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Tuesday, August 17, 2010
NASCAR: Budweiser moving sponsorship to Harvick in 2011
From the Associated Press -- Budweiser has teamed with Sprint Cup Series points leader Kevin Harvick as a primary sponsor for most of the 2011 season.
Budweiser said Tuesday its familiar red paint scheme will be on Harvick's No. 29 Chevrolet for 20 races next season, as well as the two non-points races during Speedweeks (Harvick is the two-time defending Budweiser Shootout champion). It will be a co-primary sponsor for the Sprint All-Star Race.
The beer company will be an associate sponsor on the remaining 16 Cup races.
"Budweiser's involvement in NASCAR dates back more than three decades, and we're excited to have as successful a driver as Kevin Harvick to usher in a new era for Budweiser," said Mark Wright, vice president of media, sports and entertainment marketing for Anheuser-Busch.
Harvick and Richard Childress Racing lost current sponsor Shell-Pennzoil in April, and Harvick responded by snapping a 115-race winless streak that same week at Talladega.
Budweiser began looking for a new driver at the same time. Kasey Kahne is moving to Hendrick Motorsports in 2012, and that agreement left the longtime NASCAR sponsor in search of its third driver in three seasons.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s move in 2008 to Hendrick ended Bud's eight-year sponsorship of NASCAR's most popular driver, and the company launched an expensive re-brand with Kahne.
Now it moves to Harvick, who along with RCR is on an impressive resurgence. His victory Sunday at Michigan was his third this season, and after a rough 2009, RCR is a force both on the track and in the sponsorship race.
"Budweiser is one of the most respected sponsors in our sport," said. "They do a lot to market their teams and the sport in television broadcasts and away from the track. I'm looking forward to driving the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet, taking it to Victory Lane and winning championships."
While other teams are searching for funding -- Hendrick's Jeff Gordon doesn't have a primary sponsor lined up for next season -- RCR last week announced Paul Menard would join the organization next season with sponsorship from his father's home improvement company.
Now comes the Bud deal for Harvick, who is believed to have edged out two-time series champion Tony Stewart for the sponsorship.
"Throughout his career, Kevin has shown he can win at any level in NASCAR," Richard Childress said. "Combining his talent with Budweiser's NASCAR lineage and proven track record of innovative sponsorship activations makes this an exciting pairing for fans everywhere. RCR prides itself on its heritage and authenticity, so working with a brand like Budweiser, which has built their reputation on those same values, is a very special opportunity."
Budweiser first sponsored a team at NASCAR's top level in 1983 and has backed Terry Labonte, Darrell Waltrip, Geoff Bodine, Bill Elliott, Ken Schrader, Ricky Craven, Wally Dallenbach, Earnhardt and Kahne.
XS-Info:
Wow... I really thought that Hendrick would somehow secure Budweiser as a sponsor since he has Kahne coming his way after a year in a Red Bull car. Boy was I wrong, huh? I guess Budweiser and Kahne were never really a good enough fit to work even after the one-year transition of Kahne from RMP to HMS. This will be huge for Harvick. Nobody, in my opinion, deserves this kind of sponsorship more than Harvick. He's been rock solid at RCR. He gutted it out last year while the whole organization flailed and faltered and fell out of the top 12. Harvick has close ties to Tony Stewart and could have easily brought a solid sponsor with him to Stewart-Haas Racing if he decided to leave RCR for another team. Instead he stuck it out for another year and now has the reward to show for it. He's first in points, winning races at tracks where he is normally so-so, and he's got a huge freakin' sponsor to show for it. Good going, Kevin. This Bud's for you! - XS_Admin
Budweiser said Tuesday its familiar red paint scheme will be on Harvick's No. 29 Chevrolet for 20 races next season, as well as the two non-points races during Speedweeks (Harvick is the two-time defending Budweiser Shootout champion). It will be a co-primary sponsor for the Sprint All-Star Race.
The beer company will be an associate sponsor on the remaining 16 Cup races.
"Budweiser's involvement in NASCAR dates back more than three decades, and we're excited to have as successful a driver as Kevin Harvick to usher in a new era for Budweiser," said Mark Wright, vice president of media, sports and entertainment marketing for Anheuser-Busch.
Harvick and Richard Childress Racing lost current sponsor Shell-Pennzoil in April, and Harvick responded by snapping a 115-race winless streak that same week at Talladega.
Budweiser began looking for a new driver at the same time. Kasey Kahne is moving to Hendrick Motorsports in 2012, and that agreement left the longtime NASCAR sponsor in search of its third driver in three seasons.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s move in 2008 to Hendrick ended Bud's eight-year sponsorship of NASCAR's most popular driver, and the company launched an expensive re-brand with Kahne.
Now it moves to Harvick, who along with RCR is on an impressive resurgence. His victory Sunday at Michigan was his third this season, and after a rough 2009, RCR is a force both on the track and in the sponsorship race.
"Budweiser is one of the most respected sponsors in our sport," said. "They do a lot to market their teams and the sport in television broadcasts and away from the track. I'm looking forward to driving the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet, taking it to Victory Lane and winning championships."
While other teams are searching for funding -- Hendrick's Jeff Gordon doesn't have a primary sponsor lined up for next season -- RCR last week announced Paul Menard would join the organization next season with sponsorship from his father's home improvement company.
Now comes the Bud deal for Harvick, who is believed to have edged out two-time series champion Tony Stewart for the sponsorship.
"Throughout his career, Kevin has shown he can win at any level in NASCAR," Richard Childress said. "Combining his talent with Budweiser's NASCAR lineage and proven track record of innovative sponsorship activations makes this an exciting pairing for fans everywhere. RCR prides itself on its heritage and authenticity, so working with a brand like Budweiser, which has built their reputation on those same values, is a very special opportunity."
Budweiser first sponsored a team at NASCAR's top level in 1983 and has backed Terry Labonte, Darrell Waltrip, Geoff Bodine, Bill Elliott, Ken Schrader, Ricky Craven, Wally Dallenbach, Earnhardt and Kahne.
