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  • BOULDER CANYON NATURAL FOODS KETTLE CHIPS TO MAKE NASCAR DEBUT AT SUBWAY FRESH FIT 500(tm)

    Fastest growing “natural kettle” potato chip brand partners with NASCAR facility

    (PHOENIX, Ariz.) – Boulder CanyonT Natural Foods has joined the Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) family of corporate partners, PIR President Bryan R. Sperber announced today. Boulder Canyon will make its debut February 24-27 during PIR’s SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500T NASCAR event weekend.

    Boulder Canyon Natural Foods is a subsidiary of Inventure Foods (Nasdaq: SNAK). In addition to the fast growing all-natural snack food company, Inventure’s brands include JambaR All-Natural Smoothies, Burger King snacks, T.G.I. Friday’sR snacks, Poore BrothersR Kettle Cooked Potato Chips, Tato SkinsR, Braids Pretzels, Bob’s Texas StyleR potato chips and Rader Farms premium frozen fruits.

    “The Phoenix International Raceway partnership is a great fit for Boulder Canyon,” said Terry McDaniel, President and CEO for Inventure Foods. “The Raceway is a Phoenix fixture that offers a truly unique entertainment experience. We’re looking forward to being part of the memories created this season.”

    Tickets for the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500T on Feb. 27 are available now and start at just $25. For Phoenix International Raceway tickets and information, call 866-408-RACE (7223) or visit PhoenixRaceway.com. Let the GO begin.

    Phoenix International Raceway’s corporate partners include: Anheuser Busch, Bashas’ Supermarkets, Bennett Lane Winery/Turn 4 Wine, Casino Arizona, Chevrolet, Coca-Cola, Gatorade, Lucas Oil, Sprint, SUBWAY, The Home Depot, Amkus, Banner Health, Crown Royal, Ford Motor Company, GEICO Insurance, Goodyear Tire & Rubber, Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inventure Foods/ Boulder CanyonT Natural Foods, Kimberly-Clark Professional, Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse, Mars Snackfood, Meguiar’s Inc., New Holland North America, Safety-Kleen, Perky Jerky, O’Reilly Auto Parts, ServiceMaster Clean, Southwest Ambulance, Sunoco, 3 Amigo’s Tequila, Toyota, and UPS.

    This partnership between Boulder Canyon Natural Foods and International Speedway Corporation’s Phoenix International Raceway and Daytona International Speedway was arranged in part by Valley-based strategy firm AP & Associates, LLC.

    “The opportunity to work with PIR to facilitate this project for Boulder Canyon Natural Foods was very exciting,” said Alan M. Powell, Chairman and CEO of AP & Associates, LLC. “The brand’s synergy with NASCAR’s demographic made a launch at Phoenix International Raceway this February a reality and we’re also excited to bring Boulder Canyon chips to Daytona International Speedway this summer.”

    For more on AP & Associates, visit: http://apscottsdale.com.

    About Boulder Canyon Natural Foods

    Boulder CanyonT Natural Foods is a member of the Inventure Foods (Nasdaq:SNAK) family of Intensely DifferentT specialty brands. The Company’s better-for-you and indulgent food brands include licensed brands T.G.I. Friday’sR, BURGER KINGR and JambaR, as well as Inventure Foods owned brands Boulder CanyonT Natural Foods, Rader FarmsR, Poore BrothersR, Tato SkinsR and Bob’s Texas StyleR.

    About Phoenix International Raceway

    Since 1964, Phoenix International Raceway has served race fans as the premier motorsports venue in the Southwest. Watch the brightest stars in NASCAR take on PIR’s famed one-mile oval – including five-time defending Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Tony Stewart and many more – on February 27, 2011 in the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500T. Tickets for the entire SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500T weekend at Phoenix International Raceway can be purchased online at PhoenixRaceway.com/Tickets http://www.PhoenixRaceway.com/Tickets or by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223). For more, visit PhoenixRaceway.com http://PhoenixRaceway.com/ , Facebook.com/PhoenixRaceway http://Facebook.com/PhoenixRaceway/ and Twitter.com/PhoenixRaceway http://Twitter.com/PhoenixRaceway/ .

  • JTG DAUGHERTY RACING ANNOUNCES 2011 SPONSOR LINE-UP FOR CHAMPION DRIVER BOBBY LABONTE AND THE NO. 47 TOYOTA CAMRY TEAM

    CORNELIUS, N.C. (February 4, 2010) – JTG Daugherty Racing is proud to announce their sponsor line-up for the No. 47 Toyota Camry as 2000 Series champion Bobby Labonte competes for a spot in the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chase.

