
Jeff Burton .....................................2
Dale Earnhardt Jr ...........................2
Kevin Harvick .................................2
Mark Martin ....................................2
Kurt Busch ......................................1
Kyle Busch .....................................1
Dale Earnhardt ................................1
Carl Edwards ...................................1
Bill Elliott ........................................1
Jeff Gordon .....................................1
Bobby Hamilton ..............................1
Dale Jarrett ....................................1
Matt Kenseth ..................................1
Alan Kulwicki ..................................1
Terry Labonte .................................1
Ryan Newman .................................1
Ricky Rudd .....................................1
Tony Stewart ..................................1
Rusty Wallace .................................1
Most Wins: 4 – Jimmie Johnson
Most Poles: 4 – Ryan Newman
Most Top Fives: 12 – Mark Martin
Most Top 10s: 19 – Mark Martin
Most Lead Changes: 23 – 11/5/00
Fewest Lead Changes: 1 – 11/4/90
Most Leaders: 13 – 4 times, most recently 4/10/10
Fewest Leaders: 2 – 11/4/90
Most Cautions: 11 – 11/7/04
Fewest Cautions: 2 – 11/7/99
Most Caution Laps: 66 – 11/2/03
Fewest Caution Laps: 10 – 11/7/99
Most on the Lead Lap: 29 – 11/2/03
Fewest on the Lead Lap: 3 – 10/30/94
Most Running at the Finish: 41 – 3 times,most recently 4/21/07
Fewest Running at the Finish: 27 – 11/5/89
Most Laps Led by a Race Winner: 262 – 11/4/90
Fewest Laps Led by a Race Winner: 4 – 4/10/10
Most Wins by a Manufacturer: 14 – Chevrolet
Closest Margin of Victory: 0.130 Seconds – 4/10/10
Greatest Margin of Victory: 7.002 Seconds – 4/12/08
Margins of Victory under electronic timing since 1993.
STARTING POSITIONS OF RACE WINNERS
Races won from Pos. No. 1.................4
Races won from Pos. No. 2.................3
Races won from Pos. No. 3.................4
Races won from Pos. No. 6.................2
Races won from Pos. No. 7.................1
Races won from Pos. No. 9.................1
Races won from Pos. No. 11...............2
Races won from Pos. No. 12...............1
Races won from Pos. No. 13...............2
Races won from Pos. No. 14...............2
Races won from Pos. No. 15...............2
Races won from Pos. No. 17...............1
Races won from Pos. No. 19...............1
Races won from Pos. No. 21...............1
Races won from Pos. No. 29...............1
RACES WON FROM POLE (4 of 29)
Jeff Gordon...............................2007
Jimmie Johnson .......................2008
Mark Martin..............................2009
Carl Edwards ............................2010
RACE WINNERS
Jimmie Johnson .............................4
Davey Allison ..................................2
Jeff Burton .....................................2
Dale Earnhardt Jr ...........................2
Kevin Harvick .................................2
Mark Martin ....................................2
Kurt Busch ......................................1
Kyle Busch .....................................1
Dale Earnhardt ................................1
Carl Edwards ...................................1
Bill Elliott ........................................1
Jeff Gordon .....................................1
Bobby Hamilton ..............................1
Dale Jarrett ....................................1
Matt Kenseth ..................................1
Alan Kulwicki ..................................1
Terry Labonte .................................1
Ryan Newman .................................1
Ricky Rudd .....................................1
Tony Stewart ..................................1
Rusty Wallace .................................1
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Daytona 500 moves to Feb. 26 in 2012
Daytona 500 moves to Feb. 26 in 2012
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—The Daytona 500 is moving.
In 2012 the NASCAR season opener will move to Feb. 26, a week later than it has been run in recent years. NASCAR will lose the March off-week that this year follows the third Sprint Cup race of the season, in Las Vegas.
Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s senior vice president of racing operations, acknowledged the National Football League’s consideration of a longer season—one in which the Super Bowl might intrude on the traditional third-Sunday-in-February Daytona 500 date—played a role in the joint decision by the sanctioning body and Daytona International Speedway to compress the schedule.
