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| News & Views – Volume 31 For the week of June 18 – 24, 2012 |
“Man, this is incredible. I just didn’t know when it would happen. I knew it was going to happen, just didn’t know when.” – Dale Earnhardt Jr after winning the Quicken Loans 400 and breaking his 143 race win-less streak.
Well the wait is over, with Dale Earnhardt Jr’s win on Sunday in Michigan. Ironically, he broke his win-less streak during the four-year anniversary of his last win, also at Michigan International Speedway on June 15, 2008.
As each race weekend brings the season closer to the Chase, fans can’t help but wonder if this will be the year Dale Jr. wins his first championship? Earnhardt now sits in second place in the point standings only 4-points away from points leader Matt Kenseth.
Next weekend the Sprint Cup drivers travel across the country to Sonoma for their first road course race of the season on Sunday, June 24th. The Nationwide Series teams will head to Road America for their race on Saturday afternoon, June 23rd. And the Camping World Truck series teams will return to the track on Thursday, June 28th at Kentucky Speedway.
Let’s begin with news for today…
Sunday, June 24, 2012
2012 NSCS Toyota/Save Mart 350 Race Results
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| Bowyer celebrates 1st road course victory at Sonoma Photo – Chris Graythen/Getty Images |
Under a green-white-checkered – flags – restart to the finish, it was Clint Bowyer dominating the first NSCS road course event of the season, as he wins the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma over second-place finisher, Tony Stewart – finishing 0.829-seconds behind.
Bowyer, who led the most laps – 71 of the 112 laps that were run, received his first series win of the 2012 season, his sixth career win and his first series win at Sonoma – the track formerly known as Infineon Raceway/Sears Point Raceway.
With all the troubles that Kurt Busch has been associated with for the last 8 months, Busch brough the struggling Phoenix Racing and James Finch team, a respectable third-place finish, and was followed by Brian Vickers finishing fourth and Jimmie Johnson finishing fifth.
Outside pole-sitter, Jeff Gordon, finished in the sixth position, while Greg Biffle – who moves into 2nd in the series point standings, behind Matt Kenseth – finished seventh, pole-sitter Marcos Ambrose eighth, AJ Allmendinger ninth and Joey Logano rounding out the top-ten finishing positions.
Race Notes
Average Speed – 83.624-mph
Time of Race – 2 Hrs, 29 mins, 55 secs.
Margin of Victory – 0.829-seconds
Lead Changes – 8 among 5 drivers
Cautions – 2 for 7 laps
Attendance – 91,000
Race Results
Point Standings
Next Up – It’s Saturday night racing on June 30th at Kentucky Speedway with the 2nd annual Quaker State 400 and the green flag should drop at approximately 7:50pm ET and TNT will continue their television coverage beginning with their 6:30pm ET “Countdown to Green” pre-race show.
From Timing & Scoring provided by NASCARmedia
No. 29 Budweiser Racing Team visits US Olympic complex
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| No. 29 Budweiser Racing team at the US Olympic Complex Photo – Budweiser Racing |
Following a two-day test session at High Plains Raceway, located 60 miles east of Denver, members of the No. 29 Budweiser Racing team, traveled to Colorado Springs, CO, to visit the US Olympic Complex on Thursday. The facility serves as the flagship training center for the US Olympic Committee – USOC – and the Olympic Training Center – OTC – programs.
The day kicked off with breakfast in the dining hall with Corey Cogdel, a bronze medalist in women’s trap shooting in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, and Myles Porter, a Paralympic judo fighter. Both are scheduled to travel to London in the coming weeks to represent Team USA in the 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games.
Following breakfast the No. 29 Budweiser Racing team members visited the fencing gym where they learned the basics of the sport from Dennis Bowsher, a member of the US Army who will represent Team USA in the Modern Pentathlon competition in London, as well as Jimmy Moody, a fencing training partner, and Andras Horanyi. Once the guys had the basics down they split into teams and squared off in one-on-one competition against one another.
“The trip to the OSOC facility was a great experience,” said Chad Haney, car chief on the No. 29 Budweiser Racing team. “It really put into perspective everything the athletes go through for the opportunity to represent our country in the Olympics. The fencing activity was a lot more fun than I imagined it would be. I wasn’t really sure how it’d go when we got there, but afterward that’s all we talked about all afternoon.”
After the fencing competition the team members toured the OTC facility and made a stop at the sports science center where they got to test out training equipment and learn more about the technology involved with performance analysis. Many of the guys took a turn running on the Alter-G treadmill, a piece of equipment used primarily in the rehabilitation of athletes with lower body injuries as it alters the forces of gravity so the athletes experience lower impact forces when running.
As the No. 29 team members took turns riding the Wattbike they received pointers to improve their pedaling technique and efficiency from USOC High Performance Director Scott Schnitzpahn. The USA Triathlon team uses the computer-based system extensively to help their athletes improve their cycle mechanics in an effort to make them as efficient as possible.
USOC High Performance Director Dr. Scott Riewald demonstrated how video footage is used to enhance athlete performance leading up to and during the Olympic Games in the video technologies lab. One of the systems the athletes utilize is Dartfish video analysis software, which is also used by NASCAR teams to dissect their on-track performance in comparison to the competition every weekend.
“it was amazing to see some of the technology that goes into their training and to see what the athletes are doing as they prepare to leave for London,” said No. 29 team crew chief Shane Wilson. “And it was interesting to learn they use some of the same software we work with at the track every weekend.”
The team members visited the weight room, the wrestling facility and the indoor shooting range before leaving the US Olympic Complex to travel to California for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the road course in Sonoma.
From Elevation Group of Companies for Budweiser Racing- PR
Jeff Gordon’s fire tempered by wisdom
Perhaps this is where the toughest racing season of Jeff Gordon’s NASCAR life turns around.
Six weeks shy of his 41st birthday, Gordon spent the first 14 years of his life in Vallejo, CA, just a few miles east of the Sonoma race track where he will start second in Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 Sprint Cup race.
Read more from That’s Racin
NASCAR’s guardian angels
During a NASCAR Sprint Cup race, a driver and his crew have to operate in tandem. But there’s a third element in the operation, a man with binoculars and a radio that he uses to give the driver instructions.