    “Thanks to our sponsors we are primed to meet our ultimate goal and that’s to be in the Chase for the championship,” Labonte said. “JTG Daugherty Racing has the good fortune of being associated with some of the best brands in the business and that will allow us to be in position to be a contender.”

    “We are indeed fortunate to have substantial corporate partners lined up again for 2011 and to have a driver of Bobby’s caliber piloting the No 47 Toyota,” said JTG Daugherty Racing co-owner Tad Geschickter. “Bobby is a proven winner and he will help us achieve our goals of winning races and selling cases for our sponsors.”

    To kick off the season, Labonte leads JTG Daugherty into their first-ever Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway. For the 33rd annual event, the team is proud to announce a new partnership with Cequent, a TriMas company, and the Reese Towpower® brand.  Reese Towpower® hitches will sponsor the No. 47 Toyota for the first time during the Shootout on Saturday February 12. In addition, Reese will sponsor the car in the All-Star event at Charlotte Motor Speedway and return as primary at Pocono Raceway in August. Reese Towpower®Towpower has pioneered the technology that has set the standard for today’s most advanced towing.

    For the Daytona 500, The Kroger Co. returns as primary sponsor of the No. 47 Toyota. The Kroger Co., the nation’s largest traditional grocery retailer, employs more than 334,000 associates who serve customers in 2,461 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states. The Kroger family of stores includes:  Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Jay C, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith’s.  

    In 2011, Kroger is partnering with the USO to celebrate the 70th anniversary as the leading organization that provides morale-boosting programs and services to enhance the quality of life for troops and their families around the world.  In honor of our retired and active duty members of the military and their families, Kroger is donating $400,000 to the USO during the pre-race ceremonies at the 2011 DAYTONA 500.
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    As a special tribute, Kroger and JTG Daugherty Racing have placed a very special logo on the hood of the No. 47 car for the DAYTONA 500. The logo includes the names of more than 350 Kroger associates from across the country who are active duty and reservist members of our nation’s military. These men and women have served in our armed forces while employed by the Kroger family of stores. 

    “It is such a privilege to be able to have a small part in thanking the men and women in uniform for the service they provide to our country and communities to keep us safe,” Labonte said. “I’m proud to carry the USO logo on our Toyota Camry. It’s pretty special for all of us at JTG Daugherty Racing to be able to do that thanks to Kroger and all of our partners behind this program.”

    Every sponsor is significant to the racing program’s success, but one has been with JTG Daugherty Racing every step of the way. Kingsford® Charcoal returns to the team for its 14th year to remind fans that ‘Racing Season is Grilling Season’. Kingsford® Charcoal will be primary at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Richmond International Raceway (April), Dover International Speedway (May), Charlotte Motor Speedway (May), Daytona International Speedway (July) and Michigan International Speedway (August).

    Just after Vegas, the familiar face of Little Debbie® can be seen on Labonte’s car at Auto Club Speedway. Since 1960, Little Debbie® snacks have remained a value leader. More than 75 varieties are available.

    Following the 400-mile event in California, Lance® Sandwich Crackers takes over the reins for the April event at Martinsville Speedway. Labonte’s machine will also fly the Lance® colors at Darlington Raceway and Charlotte Motor Speedway (October). Since its inception in 1913, Lance® has been dedicated to providing fresh, great tasting snack options for a busy lifestyle.

    Shifting from snacks to famous baked beans, Bush Brothers & Company returns for their ninth year with the team and Bush’s® Baked Beans will be a primary of the No. 47 Toyota Camry for seven races including Texas Motor Speedway (April), Talladega Superspeedway (April), Bristol Motor Speedway (August), Atlanta Motor Speedway (September), New Hampshire Motor Speedway (September), Dover International Speedway (October) and Kansas Speedway (October).

    Another longstanding team partner, Clorox® launches their first of six primary races at Phoenix International Raceway in February. They are also slated to prominently be displayed at Kansas Speedway (June), Pocono Raceway (June), Infineon Raceway, Texas Motor Speedway (October), and Phoenix International Raceway (November). Clorox® branded products promote healthy habits both at home and in the classroom and helps prevent the spread of cold and flu germs along with many other uses. Clorox® will be leveraging their sponsorship to remind race fans that their brand is the world’s most effective disinfectant.

    JTG Daugherty Racing is proud to announce partnership renewal with Kimberly-Clark Corporation. Kimberly-Clark Corporation will highlight several key brand introductions by taking primary space for the races at Kentucky Speedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, and the October event at Talladega Superspeedway.  Every day, 1.3 billion people trust Kimberly-Clark products and the solutions they provide to make their lives better with well-known family care and personal care brands such as Cottenelle® Kleenex®, Scott® Products, Viva, Huggies®, Kotex®, Poise® and Depend.

