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  • RCR and American Ethanol Partner on No. 33 Chevrolet

    Bowyer to Speak on Behalf of Growth Energy, Nation’s Corn Growers

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today American Ethanol announced it has entered into a sponsor partnership with Richard Childress Racing and its No. 33 Chevrolet for the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

    Bowyer, driver of the No. 33 Chevrolet, will serve as an official spokesman for American Ethanol on behalf of America’s green, clean alternative fuel component. American Ethanol will be the primary sponsor of the No. 33 Chevrolet car at the June 5th Kansas Speedway 400 and an associate sponsor of the car for the rest of the season. 

    “Richard Childress Racing and Clint Bowyer are great additions to the American Ethanol team,” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis. “Clint’s from Kansas, and he knows first-hand the opportunities that American farming and American ethanol offer our country – opportunities to create jobs here, clean our air, and strengthen national security by making our nation more energy independent.”

    Growth Energy led the effort to create American Ethanol, the coalition that signed a partnership agreement with NASCAR to promote the use of domestically-produced ethanol from both corn and cellulosic biomass. Other American Ethanol partners include the National Corn Growers Association.

    “Richard Childress Racing is proud to partner with Growth Energy on our No. 33 NASC AR Sprint Cup Series team,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “Growth Energy’s program of job creation and reduced foreign oil dependence through American ethanol is exactly what the United States needs in these tough economic times. Having Clint as a spokesman will only strengthen Growth Energy’s overall NASCAR program.”   

    “Corn farmers have played a big role funding research to make ethanol production more efficient and promoting its many benefits,” said Bart Schott, National Corn Growers Association president. “Now, it is time to showcase all ethanol has to offer on a national stage. Working with professional pacesetters like Clint Bowyer and Richard Childress Racing, NASCAR, and Growth Energy is a remarkable opportunity for America’s family farmers.”

    Ethanol is the most commercially-viable alternative that America currently has to offset the economic impact of foreign petroleum.  Corn ethanol reduces emissions by 59 percent, and cellulosic ethanol is at least 86 percent cleaner. And by strengthening America’s energy independence, ethanol helps create American jobs – studies have shown that for every $1 sent overseas for oil, $1.55 leaves the U.S. economy.

    “Born and raised in the Midwest, it’s truly an honor to support American farmers as they strive to develop energy independence for our country,” said Bowyer. “I look forward to representing American Ethanol both on and off the track beginning this weekend in Daytona.”
    Growth Energy, a coalition of American ethanol supporters, filed the petition to the federal government, called the Green Jobs Waiver, to increase the allowable blend of ethanol in fuel from 10 percent to 15 percent, or E15. This year, NASCAR embraced the desire for greener, American-job-producing fuels when it announced its decision to move to Sunoco Green E15 for NASCAR’s three national series.

     About Richard Childress Racing

    Richard Childress Racing (http://www.rcrracing.com) has earned more than 190 victories and 12 NASCAR championships, including six in the Sprint Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. Its 2011 Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Paul Menard (No. 27 Menard’s Chevrolet), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet), Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet) and Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet). Its Camping World Truck Series program includes 2010 Rookie of the Year Austin Dillon (No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) and Joey Coulter, Jr. (No. 22 RCR Development Chevrolet). Tim George Jr. (No 31 RCR Development Chevrolet) and Ty Dillon (No. 41 Chevrolet) will compete in the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

    About Growth Energy

    Growth Energy is a group committed to the promise of agriculture and growing America’s economy through cleaner, greener energy. Growth Energy members recognize America needs a new ethanol approach. Through smart policy reform and a proactive grassroots campaign, Growth Energy promotes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the use of ethanol in gasoline, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, and creating American jobs at home. More information can be found at GrowthEnergy.org.

    About National Corn Growers Association

    Founded in 1957, the National Corn Growers Association represents 35,000 dues-paying corn farmers nationwide and the interests of more than 300,000 growers who contribute through corn checkoff programs in their states. NCGA and its 48 affiliated state associations and checkoff organizations work together to create and increase opportunities for their members and their industry. For more information, visit http://www.ncga.com.

  • Daytona’s Magical Aura: Hendrick Motorsports’ 1997 Daytona 500

    Daytona’s Magical Aura: Hendrick Motorsports’ 1997 Daytona 500

    Daytona has always had this magical aura with stories surrounding the Daytona 500 that everybody loves to tell over and over. As we near closer to the Daytona 500, here is a look back through some of the highlighted moments in Daytona 500 history.

    While the boss was going through his fight with cancer, his drivers were trying to keep having success on track. With Rick Hendrick’s brother John leading operations, they headed to Daytona in 1997 with one goal.

