Kentucky Speedway Expanding Parking Facilities

Sparta, Kentucky ( 2012-03-12) – Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI) just announced they had acquired 143-acres of land to be used to expand parking facilities at the Kentucky Speedway. They are also hiring new staff and engineering personnel to help manage automotive and pedestrian traffic at the track during race days. Presently, the firm plans on investing $7.5 million in order to achieve these goals in the months ahead.

Speedway Motorsports Inc is spending $7.5 million to enhance parking at the Kentucky Speedway

The Kentucky Department of Transportation is also planning on enhancing parking access by improving connecting highways to the Kentucky Speedway.

“We learned meaningful lessons during our inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekend and we committed that the traffic congestion that occurred on race day would not happen again. It was important for us to act quickly and I am thrilled to report this solution, which was formed in only seven short weeks. I compliment and thank SMI Chairman and CEO Bruton Smith, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear and KYTC Sec. Mike Hancock for working collaboratively on this plan,” Kentucky Speedway General Manager Mark Simendinger said.

Speedway Motorsports expects the expanded parking facilities to increase available parking at the race track by about 35 percent with this announcement. They also plan on further improving the track by reenforcing all areas using gravel and by implementing new painting guidelines to maximize parking at the site.

The firm has hired Veteran’s Security and Patrol to manage parking during up coming races at the Kentucky Speedway. This security firm currently provides similar security and parking services at racing venues like the Daytona International Speedway, Pocono Raceway and Watkins Glen International. The Kentucky Speedway will also use the services of a top traffic engineering firm to help implement and assimilate the changes being planned and create the best possible traffic plan for the site.

“Kentucky Speedway is a premier destination for the country’s best racing, and it’s clear that tens of thousands of people want to be right here to experience those events. The NASCAR race weekend this July was a huge success, but it did experience traffic problems, caused largely by inadequate parking,” said Gov. Beshear.  “To assure visitors have an even better experience next year, we’ve worked hand in hand with SMI to plan improvements that will benefit fans on race day and Gallatin County residents year-round.”

Luke and Associates Extend Partnership with Tommy Baldwin Racing

Become Associate Partner for the No. 36 Chevrolet

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (June 27, 2011) – Tommy Baldwin Racing is pleased to announce that Florida-based Luke & Associates, Inc. extended the company’s partnership to include associate placement on the No. 36 Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet driven by Dave Blaney. Luke & Associates previously announced a partnership with Tommy Baldwin Racing fielding the No. 35 Luke & Associates Chevrolet driven by Geoffrey Bodine for five races.

Luke & Associates will make the company’s debut on both the No. 36 and No. 35 Chevrolets at Daytona International Speedway for the Coke Zero 400 on July 2. Luke will run associate logos on the No. 36 Chevrolet for the duration of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) season. The company will adorn the hood of the No. 35 Luke & Associates Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, Texas Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Luke & Associates, Inc. (Luke) is one of the largest providers of healthcare for the U.S. military and is rapidly expanding into national and local healthcare systems. Headquartered on the Space Coast of Florida, Luke formed in 2004 and has grown exponentially in the last six years. The company now has more than 1,300 medical and support personnel worldwide. Luke provides services for the U.S. military and private industry to include healthcare services, advisory and assistance services, technical services, engineering, staff augmentation and information management. Luke is responsible for recruiting, qualifying, hiring and retaining healthcare workers for positions that include physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, registered nurses and ancillary personnel in addition to all dental positions. The company’s primary focus is the company values, which include integrity, innovation, communication, community and a focus on the employees.

“We really enjoy working together,” said Luke President/CEO Jim Barfield. “TBR is an excellent organization that shares the same values and ethics as Luke. The associate agreement for the 36 car helps expand our partnership and makes sense as we look forward to our future with TBR.”

“I’m excited that we have already seen the relationship grow,” said TBR owner Tommy Baldwin. “Luke has already seen a lot of positives. The are a great partner to work with, and we are looking forward to growing with them.”

About Luke & Associates, Inc.:

Founded in 2004, Luke & Associates, Inc. has grown to become one of the largest providers of health care for the U.S. military. Headquartered on the Space Coast of Florida, Luke employs more than 1,300 medical and support personnel and provides services for the U.S. Government as well as commercial entities nationwide. Luke has expanded into engineering, information technology and consulting/advisory services for the military and commercial entities.

In 2010, Luke earned the No. three spot out of the INC 500 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. Luke placed No. one in government services for the United States, the second-largest business sector and first in generating jobs.

For more information on Luke & Associates, Inc., visit http://www.lukeassoc.com.