    JTG Daugherty Racing has signed the RainEater wiper blade brand to have primary billing at Michigan International Speedway in June. RainEater is the industries newest aftermarket wiper blade brand offering consumers superior all-weather performance with their aerodynamic frameless and full feature traditional wiper blades.

    “JTG Daugherty Racing is thriving and signing new sponsors in addition to activating existing partnerships,” crew chief Frank Kerr said. “It’s exciting to be part of the company’s growth. We have a fresh start with strong backing from our sponsors and the addition of a champion driver. We’re very confident about this year and ready for Daytona.”

    Associate sponsorships for 2011 include Glad® Bags & Wraps, KC Masterpiece®, Hidden Valley®, Tom’s®, Coca-Cola®, and Sullivan-Palatek®.   

    “We have all the right ingredients and personnel in place to be successful,” Labonte said. “We are extremely focused and serious about being one of 12 teams competing for the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship and we have the ability to do it thanks to all of our great partners.”

  • Phase Two of Site Construction is Underway on the World’s Largest HD Video

    Phase Two of Site Construction is Underway on the World’s Largest HD Video Board

    CONCORD, N.C. (Feb. 3, 2011) – The second phase of construction began this week on the world’s largest high-definition video board that will debut during Charlotte Motor Speedway’s 2011 May race events.

    Long Foundation Drilling Company from Winston-Salem, N.C., and Mid-Atlantic Construction of Charlotte, N.C., are working with Eastern Sign Tech of Burlington, N.J., on phase two of the HD video board construction this week at the speedway. The construction crews are using an 80-ton crane with a 100-foot arm and a separate caisson drilling rig to dig the massive support column holes that will lift the Panasonic HD video board 110 feet above the track. This phase of site work will include removing 900 cubic yards of dirt by drilling 12 holes, each 54 inches in diameter, more than 50 feet deep to bedrock level. Concrete piers will then be installed in the holes to support the massive 500,000-pound steel frame that will hold the 165,000-pound video board. When completed, the total structure will weigh 332-and-a-half tons or 665,000 pounds.

    Using heavy earth-moving equipment, crews from Granite Contracting, of Concord, N.C., have already removed 18,000 cubic yards of dirt and 3,000 cubic yards of concrete behind the backstretch where the gigantic, nearly 16,000-square-foot screen will be located. The concrete bleachers that were removed were part of the speedway’s original construction in 1960.

    Designed and created by Panasonic, the approximately 200-foot-wide, 80-foot-tall screen will be centered along the backstretch between Turns 2 and 3, across from the start/finish line. Fans seated throughout the frontstretch from Turn 4 to Turn 1 will have clear viewing angles of instant replays, leaderboard updates and interactive entertainment displayed in 720P high-definition visuals. The screen will be illuminated by more than nine million LED lamps during each NASCAR race event at Charlotte Motor Speedway this spring, including the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 21 and the Coca-Cola 600 on May 29.

    Frontstretch tickets with the best views of the new HD video board and pit road start at just $49 for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. Fans can also purchase two frontstretch tickets for just $99 to the Coca-Cola 600 by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267) or online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

  • MIS, BUDWEISER TO HOST BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT VIEWING PARTY AT FIREKEEPERS CASINO ON FEB. 12

    Let’s go racing, boys! MIS, Budweiser to host Budweiser Shootout viewing party Feb. 12 at FireKeepers Casino   Prizes, giveaways from 5-11 p.m., including a trip to Daytona 500  

     BROOKLYN, Mich. (Feb. 3, 2011) ­— NASCAR is back! And Michigan International Speedway has teamed up with partners FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek, Mich., and Budweiser to celebrate.

    Paint FireKeepers red on Saturday, Feb. 12, during a free Budweiser Shootout Viewing Party from 5-11 p.m. The watch party will take place in the Dacey’s Sports Bar inside the casino. The Budweiser Shootout in Daytona kicks off the start to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

    Numerous prizes will be given away throughout the evening, including a grand prize trip for two to this year’s Daytona 500. The grand prize package includes airfare, hotel accommodations and tickets to the Daytona 500, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series races, which are held on Feb. 18-20.  

    Garage passes, a hauler tour of the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet and meet and greet with Sprint Cup Series superstar Kevin Harvick are all included in the package.  

    “It’s great when we can team up with our partners like FireKeepers Casino and Budweiser to host an event like this to kick off the 2011 race season,” MIS Director of Corporate Partnerships Josh Burgett said. “We may not be IN Daytona, but we can celebrate like we are and host a fun party for our fans. And it’s free! It will be great to see the Sprint Cup drivers back on track in what could potentially be an exciting race with the repaved surface at Daytona International Speedway.”  

