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.

A week of fun and entertainment for all
One of the few true race arenas left, Bristol is a lot of fun.

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.

 

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 improving parking facility at the Kentucky Speedway
Speedway Motorsports Inc. is improving parking facility 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.”

Joey Logano Wins Third Nationwide Series Race of 2013 in 5-Hour Energy 200

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

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 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 14th-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 Looking for Win Number Thirteen at Charlotte During Bank of America 500

Kyle looking like a million bucks
Kyle looking like a million bucks

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
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 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.

5-hour ENERGY returns as the sponsor of the spring NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Dover International Speedway

Jan. 4, 2012

“5-hour ENERGY 200” back for 2012

DOVER, Del. – Dover International Speedway and 5-hour ENERGY® are proud to announce that they have renewed their partnership into the future, with 5-hour ENERGY serving as the title sponsor for the June 2, 2012 “5-hour ENERGY 200” NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the Monster Mile.

Race fans who visit the track on race weekend will have the chance to try 5-hour ENERGY while enjoying the action on the track, as brand representatives will be stationed throughout the Speedway and Dover Downs Hotel & Casino passing out complimentary samples.

“We are pleased to extend our partnership with Dover International Speedway and Dover Downs Hotel & Casino. The staff does a great job in helping us achieve our marketing objectives and expose new consumers to the benefits of 5-hour ENERGY. We look forward to another great 5-hour ENERGY 200,” said Rise Meguiar, vice president of sales for Living Essentials, makers of 5-hour ENERGY.

The extension at Dover International Speedway is just another step in a growing NASCAR presence for 5-hour ENERGY, as the company was the sponsor for the 2011 spring NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the Monster Mile. In addition, 5-hour ENERGY will have a full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series presence next year as the primary sponsor for the Michael Waltrip Racing No. 15 Toyota, driven by Clint Bowyer.

“We’re happy to extend our partnership with 5-hour ENERGY,” said Denis McGlynn, president and CEO of Dover Motorsports, Inc. “Our unique location in the heart of the mid-Atlantic region, which features the largest sporting venue in the area, a 500-room hotel and full-service casino, provides 5-hour ENERGY with the opportunity to interact with hundreds of thousands of existing and potential customers.”

Fans can follow 5-hour ENERGY on Twitter at @5hourENERGYGuy, “like” the Facebook page at Facebook.com/5hourENERGYShot or log on to www.5hourENERGY.com for more information about 5-hour ENERGY products, the motorsports program, and various contests and promotions.

In addition to the June 2, 2012 “5-hour ENERGY 200” NASCAR Nationwide Series race, tickets are now on sale for the June 1, 2012 “Lucas Oil 200” NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race and June 3, 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. For tickets or more information, call 800-441-RACE or visit DoverSpeedway.com.

About 5-hour ENERGY®

5-hour ENERGY® is the original liquid energy shot. Introduced in 2004, it is designed to help working adults maintain a feeling of energy and alertness. It contains a blend of B-vitamins and amino acids, zero sugar, four calories, and as much caffeine as a cup of the leading premium coffee. It’s available at most major retailers.

# # #

Dover Motorsports, Inc. is a leading promoter of NASCAR sanctioned motorsports events whose subsidiaries own and operate Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware and Nashville Superspeedway near Nashville, Tennessee. For further information, log on to www.dovermotorsports.com.

MIS Serves as Community Fund-Raising Platform

Speedway, Americrown dole out more than $618,000 to local service groups in 2011

Brooklyn, Mich. (Dec. 22, 2011) – The spirit of giving isn’t just a seasonal belief at Michigan International Speedway; it’s the racetrack’s way of life, providing a valuable fund-raising platform for the community.

In 2011 alone, Michigan International Speedway and its catering and concession partner Americrown donated or paid out more than $618,000 to local charities and service groups through cash donations and work programs.

The speedway and Americrown annually work with service groups, church groups, Kiwanis, Rotary and Lions clubs, masons, high school sporting clubs and a host of other non-profit organizations to provide a platform for those groups to earn money for their causes and programs during the racetrack’s events.

Imagine how long it would take a high school cheer leading team to generate more than a half-million dollars. That’s a lot of bake sales, car washes and lemonade stands.

“We provide many annual opportunities for local clubs to earn some money for their groups,” speedway President Roger Curtis said. “We couldn’t run our business without the help of these clubs; but they certainly couldn’t raise the money they need without us, either.”

