Jimmie Johnson Talks About Winning Upcoming Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway

After finishing 12th in Chicago and 5th in New Hampshire, Jimmie Johnson sits fourth in the Chase heading to Dover International Speedway this weekend

Raleigh, North Carolina (Sept. 23, 2014) – NASCAR driver and six-time Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson has been heard talking about his race car driving like a tank. Tuesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway Jimmie Johnson met with the media and fans to talk about the upcoming Bank of America 500 and take a comparison drive in a World War II tank.

“I have made references to how bad my race car is driving and it driving like a tank. Today I will find out if it’s true,” Johnson joked before climbing aboard. “It’s usually relative to our car not turning sharp enough and from our debriefing earlier, it doesn’t turn very sharp.”

“The comparison’s fair,” Johnson said of driving the 75,000-pound battle-tested beast. “They don’t turn very well. I just feel bad that I tore up the grass so bad.”

You can watch Jimmie Johnson compete in the fifth race in the Chase for NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series Championship, the Bank of America 500, at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 10 and 11th. Check ESPN and local providers for details on possible television coverage of the upcoming race.

“When we get to Charlotte – granted the format is far different now – but you usually have an idea of who the players are. We’ll have a good idea of who’s showing strength,” Johnson said. “I want another win sticker. This has been a great track for me over the years. It has changed a lot. The surface in May was finally starting to lose its grip. We have a lot of little bumps building around the race track which over the next few years will turn into big bumps and allow us to move around the race track and find some different lines.”

Read about the Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals Eliminations.

Kentucky Speedway Expanding Parking .

Read about the third annual better half dash

Brad Keselowski & N.C. Gov. Pat McCrory Welcome Race Fanatics

Defending Bank of America 500 champion Brad Keselowski and North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory were in Raleigh on Wednesday to compare notes on the 2014 NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship and the Upcoming Bank of America 500

Raleigh, N.C. (Sept. 10, 2014) – Defending Bank of America 500 champion Brad Keselowski and North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory say hello during a Bank of America 500 Trophy Tour stop in Raleigh, North Carolina on Wednesday.

 

“I came to watch the race and it was one of the most incredible experiences and I’ve been a NASCAR fan ever since,” McCrory told the crowd. “I want to encourage all the people in Raleigh to come to the Bank of America 500 Oct. 10 and 11 – Friday and Saturday night. It’s a huge weekend. But don’t come to the raceway and sneak in the back like I did.”

 

“I think Charlotte is probably one of the most important races in the bracket,” said Keselowski, whose appearance was part of NASCAR’s day-long “Chase Across North America” event, which included stops by all 16 Chase drivers in major markets across the United States and Mexico. “Let me tell you why. In that bracket we have Talladega and we have Kansas – two tracks that really don’t dictate your own fate. You see a lot of wrecks in both these races so that makes it really tough. But if you can go out and win Charlotte, win that bracket and get to the next round, that can be a huge momentum swing.”

 

Brad Keselowski and Miss Sprint Cup Julianna White flirted for the cameras and shared a laugh with the hundreds of race fans that showed up at City Plaza in the heart of the city.

 

Brad Keselowski looked relaxed while talking to fans about the importance of the upcoming Bank of America 500 for the Chase to win the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.

 

Charlotte Motor Speedway President Marcus Smith, Brad Keselowski, Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory and Miss Sprint Cup Julianna White pose behind the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Trophy and Bruton Smith Trophy.

 

NASCAR legend and the race driver credited with discovering “drafting”,  spent a little time getting to know Miss Sprint Cup Julianna White during the party Wednesday in Raleigh, N.C.

 

Country music singer/song writer Jimmy Wayne will perform a few songs on October 11 as part of the party to kick-off the Bank of America 500.

 

People looking for a fun, free-to-attend, social event where they can meet NASCAR celebrities and legends have three more chances. The Bank of America 500 Trophy Tour will stop in three more cities during the weeks ahead, which is your opportunity to have a picture taken with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase Championship and Bank of America 500 trophy. People in attendance also have the opportunity to register to win a Toyota Camry, tickets to the Bank of America 500 and other delicious prizes.

 

The schedule below lists the three remaining stops on the 2014 Bank of America 500 Trophy Tour presented by Coca-Cola and Walmart.