A spotter is stock-car racing’s eyes in the sky. He helps keep his driver safe as well as competitive. His is the constant voice in the driver’s ears.
Read more from SFGate
Junior most revered man in NASCAR
Dale Earnhardt Jr had finished practicing Friday morning. John Matuska, 32 was waiting for Earnhardt as the driver made his way from the garage to his hauler. Matuska held a cap out for Earnhardt asked for an autograph. Earnhardt went past Matuska without saying a word. Matuska’s response said more about Earnhardt than Earnhardt wold ever say about himself.
Read more from Press Democrat
Bump by Jacques Villeneuve leaves Danica Patrick unhappy with finish
Danica Patrick can’t seem to avoid controversy with Penske Racing drivers, but Saturday the contact had nothing to do with Sam Hornish Jr and everything to do with former Formula One racer Jacques Villeneuve.
Patrick, whose fourth-place finish last year at Las Vegas was the highest for a female in a NASCAR national series, was battling for fourth when a soft tap from Villeneuve into the rear of her car sent Patrick into the gravel on the final lap of the Sargento 200 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI.
Read more from Sporting News
Saturday, June 23, 2012
2012 NNS Sargento 200 Race Results
From the pole to victory lane, Nelson Piquet Jr leads the most laps and most importantly the last lap, as he wins his first NNS career race with the 2012 Sargento 200 victory at Elkhart Lake’s (WI) Road America road course.
Coming in 2.258-seconds behind Piquet – who let 19 of the 50 laps – for second-place was Michael McDowell, and they were followed by Ron Fellows finishing third, Max Papis fourth and Sam Hornish Jr, finishing in fifth.
Rounding out the top-ten finishing positions were Jacques Villeneuve finishing sixth, Brian Scott seventh, Kurt Busch eighth, NNS Rookie of the Year contender, Cole Whitt ninth and Justin Allgaier finished in the top-ten position.
The current points leader, Elliott Sadler, finished 15th and leads Austin Dillon – who finished 18th – by 11-points in the series standings.
Race Notes
Average Speed – 85.171-mph
Time of Race – 02 Hrs, 22 mins, 35 secs.
Margin of Victory – 2.258-seconds
Lead Changes – 9 among 8 drivers
Cautions – 5 for 8 laps
Attendance – 56,000
Race Results
Point Standings
Next Up – The 12th annual Feed the Children 300 at Kentucky Speedway on Friday, June 29th, with an approximate start of 7:50pm ET and television coverage provided by ESPN beginning with their 7:00pm ET pre-race program.
From Timing & Scoring provided by NASCARmedia
2012 NSCS Toyota/Save Mart 350 Final Practice Session Speeds
Jeff Gordon, who is starting on the outside pole for Sunday’s 2012 NSCS Toyota/Save Mart 350, ran a lap speed of 93.225-mph, to post the fastest speed during the final practice session – and sweeping all three practice sessions – on the Sonoma road course.
Posting the second fastest laps speed of 93.202-mph, was Greg Biffle, and he was followed by Juan Pablo Montoya 93.075-mph who was third fastest, Jimmie Johnson 92.995 fourth and AJ Allmendinger 92.992 was fifth fastest.
Rounding out the top-ten fastest during the “Happy Hour” – final – practice session were Denny Hamlin 92.991-mph sixth fastest, Carl Edwards 92.952 seventh fastest, Martin Truex Jr 92.944 eighth, Kasey Kahne 92.897 ninth and Kyle Busch 92.833 posting the tenth fastest lap speed.
The 24th annual Toyota/Save Mart 350 is scheduled to get underway Sunday afternoon at approximately 3:20 pm ET with TNT’s television coverage beginning with their “Countdown to Green” pre-race program at 3:00pm ET.
Final Practice Speeds
From Timing & Scoring provided by NASCARmedia
2012 NSCS Toyota/Save Mart 350 Second Practice Session Speeds
Jeff Gordon, with a lap speed of 94.312-mph, posted the quickest speed during the NSCS Toyota/Save Mart 250 practice session at the road course at Sonoma.
Pole-sitter Marcos Ambrose was second quickest with a lap speed of 93.381-mph, and was followed by AJ Allmendinger 93.342-mph who was third quickest, Juan Pablo Montoya 93.287 fourth and Brad Keselowski 93.244 was the fifth quickest.
Rounding out the top-ten quickest during the practice session were Kyle Busch 93.210-mph who was sixth quickest, Jimmie Johnson 93.181 seventh, Martin Truex Jr 93.084 eighth, Clint Bowyer 93.032 ninth and Jamie McMurray 92.971 posting the tenth quickest laps speed.
The teams will have their “Happy Hour” – final – practice session this afternoon from 1:45 to 3:00pm ET – will be tape-delayed by SPEED at 11:00pm ET – and then return on Sunday for the 3:20pm ET approximate start of the Toyota/Save Mart 350. TNT will continue their television coverage beginning with their 2:00pm ET “Countdown to Green” pre-race show.
Second Practice Speeds
From Timing & Scoring provided by NASCARmedia
Sonoma Spells Trouble
Virtually no one will be surprised if a driver – or multiple drivers – gets a bumper from behind and is spun out on the first – especially the last – lap of Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma.
Road-course racing is the new short-track racing, it seems.
Read more from SPEED
Robby Gordon – Sonoma likely last Cup race of 2012
Robby Gordon’s Sprint Cup season could come to a close Sunday on the 1.99-mile road course at Sonoma.
Gordon, a driver/owner who went to 2012’s first five races before keeping his cars at home because of lack of money, said Friday that the Sonoma race is the only one he has a sponsor for the rest of the season.
Read more from Sporting News
2012 NASCAR Weather Forecast at Road America – Possible Pop Up Storm
Should be partly sunny and mostly dry for Nationwide race day at Road America. The only area of concern is the possibility of a few pop up storms or showers in the afternoon. Temperatures will be in the upper 70s.
Read more from WX-Man
2012 NNS Sargento 200 Starting Lineup
Nelson Piquet Jr, with a qualifying lap speed of 109.516-mph – a new series track record, previously held by Michael McDowell from last year with a speed of 109.381-mph – received his first NNS career pole by capturing the 2012 NNS Sargento 200 Coors Light Pole Award at the Road America road course.