About Tommy Baldwin Racing:

Tommy Baldwin Racing was formed in 2009 by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crew Chief Tommy Baldwin. Baldwin utilized a slumping economy to open a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team with a stringent budget. The team competed in two full seasons with multiple drivers behind the wheel of the No. 36 Chevrolet and improved in the standings each year.

Based in Mooresville, N.C., TBR will compete in the full NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule in 2011 with NASCAR veteran Dave Blaney piloting the No. 36 Golden Corral Chevrolet. Looking to improve on-track performance, TBR found success early in the 2011 season with partners Golden Corral, Big Red and Accell Construction. TBR’s driver development program, Heinke-Baldwin Racing, will also compete in various NASCAR series in 2011.

For more information on Tommy Baldwin Racing, visit tommybaldwinracing.com or follow us on Facebook, facebook.com/TBR.HBR, and Twitter, twitter.com/TBR_Racing.

Harrington to make NNS debut with WareRacing at Road America

Rick Ware Racing (RWR) is proud to announce that current Trans Am and Rolex Grand Am Series driver, Doug Harrington will pilot the #41New Orleans Voodoo Ford Mustang at Elkhart Lake Wisconsin’s, Road America this weekend.

Harrington joined Rick Ware Racing over the winter as theorganization made its debut at Daytona International Speedway for the running of the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in the GT Class finishing an impressive 11th.

“Harrington impressed us all during the tests and in the race. He is really quick and shouldadapt very smoothly to the heavier Nationwide Series cars,” stated Rick Ware.

Harrington recently finished second at VIR last month in hisown Trans Am Series car in preparation for the Bucyrus 200 at Road America.

“I have always wanted to race in NASCAR and thanks to RWRand the Arena Football Leagues, New Orleans Voodoo, I have the opportunity tocompete against NASCAR’s elite road racers,” said Harrington.

The Arena Football League’s, New Orleans Voodoo will be also making their debut in a cross marketing program set up with Rick Ware Racing.

“The paint scheme is awesome for the New Orleans Voodoo and we look to represent them well this weekend. We had the pleasure of visiting a home game last month and the fans arepumped to see their teams colors turn left and right this weekend,” claimedWare.

Action gets underway on Friday, June 24th at 1:00pm EST with Nationwide Series practice. Qualifying is scheduled to begin on Saturday at 3:05pm EST with the race at 5:30pm EST.

For more information please visit http://www.wareracing.com or follow the team on twitter @rickwareracing

New NASCAR Hall of Fame Member: Glen Wood

EDDIE AND LEN WOOD REFLECT ON FATHER’S INDUCTION

INTO NASCAR HALL OF FAME

DEARBORN, Mich. June 17, 2011 – Eddie and Len Wood of Wood Brothers Racing have had an incredible year going. They won the Daytona 500 with a driver in the seat of their No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion that became immediately beloved by fans.
And on the cusp of getting fresh-faced, enthusiastic Trevor Bayne back in the driver’s seat again at their sponsor’s hometown race, the unexpected happened: For the Woods, 2011 got even better.

Glen Wood, Len and Eddie’s father and founder of the family’s dynasty, wrote down the names of the people he thought would make the 2012 Class in the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C. His was not among them. But Glen, Eddie and Len went to the ceremony anyway, prepared to be happy for the inductees – all men they see as family.

They weren’t prepared for what actually happened next.

Glen was voted in – to the delight of fans and members of the industry alike. He could throw that paper away. Now fans and family hope that Glen’s brother Leonard, who was also nominated, won’t be far behind. They are the Wood Brothers, plural, of course.

EDDIE WOOD, WOOD BROS. RACING – WERE YOU NERVOUS, WAITING TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN? “No, you didn’t really expect it. You didn’t really know who was going to get in, so you don’t really get nervous about it. You go in assuming you’re probably not going to get picked. Our dad, I was sitting beside him and he was actually shocked, surprised, whatever you want to call it, because he had written down before we went over there who he thought was going in and he wasn’t one of them. I don’t think he expected it for another couple of years, so he was really excited. I’m not sure it really sunk in until they said his name. Then it was like wow, I’m in the Hall of Fame! It was a really good thing for him.”

LEN WOOD, WOOD BROS. RACING – “He picked Darrell (Waltrip), Cale (Yarborough), Tim Flock, Buck Baker and Herb Thomas.”

DID YOU SEE THE LOOK ON HIS FACE WHEN HE FOUND OUT? EDDIE WOOD – “He just kind of stared at Brian like, OK, I’ve got to stand up now. He was very relaxed. I think he was so surprised that he didn’t know what to do. So he stood up. But he was very happy.”

