Sponsor woes hold up plans for The Glen:

Sponsor woes hold up plans for The Glen: Watkins Glen International is still without a title sponsor for their NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event with less than two weeks until race team haulers start rolling in to the facility. Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips had been the presenting sponsor of the track's Cup Series race since 2009 but pulled out of their contract earlier this year. It's a situation that WGI president and West Seneca native, Michael Printup, has now come to accept with his attention turning to making final preparations for the tens of thousands of race fans that will descend on the road racing facility located in the Finger Lakes. Printup was on WGR's Fast Track on Sunday morning and discussed how hard the search to find a replacement was. "You're always chasing and we chased all year with Heluva Good! walking away," Printup said, "we did have somebody really close but we decided not to pull the trigger, we just couldn't activate it enough." The new race name will highlight the part of New York state that "The Glen" calls home. "We're going with the because that's the kilometer count, we're going to hype the tourism in this area and give some branding and naming," Printup said.
While the lack of a sponsor won't affect any of the on-track action it does put a dent in the budget for WGI and their parent company International Speedway Corporation (ISC). "It's big, an entitlement sponsor for NASCAR is anywhere from $500,000 to 2 million dollars per race," Printup said, "as we got closer we'd never get 2 million but we're pretty comfortable in saying we would have landed somewhere between a half a million and a million dollars." This setback for WGI won't affect future Sprint Cup dates at the facility but it does push back a major capital improvement project that was planned for next year. Printup divulged that the plan was to repave the racing surface before the 2013 Sprint Cup race at WGI but that has now been tabled. "We decided as a management team this week that we're not going to repave next year, we're probably going to put it off to 2014 or 2015 we feel we have enough life in the asphalt," Printup said. ISC has made several upgrades at the facility over the last few years including putting in new grandstands and making several safety improvements to the race course. Now the plan for next year will be to fill the time that was originally blocked out for the repaving project with new racing events.(WGR Sportsradio 550-AM,

Indy considering installing lights:

Indy considering installing lights: Despite attendance struggles at the Brickyard 400 (now known as the Crown Royal presents the Curtiss Shaver 400 at the Brickyard) over the past five years, there's no talk from NASCAR or Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials about discontinuing the race. IMS officials said the commitment on both sides couldn't be stronger for continuing the race long-term and making it stronger than it currently is. "I don't think either party could be more secure in its relationship with [the] other," said IMS spokesman Doug Boles. "There is no thought internally or within NASCAR that this race shouldn't continue." To bolster sagging attendance, Speedway officials are breaking new ground this year and may be willing to break even more ground in future years. For the first time, the IMS will host Grand Am and NASCAR Nationwide races over the weekend in conjunction with the Sprint Cup headliner on Sunday. More radical changes could be coming. Speedway officials this week told IBJ that they have discussed installing lights at the massive facility a project that would cost tens of millions of dollars to allow races at night, particularly NASCAR events. "Those types of discussions are more common now than they were even a year and a half ago," Boles said. "One consideration is it would allow us to get fans out of the heat of the day." Erecting lights would be a major departure for Speedway officials, who previously have shunned the idea. IMS stands as one of the few major race tracks nationally without lights.(Indianapolis Business Journal)(7-28-2012)

Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

History

·         Indianapolis Motor Speedway has existed since 1909, and is the original "Speedway," the first racing facility to incorporate the word into its name.

Notebook

·         There have been 18 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway since the first race in 1994.

·         Four drivers have competed in all 18 races: Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte and Mark Martin.

·         Rick Mast won the first pole in 1994.

·         Jeff Gordon won the 1994 inaugural race.

·         There have been 15 different pole winners.

·         Jeff Gordon leads all pole winners with three.

·         11 drivers have won, led by Jeff Gordon with four victories.

·         Jimmie Johnson (three), Dale Jarrett and Tony Stewart (two each) are the other multiple winners.

·         Hendrick Motorsports has won seven races, more than any other organization.

·         Nine races have been won from a top-five starting position.

·         The furthest back a race winner has started at Indianapolis was 27th, by Jeff Gordon in 2001.

·         Two drivers have won from the pole: Kevin Harvick in 2003 and Jimmie Johnson in 2008.

·         Dale Jarrett (1996), Jimmie Johnson (2006) and Jamie McMurray (2010) are the only drivers to win both the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 in the same season.

·         Tony Stewart (8.0), Jeff Gordon (9.0) and Kevin Harvick (10.0) are the only active drivers to average a top-10 finish.

·         Three of the last five Indianapolis races ending under green had a margin of victory under one second.

·         14 of the 18 races have been won by a past, reigning or future NASCAR Sprint Cup champion. The only four that were not: Ricky Rudd in 1997, Kevin Harvick in 2003, Jamie McMurray in 2010 and Paul Menard in 2011.

·         The winner of the Indianapolis race has won the championship in the same year seven times in the 18 years the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has raced there:

2009: Jimmie Johnson

2008: Jimmie Johnson

2006: Jimmie Johnson

2005: Tony Stewart

2001: Jeff Gordon

2000: Bobby Labonte

1999: Dale Jarrett

1998: Jeff Gordon

·         Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Indianapolis Motor Speedway winner: Jeff Gordon (08/06/1994 – 23 years, 0 months, 2 days).