Starting second on the outside pole with a qualifying lap speed of 109.258-mph, will be last year’s pole-sitter, Michael McDowell, and he will be followed by “road course ringers” Ron Fellows 109.044-mph, Jacques Villeneuve 109.020 and Max Papis 108.916 starting third, fourth and fifth respectively.
Rounding out the top-ten starting positions will be Brian Scott 108.596-mph starting sixth, Justin Allgaier 108.499 seventh, Sam Hornish Jr 108.383 eighth, Miguel Paludo 108.223 ninth and Danica Patrick 108.207 will start from the tenth position.
With only 43 drivers/teams attempting to fill the 43 starting positions, there was no one who failed to make the starting lineup.
The 3rd annual Sargento 200 at Road America is scheduled to get underway around 3:50pm ET this afternoon, and ESPN will provide television coverage beginning with their 3:00pm ET pre-race show.
Starting Lineup
From Timing & Scoring provided by NASCARmedia
Friday, June 22, 2012
2012 NSCS Toyota/Save Mart 350 Starting Lineup
For the second consecutive weekend Marcos Ambrose finds himself on the pole, as he qualifies with a lap speed of 95.262-mph, to capture the 2012 NSCS Toyota/Save Mart 350 Coors Light Pole Award on the road course at Sonoma.
This was Ambrose’s second series pole of the 2012 season, his second series career pole and his first series pole at Sonoma.
Sharing the front row with Ambrose to start second with a qualifying lap speed of 95.057-mph, will be Jeff Gordon, followed by Jimmie Johnson 94.795-mph who will start third, Greg Biffle 94.722 fourth and Martin Truex Jr 94.686 will start fifth.
Rounding out the top-ten starting positions will be Clint Bowyer 94.679-mph starting sixth, Kyle Busch 94.632 seventh, Kurt Busch 94.557 eighth, Matt Kenseth 94.524 ninth and Ryan Newman 94.509 will start from the tenth position.
Failing to make the starting lineup was the #30 driven by Brian Simo.
The teams will return Saturday for two more practice sessions at 12:30 to 1:15pm and “Happy Hour” at 1:45 to 3pm ET before returning on Sunday for the 24th annual Toyota/Save Mart 350 – which is scheduled to get underway at approximately 3:20pm ET. Television coverage will be provided by TNT beginning with their 2:00pm ET pre-race show.
Starting Lineup
From Timing & Scoring provided by NASCARmedia
2012 NNS Sargento 200 Final Practice Session Speeds
“Mad Max” Papis, with a lap speed of 109.282-mph, showed the fastest way around Road America during the final NNS Sargento 200 practice session.
Second fastest with a lap speed of 108.026-mph, was Michael McDowell, followed by Nelson Piquet Jr 107.868-mph who was third fastest, Jacques Villeneuve 107.853 fourth and Sam Hornish Jr 107.180 was fifth fastest.
Rounding out the top-ten fastest during the “Happy Hour” – final – practice session were Ron Fellows 107.110-mph who was sixth fastest, Danica Patrick 106.901 seventh, current series points leader Elliott Sadler 106.756 eighth, while NNS Rookie of the Year contender, Cole Whitt 106.659 and Austin Dillon 106.614 posting the ninth and tenth fastest lap speeds respectively.
The teams will return to the track Saturday morning for their 10:10am ET scheduled qualifying session to determine the starting lineup for that afternoon’s race – which is set to get underway around 3:50pm ET. ESPN will provide television coverage of the race beginning with their 3:00pm ET pre-race show.
Final Practice Session Speeds
From Timing & Scoring provided by NASCARmedia
Obama Campaign Appreciates NHMS/Gappens Invite, but Respectfully Declines
President Barack Obama’s Campaign notified New Hampshire Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Jerry Gappens late this afternoon that while it appreciates Gappens’ “generous offer” to attend next month’s LENOX Industrial Tools 301, they must respectfully decline.
“Obviously we’re disappointed Mr. Obama won’t be able to join us for the largest sporting event in New England, but certainly understand his hectic schedule,” said Gappens. “We were giving him a sincere opportunity to get in the ‘Fast Lane’ of his Presidential Campaign here in the political savvy state of New Hampshire. Maybe he’ll return the gesture and allow me to check out Air Force One!”
Gappens decided to raffle off President Obama’s unused tickets with proceeds going to the Speedway Children’s Charities. Details on how fans can obtain the tickets will be released on Monday.
Obama Campaign’s Official Statement from New Hampshire State Director Pete Kavanaugh:
“Thank you Jerry for your generous offer. New Hampshire Motor Speedway has a proud history, and while the President will not be able to attend, we certainly appreciate the offer.
“The President is a supporter of NASCAR and an advocate for the American auto industry. Under his leadership he made the bold decision to rescue the auto industry, resulting in a resurgence of American manufacturing jobs that are restoring economic security. The auto rescue saved a million jobs up and down the supply chain. In New Hampshire alone 23,000 jobs depend on the vibrancy of the auto industry, and today, the American auto industry has never looked more vibrant. GM is once again the world’s top car maker. The auto industry added more than 230,000 jobs since June 2009, and 2011 was the strongest year of industry job growth since 1994.
“This is a stark contrast with our opponent in this race who advocated that we ‘let Detroit go bankrupt’ when the auto industry was on the brink of collapse.
“Our campaign is focused on getting the middle class to victory lane. As you get ready to drop the green flag for another great race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, we thank you again for your offer, and I can assure you that supporters of the President will be there in force.”
From New Hampshire Motor Speedway-PR
2012 NNS Sargento 200 First Practice Session Speeds
“Road course ringer,” Jacques Villeneuve, with a lap speed of 109.107-mph, was the quickest during the first NNS Sargento 200 practice session at Elkhart Lake’s (WI) Road America.
Second quickest with a lap speed of 108.581-mph, was Nelson Piquet Jr, followed by Max Papis 107.763-mph who was third quickest, Michael McDowell 107.502 fourth and Ron Fellows 107.374 was fifth quickest.
Rounding out the top-ten quickest during the practice session were Sam Hornish Jr 107.090-mph who was sixth quickest, Miguel Paludo 107.036 seventh, Justin Allgaier 106.865 eighth, Brian Scott 106.761 ninth and NNS Rookie of the Year contender Jason Bowles 106.525 posting the tenth quickest lap speed.