HOW LATE DID HE HAVE TO WORK THAT DAY, GOING FROM INTERVIEW TO INTERVIEW AND SHAKING HANDS? LEN WOOD – “We didn’t get there until 3:30 p.m. The actual announcement didn’t take 15-16, no more than 20 minutes. He did interviews until probably 1 ½ hours after that. One station to the next station to the next one.”

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE FOR IT TO SINK IN THAT HE’D GOTTEN VOTED IN? LEN WOOD – “We were probably on the way home (before it sank in).”

EDDIE WOOD – “Or what it meant. It’s a big honor to get inducted into (the Hall of Fame). We were talking about it on the way in here (Ford Motor Company’s Dearborn complex). He (Eddie) and I knew, of the 15 that have gotten in, we knew them. We’re friends with all of them. Every one of them. So it’s really special for us, because we knew everybody that’s been inducted so far anyway. We’re friends with them. We’ve been really good friends with Darrell and Cale. Cale drove our car. (Dale) Inman’s one of our best friends at the race track, since we were kids.”

LEN WOOD – “Richie Evans, we used to give (Inman) oil filters and things, years ago. He would race at Martinsville when we were there.”

SO IT FEELS MORE LIKE YOU’RE SITTING DOWN TO THANKSGIVING DINNER WHEN YOU GO TO A PRESENTATION LIKE THAT? EDDIE WOOD – “Yeah, everybody that’s there are friends of ours.”

LEN WOOD – “From Ned to Bud to Junior to Richard to…”

EDDIE WOOD – “The France’s. France Sr., France Jr. We’re friends with them.”

LEN WOOD – “Earnhardt.”

YOU’VE HAD SUCH AN INCREDIBLE YEAR ALREADY. WHAT DO YOU SAY WHEN PEOPLE ASK WHAT’S NEXT? “In racing you don’t think much about it. You just think about the next race. And from that race it’s the next race. You just kind of live from race to race. You don’t really think about (the future). You’ve just done it so long, you know how many things can go wrong, so you just kind of prepare yourself for the worst and whatever happens that’s not bad is great.”

About Motorcraft
Motorcraft® offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended and approved by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to underhood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer exceptional value with the highest quality and right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford and Lincoln dealers, independent distributors, and automotive parts retailers and are backed by Ford Motor Company’s Service Parts Limited Warranty. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.

About Quick Lane Tire & Auto Centers
Quick Lane® provides automotive quick services for all makes and models. Quick Lane’s nationwide network of 600 facilities, each providing the convenience of an aftermarket company (no appointment necessary, service while you wait, evening and weekend hours, competitive prices) with the confidence of a major automotive manufacturer (quality parts, factory-trained technicians). Quick Lane® is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.quicklane.com.

About FordParts.com
FordParts.com allows repair shops, body shops, fleets and do-it-yourselfers to purchase online over 280,000 Genuine Ford and Motorcraft parts quickly and easily. As well as the convenience of ordering parts online 24/7, FordParts.com provides full line catalogs with VIN look-up, parts pricing, inventory availability, FedEx over-night shipping, and technical illustrations of over 22,000 parts and assemblies. For more information, visit www.fordparts.com.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 163,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.

Jessie James to sing “The Star Spangled Banner” During AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway

DOVER, Del. – Southern pop artist Jessie James will sing the national anthem prior to the start of the “AAA 400” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 26. James’ recent single and upcoming album title, “Boys in the Summer,” was featured on the Billboard charts in several categories this summer, and she’ll also entertain fans with her hit song during pre-race for the AAA 400.
 
The 22-year-old Mercury Records recording artist’s self-titled debut album Jessie James produced the Top 25 pop and Top 20 dance hit, “Wanted” as well as “Blue Jeans,” which was featured on the soundtrack of the film version of the best-selling novel, “Confessions of a Shopaholic.” Besides her musical talents, James is also known for her natural beauty, as Maxim magazine listed her in their Hot 100 list this year.
 
Described as “southern pop,” Jessie’s music is a candid celebration of her pop and country influences. “I’ve wanted to do country music my whole life,” said James. “But I’m really inspired by the pop world as well. I love both Christina Aguilera and Shania Twain, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.”
 
For more information about Jessie James, including music videos, photos, and the latest news, visit her official MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/jessiejamesmusic.
 