    Late in 1996, Hendrick was diagnosed with leukemia and had to undergo treatment. He was also given 12-month house rest sentence by the courts for mail fraud with his dealerships while undergoing the treatment. As a result of the sentence and sickness, Hendrick put his brother John in charge and the three-car team headed down to Daytona.

    As they ran up front near the end of the race, Gordon took the attitude on the radio with the words, “We’re doing this thing. Never die. Never quit.”  Those words not only symbolized the attitude of the race, but yet the attitude they wanted their boss to keep. The attitude that they wanted him to recover.

    Gordon knew with the win that he could help in making Rick feel a little better so he took the attitude to go out and do it no matter what. When it came to the pass on Bill Elliott, he made the bold move of going under him, partly on the flat part of the track, knowing he had to make the move.

    Following behind Hendrick, Terry Labonte and Ricky Craven passed Elliott to make it a Hendrick 1-2-3.

    “Congratulations,” crew chief Ray Evernham came on the radio as the caution came out late in the going. “This is a great gift for Rick.”

    “You won’t believe it buddy,” Gordon said back. “Let’s come across here one-two-three.”

    On the last lap, they crossed the finish line three wide, doing it all for Rick. As Gordon said on the radio, “This is for you, Rick.”

    Their emotions gave them reason to push further and led to them to victory and classic Daytona style. It was the perfect type of medicine that they could have given their boss.

    Gordon added an extra dose of medicine at the end of the year when he won the championship, capping off a great season for Hendrick Motorsports.

    As the story goes, Hendrick fought through his cancer and made it through, pushing forward to continue his team to a whole new level. Hendrick fought through more emotional battles, though still reigns as one of the top owners in racing.

    Looking back even today at the finish, tears still come to the eyes as the emotions are brought forth of that exact race.

  • NOTES FROM THE NASCAR NATION: It’s b-a-c-k and it starts Saturday

    NOTES FROM THE NASCAR NATION: It’s b-a-c-k and it starts Saturday

    After what seems like an eternity of waiting for the fans, NASCAR will officially drop the green flag on its 2011 season this Saturday, February 12th, with the 33d annual running of the Budweiser Shootout on the high banks of the Daytona International Speedway. Waiting at the end of this traditional non-points event will be a winner’s check worth in excess of $200,000 for a 75 lap sprint to the checkers. Saturday night’s Budweiser Shootout will be broadcast live by Fox Sports with the pre-race show beginning at 8 pm eastern time.

    [media-credit name=”David Yeazell” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]This race has a rather storied history that dates back to 1979. It began, as “The Busch Clash” and was an invitational only race for those drivers who won the Busch pole on qualifying day for races held the prior year.

    This inaugural event was a 20 lap shoot out with $500,000 winner take all on the line. Needless to say that was astounding money for winning a race back then and the intensity level of this event went through the roof. NASCAR veteran Buddy Baker won that first race and crossed the line just a mere car length ahead of runner up driver Darrell Waltrip.

    Over the years there has been some fine tuning to the race format as well as the driver eligibility requirements. In 1981 the race only had seven entries. That was because qualifying day, from the 1980 season, was completely dominated by only seven drivers. That led NASCAR to consider some fine tuning for the eligibility requirements for the Shootout.

    The format for the 2011 Budweiser Shootout will be 75 laps, 187.5 miles, around the Daytona International Speedway’s 2.5 mile oval. Yellow flag caution laps will count towards the 75 lap total. The race will be conducted in two segments of 25 and 50 laps with a ten minute break between segments to allow teams to make adjustments and repairs

    The eligibility changes that evolved over the years led to a possible 30 entries for this year’s race. As of last Monday, it now appears that 25 of those teams will take the green flag Saturday night. The eligibility criteria for the 2011 Budweiser Shootout is:

    All 12 drivers who participated in the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase For The Championship

    Former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions.

    Former Budweiser Shootout winners.

    Past winners of the two Daytona Speedway points races: the Daytona 500 and the Coke Zero 400.

    Former NASCAR Rookie of the Year winners from the 2001 through the 2010 racing seasons.

    The 2011 Budweiser Shootout will also contain a variety of rather interesting story lines. Chief among them is Daytona’s brand new track surface which will be raced on for the very first time. Following last year’s pot hole debacle, it was decided to completely repave the track. That led to last month’s pre season testing where the new surface received extremely high marks from the drivers.

    That new surface has also led to a new tire compound from Goodyear. The new Daytona tire, reported to be very similar to the one used last year at Talladega, also received high marks from the teams during last month’s testing sessions. But, like the new surface, the Goodyear tires will be under first ever bonafide racing conditions so tire wear will be closely monitored by everyone Saturday night.