The teams will have their “Happy Hour” – final – practice session later this afternoon from 4:30 – 6:00pm ET before returning Saturday morning at 10:15am ET for qualifying to determine that afternoon’s race lineup – which is set to get underway around 3:50pm ET. ESPN will provide television coverage beginning with their 3:00pm ET pre-race program.
First Practice Speeds
Qualifying Order
From Timing & Scoring provided by NASCARmedia
2012 NSCS Toyota/Save Mart 350 First Practice Session Speeds
Jeff Gordon, with a lap speed of 94.696-mph, was the fastest during the first NSCS Toyota/Save Mart 350 practice session at the road course at Sonoma – formerly known as Infineon Raceway.
Martin Truex Jr, was second fastest with a lap speed of 94.471-mph, and was followed by Clint Bowyer 94.440-mph who was third fastest, Joey Logano 94.387 fourth and Kyle Busch 94.348 was fifth fastest.
Rounding out the top-ten fastest during the practice session were Ryan Newman 94.341-mph who was sixth fastest, Marcos Ambrose 94.314 seventh, David Gilliland 94.293 eighth, Kurt Busch 94.291 ninth and Jimmie Johnson 94.284 posting the tenth fastest lap speed.
Weather permitting, the teams will return this evening – or afternoon on the west coast – for their 6:40pm – TV Taped-Delayed by SPEED at 11:00pm ET – scheduled qualifying session,** and then return Saturday for two more practice sessions – 12:30 – 1:15pm and “Happy Hour” 1:45 – 3:00pm ET.
The 24th annual Toyota/Save Mart 350 is scheduled to get underway Sunday, June 24th, at approximately 3:30pm ET with Television coverage provided by TNT beginning with their 2:00pm ET pre-race show.
First Practice Speeds
Qualifying Order
From Timing & Scoring provided by NASCARmedia
Plane crash that injured Jack Roush attributed to pilot error
The National Transportation Safety Board has concluded that the 2010 plane crash in which team owner Jack Roush was injured was caused by pilot error.
The NTSB released Friday its determination of probable cause in Roush’s July 27, 2010 crash at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, WI. The report confirmed Roush’s version of what happened – that he was concerned about a plane taking off on the same runway where he was landing, causing him to ground-loop his airplane.
Read more from Sporting News
Robby Gordon Returns to NSCS Action at the Road Course at Sonoma
Robby Gordon returns to NASCAR Sprint Cup competition this weekend at Sonoma Raceway in the No. 7 MAPEI/SPEED Energy Dodge Charger. Gordon has been busy during his break from stock car racing; he has competed in several off-road races and posted wins at The Mint 400, The Parker 425 and The Silver State 300. Also, most recently announced the return of stadium truck racing – Robby Gordon’s Stadium SUPER trucks – resurrecting what was once Mickey Thompson’s vision.
Last time Gordon and his team were on a road course was the NASCAR Nationwide Series in Montreal, where they lead several laps in the No. 77 MAPEI/SPEED Energy Dodge Charger. They are excited to get back to road course racing and have been busy preparing a car that they hope will have what it takes to win at Sonoma Raceway, a track where Gordon is not a stranger to victory lane.
Winner of the 2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Sonoma, Gordon will be making his 15th start at the 1.99-mile road course. He has also recorded three top-five and four top-ten finishes.
“Even though I have been out of the NASCAR scene for about three months, we have been extremely busy with off-road racing and the introduction of SST. We tested the No. 7 MAPEI/SPEED Energy car last week in South Carolina and look forward to competing with the regular NSCS group this weekend. Sonoma is a fun race track, and we have had great results there so I am looking forward to putting on a good show for our fans,” says Gordon.
Riding along with Gordon on the No. 7 Dodge Charger will be long-time sponsor, MAPEI. “MAPEI has been a great partner and supporter of our racing programs since 2006. I’m excited to have them back with us this weekend; we’ve got a lot of fun things planned for their employees and customers during the course of the weekend.”
Robby will be signing autographs at the Robby Gordon Motorsports/SPEED Energy merchandise trailer on Sunday, June 24th from 8:45 to 9:45am local time.
From Robby Gordon Motorsports-PR
Kentucky State Police will lead Speedway Traffic Plan
Kentucky State Police – KSP – outlined it’s parking and traffic management plan for Kentucky Speedway’s June 28-30 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series “Quaker State 400” weekend during a news conference Thursday.
The plan will make full use of infrastructure projects completed by the State of Kentucky, Kentucky Speedway and Speedway Motorsports, Inc, that widened the Interstate 71 exit ramp to Kentucky Highway 35 to three lanes, expanded KY Hwy 35 to seven lanes, yielded parking for an estimated 20,000 additional vehicles and constructed a pedestrian tunnel which connects 170 acres of Ford Parking to the original speedway property.
Captain Dean Hayes, Trooper Brad Arterbum, Trooper Michael Webb presented the plan which calls for KSP to control all parking operations, station a trooper in each parking lot and direct 300 attendants employed by a new parking service contracted by Kentucky Speedway.
KSP will additionally manage “Quaker State 400” traffic by establishing a contraflow lane on northbound I-71 which will allow non-event traffic traveling southbound to safely bypass the speedway and decrease the potential for delays. State police will additionally divert as much commercial traffic as possible from I-71 to Interstate 64 and Interstate 75 with highway signage.
Speedway guests traveling southbound on I-71 will be directed to Exit 56 where police will utilize cones, signs and six lanes of KY Hwy. 35 to funnel traffic into new Ford Parking areas created on 170 acres of land just east of the speedway as well as lots accessible from Kentucky Speedway Entrance 3. Traffic traveling northbound on I-71 will access new and original Kentucky Speedway parking lots via I-71 Exit 55, state route 1039 and the venue’s Speedway Blvd.
All traffic entering the venue from access roads will be parked simultaneously.
“Each car will be directed to a specific location in each parking lot. Our goal is to keep a constant vehicular movement in each open parking lot. Our team is committed to getting this right and we will,” Hayes said.
KSP and Kentucky Speedway will utilize a media mix of local outlets, roadside message boards, Facebook and Twitter to provide fans traffic updates every 30 minutes or as necessary on “Quaker State 400” race day.
