NASCAR Appoints Jimmy Small As Iowa Speedway President

NASCAR Appoints Jimmy Small As Iowa Speedway President

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 12, 2013) – As the first step toward a bright future under new ownership, Iowa Speedway today welcomed Jimmy Small, a rising talent within the industry, as its new track president. Small’s appointment at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines comes on the heels of NASCAR’s announcement two weeks ago that it purchased the Speedway. 

Several of the sport’s top executives along with state and local dignitaries were present for the announcement. 

“Jimmy’s tireless dedication, energy and experience make him the ideal candidate for leading Iowa Speedway into this new era,” said Eric Nyquist, NASCAR vice president, strategic development. “He has a strong background in identifying and creating fan experience improvements and defining best practices designed to help strengthen sponsor relations and ticket sales. In addition, he will have a great support structure at the Speedway and NASCAR.” 

Small, 28, joins the Speedway after six years with NASCAR in various business-building capacities. Most recently, he served as senior manager for team marketing services within the NASCAR Industry Services department out of the Charlotte, N.C., office. In that role, he was the business and marketing liaison with teams and drivers in all three national series.

Additionally, he helped manage the implementation of the NASCAR Industry Action Plan (IAP), including several key initiatives targeting Event Management and Entertainment, Youth & Gen-Y Marketing and Driver Star Power.

When Small started in the sport in 2008, he worked out of NASCAR’s Daytona Beach, Fla., headquarters coordinating event weekends with tracks, television partners and teams.

“I’m honored to be presented with this opportunity to help guide Iowa Speedway in the next chapter of its life,” Small said. “We will continue fanning the intense passion for motorsports that is prevalent here, and do our best to showcase Iowa Speedway’s fast, exciting short-track racing in creative, fan-friendly ways.”

Small is a Detroit native and graduate of the University of Notre Dame. He was named as a member of Sports Pro Magazine’s The 10 NEXT Class of 2012, an honor recognizing 10 sports executives under the age of 30.

The track currently is gearing up for its slate of three NASCAR race weekends during the 2014 season. The Speedway’s season opens May 17-18, with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East versus West Challenge on Saturday night followed by a 250-lap NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Sunday. The weekend of July 11-12, Iowa Speedway will host a Friday night NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event and an IndyCar Series race on Saturday. A second NASCAR K&N Pro Series East versus West Challenge race is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 1 followed by another 250-lap NASCAR Nationwide Series event Saturday night.

Season ticket holders may renew their tickets for the 2014 season, and will have an exclusive right to secure their current seats until Sunday, Jan. 5.  All season tickets, with prices starting at $95, will include a guaranteed seat location, complimentary Casey’s Fan Walk pass and an opportunity to participate in pre-race ceremonies. Season tickets, parking passes and onsite camping options are available online at www.iowaspeedway.com, or by calling the toll-free ticketing hotline, 866-RUSTY-GO (787-8946). Single-event tickets and weekend packages will become available on Monday, Jan. 6. 

Iowa Speedway’s ticketing office, located at 3333 Rusty Wallace Drive in Newton, also will be open to assist customers from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, holidays excepted.

About Iowa Speedway

Iowa Speedway, a state-of-the-art motorsports and entertainment facility, is located 30 miles east of Des Moines at I-80 Exit 168 in Newton, Iowa. The track was designed by NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace, now an anchor and analyst for ESPN. Visit www.iowaspeedway.com to learn more.

DAYTONA Rising December Project Update

12/6/2013

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Although 2013 will soon come to a close, construction activities related to the DAYTONA Rising project continue to accelerate. Daytona International Speedway is also preparing for the 52^nd Anniversary of the Rolex 24 At Daytona and Budweiser Speedweeks 2014 to ensure that the facility is “race ready” for fans.
Here is a recap of key construction activities since the last update in November:

• Initial steel installation near the east end of new grandstand footprint
• Completed pile cap installation
• Operationalized domestic water and fire lines
• Began asphalt paving near the west end of new grandstand footprint

Upcoming construction activities:

• Ongoing steel installation
• First Slab on Metal Deck (First Elevated Concrete Pour)
• Masonry work commences