    Also taking the green flag for the first time ever Saturday night will be the newly designed front end of NASCAR’s stock cars. The new nose, now minus the front end splitters and fasteners from last year, also received high marks during the January test sessions especially in the areas of bump drafting. But it’s also an area that will be heavily monitored by crew chiefs.

    Also making its debut in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will be the new self venting Sunoco Race Fuel can. This newly designed fuel can is largely a cost cutting measure for the teams because it eliminates the need of the catch can man standing behind the car during pit stops. This new can was tried and tested last year in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and received some good reports. But, still. it’s still a major change for the Sprint Cup teams that will warrant the attention of the crew chiefs.

    On the topic of fuel the Budweiser Shootout’s second segment of 50 laps could present a challenge for crew chiefs. They could find themselves making a decision relative to fuel mileage including the possibility of a gas and go only stop.

    Pre race set ups and subsequent adjustments in Saturday night’s race will also become a key point of focus for crew chiefs. That’s because the car set ups for the Budweiser Shootout and the upcoming Daytona 500 are virtually identical.

    The starting line up for the Budweiser Shootout will be determined by a Friday night blind draw ceremony. By the way, this drawing in the past has often been the source of some very funny entertainment. The blind draw ceremony will be presented live by the SPEED Channel Friday night beginning at 8 pm eastern time.

    Weather could also become a factor leading up to the Budweiser Shootout weekend. The Friday forecast, for the Daytona Beach area, calls for showers and a daytime high of 59 degrees. That forecast could curtail, or even cancel, a scheduled practice session for the Shootout teams. Saturday’s forecast calls for a return to sunny skies with a daytime high of 60 degrees.

    If there’s any driver that warrants a great deal of attention Saturday night it’s Kevin Harvick. He won the Budweiser Shootout for the first time in 2009 and then won last year’s race. No one in the history of this event has ever won this race three consecutive and Harvick would like to be the first to accomplish that extremely difficult feat. Harvick would also love to deliver a win for his brand new primary sponsor. He will be driving his first race with Budweiser on the hood of his Richard Childress Chevrolet. Anytime a primary sponsor is also the race sponsor then that team has a tendency to dig a little harder to pull off the win.

    Interestingly enough, the numbers from Las Vegas has a totally different opinion regarding the outcome of the Budweiser Shootout. Micah Roberts, from “Las Vegas Insider Dot Com”, recently released his top five finish list for the race. That list is topped by Clint Bowyer, from Richard Childress Racing, who is favored to win the Budweiser Shootout at 14 to 1 odds. Speculated to finish second is Joey Logano, from Joe Gibbs Racing, at 25 to 1. The remainder of the “Las Vegas Insider” top five includes Juan Pablo Montoya at 20 to 1, Kevin Harvick at 5 to 1 and Jeff Gordon in fifth at 8 to 1.

    The 2011 Budweiser Shootout entry list, presented in order by car number along with eligibility status, is as follows:

    #09. Bill Elliott. Phoenix Racing Chevrolet. Past series champion, past Daytona 500 and Coke Zero 400 winner, 1987 Shootout winner.

    #1. Jamie McMurray. Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, presented by Felix Sabates, Chevrolet. Past Daytona 500 and Coke Zero 400 winner, past Rookie of the Year winner.

    #4. Kasey Kahne. Red Bull Racing Toyota. Past Rookie of the Year winner.

    #5. Mark Martin. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. 1999 Shootout winner.

    #11. Denny Hamlin. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. 2006 Shootout winner.

    #14. Tony Stewart. Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet. 2010 Chase contender, two time series champion, past Coke Zero 400 winner, 2002 and 2007 Shootout winner.

    #15. Michael Waltrip. Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota. Past Daytona 500 and Coke Zero 400 winner.

    #16. Greg Biffle. Roush Fenway Racing Ford. 2010 Chase contender, past Coke Zero 400 winner.

    #17. Matt Kenseth. Roush Fenway Racing Ford. 2010 Chase contender, past series champion, past Daytona 500 winner.

    #18. Kyle Busch. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. 2010 Chase contender, past Coke Zero 400 winner.

    #20. Joey Logano. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. Past Rookie of the Year winner.

    #22. Kurt Busch. Penske Racing Dodge. 2010 Chase contender, past series champion.

    #24. Jeff Gordon. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. 2010 Chase contender, past four time series champion, past four time Daytona 500, past Coke Zero winner, 1994 and 1997 Shootout winner.

    #29. Kevin Harvick. Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. 2010 Chase contender. past Daytona 500 winner, 2009 and 2010 Shootout winner.

    #31. Jeff Burton. Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. 2010 Chase contender, past Coke Zero 400 winner.

    #33. Clint Bowyer. Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. 2010 Chase contender.

    #39. Ryan Newman. Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet. Past Daytona 500 winner, past Rookie of the Year winner.

