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NASCAR Cup Series

  • U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds to perform fly-over for 53rd running of the Daytona 500

    DAYTONA BEACH , Fla. – The world-renowned U.S. Air Force “Thunderbirds” will provide race fans with the flyover during the National Anthem for the 53rd running of the Daytona 500 – the prestigious season-opening event for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series on Sunday, Feb. 20 at Daytona International Speedway.  

    “It’s an honor to have the Thunderbirds return to Daytona International Speedway and take part in the pre-race festivities for the 53rd running of the Daytona 500,” said track President Joie Chitwood III.

    “The USAF Thunderbirds are known around the world for their aerobatic flying, and race fans at the ‘The Great American Race’ will witness what will surely be an exhilarating flyover.”   It’s the second time the flying squadron will perform the flyover at the historic “World Center of Racing.” The Thunderbirds previously provided the flyover for the 50th running of the Daytona 500 in 2008.

    “We are excited to fly over an event as prestigious as the Daytona 500 and make the Air Force a part of this day,” said Lt. Col. Case Cunningham, Thunderbirds commander and leader. “As the race crowd hears the final notes of our National Anthem, our formation will showcase the absolute pride and precision with which the United Sates Air Force delivers Global Vigilance, Global Reach and Global Power with unmatched effectiveness. Without a doubt, ‘The Great American Race’ is an awesome opportunity for us to humbly represent the nearly 35,000 Airmen supporting combatant commanders from deployed locations around the world, providing combat power for America.”   The Thunderbird flyover will feature six Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons buzzing the famed Speedway before landing at nearby Daytona Beach International Airport.

    The Thunderbirds, comprising twelve officers and more than 130 enlisted members, perform precision aerial maneuvers in approximately 70 shows a year at 35 different locations from the middle of March to the middle of November.   Since the unit’s inception in 1953, more than 350 million people in 61 countries and all 50 states have witnessed the red, white and blue jets in more than 4,123 official aerial demonstrations.   Tickets for the 53rd running of the Daytona 500 and other Speedweeks 2011 events are available online to www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

  • GANASSI NAMED ECONOMAKI CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

    Multi-Faceted Team Owner Enjoys ‘An Amazing Season’

    HARRISBURG, N.C. (Dec. 14, 2010) — For the first time in the eight-year history of the Economaki Champion of Champions presented byNational Speed Sport News, a non-driver has won the award.

    The Economaki Champion of Champions is annually given to the North American racing champion judged to have had the best season on and off the race track.

    Team owner Chip Ganassi, whose teams won the Daytona 500, Indianapolis 500, Brickyard 400 and the Grand Am Rolex Series and IZOD IndyCar Series championships, was selected by the staff of National Speed Sport News as the winner of the award, which is named for longtime National Speed Sport News Editor Chris Economaki.

    “While we have traditionally presented this award to a driver, we felt the time was right to honor Chip Ganassi for what was truly an amazing season,” said National Speed Sport News Publisher Corinne Economaki. “No team owner had ever won the Daytona 500, Indy 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same season and to win two championships on top of that made Chip an obvious choice for this honor.

    “With NASCAR, IndyCar and Grand Am all part of NSSN’s core coverage, Chip Ganassi and his racing teams represent a wide spectrum of competitors and racing fans.”

    Jamie McMurray won both the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 NASCAR races for Ganassi, while Dario Franchitti claimed the Indianapolis 500 en route to earning his second-straight IZOD IndyCar Series championship and the third in a row for Chip Ganassi Racing. Finally, Scott Pruett and his co-driver Memo Rojas won nine of 12 races in securing the Grand Am championship. Juan Pablo Montoya (NASCAR) and Scott Dixon (IndyCar) also visited victory lane in Ganassi-owned race cars in 2010.

    Ganassi joins an exceptional list of CoC winners, including two-time recipient NHRA Top Fuel driver Tony Schumacher; Kyle Busch, 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion; Donny Schatz, three-time World of Outlaws champion; NASCAR’s Jimmie Johnson; World of Outlaws’ Steve Kinser and J.J. Yeley, who represented USAC when he won the inaugural CoC in 2003.

    Other finalists for the award were Scott Bloomquist (Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series), Bryan Clauson (USAC), Larry Dixon (NHRA), John Force (NHRA), Dario Franchitti (IndyCar) Jimmie Johnson (NASCAR), Levi Jones (USAC), Jason Meyers (WoO), Scott Pruett/Memo Rojas (Grand Am) and Tim Shaffer (All Stars).

    Ganassi is recognized on the cover of the Dec. 15, 2010, year-end issue of National Speed Sport News.