XS-Info:
Wow... I really thought that Hendrick would somehow secure Budweiser as a sponsor since he has Kahne coming his way after a year in a Red Bull car. Boy was I wrong, huh? I guess Budweiser and Kahne were never really a good enough fit to work even after the one-year transition of Kahne from RMP to HMS. This will be huge for Harvick. Nobody, in my opinion, deserves this kind of sponsorship more than Harvick. He's been rock solid at RCR. He gutted it out last year while the whole organization flailed and faltered and fell out of the top 12. Harvick has close ties to Tony Stewart and could have easily brought a solid sponsor with him to Stewart-Haas Racing if he decided to leave RCR for another team. Instead he stuck it out for another year and now has the reward to show for it. He's first in points, winning races at tracks where he is normally so-so, and he's got a huge freakin' sponsor to show for it. Good going, Kevin. This Bud's for you! - XS_Admin
NASCAR: Ambrose signs with Richard Petty Motorsports
CONCORD, N.C. --
In preparation for the 2011 season, Richard Petty Motorsports announced Tuesday that Marcos Ambrose has signed a multi-year agreement with the organization to drive the No. 9 Ford Fusion in the Sprint Cup Series. Long-time RPM sponsor Stanley Black & Decker will be the primary sponsor of the No. 9 team.
"I'm very excited to join Richard Petty Motorsports," Ambrose said. "It's an incredible honor to be able to race for a legend like the King and be a part of this organization. I'm also happy to be back with Ford Racing. The No. 9 team has been a very successful team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. With the support of Ford and everyone at RPM, I believe we can continue that tradition of success. I'm also excited to join forces with Stanley."
"We are very happy to have Marcos Ambrose join our team," Richard Petty said. "He's a very talented and passionate driver and will be a great addition to our team."
"We knew once Marcos became available that we wanted him to be a part of the RPM family," said Foster Gillett, managing partner and team owner. "He's a fan favorite and he's proven to be a tough competitor on track. We're thrilled to have Stanley continue their partnership with our team and believe that Marcos is a great fit for the Stanley Racing program."
Ambrose cut his racing teeth in V8 Supercar competition before making the shift to NASCAR in 2006. Through a partnership with Ford Racing, Ambrose made his American racing debut in the Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway. In 2007, the driver made the jump to the Nationwide Series where he competed for two seasons before his first full season in the Cup Series in 2009.
XS-Info:
This is a great move for Marcos Ambrose. Having watched him in Cup races, Nationwide races, and in V8 Supercars I cannot say enough about how good this guy is at driving a race car. JTG-Daugherty provided an okay car for him to drive and, when he wasn't stuck in the back of the pack and getting wrecked out of a race, he was always at the top of the pack. Hopefully RPM can give him the equipment he needs to stay near the front and finish strong week in and week out. The #43 car and the #9 car have shown this year that running strong is definitely possible at RPM - especially in recent races. Once they have the "new" FR9 engine figured out they should be able to contend for top 10 finishes every week. - XS_Admin
In preparation for the 2011 season, Richard Petty Motorsports announced Tuesday that Marcos Ambrose has signed a multi-year agreement with the organization to drive the No. 9 Ford Fusion in the Sprint Cup Series. Long-time RPM sponsor Stanley Black & Decker will be the primary sponsor of the No. 9 team.
"I'm very excited to join Richard Petty Motorsports," Ambrose said. "It's an incredible honor to be able to race for a legend like the King and be a part of this organization. I'm also happy to be back with Ford Racing. The No. 9 team has been a very successful team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. With the support of Ford and everyone at RPM, I believe we can continue that tradition of success. I'm also excited to join forces with Stanley."
"We are very happy to have Marcos Ambrose join our team," Richard Petty said. "He's a very talented and passionate driver and will be a great addition to our team."
"We knew once Marcos became available that we wanted him to be a part of the RPM family," said Foster Gillett, managing partner and team owner. "He's a fan favorite and he's proven to be a tough competitor on track. We're thrilled to have Stanley continue their partnership with our team and believe that Marcos is a great fit for the Stanley Racing program."
Ambrose cut his racing teeth in V8 Supercar competition before making the shift to NASCAR in 2006. Through a partnership with Ford Racing, Ambrose made his American racing debut in the Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway. In 2007, the driver made the jump to the Nationwide Series where he competed for two seasons before his first full season in the Cup Series in 2009.
XS-Info:
This is a great move for Marcos Ambrose. Having watched him in Cup races, Nationwide races, and in V8 Supercars I cannot say enough about how good this guy is at driving a race car. JTG-Daugherty provided an okay car for him to drive and, when he wasn't stuck in the back of the pack and getting wrecked out of a race, he was always at the top of the pack. Hopefully RPM can give him the equipment he needs to stay near the front and finish strong week in and week out. The #43 car and the #9 car have shown this year that running strong is definitely possible at RPM - especially in recent races. Once they have the "new" FR9 engine figured out they should be able to contend for top 10 finishes every week. - XS_Admin
Thursday, August 12, 2010
NASCAR: Statement From Richard Petty Motorsports Regarding Paul Menard
Concord, N.C. (August 11, 2010) - Richard Petty Motorsports issued today the following statement in regards to the announcement that Paul Menard, driver of the No. 98 Menards Ford Fusion, will depart the team in 2011.
"We have enjoyed having Paul Menard and the Menard family as a part of the Richard Petty Motorsports team this season," said NASCAR Hall of Famer and team owner Richard Petty.
"Paul is in the middle of his best season of competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and we feel like our strong commitment to him and that team in addition to the great support from Ford Racing has been a major part of that," added Foster Gillett, managing partner and team owner. "With 14 races to go, we expect the No. 98 team to finish just as strong as it started this year."
"We have enjoyed having Paul Menard and the Menard family as a part of the Richard Petty Motorsports team this season," said NASCAR Hall of Famer and team owner Richard Petty.
"Paul is in the middle of his best season of competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and we feel like our strong commitment to him and that team in addition to the great support from Ford Racing has been a major part of that," added Foster Gillett, managing partner and team owner. "With 14 races to go, we expect the No. 98 team to finish just as strong as it started this year."