    #42. Juan Pablo Montoya. Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, presented by Felix Sabates, Chevrolet. Past Rookie of the Year winner.

    #47. Bobby Labonte. JTG Daugherty Racing Toyota. Past series champion.

    #48. Jimmie Johnson. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. 2010 Chase contender. five time series champion, past Daytona 500 winner, 2005 Shootout winner.

    #64. Derricke Cope. Max Q Motorsports Toyota. Past Daytona 500 winner.

    #78. Regan Smith. Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet. Past Rookie of the Year winner.

    #88. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. past Daytona 500 and Coke Zero 400 winner. 2003 and 2008 Shootout winner.

    #97. Kevin Conway. Nemco Motorsports Toyota. Past Rookie of the Year winner.

    #99. Carl Edwards. Roush Fenway Racing Ford. 2010 Chase contender.

  • NOTES FROM THE NASCAR NATION: Rusty Wallace deserves phrase for his quick response to the Michael Annett situation

    NOTES FROM THE NASCAR NATION: Rusty Wallace deserves phrase for his quick response to the Michael Annett situation

    It’s a very safe bet to assume that Rusty Wallace had planned to spend last Sunday afternoon watching the Super Bowl along with the rest of his fellow Americans. Instead the former NASCAR champion, turned team owner and auto racing television broadcaster, found himself having to deal with some rather shocking news. That would be official notification regarding Michael Annett, his recently hired NASCAR Nationwide Series driver, who had been arrested for a quartet of charges including DWI, driving while intoxicated.

    [media-credit name=”FMCM” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]According to reports from the Mooresville-North Carolina Police Department, as well as follow up reports from WCNC Channel 36 News in Charlotte, Annett was arrested following an auto accident that occurred sometime between 1:30 and 2 am last Sunday morning. An officer on the scene noticed Annett filling his mouth with a significant amount of breath mints and ordered a field sobriety test. The results of that tested turned up a blood alcohol count, (BAC), of .32 approximately four times the legal limit. The BAC limit for intoxication in North Carolina, like many other states, is .08.

    According to the reports, Annett was alleged to have explained that the accident was caused while he was sending a text message on his cell phone. That resulted in additional citations for driving while texting as well as failure to reduce speed. The final charge was resisting arrest which allegedly stemmed from Annett’s initial refusal to be handcuffed by officers at the scene. He has been scheduled to appear in court sometime next month.

    But one has to speculate that appearing before a judge pales in comparison to facing an angry Rusty Wallace. In a prepared team statement he said “Rusty Wallace Racing, (RWR), does not condone, nor tolerate, substance abuse by any of its employees.”

    In fact, Wallace deserves high praise for his quick response by levying team sanctions on his new driver. Those sanctions include the successful completion of a comprehensive alcohol awareness program, a zero tolerance policy by Annett towards alcohol use and a mandatory participation in a year long community service program. Wallace also indicated that there was going to be additional “internal sanctions” against the errant driver but did not specify what those sanctions were going to be.

    Wallace also noted that he was glad to see that Annett was not taking this incident lightly and truly believed that the public embarrassment that followed his arrest was a personal wake up call. Those sentiments were echoed in a prepared statement from the driver issued by RWR last Monday.

    That statement said “I am deeply remorseful for my actions and my extreme lack of judgment. I let down my team, my sponsors, my fans and my family. I sincerely apologize to everyone that I hurt. This was truly a life changing moment for me. Despite all of the negativity that will undoubtedly arise from it, I am going to strive to use this incident as the impetus to make a lot of changes in my life.”

    Whether or not Annett is going to face sanctions from NASCAR remains to be seen at this point in time. From a statement, issued last Monday, they said “NASCAR is in contact with Michael Annett’s owners at Rusty Wallace Racing to determine the facts of what happened. NASCAR will address the issue accordingly once we have a clear understanding of all the facts.”

    Actually this incident is not the first time Annett found himself publicly apologizing for a moment of bad personal judgment while driving. Last Monday WCNC Channel 36 news produced a document, from the Charlotte area Department of Motor Vehicles, that indicated Annett triggered a three car accident, in July of last year that resulted in major damage to the vehicles as well as physical injury to one of the drivers. While this accident absolutely had nothing to do with alcohol, it was caused by Annett sending a text message while driving.

    Last November 19th Michael Annett was practically jumping out of his driver’s uniform with joy. He had just been named to take over the wheel of RWR’s #62 Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Making the deal even sweeter was the fact that his long time sponsor, Pilot Travel Centers, was only too happy to make the move with their young driver.

    The true shame of this matter is the fact that it somewhat negates Annett’s hard work over the past three years towards developing his racing career. The 24 year old Des Moines-Iowa native moved to the southeast where he joined the ARCA Racing Series in 2008. He made quick work there by winning two races including ARCA’s annual signature event at Daytona. The 2009 and 2010 seasons found Annett driving for Germain Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series where he finished 10th and 13th in the points standings.

