Talladega adding SAFER barrier

Talladega adding SAFER barriers after Kyle Busch crash: Two days after Kyle Busch -- one of NASCAR's biggest stars -- broke his leg and foot in a head-on crash into a concrete wall at Daytona International Speedway, the president of the facility's sister track said more SAFER barriers will be installed before it hosts racing in May. "We'll look at our facility and reassess how we can make it better for the competitors as we've done with the catchfences and other things over the past 20 years," Talladega Superspeedway president Grant Lynch told USA TODAY Sports on Monday. "I think based upon what happened ... there will be a big focus on Talladega," Lynch said. At 2.66 miles, Talladega -- located about 55 miles east of Birmingham, Ala. -- is the biggest oval track in NASCAR and one of the fastest speedways in the world. Violent, multi-car crashes are practically staples of racing at the facility, which hosts two NASCAR weekends each year. Its 2015 dates are May 1-3 and Oct. 23-25. "I think we've put more (SAFER barriers) up than anybody, but that stands to reason because we're the biggest track with the most inside and outside walls," Lynch said. "We're certainly near the top percentage-wise for our company (International Speedway Corp., which owns 12 venues). Lynch said he didn't know what percentage of Talladega's walls is barrier-protected now. "As we've seen unusual wrecks happen, we've added more as we go," he said. "This is another opportunity to say, 'Let's ratchet it up again and take a good, hard look at the safety factors and see where we need it.' "(USA Today)(2-24-2015)

PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY HONORED THREE TIMES BY NASCAR

PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY HONORED THREE TIMES BY NASCAR
PIR marketing, track services and community outreach

recognized by NASCAR in recent weeks

PHOENIX – Phoenix International Raceway was honored twice in recent weeks by NASCAR for outstanding work in the areas of marketing and community outreach. Earlier this year, PIR's 50th Anniversary was named NASCAR's Marketing Campaign of the Year and the PIR Track Services team received NASCAR's Track Services Teamwork Award; and today, PIR Communications Manager Greg Fresquez received NASCAR's Industry Ambassador Award.

"It's gratifying to see our team members be recognized for the great work that they do," said PIR President Bryan R. Sperber. "We talk a lot as a staff about the idea that we are stewards for the sport, and these awards are great examples of that stewardship in action. I am incredibly proud of our whole team, and these honors are just a small sample of the great work that they all do all year long."

PIR's 50th Anniversary was a year-long campaign that involved every facet of the organization and included a wide variety of fan touchpoints. Director of Consumer Marketing and Partnership Activation Kristie Maggs and Sr. Manager of Consumer Marketing Brianne Burrowes accepted the award on behalf of the PIR staff at NASCAR's annual Marketing and Communications Summit in Charlotte on January 31.

Some of the highlights of PIR's 50th Anniversary campaign included the special commemorative logo; a world-record 50-plane flyover prior to The Profit on CNBC 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on March 2, 2014; special events featuring The Phoenix Symphony and the West Valley Fine Arts Center; and Memory Lane, a historical exhibit at the race track which featured classic race cars and memorabilia with connections to the track. 

The PIR Track Services team was recognized for their work throughout the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 weekend November. Director of Operations Brett Adams accepted the award on behalf of his team at the 2015 NASCAR Summit in Charlotte on January 13.

The Track Services Teamwork Award recognizes the track staff that best exemplifies a collaborative mindset while dealing with the challenges that occur during a race weekend. PIR's staff was specifically cited for its excellent communication with NASCAR and the drivers, race teams and industry stakeholders, as well as with the race fans in Phoenix, during the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 weekend.

Fresquez was recognized as NASCAR's Industry Ambassador for his tireless work in engaging the Phoenix-area Hispanic community with NASCAR and in promoting the Toyota 120 NASCAR Mexico Series race at PIR. He accepted the award from International Speedway Corporation CEO Lesa France Kennedy at the NASCAR Diversity Awards Luncheon today in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Fresquez, a Valley native with a passion for racing, has developed strong relationships with a number of leaders within the Phoenix Hispanic community, including elected officials, educators, business owners, professional sports organizations and media members. The relationships he has cultivated within the NASCAR Mexico Series have resulted in multiple in-market appearances by Mexico Series drivers over the last two years to promote the sport and the Toyota 120. 

