Monthly Archives: February 2013

Subway Fresh Fit 500 Preview

Posted on by
Race fans sit atop Rattlesnake Hill and watch the action during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 4, 2012 Photo - Robert Laberge/Getty Images

Race fans sit atop Rattlesnake Hill and watch the action during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 4, 2012
Photo – Robert Laberge/Getty Images

Last time the Sprint Cup Series left Phoenix, we had a fight in the garage, Clint Bowyer running and a big mess on the front straightway. Pure excitement that was. Things may be a bit different this time around but, pure excitement always seems to arrive at the Phoenix International Raceway and this Sunday should be no different. After the track was reconfigured in 2011, the excitement has been at an all-time high. The cars can pass just about anywhere and the dog-leg on the backstretch makes for some exciting side-by-side racing. This gem in the desert always puts on quite a performance.

The Subway Fresh Fit 500(k) will take place on Sunday March 3rd, 2013 and the expected time the green flag will wave is 3:14 PM EST (1:14 PM MT). The race will feature 312 exciting laps and 312 (500k) miles. The weather for race day is looking good with partly cloudy conditions and a 10% chance of rain. The high temperature for the day will be 83 F and the low will be 52 F. The TV broadcast of the race can be seen live on FOX and the radio version of the broadcast can be heard on MRN. Continue reading →

Improvements To Martinsville Parking Areas Underway

Posted on by
Work is rolling along on improving parking areas Photo - Courtesy Martinsville Speedway

Work is rolling along on improving parking areas
Photo – Courtesy Martinsville Speedway

Heavy equipment has been roaring at Martinsville Speedway for the past 10 days carving new lanes through parking lots near the track’s main entrance.

Over two miles of parking aisles are being cut through parking lots on the left side of Speedway Boulevard when you enter the track’s main entrance. When the project is completed over 3000 tons of gravel will have been spread over the new lanes. The work will be completed in time for the STP® Gas Booster™ 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 7.

“I think our fans are really going to be pleased when they pull into the parking lot for the STP® Gas Booster™ 500,” said Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell. “Over the past few weeks we’ve moved a lot of dirt and put down a lot of stone, all in an effort to make ingress, egress and parking a much better experience.

“What previously was just an open field will now have aisles to drive through to get to your parking spot. Parking in this area will now be clearly defined.”

Campbell went on to say that all of the track’s parking areas will eventually be upgraded. “Obviously this is a big project, but it is important that we see it to completion eventually over the entire property.”

The STP® Gas Booster™ 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race is scheduled for Sunday, April 7, the day after the Kroger 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. Pole Day is Friday, April 5.

Ticket prices for the STP® Gas Booster™ 500 start as low as $37. Tickets for the STP® Gas Booster™, the Kroger 250 and Martinsville Pole Day may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com online.

 

Enhanced by Zemanta

Darlington Raceway Sprints Into History With New Book

Posted on by
Photo - Courtesy of Darlington Raceway

Photo – Courtesy of Darlington Raceway

Darlington Raceway has been part of the landscape of South Carolina and of NASCAR for over six decades and a new nostalgic book celebrates the history of the track through extraordinary vintage images.

From races run on dirt and clay to the paved speedways of today, the historic events, colorful characters, and memorable moments of “The Lady in Black” are revealed in more than 200 vintage images.

Author Cathy Elliott sees Darlington Raceway as “more than just a race track that comes alive once a year,” and describes why many locals consider the speedway part of the family. “Darlington is an integral member of her community, part of its very identity. Everyone in town has at least one story about the track,” Elliott said. Continue reading →

Darlington Raceway Partners With Local School District To Launch Reading Program

Posted on by
Too Tough To Tame 200 at Darlington Raceway, Darlington South Carolina. Aug.14 2010 Race Fans Photo - Darlington Raceway

Too Tough To Tame 200 at Darlington Raceway, Darlington South Carolina.
Aug.14 2010 Race Fans
Photo – Darlington Raceway

In an effort to help its area school children participate in reading, Darlington Raceway is partnering with the Darlington County School District to kick off a reading program for “March is Reading Month.”

Starting on March 1, over 5,400 elementary school kids in the district will participate in the program and each classroom will have reading goals to achieve throughout the month. Each student will receive a Darlington Raceway bookmark and reading reminder bracelet courtesy of the track.

“We want our children to excel in school and grow up to make a positive impact in the world we live in,” Darlington President Chris Browning said. “We are more than happy to utilize our resources at the track to encourage a child to read more and improve their education.”

When the program concludes on March 29, the classrooms with the most books read will receive a visit in April from select NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers yet to be determined. Elementary schools in Darlington, Hartsville, Lamar and Society Hill will be participating.

All participants in the program will also receive a free kid’s admission ticket for the Nationwide Series 200 on Friday, May 10.

The Reading Program is just one of many that the track has created over the years as part of its youth initiatives. It also offers one of the best kids ticket offers in the industry with 12 and under half-price for any seat to the Bojangles’ Southern 500.

“We appreciate Darlington Raceway putting this reading program together for us. The impact it will make on our students and the encouragement it will provide them to read is invaluable for us,” Audrey Childers, communications officer for the Darlington County School District said. “Having a track like Darlington in our community is great because they enjoy doing these types of programs for our kids and want them to be successful in the classroom.”

Tickets to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 on May 11 and Nationwide Series 200 on Friday, May 10 are on sale now! Remember, kids 12 and under are half off for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 and FREE for the Nationwide Series 200 in general admission sections. Visit www.DarlingtonRaceway.com or call 866-459-7223 for tickets.

You can keep up with all of the latest news from Darlington Raceway at DarlingtonRaceway.com, on Facebook at Facebook.com/DarlingtonRaceway and on Twitter at Twitter.com/TooToughToTame.

 

Enhanced by Zemanta

Dollar General 200 Preview

Posted on by
Elliott Sadler, driver of the #2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet, leads a group of cars during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Bashas' Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 3, 2012 Photo - Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Elliott Sadler, driver of the #2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet, leads a group of cars during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 3, 2012
Photo – Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The Phoenix International Raceway is the site of the second stop on the 2013 Nationwide Series schedule. A much more calm-mannered race is expected this Saturday at Phoenix but, championship hopefuls will look to get ahead of the game and that could create some excitement. As the championship-contending drivers begin the real hunt for the championship this weekend, they will all be eyeing a jump start in the point’s standings this Saturday during the Dollar General 200. Continue reading →