    It was very easy to see how a young, up and coming, driver with his own sponsorship contract would attract the attention of a team owner like Rusty Wallace. Despite the team embarrassment, resulting from last Sunday morning, Wallace announced that he was going to allow Annett to drive his car in the February 19th NASCAR Nationwide season opener at Daytona.

    Annett’s forward progress in this race will be most interesting to watch. If there ever was a time for a young driver to run the race of a lifetime this is it.

  • AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY JOINS THE RONALD REAGAN CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

    AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY JOINS THE RONALD REAGAN CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

    ~ Tribute video to air before the Auto Club 400 on Sunday March 27 ~

    ~ Ticket package to benefit the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation ~

    [media-credit name=”Auto Club Speedway” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, Calif. (Feb. 9, 2011) –  Auto Club Speedway joins the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation commemorating the 100th birthday of the 40th President of the United States of America, Ronald Reagan.  Through a series of programs and celebratory events around the world, the life and legacy of a global leader will be remembered.

    The year-long Ronald Reagan Centennial is supported by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation which was founded by President Reagan himself to preserve and promote his legacy of inspired freedom.  Events surrounding the Reagan Centennial include patriotic tributes, educational programs, statue unveilings, state proclamations, professional sports partnerships and much more. 

    “The Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration is honored to partner with Auto Club Speedway for the Auto Club 400,” said Stewart McLaurin Executive Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation.  “Ronald Reagan loved NASCAR and was the first American president to attend a NASCAR race.  This is a Centennial event that I think he would have enjoyed attending himself!”

    Auto Club Speedway is proud to be part of celebration by airing a special tribute video during the Auto Club 400 pre-race ceremony, in addition to offering race fans the Ronald Reagan Centennial ticket package, benefitting the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation.   For $75 (a $120 value), the Ronald Reagan Centennial ticket package includes:

    • Reserved grandstand ticket (rows 11-14) to the Auto Club 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series on Sunday, March 27 at Auto Club Speedway
    • Pre-Race Pit Pass
    • The Ronald Reagan Centennial coin designed and minted specially for the commemoration of the Reagan Centennial
    • Admission to Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, Calif.
    • $10 donation to Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation

     

    This ticket package is only $75 and available now through Monday, February 28.  However race fans that purchase the Ronald Reagan Centennial ticket package before President’s Day on Monday, February 21 will receive an additional $13 off the ticket package.  By purchasing before President’s Day, the Ronald Reagan Centennial ticket package becomes an incredible deal at only $62.

    For more information on the Ronald Reagan Centennial ticket package or to purchase tickets call 800-944-RACE (7223), log on to www.autoclubspeedway.com or visit the Auto Club Speedway Ticket Office.

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    About Auto Club Speedway

    Look for some amazing racing when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to Auto Club Speedway for the Auto Club 400 on March 27.  After October’s NSCS race, drivers, media and spectators proclaimed that race as possibly the best ever at Auto Club Speedway- five-wide racing at over 200 mph on the NASCAR circuit!  For tickets call 800-944-RACE (7223) or visit www.autoclubspeedway.com for more information.

     

    About The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation

    The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the promotion of the legacy of Ronald Reagan and his timeless principles of individual liberty, economic opportunity, global democracy, and national pride.  It sustains the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, the Reagan Center for Public Affairs, the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Presidential Learning Center and The Air Force One Pavilion. Located in Simi Valley, California the Library houses 63 million pages of Gubernatorial, Presidential and personal papers and over 60,000 gifts and artifacts chronicling the lives of Ronald and Nancy Reagan. It now also serves as the final resting place of America’s 40th President.  www.reaganfoundation.org

  • Actress Amber Heard to serve as Grand Marshal for the Budweiser Shootout

    Actress Amber Heard to serve as Grand Marshal for the Budweiser Shootout

    DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Hollywood actress Amber Heard will serve as the Grand Marshal for the 33rd annual Budweiser Shootout on Saturday night, Feb. 12 – the star-studded non-points NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event that kicks off the stock car portion of Speedweeks 2011 at Daytona International Speedway.

    [media-credit name=”DIS” align=”alignright” width=”277″][/media-credit]Heard will give the starting command “Gentlemen start your engines” as the stars of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series compete for the first time on the newly repaved racing surface of the “World Center of Racing.”

    The Budweiser Shootout will feature former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions, the 2010 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup field, a host of former outstanding rookies and a collection of previous winners at Daytona International Speedway.