    Other prizes that will be given away throughout the night are MIS tickets, Budweiser Acceleration hospitality packages and non-event weekend pace car rides.   The Bud Shootout has always been a fan favorite, which features the Top-12 Chase drivers along with other past shootout champions and NASCAR rookie of the year winners in a sprint to the finish. The event is annually held the weekend before the Daytona 500.  

    Last season, Harvick, the August Sprint Cup Series race winner at MIS, pulled ahead of Kasey Kahne to win his second consecutive Bud Shootout. Harvick will compete in 2011 with new Budweiser sponsorship. The former Daytona 500 winner will be at MIS in June to attempt to win two straight Sprint Cup Series races, which hasn’t been done in the Irish Hills since Greg Biffle in 2005.  

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

    MIS’ Value Pricing ends on February 28. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tickets for the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 on June 19 and NSCS 400 on August 21 are as low as $25. Visit MISpeedway.com or call the MIS ticket hotline at 800-354-1010 today to take advantage of great pricing for 2011 events at MIS.

  • New Sound System For Martinsville Speedway In 2011

    Listen Up: New Sound System For Martinsville Speedway In 2011  

    MARTINSVILLE, Va. (February 3, 2011) – Fans will have amazing sound to go with the always amazing racing when they return to Martinsville Speedway for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 on April 3.  

     A new, state-of-the-art sound system will be in place by the April event, giving fans unparalleled audio during the weekend.  

    “Our new sound system will be much the same as the sound systems used in other major stadiums around the country,” said Martinsville Speedway President W. Clay Campbell. “It’s going to enhance the quality of the sound, especially during pre-race, when music is being played and anytime cars aren’t on the track.”  

    Approximately 50 new speakers are being installed around the track and atop the video boards in the infield. In the past the speakers have been on the catch-fence circling the track, but now they will be mounted on poles closer to the grandstand area.  

    “Fans have told us that they were having difficulty hearing the PA system in certain areas around the track. This should provide great sound to everyone,” said Campbell.  

    Other improvements at Martinsville Speedway for the 2011 season include wider seats, new restrooms and new concession stands and wider concourse under the front-stretch grandstands.  

     Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 weekend are on sale and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com.   Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 on April 3 start at just $25.

  • DAYTONA 500 CHAMP, DANICA PATRICK, DARRELL WALTRIP & LYN ST. JAMES TO PARTICIPATE IN PIR’S ‘NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS’ CHARITY EVENT

     (PHOENIX, Ariz.) –Phoenix International Raceway’s annual Night of Champions charity event on Feb. 24 will have a twist of mystery until the winner of the DAYTONA 500 is crowned just four days prior, on February 20. The 2011 Daytona 500 champ will join NASCAR Nationwide Series driver and Valley local Danica Patrick, three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Darrell Waltrip, former IndyCar driver Lyn St. James and PIR President Bryan R. Sperber to help celebrate the start of the 2011 NASCAR season and the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™ event weekend at Phoenix.  

    Night of Champions will be held at Frank and Albert’s, located in the legendary Arizona Biltmore Resort, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 24. Waltrip, who retired from racing in 2000 and is now a lead analyst for NASCAR on FOX, will host the event that will benefit and raise awareness for the Arizona State University College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation and St. James’  Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation.

    “This year’s Night of Champions offers a star-studded group of honorees in Darrell Waltrip, Danica Patrick, Lyn St. James and the winner of the 2011 Daytona 500,” Sperber said. “Our eyes will focus on Daytona with added interest and intrigue as we wait to find out which NASCAR star will join us to help raise charitable funds and rev up the 2011 season at PIR.”

    Tickets for “Night of Champions” are $250 each, and will provide guests with the chance to spend an evening with the 2011 DAYTONA 500 winner, Patrick, Waltrip and St. James, while contributing to the advancement of women in racing and research in nursing and healthcare at one of Arizona’s leading educational institutions.   Presenting sponsorships for the event are also available. Sponsorship packages include inclusion on all event materials and an array of exclusive experiences throughout the NASCAR event weekend at PIR.

      Those interested in attending or sponsoring “Night of Champions” are encouraged to contact Liz Thomas of Phoenix International Raceway at (623) 463-5670 or lthomas@phoenixinternationalraceway.com.

    Media will have access to the DAYTONA 500 winner, Patrick, Waltrip and St. James for interviews from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. To reserve interview time, please contact Paul Corliss of PIR at pcorliss@phoenixinternationalraceway.comor (623) 463-5613.

