Dover International Speedway:

History

·         The official opening of Dover International Speedway, then called Dover Downs International Speedway, was in 1969.

·         The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on July 6, 1969.

·         The first two races at Dover were 300 miles. The race length was changed to 500 miles in 1971.

·         The track surface was changed to concrete in 1995.

·         The race length was changed to 400 miles beginning with the second race in 1997.

·         The track name was changed to Dover International Speedway in 2002.

Notebook

·         There have been 85 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Dover International Speedway since the track opened in 1969.

·         There was one race in 1969 and 1970. There has been two-a-year since 1971.

·         Richard Petty won the track’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

·         33 different drivers have posted victories led by Jimmie Johnson, Bobby Allison and Richard Petty, each with seven. Johnson leads all active drivers.

·         David Pearson won the first pole in July 1969.

·         There have been 35 different pole winners, led by David Pearson (six).

·         Mark Martin leads all active drivers with five poles.

·         Hendrick Motorsports has a series-high 14 wins.

·         52 races at Dover have been won from a top-five starting position; 18 races have been won from a starting position outside the top 10.

·         13 drivers have won from the pole. The last to do so was Jimmie Johnson, in the 2010 September race.

·         The furthest back in the field a race winner has started was 37th, by Kyle Petty in 1995.

·         Several active drivers had their first start at Dover, including three past champions: David Ragan (finished 42nd in 2006), Kurt Busch (18th in 2000), Matt Kenseth (sixth in 1998) and Bobby Labonte (34th in 1991).

·         In addition, Matt Kenseth (2002) and Michael Waltrip (1991) earned their first pole at Dover. Martin Truex Jr. won his first race there (2007).

·         Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dover International Speedway winner: Kyle Busch (6/01/2008 – 23 years, 0 months, 30 days).

·         Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dover International Speedway winner: Harry Gant (5/31/1992 – 52 years, 4 months, 21 days).

 

NASCAR in Delaware

·         There have been 85 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Delaware, all at Dover International Speedway.

·         Eight drivers in NASCAR’s three national series (all-time) have their home state recorded as Delaware, though none have posted victories.

 

Trucks Will Return To Rockingham In 2013

Trucks Will Return To Rockingham In 2013

Rockingham, N.C. (September 26, 2012) - After staging the most talked-about event of the 2012 NASCAR season to date, Rockingham Speedway President Andy Hillenburg made it official today; confirming that the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will return to "The Rock" on April 12-14, 2013. 

"We got our report card from NASCAR, and it looks like we got an A+," said Hillenburg of NASCAR's April return to Rockingham for the first time since 2004. Sprint Cup Series star Kasey Kahne topped an all-star field of Camping World Truck Series regulars to win the Good Sam Roadside Assistance Carolina 200 presented by Cheerwine, in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd of race fans.

"Fans, drivers, teams; everyone embraced our 2012 event," said Hillenburg. "I'm happy to announce that with their help, we'll do it again in 2013; bigger and better than ever before."

Tickets are already on sale, with adult tickets ranging from  $20 to $35 and kids age 12 and under half-price. Reserve your seats now by calling the Rockingham Speedway ticket office at (910) 205-8800, or online at www.rockinghamspeedway.com. Ticket and camping renewals are available through November 20, 2012. 

"It's been a long road back since we bought this race track in 2007," said Hillenburg. "There were a few times along the way where I wasn't sure we were going to make it. But when I looked up in the grandstands during driver introductions in April, it made me extremely proud. That was a very important day in the history of Rockingham Speedway, but it was just one step on the road. We're moving forward, and I look forward to packing the grandstands again next April.

"The Rock is back, and we're looking forward to another great race on April 14, 2013."

Before the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to Rockingham, the track rounds out its 2012 season with the Classic 3 Championship on November 2-3, 2012. The event will feature the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, UARA-STARS Late Models and Frank Kimmel Street Stock Nationals.

For more information about Rockingham Speedway, or to purchase tickets for any of the speedway's events, contact Rockingham Speedway at 910.205.8800 or visit online at www.rockinghamspeedway.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 35 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 35 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 18 different pole winners, led by Ryan Newman (six).

·         21 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 nine 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 (7-17-11).

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

·         Four drivers got their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win at New Hampshire: Joe Nemechek (1999), 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 (8.4) and Jimmie Johnson (9.9) are the only two active drivers 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 1,309.

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

·         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, 11 days).

NASCAR in New Hampshire

·         There have been 35 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in New Hampshire, all at NHMS.

·         14 drivers in NASCAR’s three national series (all-time) are listed as New Hampshire natives.

·         There has been one race winner from New Hampshire in NASCAR’s three national series: Jamie Aube. Aube, from Manchester, won a NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Oxford Plains Speedway in 1987.

 

Chicagoland Speedway:

Chicagoland Speedway:

History

·         Construction of the Chicagoland Speedway began in August 1999.

·         The first NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Chicago was July 14, 2001.

·         The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was held on July 15, 2001.

·         This weekend marks the second year Chicagoland Speedway has been included in the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – Sept. 18, 2011.

Notebook

·         There have been 11 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Chicagoland Speedway.

·         11 drivers have competed in all 10 races.

·         Todd Bodine won the first pole.

·         There has been a different pole winner after every qualifying session (qualifying was canceled in 2008), 10 total.