    “Every NASCAR fan is anxiously waiting for Amber Heard to say the four most famous words in motorsports as we begin a new chapter in Daytona’s history,” said track President Joie Chitwood III said. “This year’s Budweiser Shootout will provide the first opportunity for fans to witness their favorite NASCAR drivers getting their first taste of the new asphalt.”

    Heard will next be seen in the action thriller “Drive Angry 3D” starring opposite Nicolas Cage, which is set for release on Feb. 25. She will also be seen in “The Rum Diary” starring opposite Johnny Depp and Aaron Eckhart later this year.

    Heard recently starred in John Carpenter’s “The Ward,” which premiered at the 2010 Toronto Film Festival and the independent film, “And Soon the Darkness.”

    Previously, Heard starred in 2009’s box office hit “Zombieland” opposite Woody Harrelson, Bill Murray and Jesse Eisenberg and the suspense thriller “The Stepfather.” In 2008, she starred in the comedic hit “Pineapple Express” with Seth Rogan and James Franco and received a 2008 Young Hollywood Award for her breakthrough performance.

    On television, Heard starred on The CW drama “Hidden Palms” and had guest starring roles on Showtime’s “Californication” and CBS’s “Criminal Minds.”

    Tickets for all of 2011 Speedweeks events including Budweiser Shootout are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.
    Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter (www.twitter.com/disupdates) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/DaytonaInternationalSpeedway)

  • Offseason Surprise Leads to Entry in Budweiser Shootout for Regan Smith

    DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 9, 2011) — The best piece of news that Furniture Row Racing driver Regan Smith received during the offseason was that he qualified to participate in NASCAR’s traditional opener – the Budweiser Shootout, scheduled for Saturday night (FOX), 8 p.m. ET.

    When NASCAR released the new qualification criteria in mid January for the non-points, 75-lap, 187.5-mile race at Daytona International Speedway, Smith was on the list of eligible drivers based on his status as a former NASCAR Sprint Cup rookie of the year (2008). It will mark the first time in Smith’s Cup career that he will compete in the Budweiser Shootout. 

    “I was both surprised and ecstatic when I heard the news,” said the 27-year-old Smith. “The Budweiser Shootout is not only a prestigious event, but also an excellent opportunity to get our Furniture Row Chevrolet dialed in for the main show — the Daytona 500 (Feb. 20). Actually, it’s a morale boost for the entire team to be involved in the race instead of watching it on television or on top of our hauler.”

    The thought of starting a new season for Smith and the No. 78 Denver, Colo.-based team brings on optimism, optimism and more optimism.

    “The slate is clean and I am sure all of the teams head into the new campaign with high hopes,” stated Smith. “Our higher-than-normal excitement level is based on how we progressed throughout the 2010 season, especially during the final 10 races. We also understand that racing can be a cruel sport and knock you down just when you think you have all the pieces of the puzzle in place. Right now all of our attitudes are nothing but positive.”

    The 2010 season started off slow for Smith, which was expected since he only competed on a part-time basis for Furniture Row Racing the previous year. But with a new competition staff, led by crew chief Pete Rondeau and competition director Mark McArdle, the team steadily improved and turned heads during the stretch run, which saw Smith post three top-13 finishes in the final seven races. He also qualified in the top 10 in the last three races.

    “We had a good offseason and are raring to go,” said Rondeau, who took over the crew chief role in May of last year. “I have a good feeling — the potential is there to be more successful than last year. I’m an even keel type of person, and what we need to do is to continue to stay focused and not get ahead of ourselves.”

    The Budweiser Shootout will be conducted in two segments of 25 and 50 laps with a 10-minute break between segments.

  • Laura Bell Bundy to perform Pre-, Post-Race Concerts and National Anthem for 2011 Budweiser Shootout

    DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Country music singer/songwriter Laura Bell Bundy will perform at the 33rd annual Budweiser Shootout on Saturday, Feb. 12 at Daytona International Speedway.  Bundy will perform a pre- and post-race concert in addition to the National Anthem for the non-points star-studded NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event.  

    Bundy will perform three songs prior to the Budweiser Shootout on the Pre-Race Stage as well as the National Anthem, which will be carried live on FOX. After the checkered flag waves on the 75-lap race, Bundy will perform a 60-minute post-race concert from the Sprint FANZONE Entertainment Stage.  

    Sprint FANZONE/Pre-Race access holders will be able to view the pre-race concert from the tri-oval grass while all ticket holders will have access to the post-race concert, which will start in the Sprint FANZONE approximately 30-minutes after the end of the race.  

    After a successful run on Broadway, Bundy has been a rising star in the country music scene with the release of her debut album “Achin’ and Shakin’ ” in the spring of 2010 with hit singles such as “Giddy On Up” and “Drop On By.”   On Broadway, Bundy originated the lead role of Elle Wood in the Broadway music “Legally Blonde,” for which she received a Tony Award nomination. She also originated the role of Amber Von Tussle in the Tony-Award winning Broadway musical “Hairspray” and played Glinda in the smash hit “Wicked.”  