    Tickets to the exciting Feb. 24-27 SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™ NASCAR event weekend are available with prices starting at just $25. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.phoenixraceway.com/tickets or call 866-408-RACE (7223).   About Phoenix International Raceway Since 1964, Phoenix International Raceway has served race fans as the premier motorsports venue in the Southwest. Watch the brightest stars in NASCAR take on PIR’s famed one-mile oval – including five-time defending Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Tony Stewart and many more – on February 27, 2011 in the Subway Fresh Fit 500. Tickets for the entire Subway Fresh Fit 500 weekend at Phoenix International Raceway can be purchased online at PhoenixRaceway.com/Tickets or by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223). For more, visit PhoenixRaceway.com, Facebook.com/PhoenixRaceway and Twitter.com/PhoenixRaceway.

  • ESPN2’s NASCAR Now Returns Feb. 7

    ESPN2’s NASCAR Now Returns Feb. 7   Daily NASCAR News Program Originating from Daytona Feb. 13-20  

    ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program NASCAR Now returns for its fifth season on Monday, Feb. 7, at 5 p.m. ET to coincide with the beginning of the 2011 NASCAR season. The program includes highlights, opinion, debate, analysis and the latest news from drivers, crew chiefs and insiders.   With hosts Allen Bestwick,Nicole Briscoe, Mike Massaroand Shannon Spake,NASCAR Now originates from ESPN’s high definition studios in Bristol, Conn., with reporters and analysts checking in from locations around the country wherever NASCAR news is happening. In addition to reports from races, NASCAR Now reporters also visit race shops and special events.  

    Monday’s show will include interviews with NASCAR president Mike Helton and five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion crew chief Chad Knaus as well as thoughts from ESPN NASCAR analyst Dale Jarrett.   NASCAR Now will originate from Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach , Fla. , site of the NASCAR season-opening Daytona 500, with special hour-long programs starting Sunday, Feb. 13 and including a Daytona wrap-up special on Sunday night, Feb. 20. Massaro will host the first week of episodes beginning Feb. 7 with reports from Daytona starting Feb. 10.

      The first two weeks of programs will include new and exclusive interviews surrounding the 10th anniversary of the death of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, who was killed in a last-lap crash in the 2001 Daytona 500. Among the elements: * NASCAR Now lead reporter Marty Smithin a new, exclusive interview with Dale Earnhardt Jr. * Dr. Alfred Alson, the first doctor to arrive on the scene of Earnhardt’s fatal crash, speaks on camera for the first time about that day. * Jeff Gordon, Darrell Waltrip, Larry McReynolds and others reflect on what they remember from the day Earnhardt died.

    * Personalities including NASCAR champion Ned Jarrett and Hall of Fame journalist Tom Higgins tell Earnhardt stories.

    * A unique look at Earnhardt through the eyes of the man who regularly cut his hair and trimmed his iconic moustache.   Other NASCAR Now features leading to Daytona will include a look at the driver/crew chief changes at Hendrick Motorsports, with interviews with the drivers and their new crew chiefs together; defending Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray reviews last year’s race through his eyes; members of Jimmie Johnson’s team put Johnson’s fifth consecutive Sprint Cup championship into perspective; Danica Patrick discusses her first season in NASCAR and expectations for 2011; Brian Vickers talks to Smith about his return to racing this season; and ESPN Sports Science explores the repaving of Daytona and how it will affect the racing.  

    The first week of the program also will include segments of a roundtable discussion hosted by ESPN’s Dr. Jerry Punchwith analysts Andy Petreeand Ricky Cravenand reporter Smith. Among the topics will be discussion of the resurgence of Kevin Harvick and Richard Childress Racing; Brad Keselowski and the changes at Team Penske; the new NASCAR rule requiring drivers to choose one series for points; drivers and teams under the radar; Carl Edwards and Roush Fenway Racing; and Denny Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing.

    In addition to the Monday through Friday program, ESPN2 also airs an hour-long edition of NASCAR Now at on the morning of each NASCAR Sprint Cup race, and a weekend wrap-up edition will begin in September to coincide with the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The Monday edition of NASCAR Now expands to an hour and features a roundtable discussion of the latest NASCAR news with ESPN analysts and reporters as well as special guests.

    The NASCAR Now team also includes Terry Blount, motorsports writer for ESPN.com; analyst Tim Brewer,two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion crew chief; D.J. Copp, tire changer in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series; and analyst Brad Daugherty, five-time NBA All-Star and NASCAR team owner.  

    Others are Ed Hinton, motorsports writer for ESPN.com; Ryan McGee, motorsports writer for ESPN the Magazine; and David Newton, motorsports writer for ESPN.com.NASCAR Now viewers also will see analysis and reports from other members of the NASCAR on ESPN race coverage team including analyst Rusty Wallaceandpit reportersDave Burns, Jamie LittleandVince Welch.   Veteran NASCAR drivers Johnny Benson Jr. and Ken Schrader will be frequent guests on the Monday roundtable edition of NASCAR Now in 2011. The first roundtable, airing on Monday, Feb. 21, the day after the Daytona 500, will be moderated by Bestwick and include Jarrett, Wallace and the Daytona 500 winner.  