“We’re not going to deny the fact that part of this also is dealing with the NFL,” O’Donnell said. “Who knows where they’ll go with an 18-game schedule? But we want to get ahead of that. Either way, we think it’s the right thing to do for our season kickoff.
“The Super Bowl’s certainly a big event, but so is the Daytona 500, and to give fans an opportunity to go to both of those we think is the right move. We think it’s a win-win for everybody.”
Daytona president Joie Chitwood III had a slightly different slant on the announcement.
“I think Steve would say that the Daytona 500 of football is something we do consider when we make these schedule changes,” Chitwood said.
“I did not say that,” O’Donnell demurred.
Other events during Speedweeks have not been scheduled, as NASCAR and the speedway are looking at dates for the Budweiser Shootout (which has preceded the 500 by eight days) and Gatorade Duel 150 qualifying races.
“That’s something that we’ll develop with NASCAR as we work through this,” Chitwood said. “I think the key today was to make sure our fans knew that the event was moving back one week next year. We’ll cycle through and deal with the Duels and the Shootout and all those things that go around Speedweeks.”
Chitwood also said the Rolex 24 Grand-Am season opener, held on the last weekend of January this year, likely will move forward by one week, but that’s contingent on discussions with the Daytona Beach Chamber of Commerce and the scheduling of bike weeks, an annual event that attracts motorcyclists from across the country.
“If I were to speculate, I’m sure that we’ll cycle those back as well, but we’ll work with the chamber of commerce and the city of Daytona Beach to make sure bike weeks (typically the two weeks after the Daytona 500) have their spot on the calendar as well.”
By Reid SpencerSporting News NASCAR Wire Service
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—The Daytona 500 is moving.
In 2012 the NASCAR season opener will move to Feb. 26, a week later than it has been run in recent years. NASCAR will lose the March off-week that this year follows the third Sprint Cup race of the season, in Las Vegas.
Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s senior vice president of racing operations, acknowledged the National Football League’s consideration of a longer season—one in which the Super Bowl might intrude on the traditional third-Sunday-in-February Daytona 500 date—played a role in the joint decision by the sanctioning body and Daytona International Speedway to compress the schedule.
“We’re not going to deny the fact that part of this also is dealing with the NFL,” O’Donnell said. “Who knows where they’ll go with an 18-game schedule? But we want to get ahead of that. Either way, we think it’s the right thing to do for our season kickoff.
“The Super Bowl’s certainly a big event, but so is the Daytona 500, and to give fans an opportunity to go to both of those we think is the right move. We think it’s a win-win for everybody.”
Daytona president Joie Chitwood III had a slightly different slant on the announcement.
“I think Steve would say that the Daytona 500 of football is something we do consider when we make these schedule changes,” Chitwood said.
“I did not say that,” O’Donnell demurred.
Other events during Speedweeks have not been scheduled, as NASCAR and the speedway are looking at dates for the Budweiser Shootout (which has preceded the 500 by eight days) and Gatorade Duel 150 qualifying races.
“That’s something that we’ll develop with NASCAR as we work through this,” Chitwood said. “I think the key today was to make sure our fans knew that the event was moving back one week next year. We’ll cycle through and deal with the Duels and the Shootout and all those things that go around Speedweeks.”
Chitwood also said the Rolex 24 Grand-Am season opener, held on the last weekend of January this year, likely will move forward by one week, but that’s contingent on discussions with the Daytona Beach Chamber of Commerce and the scheduling of bike weeks, an annual event that attracts motorcyclists from across the country.
“If I were to speculate, I’m sure that we’ll cycle those back as well, but we’ll work with the chamber of commerce and the city of Daytona Beach to make sure bike weeks (typically the two weeks after the Daytona 500) have their spot on the calendar as well.”
By Reid SpencerSporting News NASCAR Wire Service
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
History
Groundbreaking for Daytona International Speedway was Nov. 25, 1957. The soil underneath the banked corners was dug from the infield of the track and the hole filled with water. It is now known as Lake Lloyd.
The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona was a 100-mile qualifying race for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 20, 1959.
Richard Petty won his 200th career race on July 4, 1984 at Daytona.
Lights were installed in the spring of 1998. However, the race was delayed until October that year due to thick smoke from wildfires. The second Daytona race has been held under lights ever since.