    “I remember the first time I made one of the covers was in 1982 when I was the fastest rookie at the Indianapolis 500,” Ganassi said. “I made the back cover and I’ll never forget that. You literally wait for that thing to come out and then you look at it and say, ‘Hey, there I am.’”

    National Speed Sport News is the authoritative voice of motorsports, providing race coverage that is timely, accurate and colorful. Since 1934, the newspaper has been a must-read for serious fans, drivers, crew members and industry leaders alike. National Speed Sport News is the only motorsports periodical on Library of Congress microfilm.

    Published 48 times a year and updated 24/7 online, subscription rates are available by calling 866-455-2531 or at www.nationalspeedsportnews.com.

  • Office Depot Foundation Introduces New ‘Teddy B. Caring’ Bear For Holiday Season

    Perfect Stocking Stuffer Gift For The Holidays; Teddy B. Caring Bear Raises Funds For Children And Families In Need  

    Boca Raton, Fla., December 14, 2010 –Just in time for the holiday season, Office Depot (NYSE: ODP), a leading global provider of office supplies and services, today announced the availability of the Office Depot Foundation’s 2010 “Teddy B. Caring” holiday bear. The special holiday edition bear is sold exclusively at Office Depot retail stores in the United States. The Office Depot Foundation donates a portion of the proceeds from Teddy B. Caring sales to help children and families in need around the world. 

      The ideal gift or stocking stuffer for the holidays, the 2010 edition of Teddy B. Caring stands 16” tall and is priced at $9.99. It is manufactured by Gund.   “Not only does Teddy B. Caring make a wonderful holiday gift, but he also helps us make a difference in children’s lives,” said Office Depot Foundation President Mary Wong. “We are grateful to Office Depot for enabling us to offer Teddy B. Caring once again in 2010 – and we appreciate every customer who comes to an Office Depot store and supports our important work by taking one of these adorable bears home for the holidays.”   The bear was created in 2001 to help the Foundation raise funds to support its charitable work. The name “Teddy B. Caring” was chosen from hundreds of suggestions made by Office Depot associates in a companywide contest.  

    An active supporter of the Office Depot Foundation is NASCAR® superstar Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet Impala in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™.  Stewart is encouraging fans everywhere to support the Office Depot Foundation’s mission by purchasing a Teddy B. Caring bear.  

    “Working with the Office Depot Foundation on its National Backpack Program is one of the most important and rewarding things I do,” Stewart said. “It’s amazing to see the look on a child’s face when they receive a new backpack and are able to head back to school with an extra boost of confidence. Every child deserves that, and I would like to encourage everyone to consider giving a Teddy B. Caring bear as a gift this holiday season in support of the great work the Office Depot Foundation does all year long.”  

    Office Depot Foundation initiatives supported by sales of Teddy B. Caring include:  

     ·         National Backpack Program– Helping kids succeed in school by donating over 2 million backpacks and book bags since 2001.

    ·         Caring Connection– Inspiring people to serve non-profit organizations and their communities by volunteering.

    ·         Dream UP Career Exploration Program– Enabling middle school children to learn about future career opportunities.

    ·         1-888-MY BIZ HELP– Helping non-profit organizations and small businesses recover after disasters by providing access to resources via a toll-free hotline.  

    To learn more about the Office Depot Foundation and its programs, please visit www.officedepotfoundation.org.

      About Office Depot Every day, Office Depot is Taking Care of Business for millions of customers around the globe.  For the local corner store as well as Fortune 500 companies, Office Depot provides products and services to its customers through 1,600 worldwide retail stores, a dedicated sales force, top-rated catalogs and a $4.1 billion e-commerce operation.  Office Depot has annual sales of approximately $12.1 billion, and employs about 41,000 associates around the world.  The Company provides more office products and services to more customers in more countries than any other company, and currently sells to customers directly or through affiliates in 53 countries.

      Office Depot’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP and is included in the S&P 500 Index.  Additional press information can be found at:

  • NOTES FROM THE NASCAR NATION: Scott Speed grabs the Red Bull by the horns

    NOTES FROM THE NASCAR NATION: Scott Speed grabs the Red Bull by the horns

    The fact that NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Scott Speed will not be returning to the Red Bull Racing, (RBR), #82 Toyota next year is no real surprise. Frankly, we’ve been expecting that announcement since last summer. But the driver’s Wednesday morning announcement that said he was suing RBR did come as a surprise. What’s even more surprising is the fact that the announcement of the potential suit came via “Twitter” so the driver could keep his followers up to speed.