Service groups annually and frequently assist MIS in a number of ways including tram drivers, car parkers, ticket stubbers, program sellers, T-shirt folders, gate staffers, hamburger flippers and soda jerkers.

Members of Acts 4:9 Church, a Jackson, Mich., church and Bible study group, drive trams at MIS on race weekends so they can earn money to fund projects in the community. They adopt deployed soldiers and their families for Christmas, buy Thanksgiving and Christmas turkeys for local families in need and, most recently, enclosed a screened-in porch of a local food bank so the food bank could use the new space for much-needed storage with some of the funds they raised.

“By far, the most money we raise is at MIS,” Tim Lamphere, treasurer and project coordinator for Acts 4:9, said. “We would never be able to make as much money as we do to fund these important projects or make the impact that we do without the speedway. And we have fun while we’re there, too.”

The group has been working at MIS for about six years, though many of the members have worked at the racetrack for much longer.

Additionally, MIS Cares, the speedway’s charity arm, recently awarded $75,000 in cash donations to local charities through its annual grant program. Another $50,000 was awarded through sponsorships and tickets that groups raffle off, also to raise money for their clubs.

Service groups interested in assisting at MIS for future events may call Tim Booth, director of Guest Services, at 517-592-6666 to place your service group on a list.

Groups looking for grants or financial assistance should log onto http://www.MISpeedway.com and click the MIS Cares link at the top of the page.

Nestled in the lush Irish Hills of Southeastern Michigan, Michigan International Speedway is the Great Escape, a venerable NASCAR national park where fans can get away and enjoy the very best in racing and camaraderie. It’s the love of racing and the thrill of a great time for race fans and drivers alike.

The best, guaranteed lowest prices in 2012 will go to customers who make a $10 goodwill deposit. New customers can log onto http://www.MISpeedway.com or call 800-354-1010 to leave a deposit by Jan. 31. That deposit ensures race fans get the best pricing for 2012.

All other tickets go on sale Feb. 1.

Michigan International Speedway 2012 Schedule

Saturday, May 19 Great Lakes Wine Fest presented by Jackson County CVB

Friday, June 15 ARCA Racing Series RainEater Wiper Blades 200

Saturday, June 16 NASCAR Nationwide Series Alliance Truck Parts 250

Sunday, June 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Friday, Aug. 17 Gatorade Pole Day

Saturday, Aug. 18 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

Sunday, Aug. 19 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Tuesday, Sept. 11 Spirit of America Blood Drive

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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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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Edwards Wins Michigan Nationwide Race in Ford FR9

Mooresville, NC (June 20, 2011) Carl Edwards took his Roush Yates powered FR9 to Victory Lane in front of Ford country on Saturday at Michigan International Speedway. With 9 laps to go, Edwards passed Ford teammate Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to win the Alliance Truck Parts 250 and give Roush Fenway Racing three cars finishing in the top five. Edwards, Stenhouse Jr., and Bayne dominated the race, leading a combined 101 of the 125 lap event. Other Roush Yates engine drivers showcasing their power this weekend were Ryan Grubaugh and Chuck Hebing in the Sprint Car series and Josh Richards in the World of Outlaw Late Model series.

“Ricky drove his heart out — that guy is unbelievable,” Edwards said in victory lane. “I didn’t think I was going to be able to get him, but it was like his car got tightened up. Man, he did a good job. … I thought Ricky was setting sail. He’s someone I’m a little nervous about in the future.”

Stenhouse held on to second place, crossing the finish line 1.669 seconds behind Edwards, and took the lead in the series standings by two points over eighth-place finisher Elliott Sadler.

“We just got too tight there at the end,” said Stenhouse. “It was a good one-two finish for Jack and everyone at Roush Yates Engines. This track definitely needs a motor and we have it. This was a great day for Ford, we wanted a one-two-three finish, but three cars in the top-five and one-two is pretty good.”

Roush Yates experienced success on the dirt tracks as well this weekend. Ryan Grubaugh won at Cherry Raceway on Friday night in the Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt series. Grubaugh is currently second in the series points for 2011 and races a Roush Yates Sprint 360 engine. Chuck Hebing won at Lebanon Valley Speedway on Saturday night, earning his first Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints win of the season.

Josh Richards found Victory Lane in the Ernie Davis Roush Yates powered Ford at Winchester Speedway in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. This is Richards’ 29th career World of Outlaws triumph, breaking his tie with Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky. and becoming the circuit’s winningest driver since 2004.

Anyone can get the same power and performance shown by Carl Edwards and Josh Richards for their own race car by purchasing Roush Yates proven performance products. Check out their new and improved website at http://www.roushyatesparts.com or call 1-877-RYPP.