Fans will be able to follow @kystatepolice and @KySpeedway on Twitter along with finding “Kentucky State Police” and “Kentucky Speedway” on Facebook. Fans within five miles of the track can tune to information radio 1620 AM.
Following the “Quaker State 400” exterior traffic will be held 30 minutes to allow pedestrians to safely return to their vehicles. Infield traffic will be held 90 minutes to reduce congestion.
KSP encourages “Quaker State 400” guests to leave early to avoid delays; be conscious that delays are possible as is the case with any major public or sporting event; exercise patience; avoid aggressive driving habits; maintain awareness of thousands of pedestrians near the speedway; and use extra caution when returning home.
The “Quaker State 400” anchors the upcoming event weekend that opens Thursday, June 18 with the Camping World Truck Series “UNOH 225” and continues Friday, June 29 with the Nationwide Series “Feed The Children 300.”
Tickets, campsites and daily infield Fan Zone passes for all events can be purchased by visiting the “Tickets” page at KentuckySpeedway.com, calling 859-578-2300 or visiting the Kentucky Speedway corporate offices at 1 Speedway Drive, Sparta, KY, 41086 just off Interstate 71, Exit 57 and the newly-expanded, seven-lane Kentucky Highway 35.
From Kentucky Speedway-PR
President Obama invited to New Hampshire NASCAR race
Since President Barack Obama plans to hit the campaign trail in New Hampshire Monday, New Hampshire Motor Speedway President Jerry Gappens figures the president might as well stop at the track and pick up his tickets for the July 15 NASCAR race.
Read more from Sporting News
Watkins Glen International unveils new NASCAR trophy
After the dissolution of Steuben Glass Works which created the Riesbeck Cup for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners at Watkins Glen International, track officials turned to the Corning Museum of Glass for a new trophy. Eric Meek stepped in and provided one of the most unique and elegant awards in NASCAR.
Read more and see the trophy at The Leader
Michael Waltrip, Joe Gibbs teams concerned about Toyota engines
Michael Waltrip Racing officials admit that they are concerned about a rash of engine problems that have plagued Toyota teams in recent weeks.
JGR gets their engines from Toyota Racing Development, which builds the engines at TRD in California and ships them to Gibbs. MWR’s engines come from the TRD-Gibbs program.
Read more from Sporting News
Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma featured on Betty Crocker Packing
The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma will be featured on six Betty Crocker packages at all Kroeger stores around the United States as part of the “Bake for a Better Tomorrow” campaign. Packaging will be in stores beginning June 19.
The special-edition packaging features NASCAR owner Richard Childress and his wife Judy Childress, co-founders of the Childress Institute, as well as Jeff Burton driver of the No. 31 Wheaties Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
“Betty Crocker is all about family and great recipes and is proud to support the Childress Institute,” said Kelly Kaiser with General Mills. “We are donating $15,000 to the Childress Institute to support this cause very near and dear to our friend Richard Childress’ heart.”
“The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma is grateful to General Mills and their Betty Crocker brand for helping us raise awareness about the No. 1 killer of children in America,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing and co-founder of the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma. “More than 12,000 kids die every year from serious injuries, which is more than all other causes combined. No matter the age of the child, or the cause of injury, The Childress Institute wants to help all children have a better tomorrow by promoting a model level of care from the point of injury through treatment and recovery.”
The Childress Institute is thanking fans for their support by launching the Race Weekend Sweepstakes. The winner will receive a weekend travel package for two to the Cup race on October 7, 2012, including plane tickets, garage passes, tickets in the stands, and hotel accommodations. The approximate retail value of the Grand Prize is $3,000.
To enter, visit the Childress Institute on Twitter @injuredkids, on facebook.com/ChildressPediatricTrauma or online at ChildressPediatricTrauma.org. The sweepstakes will run from June 19 through July 31, 2012, and the winner will be selected and notified by August 7, 2012.
“General Mills is an outstanding partner in racing and they are just as passionate about improving the lives of children,” said Burton. “My wife Kim and I are proud to support the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma through the ‘Bake for a Better Tomorrow’ campaign.”
In addition to learning more about the Childress Institute, consumers can enter for a chance to win a $500 Kroger Gift Card and also download recipes at bakeforabettertomorrow.com Visit kroger.com to locate a Kroger store to purchase Betty Crocker products in support of the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma.
From Richard Childress Racing-PR
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Tune in to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race from Sonoma
Now, you can tune in to the weekend’s PRN broadcast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series from Sonoma from almost anywhere in the world online or on any iPhone, iPod, iPad, Android or Smartphone.
Fans just need to visit GoPRN.com and click on the “listen here” live streaming icon.
This weekend’s broadcast of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway represents the fifth weekend of races that will be available free via the PRN network. The response has been incredible, with fans tuning in online from all 50 states and 63 countries. In addition, millions of fans listen on more than 400 PRN affiliate stations and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio – Channel 90. A complete list of PRN stations with their links can be found on GoPRN.com.
The online and radio station broadcast schedule includes – all times are ET:
Friday, June 22 – 6:30pm Sonoma Sprint Cup Qualifying Updates exclusively on PRN
Sunday, June 24 – 2pm WIX Pre-Race Show and Toyota/Save Mart 350 Broadcast
“The NASCAR world is still buzzing over the Dale Earnhardt Jr win at Michigan, so we expect interest to be high for this week’s action,” said Doug Rice, president of the Performance Racing Network. “It allows us to bring NASCAR fans closer to the racing experience and the stars that they love. This is a great way for PRN to expand our race coverage for race fans. We’re proud to be able to offer this new addition to our race lineup.”
The PRN lineup will feature Doug Rice and Mark Garrow anchoring from the booth while a trio of turn announcers will call the action around the 1.99-mile road course. Brad Gillie and Pat Patterson will be stationed in the hills and Rob Albright will be in the always exciting Turn 11. Pit road will be covered by Jim Noble, Steve Richards, Brett McMillan and Wendy Venturini.
From Performance Racing Network-PR
2012 NASCAR Weather Forecast at Road America – Mostly Dry
It looks like a mostly dry weekend for Road America and the NASCAR Nationwide Series race. The only area of concern is for a few pop up storms Saturday and Sunday. The forecast looks dry but, and I am not expecting much or any problems from rain, but it’s worth a mention.