Notebook
There have been 127 NASCAR Sprint Cup races since the track hosted its first race in 1959: 52 have been 500 miles, 48 were 400 miles and four 250 miles. There were also 23 qualifier races that were point races.
Fireball Roberts won the inaugural pole at Daytona.
Bob Welborn won the first race at Daytona, the 100-mile qualifying race for the Daytona 500.
Lee Petty won the inaugural Daytona 500 on Feb. 22, 1959.
Fireball Roberts won the first 400-mile race at Daytona, the 1963 Firecracker 400.
52 drivers have posted poles at Daytona.
Cale Yarborough leads all drivers with 12 poles at Daytona.
Bill Elliott leads all active drivers with five poles at Daytona.
54 drivers have won at Daytona.
Richard Petty leads all drivers in victories at Daytona with 10.
Jeff Gordon has six victories at Daytona, more than any other active driver.
The Wood Brothers have won 14 races at Daytona, more than any other car owner.
17 full-length races at Daytona have been won from the pole, the last to do it was Kevin Harvick in last year’s Coke Zero 400.
A driver has swept both races at Daytona only four times, most recently by Bobby Allison in 1982.
Groundbreaking for Daytona International Speedway was Nov. 25, 1957. The soil underneath the banked corners was dug from the infield of the track and the hole filled with water. It is now known as Lake Lloyd.
The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona was a 100-mile qualifying race for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 20, 1959.
Richard Petty won his 200th career race on July 4, 1984 at Daytona.
Lights were installed in the spring of 1998. However, the race was delayed until October that year due to thick smoke from wildfires. The second Daytona race has been held under lights ever since.
Notebook
There have been 127 NASCAR Sprint Cup races since the track hosted its first race in 1959: 52 have been 500 miles, 48 were 400 miles and four 250 miles. There were also 23 qualifier races that were point races.
Fireball Roberts won the inaugural pole at Daytona.
Bob Welborn won the first race at Daytona, the 100-mile qualifying race for the Daytona 500.
Lee Petty won the inaugural Daytona 500 on Feb. 22, 1959.
Fireball Roberts won the first 400-mile race at Daytona, the 1963 Firecracker 400.
52 drivers have posted poles at Daytona.
Cale Yarborough leads all drivers with 12 poles at Daytona.
Bill Elliott leads all active drivers with five poles at Daytona.
54 drivers have won at Daytona.
Richard Petty leads all drivers in victories at Daytona with 10.
Jeff Gordon has six victories at Daytona, more than any other active driver.
The Wood Brothers have won 14 races at Daytona, more than any other car owner.
17 full-length races at Daytona have been won from the pole, the last to do it was Kevin Harvick in last year’s Coke Zero 400.
A driver has swept both races at Daytona only four times, most recently by Bobby Allison in 1982.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Chitwood brings lifelong passion for racing to Daytona
Chitwood brings lifelong passion for racing to Daytona
By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
(February 20, 2011)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—At age 14, Joie Chitwood learned a lesson that became a paradigm for his career in motorsports management.
By then, Chitwood already was an integral part of the Joie Chitwood Thrill Show founded by his grandfather and perpetuated by his father. The family made its living barnstorming around the country from its base in Tampa, where Chitwood was born.
“I remember at the state fair at Harrington, Del., I did the aerial wing walk for the first time, and the TV show ‘That’s Incredible’ came to film me,” Chitwood said. “My dad would drive a car on two wheels. I would climb out of the passenger window, stand on the side of the car like I was surfing, climb back in, and we’d set it back down.
“I’ll never forget practicing for that. We had the car set up on blocks, and I would climb in and climb out. I must have done it 20 times. And my grandfather would rock the car to simulate motion, and I’d be up there doing it.
“So I’m up there one time, and they’re filming it—doing a little B-roll—and my grandfather pushes the car back down on all four wheels. And I get thrown off the car. I kind of looked at him, and I said, ‘Chief—we always called him Chief—what are you doing?’ And he said, ‘You have to learn that, too.’
“From an early age, I knew it was a tough business.”
In 2009, Chitwood came to Daytona to work for International Speedway Corp. after resigning as president of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, shortly after orchestrating the centennial celebration at the Brickyard. In 2010, Chitwood was named president of Daytona International Speedway.
