NASCAR writer Lee Spencer is reporting that there is talk that Knoxville NASCAR driver Trevor Bayne race in the Daytona 500.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Jennifer Jo Cobb appearing on CNN's Anderson Cooper show
When you're an owner/driver, you jump at whatever opportunities for publicity you can find. And if said opportunity happens to be on CNN, hey, so much the better.Jennifer Jo Cobb is scheduled to appear on CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360" on Tuesday as part of Dr. Sanjay Gupta's series on "extreme living." The life of a NASCAR driver, full of constant tension and nervousness, would certainly qualify as "extreme.""It was exciting to talk with Dr. Sanjay Gupta about extreme living," Cobb said. "This was a great opportunity to discuss the lifestyle associated with a NASCAR driver. Most race fans only see what takes place at the race track. They don't get to see what we're like when we aren't at a speedway."Cobb finished 17th in the Camping World Truck Series in 2010, which makes her the highest-finishing female ever in any of NASCAR's top-three series. And yes, that includes you-know-who.Check in and see how the show goes, and report back with your findings here. Congrats to Cobb for finding a new outlet for publicity. Hopefully her segment goes better than Brian Vickers', when he terrified a CNN host cruising through Atlanta's streets.
GOODYEAR TO PRESENT THE ACT SPEEDWEEKS CUP
Waterbury, VT ? The American Canadian Tour (ACT) has announced that Goodyear, the official tire of the 25 year-old short track sanctioning body, will be the presenting sponsor of the first ever ?southern swing? for the ACT Late Models on Sunday, February 13 and Monday, February 14, 2011. Last month officials from ACT and New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna, Florida announced that the ACT Late Model teams would become part of the historic World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing (WSASCR) at the well known � mile speedplant.
For over four decades northern race teams and fans from Maine to Minnesota have made the annual pilgrimage to the ?World Series? at New Smyrna during Speedweeks at Daytona. ?In the old days, the late Richie Evans would run out of the NASCAR Wednesday night awards banquet and rush down to make sure he was in the feature at New Smyrna that night. Junior Hanley, Gary Balough and a whole host of modified and late model racers made New Smyrna their ?off-season home?. It is going to be a lot of fun to bring our northern ACT Late Model teams to Florida,? said Tom Curley, President of the American Canadian Tour.
For over four decades northern race teams and fans from Maine to Minnesota have made the annual pilgrimage to the ?World Series? at New Smyrna during Speedweeks at Daytona. ?In the old days, the late Richie Evans would run out of the NASCAR Wednesday night awards banquet and rush down to make sure he was in the feature at New Smyrna that night. Junior Hanley, Gary Balough and a whole host of modified and late model racers made New Smyrna their ?off-season home?. It is going to be a lot of fun to bring our northern ACT Late Model teams to Florida,? said Tom Curley, President of the American Canadian Tour.
Reserve Jimmie Johnson's NASCAR Hall of Fame spot now
Go ahead and carve out a spot in the NASCAR Hall of Fame right now for Jimmie Johnson. I know he isn?t eligible yet, but if he weren?t already ensured a spot after four consecutive championships, adding a fifth on Sunday should make him a no-brainer. He's now won five titles, four by amassing big points leads in the preceding nine races and now a fifth by coming from behind. If drivers had to write an essay to win the championship, he'd likely get bonus points for penmanship he is so smooth. For all of those fans who think Johnson winning five in a row is bad for racing, that's easy to say but not as easy in practice. Someone still has to beat Johnson to become champion. And in the face of likely his toughest competition to date, he still came out on top. It?s easy to say someone else should win. What's not east is apparently getting someone else to do it. You don't want to see Johnson or his team celebrating No. 6 next season? Then you better hope another finds a way to beat them. Unless NASCAR puts a cap on Cup championships for individual drivers - which some fans may actually think a good idea - I suspect Johnson and his team will be in title hunts for many years to come.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Will the next driver to "save" NASCAR come on down ...
Here we go again. Another ?popular? driver successful in some other form of motorsports decides to make a foray into NASCAR competition and suddenly that person is the answer to NASCAR?s attendance and TV ratings woes. This time, it?s Travis Pastrana, who has won numerous titles in supercross, motocross, freestyle motocross and rally racing. He plans to drive seven races in 2011 in the Nationwide Series with a team co-owned by himself and Michael Waltrip. Why is it when someone outside NASCAR decides to give it a try it necessarily most follow that we get a litany of reasons how that move will transform the sport? Haven?t we learned our lesson yet? IndyCar star Danica Patrick made her much-publicized debut in NASCAR this season with the same expectations (or more) and her performance on the track has been at best underwhelming. She likely got more people to tune in when she first arrived, and she likely sold a lot of T-shirts. That?s all well and good for Patrick, but what has it done for NASCAR? If people are tuning in to see Patrick and then tune out when her adventure is over, what has NASCAR gained? The same goes for Pastrana. He may be the ?next big thing? to come to NASCAR, but unless he actually makes a mark in the sport competition-wise, I don?t know how that improves the NASCAR product. I have no doubt that if Patrick or Pastrana were to come into NASCAR and found the success ? or even some of it ? they have experienced in their other respective racing disciplines, NASCAR would benefit. But other sports? stars coming over to ?give NASCAR a try,? who aren?t in contention to win races or plan to run a schedule to contend for a championship, smacks as nothing more than a marketing ploy. That?s all well and good, too. Just please call it for what it is. I?m not going to make a judgment on what Pastrana can do for NASCAR until I actually see him compete in a Nationwide race. The honest truth is I don?t know what he will do. And neither does anyone else until he gets here.
Is TV in love with Jimmie Johnson?
Jimmie Johnson didn't just win a fifth consecutive Sprint Cup Series championship this season, he also dominated his competition in another way - in TV exposure. According to research conducted by Joyce Julius & Assoc. Inc. - a sports and entertainment industry leader in measurement and evaluation of sponsorships and promotional programs - Johnson was interviewed an entire half-hour longer and mentioned 1,800 more times by the announcers than series runner-up Denny Hamlin throughout the course of the season. The research by Joyce Julius, which has monitored every NASCAR race telecast for the last 25 years, Johnson's name was mentioned 7,875 times during the 36 live event telecasts (and replays) of the 2010 season. Johnson also appeared in a season-high 88 interview segments, which added up to over 1 1/2 hours of television time. Hamlin, by contrast, drew 6,072 announcer mentions and 56 interviews that totaled just over an hour of TV time. Hamlin won the most races this season and lead the Chase for the Cup going into the season's final race. According to the research, Kyle Busch was the third-most mentioned driver, Kevin Harvick was fourth and Jeff Gordon fifth. Year-End Top-20 Interview Results::DriverPntsIntervwsIntervwewAnnouncerTimeMentions1)Johnson, J.1881:31:357,8752)Hamlin, D.2561:01:506,0723)Busch, Ky.8471:07:135,5003)Harvick, K.3470:55:005,3465)Gordon, J.9460:59:035,0396)Stewart, T.7400:39:293,9577)Busch, Ku.11380:35:323,1148)Bowyer, C.10360:36:083,4828)Edwards, C.4360:51:203,13310)Burton, J.12330:32:513,48310)McMurray, J.14330:49:442,89912)Kahne, K.20310:28:372,26913)Biffle, G.6300:30:063,35714)Logano, J.16270:26:591,98215)Earnhardt, Jr., D.21210:18:452,15516)Ambrose, M.26160:15:221,64116)Montoya, J.17160:08:573,34318)Newman, R.15150:14:241,96619)Kenseth, M.5140:10:432,60119)Keselowski, B.25140:12:441,143??
Are You Ready For DEGA, got your clear bag? FAQ?s
One of many tips you may need to know before you head to the gates at Talladega! 16. What can be brought into the grandstands? - Soft-sided coolers or insulated bags are allowed into the grandstands provided they fit the required size requirement: 6″X6″X12″ or smaller. ONLY ONE SOFT-SIDED COOLER OR INSULATED BAG ALLOWED PER [...]
Team Penske Adds Meijer Backing in IndyCar Series
With 2009 being the final year of Marlboro sponsorship, in 2010 Team Penske ran both three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves and perennial IndyCar Series title threat Ryan Briscoe without acknowledgeable sponsorship over 17 races. Will Power was the sole driver to have a viable sponsor’s name on his Dallara/Honda/Firestone...
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
American JR Hildebrand Lands Coveted Panther Racing IndyCar Ride
Walking the paddocks and pits of the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series was a tough nut for American driver JR Hildebrand, winner of the 2009 Firestone Indy Lights title with four victories, six poles, 11 top-five and 12 top-10 results along the way. While Hildebrand worked to remind team owners he was available during the 2010 season, the sole rides he...