Read more from WX-Man
2012 NASCAR Weather Forecast at Sonoma – Sunny Skies
It is going to be a pleasant weekend for NASCAR out at Race Sonoma. The only weather “problems” this weekend will be morning fog this morning and Friday morning. Outside of that sunshine and clouds with pleasant afternoon temperatures in the 70s.
Read more from WX-Man
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
NASCAR makes aerodynamic changes to enhance passing
NASCAR has increased the ground clearance of the side skirts on Sprint Cup cars again in hopes of improving the aerodynamics of the cars.
The minimum clearance between the ground and the bottom of the body of the side panels – called the side skirts because they are extensions to the side panels – will be 4.5 inches on the right side and 5 inches on the left-side, according to a NASCAR technical bulletin issued Wednesday.
Read more from Sporting News
Eric McClure cleared to race
Driver Eric McClure has received medical clearance to resume racing when the NASCAR Nationwide Series visits Road America this weekend.
McClure has missed the last six races after he sustained a concussion and internal bruising in an accident at Talladega Superspeedway on May 5, Jeff Green drove the No. 14 Toyota in McClure’s absence.
Read more from ESPN
NASCAR Announces Date, Location for NASCAR NNS & CWTS 2012 Postseason Awards
NASCAR announced today the date and location for its 2012 post season championship celebrations for the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
The combined NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Awards will return to South Florida for 2012 and be held at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, located in the heart of South Beach. The event is scheduled for Monday, November 19, following the Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Similar to past award shows, this year’s event will honor the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champions, as determined during the Homestead-Miami Speedway race weekend, November 16-18.
“Celebrating the champions of the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in Miami Beach enables us to continue the wave of excitement out of championship weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway,” said Steve Phelps, NASCAR senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “The backdrop makes for an ideal location to honor those champions – and their teams and sponsors – after their great seasons.”
As previously announced, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards will return to Las Vegas, and take place Friday, November 30, at the Wynn Las Vegas. A full lineup of activities for Champion’s Week will be announced at a later date.
From NASCAR-PR
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
FOX Looking to Extend NASCAR Deal Early
Fox Sports is reportedly looking to extend its NASCAR deal a year ahead of schedule.
Sports Business Journal reported Monday that FOX “has started serious negotiations with NASCAR” on an extension of the parties current eight-year television deal.
Read more from Sports Media Watch
SRT Motorsports – Dodge – Presents The Numbers: Toyota/Save Mart 300
2 – fewest laps led by race winner – twice, most recent 5/7/95
2 – races won from outside a top-20 starting position – Juan Pablo Montoya, 2007 Kyle Busch, 2008
3 – wins by Dodge in last five races at Sonoma – Juan Pablo Montoya 2007, Kasey Kahne 2009, Kurt Busch 2011
3 – fewest cautions – four times, most recent 6/23/02
3 – fewest leaders – 6/11/89
3 – fewest lead changes – 6/11/89
4 – drivers with more than one pole
5 – most wins – Jeff Gordon
5 – most poles – Jeff Gordon
5 – drivers with more than one win
7 – fewest caution laps – 6/7/92
8 – wins from the front row; five from the pole
9 – most cautions – 6/10/90
9 – most leaders – three times, most recent 6/26/11
12 – most lead changes – twice, most recent 6/26/11
14 – different pole winners
14 – fewest cars on lead lap at finish – twice, most recent 5/16/93
15 – different race winners in 23 races
26 – most caution laps – 6/27/99
32 – Worst starting position for race winner – Juan Pablo Montoya 6/24/07
33 – fewest cars running at finish – 5/16/93
36 – most cars on lead lap at finish – 6/21/09
42 – most cars running at finish line
92 – laps led by race winner – Jeff Gordon – 6/27/04
2012 Caution Update
1 – fewest cautions this season – Fontana
4 – races extended beyond scheduled distance – Daytona, Martinsville, Talladega and Darlington
10 – most cautions this season – Daytona
88 – cautions in the first 15 races of 2012; includes 36 for accidents, 28 for debris and nine for spins.
472 of 4,648 – laps under caution in 2012
652.571 of 6,033.118 – miles under caution in the first 15 races
Bonus – Two California tracks – Sonoma and Auto Club Speedway – continue to host NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events. There have been 23 events at each track. Riverside Raceway, which was the site of 48 Sprint Cup events between 1958 and 1988, leads the list of 13 other tracks that previously hosted NASCAR’s premier series.
From Darnell Communications for SRT Motorsports – Dodge-PR
NASCAR Captures Three Prestigious Marketing Awards for its Assets, Platforms
NASCAR Fuel for Business Council and NASCAR After The Lap Take Home Top Honors
Last night at the American Business Awards – ABA’s – in New York City, NASCAR won two awards for special events that were created by NASCAR for official partners.
NASCAR After The Lap – NATL – won an award for Best Consumer Event, while the NASCAR Fuel for Business Council – NFFB – won for Best Association Event or Meeting. At a separate ceremony held on May 16, NATL also won a Brand Innovators Award for Experiential Marketing.
NFFB is a program that brings together an exclusive group of more than 50 Official NASCAR Partners to get more out of their sponsorships, specifically creating the ideal setting for partners to get together to buy and sell products and services from one another. Since the NFFB’s 2004 inception, it has facilitated hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue and savings to its participating members. For example, Ford has sold more than 20,000 vehicles through the NFFB. The next NFFB meeting will be held Friday, June 22, in San Francisco.
NATL, developed in 2009, is a fan event that takes place annually during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week in Las Vegas, NV. The event features the top-12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers and is known for its unfiltered, “tell-all” format. One of NASCAR’s most successful and entertaining fan events on the calendar, NATL will continue for a fourth year on November 29 in Las Vegas.
“NASCAR is known as the best sport for business and one that provides unprecedented access for its fans to see drivers,” said Norris Scott, NASCAR vice president of partnership marketing and business solutions. “NFFB and NATL are shining examples of working for our sponsors. This award further recognizes the efforts of many to make it work, we are honored to be part of the ABA’s list of award winners.”
The ABA’s were created to recognize and raise public recognition of the achievements and contributions of businesses worldwide. The Brand Innovators Award acknowledges leadership and innovation in brand marketing. NASCAR beat out well-know big brands, such as Cadillac and Nickelodeon to win the award.