About Roush Yates Engines

Roush Yates Engines designs, engineers and crafts high performance racing engines with the power to perform and the horsepower and durability you’d expect from legendary NASCAR pioneers Jack Roush and Robert Yates. The partnership of power and precision has come from merging the knowledge and experience of two legendary engine builders, both with a passion for winning today and powering up for tomorrow. In 2009 Doug Yates purchased his father’s half of Roush Yates Engines to become a co-owner in the company. As CEO, Doug Yates leads a staff of 180 engineers and technicians who design, assemble, test, and service racing engines at two separate state-of-the-art facilities in Mooresville, North Carolina. Here, the best minds and latest technology are hard at work producing nearly 1,500 racing engines each year for teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, ARCA, Grand-Am, FIA GT3, Dirt Late Model, Sprint cars, and NHRA Pro Stock. At Roush Yates Engines, the mission is Power Performance, which is achieved through innovation, design, precision engineering, and skillful craftsmanship. Building the best engines in racing today, providing service that’s second to none, and honoring a commitment to research and development are the heart of Roush Yates Engines.

Helluva Good! 400

  • There are 12 Fords participating in the Helluva Good! 400 at Michigan International Speedway.

• The race marks the long awaited return of Daytona 500 champion Trevor Bayne to the Wood Brothers No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford.

• Bayne has not raced on the Cup side since Talladega.

• As a manufacturer, Ford has posted 10 wins (8 points wins) since the June 2010 Michigan race.

• As a manufacturer, Ford has taken the checkered flag 31 times at Michigan, the most of any manufacturer.

• The most recent Ford win at MIS came in 2008 when Carl Edwards grabbed the checkered flag at the fall race.

• Edwards, Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle are all two-time winners at MIS.

• A pair of Ford owners, the Wood Brothers and Jack Roush, are tied for the most owner wins at MIS with 11 apiece.

• Hall of Famer David Pearson piloted his Wood Brothers Mercury to the most wins in MIS track history with nine and the most poles with 10.

 

Matt Kenseth, driver of the No. 17 Crown Royal Ford Fusion, met with media members outside his hauler prior to the first Cup practice session Friday at Michigan International Speedway.

 

THE TRACK JUST ANNOUNCED A REPAVE COMING HERE AFTER THE AUGUST RACE. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT? “I don’t know. I think that some of the tracks, like Daytona that came apart, and Martinsville, from the driver’s seat you don’t want them repaved because you like it when it gets slick and the tires slow down and you have to manage the car and drive the car a lot more than a freshly paved race track. They know better than we do what condition the asphalt is in and how long it will stay down and that type of thing. I hate it when they repave tracks because I think you can pass really good on tracks that are wore out and it is more fun as a driver to manage old tires versus new tires and all that stuff. Obviously sometimes there is a need to repave them tough.”

 

TRACKS DO CHANGE WHEN THEY GET REPAVED THOUGH AND TEND TO BE ONE GROOVE FOR AWHILE AND THIS IS NOT A ONE GROOVE RACE TRACK. “Yeah, I don’t know if this place will really turn one groove because it is a little different. It is flatter on the bottom and the track is incredibly wide. A lot of the new pavement at tracks like Charlotte for instance, the groove was higher than before they repaved it with this particular car, depending on the tire they bring. The last race in Charlotte we were all stuck on the bottom. Depending on the tire, hopefully the track will still be wide and we will still be able to race good on it.”

 

FUEL MILEAGE IS ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT HERE AT MICHIGAN. ANY CONVERSTAIONS YOU HAVE HAD WITH YOUR TEAM ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO ONCE THE GREEN FLAG GOES OR IS IT CIRCUMSTANCIAL? “There isn’t a lot the driver can do if you get in a last run and are a couple laps short or something like that then you can try to slow down and save that. You have to have the fuel mileage to start with before you can do that. If you are getting less fuel mileage than everybody else when the race starts and everybody is running hard, when everybody slows down then you are still going to be getting worse mileage than they are if they are trying to slow down. There is not a lot you can do as a drive. I haven’t had a lot of discussion with Jimmy about that. We just try to put the fastest race car we can on the track on Sunday and hopefully circumstances come down to where we are racing for the win at the end on speed.”