He has personal ties to both racetracks, which he calls the “mother ships” of IndyCar Racing and NASCAR, respectively. Chitwood’s grandfather, Joie Chitwood Sr., finished fifth in the 1950 Indianapolis 500, seven years after founding the Thrill Show.
In 1969, Chitwood’s father, Joie Chitwood II, was racing at Daytona the day Chitwood III was born.
“That’s a story in itself,” Chitwood said. “He wasn’t at the hospital with my mom. He was racing a pony car around Daytona International Speedway.”
Chitwood took the Daytona job just in time to preside over a $20 million repaving project that marked the third time a surface has been laid on the 2.5-mile superspeedway. After the original surface was put down in 1958, and after the first repaving in 1978, historic races followed.
“When you look at the 1959 race—new asphalt, three-wide at the finish, and it took a couple days to figure out (Lee Petty) won. In ’79—new asphalt, and Donnie (Allison) and Cale (Yarborough) had a difference of opinion inside of Turn 3 on the last lap and let Richard Petty win the race. I look at this year—new asphalt, and we could have a barnburner of an event. There’s an excitement about that.”
There’s definitely a buzz about this year’s race, and Chitwood, who has a degree in finance from Florida and an MBA from the University of South Florida, is responsible for much of it. His passion for the sport is infectious.
“Last year we had some downs,” he said. “We had the bad weather. We had the pothole. I think we’re due for an up, and I think the new asphalt lends itself to it. We’ve got a great team here in Daytona, and we’ve been hustling, and we’ve been making sure people know how excited we are about what’s going to happen.
“It’s easy for me to get excited, and when I talk about it, I think I can get other people excited about it. That’s what we do—we promote. I think we’ve had a really good last six or seven weeks getting people fired up about what we’re going to do.”
By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
(February 20, 2011)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—At age 14, Joie Chitwood learned a lesson that became a paradigm for his career in motorsports management.
By then, Chitwood already was an integral part of the Joie Chitwood Thrill Show founded by his grandfather and perpetuated by his father. The family made its living barnstorming around the country from its base in Tampa, where Chitwood was born.
“I remember at the state fair at Harrington, Del., I did the aerial wing walk for the first time, and the TV show ‘That’s Incredible’ came to film me,” Chitwood said. “My dad would drive a car on two wheels. I would climb out of the passenger window, stand on the side of the car like I was surfing, climb back in, and we’d set it back down.
“I’ll never forget practicing for that. We had the car set up on blocks, and I would climb in and climb out. I must have done it 20 times. And my grandfather would rock the car to simulate motion, and I’d be up there doing it.
“So I’m up there one time, and they’re filming it—doing a little B-roll—and my grandfather pushes the car back down on all four wheels. And I get thrown off the car. I kind of looked at him, and I said, ‘Chief—we always called him Chief—what are you doing?’ And he said, ‘You have to learn that, too.’
“From an early age, I knew it was a tough business.”
In 2009, Chitwood came to Daytona to work for International Speedway Corp. after resigning as president of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, shortly after orchestrating the centennial celebration at the Brickyard. In 2010, Chitwood was named president of Daytona International Speedway.
He has personal ties to both racetracks, which he calls the “mother ships” of IndyCar Racing and NASCAR, respectively. Chitwood’s grandfather, Joie Chitwood Sr., finished fifth in the 1950 Indianapolis 500, seven years after founding the Thrill Show.
In 1969, Chitwood’s father, Joie Chitwood II, was racing at Daytona the day Chitwood III was born.
“That’s a story in itself,” Chitwood said. “He wasn’t at the hospital with my mom. He was racing a pony car around Daytona International Speedway.”
Chitwood took the Daytona job just in time to preside over a $20 million repaving project that marked the third time a surface has been laid on the 2.5-mile superspeedway. After the original surface was put down in 1958, and after the first repaving in 1978, historic races followed.
“When you look at the 1959 race—new asphalt, three-wide at the finish, and it took a couple days to figure out (Lee Petty) won. In ’79—new asphalt, and Donnie (Allison) and Cale (Yarborough) had a difference of opinion inside of Turn 3 on the last lap and let Richard Petty win the race. I look at this year—new asphalt, and we could have a barnburner of an event. There’s an excitement about that.”