    [media-credit name=”Simon Scoggins” align=”alignleft” width=”300″][/media-credit]In a “Tweet” sent on Wednesday, Speed wrote: “today should be the day my lawyer files this lawsuit against Red Bull. Had to tell my loyal “Twitter” followers before they saw it online.” In a second “Tweet” from the same day he wrote: “sure not easy to find something, (a ride for next year), when u start looking in December, but we workin’ on it. I’ll keep ya posted, sure we will find something.” He also indicated that he would entertain a serious offer from a NASCAR Nationwide or Camping World Truck Series team.

    Also on the same day Speed made plenty of comments to the racing media and claimed that he was notified, via a November 24th fax that he would not be in the Red Bull Racing ride in 2011. This was despite the fact that he has a contract with RBR that runs through the end of the 2011 season along with company options for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.

    During the course of interview comments, Speed expressed disappointment over the fact his official dismissal was handled via a fax machine without so much as one telephone call from Austria, the official home of Red Bull Energy Drink. He also noted that Red Bull officials were on hand for the November 22nd NASCAR season finale at the Homestead-Miami Speedway but no one actually spoke to him.

    He was later quoted as saying “I can’t describe how upset I am just by the morality of it. I don’t understand how you can treat people like this.” Speed went on to say that he felt like he had been kicked to the curb without an offer to pay him anything at all adding “they were, okay, we’re done with you. Thank you for seven and one half years.”

    Speed declined to elaborate on the terms of his contract with RBR or the details of the pending litigation. However, last Friday, the details did go public on the Internet via public records from the North Carolina Superior Court, located in Statesville, where the suit was filed on Speed’s behalf. According to those records the driver is seeking $6.5 million in damages. The suit listed the following grievances:

    RBR failed to provide his #82 Toyota team with the proper funding needed to compete at the NASCAR Sprint Cup level.

    Speed’s original agreement with RBR was for three years and was signed in September of 2007. His salary tier levels were set at $300,000 for the 2008 season, $500,000 for 2009 and $1 million during the 2010 season. Speed’s contract also had a clause that guaranteed him bonus payments from the team that included 50% of the prize money from a race for every top ten finish, 45% for finishes between positions 11 through 20 and 40% for any finish 21st or worse.

    The lawsuit also states that, in June of 2008, Speed’s contract was amended to include the 2011 season at a seasonal salary of $1.5 million. That same amendment also granted RBR the right to pick up contract options on the driver for the 2012 and 2013 seasons with salary raises of $500,000 per year.

    The lawsuit also states that in January of this year RBR revised Speed’s contract cutting his 2010 salary from $1 million to $500,000

    Despite that cost cutting move, RBR picked up the driver options through the 2013 season, in May of this year, only to officially release him last November 23d.

    The lawsuit further stipulates that the $6.5 million represents money Speed would have earned from the 2011 through the 2013 plus the $500,000 in salary lost form this year.

    Speed also said that the potential award from the lawsuit was also compensation for the likelihood that he will be idle during the upcoming 2011 season also noting that the possibility of signing with another NASCAR team this late in the year is unlikely.

    Understandably, RBR has issued no formal comment on the pending lawsuit.

    But the timeline associated with this driver’s dismissal, based on previously published reports and statements from RBR officials, clearly indicates that Speed must have had some idea that his tenure with the team was going to end.

    In July of this year RBR General Manager Jay Frye said that Speed’s future with the organization would be decided within the next month adding “we need to perform, we need to be better.”

    That naturally raises the question: why did RBR wait so long to officially let the driver know he would not be returning to the team next season?

    The answer to that question involves two other Sprint Cup drivers, Brian Vickers and Kasey Kahne, along with the unusual circumstances that were associated with them.

    In early spring Brian Vickers left the RBR #83 Toyota team due to a reported serious illness. The medical malady was later reported to be blood clots which eventually led to open heart surgery this past August. Thankfully Vicker’s medical condition, during the second half of this year, showed a marked improvement to the point where he no longer was required to take blood thinners. He’s not primed and ready to resume racing next year for RBR

    Meanwhile Kasey Kahne announced his plans to leave Richard Petty Motorsports to sign with Hendrick Motorsports to drive their #5 Chevrolet. But that ride, contractually occupied by Mark Martin, wasn’t going to be available until the start of the 2012 season. Team owner Rick Hendrick eventually made a deal with RBR to place Kahne in one of their cars next year.

    In late October, General Manager Jay Frye said that RBR’s 2011 plans included fielding two cars for Vickers and Kahne. With Vickers returning to good health, RBR announced that Scott Speed would not be returning and was free to negotiate with other teams.