From NASCAR-PR
Kyle Busch suffers engine trouble for the third consecutive race
Three weeks ago, Kyle Busch was one of the hottest drivers in the Sprint Cup Series. He was on a run of four straight top-five finishes including a win at Richmond, and looked poised to stay comfortably in the top-ten in the point standings over the summer.
But that optimism has dimmed since, as engine issues have turned the last three races from promising to disastrous, including Sunday’s Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan. As a result, he’s now 12th in the point standings, 26 points behind 20th place Brad Keselowski.
Read more from Yahoo Sports
Junior gives a lesson in perseverance
OK, it’s just one win. The first in four years, no less.
As as Tony Stewart pointed out, Dale Earnhardt Jr returning to Victory Lane doesn’t exactly warrant a national holiday.
But there is a level of importance to Earnhardt snapping his 143-race losing streak that goes beyond the immediate boost to NASCAR, which has been starving of late for any sort of scintillating story line unrelated to another Kurt Busch meltdown.
Read more from Miami-Herald
Bay Area Jet Team, Tony LaRussa Highlight Festivities at NASCAR Weekend
Race fans will be treated to the best air show on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series circuit, as well as one of the greatest managers in Major League Baseball history at the Toyota/Save Mart 350 on Sunday, June 24.
The Patriots Jet Team, the nation’s only civilian aerobatic jet team, will highlight the festivities for a seventh consecutive year with gloss black Aero L-39 Albtros jets and signature red, white and blue smoke trails.
The Patriots, based in Byron in East Contra Costa County, will utilize six of these jets in the show on Sunday of NASCAR weekend. You can catch their electrifying 25-minute show in the skies above the raceway at 10:50am PST.
Tony LaRussa, arguably the greatest manager in history, will serve as Grand Marshal of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 and help give the command of, “Drivers Start Your Engines.”
LaRussa will be honored on Friday night of race weekend at the Children’s Champions Grand Marshal’s Banquet at beautiful Cline Cellars in Sonoma. The gala is a fundraiser for the Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities.
LaRussa, who still calls the Bay Area home, posted three World Series victories during his 33-year managerial career, one coming with the Oakland Athletics – 1989 – and two with the St. Louis Cardinals, most recently in 2011. His other world championship with the Cardinals came in 2006. He retired after the 2011 season. Four times he was named Manager of the Year, three times in the American League and he posted 2,278 victories as a manager, third all-time behind Connie Mack and John McGraw.
“I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR weekend,” LaRussa said. “Competition in sports has been at the heart of my professional life. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is an outstanding example of competition and I’m excited to be able to observe it up close and personal at the raceway.”
Race fans will also be treated to a performance of the National Anthem by the University of California Marching Band, plus rides on a 70-foot ferris wheel, an expansive vendor midway, Q&A sessions with NASCAR legends Donnie Allison and Marvin Panch and more during race weekend.
From Sonoma Toyota/Save Mart 350-PR
Monday, June 18, 2012
DIS Renews Hotel Program for the 54th Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola
Continuing its commitment to ensure fans have an enjoyable and affordable race experience, Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III today announced the renewed partnership between the “World Center of Racing” and area hotels to help lower the costs for fans who plan to attend the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola Weekend.
Read more from DIS-PR
Joe Gibbs says he plans to re-sign Joey Logano
If Joe Gibbs has his way, Joey Logano will return to Joe Gibbs Racing next season.
Gibbs told ESPN.com before Sunday’s race at Michigan that he planned to re-sign Logano, whose contract expires after this season.
Read more from Sporting News
“Drive4COPD” Renews NASCAR NNS Race Entitlement at Daytona
The COPD Foundation’s DRIVE4COPD national public health initiative announced today that it has renewed its title sponsorship for the DRIVE4COPD 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway through 2014.
Read more from DIS-PR
The “Drive For The Cover” Campaign
Tony Stewart fans made sure that Carl Edwards didn’t get a second chance to defeat Smoke on his way to another title, this time for the right to be the cover driver for NASCAR The Game: Inside Line.
In a memorable Round 1, Greg Biffle upset fan-favorite Jimmie Johnson and Marcos Ambrose led all drivers in total votes, but neither driver was able to keep the momentum in Round 2 of the “Drive for the Cover” Facebook campaign. Biffle fell to veteran Mark Martin and Ambrose couldn’t slow Denny Hamlin’s late surge Sunday evening.
Round 2 saw several very close matchups, leading to head-to-head matchups with NASCAR’s biggest stars in Round 3. After edging Kyle Busch by less than 1,000 votes, Danica Patrick will face her JR Motorsports boss, Dale Earnhardt Jr, in what is expected to be one of the closest matchups of the tournament. Martin’s victory over Greg Biffle lands him a very tough third round matchup against Kasey Kahne, and Ryan Newman’s reward for defeating Brad Keselowski, is a tough battel with Jeff Gordon to get to the semi-finals. With only two rounds left, below are the head-to-head matchups for Round 3:
Dale Earnhardt Jr vs. Danica Patrick
Tony Stewart vs. Denny Hamlin
Mark Martin vs. Kasey Kahne
Jeff Gordon vs. Ryan Newman
The campaign will continue to let NASCAR fans vote in a bracketed tournament that is hosted entirely on NASCAR The Game’s Facebook page and can easily be accessed to participate.
Voting for Round 3 of the “Drive for the Cover” campaign begins today with four weeks remaining in the campaign to select the driver who will adorn the cover of NASCAR The Game: Inside Line.
Here is the voting schedule which culminates in July:
May 24 – Voting Opens – 32 drivers
June 10 – First Round Closes – 16 drivers
June 17 – Second Round Closes – 8 drivers
June 24 – Third Round Closes – 4 drivers
June 30 – Fourth Round Closes – 2 – drivers
July 15 – Final Round Closes – Champion
See NASCAR The Game: Inside Line video trailer at NASCARTheGame.com/DriveFTC
From NASCAR-PR
Likely Top-Five for Logano Derailed by Mid-Race Accident
Joey Logano qualified ninth for Sunday afternoon’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Michigan International Speedway. Logano’s top-ten start was the top qualifying effort of all the Joe Gibbs Racing machines.