NASCAR: Kahne to drive for Red Bull Racing Team in 2011
By Team Release - August 10, 2010
Kasey Kahne drove a Dodge in 2009. He's driving a Ford in 2010. He's under contract to drive a Chevrolet in 2012. So why wouldn't he drive a Toyota in 2011 to complete the rounds among manufacturers in NASCAR's top national series?
Kahne will drive a Red Bull Racing Team Toyota in 2011, the team announced Tuesday.
"We were fortunate to have the opportunity to hire a very talented driver for the 2011 season and we took it," said Jay Frye, Red Bull Racing Team vice president and general manager. "This is a unique situation that doesn't happen every day. Kasey is a perfect fit for our company, team and Red Bull."
Kahne, 30, owns an impressive Cup Series résumé. He has 11 wins, 17 poles, 47 top-five and 84 top-10 finishes and twice was a Chase participant in 2006 and 2009.
"This opportunity places me with an established, competitive team that has proven they can win races and make the Chase," Kahne said. "I have great respect for Red Bull, so to have the opportunity to drive for Red Bull Racing Team in 2011 is a great fit for me, both personally and professionally. It feels good to be able to finally put this to rest and focus my energy on finishing the season strong for the No. 9 team and our sponsors."
"This obviously all happened very quickly," Frye added. "Over the next month, we will finalize the specific team details."
Red Bull Racing Team's final driver lineup for 2011 will be confirmed later this year.
Kahne, who will join Hendrick Motorsports in 2012, was without a team for 2011 becuase Hendrick has four drivers under contract for next season -- Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin.
NASCAR rules limit an owner to no more than four cars.
Kahne, who is in the final year of his contract with Richard Petty Motorsports, signed with Hendrick in April. Kahne will take over the No. 5 car once Martin fulfills his contract.
Red Bull Racing currently has two drivers, Scott Speed and Brian Vickers -- neither of whom are guaranteed to drive for the team next season.
Speed, in his second full year with the team, is 27th in the Cup Series standings.
Vickers has been sidelined since May for treatment of blood clots. He will not know until November if he will be able to return behind the wheel of the No. 83 for next season.
Kasey Kahne drove a Dodge in 2009. He's driving a Ford in 2010. He's under contract to drive a Chevrolet in 2012. So why wouldn't he drive a Toyota in 2011 to complete the rounds among manufacturers in NASCAR's top national series?
Kahne will drive a Red Bull Racing Team Toyota in 2011, the team announced Tuesday.
"We were fortunate to have the opportunity to hire a very talented driver for the 2011 season and we took it," said Jay Frye, Red Bull Racing Team vice president and general manager. "This is a unique situation that doesn't happen every day. Kasey is a perfect fit for our company, team and Red Bull."
Kahne, 30, owns an impressive Cup Series résumé. He has 11 wins, 17 poles, 47 top-five and 84 top-10 finishes and twice was a Chase participant in 2006 and 2009.
"This opportunity places me with an established, competitive team that has proven they can win races and make the Chase," Kahne said. "I have great respect for Red Bull, so to have the opportunity to drive for Red Bull Racing Team in 2011 is a great fit for me, both personally and professionally. It feels good to be able to finally put this to rest and focus my energy on finishing the season strong for the No. 9 team and our sponsors."
"This obviously all happened very quickly," Frye added. "Over the next month, we will finalize the specific team details."
Red Bull Racing Team's final driver lineup for 2011 will be confirmed later this year.
Kahne, who will join Hendrick Motorsports in 2012, was without a team for 2011 becuase Hendrick has four drivers under contract for next season -- Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin.
NASCAR rules limit an owner to no more than four cars.
Kahne, who is in the final year of his contract with Richard Petty Motorsports, signed with Hendrick in April. Kahne will take over the No. 5 car once Martin fulfills his contract.
Red Bull Racing currently has two drivers, Scott Speed and Brian Vickers -- neither of whom are guaranteed to drive for the team next season.
Speed, in his second full year with the team, is 27th in the Cup Series standings.
Vickers has been sidelined since May for treatment of blood clots. He will not know until November if he will be able to return behind the wheel of the No. 83 for next season.
NASCAR: RCR signs Menard, returns to four-car stable
By Team Release - August 11, 2010
Richard Childress Racing and Menards have signed a multi-year partnership agreement for the Eau Claire, Wis.-based company to become the primary sponsor of RCR's fourth Sprint Cup Series team beginning in 2011 with driver Paul Menard.
"Paul has developed into a very good race car driver, and we see his move to RCR next year as an opportunity for him to continue that progress," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of RCR. "At the same time, we feel Paul will contribute to the continued progress and success of RCR.
Paul will fit in perfectly with our team of drivers at RCR, and they are all looking forward to working with him. We're also very proud to be aligned with Menards, one of the great family business success stories in American history."
Menard is in his fourth full season of Cup Series competition and is 23rd in the point standings. He made his series debut in 2003, running just one race while also competing in six Nationwide Series races.
Menard raced fulltime in the Nationwide Series from 2004 through 2006 while picking up Cup Series experience in eight other races during that time. In 2007, Menard became a full-time driver in the Cup Series and part-time Nationwide Series driver, though he is scheduled to compete in every event of both series this season. He is sixth in the Nationwide Series point standings.
"Richard Childress Racing has shown this year that they're headed on the right track," Menard said. "Having three cars competing for the Chase and, ultimately, the championship is no small feat and they're on top of their game.
"With that in mind and having known Richard for the past 10 years or so, when this opportunity to join RCR came about it was a no-brainer. I have always had the utmost respect for Richard and what his organization has accomplished in the past and what they're capable of achieving in the future."
Menard has two top-five finishes and five top-10s in 133 starts in the Cup Series.
Richard Childress Racing and Menards have signed a multi-year partnership agreement for the Eau Claire, Wis.-based company to become the primary sponsor of RCR's fourth Sprint Cup Series team beginning in 2011 with driver Paul Menard.
"Paul has developed into a very good race car driver, and we see his move to RCR next year as an opportunity for him to continue that progress," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of RCR. "At the same time, we feel Paul will contribute to the continued progress and success of RCR.