·         Kevin Harvick won the first two races.

·         Eight different drivers have won races, led by Tony Stewart with three.

·         Kyle Busch won the 2008 race from the pole, the first time a driver won from the pole. It was also the only time a driver had won from a top-five starting position.

·         Kevin Harvick won the 2002 race from the 32nd starting position, the deepest in the field that a race winner ever started at Chicago.

·         Only one starting position has multiple wins: 14th. Mark Martin won from the 14th starting position in 2009, as did Ryan Newman in 2003.

·         Tony Stewart (8.7), Jeff Gordon (10.0) and Jimmie Johnson (10.0) are active drivers who average a top-10 finish at Chicago.

·         Six of the last seven races have ended with a margin of victory under one second. The closest margin of victory at Chicago was 0.159 sec. (7-12-08).

·         Joe Gibbs leads all car owners in wins at Chicago with three, followed by Richard Childress and Rick Hendrick with two each.

·         Chevrolet leads the series with the most wins by a manufacturer at Chicago with eight.

·         Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chicagoland Speedway winner: Kyle Busch (07/12/2008 – 23 years, 2 months, 10 days).

·         Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chicagoland Speedway winner: Mark Martin (07/11/2009 – 50 years, 6 months, 2 days).

 

Car Test at Talladega

2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Car Test at Talladega Open to the Public

TALLADEGA, Ala. – For the 2013 season all car manufacturers racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will roll out new designs for competition.  The new car designs, which more closely resemble the cars sold in dealerships across the country, will be at Talladega Superspeedway for a test session on Wednesday, October 3^rd.  That test will be open to the public so fans can catch a glimpse of the new cars before they are premiered next season.  

“The beautifully redesigned racecars for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup season are a sight to behold and we’re excited to give our fans a sneak peek at them on the high banks of Talladega,” said track Chairman Grant Lynch. 

Garages open for the teams at 9 a.m. on Wednesday with cars scheduled to hit the track at 11 a.m. Race fans camping in the infield should note that this test will impact access to the crossover gate. 

Seating for the test session will be on the backstretch, in section Y of the Allison Grandstands.  Fans can park in Lot 6E and enter the grandstands through gate P-22.  Concession stands will not be open, but standard gate rules apply and fans can bring in food and beverages in approved coolers.  Gates will be open 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The test is scheduled to end at 4:30 p.m. with the garages closing for the teams at 5:30 p.m.

The most competitive racing in NASCAR combined with a mix of southern hospitality returns to Talladega Superspeedway October 5-7, 2012 for the Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 Weekend.  For tickets and information visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 1-877-Go2-DEGA.

Richmond International Raceway:

Richmond International Raceway:

History

·         Originally known as the Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds, Richmond International Raceway held its first race in 1946 as a half-mile dirt track.

·         The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was April 19, 1953.

·         The spring 1964 race was run on a Tuesday night under temporary lighting.

·         The track name changed to Virginia State Fairgrounds in 1967.

·         The track surface was changed from dirt to asphalt between races in 1968.

·         The track name changed to Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway in 1969.

·         The track was re-measured to .542-mile for 1970.

·         The track was rebuilt as a three-quarters-mile D-shaped oval following the Feb. 21, 1988 race.

·         The first race under permanent lights was Sept. 7, 1991.

·         The first season with both races as night races was 1999.

Notebook

·         There have been 112 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Richmond since the track opened in 1953.

·         The current 400-lap race length was established on the .542-mile measurement in March 1976.

·         Buck Baker won the pole in 1953.

·         Lee Petty won the first race in April 1953.

·         There have been 50 different pole winners, led by Bobby Allison and Richard Petty (eight).

·         Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin lead all active drivers with five poles each.

·         47 different drivers have posted victories at Richmond, led by Richard Petty (13).

·         Kyle Busch leads all active race winners with four.

·         Petty Enterprises has won 15 races at Richmond, more than any other team. Hendrick Motorsports has the second most wins with 10.

·         63 of 112 races have been won from the top five starting positions, including 22 from the pole.

·         The last driver to win from the pole was Kyle Busch on May 1, 2010.

·         The furthest back in the field a race winner has started was 31st, by Clint Bowyer in the 2008 spring race.

·         Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Kyle Busch (4.7), Denny Hamlin (7.3) are the only active drivers with an average finish in the top 10.

·         Kyle Petty became the first third-generation NASCAR race winner when he won his first race at Richmond, on Feb. 23, 1986. Richard Petty posted his first Richmond victory in 1961 and Lee Petty won the very first Richmond race in 1953.

·         Three of the last five races have had a margin of victory less than one second.

·         Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Richmond International Raceway winner: Richard Petty (04/23/1961 – 23 years, 9 months, 21 days)

·         Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Richmond International Raceway winner: Harry Gant (09/07/1991 – 51 years, 7 months, 28 days)

·         Four drivers have come from outside the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup cut-off to make the Chase at Richmond:

o    Jeremy Mayfield in 2004 made up a 55-point deficit

o    Ryan Newman in 2005 made up a one-point deficit

o    Kasey Kahne in 2006 made up a 30-point deficit

o    Brian Vickers in 2009 made up a 20-point deficit

·         Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin are the two drivers that clinched the Wild Card in 2011 to make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.