There’s definitely a buzz about this year’s race, and Chitwood, who has a degree in finance from Florida and an MBA from the University of South Florida, is responsible for much of it. His passion for the sport is infectious.
“Last year we had some downs,” he said. “We had the bad weather. We had the pothole. I think we’re due for an up, and I think the new asphalt lends itself to it. We’ve got a great team here in Daytona, and we’ve been hustling, and we’ve been making sure people know how excited we are about what’s going to happen.
“It’s easy for me to get excited, and when I talk about it, I think I can get other people excited about it. That’s what we do—we promote. I think we’ve had a really good last six or seven weeks getting people fired up about what we’re going to do.”
Thursday, February 3, 2011
TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY JET DRYER TRUCKS READY
TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY JET DRYER TRUCKS READY TO AID SUPER BOWL SHOULD MORE INCLEMENT WEATHER ARRIVE IN NORTH TEXAS
FORT WORTH, Texas (February 3, 2011) -- With more inclement weather possibly on the way to the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, Texas Motor Speedway has its two track jet dryer trucks on hold for the North Texas Super Bowl Committee should they need some assistance for Sunday’s Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.
Each modified Chevrolet pick-up truck is equipped with a Learjet engine and is traditionally used to dry or blow debris from Texas Motor Speedway’s high-banked, 1.5-mile oval that annually plays host to NASCAR and INDYCAR series events. Each truck, with a 60- to 80-foot wide coverage area, carries 450 gallons of jet fuel and utilizes six gallons a minute in blowing or drying a surface. Each engine produces 2,250 pounds of thrust and the air being emitted is at 500 degrees.
The trucks were not called in earlier this week for the icy conditions because the process would have been ineffective as the freezing temperatures would have returned the improved conditions back to ice in addition to being extremely time consuming and expensive (jet fuel is roughly $3 per gallon) for the short-term gain.
“This application works much better on blowing or melting snow rather than attempting to melt the thick ice we experienced,” Texas Motor Speedway Vice President of Operations Mat Stolley said. “We have the trucks prepped and ready to go should they need them leading up to or the day of the Super Bowl. Give the North Texas Super Bowl Committee a lot of credit for their due diligence. They contacted us two to three months ago regarding the jet dryer trucks so they were planning well ahead for the wide-varying weather conditions that are common for North Texas this time of year.”
FORT WORTH, Texas (February 3, 2011) -- With more inclement weather possibly on the way to the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, Texas Motor Speedway has its two track jet dryer trucks on hold for the North Texas Super Bowl Committee should they need some assistance for Sunday’s Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.
Each modified Chevrolet pick-up truck is equipped with a Learjet engine and is traditionally used to dry or blow debris from Texas Motor Speedway’s high-banked, 1.5-mile oval that annually plays host to NASCAR and INDYCAR series events. Each truck, with a 60- to 80-foot wide coverage area, carries 450 gallons of jet fuel and utilizes six gallons a minute in blowing or drying a surface. Each engine produces 2,250 pounds of thrust and the air being emitted is at 500 degrees.
The trucks were not called in earlier this week for the icy conditions because the process would have been ineffective as the freezing temperatures would have returned the improved conditions back to ice in addition to being extremely time consuming and expensive (jet fuel is roughly $3 per gallon) for the short-term gain.
“This application works much better on blowing or melting snow rather than attempting to melt the thick ice we experienced,” Texas Motor Speedway Vice President of Operations Mat Stolley said. “We have the trucks prepped and ready to go should they need them leading up to or the day of the Super Bowl. Give the North Texas Super Bowl Committee a lot of credit for their due diligence. They contacted us two to three months ago regarding the jet dryer trucks so they were planning well ahead for the wide-varying weather conditions that are common for North Texas this time of year.”
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Charlotte:2011 Event Lineup Includes More Than 100 Days and Nights of Excitement
2011 Event Lineup Includes More Than 100 Days and Nights of Excitement
CONCORD, N.C. (Feb. 2, 2011) - Charlotte Motor Speedway is gearing up for a spectacular year of entertainment as the track's 2011 schedulefeatures more than 100 days and nights of excitement.