Paul will fit in perfectly with our team of drivers at RCR, and they are all looking forward to working with him. We're also very proud to be aligned with Menards, one of the great family business success stories in American history."
Menard is in his fourth full season of Cup Series competition and is 23rd in the point standings. He made his series debut in 2003, running just one race while also competing in six Nationwide Series races.
Menard raced fulltime in the Nationwide Series from 2004 through 2006 while picking up Cup Series experience in eight other races during that time. In 2007, Menard became a full-time driver in the Cup Series and part-time Nationwide Series driver, though he is scheduled to compete in every event of both series this season. He is sixth in the Nationwide Series point standings.
"Richard Childress Racing has shown this year that they're headed on the right track," Menard said. "Having three cars competing for the Chase and, ultimately, the championship is no small feat and they're on top of their game.
"With that in mind and having known Richard for the past 10 years or so, when this opportunity to join RCR came about it was a no-brainer. I have always had the utmost respect for Richard and what his organization has accomplished in the past and what they're capable of achieving in the future."
Menard has two top-five finishes and five top-10s in 133 starts in the Cup Series.
GRAND-AM: Ganassi Earns Record Tying 7th Win
Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas scored a dominating victory in Saturday's Crown Royal 200 at Watkins Glen International, tying the single-season GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series victory record with their seventh triumph of 2010.
Pruett beat Max Angelelli to the checkered flag by 2.722 seconds, averaging a Daytona Prototype record 120.679 mph in the two-hour race slowed only by a pair of late-race cautions. Pruett managed to hold the lead on both restarts, leading the final 60 of the 99 circuits on the 2.45-mile Watkins Glen short course.
The victory extended Pruett and Rojas' lead to 26 points over Ryan Dalziel with only two races remaining in the Daytona Prototype championship (302-276). Dalziel finished fourth in the No. 8 Corsa Car Care BMW/Riley started by Mike Forest.
"Overall, the car was solid," said Pruett after scoring his sixth Glen victory. "We just seem to have a good setup for the Glen. The traffic was tough, and you could lose two seconds a lap, easily. We just tried to cut our way through traffic the best we could, run smart and run clean."
Rojas led twice for nine laps after starting on the pole. Ricky Taylor took over in the No. 10 SunTrust Ford/Dallara and led 29 laps before turning the car over to Angelelli. Pruett took over the lead on an exchange of pit stops. Two GT cars split the leaders after Angelelli exited the pits, and he was unable to make up the distance.
Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty finished third in the No. 99 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Chevrolet/Riley. The pair won seven races en route to capturing the 2007 DP title.
The first caution came on lap 85 when Robin Liddell's No. 57 Stevenson Motorsports Camaro came to a stop after experiencing mechanical problems. On the restart with 15 minutes remaining, Burt Frisselle's third-place No. 61 AIM Autosport Ford/Riley and the No. 59 Brumos Porsche/Riley David Donohue had contact entering Turn 1. Tracy Krohn was caught up in the incident in the No. 75 Krohn Racing Ford/Lola and came to a halt, bringing out a second caution.
Leh Keen passed Jonathan Bomarito for the GT lead following the final restart, and went on to score the first Rolex Series victory for Dempsey Racing in the No. 41 Dempsey Racing/Team Seattle Mazda RX-8 started by James Gue.
Bomarito finished second in the No. 70 Castrol Syntec Mazda RX-8 started from the pole by Sylvain Tremblay, while Paul Edwards passed Jeff Segal for third in the closing laps. Edwards and starting driver Scott Russell both had to pit with tire problems on the No. 07 Banner Racing Corvette, while Segal and starting driver Emil Assentato had to come from ninth starting position in the No. 69 FXDD Mazda RX-8.
Segal and Assentato continue to lead the GT championship, although Tremblay cut the margin to four points (290-286), with Bomarito third with 267 points. Tremblay and Bomarito dominated the race, leading all but 10 of their 92 laps.
Only two races remain in the 2010 Rolex Series season: the Montreal 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Aug. 28; and the season-ending Utah 250 at Miller Motorsports Park near Salt Lake City on Sept. 11.
Mazda's win in Rolex GT, coupled with their first overall win in the ALMS earlier in the day at Mid-Ohio and also a World Challenge TC class victory by Ryan Eversley in an RX-8, made August 7th, 2010, a date the manufacturer won't soon forget.
GRAND-AM: Two GT BMWs For Turner In 2011
When Will Turner announced that his Turner Motorsport team would step up to compete in the Rolex Sports Car Series with a BMW M6 GT Class program in 2010, it seemed like just a matter of time before the multiple-championship winning organization would be winning races in GRAND-AM’s top series.
And that proved to be true when Turner Motorsport scored a debut victory at Mid-Ohio in June with the BMW-powered M6 matched to a Riley Tech chassis. Showing the win was no fluke, the team backed that up with a run to second place in July at Daytona.
Growing the team to support both the two-car Continental Tire effort and the Rolex program hasn’t hurt the Continental Tire effort one bit, as the No. 97 Turner Motorsports M3 is currently second in the championship with six podiums and two wins.
That growth is apparently set to continue, as Turner Motorsport confirmed exclusively to SPEED this week that his team will grow to a two-car Rolex Sports Car Series GT Class program in 2011. And that won’t be the only change, as the famed BMW tuner will also make the switch from campaigning the M6 bodywork to the M3 in 2011.
“The M3 is much closer to the brand identity for Turner Motorsport and our customers, so we’re making the change in the off-season to the M3,” said Turner. “The M6 is excellent, particularly from an aerodynamic point of view. But we think we can generate a lot of performance with the M3, just like we do with our M3‘s in Continental Tire Challenge and on the street for that matter, so we are excited about making the change for next year.”
Turner wasn’t willing to talk about who might be driving the second entry just yet, but hinted that the Rolex 24 could see some familiar faces.
“We had Boris, Billy, Joey, and Paul together to start the year at Daytona and it was pretty much a ‘Dream Team,” said Turner. “It was the first time out for us in the 24 with a brand new car and we were able to learn a lot and finish the race. But we didn’t get the result we wanted so hopefully we can get lock in strong driver line ups with both cars and start 2011 off right.”
