Tony Returns to Racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway

Photo - Jerry Markland/Getty Images

Photo – Jerry Markland/Getty Images

Tony Stewart has decided to return to racing this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. The Aug. 31 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the 1.54-mile oval will mark Stewart’s first start since Aug. 3 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway.  Continue reading

In the ‘Zone’: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Tests Goodyear’s New Tire At Kansas

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In the ‘Zone’: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Tests Goodyear’s New Tire At Kansas

goodyearzone2.0tire

In the ‘Zone’: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Tests Goodyear’s New Tire At Kansas
Photo – Getty Images

Multi-Zone Tread Tire Increases Grip, Durability

Its debut set records. Its encore offered a taste of what’s to come.

“It” is the innovative “multi-zone tread” Goodyear tire that the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers tested Thursday at Kansas Speedway, and will use during Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400, the fourth race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup (2 p.m. ET on ESPN, Motor Racing Network Radio and SiriusXM Satellite Radio).

Goodyear developed two zones on the right side tires: the outer zone dubbed the “traction zone” – which was made of a sticky and more grip-oriented compound – and the “inner zone” – also known as the “endurance zone” – which was built with a firmer compound to help prolong the tire life.  Continue reading

NASCAR Issues Penalties for Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series Teams

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NASCAR Nationwide Series And NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

Penalties Issued Following Last Weekend’s Events
NASCARlogoPenalties have been issued to teams in the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series following last weekend’s events at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, respectively.
In the NASCAR Nationwide Series, the No. 30 and No. 32 teams have been penalized for violating Sections 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4J (Any determination by NASCAR Officials that race equipment used in the event does not conform to the NASCAR rules detailed in Section 20-A of the NASCAR rule book, or has been approved by NASCAR prior to the event); and 20A-12.8.1(B) (Car failed to meet the minimum front car heights). These infractions were all discovered during post-race inspection Aug. 31.
As a result of these violations, crew chiefs Pat Tryson (No. 30 car) and Trent Owens (No. 32 car) have each been fined $10,000. In addition, drivers Nelson Piquet Jr. (No. 30) and Kyle Larson (No. 32) have been docked with the loss of six championship series driver points. Owner Harry Scott Jr. has been docked with the loss of six championship owner points for each of the two cars (No. 30 & No. 32).
In the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Bryan Berry, crew chief of the No. 6 team, has been fined $2,500 for violating Sections 12-1 and 9-4A (Crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of his team members) following Sunday’s race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
Kelly Heaphy, who was with the No. 6 team at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, has been fined $2,500 and denied access to all NASCAR events indefinitely for her involvement in an altercation with a competitor following Sunday’s race.
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Sprint Cup Series AdvoCare 500 Preview

Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet and Greg Biffle, driver of the #16 3M/Manheim Auctions Ford, lead the field at the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 2, 2012  Photo - Brian Lawdermilk-Pool/Getty Images

Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet and Greg Biffle, driver of the #16 3M/Manheim Auctions Ford, lead the field at the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 2, 2012
Photo – Brian Lawdermilk-Pool/Getty Images

Sprint Cup Series drivers head to Atlanta Motor Speedway to continue a Labor Day tradition reaching into NASCAR‘s formative years.  The AdvoCare 500 race is on Sunday, September 1st and television coverage begins at 6:30 pm ET on ESPN, with radio coverage on PRN, Sirius XM channel 90.

Great racing and legendary winners have ushered out summer and – in recent seasons – solidified the lineup of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™. This weekend looks to be no different as the series heads to the penultimate race of the regular season.

Drivers have claimed three Chase spots, leaving nine more for the taking, either at Atlanta’s 1.54-mile asphalt track or next week at Richmond International Raceway. Sunday’s race may be more about who doesn’t have provisional Chase standing than those who may punch their tickets for NASCAR’s post-season. Continue reading

Nationwide Series’ Great Clips/Grit Chips 300 Preview

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(L-R) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #6 Cargill Beef Ford and Kyle Busch, driver of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota, lead the field at the start of the NASCAR Nationwide Series NRA American Warrior 300 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 1, 2012
Photo – Brian Lawdermilk-Pool/Getty Images

NASCAR’s Nationwide Series teams head to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Great Clips/Grit Chips 300 race on Saturday, August 31st. Television coverage begins at 7 pm ET on ESPN2 with radio coverage on PRN, Sirius XM channel 90.

In a points battle too close to call, Nationwide Series contenders are swapping the points lead, among the drivers near the top of the standings. Sam Hornish Jr is watching his narrow advantage over the rest of the field shrink further after Friday’s Bristol race.

Finishing third at Bristol, Austin Dillon followed Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski to jump from fourth to second in the point standings. Hornish’s 13-point advantage over Elliott Sadler is now at six points over Dillon with only ten races left in the season. Sadler who now sits 11 markers behind Hornish, dropped to third.

How close is the points battle? Continue reading