When the race started, Logano quickly proved he had one of the fastest cars in the field. After starting ninth, it took Logano just six laps to gain six positions on the track, where he settled into third for the next several laps.
Logano ran in the top-five for the first 50 laps of the event. After the second round of pit stops on lap 51, it was quickly clear that there would be a number of different pit strategies on the afternoon. Logano came out of the pits 15th after taking four tires when many of the cars in front of him took just two.
Logano held strong around 15th before the next round of stops in which crew chief Jason Ratcliff call for a two-tire change. This time, Logano got back out near the front and restarted eighth.
The 22-year old ran seventh until radioing in that he had a very bad vibration on lap 81. He brought his Home Depot Toyota into the pits the very next lap for four fresh tires and minor adjustments. Logano’s hunch was right as his right front tire was severely blistered.
Logano was running 10th following a restart when he jumped to the inside of a much slower car coming out of turn two. The move got Logano’s Home Depot Toyota loose. Logano tried to correct the car but it was too late. His No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing machine slammed into the outside wall and was then hit by several other cars. The resulting damage was too much to continue and Logano retired from the event in the 35th position.
Unofficially, Logano remained 15th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings and is still firmly in the hunt for one of the Wild Card spots for the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship.
“This was just an unfortunate end to what was really looking to be a good day for our Home Depot Toyota. I am not exactly sure what happened there. We were in a pretty good position following the restart. There was a slower car in front of us who was starting up front and he started dropping back right away. He got up out of the groove and maybe even into the outside wall there and I just dove underneath him and when I did, the car got really loose. After that, I was just along for the ride. I tried to save it but at that point there wasn’t much I could do. I just held on and waited for it to be done with.
“It’s really too bad for my guys because we had a car that was easily capable of a top-ten and even a top-five finish. The car was great and we were making it better and better with every adjustment. It was just all about track position out there. I think if we had the track position late, we would have been a top-five car for sure. And that would have been a really good points day for us. But I’m not letting this get me down at all. We still have a lot of momentum going. We are still running strong and bringing very fast cars to the track. We will just put this behind us and go on to Sonoma and keep moving forward. There is still plenty of time and we are still in a great position to get ourselves into the Chase and that is what we are focused on doing.”
From Joe Gibbs Racing-PR
Stewart Not Quick Enough in Quicken Loans 400
Office Depot/Mobile 1 Driver Finishes Second to Earnhardt at Michigan
Tony Stewart was quick but not quick enough, and finished second in the Quicken Loans 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race Sunday at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.
Stewart, the driver of the No. 14 for Stewart Haas Racing – SHR – finished 5.393 seconds behind winner Dale Earnhardt Jr, who led fives times for a race-high 95 laps.
“I’m really proud of our Office Depot/Mobile 1 guys,” Stewart said. “We did the Bristol – Motor Speedway – test on Tuesday and Wednesday, so we have been in a track 11 out of 12 days in a row. So I’ve got a bunch of tired crew guys and a tired crew chief and I’m a tired driver, but I’m really proud of the effort they put forth in the last week and a half. They did an awesome job at Pocono. We had a fast car all week – at Michigan – until the happy hour session last night and you know, we just couldn’t get a hold of the race track.
“But I’m really proud of Steve Addington – crew chief – and our engineers. They did a great job overnight, and we started the day pretty much toward the front and never really lost that track position all day. We had a pretty good car that we could pass with. It was hard to pass, but it wasn’t impossible.”
Stewart, who started eighth, knew immediately he liked his car. He stayed in the top-ten for nearly the entire event and took the lead from laps 87-104. With few changes needed on his well-handling race car, it appeared Stewart was in the hunt for victory all day long. But he never could catch Earnhardt down the stretch. Earnhardt led the final 30 laps, easily distancing himself from Stewart in the closing laps as the final 60 laps were caution-free.
“We were 27th quick on the – practice – sheet yesterday,” said Stewart, who has 19 top-ten finishes in 27 career Sprint Cup starts at Michigan and has led 224 laps overall. “So we had a lot of curve balls thown our way, but I was really proud of Steve Addington and these guys. It’s amazing what one night and those guys thinking and what they came up with. It just was a totally different race car today.”
The curve ball came Friday evening, when officials from NASCAR and Goodyear announced a harder left-side tire would be used during the race due to blistering tires during practice Thursday and Friday on the freshly paved 2-mile oval. The tires were shipped from Charlotte, NC, overnight and arrived Saturday.
“I think we need to give 100 percent credit to Goodyear for this weekend,” Stewart said. “I mean, what they had to do Friday night was a really hard decision – it was a hard decision to make. It was for the betterment of all of us as drivers and teams and for the sport. So every one of us need to walk through the garage and stop at Goodyear and shake every one of their guys’ hands, because there were a lot of guys that worked really hard yesterday just getting the tires inside the track. They had to load them in the back of pickup trucks because they didn’t get here before qualifying started. They were trucking in tires, literally in the back of pick-ups, to get them in, and there were a lot of Goodyear technicians that were mounting and dismounting and balancing a lot of tires. Without those guys’ effort, we would not have had the show that we had today.”
Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet for SHR, came home 15th to score his ninth top-15 finish in 2012.
Earnhardt’s victory in the Quicken Loans 400 broke a 143-race winless streak. His last victory came June 15, 2008, and was also at Michigan. Today’s win marked the 19th Sprint Cup victory of his career and his second at Michigan.
Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, and Jimmie Johnson rounded out the top-five behind Earnhardt and Stewart. Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer, Juan Pablo Montoya, Marcos Ambrose and Kevin Harvick comprised the remainder of the top-ten.
There wer eight caution periods for a total of 39 laps, with 12 drivers failing to finish the 200-lap race, the start of which was delayed approximately two-hours due to rain.
With round 15 of 36 complete, Stewart continues to lead the SHR duo in the championship point standings. He remained eighth with 491 points, 74 back of series leader Kenseth. Newman gained one position and sits 13th with 427 points, 138 points behind Kenseth.
The next event on the Sprint Cup schedule is the Toyota/Save Mart 350 on Sunday, June 24 at the 1.99-mile road course at Sonoma, CA. The race starts at 3pm EDT, with live coverage provided by TNT beginning with its pre-race show at 2pm.
From True Speed Communications for Stewart-Haas Racing-PR
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