 

Wednesday, Sept. 24

Walmart #2265

11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

3950 Grandview Dr, Simpsonville, S.C.

Monday, Sept. 29

Walmart #1842

11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

4424 W. Wendover Ave, Greensboro, N.C.

Monday, Oct. 6

Walmart #4574

11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

5825 Thunder Rd., Concord, N.C.

 

For more information on the events occurring during the three stops remaining in the 2014 Bank of America Trophy Tour visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

 Photo credits: NASCAR and Charlotte Motor Speedway

August 23 Sprint Cup Series Race at Bristol Motor Speedway Preempted Due to NFL Football

Were you planning on watching the Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway on ABC this Saturday night? Plans to broadcast this NASCAR race live nationally on ABC starting with NASCAR Countdown at 7 p.m. ET will be preempted in 15 different regions of the country due to the scheduled showing of NFL preseason football on local channels.

Watch this Saturday as the men in their four-wheeled racing machines battle it out on one of the last true racing arenas left

People planning on watching this race who are also satellite TV customers can view the competition on channel 209-1 for DirecTV and 145 on DISH. Cable customers can also view the race in 11 of the 15 markets named on different channels.

Viewers in Milwaukee, the Arkansas cities of Little Rock, Fort Smith, and Jonesboro, and Tyler, Texas planning on tuning in to watch NASCAR Countdown will be disappointed. Unfortunately, due to the showing of local news this broadcast will not be shown, but the channels in question will air the scheduled NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway starting at around 7:30 p.m ET.

The green flag is expected to drop about 7:43 on this Sprint Cup Series race, so check below to see if you’re in one of the 15 regions named, and make the appropriate changes.

 

Austin, Texas – race telecast on digital cable: Time Warner channels 811 and 1240, Suddenlink channel 721, AT&T Channel 3024.

 

Charlotte, N.C. – race telecast on WAXN TV64. Available on Time Warner channel 1230, Charter channel 703, Compas channel 16, Comporium channel 110. WSOC-TV will join race in progress after football game ends.

 

Casper, Wyo. – only available to satellite TV subscribers

 

Cheyenne, Wyo. – only available to satellite TV subscribers

 

Duluth, Minn. – race telecast on digital cable: Charter channel 398, Mediacom channel 113.

 

Harrisburg, Pa. – race telecast on digital cable: Comcast channel 246, Verizon channel 461, Blue Ridge Cable channel 152, Kuhn channel 67, Nittany Media 228.

 

Houston – race telecast on digital cable: Comcast channels 315 and 685.

 

Louisville, Ky. – race telecast on digital cable: Comcast channel 432, Time Warner channel 207.

 

Nashville, Tenn. – race telecast on digital cable: Comcast channel 245, Charter channel 136.

 

St. Joseph, Mo. – only available to satellite TV subscribers

 

San Antonio, Tex. – only available to satellite TV subscribers

 

Sioux Falls, S.D. – race telecast on digital cable: Mid-Continent channels 596 and 614. (Also DISH channel 36).

 

Tulsa, Okla. – race telecast on digital cable: Cox channel 131.

 

Washington, D.C. – race telecast on digital cable: Comcast channel 205, Cox channel 806, Verizon FiOS channel 467.

 

Weslaco, Tex. – race telecast on digital cable: Time Warner channel 877.

 

Joey Logano Wins Fourth Straight Nationwide Series Race at Dover International Speedway

Joey Logano wins 2013 5-Hour Energy 200 Nationwide Series race

Dover, Delaware (September 28, 2013) – Joey Logano raced his way into the history books again on Saturday, winning his fourth straight NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Dover International Speedway in the 5-Hour Energy 200. Joey Logano is now the only NASCAR Nationwide driver to ever win four times on the Monster Mile of Dover and the only driver to win four consecutive events in any racing series at the mile long superspeedway in Delaware.

When asked about his historic day, Joey answered. “This has been my favorite place ever since I started here. Even when I barrel-rolled down the straightaway, it’s still my favorite place.”

With four straight wins at the Monster Mile, it is not hard to see why this track is his favorite place to race. The race on Saturday at the old track was recorded as the fastest ever in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, beating the previous record of 130.152 set in 1998 by Dale Earnhardt. Jr. by 1.082 mph.