    When asked about the fact that Speed had a contract through the 2011 season, plus options, Frye pointed out that his contract also had a performance clause that relieved RBR from financial responsibility past the 2010 season if he doesn’t finish in the top 16 of the Sprint Cup driver’s standings. He in fact, finished 30th this year.

    Scott Speed’s numbers, as a RBR development driver, started strong in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2008. He made 16 starts in the series while compiling one win, four top five finishes, nine top tens along with an average finish ratio of 13. During the 2009 season he moonlighted in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, in addition to his Sprint Cup schedule, where he scored eight top ten finishes with an average finish of 14.3.

    But somehow his Sprint Cup numbers never materialized to the level RBR was hoping for. Many observers felt Speed should have spent an additional year in NASCAR’s truck and Nationwide series before moving to the top level. From 2008 to 2010 Speed had 76 official Sprint Cup starts. He only netted one top five finish, three top tens and had an average finish ratio of 27.2. In these modern times those type of numbers often forces team management to consider making a change.

    Following the progress of this lawsuit is going to be rather interesting. It’s certainly true that the timing of his dismissal has made it virtually impossible for Speed to find a quality ride in any one of NASCAR’s series for next year. His belief that RBR did not properly provide the funding for his team to be competitive is also rather eye opening. But the real point of contention here could turn out to be his contract for 2011, plus the subsequent two year option, versus RBR’s claim that the contract has a performance clause.

  • Testing Daytona Pavement A Familiar Task For the Wood Brothers

    More than 50 years after Glen Wood and his 1958 Ford Fairlane No. 21 tried out the pavement on the then-new Daytona International Speedway, the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion with Trevor Bayne behind the wheel will test the brand new asphalt on the historic track.

    Bayne and the Wood Brothers are among 18 drivers and teams that are set to participate in a Goodyear tire test on Dec. 15-16.

    This week’s test is the first time that race cars have run at speed on the track since the track was repaved for just the second time ever.

    Team co-owner Eddie Wood said he’s particularly proud that his team is among the participants.

    “Anything that’s brand new is exciting,” he said. “And it’s special for us because our dad drove on the new asphalt in 1959, when the track was built, and here we are all these years later running at Daytona with a 2011 Ford Fusion and the same number 21.”

    Wood also said he and his team are looking forward to working with Bayne as he adjusts to driving a Sprint Cup car on Daytona’s high banks. Bayne’s only previous experience at the Cup level came at Texas Motor Speedway in November when he finished an impressive 17th in the Wood Brothers’ Ford Fusion.

    “This will be a good chance for us to work together with Trevor and get to know each other better,” Wood said.

    The Wood Brothers and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion will make their official return to the track in February with the 53rd running of the Daytona 500.

  • Questions, Answers and Conundrums from the SpeedwayMedia Mailbag

    Questions, Answers and Conundrums from the SpeedwayMedia Mailbag

    The 2010 NASCAR season is officially over, well, except for some suspensions and probations issued over the past year. Those are not officially over until December 31st. That’s a whole different article.

    Wire services, official press releases and even news around the sport has slowed to a trickle. It is officially the off season in NASCAR.

    Sitting at my desk admiring the most recent construction of another cobweb, I decided it was time to do some digging through the Speedway Media mailbag.

    The mailbag at Speedway Media isn’t exactly like traditional mailbags, actually, it’s more like a large round Tupperware bowl that’s so worn out it stopped burping years ago.

    Once in a while the staff writers take turns reading and responding to the miniscule amount of fan letters, questions and even occasional suggestions that almost never pour in.

    After spending a few hours of reading and a little consternation, I came across four letters I thought were relevant, topical, well thought out, and begged to be answered.

    Honestly, there were only four letters in the bowl and I needed at least 500 words for this article, so I thought I would just answer them all.

    Mary Anne from Mobile writes:
    Dear Speedway Media: Do you think Jimmie Johnson will win his fifth championship in a row this year?
    Well Mary Anne as you can see it’s been a while since we checked the mail bag. Jimmie Johnson did in fact win his fifth championship in a row this year. Since there is not much change scheduled for next year in the Chase system or in NASCAR, Johnson is certainly the favorite to occupy the podium again.

    Karl from Kalamazoo writes:
    Dear Speedway Media: Has Hendrick Motorsports found a sponsor for Kasey Kahne in 2012 yet?
    Karl, that’s a very good question. As of right now there have been no announcements of any sponsorship deals for Kahne beyond 2011. Given the most recent turn of events at HMS; swapping crews in the middle of a race and a multitude of personnel changes after the final race, except for JJ and Knaus, it’s quite possible a sponsor like Manpower Temporary Services would be best suited for Kahne in 2012.