About DAYTONA Rising
DAYTONA Rising is a $400 million reimagining of an American icon – Daytona International Speedway. Five expanded and redesigned entrances, or “injectors,” will lead fans to a series of escalators and elevators, transporting them to three different concourse levels. Each level features spacious social areas, or “neighborhoods,” along the nearly mile-long frontstretch. At the conclusion of the redevelopment, Daytona International Speedway will have approximately 101,000 permanent, wider and more comfortable seats, twice as many restrooms and three times as many concession stands. In addition, the Speedway will feature over 60 luxury suites with track side views and a completely revamped hospitality experience for corporate guests. 
DAYTONA Rising: Reimagining an American Icon, expected to create 6,300 jobs, $300 million in labor income and over $80 million in tax revenue, will be completed in time for the 2016 Rolex 24 At Daytona and DAYTONA 500.
Barton Malow is serving as the design-builder for the project. In addition to DAYTONA Rising, Barton Malow has renovated the University of Michigan “Big House” and the Rose Bowl.
ROSSETTI, an award-winning architectural design and planning firm for the past 40 years, which headed the design for Ford Field NFL Stadium, University of Notre Dame Compton Family Ice Arena and five Major League Soccer Stadiums, is leading the master planning of the DAYTONA Rising site.
Race fans can follow the progress of the DAYTONA Rising project by visiting www.DAYTONARising.com and connecting with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.
For tickets and more information on Daytona International Speedway events, visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.
About Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is the home of "The Great American Race" - the DAYTONA 500. Though the season-opening NASCAR Sprint Cup event garners most of the attention - as well as the largest audience in motorsports - the approximately 500-acre motorsports complex boasts the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe, thus earning it the title of "World Center of Racing." In addition to eight major weekends of racing activity, rarely a week goes by that the Speedway grounds are not used for events that include civic and social gatherings, car shows, photo shoots, production vehicle testing and police motorcycle training.

Homestead-Miami Speedway: History

Homestead-Miami Speedway:

History

·        Groundbreaking for Homestead-Miami Dade Motorsports Complex – as the track was originally named – began Aug. 24, 1993.

·        The first race held at Homestead-Miami Speedway was a NASCAR Nationwide Series event on Nov. 5, 1995 – won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett.

·        The original configuration was a four-turn, rectangular oval based on Indianapolis Motor Speedway's layout.

·        The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at HMS was held on Nov. 14, 1999 – won by Tony Stewart.

·        2002 was the first season of the “Championship Weekend” at HMS, with all three of NASCAR’s national series holding their season finale at the same track.

Notebook

·        Since the inception of the position-based points system in 1975, only four drivers have made up a points deficit in the season finale: Richard Petty in 1979 (made up two points on Darrell Waltrip), Alan Kulwicki in 1992 (made up 30 points on Davey Allison), Jimmie Johnson in 2010 (made up 15 points on Denny Hamlin) and Tony Stewart in 2011 (made up three points on Carl Edwards). Note: Stewart’s comeback is the only one made under the current one-point-per-position structure.

·        There have been 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Homestead-Miami Speedway, one per season since 1999.

·        110 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup race at HMS; 87 in more than one.

·        Four drivers have started all 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at HMS: Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Bobby Labonte.

·        David Green won the first Coors Light pole at Homestead in 1999 with a speed of 155.759 mph (34.669 sec.).

·        There have been 10 different Coors Light pole winners, led by Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne with two each.

·        Youngest HMS pole winner: Joey Logano (11/18/2012 – 22 years, 5 months, 25 days).

 

·        Oldest HMS pole winner: Bill Elliott (11/11/2001 – 46 years, 1 month, 3 days).

·        Jamie McMurray (November 2003) and David Reutimann (November 2008) won their first career Coors Light poles at HMS.

·        There have been nine different NASCAR Sprint Cup race winners at HMS, three have won more than once, led by Greg Biffle and Tony Stewart with three each. Carl Edwards (two)is the only other driver with multiple wins at Homestead.

·        Of the three drivers with multiple wins at HMS, Tony Stewart is the only driver to win in two different manufacturers: Pontiac (1999, 2000) and Chevrolet (2011).

·        Two of the 14 (14.2%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at HMS have been won from the Coors Light pole: Bill Elliott (2001) and Kurt Busch (2002).

·        Five of the 14 (35.7%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at HMS have been won from the front row: two from the pole and three from second place.

·        Nine of the 14 (64.2%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at HMS have been won from a starting position inside the top 10.

·        Denny Hamlin won the 2009 race from the 38th-place starting position, the furthest back a race winner has started.

·        Two drivers have won consecutive races at HMS: Tony Stewart (1999, 2000 and 2012) and Greg Biffle (2004-2006).

·        Carl Edwards leads the series in average finish at HMS with a 6.0; only two other drivers have an average finish inside the top 10: Kevin Harvick (7.9) and Martin Truex Jr. (9.8).

·        Roush Fenway Racing leads the series in wins at HMS with seven, followed by Joe Gibbs Racing with four.

·        Youngest HMS winner: Kurt Busch (11/17/2002 – 24 years, 3 months, 13 days).