The fast race was really due to the 160 laps they raced under a green flag. Logano had the pole advantage and due to this was ahead for the first 18 laps, before Kyle Busch made his move. By the time they reached the 26th lap things became a lot tighter on the track, when the caution flag was raised due to a spin by Brian Scott. The caution flag was raised again during Lap 37, when Donnie Neuenberger ran into the wall. By this time in the race, the race car of Joey Logano was running noticeably slower on the track. This prompted Joey to come into the pits for a long stop, during which time he had this to say.

“[Busch was] really fast in the beginning of the race and we were really loose,” Logano said. “I even wanted to stop at the caution before that. But we decided to stay out a little bit longer and got that next caution. We took that hit on pit road making these big adjustments. “These Nationwide races are short and you have to make big swings early. [Crew chief] Jeremy [Bullins] made some big swings on this thing and got it close, and we just needed the one more stop to fine tune it. I was just able to run my race and take care of the tires, and do the right things in the car.”

The extended pit stop worked wonders for the race car of Logano and Busch had elected to stay out on the track and gain ground, instead of pitting. When Busch eventually had to head into the pit during Lap 87, the rest of the field followed his example a few laps later, and this put Busch behind the rest of the racers on pit stops, and would mean he would need to stop one more time before the end of the race.

By this time the tires of Logano were 30 laps newer than the race tires of Busch and he started to rapidly gain ground on the leader. He caught Busch on Lap 141 and from that point on there was nothing but open race track between him and the finish line.

Logano “When your car drives good here and you have what you need, when you have lapped traffic it doesn’t even slow you down,” Logano said. “When you’re loose, you get stuck. In these Nationwide races, being able to get through the lapped traffic as quick as possible is key to winning these things.”

At the press conference after the 5-Hour Energy 200 Joey Logano had a few things to say.

Joey Logano – No. 22 Hertz Ford Mustang – We had a fast race car.  I don’t know what else I need to say.  This Hertz Ford was really good when we unloaded and then throughout practice the track changed on us a little bit and last night we made some good changes on the race car.  Jeremy and all the guys and girls on the team did a good job tuning the thing up for me.  We started the race too loose and they went for it.  These Nationwide races are short.  You’ve got to make big swings real early and I feel like Jeremy and I have worked enough together now that when I say loose and how loose he kind of knows how much it is and he made some big swings on this thing and got it pretty close.  Then we needed one more stop to just kind of fine-tune it.  After that second green-flag stop it was dialed in pretty good.  I was just able to run my race and take care of the tires, make sure I was doing the right things in the car, and get another victory.  It’s just really cool to get four in a row here at Dover.  That’s pretty awesome.  It’s been my favorite race track ever since I started here, yes, even when I barrel-rolled down the back straightaway it’s still my favorite place, and I think we showed it today.  Hopefully, my Shell/Pennzoil Ford tomorrow is just as fast as this one.  If that’s the case, it’s gonna be a lot of fun.”

The No. 22 Hertz Ford

The crew chief for the No. 22 Hertz Ford Mustang, Jeremy Bullins, also had few comments on the race and car.

Jeremy Bullins – Crew Chief -No. 22 Hertz Ford Mustang “It means a lot that we’re continuing to build good cars.  This is another brand new car that the guys at the shop built.  We just keep pushing forward and, like Joey said, the first race here we learned a lot about what the car needs for him.  I feel like we’ve learned a lot about, like what he says, when he says ‘loose’ we’re learning how to work on it and we’re getting closer with that.  We talked about it before the race, there were a lot of streaks to be kept alive today and I think we managed to pull that off, so it was just a great day on pit road.  The guys did a good job.  The whole team just did an excellent job today.”

When asked why it has been so hard for him to have success on the race track on Sunday at Dover International Speedway, Joey answered.

Joey Logano “I tell you what, on the Cup side I really do feel like I’ve had some strong cars here.  I’ve had a lot of misfortune in the Cup races, but I’ve had a lot of fast race cars here that are capable of running top five.  I’ve had loose wheels.  I’ve had flat tires.  I’ve had motors blowing up.  I’ve gone through a lot here at this race track and that’s why if you look at the stats like you did, you wouldn’t know that we ran as well as we did, but we have run really well at this race track on the Cup side.  I’m expecting tomorrow to be similar, I hope.  As far as the way the Chase has gone, Chicago, we were doing everything we were supposed to do.  We got the pole and we were leading laps, but unfortunately things break on race cars every now and again and that cost us a really good finish there and a lot of points, obviously.  Last week at Loudon, it’s probably my toughest race track that I go to.  I go from the place that I hate the most to the place I love the most this week and we came out of there with a 14^th-place finish, which is not good, but, for me, is decent actually.  We come here this weekend and we know that we can still run up there.  We still have a lot of momentum on this team and we know what we did to get in the Chase and how good we are, and we’ve just got to keep pushing forward and keep fighting.  I always say that the 22 team over there never quits and they never die and that’s what we did to get here.  We’re not out of it yet.  We can still win it.  We’ve got a tough road ahead of us and we really can’t have a bad race in the next eight, but we can still do it.  We’re not out yet.  The fat lady is not singing yet.  She’s warming up her voice, but she’s not singing yet.”