“Since before we even unloaded at Daytona, there has been a ton of interest in this GT program. But we wanted to walk before we ran. Even with everything we’ve done to date, we are still rookies in Rolex! But now that we’ve won and have more experience in the series, we are in a much better position to not only grow, but to also be competitive with both cars next year. We’ve got some exciting things coming together and hopefully we’ll be able to make some announcements before the tire test.”
Friday, August 6, 2010
Grand-Am: Rojas Captures Pole for Crown Royal 200
Rojas will join Scott Pruett in the No. 01 TELMEX Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates BMW/Riley at the front of the grid for Round 10 of the 2010 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16. The race takes the green flag at 6 p.m. Saturday (SPEED, live).
"It's great to win the pole," said Rojas, who shares a 19-point lead with Pruett over Ryan Dalziel in the Daytona Prototype class standings (267-248). "It's been a great season so far. We focus on doing the best we can, and I'm really overwhelmed by the number of wins we have so far this year. Now this pole position is in a good way to start the weekend."
Mark Wilkins was second with a lap of 1:05.642 (134.645 mph) in the session that was black-flagged nine minutes early due to an incident when Mark Patterson spun in the Inner Loop and was collected by Buddy Rice. Both cars are expected to be repaired for the race.
"It was a tough session because of the incident, and it would have been interesting to see how it would have worked when everyone got their tires up to speed," Rojas said. "I think we were on the right page. I think we might have run a 1:04.6, but that's just quick thoughts."
Rojas and Pruett are seeking their seventh victory of the season, which would tie the single-season record set in 2007 by Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty. The Ganassi duo won the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen in June, their third consecutive victory in the event on the Watkins Glen International 3.4-mile long circuit. It was the third pole position of the season for Rojas, breaking a tie with Ricky Taylor in that category.
Pruett did double-duty on Friday. In addition to practicing the DP car, he took a few laps in the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice. Pruett is on standby in case regular driver Jeff Gordon's wife goes into labor this weekend.
Taylor qualified third with a lap of 1:105.788 (134.067 mph). He will be joined on the second row by Jon Fogarty, who qualified with a lap of 1:06.020 (133.795 mph) in the No. 99 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Chevrolet/Riley he drove to victory with Alex Gurney in the series' previous race, at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
Sylvain Tremblay ran a lap of 1:11.762 (122.906 mph) to capture the GT class pole in the No. 70 Castrol Syntec Mazda RX-8, erasing Cort Wagner's mark set in 2003 in a Ferrari 360GT.
"The car was good from the first session, and we just kept tweaking and tweaking it," said Tremblay, who is eight points (262-254) behind SpeedSource teammates Jeff Segal and Emil Assentato. "The team is firing on all rotors - not cylinders - right now. After the history we had at New Jersey (SpeedSource swept the GT podium), we're proving that wasn't a fluke. We're here for real, and we're out to chase this championship."
Andrew Davis qualified second with a lap of 1:11.785 (122.866 mph) in the No. 57 Stevenson Motorsports Camaro, followed by motorcycle legend Scott Russell, who ran 1:11.852 (122.752 mph).
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Muscle Milk Team CytoSport forced to sit out Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge
- Greg Pickett unscathed in massive crash at Mid-Ohio -
Lexington, OH (August 5, 2010) - After enjoying the highs of victory less than two weeks ago at Lime Rock Park, Muscle Milk Team CytoSport endured contrasting emotions today following a massive testing crash at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course that has forced the team to withdraw from this weekend's race.
Everything was running smoothly in the test session for the Muscle Milk squad as they were sitting atop the speed charts. But then with less than 10 minutes to go, Greg Pickett was involved in a huge accident.
Pickett found himself a passenger aboard the Porsche RS Spyder due to a mechanical issue with the car and ended up going straight into the tire barrier at Turn 4.
After hitting nose first, the #6 Muscle Milk car flipped upside down and came to a rest atop the tire barrier.
As a testament to the safety of the Porsche RS Spyder, which absorbed most of the impact, Pickett came out of the shunt unscathed with only a few aches and pains.
Due to the severity of the crash, with damage to the tub of the car, Muscle Milk Team CytoSport had no choice but to sit out this weekend's Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge as they await the arrival of a new tub.
The team will now be heading back to it's Indianapolis base at the Mark One Composite facilities and start preparing for the upcoming race at Road America in two weeks.
What they had to say:
Geoffrey Carter, Team Manager #6 Muscle Milk Porsche RS Spyder
"Unfortunately the Muscle Milk Porsche RS Spyder was damaged beyond repair after it was involved in accident during today's test session and we're really disappointed to have to withdraw from this weekend's event.
"It's a shame because the car just went through an extensive rebuild after our win at Lime Rock Park last week and the crew and the guys were bringing a lot of momentum and looking forward to this event. In the past the crew has been able to overcome adversity like this and excel and I expect them to rise to this occasion as well.
"In an accident of this severity, we're just happy that Greg came out of it uninjured, in the end that's the most important thing."
Greg Pickett, Owner / Driver #6 Muscle Milk Porsche RS Spyder
"I've done this a long time and this is a huge compliment to the car's inherent safety and its structural integrity. It was the biggest shunt I've ever had in 35 years and all I have is a sore back because of the impact. I speared those tires at about 120 mph and then got up in the air and came back down. I'm very happy that I got out of this accident with only very little aches and pains, just a few typical ones like you would expect from this kind of shunt.
"We're going to need to put a new tub on it, so unfortunately we won't be able to be on track this weekend. But we'll be back. We love this. It's why we do it. We're just very thankful that we got through it as good as we did."
Everything was running smoothly in the test session for the Muscle Milk squad as they were sitting atop the speed charts. But then with less than 10 minutes to go, Greg Pickett was involved in a huge accident.
Pickett found himself a passenger aboard the Porsche RS Spyder due to a mechanical issue with the car and ended up going straight into the tire barrier at Turn 4.
After hitting nose first, the #6 Muscle Milk car flipped upside down and came to a rest atop the tire barrier.