    Louise from Lubbock writes:
    Dear Speedway Media: Why is Dale Earnhardt Jr. once again NASCAR’s most popular driver? Shouldn’t Jimmie Johnson’s five championships in a row make him the most popular driver?
    Louise I am surprised you are the only one who has asked this question. Johnson has won quite a few awards over the past couple of years, including Athlete of the Year.

    Even though he has won five championships in a row, the answer to your question has two parts and is quite simple.
    First: Dale Earnhardt Jr. gets more attention for not winning than Johnson does for winning.

    Second: Everyone likes Jr.

    Speaking of Jr. and not winning, Robert from Richmond writes:
    Dear Speedway Media: Do you think Dale Earnhardt Jr. will extend his contract with Hendrick Motor Sports?
    Thanks for the question Robert. I doubt it will happen by the end of this year, but who knows, this year has had its share of strange events.

    Macy’s fired Santa Claus, Urban Meyer abruptly resigned, Auburn went undefeated, and Joe Nemechek actually ran a full race.

    The marriage between Rick Hendrick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. started off as traditional as unions go. Hendrick brought money, Earnhardt brought his name along with some extra baggage of a cousin. It was consummated quickly with a Duel win at Daytona.

    Since then there hasn’t been much bliss. Hendrick has tried to keep the romance going by supplying Jr. with new equipment and even a new crew chief. It still didn’t seem to be enough. So once again Jr. is getting another new crew chief and also moving in with Jimmie Johnson.

    The move with Johnson could be strategic, or a veiled attempt at marriage counseling.

    I doubt that Hendrick and Earnhardt Jr. will get a divorce at the end of 2012, but it’s possible a trial separation is in their future. This would give both of parties a chance at finding what they did or didn’t have during their union.

    That’s all for this edition of Speedway Mailbag.

    Feel free to send your questions, comments and suggestions to mailbag@speedwaymedia.com.

    Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect opinions of the management.

  • Meet Jimmie Johnson’s Chase Kryptonite: Texas Motor Speedway

    Meet Jimmie Johnson’s Chase Kryptonite: Texas Motor Speedway

    After winning his fifth straight Sprint Cup Series championship or even back to when he won his fourth, Jimmie Johnson likes to make it known that each championship season is different.

    “It is a different year, a different Chase,” said Johnson during the contender’s press conference before Homestead. “I kind of think every year is different for that matter. I know the last four years we’ve had the same result. But every year, every championship battle has had its own little quirks to it.”

    [media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignleft” width=”300″][/media-credit]While the road to the title may go through the same 10 tracks in the Chase and the same 36 tracks that circle the country, how the championship is won is different. Johnson has come from behind and he’s dominated to win it.

    Whether it was battling Carl Edwards, Mark Martin or Denny Hamlin or even the style of racecars – from twisted sister to half a season with the COT, to a full season of the COT then changes from the wing to the spoiler – nothing stays the same.

    The last three seasons however, Johnson has seen one constant which threw an obstacle in his way: Texas Motor Speedway.

    Like most tracks the Sprint Cup Series visits, his statistics at the 1.5-mile track in Forth Worth, TX are worth noting. He’s led laps, finished well and has even won before.

    Since the win, which came in November of 2007, Johnson hasn’t performed to standard at Texas. That’s in the Chase events, the spring races have been nothing short of Johnson perfection. In nine spring races, Johnson’s results: sixth, eighth, ninth, third, 11th, 38th, second, second, and second.

    But, back to the Chase, a time when the 48 is at their best, Texas has been their Achilles heel. A year after their win, Johnson went to Texas and ran embarrassingly. Carl Edwards, whom he was battling for the championship with, and, who won the race, lapped him early.

    Johnson and team struggled from the beginning with the handling of the car and never got their lap back. In a rare occurrence, Johnson didn’t even lead a lap in the race and wound up finishing 15th.

    “It’s like getting kicked in the balls over and over. That sucked,” Johnson said afterwards. In the end it wasn’t enough to keep Johnson from winning his third straight championship.

    November of 2009, what many thought was unimaginable, happened: Johnson wrecked. Not only did he wreck, he wrecked in a Chase race.

    On lap three Johnson jumped to the outside of Sam Hornish Jr., who was hit by David Reutimann. Hornish was sent sideways into Johnson, causing the 48 to start spinning and come back down the track where hit Hornish and then the inside wall.