Was it surprising to see this race run 160 laps to the finish line without a caution and were you surprised how easily you caught up to Busch after the series of green flags evened out? 

Joey Logano “Yes and yes.  They were really fast in the beginning of the race.  We were really loose, so I even wanted to stop the caution before that because we were hanging on.  We were pretty loose, but we decided to stay out a little bit longer and then got that next caution.  We took our hit on pit road a little bit making these big adjustments that we were gonna lose a couple spots and some guys took two, and then we were able to drive our way close to the front and then, obviously, he didn’t pit so he has to pit earlier than us, and then at that point we have newer tires so we were able to kind of run him back down.  I don’t really know what happened after that.  I was just driving in circles as fast as I could.”

“That’s when we just came out on new tires and I radioed in to Jeremy and said, ‘This car is right on.  It’s right where I need it to be,’ and I was able to carry really fast lap times.  When your car drives good here and you have exactly what it needs, when you get to lap traffic it doesn’t even slow you down.  But if it’s loose like it was, you get to a lapped car and you’re just kind of stuck and you can’t go anywhere.  He had it right where I needed to be that I was able to pass cars when I got to them and really make up that gap a lot because in these Nationwide races having a fast car is one thing, but being able to get through the lap traffic as quick as possible is key to winning these things.”

 

 

 

 

Kyle Busch Looks for First Sprint Cup Series Win at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Kyle Busch will be even happier if he wins the up coming Bank of America 500

Concord, North Carolina (Oct. 12, 2013) – Kyle Busch will be looking to win at the Charlotte Motor Speedway for the thirteenth time during the upcoming Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Series race on October 12, 2013. His twelve victories at the old track in North Carolina rank him first in Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series wins, but he still hasn’t managed to win a Sprint Cup Series race on the legendary 1.5-mile superspeedway in Charlotte.

Charlotte Motor Speedway is a 1.5-mile monster drivers either love or hate, or both

Kyle recently stated he was looking forward to getting his first Sprint Cup Series win during the Bank of America 500, and taking home a Bruton Smith trophy to put on his mantle.

Kyle is ready to race on October 12 for his chance at a championship

Kyle Busch “That elusive win in the Cup series has eluded us here,” Busch said. “We’ve had a lot of great runs – some second place finishes and third place finishes and a lot of good runs where we’ve led a lot of laps, but in the last run of the race it seems like we’re just a little bit off. But we’re looking forward to Oct. 12 here at the Bank of America 500 and being able to take home one of those nice gold (Bruton Smith) trophies.”

Kyle will need to have a strong Bank of America 500 on October 12, if he wants to make a run at winning the Chase. This race will be the fifth of the ten races included in the Chase, and he’ll need to have a strong position heading into this event. His overall record on this superspeedway gives him a good chance, one would think, but anything can happen out on the track. Once you get out there all previous records get thrown out the window and it’s everybody for himself. He’ll need Lady Luck on his side, if he’s going to be successful.

Kyle certainly knows the value of this race, “You want to get off to a good start (in the Chase),” he said. “Our team, the Joe Gibbs Racing team, obviously has gotten off to a good start. Once you get past the halfway point, that’s sort of when you define the contenders… That’s when you know who you’re going to be racing against for the championship.”

Winner of two Bank of America 500 races and NASCAR legend Dale Jarrett was recently asked if he had some advice to give Kyle Busch on how to win at the old track in North Carolina. “What am I going to tell Kyle Busch about winning here? He obviously knows how to win,” said Jarrett, who was seated in front of all 12 of Busch’s trophies from his Nationwide and Camping World Truck series wins at Charlotte. “He’s, if not the best driver I’ve seen come through the ranks of NASCAR, he’s certainly one of the top three. It’s just incredible what he does with a racecar. What I can offer is that, as much as you can have a good car – he has plenty of talent – but good fortune is probably the best thing you can have on your side.”