As a testament to the safety of the Porsche RS Spyder, which absorbed most of the impact, Pickett came out of the shunt unscathed with only a few aches and pains.
Due to the severity of the crash, with damage to the tub of the car, Muscle Milk Team CytoSport had no choice but to sit out this weekend's Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge as they await the arrival of a new tub.
The team will now be heading back to it's Indianapolis base at the Mark One Composite facilities and start preparing for the upcoming race at Road America in two weeks.
What they had to say:
Geoffrey Carter, Team Manager #6 Muscle Milk Porsche RS Spyder
"Unfortunately the Muscle Milk Porsche RS Spyder was damaged beyond repair after it was involved in accident during today's test session and we're really disappointed to have to withdraw from this weekend's event.
"It's a shame because the car just went through an extensive rebuild after our win at Lime Rock Park last week and the crew and the guys were bringing a lot of momentum and looking forward to this event. In the past the crew has been able to overcome adversity like this and excel and I expect them to rise to this occasion as well.
"In an accident of this severity, we're just happy that Greg came out of it uninjured, in the end that's the most important thing."
Greg Pickett, Owner / Driver #6 Muscle Milk Porsche RS Spyder
"I've done this a long time and this is a huge compliment to the car's inherent safety and its structural integrity. It was the biggest shunt I've ever had in 35 years and all I have is a sore back because of the impact. I speared those tires at about 120 mph and then got up in the air and came back down. I'm very happy that I got out of this accident with only very little aches and pains, just a few typical ones like you would expect from this kind of shunt.
"We're going to need to put a new tub on it, so unfortunately we won't be able to be on track this weekend. But we'll be back. We love this. It's why we do it. We're just very thankful that we got through it as good as we did."
AMS to host one race weekend in 2011
HAMPTON, Ga -- Atlanta Motor Speedway officials on Thursday announced that the facility's 2011 event schedule will include one NASCAR racing weekend -- Sept. 2-4.
One of the sport's original superspeedways, the track has played host to two event weekends for 50 years, including the upcoming Emory Healthcare 500 slated for Sept. 5.
"Atlanta Motor Speedway has provided top-quality racing entertainment to spectators from across the nation and around the world for 50 years," speedway president Ed Clark said. "While our schedule will change, our commitment to the racing fans who have been the heart and soul of Atlanta Motor Speedway through these years will be stronger than ever. Our entire staff will be even more driven to produce the top annual sporting event in Georgia for many years to come."
AMS played host to its inaugural Labor Day racing weekend in 2009 when the events were moved forward on the schedule from the speedway's traditional October date.
"We were thrilled with the acquisition of the Labor Day date two years ago and are proud to host such a prestigious, historical date on the NASCAR schedule," Clark said. "This track produces some of the greatest racing the circuit sees, it remains one of the drivers' favorite tracks and we will continue to build a platform that sets this one date apart from the rest."
An announcement is set for Tuesday in Sparta, Ky., at which time it is expected that Kentucky Speedway officials will announce the track will receive a Cup Series date for 2011. The 1.5-mile tri-oval halfway between Louisville and Cincinnati will host NASCAR's top series in early July.
Speedway Motorsports Inc. purchased the speedway from the original ownership group in 2008. SMI owner Bruton Smith said his main goal was to bring the track a long-coveted Cup date.
The original owners filed an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR and International Speedway Corp., contending they tried to exclude the track from the Cup Series.
SMI owns eight tracks on the NASCAR schedule: Atlanta, Bristol, Charlotte, Infineon, Kentucky, Las Vegas, New Hampshire and Texas.
One of the sport's original superspeedways, the track has played host to two event weekends for 50 years, including the upcoming Emory Healthcare 500 slated for Sept. 5.
"Atlanta Motor Speedway has provided top-quality racing entertainment to spectators from across the nation and around the world for 50 years," speedway president Ed Clark said. "While our schedule will change, our commitment to the racing fans who have been the heart and soul of Atlanta Motor Speedway through these years will be stronger than ever. Our entire staff will be even more driven to produce the top annual sporting event in Georgia for many years to come."
AMS played host to its inaugural Labor Day racing weekend in 2009 when the events were moved forward on the schedule from the speedway's traditional October date.
"We were thrilled with the acquisition of the Labor Day date two years ago and are proud to host such a prestigious, historical date on the NASCAR schedule," Clark said. "This track produces some of the greatest racing the circuit sees, it remains one of the drivers' favorite tracks and we will continue to build a platform that sets this one date apart from the rest."
An announcement is set for Tuesday in Sparta, Ky., at which time it is expected that Kentucky Speedway officials will announce the track will receive a Cup Series date for 2011. The 1.5-mile tri-oval halfway between Louisville and Cincinnati will host NASCAR's top series in early July.
Speedway Motorsports Inc. purchased the speedway from the original ownership group in 2008. SMI owner Bruton Smith said his main goal was to bring the track a long-coveted Cup date.
The original owners filed an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR and International Speedway Corp., contending they tried to exclude the track from the Cup Series.
SMI owns eight tracks on the NASCAR schedule: Atlanta, Bristol, Charlotte, Infineon, Kentucky, Las Vegas, New Hampshire and Texas.
NASCAR: In the Name of the Father
Dale Earnhardt Jr., who is 35, has been the most famous driver in Nascar, and most beloved by fans, over the past eight years, and yet he has almost vanished from sight in Nascar winner circles. He has not won at Nascar’s top level since 2008. Last year, his worst ever, he finished 25th out of 72 Nascar drivers in the final standings... more
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
NASCAR: Allmendinger signs extension with RPM
By Sporting News Wire Service: August 4, 2010: 10:28 AM EDT
Free-agent Cup Series driver A.J. Allmendinger will stay put after signing a contract extension with Richard Petty Motorsports, Sporting News has learned.
The contract, signed Tuesday, is a multiyear deal, according to sources close to the situation. The team is optimistic about the prospect of re-signing Allmendinger's sponsor, Best Buy, though sponsorship was not settled before Tuesday's contract signing.
A formal announcement will take place Friday at Watkins Glen International.
Allmendinger has three top-10s in 21 starts this season, with a best finish of sixth at Atlanta in March.