·        Oldest HMS winner: Bill Elliott (11/11/2001 – 46 years, 1 month, 3 days).

·        Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick lead the series in runner-up finishes at HMS with two each.  

·        Jeff Gordon leads the series in top-five finishes at HMS with seven; followed by Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick with five each.

·        Eight of the nine NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers who have won at HMS participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Tony Stewart (1999) is the only driver to win at the track in his first appearance.

·        Jeff Gordon competed at HMS 13 times before winning (2012); the longest span of any the nine winners.

·        Bobby Labonte and Jeff Burton lead the series with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup starts at HMS without visiting Victory Lane with 14.

·        Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at HMS is the (4/10/2010) race won by Greg Biffle with a MOV of 0.017 seconds.

·        Danica Patrick will have the opportunity to become the first female driver to compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at HMS this weekend.

RECORDING ARTIST AND ACTRESS ZENDAYA TO PRESENT ANTHEM

RECORDING ARTIST AND ACTRESS ZENDAYA TO PRESENT ANTHEM 

 AT FORD ECOBOOST 400

Disney Channel star and Dancing with the Stars runner-up to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner”

Miami – Actress and Hollywood Records recording artist Zendaya will present the National Anthem prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship race, the Ford EcoBoost 400, at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, November 17. Homestead-Miami Speedway President Matthew Becherer made the announcement.

Zendaya recently released her self-titled debut full-length album featuring her hit single “Replay.”  She also stars as Raquel “Rocky” Blue, one half of the comedic duo of young dancers trying to dance her way to stardom, in the hit Disney Channel series “Shake It Up!” Zendaya was the break out star and runner-up on Season 16 of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.

“One of the hallmarks of a NASCAR event is the entertainment surrounding the race,” said Becherer.  “Zendaya rounds out an already stellar entertainment lineup and will make the day that much more memorable.  I’m sure she’ll give a stirring rendition of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ that our fans will enjoy.”

The Los Angeles resident has performed around the world, including at the White House and in the 2011 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  She is currently touring select cities with her Z-Swagg Dancers and Singers. Zendaya is also featured on numerous soundtracks including Shake It Up: Break It Down, Shake It Up: Live 2 Dance and Shake It Up: I <3 dance.="" span="">

The green flag for the season-ending race is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on the 17th.  The race will be broadcast live on ESPN-TV, MRN and the SiriusXM NASCAR Channel.

Tickets are going fast for the Ford EcoBoost 400.  Tickets also remain for the other two championship races that are part of Ford Championship Weekend -- Saturday’s Nationwide Series finale, the Ford EcoBoost 300 (Nov. 16), and Friday’s Camping World Truck Series championship, the Ford EcoBoost 200 (Nov. 15).

About Homestead-Miami Speedway

The Speedway has been open since 1995 following an initiative to spur economic recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew.  The 650-acre facility is active more than 280 days per year and will host NASCAR’s championship races during Ford Championship Weekend (November 15-17, 2013) for the 12^th consecutive year.  The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship Ford EcoBoost 400 is broadcast live on TV and radio to 175 countries in 24 languages.  Homestead-Miami Speedway, featuring a 1.5-mile oval and 2.21-mile road course, generates more than $250 million annually for the region.

The 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion will be crowned Sunday, November 17.  The Ford EcoBoost 400 race winner will receive a custom Bay Boat built by industry icon Contender, a Homestead-based company.

HomesteadMiamiSpeedway.com | Facebook.com/HomesteadMiamiSpeedway |@HomesteadMiami | @HMSEspanol |#FordChampWknd

Phoenix International Raceway: History

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 (it was also the first night race), won by Kurt Busch.

·        The track underwent its first repave in 2011. Construction began in March and ended in September of that year.

·        The following changes were made during the construction period (March – September 2011):

o   Widened the frontstretch from 52 to 62 feet

o   Reconfigured pit road with the installation of concrete pit stalls

o   Pushed the dog-leg curve between Turn 2 and Turn 3 out 95 feet

o   Tightened the turn radius of the dog-leg from 800 to 500 feet

o   Implemented variable banking to ensure the immediate use of two racing grooves, including 10-11 degree banking between Turn 1 and Turn 2; 10-11 degree banking in the apex of the dog-leg; and 8-9 degree banking in Turn 4

Notebook

·        There have been 34 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Phoenix International Raceway, one per season from 1988-2004 and two each season since.

·        185 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix; 135 in more than one.

·        Mark Martin leads series in starts at Phoenix with 33; followed by Jeff Gordon and Bobby Labonte with 29 each.