Kyle Busch fans can watch their hero race for his thirteenth win and first Sprint Cup Series victory at the superspeedway in Charlotte on October 12, 2013. They can also catch all of the fun happening on October 10 and 11, like the Bojangles’ Pole Night and the UNOH Southern Slam, and the Dollar General 300. Just tell them Warren sent you over to have some fun.

Ford Racing Makes Henry Proud in 2011

One hundred and ten years after first Ford racing victory

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 15, 2011 – Henry Ford would certainly be proud.

One hundred and ten years after the Ford Motor Company founder brought home a victory in his one and only auto race as a driver, Ford racing teams and drivers around the world brought home victories and championships in the program’s 110th anniversary season.

In Ford’s most visible worldwide programs, Ford Fiesta drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala of the Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team finished second and fourth in the World Rally Championship after a spirited battle that went down to the final event. The Ford WRC duo captured three wins during the season. In all, Fiesta had its most successful year in rally, capturing 16 regional and national championships worldwide.

In NASCAR Sprint Cup, Ford Fusion driver Carl Edwards ended up in a points tie for the Championship, but lost the tie-breaker (number of wins). Edwards ended up second and Roush Fenway teammate Matt Kenseth fourth in the most competitive NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship in history. In addition, rookie driver Trevor Bayne won the Daytona 500 for the Wood Brothers, capturing Ford’s 600th win at the Cup level.

In NASCAR Nationwide, Mustang scored its first NASCAR win and Ford driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. captured his first NASCAR Nationwide Driver’s Championship, and helped Ford capture the series’ manufacturer’s title as well.

In NHRA Funny Car drag racing, all five Ford Mustang drivers made the championship playoffs, Ford drivers won 12 times (including Ford’s 200th win in the class), and John Force Racing’s Mike Neff finished fourth and Robert Hight fifth in the championship.

In Rallycross, Ford Fiesta driver Tanner Foust captured the inaugural Global Rallycross Championship and Ford Focus driver Sverre Isachsen captured the European Rallycross Championship, with Foust finishing second. Brian Deegan led a 1-2-3 Ford Fiesta sweep of X Games medals with Foust and Marcus Gronholm.

In off-road racing, Ford continued to showits dominance in desert competition, winning seven total championships in LOORS, Best in the Desert and ABSA Off-Road competition.

In Touring Car, Andy Yan captured the ChineseTouring Car Championship in a Ford Focus, Paul Brown won the SCCA World Challenge GTS title in a Mustang Boss 302S and there were successful winning efforts put forth for Mustang Boss 302R in Grand-Am and Focus in British Touring Car.

“It’s been an incredible year for Ford racing teams and drivers around the world,” said Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing, NorthAmerica. “And we’re proud that we still race today for the same reasons Mr. Ford did – to prove out our products against the best competition, and then to market that success to help the company sell more cars and trucks. There’s no question that our winning racing program worldwide helps lift the favorability of the Ford brand.”

“This has been an outstanding season for the Ford Fiesta in rallying, winning so many championships around the world,“ said Gerard Quinn, Ford of Europe motorsport chief. “In its competitive debut the Ford Fiesta RSWRC took a podium lock-out at Rally Sweden and finished the season in similar fashion at the final round, Wales Rally GB. As a factory prepared rallycar or in the hands of private competitors the Ford Fiesta is proving to have the competitive DNA that has seen Ford so successful in rallying over many decades.“

Here’s a listing ofFord championships and awards for 2011 around the world:

· Tanner Foust, Ford Fiesta – Global RallyCrossSuper Rally Championship

· Tanner Foust, Ford Fiesta – Global RallyCrossRallyCross Championship

· Tanner Foust, Ford Fiesta – Global RallyCrossChampionship Overall Champion

· Brian Deegan, Ford Fiesta – X GamesRallyCross Champion

· Ford Motor Company – Global RallyCrossChampionship Manufacturers Champion

· Brian Deegan, Ford F-150 Raptor – Lucas OilOff Road Racing Series Pro 2 Unlimited Champion