    To the garage Johnson went where crew members from every Hendrick Motorsports team came to the aid to repair his mangled Chevrolet. The work was enough to send Johnson back to the track where he was able to finish (38th) but with valuable points. Again though, he didn’t lead a lap.

    Afterwards Johnson said, “I don’t think I could have done anything different. 77 lost it. I wish he could have waited a few more laps before he lost control of his car.”

    Three months after the incident, when the NSCS hit media day in Daytona, the now four-time champion still wasn’t happy. Johnson ripped into Hornish saying, “The guy I wouldn’t want to learn from would be Sam Hornish. He hits way to much stuff, including me.”

    Johnson was also miffed that Hornish hadn’t called to apologize or say anything about the wreck. When asked, Hornish said Reutimann had called him to take the blame but Hornish wasn’t going to reach out to someone that was mad at him.

    When Johnson continued his assault, Hornish said it surprised him and that, “Jimmie’s had ample opportunity to look at the tape.”

    For the second year in a row, Texas had shaken up the Chase. Should the speedway need a new slogan, they should jump on the fact that they know how to produce championship drama and have made it three years in a row where the championship was almost lost there.

    The 2010 AAA 500 was more than Denny Hamlin winning and Johnson having to swap pit crews. The 48 team again showed up to the Lone Star state off of their game, betraying Johnson’s confidence heading into the weekend.

    “Texas and Phoenix have been really good tracks and we’ve always raced well at those racetracks,” he said.

    In the first three practice sessions Johnson never ended a session higher than ninth and he qualified 17th. On Sunday evening of raceday he ran between eighth and 15th, again fighting the handling of the car and fighting pit road.

    Pit road selections saw Hamlin’s team, winners of the pit crew challenge, pitting the 11 car in front of the 48. Stop after stop Johnson was beaten off pit road and suffered slow stops by his team.

    His finish wasn’t as bad at 2008 and 2009, he finished ninth and led one lap on a green flag pit stop, but it was enough to lose the point lead. Leaving Texas with two races to go, Johnson sat 33 markers behind Hamlin.

    Oh the Chase drama at night is big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas!

    The latest drama has been thought to be the biggest. Championship was over, Hamlin had Johnson down and almost out. It was an unfamiliar and unwanted territory for Johnson.

    “It sucks,” he said. “I don’t want to be there. Every year feels different being here this late in the game. We all know how special a run we’ve been on and how rare it is in sports period … I know I’m down and I need to get back on top.”

    Back on top he was two weeks later for a fifth title.

    For three years Texas came close to crowning a new champion and while it didn’t, Texas did set up dramatic Chase conclusions. Texas has also shown that Johnson and company are human even if the past five years have had many watching them do inhuman things.

    With three straight second place finishes in the spring Texas race, what has made the Chase race slow him down? As Johnson has faltered at Texas, drivers he was battling for in the Chase won two of those three races.

    The best news for the competition is that Texas will again be in the Chase in 2011 as 42 drivers again try to dethrone Johnson. All of which is helping  Texas quickly become the Chase race you don’t want to miss.

  • Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Reality Is, Races Are Run on the Track, Not at the Shop

    Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Reality Is, Races Are Run on the Track, Not at the Shop

    For the second straight season, Hendrick Motorsports team owner Rick Hendrick, was able to keep the fans as well as the media right where he likes them, poking around his organizations race shops looking for the hottest story to finish off the year.

    We already know one the hottest stories to come out from behind the doors of one of NASCAR’s most decorated organizations is Jimmie Johnson’s record setting fifth straight championship in-a-row.

    It’s not hard to see that most of the fans are still trying to convince themselves that somehow NASCAR got it all wrong by allowing such a travesty to enter the sport by way of a fiasco called the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship.

    [media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]Even though Johnson walked away the big winner for the fifth straight year, the biggest question to come out of the HMS camp during the season was the poor showing by NASCAR’s most popular driver again.

    No other driver received the amount of publicity for such a poor season then the son of one of the true legends of the sport, Dale Earnhardt Jr.

    Question after question was posted, along with many fictional answers as to why this 36 year-old driver from Kannapolis, North Carolina has not been able to perform according to their standards.

    These standards are what every NASCAR fan hopes their favorite driver can achieve, but unfortunately, not all drivers are capable of reaching them, whether it be because of talent, skill, heart, desire, equipment or whatever excuse will be placed upon them.

    Excuses have become second nature whenever Earnhardt’s fans have tried to justify or explain why he is having trouble with an organization that is said to have the best equipment in the sport.