·         Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Indianapolis Motor Speedway winner: Bill Elliott (08/04/2002 – 46 years, 9 months, 27 

GATORADE POLE QUALIFYING

GATORADE POLE QUALIFYING MOVED TO FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9

AT PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

PHOENIX – Phoenix International Raceway President, Bryan R. Sperber announced today that NASCAR has moved Gatorade Pole Qualifying for the semi-final race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup to Friday, Nov. 9 at 4:10 p.m. The weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race will remain as scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 11.

“We are pleased that NASCAR has moved Qualifying to Friday,” said Sperber. “It will add excitement to an already fantastic day that features the Lucas Oil 150 Camping World Truck Series event.”

Gates open to the public Friday at 9 a.m. A full day of activity on the track will be highlighted by Gatorade Pole Qualifying and the running of the Lucas Oil 150 Camping World Truck Series race at 6 p.m.

PIR’s one-mile oval will also feature additional Friday action, including the final practice for the Casino Arizona 50 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race at 9 a.m., practice sessions for the Great Clips 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at 10 a.m. and 1:35 p.m., Sprint Cup Series practice at noon and Qualifying for the Lucas Oil 150 at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets are still available for the Nov. 8-11 NASCAR event weekend at Phoenix International Raceway by going  online at PhoenixRaceway.com/Tickets or by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223). A full schedule of NASCAR event weekend activities at PIR can be found by visiting the track’s official website at www.phoenixraceway.com.

About Phoenix International Raceway

Since 1964, Phoenix International Raceway has served race fans as the premier motorsports venue in the Southwest. Watch the Semi-Final Race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup at PIR on Sunday, November 11. Tickets for the entire November 8-11 NASCAR event weekend at Phoenix International Raceway are on sale now and can be purchased online at PhoenixRaceway.com/Tickets or by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223). For more information, visit PhoenixRaceway.com, Facebook.com/PhoenixRaceway and Twitter.com/PhoenixRaceway

New Fan Suite Atlanta Motor Speedway

New Fan Suite Option: $149 Indoor Seating Available at Atlanta Motor Speedway

HAMPTON, Ga. (July 16, 2012) – Fans looking to take their viewing experience of this year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AdvoCare 500 to a new level have a new choice at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

New for 2012 is the Elliott Suite, offering a view from high above turn three’s Elliott Grandstand. The Elliott Suite offers fans the race day environment from the comfort of a climate-controlled, individual seat. Suite seats sell for $149 each and feature the individual theater-style seating and closed-circuit video of the race coverage.

Making it even more affordable is fans may also bring their own food and beverage into the suite and are also provided a 50 percent discount on scanner rentals. A limited number of parking spaces near the Elliott Grandstand will be available for purchase at $75.

The Elliott Suite is perfect for the race fan looking to personalize their race experience and make it a little more comfortable without losing the feel of being at the track and seeing the event in person.

NASCAR night racing returns to Atlanta Motor Speedway on Labor Day weekend, Aug. 31-Sept. 2, 2012. Reserve your AdvoCare 500 tickets now. For more information, call the Atlanta Motor Speedway Ticket Office at (877) 9-AMS-TIX, (770) 946-4211 or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.

New Hampshire Motor Speedway:

 New Hampshire Motor Speedway:

History

·         Groundbreaking for New Hampshire International Speedway, as New Hampshire Motor Speedway was originally named, was Aug. 13, 1989.

·         The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was on July 11, 1993.

·         Renamed New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2008.

Notebook

·         There have been 34 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway; one per year from 1993 through 1996 and two per year since.

·         Four drivers have competed in all 34 races: Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte and Joe Nemechek.

·         Mark Martin won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup pole.

·         Rusty Wallace won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

·         There have been 17 different pole winners, led by Ryan Newman (six).

·         20 different drivers have won, led by Jeff Burton (four).

·         Jimmie Johnson (2003) and Kurt Busch (2004) are the only drivers that have posted season sweeps. Those are also the only back-to-back winners.

·         Hendrick Motorsports has won eight races, more than any other organization.

·         The deepest in the field that a New Hampshire race winner started was 38th, by Jeff Burton in 1999.

·         There have been five winners who started from the pole. The last race winner to win from the pole was Ryan Newman last season.

·         Jeff Burton led all 300 laps raced in the 2000 fall race.

·         Five drivers got their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win at New Hampshire: Joe Nemechek (1999), Robby Gordon (2001), Ryan Newman (2002), Clint Bowyer (2007) and Joey Logano (2009).

·         Two drivers got their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole at New Hampshire: Patrick Carpentier (2008) and Brad Keselowski (2010).

·         Denny Hamlin (9.0) is the only active driver with an average finish at NHMS in the top 10.

·         Jeff Gordon has led the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series laps all-time at New Hampshire at 1,304.

·         Last fall’s event (9/25/11) at NHMS tied the records for most all-time leaders (15), and fewest laps led by the winner (2).

·         Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series New Hampshire Motor Speedway winner: Joey Logano (06/28/2009 – 19 years, 1 month, 4 days).

·         Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series New Hampshire Motor Speedway winner: Mark Martin (09/20/2009 – 50 years, 8 months,