· Brian Deegan, Ford Ranger – Lucas Oil OffRoad Racing Series Pro Lite Unlimited

· Sverre Isachsen,Ford Focus – European Rallycross Championship

· Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford Mustang – NASCAR Nationwide Championship

· Ford – NASCARNationwide Manufacturer’s Championship

· NASCAR EngineBuilder of the Year – Doug Yates, FR9 NASCAR Engine

· SCCA WorldChallenge GTS Championship – Paul Brown, Ford Mustang Boss 302S

· SCCA WorldChallenge GTS Manufacturer’s Championship – Ford Mustang Boss 302S

· Best in the Desert Series Class 7100 – BlakeHenn; Ford Ranger

· Best in the Desert Class 7200 – AlHogan; Ford F-150

· Best in the Desert Class 8000 – Dr. MacraeGlass; Ford F-150

· Best in the Desert Class 8100 – Tim Casey; Ford F-250

· Norwegian Rally Championship – Mads Ostberg,Ford Fiesta

· Swedish Rally Championship – Pontus Tideman,Ford Fiesta

· Finnish Rally Championship (R2 Cup) – JukkaKorhonen, Ford Fiesta

· Australian Rally Championship (2WD) – RazvanVlad, Ford Fiesta

· New Zealand Rally Championship (2WD) – BenHunt, Ford Fiesta

· British Rally Challenge Championship (2WD) –Jack Rowe, Ford Fiesta

· Turkish Rally Championship – Yagiz Avci, FordFiesta

· Austrian Rally Championship (2WD) – PiaSchirnhofer, Ford Fiesta

· South Africa Rally Championship – ConradRautenbach, Ford Fiesta

· FIA African Rally Championship – ConradRautenbach, Ford Fiesta

· Argentine Rally Championship – FedericoVillagra, Ford Fiesta

· FIA Middle East Rally Championship – NasserAl-Attiyah, Ford Fiesta

· Chinese Touring Car Driver’s Championship –Andy Yan, Ford Focus

· Chinese Touring Car Team Championship –Changan Ford Racing Team

· Brazil Prototype S2000 – Ford, Best RacingEngine

· Brazilian Touring Car Championship – Ford,Best Racing Engine

· ABSA Off Road Championship –Ford Ranger TDCi, Manufacturer’s Championship

# # #

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 166,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.

Drivers Revved Up On Return of Legends Million to Charlotte Motor Speedway

CONCORD, N.C. (June 23, 2011) – Just one week after the announcement

was made about the second-annual Legends Million race at Charlotte Motor

Speedway, buzz is already beginning to circulate among drivers anxious for

another shot to win the prestigious race.

The Legends Million, held Aug. 1 and 2, will once again provide the

biggest Legend Car and Bandolero purse of the year and is expected to draw a

large field of competitors including some of the biggest names in racing.

 

Kevin Harvick, Inc. development driver Gray Gaulding made history in

2010 as the youngest competitor to run in the Legends Million at the tender

age of 12. The youngster is thrilled that Bruton Smith, chairman and CEO of

Speedway Motorsports, Inc., the parent company of Charlotte Motor Speedway

and U.S. Legend Cars International, is bringing the event back for a second

year.

“I first have to thank Bruton Smith for bringing back the Legends

Million,” said Gaulding. “You’ve got 300 cars trying to make a 30-car field.

It’s really special for the young talent coming up through the ranks to put

up that big of a check.

“I’m really looking forward to it. Hopefully we can get a win. Last

year we had some bad luck with a coil going out, but there is always this

year.”

The 2009 U.S. Legend Cars International Semi-Pro Asphalt Oval

champion, Kenzie Ruston, shares a similar opinion with Gaulding.

“I was surprised to hear about the second-annual Legends Million,”

said Ruston. “It really shows how considerate Bruton is to put up that money

for a young kid to have the chance to win again. I haven’t been in a Legend

Car since the last Million, so I will just be happy to make the show and I’d

be thrilled with a top-10 finish.”

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver David Ragan turned some heads in the

garage during Monday’s Summer Shootout practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway

when he showed up to run his No. 6 UPS Legend Car.

“With the second-annual Legends Million coming up it gives me an

opportunity to practice a little bit,” said Ragan. “I’ve got Aug. 1 and 2

kinda marked out in my calendar, so hopefully we can make it and get a

little practice that will go a long way.”

