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.

Notebook: More changes coming to Bristol?

Notebook: More changes coming to Bristol?

Sept. 2, 2012

By Reid Spencer

NASCAR Wire Service

HAMPTON, Ga. -- Bruton Smith, chairman and CEO of Speedway Motorsports Inc., has been weighing feedback from fans and is considering additional changes to the racing surface at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, one of SMI's marquee properties.

Smith, who joined fans in a town-hall-style meeting on Saturday, is considering "tweaking the surface a little bit after watching the replay several more times."

Disappointed with attendance at the March race at the .533-mile short track, Smith commissioned a seven-figure grinding project that shaved two degrees of banking from the top lane of the concrete track.

Far from eliminating the outside groove as a racing option, the top of the track became the fast way around as the third lane rubbered in. The result was an action-filled race that was well received by a broad consensus of competitors and fans alike.

Smith has yet to provide specifics about what additional changes he might consider.

THE GOLD STANDARD

Three gold medalists from the 2012 London Olympics -- DeeDee Trotter (track), Vincent Hancock (skeet shooting) and Jamie Lynn Gray (women's rifle) -- visited Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend.

The best part of the experience for Trotter was a 130-mph ride around the track with pace car driver Brett Bodine.

"I definitely have a need for speed, but that was unheard of," said Trotter, part of the United States' winning 4x400-meter relay team and a bronze medalist in the 400 meters. "I have a whole newfound respect for what it takes to be in NASCAR.

"I was literally screaming the whole ride, and Brett's driving with no hands. He's like, Oh, yeah, what we're doing now is . . .,' and I'm like, 'Brett, put your hands on the wheel, dude.' It was crazy. It was a huge adrenaline rush, and we weren't even going 200 miles an hour."

OFFICE DEPOT DEPARTING

Office Depot will leave its role as a primary sponsor of Tony Stewart's No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet at the end of the season, according to reports on ESPN.com and Foxsports.com.

Team spokesperson Mike Arning indicated Stewart-Haas and Office Depot were discussing other ways in which the company might maintain its involvement with the racing organization.

Office Depot is the primary sponsor in 22 of the defending Cup champion's races this season. Mobil 1, which is returning next year, is the primary sponsor for 16 races.

Arning told Foxsports.com that the decision "came pretty recently, so there's certainly a sense of urgency and a good bit of work that needs to be done between now and the start of next year."

Stewart-Haas also is trying to fill out sponsorship for Ryan Newman in order to re-sign the driver of the No. 39 Chevrolet. The U.S. Army has opted not to renew its partial primary sponsorship of Newman's car next year.

Stewart-Haas also will field a full-time Sprint Cup ride for Danica Patrick next season.