James’ performance adds to the growing list of entertainment for fans surrounding three days of NASCAR events at the Monster Mile this September. For a full list of fan attractions, visit DoverSpeedway.com and click the “Sept. 24-26 race weekend fan activities and attractions” link.
 
NASCAR returns to the Monster Mile on Sept. 24-26, 2010. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 1-800-441-RACE or visit DoverSpeedway.com.
 
# # #
 
Dover International Speedway is owned by Dover Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE: DVD), a leading promoter of motorsports events in the United States. DVD subsidiaries operate three tracks in three states, and present several hundred motorsports events each year. This includes 14 major, national events which include races sanctioned by NASCAR and the NHRA. Dover Motorsports, Inc. also owns and operates Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis, Mo., and Nashville Superspeedway near Nashville, Tenn. For further information log on to www.DoverMotorsports.com.

Bank of America 500 Track Services Two-Day Training Session

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 13, 2010) – On Sept. 11-12, more than 80
students gathered at Charlotte Motor Speedway for a two-day track services
personnel training session in preparation for the Bank of America 500
Weekend at the Mecca of Motorsports.
       Twenty instructors led the sessions, which included classroom
training and hands-on experiences for fire, rescue and EMS personnel. Topics
covered included extrication, fire suppression and on-track EMS. The
teaching staff consisted of instructors from nine race tracks: Charlotte,
Texas Motor Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Darlington Raceway, Martinsville
Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Phoenix International Raceway,
Homestead-Miami Speedway and Memphis Motorsports Park.
       Also, on the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on
the United States, the instructors were joined by two FDNY firefighters who
assisted with the training sessions: Mark Stone, Assistant Chief, FDNY
Incident Management Team and Pater Cachia, Bureau of Operations.
       Charlotte Motor Speedway has been a pioneer in safety training for
NASCAR events and was the first NASCAR-sanctioned race track to offer such a
class, starting in 1991. Personnel from other tracks including Indianapolis
Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway came to the classes as students
and began implementing similar programs at their respective tracks a few
years later.
       Charlotte Motor Speedway was the first track to have its own rescue
truck and the first to put paramedics on the track fire trucks.
       “A quick response by our track services personnel is always
necessary because treatment starts on the track, not when the driver gets to
the infield care center,” said Shaun Johnson, manager of track services. “We
never want to see an on-track incident, and fans don’t want to see drivers
get hurt, so our track services personnel need to be prepared through
training sessions like this one.”
       For high-resolution photos of the training, visit:
www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/photos.
       Tickets for all October races at Charlotte Motor Speedway can be
purchased online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling the
speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267). The Bank of America Fan 4
Pack includes tickets, hot dogs and Coca-Cola drinks starting at just $39.75
per person and fans can get four nights of great racing with the Bank of
America 500 Weekend Super Ticket for just $99.
       For daily updates on October race activities, connect with Charlotte
Motor Speedway by following on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CLTMotorSpdwy or
become a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/charlottemotorspeedway.

The Chase Racer Comments on Battle

GREG BIFFLE, No. 16 3M Ford Fusion (Seeded 7th) – CAN YOU COMMENT ON YOUR PROSPECTS AT WINNING THIS CHASE?  “Well I feel good about our chances this year. We have been running really well the last eight or nine weeks and got ourselves a good point margin, and it is a good thing we did because we didn’t run very well the last couple of weeks. Other than that, we have run really good as a company and I fell we are on the upswing of things. Like Tony (Stewart) said, you have to capitalize on the places you are good at and try to survive the other ones. We have probably seven or eight good race tracks in the Chase for us, so we will get a few that we have to keep our head above water on.”

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT WENT WRONG TONIGHT AND HOW YOU DON’T GET FRUSTRATED WITH WHAT HAPPENED TONIGHT GOING INTO THE FINAL 10 RACES?  “Well, when we drive out of the driveway, we just start thinking about Loudon and not what happened tonight. That is how you do that.  Let’s see, what happened tonight? I was driving off of pit road and my helmet filled with smoke and something was on fire. So I shut my helmet blower off and proceeded to try to get some air inside the car. About halfway through the race they said ‘what’s the temperature?’ and I said it was about 165. That is when we realized there was a hole up underneath the front of the nose of the car that had some debris at some point that knocked a hole in it. The car was really tight. We kept freeing it up and freeing it up. I am telling them that I am sliding the nose and I can’t give it any gas because it was so lose, but we fixed that. We took the wave around, and then when I was coming around the back of the field the right front tire was flat. I had to pit when we were going to the green and then we got penalized because you can’t take the wave around and pit before you take the green on the track. So we got penalized for that. Other than that, nothing else happened. It was a pretty straight up night after that.”