    Live NASCAR racing returns to the ESPN networks for the 2011 season when ESPN2 airs flag-to-flag coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series 300-mile from Daytona on Saturday, Feb. 19. NASCAR Countdown airs at noon ET, with the race at 1:15 p.m.  

    The NASCAR Now schedule for Daytona Speedweeks (all times Eastern):   Date Time Program Network Monday, Feb. 7 5-5:30pm NASCAR Now ESPN2 Tuesday, Feb. 8 5-5:30pm NASCAR Now ESPN2 Wednesday, Feb. 9 6-6:30pm NASCAR Now ESPN2 Thursday, Feb. 10 5-6pm NASCAR Now ESPN2 Friday, Feb. 11 6-6:30pm NASCAR Now ESPN2 Sunday, Feb. 13 11a-noon NASCAR Now ESPN2 Monday, Feb. 14 6-7pm NASCAR Now ESPN2 Tuesday, Feb. 15 5-6pm NASCAR Now ESPN2 Wednesday, Feb. 16 No show    

    Friday, Feb. 18 Mid.-1am NASCAR Now ESPN2 Friday, Feb. 18 6-7pm NASCAR Now ESPN2 Sunday, Feb. 20 9-10am NASCAR Now ESPN2 Sunday, Feb. 20 8-9pm NASCAR Now ESPN2 Monday, Feb. 21 5-6pm NASCAR Now ESPN2     Visit www.espnmediazone.com for ESPN’s latest releases, schedules and other news, plus photos, video and audio clips and more.   -30-   About NASCAR on ESPN: ESPN produces comprehensive, multi-platform coverage featuring telecasts of the final 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup races, including the 10-race “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Additionally, ESPN2 is the home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series all season. All television programming is produced in high definition. ESPN’s NASCAR coverage extends to ESPN.com, SportsCenter, ESPN the Magazine, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio and ESPN International, among other ESPN platforms. ESPN aired 262 NASCAR Cup Races over a 20-year period starting in 1981 and returned to NASCAR coverage in 2007. The network’s award-winning, live flag-to-flag coverage on ESPN has been honored with 19 Sports Emmy Awards, as well as many industry honors. It is widely credited for helping to popularize the sport nationwide.

  • New Sprint Team Headed to Daytona

    New Sprint Team Headed to Daytona

    Mooresville, NC (February 2) – Frank Stoddard, 14-time winning NASCAR Sprint Cup crew chief, announced today that he has formed his own NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race team.  Stoddard will own the #32 Ford Fusion and plans to compete in the full schedule. 

    Stoddard, a native of North Haverhill, New Hampshire, paved the way for a successful Sprint Cup career by working with the great Stanley “Stub” Fadden while racing short tracks throughout the northeast and collecting four wins together. 

    Stoddard moved to the south to join Roush Racing in 1995 and worked with driver Jeff Burton where they amassed 14 victories, including the Southern 500, two Coca Cola 600 trophies and four wins in his backyard at New Hampshire International Speedway.  He continued his career with Scott Wimmer, where they finished third in the 2004 Daytona 500, the highest finishing rookie to date.  Stoddard claimed an impressive 64 top-five and 98 top-10 finishes as crew chief for Jeff Burton, Scott Wimmer and Ward Burton.

    In 2005, Stoddard joined forces with road course king, Boris Said.  Said sat on the pole at the 2006 Pepsi 400 at Daytona international Speedway and went on to finish fourth after leading with three laps to go. 

    “I’m really eager to get this off the ground,” said Stoddard.  “It’s a great time to enter the sport.  We’ll just have to wait and see where we can go from here.  My hope is to take this team to a competitive level and put together some respectable runs with the limited resources we have in place.  One never knows, with our determination and just a little bit of funding we could definitely improve our chances on the track.”

    Stoddard and FAS Lane Racing are actively seeking sponsorship and plan to enter the 2011 Daytona 500.

  • NASCAR Beginnings Featuring Wendell Scott

    NASCAR Beginnings Featuring Wendell Scott

    Wendell Oliver Scott, born in 1921 in Danville, Virginia, was an American stock car driver and a pioneer of NASCAR.  On March 4, 1961 in Spartanburg SC, he broke down racial barriers to make his first start in the NASCAR Grand National (now Sprint Cup) division.  Scott went on to become the first and to date, the only, African-American to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup event.

    A look into his life gives us insight into a tumultuous part of NASCAR and American history.

    Scott didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life but was sure of one thing. Whatever it was, he would be his own boss.