    Offstage, Bundy has appeared in films including “The Adventures of Huck Finn,” “Life with Mikey” and “Jumanji.” She appeared in the 2006 film adaptation of “Dreamgirls” as well as in television with a recurring guest stint on the hit CBS comedy “How I Met Your Mother.” Last December, Bundy co-hosted the red carpet at the American Country Awards with Charissa Thompson and Michael Waltrip on the Speed Channel.  

    “The addition of Laura Bell Bundy to what already promises to be a great night of racing on the high banks is a tremendous win for our fans,” Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said. “NASCAR’s best drivers will compete for the first time on the newly paved surface, and Laura’s great performances will book-end an unforgettable night at the ‘World Center of Racing.’ ”  

    The Budweiser Shootout, NASCAR’s season-opening non-points event, is the climax to a racing doubleheader.  The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards is set for 4:30 p.m. followed by the Budweiser Shootout at 8:10 p.m., which will feature former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions, the 2010 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup field, a host of former outstanding rookies and a collection of previous winners at Daytona International Speedway.  

    Tickets for all Speedweeks 2011 events, including the Budweiser Shootout, are available online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.  

    Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter (www.twitter.com/disupdates) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/DaytonaInternationalSpeedway)

  • SOCAL RACE FANS TO KICK OFF THE 2011 NASCAR SEASON WITH THE DAYTONA 500 VIEWING PARTY AT ESPN ZONE, DOWNTOWN DISNEY

    SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, Calif. (Feb. 9, 2011)– Expect nothing short of a NASCAR invasion when fans far and wide roll into Downtown Disney in Anaheim, Calif. for the Official Auto Club Speedway / NASCAR Daytona 500 Viewing Party and Fan Festival on Sunday, February 20.  It’s THE PLACE for Southern Californians to party with fellow race fans, kicking off the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™ season with the “Great American Race” – the Daytona 500. 

    Auto Club Speedwayand NASCAR along with ESPN Zone at Downtown Disney, Sprint and RideMakerz teamed up to bring a number of FREE activities surrounding the 53rd running of the Daytona 500 that the entire family will enjoy:  

    ·         Watch the Daytona 500 on ESPN Zone’s 16-foot big screens and over 120 HD TV’s.  Doors open at 9 a.m., and the green flag is set to wave at 11 a.m.

    ·         Check out the NASCAR Street Tour with interactive video games

    ·         Race against family and friends at the NASCAR Tire Changing Competition

    ·         Get in a go kart at the K1 Indoor Go Karting display

    ·         Compete in the Daytona USA 2 Racing Challenge at ESPN Zone

    ·         Photo opportunity with authentic NASCAR stock cars

    ·         Sprint’s 4G Mobile Roadshowwill be onsite and fans are invited to experience the power of 4G on the latest Sprint devices. “Test drive” the NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile™ application, available at no additional cost to Sprint customers with any data plan, and receive 2 free movie tickets.  Plus, enter to win two HTC EVO Shift™ 4G devices from HTC and Sprint

    ·         Chance to win prizes and giveaways including  Auto Club 400 tickets, t-shirts, hats, DVDs,  key chains and more

    ·         Auto Club Speedway season ticket holders wearing their 2010 or 2011 Hard Cards  will receive discounts to Ridemakerz and afree $15 ESPN Zone Game Card

    ·         Special ticket offers available including service fees waived for any Auto Club 400 tickets and packages purchased at the Daytona 500 Viewing Party

    ·         And much more!   The Daytona 500 Viewing Party is a FREE event and the perfect setting to get with fellow NASCAR Sprint Cup Series enthusiasts and NASCAR newbies to talk shop before NASCAR rolls into Southern California for the Auto Club 400, March 25-27 at Auto Club Speedway. 

    For more information on the Daytona 500 Viewing Party at theESPN Zone in Downtown Disney District or the Auto Club 400 race weekend at Auto Club Speedway, March 25-27 call 1-888-849-RACE (7223) or visit www.autoclubspeedway.com.

    ###      

    About Auto Club Speedway Look for some amazing racing when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to Auto Club Speedway for the Auto Club 400 on March 27.  After last October’s NSCS race, drivers, media and spectators proclaimed that race as possibly the best ever at Auto Club Speedway- five-wide racing at over 200 mph on the NASCAR circuit!  For tickets call 800-944-RACE (7223) or visit www.autoclubspeedway.com more information.    

    About Sprint Nextel Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 48.8 million customers at the end of the third quarter of 2010 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, Common Cents Mobile and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 6 in its 2010 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprintand www.twitter.com/sprint.