The speedway's 2011 season includes premier NASCAR, NHRA and World of Outlaws Series events, as well as two gigantic Food Lion AutoFairs. Beginning with Cirque Du Soleil on March 3, the schedule features events at all three venues on the speedway's complex including Charlotte Motor Speedway, zMAX Dragway and The Dirt Track at Charlotte. The 2011 season will conclude with the second annual Carolina Christmas light show and winter festival, Nov. 21 through Jan. 1, 2012.
"Charlotte Motor Speedway's 2011 season schedule promises to be one of the most action packed yet," said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. "More than one million fans will visit us to see the world's greatest drivers compete and to create memories that will last a lifetime."
Races quickly approaching in the Spring Season of Speed, include the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Showdown and the Coca-Cola 600.
The speedway is offering exceptional savings through season ticket or multi-event plans for the NASCAR Sprint Cup weekends at Charlotte Motor Speedway, NHRA events at zMAX Dragway and World of Outlaw races at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.
For NASCAR fans, the best value in racing is the Victory Lane Club Season Ticket. In addition to reserved seats to all three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races in May and October at the speedway, members will receive $1,500 in added value including a 15 percent discount on tickets, VIP parking, trial membership to The Speedway Club, free tickets to other select speedway events and invitations to members-only functions. Drag racing fans can witness the two NHRA national events at the Bellagio of drag strips with the zMAX Dragway Season Ticket. The package includes 10 percent savings on four-day reserved tickets to both the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in April and the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals in September, VIP parking, a personalized photo identification hard card and other great values.
To see "The Greatest Show on Dirt" at one of the world's premier dirt track facilities, fans can purchase a 2011 sprint car or late model ticket package for The Dirt Track at Charlotte. The Sprint Car Double Down Ticket Package includes tickets to the May Sprint Car Showdown and November's World Finals, while the Late Model Double Down Ticket Package includes the World Finals and October's Late Model Showdown. Both packages not only come with a five percent discount on ticket prices, but also include VIP parking for both events, a free ticket to Saturday of the Spring AutoFair, a free ticket to a Summer Shootout event, plus a free pit pass for World Finals.
The complete 2011 Charlotte Motor Speedway schedule follows.
*Schedule Subject to Change*
March 3-20 Cirque Du Soleil Charlotte Motor Speedway
April 7-10 Food Lion AutoFair Charlotte Motor Speedway
April 14-17 NHRA Four-Wide Nationals zMAX Dragway
May 20 North Carolina Education Lottery 200 Charlotte Motor Speedway
May 21 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Charlotte Motor Speedway
May 26 Windstream Pole Night Charlotte Motor Speedway
May 27 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Showdown The Dirt Track at Charlotte
May 28 Charlotte 300 Charlotte Motor Speedway
May 29 Coca-Cola 600 Charlotte Motor Speedway
June 14 - Aug. 16 Summer Shootout Series Charlotte Motor Speedway
June 15 - July 20 Summer Drag & Brag Series zMAX Dragway
Aug. 13 Circle K Back-to-School Monster Truck Bash The Dirt Track at Charlotte
Aug. 25-28 Food Lion AutoFair Charlotte Motor Speedway
Sept. 15-18 O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals zMAX Dragway
Oct. 12 Late Model Showdown The Dirt Track at Charlotte
Oct. 13 Bojangles' Pole Night Charlotte Motor Speedway
Oct. 14 Dollar General 300 Charlotte Motor Speedway
Oct. 15 Bank of America 500 Charlotte Motor Speedway
Oct. 28-30 Goodguys Southeastern Nationals Charlotte Motor Speedway
Nov. 3-5 World of Outlaws World Finals The Dirt Track at Charlotte
Nov. 21- Jan. 1 Carolina Christmas Light Show Charlotte Motor Speedway
Nov. 25 Souvenir and Race Ticket Blow-Out Charlotte Motor Speedway
In addition to individual event tickets and season ticket packages, other special ticket promotions are also available. For more information on ticket promotions and ticket pricing visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or call the speedway's ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267
CONCORD, N.C. (Feb. 2, 2011) - Charlotte Motor Speedway is gearing up for a spectacular year of entertainment as the track's 2011 schedulefeatures more than 100 days and nights of excitement.