The driver of the No. 43 Ford is 22nd in the series standings. Now that Allmendinger has decided to remain in the organization's flagship car, RPM will work toward filling the remaining slots on the team.
Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler have announced plans to depart at the end of the season. Marcos Ambrose, who will leave the No. 47 JTG/Daugherty Toyota team at season's end, is a leading candidate to fill the seat of one of the RPM Fords.
Paul Menard, who drives the No. 98 Ford for RPM, has not announced plans for next year but has talked to other teams, including Richard Childress Racing, according to multiple sources.
Free-agent Cup Series driver A.J. Allmendinger will stay put after signing a contract extension with Richard Petty Motorsports, Sporting News has learned.
The contract, signed Tuesday, is a multiyear deal, according to sources close to the situation. The team is optimistic about the prospect of re-signing Allmendinger's sponsor, Best Buy, though sponsorship was not settled before Tuesday's contract signing.
A formal announcement will take place Friday at Watkins Glen International.
Allmendinger has three top-10s in 21 starts this season, with a best finish of sixth at Atlanta in March.
The driver of the No. 43 Ford is 22nd in the series standings. Now that Allmendinger has decided to remain in the organization's flagship car, RPM will work toward filling the remaining slots on the team.
Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler have announced plans to depart at the end of the season. Marcos Ambrose, who will leave the No. 47 JTG/Daugherty Toyota team at season's end, is a leading candidate to fill the seat of one of the RPM Fords.
Paul Menard, who drives the No. 98 Ford for RPM, has not announced plans for next year but has talked to other teams, including Richard Childress Racing, according to multiple sources.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
NASCAR: Kentucky to host July race
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Kentucky Speedway will get a NASCAR Sprint Cup race in 2011, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.
The 1.5-mile tri-oval halfway between Louisville and Cincinnati will host NASCAR's top series in early July. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision had not been announced. A news conference is scheduled at the track Aug. 10.
Speedway Motorsports Inc. purchased the speedway from the original ownership group in 2008. SMI owner Bruton Smith said his main goal was to bring the track a long-coveted Cup date.
The original owners filed an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR and International Speedway Corp. in 2005, contending they tried to exclude the track from the Cup Series.
Smith called the court case a major stumbling block and was relieved when it eventually ended this year. Smith had no immediate comment, but said before last week's race at Indianapolis that he'd like to have a Cup race at "all" of SMI's NASCAR sanctioned tracks.
The company also owns New Hampshire Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway and Infineon Raceway.
The only one that lacks a Cup date right now is Kentucky, though Smith said he's optimistic there would be plenty of time to get the facility ready for a Cup race.
Kentucky already hosts NASCAR Nationwide and Truck Series events, as well as an IndyCar race. Plans are already in place to expand seating from 65,000 to around 100,000.
NASCAR officials had no immediate comment, but CEO Brian France said before last week's race in Indianapolis that the series was mulling "impactful" changes to its 2011 schedule.
"There will be some changes as they look now," France said. "That could not quite materialize, but I sense it will and we'll have some pretty impactful changes to the schedule that I think will be good for NASCAR fans."
SMI will likely have to move a race from one of its other tracks to Kentucky. Smith has consistently played coy about his intentions, but during a Cup visit to New Hampshire in June, he didn't exactly endorse the prospect of continuing to have two Cup races a year in New England.
While the second race traditionally kicks off the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship, the June race could easily be bumped off the schedule.
NASCAR is expected to announce its 2011 schedule by Labor Day.
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
The 1.5-mile tri-oval halfway between Louisville and Cincinnati will host NASCAR's top series in early July. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision had not been announced. A news conference is scheduled at the track Aug. 10.
Speedway Motorsports Inc. purchased the speedway from the original ownership group in 2008. SMI owner Bruton Smith said his main goal was to bring the track a long-coveted Cup date.
The original owners filed an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR and International Speedway Corp. in 2005, contending they tried to exclude the track from the Cup Series.
Smith called the court case a major stumbling block and was relieved when it eventually ended this year. Smith had no immediate comment, but said before last week's race at Indianapolis that he'd like to have a Cup race at "all" of SMI's NASCAR sanctioned tracks.
The company also owns New Hampshire Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway and Infineon Raceway.
The only one that lacks a Cup date right now is Kentucky, though Smith said he's optimistic there would be plenty of time to get the facility ready for a Cup race.
Kentucky already hosts NASCAR Nationwide and Truck Series events, as well as an IndyCar race. Plans are already in place to expand seating from 65,000 to around 100,000.
NASCAR officials had no immediate comment, but CEO Brian France said before last week's race in Indianapolis that the series was mulling "impactful" changes to its 2011 schedule.
"There will be some changes as they look now," France said. "That could not quite materialize, but I sense it will and we'll have some pretty impactful changes to the schedule that I think will be good for NASCAR fans."
SMI will likely have to move a race from one of its other tracks to Kentucky. Smith has consistently played coy about his intentions, but during a Cup visit to New Hampshire in June, he didn't exactly endorse the prospect of continuing to have two Cup races a year in New England.
While the second race traditionally kicks off the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship, the June race could easily be bumped off the schedule.
NASCAR is expected to announce its 2011 schedule by Labor Day.
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
NASCAR: Elliott Sadler lucky to be alive after Pocono crash
Courtesy of ESNP.com:
Next time you want to criticize the Sprint Cup car, consider the fact that Elliott Sadler is alive today because of it, along with the head-and-neck restraints all drivers use.
And next time there's a NASCAR race at Pocono, hope and pray track officials follow through with planned safety improvements that should have happened long ago.
Sadler is a lucky man to escape serious injury in a terrifying crash in the Cup race at Pocono Raceway on Sunday. The front half of his No. 19 Ford was destroyed in a violent head-on crash into a barrier at the 2.5-mile triangular track.
Sadler slid through the grass at high speed and slammed into a guard rail in front of a dirt berm. It looked like a crash that might have happened 30 years ago -- because the archaic safety devices in place probably were there 30 years ago.
It was the second time this season that drivers luckily have left Pocono uninjured because of car safety, not track safety.