Last year, Ragan started on the outside pole for the feature event

and stayed near the front to take home a fourth-place finish.

Tyler Green, the 2010 Summer Shootout Pro division champion at

Charlotte Motor Speedway, is ready to improve upon his fifth-place finish

from last year’s $1 million race.

“I’m definitely excited that they are going to have another one,”

said Green. “It’s going to be a huge race again. I was disappointed in my

fifth-place finish last year because we ran a lot better through the season.

I just feel like we have a lot to prove in this year’s Million.”

Wentzville, Mo., native, Kyle Weatherman, finished 21st in the

inaugural event last year and is looking forward to a second chance to win

the big money.

“When they first announced the Legends Million race this year, I was

excited and I was pumped up because I feel like I struggled in the last

one,” said the 13-year-old Weatherman. “I think I can make an improvement

this year.”

Weatherman’s 12-year-old brother Clayton will make his first

appearance in the Legends Million this year after winning the Bandolero

Bandits feature at the event in 2010.

“When they came out with the second Legends Million, I was excited

because I didn’t think I was going to get to race one,” said the younger

Weatherman. “My brother got to do one last year and I didn’t get to because

I was too young. I’m just really excited and I think I can get a top five.”

Drivers can register for the Legends Million at

http://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com. All Legend Car competitors 12 years of age

or older may register. The race is not restricted by division. All minors 17

or younger must complete a minor waiver, which is available for download at

http://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/waivers.

Registration is free with the purchase of a new Legend Car from U.S.

Legend Cars International.

For additional information on competitor registration for the

Legends Million, visit http://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or call the Charlotte

Motor Speedway events department at (704) 455-3205. For more information

about U.S. Legend Cars International and Legend Cars, visit

http://www.uslegendscars.com or call U.S. Legend Cars International’s headquarters

at (704) 455-3896.

Tickets to the Legends Million race are just $10 for adults and

children 12 and under are admitted free. To purchase tickets, call the

Charlotte Motor Speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267) or go online

to http://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

Connect with Charlotte Motor Speedway on Twitter at

http://www.twitter.com/CLTMotorSpdwy or become a Facebook fan at

http://www.facebook.com/charlottemotorspeedway.

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INAUGURAL KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES QUAKER STATE 400 SELLS OUT

 

Infield Pit Road Club and standing room only tickets are on sale now

SPARTA, Ky. – Kentucky Speedway announces it has sold out the 107,000 grandstand tickets available for the inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series “Quaker State 400.”

Fans who wish to witness NASCAR history July 9 can still take advantage of the speedway’s Pit Road Club that offers an infield view of the race action from behind pit road wall or $60 standing room only tickets that will provide access to the Turn 1 and Turn 4 concourses.

Both can be purchased at http://www.kentuckyspeedway.com or by phone at 888-652-7223 and 859-578-2300.

“Selling out the inaugural ‘Quaker State 400’ with more than a week before the event is a great testament to this market and our fans. Our packed stands will combine with overflowing corporate display, hospitality and camping to create an electric atmosphere as we make Kentucky sports history,” Kentucky Speedway General Manager Mark Simendinger said.

The speedway’s sold out exterior and infield campgrounds will open on Tuesday, July 5 at noon. Fans still seeking race week campsites can visit http://www.kentuckyspeedway.com and click “Camping” in the top navigation bar for a listing of campgrounds offering good options within walking distance of the speedway and in the surrounding area.

Race week festivities begin Wednesday, July 6, when NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team haulers visit Cincinnati, Ohio, Lexington, Ky., and Louisville, Ky.

Roush Fenway Racing (RFR) haulers will visit Fourth Street Live! in downtown Louisville from 11:30 a.m., to 1:00 p.m.; Cincinnati fans can meet Mayor Mark Mallory while viewing Joe Gibbs Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing team haulers at the corner of Fifth St., and Race St., near the Millennium Hotel from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; and Lexington, Ky., will play host to 35 to 40 haulers at Hamburg Place at 2350 Grey Lag Way from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., before they depart on a 12-mile parade that will traverse the city by way of Sir Barton Way, Winchester Rd., Midland Ave., E. Main St., and Newtown Pike.

Kentucky Speedway’s first NASCAR tripleheader weekend opens Thursday, July 7 with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series “UNOH 225” and additionally features the NASCAR Nationwide Series “Feed The Children 300” on Friday, July 8. Tickets for both events can be reserved through the Kentucky Speedway Web site and ticket office phone numbers.