The speedway's 2011 season includes premier NASCAR, NHRA and World of Outlaws Series events, as well as two gigantic Food Lion AutoFairs. Beginning with Cirque Du Soleil on March 3, the schedule features events at all three venues on the speedway's complex including Charlotte Motor Speedway, zMAX Dragway and The Dirt Track at Charlotte. The 2011 season will conclude with the second annual Carolina Christmas light show and winter festival, Nov. 21 through Jan. 1, 2012.
"Charlotte Motor Speedway's 2011 season schedule promises to be one of the most action packed yet," said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. "More than one million fans will visit us to see the world's greatest drivers compete and to create memories that will last a lifetime."
Races quickly approaching in the Spring Season of Speed, include the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Showdown and the Coca-Cola 600.
The speedway is offering exceptional savings through season ticket or multi-event plans for the NASCAR Sprint Cup weekends at Charlotte Motor Speedway, NHRA events at zMAX Dragway and World of Outlaw races at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.
For NASCAR fans, the best value in racing is the Victory Lane Club Season Ticket. In addition to reserved seats to all three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races in May and October at the speedway, members will receive $1,500 in added value including a 15 percent discount on tickets, VIP parking, trial membership to The Speedway Club, free tickets to other select speedway events and invitations to members-only functions. Drag racing fans can witness the two NHRA national events at the Bellagio of drag strips with the zMAX Dragway Season Ticket. The package includes 10 percent savings on four-day reserved tickets to both the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in April and the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals in September, VIP parking, a personalized photo identification hard card and other great values.
To see "The Greatest Show on Dirt" at one of the world's premier dirt track facilities, fans can purchase a 2011 sprint car or late model ticket package for The Dirt Track at Charlotte. The Sprint Car Double Down Ticket Package includes tickets to the May Sprint Car Showdown and November's World Finals, while the Late Model Double Down Ticket Package includes the World Finals and October's Late Model Showdown. Both packages not only come with a five percent discount on ticket prices, but also include VIP parking for both events, a free ticket to Saturday of the Spring AutoFair, a free ticket to a Summer Shootout event, plus a free pit pass for World Finals.
The complete 2011 Charlotte Motor Speedway schedule follows.
*Schedule Subject to Change*
March 3-20 Cirque Du Soleil Charlotte Motor Speedway
April 7-10 Food Lion AutoFair Charlotte Motor Speedway
April 14-17 NHRA Four-Wide Nationals zMAX Dragway
May 20 North Carolina Education Lottery 200 Charlotte Motor Speedway
May 21 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Charlotte Motor Speedway
May 26 Windstream Pole Night Charlotte Motor Speedway
May 27 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Showdown The Dirt Track at Charlotte
May 28 Charlotte 300 Charlotte Motor Speedway
May 29 Coca-Cola 600 Charlotte Motor Speedway
June 14 - Aug. 16 Summer Shootout Series Charlotte Motor Speedway
June 15 - July 20 Summer Drag & Brag Series zMAX Dragway
Aug. 13 Circle K Back-to-School Monster Truck Bash The Dirt Track at Charlotte
Aug. 25-28 Food Lion AutoFair Charlotte Motor Speedway
Sept. 15-18 O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals zMAX Dragway
Oct. 12 Late Model Showdown The Dirt Track at Charlotte
Oct. 13 Bojangles' Pole Night Charlotte Motor Speedway
Oct. 14 Dollar General 300 Charlotte Motor Speedway
Oct. 15 Bank of America 500 Charlotte Motor Speedway
Oct. 28-30 Goodguys Southeastern Nationals Charlotte Motor Speedway
Nov. 3-5 World of Outlaws World Finals The Dirt Track at Charlotte
Nov. 21- Jan. 1 Carolina Christmas Light Show Charlotte Motor Speedway
Nov. 25 Souvenir and Race Ticket Blow-Out Charlotte Motor Speedway
In addition to individual event tickets and season ticket packages, other special ticket promotions are also available. For more information on ticket promotions and ticket pricing visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or call the speedway's ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267
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