About Phoenix International Raceway

Since 1964, Phoenix International Raceway has been the premier motorsports venue in the Southwest. As the only track in the West to have two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekends a year, PIR will kick off its 2015 NASCAR season with the CampingWorld.com 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekend March 13-15. The season concludes with the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekend Nov. 13-15. Season tickets are available by visiting PhoenixRaceway.com or calling 866-408-RACE (7223).

NASCAR'S CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES RETURNING TO ATLANTA

NASCAR'S CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES RETURNING TO ATLANTA IN RARE DOUBLEHEADER

HAMPTON, Ga. (Feb. 16, 2015) – The last time the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series raced at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Ty Dillon won the pole, led 40 laps and went on to claim his first ever victory in a national NASCAR touring series race. That was in 2012. Fast forward to 2015, and Dillon will look to defend his title as the Camping World Truck Series returns to the 1.5-mile track for the first time in three seasons on Saturday, Feb. 28.
But before he does that, he’ll attempt to add his second career XFINITY Series victory on the same day, on the same track.
The NASCAR XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series twin bill will be the first scheduled same-day doubleheader involving NASCAR’s national racing series since 2009. It will be a jam-packed day of on-track racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a rare opportunity for NASCAR fans to get twice the racing for their money.
For fans, it’s an opportunity to take in two races with the price of a single ticket. Adult admission for both races starts at just $40, while kids age 17 and under and students with a valid student ID will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult.
For Dillon, it’s a chance to capitalize on momentum from 2014, in which he had 24 top-10 finishes and a win in his first season driving full-time in the NASCAR XFINITY Series.
“I’m in for both of them,” said Dillon, who will run a limited schedule in the Camping World Truck Series for GMS Racing in 2015. “It’s going to be a great day. It’s going to be a long day, but Atlanta is a race track that I love. I got my first win there, and we ran really well there (in the NASCAR XFINITY Series) last year.”
Dillon ran his first ever Sprint Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2014 and will look to use that experience to his advantage as he settles in behind the wheel for the 450 miles of the single-day doubleheader.
“Getting that first Cup start at Atlanta, a place that I really love racing, it’s very helpful to me as far as going back this year,” he said. “I have the knowledge of running a 500-mile race there, and when we go back with the XFINITY Series and the Truck Series, I’ll have so much more experience and knowledge of the race track and the speed."

With two races in a matter of hours, preparation will be key for drivers’ success. While outside temperatures won’t be quite as high as last August’s race in Atlanta, the strain of two races in rapid succession can take a toll on a driver both mentally and physically.
“Stay hydrated. That’s probably going to be my main focus,” said Dillon of the necessary preparations for double duty racing. “I’ve been really working out hard this off-season to make sure I’m in shape to run as many races as I plan on running this year.”
The XFINITY Series’ Hisense 250 will kick off NASCAR’s second weekend of racing of the 2015 season in Atlanta with a 2 p.m. start time on Saturday, Feb. 28. The Camping World Truck Series will make its Atlanta return for the first time since 2012 under the lights shortly thereafter to cap off a full day of cars on the track that will start with XFINITY Series qualifying just after 9 a.m.
“I’m looking forward the opportunity that we’re going to have and possibly winning two races in one day,” said Dillon, who turns 23 the day before the doubleheader. “So that’s going to be a great weekend.”
Schedule for Saturday, Feb. 28 at Atlanta Motor Speedway

9 a.m.	NASCAR XFINITY Series qualifying
10:40 a.m.	NASCAR Camping World Truck Series qualifying
12 p.m.	NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice
2 p.m.	Hisense 250 XFINITY Series race
5:30 p.m.	NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Atlanta 200 race

For more information or to purchase tickets today, call the AMS ticket office at (770) 946-4211, (877) 9-AMS-TIX or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.