Courtney Force with her trophy on Feb 17, 2013 Photo – Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports
After grabbing her third No. 1 qualifier of her career, Courtney Force wrapped up the weekend today with her second career win and first at the season-opening 53nd annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway. She defeated Ron Capps in the final round of eliminations and ran the quickest pass of the weekend a 4.025 second run. Continue reading
Las Vegas headliner Marie Osmond will sing the national anthem prior to the March 10 Kobalt Tools 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
“As a NASCAR fan, I admire every element of this sport: the strategy, the choreography of a pit stop, the thrill of the race, but especially the blend of personalities of the drivers and their attention to their fans of every age,” Osmond said. “I’m honored and happy to be invited to open the Kobalt Tools 400 by singing the national anthem.” Continue reading
New Agreement Designates Duralast as the ‘Official Brakes of NASCAR’
NASCAR and FDP Friction Science, a leading manufacturer and supplier of brake pads, announced today a new agreement that designates the Duralast brand as the ‘Official Brakes of NASCAR.’ With more than 50 years of brake technology and friction development experience, FDP manufactures Duralast Brakes which are sold exclusively at AutoZone.
NASCAR fans are more likely to be do-it-yourselfers when it comes to automotive maintenance and repairs. According to Scarborough Research (USA+ 2012 Release 1), among U.S. consumers who have a vehicle, NASCAR fans are approximately 15 percent more likely than non-fans to have had a brake repair in the past year and are approximately 50 percent more likely to have either done the brake repair themselves or have someone do the brake repair for free.
“Our brand loyal fan base associates NASCAR with quality and authenticity,” said Jim O’Connell, NASCAR chief sales officer. “NASCAR fans are more likely to shop at automotive specialty stores and the NASCAR bar mark will help differentiate Duralast Brakes at retail.”
Duralast will also participate in the NASCAR contingency program, with the creation of the “Brake in the Race Award” across both the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series. The weekly award will be given to the highest eligible driver in the running order at the time of the first caution of each race. The year-end award winner will be the driver who wins the “Brake in the Race Award” the most times during the course of the season. In the event of a tie, the final series point standings shall serve as a tiebreaker.
“We are proud of our new alliance with NASCAR,” said Jack Carney, President FDP Friction Science. “We have been developing brake technology since 1969 and will continue to manufacture high-quality Duralast brakes that millions of NASCAR fans can trust.”
A full line supplier of both disc pads and brake shoes, FDP clients include OE manufacturers, retailers, program groups, warehouse distributors, exporters, and other brake manufacturers. FDP is headquartered in Tappahannock, Va., with manufacturing and R&D facilities located throughout the world.
John King, driver of the #7 Red Horse Racing Toyota, celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb 23, 2012
Photo – Chris Graythen/Getty Images
The Trucks will be back in action this Friday at the Daytona International Speedway when they hit the high banks for the NextEra Energy Resources 250. Many new and young faces are entered in the race and they will look to start their season off on a high note. A few returning drivers will also be back and looking to build on their 2012 performance. The Truck race this Friday is sure to be a wild one and it will be a great kick-off to the Truck Series season.
The NextEra Energy Resources 250 will go green on Friday February 22, 2013 at 7:30 PM EST. The race will feature 100 laps and 250 miles. Each lap will surely count this Friday because to be there at the end, you’ll need to remain in the pack on every lap. The weather forecast for Friday night looks mostly cloudy with a high of 82 F and a low of 62 F with a 10% chance of rain. The race will be broadcasted on SPEED and on the radio on MRN. This will be the first race of the 2013 season and everyone will look to get a head start on the chase for the championship.
The 2012 NextEra Energy Resources 250 featured some wild racing including multiple big wrecks and a lot of torn up trucks. John King won the race becoming the first of nine first time winners in the 2012 Truck Series season. King will be in Friday night’s race and he will be competing in the No.33 truck for Eddie Sharp Racing. Likely the most memorable moment from the 2012 race was when Joey Coulter’s truck got air-borne and slid against the catch fence before coming to a rest on the ground. Coulter will look to avoid doing that this season and attempt to end up in victory lane.
Many drivers have been entered in this race but, some won’t be competing for the full season. The Daytona Truck race is always a special one and therefore, it attracts a lot of racers. Notable drivers competing in this race that won’t be running for the championship this season include Tim George Jr. in the No.5 truck, Justin Lofton in the No.6 truck, Todd Bodine in the No.13 truck, Ryan Truex in the No.30 truck, Rick Crawford in the No.50 truck and Kyle Busch in the No.51 truck. Those drivers will look to upset the Truck regulars and take home the hardware. Another note worthy fact about the race is that this will be Darrell Wallace Jr.’s first race in a truck. He will be competing in the No.54 truck for Kyle Busch Motorsports. The field for Friday’s race is definitely a stacked one and all those drivers should put on a great show.
In my opinion, anyone will be able to win the race. With the drafting process that goes on at Daytona, anyone could get the right push and make it to the front when the checkered flag is in sight. Picking a driver that really hasn’t been super strong may not be a bad pick. Anyone will be able to win this race. The first Truck race of the season always happens to be the wildest one and Friday night’s race shouldn’t disappoint. Continue reading
NASCAR Launches Largest Brand Campaign Ever
Breaks New Creative In The Daytona 500
Big brands break new commercials at DAYTONA 500®, and NASCAR is no exception. NASCAR will reveal a brand new creative vision – a campaign featuring more than two dozen drivers, with nine original spots in both English and Spanish. The drama-filled campaign will premiere during NASCAR’s crown-jewel event, the Daytona 500. The race will broadcast live on FOX and FOX Deportes on Feb. 24 beginning at 1 pm ET. Continue reading