    As a youngster he loved going fast, racing his bicycles against other kids and speeding around town on roller skates. Scott also grew up learning about cars at his father’s side. His Dad worked as a driver and mechanic for two wealthy white families and was well known for his prowess behind the wheel.

    Eventually Scott quit high school, became a taxi driver and later served in the segregated Army in Europe during World War II. After the war, he ran an auto-repair shop and ran moonshine on the side.

    Like others before him, he used the moonshine business to hone his driving skills and learn how to build fast race cars. Scott was only caught once and was sentenced to three years probation but continued to make whiskey runs.

    On May 23, 1952, a set of unusual circumstances gave Scott his first racing start.

    At that time the races in Danville were run by the Dixie Circuit, a competing organization to NASCAR.  In order to bring in more money, they decided that they needed a gimmick. Their idea was to bring in a black driver who was fast enough to compete with the usual white drivers. They chose Wendell Scott.

    That first race wasn’t a success. His car broke down and many spectators booed him. But at that moment, Scott realized this was what he wanted to do with the rest of his life.

    The next day brought Scott back down to earth. He repaired his car and decided to tow it to a NASCAR-sanctioned race in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The NASCAR officials refused to let him compete telling him that black drivers weren’t allowed.

    He left the race with tears in his eyes but he didn’t quit.

    A few days later he went to another NASCAR event in High Point, North Carolina but was once again told he couldn’t race. They suggested he get a white boy to drive his car.

    “I told ’em weren’t no damn white boy going to drive my car,” Scott said.

    Instead, he left the track and decided to avoid NASCAR races for the time being.

    He raced with the Dixie Circuit and at other non-NASCAR speedways and won his first race at Lynchburg, Virginia, only twelve days into his racing career.

    As time passed, he still got boos but more and more fans began rooting for him. Although some of the drivers were prejudiced and would wreck him deliberately, many drivers came to respect Scott. They saw him as a driver no different from themselves, just another hard-working guy who loved racing.

    Soon, some of the newspapers began writing positive stories about Scott and his popularity increased.

    Scott understood, though, that in order to really succeed in the sport, he had to gain admission to NASCAR. He didn’t know NASCAR founder and president, Bill France, so Scott found a less direct way to get into NASCAR.

    He towed his racecar to a local NASCAR event at Richmond Speedway and asked the steward, Mike Poston, to grant him a NASCAR license. Poston was only a part-timer in NASCAR but he did have the authority to issue licenses.

    Poston told him, “We’ve never had any black drivers, and you’re going to be knocked around.”

    “I can take it,” Scott told him.

    Poston approved Scott’s license but his decision wasn’t popular.

    Scott finally met Bill France for the first time in April of 1954. The night before they met, the promoter at a NASCAR event in Raleigh, North Carolina, had given gas money to all of the white drivers who came to the track but had refused to pay Scott. Scott approached France at the Lynchburg speedway and told him what had happened.

    France immediately reached into his pocket, gave Scott thirty dollars and assured him that NASCAR would never treat him with prejudice.

    “You’re a NASCAR member, and as of now you will always be treated as a NASCAR member.”

    In 1961, Scott moved up to the NASCAR Grand National division.

    On December 1, 1963, driving a Chevrolet Bel Air purchased from Ned Jarrett, he won his first race at Speedway Park in Jacksonville, Florida — the first and only top level NASCAR event won by an African-American.

    Ironically, Scott almost didn’t make the race.

    Scott didn’t have enough cash in his pocket to make the long trip. So he asked Jarrett if he could borrow $500.00.

    “He was a race-car driver and I was a race-car driver,” Jarrett said.

    “But he was having a tough time because of his race at that particular period. He wasn’t going to get a lot of help. I thought he was a good race-car driver and he could be good for the sport.”

    Wendell had won the race, by two laps over Buck Baker, but it wasn’t without controversy. NASCAR waved the checkered flag over Baker and awarded him the trophy.

    Hours later, NASCAR officials admitted that Scott had won the race. They gave him a trophy about a month later in Savannah, but it wasn’t the real thing.

    Buck got the real trophy.

    He continued to race competitively through the rest of the 1960s but was forced to retire due to injuries from a racing accident at Talladega, Alabama in 1973.

    Scott achieved one win and 147 top ten finishes in 495 career Grand National starts.

    He died Dec. 22, 1990, after a long battle with spinal cancer.  In 1999, Scott was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.

    I’m so glad we never gave up,” said Scott’s Widow Mary.

    “When Ned Jarrett and all of those old drivers came to Scott’s funeral, they told us he had the respect of all the drivers. I’d say all of those older guys learned to like him and respect him. They knew he was a genuine person and he stood for what he believed. He didn’t give up.”

