Indiana 250 at IMS Preview

NASCAR Nationwide Series Indiana 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 28, 2012  Photo - Getty Images

NASCAR Nationwide Series Indiana 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 28, 2012
Photo – Getty Images

The famous yard of bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was home to a new series last season, and once again in 2013, the that series is returning for their next race. A successful debut at the world-famous circuit has the Nationwide Series returning this weekend for the second annual Indiana 250. Cup regulars stole the show by using their track experience last season, but the Nationwide regulars are prepared to put up a fight with one race under their belts. A new person will kiss the bricks Saturday afternoon and put themself into the storied history books. Continue reading

Sliding Into History: Austin Dillon Takes Eldora

Austin Dillon, driver of the #39 American Ethanol Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag from NASCAR official Kim Lopez after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series inaugural Mudsummer Classic at Eldora Speedway on July 24, 2013  Photo - Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Austin Dillon, driver of the #39 American Ethanol Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag from NASCAR official Kim Lopez after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series inaugural Mudsummer Classic at Eldora Speedway on July 24, 2013
Photo – Tom Pennington/Getty Images

“This is real racing…”

is how history-maker Austin Dillon described the inaugural MudSummer Classic in victory lane after the race. Dillon put on a show by leading just about the second part of the race. He held off many charges by Kyle Larson, but Larson couldn’t get to the front on the final restarts. Eldora’s first race was a spectacular one and NASCAR’s return to dirt was undoubtedly successful.

The oldest pole-sitter in NASCAR history, Ken Schrader at 58 years old, started the race on the pole and led until lap 16 with Timothy Peters taking the lead. Peters showed that dirt experience was not necessary to do well by leading 23 laps until Larson slid to the top spot. Continue reading

Jason’s Journey: Missing the Track

JasonJourneylogo400x300For the most part, the media workers within NASCAR get to travel to the track every weekend. They get to take in the sights, take in the views, and have the track feeling week after week. I have always wanted to travel the NASCAR circuit and something struck me after New Hampshire. I found myself disappointed that I wasn’t traveling to the next race when the weekend came around, and that proved to myself that traveling the circus show called NASCAR is something I could do.

After sitting home and reflecting on my weekend at New Hampshire, I thought about how everyone I met there would be going to the next track soon and that sadly, I would not be part of the entourage. I know that I could be doing that one day, but all I wanted at that moment was to do it now. Getting the chance to visit cities across the country every weekend seems like an awesome thing to do and it’s something I hope to do someday.

By traveling with the sport, I would be able to smell the rubber, fuel, and so much more, every week. Those aren’t just the smells of NASCAR; they’re the smells that inspire me to keep chasing my dream so I can come home to those smells at the race track every weekend.

What I really proved to myself after New Hampshire was that traveling the schedule is something I would want as part of my life. Since I desperately missed it after doing it once, I knew at that point, that doing it for about 36 weeks can be done and comfortable for me. That eagerness of being at the track will return in three short weeks when I go to Watkins Glen, but between now and then, all I want to do is be at my home away from home, the race track.

 

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MudSummer Classic at Eldora Preview

mudsummer2013_carcash_4c20copyIt is the most anticipated NASCAR race in years. The MudSummer Classic isn’t just another race; it’s a race that writes its own chapter in the history books. NASCAR’s return to dirt isn’t just a small thing, it’s a huge deal and that huge deal is arriving tonight.

On Wednesday Night, July 24, 2013 the Camping World Truck Series will take to Eldora Speedway for a night of trucks going all slideways across the track. The action starts at 8:00 PM EST with five heat races determining the field along with an extra last chance race, to decide the last four positions in the main event. The main event will consist of three segments with 60, 50, and 40 laps and 30 trucks will be in it altogether. Continue reading

Penske’s Pay Day: Logano Wins, Hornish Tops the Standings

Joey Logano Wins at Chicagoland with teammate Sam Hornish Jr. finishing second.  Photo - Getty Images

Joey Logano Wins STP 300 at Chicagoland with teammate Sam Hornish Jr. finishing second.
Photo – Getty Images

What more could Penske Racing want? A one-two finish with their drivers, with a win and the point standings lead. That is a very successful day for the organization as they leave Chicagoland Speedway with their heads held high.

When Joey Logano could be relaxing on the beach, he was pulling into victory lane for the second time in the Nationwide Series this season. Just about every other Cup driver took the week off, but Logano was hard at work trying to boost Penske’s No.22 owner championship chances. Well, it was worth skipping a week of vacation to pull into victory lane instead and that’s exactly what Joey Logano did Sunday afternoon at the Chicagoland Speedway. Continue reading