Is TV in love with Jimmie Johnson?
Jimmie Johnson didn't just win a fifth consecutive Sprint Cup Series championship this season, he also dominated his competition in another way - in TV exposure. According to research conducted by Joyce Julius & Assoc. Inc. - a sports and entertainment industry leader in measurement and evaluation of sponsorships and promotional programs - Johnson was interviewed an entire half-hour longer and mentioned 1,800 more times by the announcers than series runner-up Denny Hamlin throughout the course of the season. The research by Joyce Julius, which has monitored every NASCAR race telecast for the last 25 years, Johnson's name was mentioned 7,875 times during the 36 live event telecasts (and replays) of the 2010 season. Johnson also appeared in a season-high 88 interview segments, which added up to over 1 1/2 hours of television time. Hamlin, by contrast, drew 6,072 announcer mentions and 56 interviews that totaled just over an hour of TV time. Hamlin won the most races this season and lead the Chase for the Cup going into the season's final race. According to the research, Kyle Busch was the third-most mentioned driver, Kevin Harvick was fourth and Jeff Gordon fifth. Year-End Top-20 Interview Results::DriverPntsIntervwsIntervwewAnnouncerTimeMentions1)Johnson, J.1881:31:357,8752)Hamlin, D.2561:01:506,0723)Busch, Ky.8471:07:135,5003)Harvick, K.3470:55:005,3465)Gordon, J.9460:59:035,0396)Stewart, T.7400:39:293,9577)Busch, Ku.11380:35:323,1148)Bowyer, C.10360:36:083,4828)Edwards, C.4360:51:203,13310)Burton, J.12330:32:513,48310)McMurray, J.14330:49:442,89912)Kahne, K.20310:28:372,26913)Biffle, G.6300:30:063,35714)Logano, J.16270:26:591,98215)Earnhardt, Jr., D.21210:18:452,15516)Ambrose, M.26160:15:221,64116)Montoya, J.17160:08:573,34318)Newman, R.15150:14:241,96619)Kenseth, M.5140:10:432,60119)Keselowski, B.25140:12:441,143??
Everything is better when twins are involved? ESPECIALLY Nascar!
Let’s see now, they’re blond, they’re twins, they’re hot and they race cars. Yep, that sounds like every Nascar fans fantasy if you ask me. Meet Amber and Angela Cope, twin 27-year-old sisters who completed their first Nascar race this past weekend in the Camping World Truck Series race. The sisters are the nieces of [...]
Here to help: Kasey Kahne spends his spare time helping others through his foundation
When Kasey Kahne heads home after a long day at his sprawling Sprint car shop ? where he spends virtually every minute of his free time ? he winds around the inlets of Lake Norman to a spacious Tudor home that offers unobstructed views of the reservoir. But were it not for the floor-to-ceiling windows, Kahne would hardly know the water was there. Looking at the lake was as close as Kahne got in 2009.
And here's Paris Hilton straddling a motorcycle
Last week, we told you about Paris Hilton's foray into MotoGP, where she'll be joining in the sponsorship of a 125cc team. Saturday night, she appeared at a promo event in Madrid, Spain to announce the season. Here's hoping her drivers zip up a bit more than that. Getting hit by road grit there would sting like a mother, wouldn't it? So, there you are. Paris Hilton, everybody!
Robert Hight's blog: Two strikes and we'll be back in it
"It's great to have the opportunity to give you some insight into the Auto Club Ford Mustang Funny Car team, and John Force Racing as a whole."
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
FIA allowing team orders in 2011
Formula One's governing body, the International Automobile Federation (FIA), will end its ban on team orders as part of its regulations changes for the 2011 season.
Top 30: Clint Bowyer happy with season, still sour about penalty
Clint Bowyer had a solid season as he qualified for the Chase For The Sprint Cup in the very last race of the regular season, won two races and finished 10th in the standings. So the Richard Childress Racing driver will look back on 2010 with a feeling of accomplishment but still a little bit of a sour taste.
Piquet Jr. to drive for KHI in Truck Series next season
Former Formula One driver Nelson Piquet Jr. will run a full schedule in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for Kevin Harvick Inc. in 2011, the team announced on Monday.
Black-flagged: Federal judge refuses to reopen Jeremy Mayfield case against sanctioning body
Jeremy Mayfield?s allegations that NASCAR Chairman Brian France had him black-flagged in the 2006 Brickyard 400 were not enough to sway U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen to reopen Mayfield?s lawsuit against the sanctioning body. Mullen issued an order Monday that denied Mayfield?s request to reconsider a May ruling in favor of NASCAR that dismissed all of Mayfield?s claims.
Talladega Superspeedway Fan Appreciation Day
Talladega Superspeedway Fan Appreciation Day Is Sept. 26th: Talladega Superspeedway will welcome race fans to the track on Sept. 26 for the second annual Fan Appreciation Day. This event is open to the public and free of charge. Best of all, ticket buyers to either of the two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at Talladega, [...]
Monday, December 27, 2010
Robby Gordon alters his energy drink logo just a wee bit
You may remember the story a couple weeks back where Robby Gordon got popped by a judge over the logo to his new energy drink "Speed" (far left), which the court decided was too close to the Specialized Bicycle Components logo (center. Duh.). Gordon indicated in court filings that he had more than 2.4 million cans of the drink in the production cycle with the old logo, with almost half of that ready for sale. The loss of the revenue from those energy drinks would have sunk Gordon's team.Well, salvation may be on the horizon. Speed has rolled out a new logo, depicted there at right, and it seems like both sides are close to a settlement. The new logo doesn't have that crossbar on the "S," and the bars are a bit more parallel, which is apparently enough to satisfy the court and Specialized.So, looks like there'll be good news for Robby. Speed drinks are on the house, everybody!
Brad Keselowski Gets Nationwide Crew Chief Paul Wolfe for Cup Team
Brad Keselowski Gets Nationwide Crew Chief Paul Wolfe for Cup Team Filed under: Crew Chiefs , Sprint Cup , NASCAR No driver competing in NASCAR ‘s two top series showed greater disparity in results in 2010 than Brad Keselowski , who won the Nationwide series championship with six victories while eking out a couple of top-10 finishes in a forgettable Sprint Cup campaign. Both cars came from Penske Racing, and when Roger Penske is involved, nonperformance won’t stand. Thus, the organization announced Tuesday that Paul Wolfe, Keselowski’s championship-winning crew chief in Nationwide, has been promoted to become his Sprint Cup crew chief, replacing Jay Guy
Filed under: Crew Chiefs, Sprint Cup, NASCAR
No driver competing in NASCAR‘s two top series showed greater disparity in results in 2010 than Brad Keselowski, who won the Nationwide series championship with six victories while eking out a couple of top-10 finishes in a forgettable Sprint Cup campaign.
Both cars came from Penske Racing, and when Roger Penske is involved, nonperformance won’t stand.
Thus, the organization announced Tuesday that Paul Wolfe, Keselowski’s championship-winning crew chief in Nationwide, has been promoted to become his Sprint Cup crew chief, replacing Jay Guy.
In addition to the six victories and the championship, Keselowski and Wolfe scored 29 top-10 finishes in 35 races. Twenty six of those were top fives — a series single-season record. He also won five poles, led 1,147 laps and had an average finish of 5.2.
By contrast, in his Sprint Cup car, Keselowski had no victories, one pole position, no top fives and just two top 10s — 10th-place finishes at Martinsville and Talladega late in the season. He led 41 laps and had an average finish of 22.4.
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Filed under: Crew Chiefs, Sprint Cup, NASCAR
No driver competing in NASCAR‘s two top series showed greater disparity in results in 2010 than Brad Keselowski, who won the Nationwide series championship with six victories while eking out a couple of top-10 finishes in a forgettable Sprint Cup campaign.
Both cars came from Penske Racing, and when Roger Penske is involved, nonperformance won’t stand.
Thus, the organization announced Tuesday that Paul Wolfe, Keselowski’s championship-winning crew chief in Nationwide, has been promoted to become his Sprint Cup crew chief, replacing Jay Guy.
In addition to the six victories and the championship, Keselowski and Wolfe scored 29 top-10 finishes in 35 races. Twenty six of those were top fives — a series single-season record. He also won five poles, led 1,147 laps and had an average finish of 5.2.
By contrast, in his Sprint Cup car, Keselowski had no victories, one pole position, no top fives and just two top 10s — 10th-place finishes at Martinsville and Talladega late in the season. He led 41 laps and had an average finish of 22.4.