    How many organizations can boast of having a four-time, along with a five-time champion, on the same team?

    Wasn’t it just last season when a 50 year-old driver by the name of Mark Martin, who was driving in his first season with the organization won five races, along with finishing second in the points behind cup champion Jimmie Johnson?

    Martin just about stole the headlines away from Johnson towards the end of the season, but the big story was the signing of IZOD IndyCar Series star Danica Patrick, only a few days after NASCAR’s season ending awards banquet.

    The signing of Patrick took the focus off of Johnson’s fourth championship, when a legion of doubters began flooding the NASCAR social sites explaining why the GoDaddy.com poster girl should not be allowed to race in NASCAR’s second tier series.

    Marketing has always been the cornerstone of this great sport of ours, and it’s no wonder that Mr. Hendrick has made it one of his key ingredients when it comes to building a successful organization.

    After all, when you look back to Earnhardt’s last three seasons with the organization, the majority of the fans began putting him into the same category as Patrick with the moniker that Hendrick only hired him because of his popularity.

    Now, whether it is true or not has yet to be proven, especially after Hendrick heard the cry from the fans and replaced Earnhardt’s long time crew chief Tony Eury Jr. with Lance McGrew.

    It wouldn’t take long before Earnhardt’s fans would begin questioning whether McGrew was the right man for the job, and once again, the focus of Earnhardt’s poor results would be back in the hands of his crew chief.

    So when Hendrick made the announcement at the end of the season that Earnhardt would be getting Gordon’s crew chief Steve Letarte to start the 2011 campaign, along switching the shops of the 24 and 88 teams, almost immediately Earnhardt’s legion of fans went into a frenzy saying this should be the move that puts their driver back in victory lane.

    Now from a marketing standpoint, it made all the sense in the world, especially when you are dealing with the sport’s most popular driver and part of the focus being on keeping his fans happy.

    Changing shops is not the answer to the problems which Earnhardt has faced since coming on board with HMS in 2008, and when you think about it the only difference is the car number sitting next to his.

    Earnhardt will be working with a new group of team members, which will be led by his new crew chief Steve Letarte.

    Sharing a race shop with five-time champion Jimmie Johnson will not make him a better driver, nor will it help the team since each driver has their own driving style and set-ups which they prefer.

    When looking back to 2002, when Johnson first came into the series, Gordon’s best season was in 2007 when he finished second in the point standings, with six wins while sharing the same shop with Johnson.

    Gordon, who has proven to be a more experienced driver than Earnhardt, missed only one chase appearance in 2005, which happened to be the same year Steve Letarte took over for Robbie Loomis with 10 races left in the season.

    Gordon would add an additional 10 wins, 78 top-five and 114 top-10 finishes in 190 starts with LeTarte as his crew chief, but in the end would only pick-up one win in the last three seasons which is way below Gordon’s standards.

    “Five years is a long opportunity, and I had an opportunity to get him there, and we came close a few years but we never got there completely,” said Letarte who will not be back with Gordon next season.

    Letarte also added that, “I’m definitely disappointed in that. … I’m a crew chief in this sport because of Jeff Gordon, and Rick Hendrick.”

    Letarte knows he will have his hands full next season and the task at hand will not be an easy one, especially when you’re talking about a driver who means so much to the sport.

    “I was excited for the opportunity. I was humbled. It’s a very important task for this company, for Dale Jr., for the sport, and I take it as that. I was very proud that I was the guy tagged for that. I’m excited, and I’m ready to go,” said Letarte when talking about the move to the No. 88 team.

    Whether or not the changes will be beneficial to Earnhardt is a question mark that will be answered once the 2011 season begins, even though in the minds of the purist races are run on the track and not in the shop.

    As far as Earnhardt’s fans are concerned, they need to realize a four-time champion encountered his own problems while sharing a shop with Johnson, and it’s not the shop that makes the driver, even though Earnhardt feels otherwise:

    “I needed this to happen. Hopefully, this will get me back to winning races, running in the top five and running in the top 10.” said Earnhardt of the change.

    Earnhardt also added, “The only person that can truly help me get where I need to go starts with me, then it goes to Rick, Steve [Letarte] and those guys in your inner circle every week and in your corner every week.”

    How many crew chiefs will it take to get Earnhardt back into victory lane is anyone’s guess, but the answer may be plain and simple in the eyes of NASCAR’s most popular driver:

    “My biggest problem, I think, is my confidence,”

  • Robert Yates Racing Back in Motorsports Headlines as NASCAR SPEC Engine Supplier

    Robert Yates Racing Back in Motorsports Headlines as NASCAR SPEC Engine Supplier

    After being eatten up through a merger with Richard Petty Motorsports and not even spoken about, Robert Yates Racing is back in the motorsports headlines.