 

FORD RACING NOTES AND QUOTES Helluva Good! 400(Friday Advance), Page 2

June 17, 2011 Michigan International Speedway

 

MATT KENSETH CONTINUED …

THE NEW GAS CAN, WE ARE 14 RACES IN WITH IT, HOW IMPORTANT IS IT THAT THOSE GUYS GET ALL THE FUEL IN THE CAR? “It is really important. We have had that mistake a couple times. One time we were able to recover from it. At Charlotte we weren’t able to recover from it and took a car that was leading all day and put it in the back of the pack and finished mid-pack. It is really important and I think it is a lot harder for the gas man than it ever was. It flows slower and the pit stops are still the same speed as far as changing tires. It is more important than ever to get it plugged in cleanly and immediately so you aren’t leaking fuel. That position has become a lot more important than it used to be.”

 

KEVIN AND KYLE ARE OFF PROBATION NOW. WHEN GUYS ARE FUEDING AND YOU AREN’T INVOLVED, DO YOU LOOK AT IT AND ARE YOU AMUSED OR DO YOU HOPE YOU DON’T GET COLLECTED IN SOMETHING THEY ARE DOING? “When I am on a race track I don’t concern myself with any of that. I usually have more than my own share of problems that I have to figure out or take care of or work on to be competitive and win. That is what we worry about. After the race with that stuff, anybody that says it isn’t fun to watch is probably lying. It is always fun to watch conflicts and feuds and rivalries and different stuff going on that makes news. I hate being involved in it though.”

 

A YEAR AGO PEOPLE WERE ASKING WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE FORDS. NOW PEOPLE ARE SAYING YOU GUYS ARE FASTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE. IS IT ALL THE FR9 ENGINE? “It is the entire package. The engines certainly improved over the winter and the cars are greatly improved from last year. I think we still have some work to do but we have been very competitive this season showing up to the track and being pretty fast every week which makes it a lot more fun to come to the track.”

 

JACK IS TIED WITH THE WOOD BROTHERS FOR MOST WINS AT THIS TRACK. IS THERE EXTRA EMPHASIS FOR YOU GUYS WITH ROUSH INDUSTRIES AND FORD BEING LOCATED HERE? “There is no extra emphasis from my standpoint because we do the best we can every week no matter where we are at. You never show up and don’t want to win. This just happens to be one of the tracks where we perform better at than maybe some other track. It is one that I have always enjoyed since I first came here. I made my first Cup start with Roush here and have always enjoyed coming to Michigan. More times than not we have been fairly competitive here.”

 

YOU EVER SENSE ANYTHING DIFFERENT WITH JACK WHEN YOU COME TO THIS TRACK? “No, not really. I don’t but maybe somebody that sees him more during the weekend would, but I don’t.”

 

DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO GOING TO A ROAD COURSE NEXT WEEK? “Nope, not really. To say road course would be saying oval. All the ovals are way different and road courses are way different. Sears Point is kind of a difficult track with the two wide restarts and how narrow it is. It has gotten to be one of the more exciting races to watch, I think, when you go back to watch it with the two wide restarts and all the crazy stuff happening. There are a lot of people two and three wide at a track that is really single groove everywhere. A lot of stuff can happen there which is exciting but I wouldn’t say it is my favorite race of the year.”

 

IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE A ROAD COURSE CUP WIN ON YOUR RESUME? “I hope not because I don’t have one and the chances probably aren’t really great. You never know, anything can happen and we try as hard as we can every year. I haven’t done the best job, especially at that track. I feel like I do a little better job at Watkins Glen. Sears Point has been a little bit of a struggle for me.”

 

FORD RACING NOTES AND QUOTES Helluva Good! 400(Friday Advance), Page 3

June 17, 2011 Michigan International Speedway

 

MATT KENSETH CONTINUED …

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN THIS TRACK BETWEEN THIS RACE AND THE AUGUST RACE? “I don’t think there is a big difference from this race to August. It depends what it is like Sunday. The weather could be just like this in August if it is like this on Sunday. Not a lot changes in that little bit of time. As long as they come back with the same tires and rules it won’t be that different. Everybody in the garage is always learning. If you have something that works good this time it doesn’t necessarily mean it will work next time.”

 

YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN KNOWN AS A CONSISTENT DRIVER. DO YOU THINK THIS YEAR FOLLOWS THAT FOR YOU WITH NO REAL HIGHS AND NO REAL LOWS? “Not really because we have two wins and you can’t get higher than that. We have had a couple DNF’s in the plate races, so we have been on both ends of the spectrum this year. We have been consistent and our performance has been better than it usually is but maybe less consistent than we normally have been. You want both. You want performance and consistency.”