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Ricky Hendrick's former fiancee to appear on The Bachelor
Emily Maynard, the former fiancee of Ricky Hendrick, the late son of NASCAR owner Rick Hendrick, will appear on the upcoming season of the Bachelor.Ricky Hendrick ran for parts of four seasons in what's currently the
Nationwide Series, retiring from driving in 2002 and moving into a
management role at Hendrick Motorsports. He was killed in the plane crash that took the lives of
eight Hendrick Motorsports employees in October of 2004. The plane
crashed in a heavy fog en route to the Martinsville race.Maynard, 24, and Ricky Hendrick were engaged in 2004 and on the night of Ricky's memorial service, she announced to Rick Hendrick and his wife Linda that she was pregnant with the couple's daughter Josephine, who is called "Ricki" in remembrance of her father. In the season that starts January 3, Maynard will be competing for the affection of 38-year-old Brad Womack. Womack is back for a second season on the show, apparently trusting the process of finding love on a reality television show despite lackluster results the first time.The accident has been a sensitive subject for the Hendrick family, so it will be interesting to see how it's treated by the producers of the Bachelor and if Maynard will bring any primetime attention to the sport if she stays on the show for an extended period of time. The awkwardness that could ensue if Rick Hendrick is asked about the show during a media gathering in 2011 could be cringe-inducing.
Nationwide Series, retiring from driving in 2002 and moving into a
management role at Hendrick Motorsports. He was killed in the plane crash that took the lives of
eight Hendrick Motorsports employees in October of 2004. The plane
crashed in a heavy fog en route to the Martinsville race.Maynard, 24, and Ricky Hendrick were engaged in 2004 and on the night of Ricky's memorial service, she announced to Rick Hendrick and his wife Linda that she was pregnant with the couple's daughter Josephine, who is called "Ricki" in remembrance of her father. In the season that starts January 3, Maynard will be competing for the affection of 38-year-old Brad Womack. Womack is back for a second season on the show, apparently trusting the process of finding love on a reality television show despite lackluster results the first time.The accident has been a sensitive subject for the Hendrick family, so it will be interesting to see how it's treated by the producers of the Bachelor and if Maynard will bring any primetime attention to the sport if she stays on the show for an extended period of time. The awkwardness that could ensue if Rick Hendrick is asked about the show during a media gathering in 2011 could be cringe-inducing.
Sudden impact: Move to multiple green-white-checkered finishes had big effect in 2010
When NASCAR officials amended their green-white-checkered rule prior to the start of the 2010 Sprint Cup Series season, they likely didn?t anticipate it having a major impact so quickly. But it took only one race for the move to be felt.
Rivalries Still Common Throughout NHRA
Some media members and fans have tried desperately to instigate a rivalry between reigning champion Tony Schumacher and two-time predecessor Larry Dixon. The Top Fuel headliners, though, genuinely have no cross words to say about each other.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Repaved Daytona Track Smooth and Bump-Free, Drivers Say
Repaved Daytona Track Smooth and Bump-Free, Drivers Say Filed under: Bobby Labonte , Dale Earnhardt Jr. , Jamie McMurray , Jeff Burton , Jeff Gordon , Juan Pablo Montoya , Kurt Busch , Mark Martin , Matt Kenseth , Daytona Int’l Speedway , NASCAR Sponsors , NASCAR Testing , Sprint Cup , NASCAR The freshly repaved track at Daytona International Speedway is smooth, has plenty of grip and plenty of room for racing, said NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers who participated in Wednesday’s Goodyear tire tests at the track
Filed under: Bobby Labonte, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jamie McMurray, Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Daytona Int’l Speedway, NASCAR Sponsors, NASCAR Testing, Sprint Cup, NASCAR
The freshly repaved track at Daytona International Speedway is smooth, has plenty of grip and plenty of room for racing, said NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers who participated in Wednesday’s Goodyear tire tests at the track.
“They smoothed out all the bumps,” said Dale Earnhardt Jr., the 2004 Daytona 500 champion. “The track is real smooth. It’s got a lot of grip. The track reminds me a lot like Talladega was like when they first finished it.
“The racing during the drafting was exciting and I think it is going to be a good show, a more exciting show for the fans because the cars are going to stay real tight on each other throughout entire runs.”
The speedway said 18 drivers took part in the tire test Wednesday — the first day of a two-day Goodyear test to determine the proper tire compound for the 2.5-mile speedway’s new racing surface before the 53rd annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 20. Drivers turned laps on the speedway in both single car and drafting sessions.
It was the first time race cars have been on the track at speed since the repaving job was completed earlier this month. From July to December, the entire track was repaved for only the second time since it was built and opened in 1959.
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Filed under: Bobby Labonte, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jamie McMurray, Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Daytona Int’l Speedway, NASCAR Sponsors, NASCAR Testing, Sprint Cup, NASCAR
The freshly repaved track at Daytona International Speedway is smooth, has plenty of grip and plenty of room for racing, said NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers who participated in Wednesday’s Goodyear tire tests at the track.
“They smoothed out all the bumps,” said Dale Earnhardt Jr., the 2004 Daytona 500 champion. “The track is real smooth. It’s got a lot of grip. The track reminds me a lot like Talladega was like when they first finished it.
“The racing during the drafting was exciting and I think it is going to be a good show, a more exciting show for the fans because the cars are going to stay real tight on each other throughout entire runs.”
The speedway said 18 drivers took part in the tire test Wednesday — the first day of a two-day Goodyear test to determine the proper tire compound for the 2.5-mile speedway’s new racing surface before the 53rd annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 20. Drivers turned laps on the speedway in both single car and drafting sessions.
It was the first time race cars have been on the track at speed since the repaving job was completed earlier this month. From July to December, the entire track was repaved for only the second time since it was built and opened in 1959.
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NASCAR Racing: Ford Championship Weekend
Welcome NASCAR race fans to my NASCAR blog. NASCAR Season Finale has arrived! The top three NASCAR Series’ are at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the final races of the season. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series had practice and Coors Light Pole Qualifying for the Ford 400 on Friday with 83 Kasey Kahne taking the pole away from [...]
F1 had a season to remember in 2010
The 2010 Formula One season turned out to be one of the best ever contests for the world championship in the sport's 61- year history. With four drivers remaining in title contention heading into the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel astonishingly overcame a 15-point deficit to become F1's new world champion.
Young Guns: Richard Childress grandsons Austin and Ty Dillon are shooting for NASCAR stardom
Want to see some explosive competition? Just put the Dillon brothers ? Austin, 20, and Ty, 18 ? in the same room. Throw in a few shotguns, a closet full of ammunition and their grandfather Richard Childress? months-old skeet shooting barn and it?s: light the fuse and get away. There are going to be fireworks.
Supercharged Santa: Retooling the sled for the 21st century
The time for Santa to begin delivering presents is almost upon us, and let's face it -- a sleigh pulled by eight tiny reindeer (nine if you count Rudolph) isn't exactly the most efficient means of travel in the 21st century. So several major automakers took up the challenge -- create a new sled to meet the challenges of modern-day toy-slinging! We're proud to present a gallery of the finest creations.Above, Mazda thoughtfully provides room for a few select elves to help Santa with his present deliveries. Not much room for presents, though; guess a lot of kids are going to be getting gift cards this year.Below, some more redesigns of the famous sleigh. Check them out for a hint of what Santa might be wheeling this Christmas Eve.Next, there's Land Rover's high-tech design above, which features a particle accelerator for an engine and a sleek, fog-cutting look "designed to meet ever-increasing delivery timetables." Special features include a laser-guided present delivery system and CRS -- Chimney Recognition Software, of course. It's rare that you'd suggest Porsche comes up short, but hey, compared to the other efforts above and below, the Porsche cats needed to bring some more game. Still, why mess with perfection? Kick off those skids and Santa can have his midlife crisis all year long! Nissan gives us a sleigh that's more bullet than sleigh, with the kind of propulsion system that'll blow chimneys off roofs if deployed inappropriately. Above, Jaguar brings us "Santa's Little Helper," a design that's part '50s sci-fi rocketship, part World War II bomber. Santa appears to be sitting backwards in this one, and orange is a curious color choice, but it's smooth retro-cool nonetheless. Aston Martin, appropriately enough, goes with an understated, classic design above, one which evokes classic automobiles while still being fast enough to deliver a billion toys in a night. Mercedes has basically bolted a couple running skids onto an auto body, but it's still a sweet (and, apparently, spaceworthy) design. Letting reindeer sit in the car, though? Whew. Santa's going to need to fumigate that one on the 26th. Here's a classic design from 2008. Bentley brings us the illuminating beauty above; good of Santa to bring Rudolph along for the ride, since the quad-headlights render the reindeer with the glowing nose irrelevant. Nice touch, adding the sleigh skids beneath.The Opel/Vauxhall sleigh above looks more like something out of a Predator movie, what with those sharp edges and that energy crackle in the front. All the naughty kids are going to want one. While not an automaker, GE nonetheless offers up something above that looks like a refrigerator, appropriately enough. And it's got an array of real-world extras: "ice-shedding nano coatings, self-powered OLED lighting, carbon-fiber composites, RFID sensors, intelligence-tracking technology," and oh so much more. And finally, Audi brings us this (snow)drifting, tricked-up version of the forthcoming 2010 A1. Looks good, Santa, but you're going to have to get more lift if you're going to clear the Atlantic!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Kevin Kidd named crew chief for third JGR Nationwide entry
Officials with Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Kevin Kidd has been named crew chief for driver Brian Scott in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for the 2011 season. Kidd guided Joey Logano to a pair of wins and teammate Denny Hamlin to one victory this past season as crew chief for the organization?s No. 20 team.
2010 Michigan International Speedway Nascar Photos
The 2nd and final visit for NASCAR at MIS in 2010.
Here to help: Kasey Kahne spends his spare time helping others through his foundation
When Kasey Kahne heads home after a long day at his sprawling Sprint car shop ? where he spends virtually every minute of his free time ? he winds around the inlets of Lake Norman to a spacious Tudor home that offers unobstructed views of the reservoir. But were it not for the floor-to-ceiling windows, Kahne would hardly know the water was there. Looking at the lake was as close as Kahne got in 2009.
Rally Mexico to feature underground stage
Next year's Rally Mexico will feature the World Rally Championship's first underground special stage.
Marcos Ambrose Is NASCAR Crash King With 19 Incidents
Marcos Ambrose Is NASCAR Crash King With 19 Incidents Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr. , Denny Hamlin , Elliott Sadler , Jimmie Johnson , Juan Pablo Montoya , Kasey Kahne , Kevin Harvick , Kurt Busch , Kyle Busch , Martin Truex Jr.
Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin, Elliott Sadler, Jimmie Johnson, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., NASCAR Crashes, Sprint Cup, Joey Logano, FanHouse Exclusive, NASCAR
Marcos Ambrose, NASCAR‘s Aussie driver, did not let a mid-season surge in futility by Elliott Sadler deter him from capturing the season ‘championship’ in yellow-flag crashes and spins.
Coming on strong during the final eight races with seven spins or crashes, including a final spin (at right) during the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Ambrose easily outdistanced the competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series to post a season-leading 19 incidents and win the title by two.
Sadler, meanwhile, found uncommon consistency in the final stretch, chalking up only a single yellow flag in an incident at Martinsville Speedway during the last eight races. That brought his season total to 15, a number easily surpassed not only by Ambrose, but by hard-luck Sam Hornish Jr., who reached the second-highest total of 17 after the misfortune of four more incidents in the final eight races, including two in the Martinsville race.
Kyle Busch and Joey Logano were tied for fourth in our exclusive FanHouse crash and spin roundup, with 14 incidents apiece.
Drivers involved in 13 spins or crashes in the 36-race schedule, or one every three races, were Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne, Brad Keselowski and Juan Pablo Montoya.
In our tally, we count an incident on a driver’s tally if his car is listed as being involved in a spin or a crash that brings out a yellow flag. Caution periods caused by stalled cars, engine failures or debris do not count, unless a spin or crash was involved and a car number listed.
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Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin, Elliott Sadler, Jimmie Johnson, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., NASCAR Crashes, Sprint Cup, Joey Logano, FanHouse Exclusive, NASCAR
Marcos Ambrose, NASCAR‘s Aussie driver, did not let a mid-season surge in futility by Elliott Sadler deter him from capturing the season ‘championship’ in yellow-flag crashes and spins.
Coming on strong during the final eight races with seven spins or crashes, including a final spin (at right) during the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Ambrose easily outdistanced the competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series to post a season-leading 19 incidents and win the title by two.
Sadler, meanwhile, found uncommon consistency in the final stretch, chalking up only a single yellow flag in an incident at Martinsville Speedway during the last eight races. That brought his season total to 15, a number easily surpassed not only by Ambrose, but by hard-luck Sam Hornish Jr., who reached the second-highest total of 17 after the misfortune of four more incidents in the final eight races, including two in the Martinsville race.
Kyle Busch and Joey Logano were tied for fourth in our exclusive FanHouse crash and spin roundup, with 14 incidents apiece.
Drivers involved in 13 spins or crashes in the 36-race schedule, or one every three races, were Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne, Brad Keselowski and Juan Pablo Montoya.
In our tally, we count an incident on a driver’s tally if his car is listed as being involved in a spin or a crash that brings out a yellow flag. Caution periods caused by stalled cars, engine failures or debris do not count, unless a spin or crash was involved and a car number listed.
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Continued here:
Ganassi adds Rahal, Kimball to driver line up in 2011
Chip Ganassi Racing is expanding to a four-car stable for the 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series season, adding Graham Rahal and Charlie Kimball to its driver lineup.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Sterling Marlin leads latest batch of early entries for THE RACE at Historic North Wilkesboro
NAPLES ME ( 11/24) Two time Daytona 500 winner Sterling Marlin has filed his� early entry for THE RACE at North Wilkesboro. Slated for April 9, 2011, the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) sanctioned race at North Wilkesboro Speedway will pay a minimum of $75,000.00 to the winner.
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Marlin has� ten Sprint Cup and 2 Nationwide Series wins under his belt but early in his career he captured three consecutive championships at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, a storied short track that has produced so many� racing talents. He has plenty of experience at North Wilkesboro too, with a number of top ten results during his cup career.
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Marlin has� ten Sprint Cup and 2 Nationwide Series wins under his belt but early in his career he captured three consecutive championships at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, a storied short track that has produced so many� racing talents. He has plenty of experience at North Wilkesboro too, with a number of top ten results during his cup career.
Tony Cotman's blog: Demystifying fuel mixture strategies
"I've had a lot of questions and comments about the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series' on-board, driver-controlled fuel mixture switch so I thought we'd explore the effect this switch has on racing."
Slamming the door on Hendrick Motorsports' 2010
We're almost done with 2010, so as we close out the year, we look back one last time at the big teams to see where they went right, where they went wrong, and what their prospects might be for 2011. And we start at the top ... By the numbers: Six wins, 38 top 5s, 69 top 10s, five poles, two Chasers The recap: A fifth straight championship, in the personage of Jimmie Johnson. Can't beat that, can ya? Well, here's the problem: Of the six wins Hendrick had in 2010, Johnson had, well, six of them. Jeff Gordon had what looked to be a promising year, but faded in the Chase. Mark Martin was all but invisible for most of the season, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. couldn't hide no matter how far back in the pack he ran. The outlook: Want to know why Hendrick is still the class team of NASCAR? Because Rick Hendrick's not afraid to blow things up even when all is going well. Immediately after the season ended, he swapped everything about the three guys who aren't five-time winners. Early prognosis: Gordon comes out looking the best, Earnhardt is on his final excuse, and Martin is marking time until Kasey Kahne arrives. As for Johnson: Would you bet against him winning No. 6?
Did Jimmie Johnson get a free ride to a fifth consecutive championship?
The last thing I would think either Denny Hamlin or Kevin Harvick would want to do would to give Jimmie Johnson any advantage going into the final race of the Sprint Cup season. Qualifying over the last few weeks hasn't really meant much on race day for any of the three drivers still in contention for the title. All three have qualified poorly of late but all three have ended up running in the top-10 during the race. But still, with everything on the line, with every point for Johnson another step toward a NASCAR-record fifth consecutive title, why wouldn't Hamlin or Harvick's teams try to at least keep pace with Johnson in qualifying? Everyone mentions how Hamlin won the Ford 400 a year ago from starting 38th. Two things come to mind. First, Hamlin was out of the title hunt last year and had nothing to lose. We have no idea if his team would or will make the same choices with more at stake. Second, in the past four title runs by Johnson, he has entered the Homestead finale with a big points lead and no reason to race hard or push it. Johnson's crew chief, Chad Knaus, admitted as much this week on a teleconference. The bottom line? We don't know how good Johnson can be here because we really have no idea how good he could have been in the past four races. So, now Johnson starts way up front (sixth). His competitors will start from the back (Harvick 28th and Hamlin 37th). Is it possible any of the three can still win the championship on Sunday? Of course. But there is no way I would want to start that process without at least being able to see the rear bumper of Johnson's No. 48 Chevrolet.
Top 30: Denny Hamlin has great year but falls one spot short of title
Denny Hamlin nearly had the perfect season. He won eight times. He led the series standings going into the last race of the year. All he had to do was beat Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick on the final day at Homestead-Miami Speedway and he would be the 2010 Sprint Cup champion. It didn?t happen.
Richard Petty Motorsports Callin it Quits?
RPM may not run past Martinsville. The house of cards is finally falling for George Gillett’s Richard Petty Motorsports. The assembly line from Roush Fenway Racing and Roush Yates engines has stopped running to RPM. Engines have been picked up, cars have been repossessed, and sources on both sides — RPM and RFR — say [...]
Thursday, December 23, 2010
A collection of NASCAR holiday gifts, part 1
It's the holiday season, and that means we're at the farthest point possible between the end of one NASCAR season and the start of the next. But does that mean we should just nap and forget NASCAR? Heck no! Save that nap for the middle of the Pocono races! Here, we've got a whole ton of NASCAR holiday goodness, broken up into two (and maybe more) monstrous posts. (Got more? Hit us up at jay.busbee@yahoo.com.) Ho ho ho, and away we go!The Intimidator Mega-Ornament (above). Gotta love an ornament that's the size of the freaking Death Star hanging off your tree. You'll need reinforcements to hold up the tree for this one. Plus, dig on the little E car running circles around it! Amazing! Brings a whiff of the Intimidator into your home all season long! More follows below...The Jeff Gordon sleigh. Check it out! Santa's a 24 fan! And probably even more so now that Rainbow is running with an AARP sponsorship. Of course, your sled may have problems everywhere but Texas. Your presents may show up much later than you expected them. And they might be cherrypicked by Jimmie Johnson. But hey, all that's to be expected, right? Be thankful for what you've got.Jimmie Johnson light-up lawn car. And speaking of Jimmie Johnson, who wouldn't love a gargantuan Jimmie Johnson lawn behemoth like this? It lights up the sky with five-time excellence! Just don't be too surprised if the FedEx truck "accidentally" runs this one over.Dale Earnhardt Jr. tree lights! How awesome are these little beauties? A string of lights that look so pretty and might even work the way they're supposed to one night out of the 12 of Christmas!Not a bad haul, all the way around. More coming on Christmas Eve!
Kyle Busch gives Gibbs Nationwide owner's title
After the No. 18 Toyota of Joe Gibbs Racing won the Nationwide Series' owners championship Saturday, driver Brad Coleman said: ``I feel blessed to have a backup driver like Kyle Busch.''
NASCAR Racing: Ford Championship Weekend
Welcome NASCAR race fans to my NASCAR blog. NASCAR Season Finale has arrived! The top three NASCAR Series’ are at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the final races of the season. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series had practice and Coors Light Pole Qualifying for the Ford 400 on Friday with 83 Kasey Kahne taking the pole away from [...]
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
For Denny Hamlin, 'close doesn't cut it'
After a crash on the 25th lap, Denny Hamlin rallied admirably, but his car wasn't the same after the wreck.
Join us for the latest Marbles chat, Friday at 1 ET
Pushing the usual Wednesday chat to Friday this week. So wrap up your workweek early and come hang with us for a bit as we discuss whatever's on your mind, NASCAR-wise. Festivities begin at 1 p.m. Eastern. See you here!
Hall of Fame makes gains with boost in October attendance
CHARLOTTE ? The NASCAR Hall of Fame had an increase in attendance and made money for the month of October. The news was a welcome change for facility executives, who have struggled to meet attendance and financial projections since the hall?s opening in May.
NASCAR Racing Season Ends
Well NASCAR race fans, the NASCAR racing Season has come to and end. Now we can all find other things to do on the weekends. The Holidays are coming up and there will be much preparation and shopping to do for them. Daytona International Speedway is being repaved and should be done in time for [...]
Top 30: Mark Martin doesn?t have best season but finishes best of the rest
Mark Martin spent part of 2010 flabbergasted. The Hendrick Motorsports driver couldn?t figure out why his cars were not as fast as a year ago, when he started slow but rallied to easily make the Chase For The Sprint Cup and finish with five victories and a runnerup finish in the standings. And he couldn?t figure out why people didn?t believe him when he said he wouldn?t get out of the No. 5 car at the end of 2010 to make way for Kasey Kahne, who had signed to drive the car beginning in 2012.
Kyle Busch gives Gibbs Nationwide owner's title
After the No. 18 Toyota of Joe Gibbs Racing won the Nationwide Series' owners championship Saturday, driver Brad Coleman said: ``I feel blessed to have a backup driver like Kyle Busch.''
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
AMERICAN CANADIAN TOUR TO FLORIDA OVER SPEEDWEEKS
Waterbury, VT ? The American Canadian Tour (ACT) announced today that an agreement has been reached with New Smyrna Speedway (NSS) to bring the ACT Late Model teams from the Northeastern US and Canada to the historic ?World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing? at New Smyrna, Florida during the Daytona Speedweeks.
There will be two 100-lap events for ACT teams with back-to-back races on Sunday, February 13 and Monday, February 14, 2011.
There will be two 100-lap events for ACT teams with back-to-back races on Sunday, February 13 and Monday, February 14, 2011.
NHRA US MAC Tools Nationals ? O?Reilly Raceway Park
Wanted to throw these videos up real quick of John Force, and Ashley Force running qualifying night at ORP.
Ganassi adds Rahal, Kimball to driver line up in 2011
Chip Ganassi Racing is expanding to a four-car stable for the 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series season, adding Graham Rahal and Charlie Kimball to its driver lineup.
Top 30: Second-half woes left Kurt Busch, Penske team playing catchup
Kurt Busch reeled off 11 top-10 finishes in the first 18 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races of 2010, but just six the remainder of the year. He led 804 laps in the first 18 races, but just 35 after Daytona?s July race. And he won two races, as well as the non-points all-star event at Charlotte in the first 18, but none during the second half of the season.
What were the biggest surprises, good and bad, in 2010?
As we continue to put a bow on the 2010 season, and we'll do so right up until it's time to start 2011, we bring you the latest in video recaps. Yahoo! Sports' Jay Hart and Wally Dallenbach review the biggest surprises and disappointments for the year. Watch on:All right, your turn. Who unexpectedly impressed you in 2010? Who let you down? Have your say below, friends.
Don Schumacher Hires Spencer Massey in Top Fuel
It’s been just a month since Don Schumacher Racing announced that Cory McClenathan would relinquish his ride in the FRAM Top Fuel dragster for the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season. The rationale given for Cory Mac’s dismissal was his age, as McClenathan edges toward the half-century mark and sports a somewhat graying...
Monday, December 20, 2010
CAROLYN BREWSTER: Glimpse into Speedway Club an eye-opening experience
When considering in which section to purchase race tickets, my focus has almost always been exclusively for the grandstand. Will I be watching the race from the cheap seats along the backstretch or will I spring for the pricier tickets in front of pit road? ... I automatically discount any of those glass-enclosed suites or condominium towers. Until now.
Top 30: Tony Stewart rebounds from slow start, but fails to maintain momemtum down the stretch
After winning four times in 2009, Tony Stewart expected to contend for race wins and a third Sprint Cup Series title in 2010. He accomplished the first goal ? winning at Atlanta and Auto Club Speedway in the fall ? but the Stewart-Haas Racing team never seemed to get on track during the 10-race Chase For The Sprint Cup.
Denny Hamlin to start back in pack
Kasey Kahne and Denny Hamlin have this in common relative to their 2010 Sprint Cup seasons: Hamlin already has undergone knee surgery, and Kahne will undergo knee surgery Tuesday.
Rahal aims for long Ganassi career
Graham Rahal says he hopes his new deal with Ganassi will be the start of a long relationship with the hugely successful IndyCar team.
Jimmie! Chad! Solvin' crimes, displayin' trophies all over Vegas!
Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus! Two bearded dudes holdin' a trophy! They're Las Vegas's newest detectives, doin' burnouts for justice! Or something like that. Vader and The Emperor began their tour of Sin City on Tuesday in advance of this weekend's banquet, and they dragged that trophy everywhere with 'em. Behold:In front of the Bellagio. The fountains in the background danced to "The Imperial March." No truth to the rumor that the fountains are fueled by Denny Hamlin's tears.Atop the Mandalay Bay hotel. No truth to the rumor that the trophy slipped off the ledge and blasted through the roof of Kevin Harvick's cab.Plenty more to come from Vegas. If there aren't photos of the trophy ending up in a dirty glass case in a Strip pawn shop or tipped over in a gutter with a woman of dubious repute screaming in the background, I'll be very disappointed.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
World Of Outlaws Late Models At Shawano Speedway
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series start off racing in the month of August at Shawano (Wis.) Speedway August 3.
2010 Michigan International Speedway Nascar Photos
The 2nd and final visit for NASCAR at MIS in 2010.
Johanna Long wins Snowball Derby
Johanna Long, who made her debut in the Camping World Truck Series in 2010, won the 43rd Snowball Derby Saturday night at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL.The Snowball Derby is a prestigious late-model race that attracts some of the bigger names in racing. Last year, Kyle Busch won, but while he wasn't in the 2010 field, it still had some big names.Long, a Pensacola native who's no stranger to Five Flags, beat David Ragan, David Stremme, Chase Elliott -- Bill Elliott's son, Ross Kenseth -- Matt Kenseth's son and Landon Cassill among others in the 300 lap event to become its second female winner. In 1994, Tammy Jo Kirk won.Long, who turned 18 in May, made seven starts in the Truck Series in 2010, finishing 20th twice.
Robby Gordon alters logo on energy drink, dispute with Specialized bicycle company nears end
Robby Gordon, involved in a legal battle with Specialized Bicycle Components, has altered the logo for his Speed Energy drink. A settlement in the case is likely, according to court filings, and apparently will come with the alteration of the logo.
Scott Speed files $6.5 million lawsuit against Red Bull Racing
STATESVILLE, N.C. ? NASCAR driver Scott Speed filed a $6.5 million breach-of-contract lawsuit Friday afternoon against Red Bull Racing, the team that released Speed following the 2010 season. In the lawsuit, filed in North Carolina Superior Court in Statesville, N.C., Speed claims that Red Bull did not fund the team as necessary to compete at the Cup level.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Lowe's relationship with Cup champion Jimmie Johnson paying dividends for Kobalt brand
So you?re Jimmie Johnson?s biggest sponsor and he?s just won his fifth championship. Where do you go next in NASCAR? Home improvement retailer Lowe?s is going in for more promotion of its in-house line of tools, Kobalt, for starters.
More big names for Massa's kart event
Formula 1 drivers Bruno Senna and Jaime Alguersuari, plus three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves, will make their first appearance in Felipe Massa's annual end-of-season karting event in Brazil this weekend.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Nelson Piquet Jr. signs with Kevin Harvick Inc. for full 2011 truck season
Former Formula One driver Nelson Piquet Jr. will compete full time in the Camping World Truck Series for Kevin Harvick Inc. in 2011. The truck will be one of three out of the KHI stable. The crew chief, truck number and sponsors will be announced at a later date. Piquet Jr., 25, competed in five truck races last season for two different teams.
NASCAR sets date for 2011 HOF induction ceremony
NASCAR announced on Monday that the 2011 induction ceremony for the NASCAR Hall of Fame's second five-member class will be held on May 23.
Tony Cotman's blog: Lots to be excited about
With the recent addition of Lotus, along with Chevrolet joining Honda, the future of the IZOD IndyCar Series is bound to be full of excitement.
NASCAR's Johnson wins Driver of the Year
Five-time defending NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson beat out NHRA Funny Car champion John Force for the Driver of the Year award on Wednesday.
Drivers pleased with Daytona's new track surface
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers participating in a two-day Goodyear tire test at Daytona International Speedway say they're satisfied with the track's newly-repaved surface.
Elliott Sadler likely approves of Pocono's safety improvements
Remember Elliott Sadler's crash at Pocono in August?After Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch got together, Sadler got hit from behind by AJ Allmendinger while checking up on the Long Pond Straightaway. Sadler's car went skidding at nearly full speed across the wet and muddy infield before it smashed into the Armco steel barrier that separated the track from the camping area.The impact was so violent that Sadler's engine ended up in the middle of the tunnel turn, completely disengaged from his car. In June, Kasey Kahne started a landscaping service on the backstretch as his car went into the bushes outside of the Long Pond Straight after it was airborne. That prompted Greg Biffle to say in a Sports Illustrated story that someone would be killed at Pocono because of the lack of safety measures at the track. Now, Pocono Raceway is installing safety upgrades that directly address both of the issues that arose during Kahne and Sadler's crashes. A catch fence is being installed along the Long Pond Straight -- because Kahne didn't do a very good job of trimming the hedges -- and a SAFER barrier will replace the outdated Armco barrier. (Watkins Glen is also installing SAFER barriers in time for the 2011 race weekend) We love crashes, and while the impact of Sadler's crash might have made you sick to your stomach, you also probably watched Kahne's car fly though the air more than once. And why do we love crashes? Because drivers don't get hurt. (Sadler had some bruising and got the wind knocked out of him, but ultimately was OK.) That's a testament to the safety of the current cars in NASCAR and the measures that most tracks have taken. Now that Pocono is taking these steps, it's even less likely that Biffle's statement will be prescient. And that's a damn good thing.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
World Of Outlaws Sprint Cars At Salina Highbanks Speedway
The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series makes its first ever stop at Salina Highbanks Speedway in Pryor, Okla., April 23.
Hinchcliffe, Servia complete Newman/Haas test
Oriol Servia and James Hinchcliffe have completed two days of testing with Newman/Haas as both push for a place in the 2011 IndyCar field.
Bank of America extends race sponsorship with Charlotte Motor Speedway
The green flag will drop for a sixth Bank of America 500 in 2011 courtesy of a one-year renewal the bank negotiated with Charlotte Motor Speedway and Speedway Motorsports Inc. The deal extends the bank?s five-year title sponsorship of NASCAR?s fall Sprint Cup race and also prolongs its partnerships with five tracks owned by Speedway Motorsports Inc.
Sam Hornish Jr. May Return to Indy 500
Sam Hornish Jr. May Return to Indy 500 Filed under: Sam Hornish Jr. , Penske Racing , Indianapolis 500 , NASCAR LAS VEGAS — Three-time IndyCar champ and 2006 Indianapolis 500 winner Sam Hornish Jr .’s NASCAR future remains in limbo, but his team owner, Roger Penske , said Thursday that he will likely field Hornish in the Daytona 500 and possibly in the Indianapolis 500 , too. Penske confirmed the news during a sponsorship announcement at his Ferrari dealership in the Wynn Las Vegas Thursday, where the team unveiled Kurt Busch’s new No
Filed under: Sam Hornish Jr., Penske Racing, Indianapolis 500, NASCAR
LAS VEGAS — Three-time IndyCar champ and 2006 Indianapolis 500 winner Sam Hornish Jr.’s NASCAR future remains in limbo, but his team owner, Roger Penske, said Thursday that he will likely field Hornish in the Daytona 500 and possibly in the Indianapolis 500, too.
Penske confirmed the news during a sponsorship announcement at his Ferrari dealership in the Wynn Las Vegas Thursday, where the team unveiled Kurt Busch’s new No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge in the Sprint Cup Series and a similar design for the iconic No. 3 Penske car that three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves will drive at Indy next May.
For all his success in open-wheel racing, Hornish has never managed to make a big splash in NASCAR’s big leagues, with only a pair of top-five finishes and eight top-10 efforts in 108 starts over three full seasons. And with no primary sponsor signed for his No. 77 Dodge, Penske said Hornish still doesn’t have a full schedule set for 2011. Penske said both a limited Cup and Nationwide Series slate were possibilities.
“I told him that, at the end of the day, I’d much rather do a program where we can support you a hundred percent than have some pick-up program with not enough sponsors,” Penske said. “We need to have the continuity. We have a number of opportunities, but we just couldn’t get them closed at this point.
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Source: www.entoogle.com
Filed under: Sam Hornish Jr., Penske Racing, Indianapolis 500, NASCAR
LAS VEGAS — Three-time IndyCar champ and 2006 Indianapolis 500 winner Sam Hornish Jr.’s NASCAR future remains in limbo, but his team owner, Roger Penske, said Thursday that he will likely field Hornish in the Daytona 500 and possibly in the Indianapolis 500, too.
Penske confirmed the news during a sponsorship announcement at his Ferrari dealership in the Wynn Las Vegas Thursday, where the team unveiled Kurt Busch’s new No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge in the Sprint Cup Series and a similar design for the iconic No. 3 Penske car that three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves will drive at Indy next May.
For all his success in open-wheel racing, Hornish has never managed to make a big splash in NASCAR’s big leagues, with only a pair of top-five finishes and eight top-10 efforts in 108 starts over three full seasons. And with no primary sponsor signed for his No. 77 Dodge, Penske said Hornish still doesn’t have a full schedule set for 2011. Penske said both a limited Cup and Nationwide Series slate were possibilities.
“I told him that, at the end of the day, I’d much rather do a program where we can support you a hundred percent than have some pick-up program with not enough sponsors,” Penske said. “We need to have the continuity. We have a number of opportunities, but we just couldn’t get them closed at this point.
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Source: www.entoogle.com
NASCAR's 2010 season was one for the history books
From NASCAR's pre-season "Boys, have at it" speech in January to Jimmie Johnson's fifth straight Sprint Cup Series championship in November, the 2010 NASCAR season was a roller coaster ride of storylines from start to finish. Feuds, fights and even a fire suit made for an entertaining year in stock car racing's biggest circuit.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Watkins Glen to get additional permanent seating as part of capital improvement project
Watkins Glen International will install four permanent grandstands, which will come from Michigan International Speedway, to replace temporary wooden and aluminum bleachers currently on its property. The Glen also will build a new Crown Royal club and permanent showers in the infield as part of a $3 million capital improvement project.
IndyCar Amends TEAM Program
For the past eight years, the IndyCar Series has had a TEAM (Team Enhancement and Allocation Matrix) program that financially assists the top 24 entrants with fees over each season. For 2011, and with the arrival of new CEO Randy Bernard, the TEAM program has been amended to include only the top 22 car entrants. This move will prove problematic...
Carl Edwards says Race of Champions was fun but deflating
LAS VEGAS ? Carl Edwards, the 2008 winner of the Race of Champions exhibition event, didn?t win any of his races in the 2010 event last week in Dusseldorf, Germany. Edwards was part of a Team USA with motorcycle star and NASCAR hopeful Travis Pastrana in the 16-driver event, which included Formula One stars Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, Alain Prost and Sebastien Loeb. It was won by A1 Grand Prix driver Filipe Albuquerque.
Elliott Sadler, the patron saint of Wreck Week, flies at Talladega
When we announced Wreck Week and called for suggestions, one wreck flooded our inbox. Which one? Why, this one, of course:That's Elliott Sadler taking to the air at Talladega in 2003. It was the EA Sports 500, and that's appropriate because that crash looked straight out of a video game. The details: Sadler had won the pole and was running in the top 10 -- yes, really -- when he contacted Kurt Busch and, as you just saw, tumbled butt-over-teakettle. But he was uninjured, being observed and released from a Birmingham hospital in fairly short order. As NASCAR.com noted at the time, Sadler was aided by the then-new Lucky Dog rule, which prohibits cars from racing back to the starting line under yellow. Because cars weren't flying around the track at racing speed, emergency crews could get to Sadler quicker. Reports of the time also pointed out that the tether system that holds the tires, hood and rear deck lid to the car worked to perfection. Without it, that hood and deck lid would have been over the fence or deep into the infield. They would have made for fine souvenirs, if you caught them and lived to tell the tale.
Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch just can't stop racin'
The 2010 NASCAR season is over, and while most drivers are out there basking in the glow of victory (Jimmie Johnson), becoming new daddies (Jamie McMurray), sharpening their blades for next season (Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch) or crying themselves to sleep at night (Denny Hamlin ... possibly), at least two drivers are taking a different approach. Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch are using their time off from racing to ... go racing.Not together, of course. Don't let Urt's smile there fool you; these two have a history. No, they headed to virtually opposite sides of the continent, and naturally had some success.Stewart traveled to Vegas and came away with a victory at the Las Vegas Sprint Car Nationals Presented By K&N Filters. Running on dirt at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Smoke started sixth, but worked his way to the front within the first 10 laps of the 25-lap race. He beat drivers Brian Brown, Jack Dover (motto: "Don't call me Ben") and Joey Saldana. Meanwhile, Busch rocked the Rock. Running at the Street Stock Polar Bear 150 at Rockingham Speedway, Busch finished second behind Will Kimmel.Running in races against guys who are their fans is nothing new for either Stewart or Busch, but it's again proof that these guys love racing more than they love being loved. There'll be weekend racing events throughout the offseason, so if there's one near you and one of NASCAR's finest is in attendance, make sure to let us know.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
A look out the rear view mirror
-I know there is a going to be a lot of people who think that all of the drama that unfolded in Sunday?s AAA 500 at Texas Motor Speedway will do wonders for NASCAR and attract a lot of fans, or perhaps bring some back for another look. That may very well turn out to be true. However, what I think is puzzling, is a couple of the reasons people think Sunday was great ? one NASCAR driver showing flagrant disrespect to authority and two others getting involved in a fight on the track ? have not one thing to do with the actual sport of racing. Perhaps that doesn?t matter any more. Or maybe it never did. -Trevor Bayne is a 19-year-old development driver, now for Roush Fenway Racing, who was thrown into his first Cup start in a team he has never raced with previously and a team that doesn?t run fulltime. He finished 17th. Dale Earnhardt Jr., a driver in his 11th season in the series, running for arguably the strongest organization in the sport, was a complete non-factor and finished 25th. You figure it out because I can?t. -I see no difference in Richard Childress Racing?s decision to swap Kevin Harvick?s pit crew with Clint Bowyer?s and the decision Sunday to swap out Jimmie Johnson?s pit crew with Jeff Gordon?s. Yes, the Johnson swap was made mid-race, but it was also made with Gordon out of the race for all practical purposes. If it was done with Gordon still in contention for a race win, that would have been different.
Lutz: Lotus road car plan has "60 percent chance" of success.
Automotive industry elder statesman and former General Motors chief Bob Lutz said he gives the new Lotus recovery plan "a 60 percent chance at least" of achieving its objective of launching five new models
Marco Andretti's blog: Less of the same, please
"Well, I'm glad to be back on ovals...Andretti Autosport, as a team, has been struggling on the road courses this year."
Jimmie Johnson wins unprecedented fifth Sprint Cup title in a row
Jimmie Johnson staged the first comeback victory in the history of NASCAR's Chase for the Cup and won his unprecedented fifth title in a row.
Dangerous thoughts: Richard Petty shouldn't run his own team
Richard Petty: first-ballot inaugural Hall of Famer. One of the greatest sportsmen of the 20th century. Proud American. And — let's be honest — so-so, at best, team owner.I know that besmirching the name of Richard Petty is like wiping my nose on the American flag, but let's run this through here. As you now know, Richard Petty Motorsports will live to see 2011, thanks to a newly-announced buyout plan. Petty, along with Medallion Financial Corp. and DGP Investments, has taken back control of the team that bore his name. On the surface, that's wonderful and welcome news. As long as there's been NASCAR, there's been a Petty involved at the ground level, and that's a tradition that should continue for as long as there is a NASCAR (or Pettys). But the warm amber glow tradition is one thing; the cold hard light of reality is another entirely. Which is why putting Petty back in charge of his own team might not be the cause for celebration that it seems. Take a look at the record of Petty Enterprises at Racing Reference. Note how many wins, top 5s and championships they rang up from 1949 through the early 1980s. (Aside: glance at how many wins Petty himself amassed in certain seasons: 16 in two different years, 21 in 1971, and an astonishing 27 wins in 1967. That's a topic for another day.) It's a stunning litany of achievement, on par with anything the Yankees, Celtics, Lakers or Steelers achieved in their sports.Now look at what happens after 1992, the year the King moved from behind the driver's seat to behind a desk (metaphorically speaking). There are a whole lot of zeroes in that win column. Petty Enterprises managed only three wins from 1984 to 2008, a span of nearly a quarter-century. Indeed, the reason why Kasey Kahne's 2009 Sonoma win was so significant was that it returned Petty to victory lane for the first time in a decade. A decade! For a guy who practically had his own parking space in victory lane for much of his life, that's unthinkable. (And Kahne was Petty's in name only, having come under the Petty banner due to the desperation merger with Gillett Evernham Motorsports.) And in the seven-year history of the Chase, a Petty organization has placed exactly one car in NASCAR's playoffs: Kahne, who finished 10th in 2009. What's befallen Richard Petty is a common failing across all sports: the best players rarely make the best teachers. What gets a Michael Jordan, a Wayne Gretzky or a Richard Petty to the top of their respective sports can't be taught; it's a matter of heart, will, desire and drive. That's why fair-to-middling players, those who had to compensate for their lack of talent with more hustle and in-game/race intelligence, tend to make far better coaches. A Phil Jackson, a Bobby Cox, a Richard Childress has a far better handle on how to make the ordinary extraordinary than someone who was born with innate talent.So what's a King without a crown to do? In this case, use his stature and his networking to bring the best available talent into the upper reaches of the RPM stable. NASCAR today isn't the same as NASCAR in Petty's day, or even in the early 2000s. Different challenges, different expectations, different demands. Petty has two of NASCAR's most promising young drivers in AJ Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose running in 2011, and it would be a shame if, for whatever reason, they didn't develop to their full potential. Interestingly, both financial partners mentioned Petty's name, reputation and image as key elements leading to the deal. Nobody's more recognizable outside of NASCAR than Petty, not even Dale Earnhardt Jr. And while nobody wants to see, say, "Richard Petty's House O' Chicken n' Biscuits" franchises popping up all over the place, perhaps in this case, image is more important than substance. Perhaps it's time for Petty to serve as ambassador rather than head of state.
Monday, December 13, 2010
NASCAR moves 2011 Hall of Fame induction ceremony from Sunday afternoon to Monday night following All-Star weekend
The NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony has been moved from the Sunday afternoon after the annual Sprint All-Star Race to the Monday night after the event for 2011. The date of the 2011 induction ceremony will be May 23. It will be held at the ballroom connected to the hall of fame.
2010 Michigan International Speedway Nascar Photos
The 2nd and final visit for NASCAR at MIS in 2010.
Scott Speed files $6.5 million lawsuit against Red Bull Racing
STATESVILLE, N.C. ? NASCAR driver Scott Speed filed a $6.5 million breach-of-contract lawsuit Friday afternoon against Red Bull Racing, the team that released Speed following the 2010 season. In the lawsuit, filed in North Carolina Superior Court in Statesville, N.C., Speed claims that Red Bull did not fund the team as necessary to compete at the Cup level.
Another historic night ? Jimmie Johnson celebrates unprecedented fifth title
LAS VEGAS ? In some ways, the 2010 Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony was a lot like last year and the three years prior as Jimmie Johnson took the stage to talk about his championship season. But in other ways, this ceremony had a different vibe. There was no talk about tying Cale Yarborough?s streak of three consecutive titles or breaking that streak as in the last two years. This was all about Jimmie Johnson.
Top 30: Another disappointing season leads to more big changes for Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick team
Dale Earnhardt Jr.?s struggles in 2010 have been dissected and analyzed dozens of ways during another disappointing season. But perhaps they can be summed up by his adventures on an August afternoon at Pocono Raceway.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Korean GP receives promoters' award
The Korean Grand Prix organizers received an award for being the season's top race promoters at the FIA's Prize Gala in Monaco yesterday evening.
Steve Letarte answers more of your questions
"What are you guys missing?" and other leading questions for Jeff Gordon's crew chief.
NASCAR Racing: NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship
Welcome NASCAR fans to my NASCAR blog. Everything was on the line for this final race for the NASCAR Nationwide� race, the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. and Brian Scott are battling for the Rookie of the year Award and the points are close. The Ford 300 was raced Saturday late afternoon, [...]
Saturday, December 11, 2010
No more excuses for Dale Jr.
Let's be honest here. Ever since Dale Earnhardt Jr. moved to Hendrick Motorsports and it became clear the change was not going to live up to expectations the legions of Earnhardt fans have been looking for someone to blame. First it was crew chief Tony Eury Jr. Now, it's crew chief Lance McGrew. And along the way have been the ridiculous accusations that Earnhardt's team didn't get the "best" stuff at HMS, that somehow there was some behind-the-scenes effort to jeopardize Earnhardt's performance. While I found the timing of team owner Rick Hendrick's decision to reorganize three of his Sprint Cup programs odd, I'm glad he did it the way he did. Earnhardt isn't just getting a new crew chief, he is getting a whole new team. Everything and everyone that have been working on Jeff Gordon's team in recent seasons will now become Earnhardt's. The cars, the personnel, even apparently the pit crew that was used by teammate Jimmie Johnson in the final weeks of the season, will become Earnhardt's next year. Yes, Gordon did not win a race in 2010, but there is no question he was a serious contender for many wins and a legitimate title contender. The uniqueness of Hendrick's move has provided something that could likely prove to be a top story in 2011 - no excuses for Earnhardt or his fans. I don't believe that Earnhardt suddenly lost all the talent he had when he racked up 18 career Cup wins, but neither do I believe that everyone and everything Hendrick has put to work with Earnhardt since he arrived at HMS has somehow been "sub par." There is another answer. And I think in 2011 we might finally find out what that is.
Scott Speed upset with treatment from Red Bull over his release
While he says he understands the decision by Red Bull Racing officials to have Kasey Kahne and Brian Vickers as their drivers for 2011, Scott Speed doesn?t feel he was treated fairly by the organization in its release of him last month. The former Formula One driver finished 30th in the standings in his second year in Sprint Cup and said he was notified by fax Nov. 24 that he would not be retained for 2011 by the team operated by the Austrian-based energy drink company.
Robby Gordon alters his energy drink logo just a wee bit
You may remember the story a couple weeks back where Robby Gordon got popped by a judge over the logo to his new energy drink "Speed" (far left), which the court decided was too close to the Specialized Bicycle Components logo (center. Duh.). Gordon indicated in court filings that he had more than 2.4 million cans of the drink in the production cycle with the old logo, with almost half of that ready for sale. The loss of the revenue from those energy drinks would have sunk Gordon's team.Well, salvation may be on the horizon. Speed has rolled out a new logo, depicted there at right, and it seems like both sides are close to a settlement. The new logo doesn't have that crossbar on the "S," and the bars are a bit more parallel, which is apparently enough to satisfy the court and Specialized.So, looks like there'll be good news for Robby. Speed drinks are on the house, everybody!
Offseason therapy: Denny Hamlin returns to the basketball court
LAS VEGAS ? Denny Hamlin, whose 2010 season was defined in part by his gutty performance following knee surgery in April, has returned to the basketball court. Hamlin, an avid basketball player, had surgery March 31 to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Just 10 days later, Hamlin completed the entire race at Phoenix International Raceway and then just 19 days later he won at Texas Motor Speedway en route to his runnerup finish in points.
GOODYEAR TO PRESENT THE ACT SPEEDWEEKS CUP
Waterbury, VT ? The American Canadian Tour (ACT) has announced that Goodyear, the official tire of the 25 year-old short track sanctioning body, will be the presenting sponsor of the first ever ?southern swing? for the ACT Late Models on Sunday, February 13 and Monday, February 14, 2011. Last month officials from ACT and New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna, Florida announced that the ACT Late Model teams would become part of the historic World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing (WSASCR) at the well known � mile speedplant.
For over four decades northern race teams and fans from Maine to Minnesota have made the annual pilgrimage to the ?World Series? at New Smyrna during Speedweeks at Daytona. ?In the old days, the late Richie Evans would run out of the NASCAR Wednesday night awards banquet and rush down to make sure he was in the feature at New Smyrna that night. Junior Hanley, Gary Balough and a whole host of modified and late model racers made New Smyrna their ?off-season home?. It is going to be a lot of fun to bring our northern ACT Late Model teams to Florida,? said Tom Curley, President of the American Canadian Tour.
For over four decades northern race teams and fans from Maine to Minnesota have made the annual pilgrimage to the ?World Series? at New Smyrna during Speedweeks at Daytona. ?In the old days, the late Richie Evans would run out of the NASCAR Wednesday night awards banquet and rush down to make sure he was in the feature at New Smyrna that night. Junior Hanley, Gary Balough and a whole host of modified and late model racers made New Smyrna their ?off-season home?. It is going to be a lot of fun to bring our northern ACT Late Model teams to Florida,? said Tom Curley, President of the American Canadian Tour.
'Boys, Have At It': the soundtrack to the 2010 NASCAR season
The 2010 NASCAR season is behind us now, and while we'll be doing plenty of breakdowns and forecasts over the next few weeks, we want to lead with this, a fine little recap from ESPN of the best of the season, tricked up by the esteemed DJ Steve Porter:91 days to Daytona, everybody. 91 days.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Robby Gordon Motorsports sues Extenze parent company for $690,000
Robby Gordon wants Extenze parent company Biotab Nutraceuticals to pay $690,000 he claims it owes him, a portion of which includes payment for two races in which he replaced Kevin Conway in the No. 7 car late in the 2010 season. ... Gordon claims that Biotab owner Robert Winter approved the driver change for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Charlotte and Martinsville, a move that was made in an attempt to keep the No. 7 entry in the top 35 in car owner points.
F1's Heikki Kovalainen sustained 'heavy concussion' at ROC
On Monday, we told you of Carl Edwards' involvement in this past weekend's Race of Champions, a tournament pitting the best of the best drivers against one another. What we didn't tell you was that one of those all-stars, Formula 1's Heikki Kovalainen, sustained serious injury as a result of this crash:Kovalainen was knocked unconscious for at least 30 seconds, and remains in bed under doctor's orders to treat the "heavy concussion." Also injured: his girlfriend and passenger, Catherine Hyde, who sustained a hairline fracture to her pelvis and broken leg muscles. Ouch. Unfortunately, while we're glad Heikki is all right, he just gave all our wives/girlfriends/significant others a world of ammunition when they tell us to slow down.
Turn for the better for Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin stubbornly intended to gut out the entire NASCAR Sprint Cup season on a damaged left knee in need of major ligament surgery. Eventually, pain and futility forced a reevaluation.
For Denny Hamlin, 'close doesn't cut it'
After a crash on the 25th lap, Denny Hamlin rallied admirably, but his car wasn't the same after the wreck.
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