    NASCAR announced today that Robert Yates Racing Engines will be the exclusive supplier of the NASCAR SPEC engines in the SPEC engine program.

    [media-credit name=”Getty Images” align=”alignleft” width=”300″][/media-credit]The program provides teams with the opportunity to buy the NASCAR-Approved SPEC engine from Robert Yates Racing Engines, a racing engine and parts company owned by Robert Yates and Chris Davy, pre-assembled or as a kit and have their own designated engine builder perform the assembly.

    “The SPEC engine program has clearly established itself as a competitive, economical alternative for many of our teams,” said Richard Buck, NASCAR director of touring series, in a press release. “As the sport works to establish ways to better manage costs, the option to be able to run the SPEC engine has provided additional teams the opportunity to run in more races and be competitive.”

    The engine, which was introduced in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series in 2006 as an optional means for managing costs and providing teams with additional opportunities to compete, is also available for use in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tours, and the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. It is also an option for NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams at select tracks.

    “We’re excited to be part of NASCAR’s on-going efforts to provide affordable alternatives for racers throughout this sport,” said Robert Yates, the former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion car owner and engine builder. “Since its debut, the SPEC engine has clearly proven its worth under the rigor of competition. We look forward continuing with the same high-level of service, engine power and quality.”

    The SPEC engine achieved tremendous success with Wegner Motorsports, which served as exclusive supplier from 2007-2009. Wegner is diversifying its business and will continue to produce engines for various forms of motorsports and support RYRE through the transition period.

    “I am happy to have been involved with the NASCAR SPEC engine from its inception,” said Carl Wegner. “I will still be available to Robert Yates Racing Engines to help in the transition of this great program. I wish nothing but continued success to NASCAR and the SPEC engine program.”

    Robert Yates Racing was formed in 1988 after Yates purchased the assets of Ranier-Lundy and started the team with Davey Allison, who had been with Ranier-Lundy at the time.

    Through the years, Yates had drivers like Allison, Ernie Irvan, Kenny Wallace, Dale Jarrett, Ricky Rudd and Elliott Sadler behind the wheel

    Robert Yates Racing Engines are best known for the years where they dominated Daytona International Speedway with Dale Jarrett behind the wheel.

    A losing battle to find sponsorship, find the right combination and lack of funds forced them to merge with RPM in 2009.

  • POCONO RACEWAY SOLAR FARM HITS MILESTONE – One Million Kilowatt Hours of Electricity Produced

    Long Pond, PA….December 9, 2010…. Today, less than four months since energy production began at Pocono Raceway’s solar farm, the total amount of electricity produced by the 25 acre facility reached the 1,000,000 kilowatt hour (kWh) mark. The solar installation consists of 39,960 American made photovoltaic modules that will produce more than 72 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy over the next 20 years. The environmental attributes associated with the system will offset more than 3,100 Metric Tons of carbon dioxide annually and will generate enough power to provide the electricity needs for over 1,000 homes beyond the power needs of Pocono Raceway.

    “This is an important milestone for Pocono Raceway,” said Brandon Igdalsky, Raceway President. “Pocono Raceway strongly believes in the commitment to operate in a more environmentally responsible way and is proud to be the first race track to power our sport with clean, renewable sunlight making it the world’s largest solar-powered sports facility. This solar power system, built with timber, steel and solar panels made in the U.S., satisfies all the Raceway’s energy needs, while helping to power local homes. This project demonstrates real sustainability and proves that any business that truly wants to go green, can do it.”

    The 1,000,000 (kWh) produced has already impacted the environment. The total energy generated equals the use of 5,705 light bulbs (60W) for one year at eight hours per day and represents a savings of 80,984 gallons of gasoline with a carbon dioxide (CO2) offset equaling that of 18,010 trees. The Raceway has been awarded a number of environmental awards for its sustainable energy efforts. To see what the Pocono Raceway solar farm is producing real-time go to www.poconoraceway.com .

    The Pocono Raceway solar farm is located along Long Pond Road adjacent to Pocono Raceway’s storied two and one-half mile Super Speedway. Pocono is the host of two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekends each summer. The 30th annual Pocono 500 is scheduled for June 10-12. The 38th annual Pennsylvania is set for August 5-7. For ticket information visit: www.poconoraceway.com or call toll free 1-800-RACEWAY (1-800-722-3929)