  • Tire Kingdom to Sponsor Todd Bodine’s Trifecta Attempt During Daytona Speedweeks

    Germain Racing driver is entered in Daytona 500, Nationwide and Truck events at Daytona International Speedway   

    DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 9, 2011) — Tire Kingdom®, a leading brand of automotive service centers for the Florida-based TBC Retail Group, announced that it will be the primary sponsor in Todd Bodine’s quest to compete in NASCAR’s three national racing series for Germain Racing at Daytona International Speedway.  

    A 36-time NASCAR winner, Bodine is entered in the No. 30 Tire Kingdom Toyota Tundra for the Feb. 18 Camping World Truck Series race, the No. 15 Tire Kingdom Toyota Camry for the Feb. 19 Nationwide Series event and the No. 60 Tire Kingdom Toyota Camry for the Feb. 20 Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series opener.  

    Bodine’s vehicles for the season-opening races will also carry associate sponsorship from Valvoline and TBC Retail’s other automotive service centers — NTB – National Tire and Battery®, Merchant’s Tire and Auto Centers® and Big O Tires®.    

    “Featuring Tire Kingdom as the primary on these vehicles is a great complement to our automotive service centers in the Florida market,” said Bob Crostarosa, senior vice president of marketing and advertising, TBC Retail Group. “We are able to maintain the consistent theme of our Service Central Racing program. The red, white and blue color scheme is synonymous with integrity, trustworthiness, and quality, which is the foundation of Service Central® and our service centers Tire Kingdom, NTB-National Tire and Battery, Merchant’s Tire and Big O Tires.”

    Bodine is the reigning and two-time NASCAR truck season champion. Since 2005 – his first season driving full time for Germain Racing — he has never finished lower than fourth in the season point standings. Along with winning the series title last year, he also took home the truck championship in 2006.

    Bodine’s truck record at Daytona has been impeccable with two wins, two runners-up, a third and a fifth for a finishing average of 2.3 in six starts. Bodine’s overall truck record includes: 21 wins, 82 top fives and 106 top 10s in 165 starts.  

    “I am very excited to have Tire Kingdom and Valvoline for all of my races in Daytona and being part of the Service Central Racing program,” said Bodine. “It does not happen often that you get to represent one great company, let alone two in all three races in a weekend. Hopefully with a little luck we can run up front and get into Victory Lane.”  

    Bodine, a native of Chemung, N.Y. and the youngest (46) of the three famous racing brothers with Geoffrey and Brett, has a career total of 238 Cup starts (including four in the Daytona 500) and 324 Nationwide Series starts. He has captured 15 victories in the Nationwide Series.

    “It is with great honor that we can bring world class brands such as Tire Kingdom, Service Central and Valvoline together with Germain Racing and our reigning NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion, Todd Bodine,” said team owner Bob Germain Jr.  “It is a perfect complement in both brand and sport, and a partnership we are very much looking forward to cultivating as we have done with Valvoline.”    

    Germain, along with brothers Steve and Rick, formed Germain Racing in 2004. The team has collected six consecutive top-five point finishes in the Truck Series, including two championships, 22 wins and nine pole awards. Follow Germain Racing on Twitter @GermainRacing, on the web at Germainracing.com or become a fan on Facebook: Facebook.com/pages/Germain-Racing/198863890135.

    ABOUT SERVICE CENTRAL: Service Central® is the automotive service offering available exclusively at Tire Kingdom®, NTB-National Tire and Battery®, Merchant’s Tire and Auto®, and Big O Tires®. Available at nearly 1,300 locations nationwide, its trained and certified ASE technicians use state-of-the art equipment to provide quality service on cars or trucks. The nationwide warranty provides peace of mind while it protects consumers and their investment in over 40 states. (http://www.facebook.com/ServiceCentralRacing)   

    ABOUT TBC RETAIL GROUP Headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida, TBC Retail Group, Inc., a subsidiary of TBC Corporation, operates more than 800 tire and automotive service centers under the brands: Tire Kingdom®, NTB – National Tire and Battery®, and Merchant’s Tire and Auto Centers®, along with nearly 500 franchised Big O Tires® locations. The contingent of nearly 1300 stores has trained and certified ASE technicians who use state-of-the-art equipment to provide quality service on cars and trucks.  The nationwide warranty provides peace of mind while it protects consumers and their investment in over 40 states.  TBC Retail Group employs more than 300 associates at its Juno Beach, Fla. headquarters and approximately 10,000 associates nationally.  To locate a store near you, call 800-NEW-TIRE. TBC Corporation, headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, is one of the nation’s largest marketers of automotive replacement tires through a multi-channel retail and wholesale strategy.