Kasey Kahne made head-on contact with the outside wall in the June race at Pocono. He got into the grass inside the backstretch, causing him to turn up into the wall in front of other cars.
Kahne hit at a spot where there isn't a SAFER barrier. He also hit where there isn't any catch fencing (only large bushes behind the wall), and his car almost went over the wall.
What few people remember about that accident was Marcos Ambrose slamming into the inside barrier at almost the same spot where Sadler hit Sunday. The front of Ambrose's car was destroyed, but he walked away unhurt.
"It's dangerous to have grass next to where you're running 200 miles an hour," Greg Biffle said after winning Sunday. "That's all there is to it. This is a great racetrack. It's so much fun to drive, but Talladega and Daytona had that same issue and they added pavement, like a skid pad or whatever you want to call it, so when the car does get out of control or gets going that direction, you still have some control.
"It feels like you pick up speed when you get in the wet grass. They'll have to look at it. I understand times are tough, but this is two races in a row somebody has been over there."
Drivers have been critical of Pocono's safety problems for years. A few were willing to talk about it Sunday.
"I think the incidents speak for themselves," Jeff Gordon said after the race. "I think there are times where we've got to step up the technology and safety at certain facilities. We've seen two incidents here this year. I think it is going to be a wake-up call for some improvements. It is a great track here at Pocono. We love coming here, but there are definitely some areas where it could be improved."
Pocono Raceway President Brandon Igdalsky had announced earlier that safety improvements are planned for the track before next season, including more catch fencing and additional spots for the SAFER barrier.
But NASCAR officials should have forced Pocono to make these changes years ago. The only reason tragic consequences didn't come out of the Pocono races this year is the car overcame the safety deficiencies of the track.
This car (formerly known as the Car of Tomorrow) is the safest race car ever built. NASCAR officials deserve credit for its bigger, boxier design (and larger driver compartment) that makes it safer.
Sadler's crash illustrates how the car is built to absorb the force of an accident instead of having the driver absorb it. Crush panels in the front of the car enable it to absorb energy and break apart easily.
Some people were shocked to see the engine come out of Sadler's car. That's a good thing, though. The engine staying in one place increases the force of the blow.
Most of the energy of the collision was dissipated in front of the driver compartment, but Sadler still took a huge push forward at impact. It knocked the wind out of him, but might have killed him without his HANS (head and neck support) restraint device.
The helmet is connected to the seat, keeping the neck from violently snapping forward in a head-on crash. The neck snap sometimes resulted in a basilar skull fracture (which caused Dale Earnhardt's death) before these safety advancements.
But Sadler walked away thanks to a car and safety devices inside it that made it possible to overcome a track that's woefully behind the times in safety issues.
Next time you want to criticize the Sprint Cup car, consider the fact that Elliott Sadler is alive today because of it, along with the head-and-neck restraints all drivers use.
And next time there's a NASCAR race at Pocono, hope and pray track officials follow through with planned safety improvements that should have happened long ago.
Sadler is a lucky man to escape serious injury in a terrifying crash in the Cup race at Pocono Raceway on Sunday. The front half of his No. 19 Ford was destroyed in a violent head-on crash into a barrier at the 2.5-mile triangular track.
Sadler slid through the grass at high speed and slammed into a guard rail in front of a dirt berm. It looked like a crash that might have happened 30 years ago -- because the archaic safety devices in place probably were there 30 years ago.
It was the second time this season that drivers luckily have left Pocono uninjured because of car safety, not track safety.
Kasey Kahne made head-on contact with the outside wall in the June race at Pocono. He got into the grass inside the backstretch, causing him to turn up into the wall in front of other cars.
Kahne hit at a spot where there isn't a SAFER barrier. He also hit where there isn't any catch fencing (only large bushes behind the wall), and his car almost went over the wall.
What few people remember about that accident was Marcos Ambrose slamming into the inside barrier at almost the same spot where Sadler hit Sunday. The front of Ambrose's car was destroyed, but he walked away unhurt.
"It's dangerous to have grass next to where you're running 200 miles an hour," Greg Biffle said after winning Sunday. "That's all there is to it. This is a great racetrack. It's so much fun to drive, but Talladega and Daytona had that same issue and they added pavement, like a skid pad or whatever you want to call it, so when the car does get out of control or gets going that direction, you still have some control.
"It feels like you pick up speed when you get in the wet grass. They'll have to look at it. I understand times are tough, but this is two races in a row somebody has been over there."
Drivers have been critical of Pocono's safety problems for years. A few were willing to talk about it Sunday.
"I think the incidents speak for themselves," Jeff Gordon said after the race. "I think there are times where we've got to step up the technology and safety at certain facilities. We've seen two incidents here this year. I think it is going to be a wake-up call for some improvements. It is a great track here at Pocono. We love coming here, but there are definitely some areas where it could be improved."
Pocono Raceway President Brandon Igdalsky had announced earlier that safety improvements are planned for the track before next season, including more catch fencing and additional spots for the SAFER barrier.
But NASCAR officials should have forced Pocono to make these changes years ago. The only reason tragic consequences didn't come out of the Pocono races this year is the car overcame the safety deficiencies of the track.
This car (formerly known as the Car of Tomorrow) is the safest race car ever built. NASCAR officials deserve credit for its bigger, boxier design (and larger driver compartment) that makes it safer.
Sadler's crash illustrates how the car is built to absorb the force of an accident instead of having the driver absorb it. Crush panels in the front of the car enable it to absorb energy and break apart easily.
Some people were shocked to see the engine come out of Sadler's car. That's a good thing, though. The engine staying in one place increases the force of the blow.
Most of the energy of the collision was dissipated in front of the driver compartment, but Sadler still took a huge push forward at impact. It knocked the wind out of him, but might have killed him without his HANS (head and neck support) restraint device.
The helmet is connected to the seat, keeping the neck from violently snapping forward in a head-on crash. The neck snap sometimes resulted in a basilar skull fracture (which caused Dale Earnhardt's death) before these safety advancements.
But Sadler walked away thanks to a car and safety devices inside it that made it possible to overcome a track that's woefully behind the times in safety issues.
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