    It has been 50 years since Scott’s first race in NASCAR’s premier series. His achievements will be honored on ESPN on February 20th with a movie entitled “Wendell Scott: A Race Story.”

    The film will air at 9 p.m. ET shortly after the 53rd running of the Daytona 500 race. It was produced by the Emmy Award-winning NASCAR Media Group in conjunction with ESPN Films and Max Siegel Inc.

    The docudrama will contain seldom seen historical footage plus interviews from members of Scott’s family and memories shared by some of stock car racing’s past legends.

    “Wendell Scott faced overwhelming challenges throughout his life and as a pioneer in his sport,” said John Dahl, executive producer, ESPN Films. “The film captures his strong sense of determination and honor with a poignant look at his struggles as well as an examination of his legacy.”

    Scott will always be remembered as the man who prepared the way for future generations of minorities in stock car racing.

    But what we should never forget is this. Wendell Scott was at heart simply a racer.

    All he wanted was a chance to prove himself out on the track. The real testament to his success is that he did just that and earned the respect of the other drivers in the process.

    Achievements:

    1963 – The first and only African-American to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup event.

    1999 – Inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame

    2000 – Inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame

    Thanks to Brian Donovan – “Hard Driving: The American Odyssey of NASCAR’s First Black Driver” and NASCAR for quotes.

  • MIS TICKETS, CAMPING ON SALE NOW DURING TRACK’S VALUE PRICING PERIOD

    Still the right price! Fans can purchase tickets, camping now during MIS’ Value Pricing Period

    NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tickets now on sale and available for as low as $25

    BROOKLYN, Mich. (Feb. 1, 2011) — Fans who buy tickets to Michigan International Speedway for the 2011 season will see more value in their purchase than ever before.

    So now is the time for the best deals possible during the speedway’s Value Pricing Period, today through Feb. 28.

    The Value Pricing Period kicks off the speedway’s public ticket sale today. Tickets can be purchased online at www.MISpeedway.com or by calling 800-354-1010.

    “Our ticket pricing is unique in that we offered the lowest prices for our loyal, renewing customers and anyone who left a goodwill deposit,” MIS President Roger Curtis said. “So this is the best opportunity for any new fans of our sport or fans who forgot to renew to take advantage of some great ticket deals before event pricing goes into effect on March 1.”

    MIS offers NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tickets for as low as $25. Kids 12 and under are free in the general admission seating areas, while junior pricing for 17 and under are half price for all reserved seats. The Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 on Father’s Day June 19, and the NSCS 400 on August 21, both NASCAR Sprint Cup events, feature some of the lowest ticket prices in the country.

    Prices on other events such as the NASCAR Nationwide Series race on June 18 and Camping World Truck Series VFW 200 on August 20 have also remained low for 2011 at $40 and $30, respectively. Lastly, the RainEater Wiper Blades 200 ARCA Racing Series event on June 17 and Meijer Pole Day on Aug. 19 are just $7.50 each.

    Prices are subject to increase on March 1 when the Value Pricing transitions to Event Pricing, so Curtis encourages anyone who wants to see some of the best stock car racing in the country to give MIS a try.

    “We are making our sport affordable and getting families back to the track,” Curtis said. “Our 2011 tier-pricing structure has made Sprint Cup Series tickets at MIS a tremendous value for adults and children. MIS offers a great racing experience for its fans at a reasonable price.”

    With NASCAR’s recent announcement about changes to its points system, thus simplifying it for the industry and its fans, the buzz heading into the 2011 season is far greater than in previous years.

    Additionally, MIS’ continuous commitment to its fans in the form of a new and improved scoreboard, paved tram routes and additional handicapped parking in 2011 are just a few of the more than $55 million worth of improvements the speedway has made for its fans since 2006. New gate policies will also be in effect for 2011, giving fans the chance to bring in larger coolers to keep their food and beverages cold during the race.

    With important changes to NASCAR, various capital improvements and affordable Value Pricing, MIS events are can’t miss races in 2011.

    “With all the recent changes NASCAR announced last week and the continued investments we are making into our facility, it truly is creating a much larger buzz around the sport heading into the 2011 season,” Curtis added. “The whole team here is energized for the start of what will be a phenomenal NASCAR season and a return to affordable, fun entertainment in Michigan.”

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

    Michigan International Speedway – 2011 Schedule

    Saturday, May 21 Great Lakes Wine Fest

    Friday, June 17 ARCA Racing Series RainEater Wiper Blades 200

    Saturday, June 18 NASCAR Nationwide Series

    Sunday, June 19 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400

    Friday, Aug. 19 Meijer Pole Day

    Saturday, Aug. 20 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series VFW 200

    Sunday, Aug. 21 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series