Richmond Toyota Care 250 Preview

Kurt Busch, driver of the No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota, crosses the finish line ahead of Denny Hamlin, in the No. 18 Z-Line Designs Toyota, to win the NASCAR Nationwide Series Virginia 529 College Savings 250 at Richmond International Raceway in April 2012  Photo - Todd Warshaw/Getty Images

Kurt Busch, driver of the No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota, crosses the finish line ahead of Denny Hamlin, in the No. 18 Z-Line Designs Toyota, to win the NASCAR Nationwide Series Virginia 529 College Savings 250 at Richmond International Raceway in April 2012
Photo – Todd Warshaw/Getty Images

One of the most exciting things in racing is short track racing under the lights.

On this coming Friday night, the Nationwide Series drivers will be out on the track competing for the win under the lights. Richmond always puts on a great show and this Friday Night should be no different. All of the Nationwide Series regulars are ready to get back on the track after a week off and they all will be hungry for the win, along with Sprint Cup regulars in the race also looking to bring home the victory. With all of this expected for this weekend’s Nationwide race, it’s sure to be one exciting event. Continue reading

Where do NASCAR and ‘The Fans’ Stand as a Sport?

ChangeMany will agree, the only consistency we see within NASCAR are the consistent changes over the years. And now, when ratings have dipped over the last year or so, what was once considered taboo, suddenly becomes encouraged as a ratings boost for the sport.

Perhaps, what that says about our society is more disturbing. But the most important question we need to ask of our sport and ourselves, is when will we take a good hard look in the mirror to see what is right before our eyes? Continue reading

Kurt Busch in Backup Car at Phoenix due to Coolant System Malfunction

Photo - John Harrelson/Getty Images

Photo – John Harrelson/Getty Images

After a solid first qualifying lap at the Phoenix International Raceway 1-mile oval Friday, Busch’s No. 78 Furniture Row/Beautyrest Chevrolet SS scraped the wall during the second lap due to a malfunction in the coolant system.

The damage (right-front and right-side) was enough that the team will go to the backup car for Sunday’s Subway Fresh Fit 500 Sprint Cup race.

“Kurt did a great job saving the car from further damage,” said team crew chief Todd Berrier.

The culprit for the loss of grip was a parts breakage in the coolant system that sprayed water under the tires, causing Busch to wiggle and eventually lose control of the car.

“The Furniture Row/Beautyrest Chevy steered to the right, brushed the wall and we’ll be in a backup car come Sunday,” said Busch. “You would think after Daytona we would fare a little better. But right now we need to suck it up and battle through this adversity.”

Going to a backup car will result in Kurt starting Sunday’s race from the rear of the field.

Busch was credited with the 25th fastest speed based on his first lap, which is usually the slower of the two. His first lap time and speed were: 26.618 seconds at 135.247 miles per hour.

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Bruton’s Big Bonus Gives Drivers One Million Reasons to Win All-Star Race

Miss Sprint Cup Brooke Werner, left, and Jaclyn Roney wait to unveil the Bruton's Big Bonus race car during a press event on Feb. 26, 2013, announcing changes to the format for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

Miss Sprint Cup Brooke Werner, left, and Jaclyn Roney wait to unveil the Bruton’s Big Bonus race car during a press event on Feb. 26, 2013, announcing changes to the format for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

Bruton’s Big Bonus Adds One Million More Reasons For Drivers To Get Up on the Wheel in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race

When the money’s on the line, NASCAR’s best drivers better keep their feet on the gas.

With a $1 million payday, the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway already offers the richest per-mile winner’s purse in motorsports at more than $7,400 for each mile raced. But this year, the pot gets even sweeter with the introduction of Bruton’s Big Bonus. When NASCAR’s best take to the high banks of the legendary 1.5-mile superspeedway, drivers will have a million more reasons stay up front from the first green flag until the checkered falls. If one driver wins all four 20-lap segments and bests the field in the final 10-lap shootout, he will double his winnings and take home Bruton’s Big Bonus of an additional $1 million. Continue reading

Notes ‘n Nuggets – Budweiser Speedweeks at Daytona

The Sprint Unlimited, Daytona 500 Qualifying Signal Opening of 2013 Season

BudSpeedweeksThumbSpeedweeks Features Racing Events For Competitors At All Levels 

A jam-packed Speedweeks featuring racing for everything NASCAR kicks off the 2013 season this weekend at Daytona International Speedway.

Ten days of high-speed activity begin Friday with practice for Saturday night’s Sprint Unlimited, a non-points race for 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Coors Light Pole winners in which the new Gen-6 car will debut. All competition leads up to the year’s signature event, the 55th Annual Daytona 500 at 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Feb. 24. Continue reading