·        Geoffrey Bodine won the first pole in 1988 at a speed of 123.203 mph (29.220 sec.)

·        There have been 19 different Coors Light pole winners, led by Ryan Newman with four.

·        Youngest Phoenix pole winner: Kyle Busch (4/22/06 – 20 years, 11 months, 20 days).

·        Oldest Phoenix pole winner: Mark Martin (03/3/13 – 54 years, 1 month, 22 days).

·        Ryan Newman, Jeff Gordon and Carl Edwards are the only drivers to win consecutive poles. Newman won three straight (2002-04), while Gordon won the fall of 2006 and the spring of 2007. Edwards won the fall of 2010 and spring of 2011.

·        Denny Hamlin (November 2005) and AJ Allmendinger (April 2010) won their first career Coors Light poles at Phoenix International Raceway.

·        There have been 23 different NASCAR Sprint Cup race winners at Phoenix, eight have won more than once, led by Jimmie Johnson, with four – (’07 Chase race, ’08 spring race and Chase race, ’09 Chase race).

·        The eight drivers who have won more than once at Phoenix: Jimmie Johnson (four), Kevin Harvick (three), Davey Allison (two), Jeff Burton (two), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (two), Jeff Gordon (two) Carl Edwards (two) and Mark Martin (two).

·        Of the eight drivers with multiple wins at Phoenix International Raceway, Mark Martin is the only driver to win in two different manufacturers: Ford (1993) and Chevrolet (2009).

·        Four of the 34 (11.7%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Phoenix have been won from the Coors Light pole: Jeff Gordon (spring 2007), Jimmie Johnson (fall 2008), Mark Martin (spring 2009) and Carl Edwards (fall 2010).

·        Seven of the 34 (20.5%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Phoenix have been won from the front row: four from the pole and three from second place.

·        16 of the 34 (47%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Phoenix have been won from a starting position inside the top 10.

·        Ricky Rudd won the 1995 race from the 29th-place starting position, the furthest back a race winner has started.

·        Matt Kenseth won the 2002 race from the 28th-place starting position, the furthest back an active race winner has started.

·        Jimmie Johnson leads the series in average finish at Phoenix with a 6.4; the only other driver with an average finish inside the top 10 is Mark Martin with a 9.4.

·        Five drivers have won consecutive races at Phoenix: Davey Allison (1991,1992); Jeff Burton (2000, 2001); Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2003, 2004); Kevin Harvick (swept 2006); Jimmie Johnson is the only one of the five to win three consecutive races (fall 2007, swept 2008).

·        Hendrick Motorsports leads the series in wins at Phoenix with nine, followed by Roush Fenway Racing with seven.

·        Two perfect Driver Ratings of 150.0 have been recorded at Phoenix, Kurt Busch in April 2005 and Kevin Harvick in November 2006.

·        Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Phoenix International Raceway winner: Kyle Busch (11/13/2005 – 20 years, 6 months, 11 days).

·        Oldest NSCS Phoenix International Raceway winner: Mark Martin (4/18/2009 – 50 years, 3 months, 9 days).

·        Mark Martin leads the series in runner-up finishes at Phoenix with five; followed by Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart with three each.

·        Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson lead the series in top-five finishes at Phoenix with 12 each.

·        Alan Kulwicki (11/6/1988) and Bobby Hamilton (10/27/1996) are the only two drivers to post their first NASCAR Sprint Cup career wins at Phoenix International Raceway.

·        21 of the 23 NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers who have won at Phoenix participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Alan Kulwicki (11/6/1988) and Tony Stewart (11/7/1999) are the only two drivers to win at Phoenix in their first appearance.

·        Jeff Gordon competed at Phoenix International Raceway 16 times before winning (4/21/2007); the longest span of any the 23 winners.

·        Six drivers have made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Phoenix: Jeff Gordon (16), Ryan Newman (15), Kasey Kahne (14), Denny Hamlin (13), Carl Edwards (12) and Rusty Wallace (11).

·        Bobby Labonte leads the series (active drivers) with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup starts at Phoenix without visiting Victory Lane with 29.

·        Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Phoenix was the (4/10/2010) race won by Ryan Newman with a MOV of 0.13 seconds.

·        Two drivers have won at Phoenix and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship in the same season: Jimmie Johnson (2007, 2008 sweep and 2009); Dale Earnhardt (1990).

·        Danica Patrick is the only female driver that has made a NASCAR Sprint Cup start at Phoenix International Raceway.

Driver	Starting Position	Finishing Position	Date
Danica Patrick	37	17	11/11/2012
Danica Patrick	40	39	3/3/2013

·        Car numbers that have produced three or more Phoenix wins: