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Author: Official Release

  • Marcos Ambrose, Auto Club Speedway Preview

    FONTANA, Calif. (October 5, 2010) – It’s a busy week for Marcos Ambrose as he travels all over the country in the next few days before racing the No. 47 Little Debbie Toyota Camry for JTG Daugherty Racing at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday.

    “I’m only going to be home for a few hours this week,” Ambrose said. “The month of October is extremely busy for me and it kicks off this week with a trip to San Diego and then Atlanta before our race in Fontana.”

    On Monday, the Australian driver made an appearance for Blundstone (footwear) in San Diego before flying back to Charlotte for another sponsor obligation. On Wednesday, he travels south to Atlanta to attend the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Show with his sponsors. The NACS serves the convenience and petroleum retailing industry by providing industry knowledge, connections and advocacy to ensure the competitive viability of its members’ businesses.

    “I’m looking forward to appearing (2 to 4 p.m. Eastern) at the NASC Show on behalf of JTG Daugherty Racing’s sponsors,” said Ambrose. “The NACS develops events that helps promote interaction between suppliers and retailers and it helps increase industry awareness among so many other things. It’s all about learning new ideas and strategies that help build your brand. I’m glad to participate.”

    On Thursday night, Ambrose is appearing at the Stater Bros. Racefest at Auto Club Speedway from 6 to 8 p.m. Pacific along with several other NASCAR personalities on hand to meet fans and sign autographs.

    “It’s nice to be able to interact with the fans in Fontana on Thursday night,” Ambrose said. “Auto Club Speedway draws a good crowd for the Racefest and there’s always a few Aussies that come around. That’s always fun.”

    It’s back to business as usual on Friday with first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice and qualifying. Ambrose admits he has not had the best of luck at Auto Club Speedway, but it is not going to slow him down. In four Cup starts at the two-mile D-shaped track, he has finished 32nd, 22nd, 23rd and 35th respectively.

    “We’ve had speed there, but we’ve also had things happen to us that has kept us out of the top 10,” Ambrose said. “We hope that changes this weekend. We’ve had three weeks in a row where we haven’t had the finishes we are definitely capable of having. We’re looking to change that this weekend.”

    When Ambrose has not been busy with work, he’s found time to play a few rounds of golf, keep a watch on the Atlanta Braves, oversee the construction of a new boat for gold prospecting and secure a building for his office and staff.

    “You are extremely busy in this business, but I try to keep a good balance,” Ambrose said. “Every now and then I play a round of golf because I enjoy the sport and I have a few Aussie friends that are on the PGA Tour. I also have an Aussie friend (Peter Moylan) that plays for the Atlanta Braves and I keep a watch on them – – congratulations to those guys on claiming the Wild Card.

    “I’ve also been busy with a lot of side projects,” Ambrose continued. “I have a new building in the Concord area that will be used for offices and some other projects that are in the works. And, the latest creation is a boat for gold prospecting. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

    Live coverage of the event at Auto Club Speedway airs on Sunday, October 10th at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN and MRN Radio. Sirius XM Satellite will also air the event.

  • Justin Allgaier, No. 12 Verizon Dodge – Auto Club Speedway Preview

    Verizon Team News and Notes

    This Week’s Verizon Dodge … Justin Allgaier will pilot Penske Racing chassis PRS-007 in Saturday afternoon’s CampingWorld.com 300 at Auto Club Speedway. This is the same Verizon Dodge that Allgaier scored his first NASCAR victory with at Bristol Motor Speedway in March. The 2009 Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year then raced it at Kentucky Speedway in June, where he started third and finished eighth. It most recently raced at BMS in August, where the Riverton, Ill.-native started fourth and finished 33rd after being involved in an incident that eliminated him from contention after 186 of 250 laps.

    Through 29 Races … With 29 races of the 2010 season in the record books, Allgaier has accumulated one pole, one win, six top-five and 16 top-10 finishes, an average starting position of 12.2 and an average finish of 12.3. Allgaier has led 133 laps of competition and has completed 97.2 percent of the laps contested (5,186 of 5,334) so far this season.

    Get to the Points … Allgaier ranks fourth in the NNS championship point standings heading into this weekend’s event at ACS. He trails current point leader and Penske Racing teammate Brad Keselowski by 793 points, and third-place contender Kyle Busch by 293 points.

    Best in Class … Allgaier’s fourth-place position in the point standings is best among full-time, Nationwide Series-only drivers. Allgaier leads fellow Nationwide-only driver Steve Wallace, currently ranked seventh, by 509 points.

    Allgaier at Auto Club Speedway … In three previous NNS starts at ACS, Allgaier has one top-10 finish. Additionally, the 24-year-old driver has an average starting position of 11.7, an average finish of 13th, and has completed 100 percent of the laps contested (454 of 454) at the two-mile, D-shaped oval.

    Penske Racing at Auto Club Speedway … In eight previous NNS starts at ACS, Penske Racing entries have recorded two top-five and three top-10 finishes. Penske’s Dodges have averaged starting positions of 13.4, finishing positions of 16.4, have completed 94.2 percent of the laps contested (1,136 of 1,206) and have led 20 laps.

    Penske Racing in 2010 … With 29 races completed in the 2010 season, Penske Racing’s two NASCAR Nationwide Series entries have recorded six poles, five wins, a combined 26 top-five and 39 top-10 finishes. Penske Dodges have completed 10,519 of 10,668 laps contested, and have been atop the leaderboard for 1,128 laps with drivers Allgaier and Keselowski.

    Last Time Out … Allgaier was able to overcome a myriad of issues in last Saturday afternoon’s Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway to record a seventh-place finish.

    Cast Your Vote … Some 30,000 fans have cast their votes since July 6, and Allgaier is currently ranked among the top-five in the NNS Most Popular Driver award voting (through Wednesday, Sept. 15). Fans can visit www.nascarnationwideseries.com to vote for their favorite NASCAR Nationwide Series driver. Voting continues through Saturday, November 13.

    Meet the Driver … Fans can meet Allgaier on Thursday, October 7 at the AAA/Stater Bros. Racefest, located in the DiscoverIE FanZone at Auto Club Speedway, where he will sign for fans from 5:45 – 7:30 p.m. PDT.

    High Above Clear Lake Avenue … As a part of breast cancer awareness month, Springfield, Ill.-based St. John’s Hospital unveiled a “Real Men Wear Pink” billboard featuring Allgaier. The billboard will remain above one of the busiest sections of Springfield for the month of October.

    Happy Birthday, Tom … Tom Clavette, car chief on the No. 12 Verizon Dodge, will celebrate his 51st birthday on Sunday, October 10.

    Justin Allgaier on Auto Club Speedway

    “I always look forward to heading to Auto Club Speedway. We don’t get to travel to the West Coast often, so we try to make the most of getting to put on an exciting race for the California fans. The track itself is very big, fast and reminiscent of Michigan International Speedway. We had a solid top-10 finish the last time we raced there in February, and felt really good about our day. It’s important to practice well, have a strong qualifying run, and maintain a decent pace throughout the race and, hopefully, we’ll put ourselves in position to have a great race.”

    Crew chief Chad Walter on Auto Club Speedway

    “We’re bringing Chassis 007, which we last raced at Bristol. It sounds strange that we would do that, but it was heavily damaged about three-quarters of the way through the race and when we looked at the schedule, we decided to convert it to a downforce car rather than it’s original short-track configuration. Races at Auto Club Speedway are always exciting to me because of the driver’s ability to use many different grooves to find speed. It’s a fun venue and I enjoy heading to the west coast.”

  • PEPSI MAX 400 personal tune-in reminder from Jeff Gordon

    PEPSI MAX 400 personal tune-in reminder from Jeff Gordon

    [media-credit name=”Pepsi Max | SpeedwayMedia.com” align=”alignnone” width=”400″][/media-credit]During the PEPSI MAX 400 this weekend, Jeff Gordon will dawn the newest PEPSI MAX paint scheme. In conjunction with the race, PEPSI MAX will be awarding 400 lucky winners one of 400 Prizes in 400 Miles! Tune in October 10th at 2:30 EDT on ESPN, where Jeff Gordon will be revealing, during his pre-race interview, the unique word that fans can text to 73774 or enter online at www.facebook.com/pepsimaxusa for their chance to win.

    Prizes include trip packages to Vegas, Bristol Motor Speedway and Hendrick Motorsports; autographed PEPSI MAX hats; and a phone call from Jeff Gordon.

    Need a reminder to tune in? Fans can text “Jeff” to 73774 to receive a phone call from Jeff Gordon prior to the race reminding them to tune in and enter for their chance to win.

    No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Enter at link on facebook.com/pespimaxusa. Subject to official rules. Sweeps begins 10/10/10 at 12:01 AM and ends 10/11/10 at 12:00 AM. Open to legal U.S. residents, 18 or older.

  • Tissot to Sponsor Danica Patrick’s Entry in NASCAR Nationwide Series

    Tissot to Sponsor Danica Patrick’s Entry in NASCAR Nationwide Series

    [media-credit name=”JR Motorsports | SpeedwayMedia.com” align=”alignnone” width=”605″][/media-credit]WEEHAWKEN, N.J. (Oct. 4, 2010) — Tissot, a manufacturer of Swiss watches since 1853, announced that it has reached an agreement with JR Motorsports as a sponsor of Danica Patrick’s No. 7 NASCAR Nationwide Series entry through the 2011 season.

    Tissot will be the primary sponsor on Patrick’s Chevrolet in Saturday’s (Oct. 9th) Nationwide race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., and will be an associate sponsor for the remainder of her 2010 Nationwide events — at Charlotte, N.C. (Oct. 15), St. Louis (Oct. 23), Fort Worth, Texas (Nov. 6), Phoenix, Ariz. (Nov. 13) and Homestead, Fla.(Nov. 20).

    The arrangement for the 2011 Nationwide season includes a Tissot primary sponsorship at the Chicagoland Speedway race and an associate sponsor at all of Patrick’s other races. 

    Patrick, who has been a Tissot brand ambassador since 2005, continues to race full-time in the IndyCar Series. She made her much anticipated crossover to NASCAR by signing with JR Motorsports prior to the 2010 season to run a limited schedule in the Nationwide Series.

    “Danica brings the racing prowess and crowd appeal she cultivated on the IndyCar circuit to the world of NASCAR,” said Sharon Buntain, president, Tissot, U.S. “We are proud to expand our association with Danica, who has been a terrific ambassador of Tissot watches. We are also excited about our new partnership with JR Motorsports, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt. Danica, Dale, Kelley and Tissot champion the same values of cutting edge technology, precision and innovation. It’s a great fit and we can’t wait to see the No. 7 Tissot Chevrolet in action.”  

    The 28-year-old Patrick said she is thrilled about Tissot becoming a sponsor of her NASCAR Nationwide program and looks forward to promoting Tissot timepieces including the Danica Patrick Limited Edition Glamsport watch. 

    “I have enjoyed an outstanding relationship with Tissot and am thrilled to see the company as one of the major sponsors on our No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet,” said Patrick. “I love the Tissot watches — they’re sporty, sophisticated and have style. I am proud to be a Tissot ambassador and look forward to driving the Tissot Chevrolet in Southern California.”

    Kelley Earnhardt, co-owner and general manager of JR Motorsports said, “We are truly excited to welcome Tissot into our partnership family. Tissot has a longstanding tradition of quality and craftsmanship, and we hope to offer them additional success with Danica Patrick on the racetrack. This is a partnership that makes a lot of sense, and one we’re extremely proud of.”

    Even before taking her first competitive laps in a NASCAR stock car, Patrick had etched her name in motorsports history. With her fourth-place finish in the 2005 Indianapolis 500, she became the highest-finishing woman in the prestigious event, besting the previous record of ninth set by Janet Guthrie in 1978. 

    Patrick won IRL’s rookie of the year in 2005 and was named the series’ most popular driver. She changed the record books again in 2008 when she became the first woman to win an IndyCar race, taking the checkered flag in the Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi. 

    About Tissot

    For Tissot, “In touch with your time” is far more than an advertising claim. This phrase expresses the brand’s DNA; its proven dedication to being perfectly in tune with the technology and tastes of each era. Tissot has been growing and developing its tradition of innovation since 1853. From the early days to the present, in its home in Le Locle in the Swiss Jura mountains, Tissot has translated craftsmanship and precision into stylish timepieces now sold in over 150 countries around the world. Special materials, advanced functionality and meticulous design detail join forces to create the luxury of accessibility. Today Tissot is a member of the Swatch Group, the world’s largest watch producer and distributor of Swiss watches, as well as official timekeeper and partner of NASCAR®, International Basketball Federation (FIBA), Australian Football League (AFL), Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), MotoGP and the World Championships of Cycling, Fencing and Ice hockey. The tradition of innovation lives on, keeping closely in touch with the times.

    About JR Motorsports

    JR Motorsports is the management company and racing operation for Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s seven-time Most Popular Driver and winner of more than 40 NASCAR-sanctioned races. JR Motorsports competes in multiple racing divisions, including the NASCAR Nationwide Series.  In 2008 JRM enjoyed a breakout season with four Nationwide Series victories between its two teams. The company followed suit with four more wins in 2009, and added two additional victories to its tally in 2010.  The JR Motorsports facilities are based out of Mooresville, N.C., and include the JR Nation retail store, Hammerhead Entertainment, and DEJ Realty. For more information on JR Motorsports, visit www.dalejr.com.

  • TUMS HONORS THE CREWS THAT ‘ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR SPORT’

    Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell Values the Crews’ Contributions

    Martinsville, Va. (Oct. 4, 2010) — On Oct. 24 at Martinsville Speedway, Clay Campbell, track president, will join TUMS® in recognizing the dedicated road warriors and pit crew members as the Grand Marshals for the TUMS Fast Relief 500.

    “The crews are the backbone of our sport and all-to-often they go overlooked,” said Campbell. “The drivers get the glory, but the teams make our world go round. Without these hard-working folks, we wouldn’t be here. A race car can’t run if it isn’t prepared and I don’t care how good a driver is, all that skill is useless without the team that surrounds him.

    “I drive a race car at weekly tracks and I know firsthand how important my crew is. I wouldn’t move an inch without them and that’s the way it is in NASCAR Sprint Cup racing. That’s why I’m so honored that Martinsville Speedway can be part of this program to help get all of the team members some recognition.”

    Each team pre-selected the crew member that best represents and embodies the team spirit to give the command “Gentlemen, Start Your Engines.”  The third set of eight grand marshals, listed in no particular order, is outlined below and highlights the invaluable role they play within the team environment and their passion for racing.

     

    • STEVE CHANNING – No. 00 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
      Channing drove Mini Modifieds in his teenage years on tracks around his Seekonk, Mass., home, but like so many racers, struggled to keep his fledgling race team afloat. A move to North Carolina in the mid-1990s and a recommendation from a friend helped land him jobs with drivers Rick Mast and Bill Elliott at the controls. Today, Channing’s role as car chief for driver David Reutimann keeps him busy with every detail pertaining to the team’s racing machines.  

    “I make changes to the car that crew chief Rodney Childers may want during the race weekend,” Channing says. “I go with the car during inspection to make sure everything is good there. I’d say the most nerve-wracking time is between practice and qualifying.”

    • TIM SPARKMAN – No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
      When Sparkman’s grandparents owned and operated St. Mary’s Speedway in St. Genevieve. Mo., the teenager had plenty of access to race cars and the tools needed to make them go fast. While there, he had access to Late Model and ASA machines that offered a perfect place to learn. A move to North Carolina in 1998 paid off when he met NASCAR driver Ken Schrader and went to work. More opportunities followed over the years, and today, he serves as a shock specialist at Joe Gibbs Racing.
       
      “I love the competition, that’s for sure,” Sparkman says. “This will be my last year on the road so I can be a little more of a dad at home. But I’ll be doing something at the shop for team owners Joe and J.D. Gibbs.”

     

    • DAVID DOYLE – No. 12 Penske Racing Dodge
      Decades past his childhood, Doyle remembers sitting behind the wheel of his dad’s race car playing with the steering wheel, pedals and shifter. He would often pretend he was on the track fighting for position just like the champion driver, mentor and hero he admired. Doyle eventually followed in his father’s footsteps as a racer, but the high costs of fielding a team sent his career in a different direction. Today, Doyle helps prepare each of the No. 12 machines Penske Racing brings to the track to make sure they are race ready.
       
      “Being competitive is what it’s all about for me,” Doyle says. “You have to have competition in your blood to be able to do this seven days a week.”

     

    • ADAM GRAVITT – No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet
      Instead of being involved in neighborhood football games as a child, Gravitt spent his time working at nearby South Boston (Va.) Speedway and Orange County (N.C.) Speedway just to be around the cars. He kept watching and learning the tricks of the trade before completing a degree in mechanical engineering from Virginia Tech. Today, Gravitti works as a shock specialist for the team.
       
      “I love what I do,” Gravitt says. “There’s a lot of travel, but as far as the competition goes, that’s what makes it all worth while.”

     

    • MARK WILLIAMS – No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
      After working on dirt Late Models and spending a decade operating his own trucking business, Williams began driving transporters for Richard Childress Racing when an extra driver was needed for trips to the West Coast for Sprint Cup events. The assignments increased for the native of Martinsville, Va., to the point that he is now a full-time driver for the team. While at the track, his duties include unloading tool boxes, getting the car unloaded and ready for initial service by the crew, setting up the garage stalls and taking care of all the mechanical components on the transporter. 

      “Driving the truck is a very small part of it,” Williams says. “But I drive all over the country and meet a lot of people who would love to do what I do.”

     

    • SCOTT BREWER – No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
      The son of well-known former crew chief and present-day television broadcaster Tim Brewer, Brewer grew up in the sport and spent several years driving Legend cars and Late Models before turning his attention to obtaining a degree in mechanical engineering. Brewer grew up going to races almost every weekend and decided to build a career in the sport like his famous father. He now maintains cars for the teams, handles water duties and windshield tear-offs during pit stops.
       
      “Racing was always a part of my life,” Brewer says. “My dad realized I was going to get into racing. I’ve been with RCR since 2005, and I’m very happy to be a part of this team.”

     

    • ALAN HOWARD – No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
      A native of Covington, Va., Howard didn’t set out to become a crew member for a Sprint Cup team. His career with a major US airline was going well when he and NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield became friends in the late 1990s. More and more visits to Mayfield’s Michael Kranefuss Racing shop set the foundation for becoming a full-time crew member. When Howard’s job with the air carrier was eliminated, he found his new calling in NASCAR. Today, Howard works as shock specialist and mentor for many of the younger members of the team.
       
      “I guess the way I came into NASCAR was a different way to get into racing,” Howard says. “I enjoy the travel and meeting people and doing different things.”

     

    • RYAN QUANN – No. 42 Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
      With parents having connections to NASCAR and serving the sport in various roles, Quann has been around stock car racing his entire life. The graduate of the Bobby Isaac Motorsports program at Catawba County Community College in Hickory, N.C., took his chassis-building skills to the Sprint Cup team owned by Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates. Through a friend, the avid golfer and snowboarder received an invitation to work for the organization and presently helps the team in various capacities.
       
      “I’m in the composite-component shop building carbon-fiber parts for the cars,” Quann says. “On Sundays, I work in a pit support role. I was in the right place at the right time when I started with this team, and I love being here.”

     

    The TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway is the sixth of 10 races that will determine the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion. Tickets to the TUMS Fast Relief 500 now are on sale. For more information, call 877.722.3849 or visit www.martinsvillespeedway.com. 

                For more information on TUMS, visit www.TUMS.com.

     

    About TUMS®
    For more than 75 years, TUMS® has been a fast, effective treatment for heartburn and acid indigestion, neutralizing stomach acid on contact. Today, TUMS is the number one antacid in America, used by more people than any other brand to treat heartburn.
    About GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare
    GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare is one of the world’s largest over-the-counter consumer healthcare products companies. Its more than 30 well-known brands include the leading smoking cessation products, Nicorette(R)and NicoDerm(R)CQ(R), and Commit(R), as well as many medicine cabinet staples– alli(R), Aquafresh(R), Sensodyne(R), and TUMS(R) — which are trademarks owned by and/or licensed to GlaxoSmithKline Group of Companies.

  • Original Daytona International Speedway Track Memorabilia Now Available from Jostens

    Limited edition track items from NASCAR’s historic racetrack officially unveiled for purchase

    MINNEAPOLIS – October 4, 2010 – Jostens, in conjunction with Daytona International Speedway®, announced the starting grid of limited edition memorabilia containing actual track pieces from Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Race fans and collectors now have the rare opportunity to own a piece of America’s rich racing history following the historic 2010 repaving of Daytona International Speedway by visiting www.jostens.com/daytona or calling 1.800.839.7125.

    From the first race in 1959 to the last 2010 race before the repave, Daytona International Speedway holds more than 50 years of unforgettable racing history. Now enthusiasts and fans can hold on to every legendary Daytona story with a piece of genuine track where racing history happened. The Commemorative Track Collection includes unique one-of-a-kind genuine track pieces. Quantities of these commemorative pieces are limited and available only while supplies last.

    Sixteen unique items are available now with more collectibles to be added in the coming weeks. Items available now at www.jostens.com/daytona include:

    • Genuine Daytona Track Medallion – With the authentication seal, the medallion is approximately 1¾” round and comes in a protective clear holder.
    • Genuine Track Piece of Legendary #3 – The asphalt number is approximately 4″x 5″ featuring the official seal of authentication highlighted on a black base.
    • Framed Collage with Genuine Track – The collector’s DAYTONA® Speedway collage, a genuine piece of track and authentication seal create a stunning ensemble in a beautiful black frame 16″ x 16″ with multiple mats.
    • Limited Edition Genuine Front Stretch Track Surface – Only 1959 one-of-a-kind pieces of top-edge surface asphalt are available from the Front stretch. Each unique top-edge surface piece is approximately 6″ x 4″ x 1½” displayed on a stunning aluminum and black base.

     

    While there is a limited amount of actual track available, Jostens is producing commemorative products suitable for every Daytona fan and every budget. For a complete listing of genuine track pieces and to sign up for updates on the availability of new pieces, visit www.jostens.com/daytona or call 1.800.839.7125.

    Daytona International Speedway, which was built in the late 1950s, has been resurfaced only once previously – in 1978. The Daytona International Speedway’s entire 2.5-mile tri-oval will be repaved, including the skid pads, apron and pit road. Concrete will be used for the pit stalls. The repaving project has a target completion date of January 1, 2011.

    Lane Construction, which repaved other ISC race tracks including Talladega Superspeedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Richmond International Raceway and Darlington Raceway, removed the historic track and has been contracted to repave Daytona International Speedway.

    Jostens supplies trophies and championship rings for NASCAR-sanctioned series and is the exclusive designer/provider of NASCAR championship rings. Jostens presented Jamie McMurray with a one-of-a-kind Champions Ring following his thrilling triumph in the 2010 DAYTONA 500®. Jostens has created 28 of the 43 NFL Super Bowl rings, including the ring for the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl I victory. Jostens has also designed and produced NBA Finals and World Series championship rings, as well as rings for collegiate sports championships.

    About Jostens

    Minneapolis-based Jostens is a provider of products, programs and services that help people tell their stories, celebrate important traditions and recognize achievements. The company’s products include school yearbooks and other memory book products, scholastic products such as class rings and graduation products, and products for athletic champions and their fans. Jostens is a subsidiary of Visant Corporation, a marketing and publishing services enterprise servicing the school affinity, direct marketing, fragrance and cosmetics sampling and educational and trade publishing segments.

  • Ford on Top at Kansas

    Mooresville, NC (October 4, 2010) Roush Yates Engines started out the third race of the chase in true championship form, qualifying two Ford drivers on the front row and coming away from Kansas Speedway with the win.

    With eight races left in the chase for the Sprint Cup Championship, Ford drivers arrived at Kansas Speedway on Friday prepared to show just how much power their FR9s are capable of producing. Kasey Kahne, driver of the number 9 Budweiser Ford Fusion, qualified on the pole with fellow Ford driver Paul Menard starting alongside him. Three other Blue Oval drivers qualified in the top ten, with Greg Biffle starting 5th, Matt Kenseth starting 8th, and David Ragan starting 10th.

    “We weren’t great in practice so we knew we needed to make adjustments to the car. Kenny Francis and Keith did a really nice job,” said Kahne. “I am glad we got the pole for Budweiser and for Ford. It’s exciting to have a couple of RPM guys on the front row and it’s just really nice for the whole company.”

    After starting the race in the top positions, Ford drivers never wavered and Greg Biffle, driver of the number 16 3M/Sherwin Williams Ford Fusion, led the final 29 laps of the Price Chopper 400 presented by Kraft Foods to win the race. With twelve leaders and twenty total lead changes, Sunday’s race was nothing short of exciting and Biffle took advantage by gaining his sixteenth career win in his 287th start.

    “Everyone asked us last week if we’re out of the Chase, have we given up, whatever the case was. The 16 team will never give up,” said Biffle. “We’re just going to approach each race like we did today, qualify the best we can, do the best we can in practice, execute the best we can at the racetrack. This was the best car I’ve ever driven here and I have a lot of confidence going into Fontana.”

    Biffle has won two races this season, including a victory at Pocono Raceway in August. He is 8th in the points for the Chase for the Championship, leading Roush Fenway Racing teammates Carl Edwards in 4th and Matt Kenseth in 11th position. Roush Fenway Racing is one of only two teams with 3 cars in the 2010 Chase.

    “It’s very exciting to see Roush Yates Engines and Roush Fenway Racing back in Victory Lane,” said Doug Yates, CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “Qualifying on the pole and winning the race shows exactly what Ford Racing and Roush Yates Engines are capable of. I look forward to watching the remainder of the Chase for the Championship and see no reason why the 2011 Sprint Cup Championship will not go to a Ford.”

    Roush Yates continues to win in all divisions of motorsports with another victory for Billy Well’s driver Ivedent Lloyd at Ocala in the Dirt Late Model division this weekend. Jason Myers won the modified race at North Wilkesboro Speedway and Chip King won in the Blown Pro Modified division at the Shakedown at Englishtown. Roush Yates has over 80 wins so far this season and two championships in the TORC Off-Road series and the Sprint Cars on Dirt series.

    To learn more about all of Roush Yates’ engine programs or how to update your engine with the Roush Yates’ Performance Upgrade, call Jeff Clark at (704) 658-1540 or visit www.roushyatesparts.com.

    About Roush Yates Engines

    Roush Yates Engines designs, engineers and crafts high performance racing engines with the power to perform and the horsepower and durability you’d expect from legendary NASCAR pioneers Jack Roush and Robert Yates. The partnership of power and precision has come from merging the knowledge and experience of two legendary engine builders, both with a passion for winning today and powering up for tomorrow. In 2009 Doug Yates purchased his father’s half of Roush Yates Engines to become a co-owner in the company.

    As CEO, Doug Yates leads a staff of 180 engineers and technicians who design, assemble, test, and service racing engines at two separate state-of-the-art facilities in Mooresville, North Carolina. Here, the best minds and latest technology are hard at work producing nearly 1,500 racing engines each year for teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, ARCA, Grand-Am, FIA GT3, Dirt Late Model, Sprint cars, and NHRA Pro Stock. At Roush Yates Engines, the mission is Power Performance, which is achieved through innovation design, precision engineering, and skillful craftsmanship. Building the best engines in racing today, providing service that’s second to none, and honoring a commitment to research and development are the heart of Roush Yates Engines.

  • MICHAEL WALTRIP RESPONSE TO REUTIMANN-BUSCH INCIDENT

    “There are 43 drivers on the race track each Sunday and there is no delineation between Chase participants and non-Chase participants when it comes to respect.

    “Everyone at Michael Waltrip Racing is working hard to deliver great results to our owners, employees and sponsors. All organizations have a lot at stake each week as we are all measured by our performance and finishing position. When David Reutimann’s chance to compete for a win at Kansas was taken away, it set off a series of events that have been well documented.

    “I stand behind David because his record of sportsmanship is flawless. It is the duty of MWR’s drivers to deliver for Toyota and our other partners, and I expect them to be treated fairly while doing so.”

  • Kevin Harvick Auto Club Speedway Preview (No. 33 NNS)

    CHASING NO. 1 ON HOME TURF: For race number 30 of the 2010 season, the NASCAR Nationwide Series will make its way across the country to Auto Club Speedway where Bakersfield, California native Kevin Harvick will pilot the No. 33 Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) Jimmy John’s Chevrolet. Looking to rebound from a blown motor in the February race and to earn his first career win at the two-mile California track, Harvick will make his 16th-career Nationwide Series start Saturday for the Camping World 300.

    In 15 previous Nationwide Series starts at the track, Harvick has eight top-five and 12 top-10 finishes. He has led 118 laps and completed 98.4 percent of laps attempted (2218 of 2254 laps). Harvick’s average starting position is 11.1 with an average finishing position of 7.7. His only Did Not Finish (DNF) at the track came earlier this season with a blown motor which relegated the team to a 38th-place finish. The finish also marks Harvick’s only finish outside the top 14.

    On the Cup side, Harvick has 16 starts with two top-five and six top-10 finsihes.

    The only victory Harvick has at Auto Club Speedway came in 2002 behind the wheel of an International Race of Champions (IROC) car as he went on to win the 2002 True Value IROC points title in just his first year competing in the series. The win helped him to become the sixth rookie and the first driver representing the Nationwide Series (for his 2001 Nationwide Series title) to win the IROC championship. In addition to the win at California, he also finished ninth at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, third at Chicagoland Speedway and fourth at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the four-race IROC series.

    KEVIN HARVICK FOUNDATION: The Kevin Harvick Foundation, founded by Kevin and DeLana Harvick earlier this year, is excited to head to California to announce one of its first initiatives to benefit the Kern County community in Harvick’s hometown of Bakersfield. The Harvicks will be on-site, along with a few special guests, on Friday morning at 10:00 a.m. PST in the Auto Club Speedway Media Center to make the announcement. Following the announcement, Harvick will have his weekly media availabilty in the media center.

    “In just the first year of the Kevin Harvick Foundation, DeLana and I are very proud of the things that we have been able to accomplish and support,” said Harvick. “We’ve held several golf tournaments and raised funds that we can now turn around and support programs throughout the United States that we feel will positively benefit today’s youth.”

    The mission of the Kevin Harvick Foundation is to support programs that positively enrich the lives of children throughout the United States. The foundation works to not only improve the quality of life, but to help underprivileged youth find and realize their dreams by supporting various youth programs across the country.

    BEFORE THE RACE: QUOTES WITH DRIVER KEVIN HARVICK:

    Auto Club Speedway is one track that you have yet to score a Nationwide Series win. With this being the closest track to Bakersfield, what would it mean to mark this track off the list and win in front of family and friends? “I think it would be a cool place to win just for the fact that we’ve run really good there over the past few years and have never been able to close the deal and get it done. Obviously we have a lot of fans and family and friends there and it would be cool to win in front of them because the only race I’ve ever won there is an IROC race. Like I said, we’ve been really close several times in the Nationwide car, including earlier this year before we blew a motor, and now we just have to get it done.”

    Can you talk about the local racing program in Bakersfield and the things you have done to support and give back to the local racing community? “We’ve always been very supportive of the racing community. I used to go back and race there when they had Mesa Marin and I went back a couple of years ago and raced at the dirt track. Now we have the local youth racing series that we support.”

    CHASSIS HISTORY: The No. 33 Jimmy John’s crew will unload chassis No. 061 for Harvick this week at Auto Club Speedway for Harvick. This chassis was last on track at Atlanta Motor Speedway where Harvick started the race eighth and led 52 laps before finishing fourth. Prior to Atlanta, this chassis made its race debut at Chicagoland Speedway where Harvick earned his 21st-career pole and finished the race seventh.

    PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: For stop number 29 of 35, the NASCAR Nationwide Series moved to the 1.5-mile track of Kansas Speedway. Harvick started the race third, ran most of the race in the top-five and led 43 laps before finishing the day fourth. The finish marked Harvick’s fifth top-four finish at the track.

    ARE YOU A FOLLOWER? Twitter users can now keep up-to-date with Kevin Harvick Inc.’s NASCAR Nationwide Series by following @KHI_NNS. In addition, you can follow KHI’s Truck Series teams @KHI_TruckSeries. Want more from KHI? Follow KHI’s co-owners Kevin and DeLana Harvick @KevinHarvick and @DeLanaHarvick.

    ONLINE MEDIA KITS: Media members can now access KHI media kits online at KevinHarvickInc.com. Included on the site are driver bios, driver and team images, KHI history and statistics, team profiles and schedules. Please contact Alicia Deal (adeal@kevinharvickinc.com) at KHI for access to the new site.

    Kevin Harvick

    Nationwide Stats at California

    Year No. Team Start Finish

    2010 33 KHI 8 38

    2009 33 KHI 10 4

    2009 33 KHI 9 2

    2008 33 KHI 9 11

    2008 33 KHI 6 3

    2007 33 KHI 12 7

    2007 33 KHI 6 6

    2006 21 RCR 3 2

    2006 33 KHI 28 8

    2005 21 RCR 6 2

    2004 21 RCR 23 3

    2004 21 RCR 3 8

    2003 21 RCR 1 3

    2001 2 RCR 5 5

    2000 2 RCR 38 14

    *KHI: Kevin Harvick Inc.

    *RCR: Richard Childress Racing

    About Jimmy John’s:

    Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches was founded in 1983 by 19-year-old Jimmy John Liautaud in a converted garage in Charleston, IL. Since its inception, the company has grown to over 1,000 corporate and franchised locations in more than 37 states throughout the U.S. The company is known for its obsession with fresh, quality products and high-speed execution. For more information, visit www.jimmyjohns.com.

    About Kevin Harvick Inc.:

    Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI), established in 2001 by Kevin and DeLana Harvick, is an 80,000 sq. ft. facility located in Kernersville, N.C. Home of the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship team, KHI enters 2010 in its seventh full year of competition with two full-time Truck Series teams and one full-time Nationwide Series team. Four-time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday returns to the helm of the No. 33 Truck team looking for his fifth title and third championship for KHI (2009 and 2007), while Sprint Cup series stars Kevin Harvick and Elliott Sadler guide the No. 2 Truck team. Two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Harvick will again shine as the lead driver of the No. 33 Nationwide Series team as he continues to make his mark in motorsports and establish KHI as one of the top teams in NASCAR competition. For more information about KHI and its teams, please visit www.KevinHarvickInc.com.

  • Ford Kansas Post Race

    BIFFLE BACK IN VICTORY LANE

    • Greg Biffle won his 16th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race today.

    • It marks the second victory at Kansas for Biffle who also took the 2007 LifeLock 400.

    • Today’s win marks the second victory of the season for Biffle.

    • The win was the 118th all-time NSCS win for Roush Fenway Racing.

    • Today’s win was the 597th all-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win for Ford Racing.

    • Today’s win was the third at Kansas Speedway for Ford.

    GREG BIFFLE – No. 16 3M Ford Fusion (Finished 1st) — “Once we got our car adjusted we were off and set sail. The thing was really fast. I didn’t think even if there were more cautions that they would catch us. We had such a great car today and I couldn’t be any prouder of my 3M Ford team today and the Pit Bulls. I was even saving a little bit out there at the end too. I knew the caution was going to come out and I would need some tire to race these guys. So was Tony though. I think those guys were all saving for the end. Thank goodness this one isn’t a controversial win. Last time people were skeptical if I kept my speed up. I think I kept up plenty of speed this time. This is such a great race track. I am so excited we will be coming here twice a year.” LAST TIME YOU WON, YOU HAD TO TAKE THE TROPHY TO JACK IN THE HOSPITAL, THIS TIME YOU GET TO CELEBRATE HERE WITH HIM, HOW DOES THAT FEEL? “It is awesome. I am so glad, not only for Jack but for all the Ford guys and Roush Fenway guys. Everybody has worked so dang hard and it makes it even more rewarding and exciting for us.”

    JAMIE ALLISON – Director, Ford North American Motorsports — YOU SAID THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME IN VICTORY LANE, HOW DOES IT FEEL? “It feels awesome. What a great feeling for everyone at Ford. What a great race that was. Running one, two, three Ford with 50 laps to go shows you that it is deeper than just one team. I am very proud of everybody at Roush, RPM and Wood Brothers. It is a One Ford effort.” CARL MENTIONED TO THE MEDIA THAT GREG HAD EXTRA INCENTIVE THIS WEEK. “Yeah, we wanted to reward the entire team. We like to reward for performance. I put a little reward out there for the Ford team to win and sure enough it came through. I think it was more than that though. It was a good team effort with good preparation. We were long overdue.”

    JACK ROUSH, Owner Roush Fenway Racing — WHAT IS GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND RIGHT NOW? “The last time Greg won I was in a hospital due to my little problem at Osh Kosh. It is really great to be back in Victory Circle with Greg and the 3M bunch and Sherwin Williams paint. It was a great race. We always try to be at our best at mile-and-a-half race tracks. We had a whole bunch of cars that could have won the race. All of our Fords were good out there today.” IT LOOKED LIKE YOU COULD GO ONE-TWO-THREE FOR A LITTLE BIT “I was covered that way if we had a flat tire or something. I felt a little naked when Greg was out there by himself. It worked out for us today though.”

    CARL EDWARDS – No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion (Finished 6th) – ON HIS 10th PLACE FINISH “We are 53 points out of the lead now and got some bonus points. I was frustrated with sixth but now I find out we are only 53 points out of the lead, so that is huge. It was a good day for us from a points perspective, so I am extremely proud of my entire Aflac Ford team.” WERE YOU DRIVING MORE WITH HEAD OR HEART TODAY? “I had to be careful not to drive with my heart too much today. Seeing this crowd the size that it is and how many came to support me it is very difficult not to throw caution to the wind, but I knew that I couldn’t do that.” DOES IT BOTHER YOU THAT JIMMIE JOHNSON TOOK OVER THE POINTS LEAD? “No, it doesn’t bother me. Those guys have run really well and they deserve whatever they get. There is nobody I would rather beat for the championship than Jimmie. None of us want to see Jimmie win, but it sure would be cool to beat him.” WHAT A GREAT RACE TO COME FROM WHERE YOU WERE. AT WHAT POINT DID IT APPEAR WITH JEFF THAT IT WOULD BE TOUGH TO FINISH UP THERE? “I realized once I started racing with Jeff that he meant business. We were going to battle for fifth place like it was the win. That is cool. If you can’t go with the race it is fun to have a good race with someone. I realized then that we were going to finish fifth or sixth just because of how hard we were going to battle.” ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH WHERE YOU ARE NOW IN THE CHASE? “Yeah, I wish we were better off, but we have closed points on the leader and all we have to do is go have a solid run in California and some luck at Martinsville and Talladega. Greg Biffle is in victory lane and we had Fords running up front all day.” ROUSH HAD A GREAT DAY TODAY, WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE ORGANIZATION? “Ford told us right before the race that they were giving us an extra incentive to with the race. They had some extra money in a fund that they weren’t using, so Greg is going to be handing out checks to his pit crew. That is really cool. Ford wanted us to step it up and Greg did that today.”

    MATT KENSETH – No. 17 Crown Royal Ford Fusion (Finished 7th) – “We were pretty good. We just kind of didn’t keep up with the track good enough at the end. I just couldn’t keep up with them.” YOU HAD A GOOD BATTLE DOWN THE STRETCH WITH EDWARDS AND GORDON “I couldn’t catch them, the 24 and 99 were in front of me battling and I just couldn’t keep up with them.” ARE YOU HAPPY ABOUT THE POINTS DAY TODAY “I didn’t even think about that. We are so far behind that I haven’t even thought of that to be honest with you. I am just happy that we are more competitive. We have to finish them off. I am happy we are more competitive though.”

    PAUL MENARD- No. 98 Menards Ford Fusion (Finished 8th) – “Track position is important and the further back you got today, the worse your car handled. Clean air was very important. We got out front and were able to set sail. After a little bit, four tires showed up and the 16 passed us. I am kind of disappointed with fourth because we had a little bit of a slow pit stop the last pit stop. I am proud of the guys though because this was a fast car all weekend.”