New NASCAR-Themed ESPN “It’s Not Crazy, It’s Sports” Spot Debuts Friday

The latest spot from ESPN’s “It’s Not Crazy, It’s Sports” campaign celebrates the connection of NASCAR fans to the car number of their favorite drivers.

 

In the spot, Jeff Gordon fans incorporate his number 24 into their everyday lives, in decorations and license plates and even in a child’s mashed potatoes. The commercial features the theme song from the classic racing movie “Six Pack” and was created by Wieden+Kennedy New York.

 

The spot debuts on ESPN networks on Friday, July 1, and is the 13th in ESPN’s ongoing “It’s Not Crazy, It’s Sports” campaign, which launched in 2010.

 

ESPN’s live telecasts of the final 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races of the season begin with the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 31, at 1 p.m. ET.

Visit http://www.espnmediazone.com for ESPN’s latest releases, schedules and other news, plus photos, video and audio clips and more.

 

 

 

About NASCAR on ESPN:

 

ESPN produces comprehensive, multi-platform coverage featuring telecasts of the final 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup races, including the 10-race “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Additionally, ESPN2 is the television home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series. ESPN’s NASCAR coverage extends to ESPN.com, SportsCenter, ESPN the Magazine, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio and ESPN International, among other ESPN platforms. ESPN aired 262 NASCAR Cup Races over a 20-year period starting in 1981 and returned to NASCAR coverage in 2007. The network’s award-winning, live flag-to-flag coverage on ESPN has been honored with 19 Sports Emmy Awards, as well as many industry honors. It is widely credited for helping to popularize the sport nationwide.

 

 

 

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TBR Makes Steps Toward Growth

Hires seven crew members; Philippe Lopez to crew chief Blaney

 

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. (June 30, 2011) – Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) recently hired seven key crewmembers for both the No. 35 and 36 teams. With the addition of the second-team, owner Tommy Baldwin hired crew chief Philippe Lopez for the No. 36 Chevrolet. The new hires allowed for shifting to create two solid teams. All teams will work their first races together in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway this weekend.

 

“We have recently hired seven more people and put them in the areas they need to be to make our program better,” explained Baldwin. “Philippe is a well-respected crew chief, and someone I can trust to do a good job for TBR. I’m excited that now this allows me to dedicate more time toward the future of TBR from both the competition and business sides.”

 

Lopez previously worked with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) drivers Darrell Waltrip, Ward Burton, Steve Park and Blaney. Lopez and Baldwin also worked together, as they were co-crew chiefs at Bill Davis Racing. Lopez collected four top-fives, 13 top-10s and one pole throughout his 15-year NSCS career.

 

“I’m excited to be with TBR,” explained Lopez. “I have always worked with underdogs. I really enjoy the challenge. I look forward to helping the team grow to where I see it can. I have a lot of respect for Tommy. We both started programs two years ago. He started TBR, and I started with Nemco. He has weathered the storm and turned a start-and-park program into a full-time team. He’s really the only one to do that.”

 

“Tommy and I work really well together because we are such opposites,” he continued. “Together, we made good co-crew chiefs. I would settle him down, and he would rile me up. We evened each other out. I look forward to continuing that relationship.”

 

Lopez will reunite with Dave Blaney for a third time. The pair previously worked together in 2005 at Richard Childress Racing and 2001 at Bill Davis Racing. The twosome made 26 starts and collected two top-10 finishes.

 

“I’m really happy to be back with Philippe,” explained Blaney. “We worked together a couple of times, and we have a really good relationship.”

 

“It’s cool to be back with Dave. We had a lot of success right off the bat. We had three top-15 finishes in our first four starts together at Bill Davis. We just clicked. We worked together again later at RCR and almost won at Dover.”

 

In addition to the personnel changes, TBR is also making changes on the competition side by taking the first steps to developing their own chassis.

 

“I am really excited about the state of TBR right now,” explained Baldwin. “We are quickly moving forward with our progress on the competition side. We have completed our first phase of wind tunnel testing with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and now have the direction we need to further along our program in that department. We have also just purchased an RCR car that we will be racing next week in Kentucky. While all this has been going on, we have completed the drawings for our first TBR-designed chassis. We will start building it next week with the goal of debuting in the September New Hampshire race.”

 

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.