CARL EDWARDS, No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion (Seeded 9th)  – DO YOU FEEL LIKE THIS YEAR YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE A SHOT AT JIMMIE JOHNSON AND OVERTAKING HIM FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP?  “Jimmie has had an unbelievable ability to perform in the Chase and win championships, but I think all of these guys and everyone would agree that it is anyone’s race more than ever this year. It looks like advantages are smaller and they last a shorter period of time. Over these 10 races I think it is anybody’s. To me it feels like that is truer than ever, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Jimmie goes out there and wins the first three to prove us wrong, but I don’t believe he will do that.”

MATT KENSETH, No. 17 Crown Royal Ford Fusion (Seeded 11th) – TELL US ABOUT WHAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE TO WIN YOUR SECOND NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP.  “You have to beat all those good guys up in the top five or six every week. I think you have to be consistently top-five or under and on your worst days finish in the top-10 and on your best days content for some wins. That is about it. You never know exactly what it is going to take until they get into it.” 

LOOKING AT THE WAY THINGS HAVE PANNED OUT THIS YEAR AND AS TIGHT AS EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE GOING INTO THE CHASE, HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR CHANCES ARE AT ACTUALLY HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BEAT JIMMIE IN THE CHASE THIS YEAR?  “I think it depends how we start. Certainly if you look at the first 26 races, everybody is going to sit up here and tell you that all 12 have a chance for a championship and yes, mathematically that is true but not if we run like we did the first 26 races. We realize our performance needs to be better than it has been. We average like a 12th place finish and certainly that is not going to win the championship over 10 races. Our performance has been getting better lately and I am enthused by that and seeing how great Greg and Carl have been running and the 9 car. It feels like we are getting better, so if we can do all the right things at the track and get up there hopefully we can contend with those guys. It depends how they run as well and if they have trouble and all that. I think the main thing we are really focused on is trying to elevate our performance to where we can be a consistent front runner up there leading laps and be in contention to win.”

Racing Lovers 300 Test Sessions

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (September 11, 2010) – Justin Johnson has won 11 Late Model Stock car races this season and just wrapped up his second consecutive series championship at South Boston Speedway.

Timothy Peters is one of the hottest drivers in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series these days, fourth in the season-long points standings, winner of two poles this season and captured the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway.

In the midst of wildly successful seasons, you would think neither should be overly concerned with the two upcoming test sessions for the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 at Martinsville Speedway. That’s not the case, though.

In fact, it would not be surprising to see both Johnson and Peters at both of the test sessions, the first scheduled for this Wednesday and the second set for Wednesday, September 22.

“The tests are extremely important to all of us,” said the 23-year-old Johnson.  “With so many cars there (over 100), we just don’t get a ton of practice time the weekend of the race. You need a good baseline before you get there on race weekend and you get that during the tests.”

Peters, who is taking advantage of an off weekend in the truck series to return to his roots and the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300, should be the last person fretful about testing at Martinsville. He’s got more laps on the tricky half-mile than anyone else in the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 field. He won the race in 2005 and on top of that, captured the Kroger 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race last fall.

“Testing is absolutely big for me, especially with adding the second day. A lot of the guys are going to be there both days to get seat time because Martinsville is the biggest race of the year,” said Peters, who will be competing in his first Late Model race of the season. “I’ll be honest … all the laps I have at Martinsville helps, but it’s hard to come back when you haven’t been running these cars all year long.

“Because we only run these cars at Martinsville once a year levels the playing field some, but I really need to get some laps in, to get the feel for the car before we get there for race weekend.”

Each of the next two Wednesdays will be eight hours of grinding for the teams, each one working hard to get every ounce of speed possible out of their cars.

“We have a couple of different shock packages to look at, a couple of different set ups to work on. We’ll switch everything (shocks and springs) out a couple of times during the day,” said Johnson. “We’ll be working to try and get a comfort level and the balance we need to have a good starting point when we get to the track for race weekend.”

Registration for teams will begin at 7 a.m. on both September 15 and September 22 at the main ticket office. Haulers can begin staging the day before each test session.

Cars will be on-track from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day with an hour break at noon each day.

Fans will be admitted free both days. Grandstand gates will open at 9 a.m.

The Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 weekend will begin with practice and time trials on Saturday, October 2. The fastest 22 cars in qualifying will earn starting berths in the main event.

There will be four 25-lap qualifying races to kick the action off on Sunday, October 3, followed by the 200-lap main event.

Tickets for the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 are $20 and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com. Children 12 and under are admitted free.