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  • NASCAR is Bringing Back the ‘Heat’

    NASCAR is Bringing Back the ‘Heat’

    CONCORD, N.C. — As part of bringing back the “Heat,” one driver from the Toyota camp will grace the cover of the next NASCAR game based on tomorrow’s race.

    Dusenberry Martin Racing announced today that the highest finishing Toyota driver in tomorrow night’s Sprint All-Star Race will be featured on the cover of NASCAR Heat Evolution. They unveiled some mock covers with all four of the Joe Gibbs Racing drivers and Martin Truex Jr. of Furniture Row Racing. Carl Edwards was among one of the artist rendering covers.

    “I’m sitting here thinking of how strange this is for all of these things to converge,” Edwards said of the possibility of gracing the cover of the game. “As a race car driver right now at this point in my life and my career I’m out here in the All-Star event racing for a million dollars that Sprint put up and all of the stuff that goes along with it but growing up my only opportunity to drive a stock car like the one I drive now in reality was through video games. So, I played a ton of video games and I really loved driving games so it’s almost surreal to have the opportunity in my real capacity as a race car driver now to be driving for the opportunity to be on the cover of a video game that if a couple things hadn’t worked out that would be the closest I’d ever got to NASCAR.

    “So, it’s really neat, it’s an honor and I don’t think anyone has every partnered in the way Toyota has with a video game licensee and manufacturer the way they have. It’s just a cool opportunity and the game sounds really neat so I look forward to the opportunity to play it. It would be crazy to be on the cover. I hope I’m on it. It’s neat for you guys to have me be a part of this because truly I had so much fun growing up, and I still do, with the video game stuff. It’s such a neat way for the fans to experience our sport. We have a very rare sport or opportunity that’s rare in the sport because the drivers, the participants, all we do is we push the throttle pedals and we turn the steering wheel and people through video game technology experience that as close as any fans can experience any sport because of the simulation properties that you guys are so good at. It’s cool, it’s fun.”

    DM Racing will release the first official NASCAR game for the “next generation” of gaming console (XBOX 1 and Playstation 4) with NASCAR Heat Evolution on September 13, 2016. Being developed by Monster Games, who also made NASCAR Heat and NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona, it seeks to get back to the franchise’s roots with a thrilling racing experience for pros and rookies alike.

    It features all 23 tracks on the Sprint Cup Series schedule with all 36 races as well. It also includes every driver in the Sprint Cup Series right now. It’s unknown if the game will contain any of the classic cheat codes like “shooting tires” and enlarge tires with miniature car bodies.

  • Hendrick Family Foundation to launch with annual ‘Learn Live Hope’ event

    Hendrick Family Foundation to launch with annual ‘Learn Live Hope’ event

    CONCORD, N.C. (May 19, 2016) – Rick and Linda Hendrick have established the not-for-profit Hendrick Family Foundation, which is rooted in the belief that people working together can transform the lives of those in need and have a meaningful impact on our communities.

    The sold out “Learn Live Hope” celebration will represent the new foundation’s first formal fundraising initiative. Scheduled for May 22 at The Fillmore in Charlotte, North Carolina, the annual charity event will benefit Be The Match, Levine Children’s Hospital and Together We Feed Charlotte. In 2015, Learn Live Hope generated more than $1.6 million to support multiple organizations.

    “The key to success in any endeavor is people,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group. “I learned that from my dad, and it’s helped guide our family and our businesses. We know that people working together can make an incredible difference for our neighbors and for our communities as a whole. It takes all of us.”

    The Hendrick Family Foundation will consolidate the philanthropic efforts of the Hendrick organization, including Hendrick Motorsports and Hendrick Automotive Group. It will absorb the Hendrick Marrow Program, which Rick Hendrick founded in 1997 and has raised more than $15 million in partnership with Be The Match to support patients in need of life-saving marrow or cord blood transplants. The Hendrick Family Foundation will continue to work with Be The Match.

    “Our family has been humbled by the support we’ve received over the years,” said Hendrick, who was diagnosed in 1996 with chronic myelogenous leukemia and has been in remission since 1999. “We have an amazing extended family that continues to inspire us with their generosity and passion for giving back. That passion motivates us every single day, and we’re excited about this next step.”

    ABOUT THE HENDRICK FAMILY FOUNDATION:
    In 2016, Rick and Linda Hendrick established the Hendrick Family Foundation, a not-for-profit private foundation rooted in the belief that people working together can improve the lives of those in need and have a meaningful impact on our communities. The foundation’s website is currently under construction atwww.HendrickFamilyFoundation.org.

    ABOUT HENDRICK AUTOMOTIVE GROUP:
    Encompassing 102 dealerships from the Carolinas to California, Hendrick Automotive Group is the largest privately held automotive retail organization in the United States. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the company employs more than 10,000 people in its dealerships, collision centers and accessories distributor installers in 14 states. For more information, please visitwww.HendrickAuto.com.

    ABOUT HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS:
    Founded by Rick Hendrick in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports has earned more than 200 race victories and a record 11 car owner championships in NASCAR’s premier division, the Sprint Cup Series. The organization fields four full-time Chevrolet teams on the Sprint Cup circuit with drivers Kasey Kahne, Chase Elliott, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Headquartered in Concord, North Carolina, Hendrick Motorsports employs more than 600 people. For more information, please visit HendrickMotorsports.com or interact on Twitter,Facebook and Instagram.

  • Future Stars Unveiled During NASCAR Next Announcement

    Future Stars Unveiled During NASCAR Next Announcement

    Three Different Countries Represented in 2016-17 Class

    DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 17, 2016) – Two are following in the footsteps of their former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driving fathers. One is a long-time racer who competed on the reality television show “Survivor,” and later added a degree from Stanford University. Another is one of the fastest rising stock car drivers in the Midwest. There is even a pair of international phenoms.

    From Charlotte to New York City, and from Quebec to Israel, the 11 drivers who were announced as the 2016-17 NASCAR Next class today are primed for a successful and impactful future in NASCAR. This is the sixth edition of NASCAR Next, an industry-wide initiative designed to spotlight to best and brightest rising young stars in racing.

    “The NASCAR Next program has introduced current stars such as Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney to the NASCAR fan, and we believe this year’s class has the same potential,” said Jill Gregory, NASCAR senior vice president of marketing and industry services. “These drivers have shown the talent and intangibles to climb the NASCAR ladder, and we look forward to watching their careers grow.”

    This year’s NASCAR Next class was selected through an evaluation process that included input from industry executives, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Drivers Council and media. Drivers must be between the ages of 15-25, have tangible and expressed goals in eventual competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and demonstrate the potential to realize that goal.

    The following drivers have been selected to the 2016-17 NASCAR Next class:

    Harrison Burton (@HBurtonRacing) – The 15-year-old from Huntersville, North Carolina, is the son of former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver, Jeff Burton. He has climbed to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series after setting the record last year as the youngest Division I race winner in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series history.

    Collin Cabre (@CollinCabre12) – In his second season driving for Rev Racing and the NASCAR Drive for Diversity in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, the 22-year-old from Tampa, Florida, captured his first career win last October after making the successful move from racing sprint cars.

    Spencer Davis (@SpencerDavis_29) – The 17-year-old Dawsonville, Georgia, driver has shown a proficiency in nearly everything he’s raced. After winning the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award last season in the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, Davis has transitioned to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, where he has established himself as a championship contender with top-six finishes in his first seven series starts dating back to last season.

    Alon Day (@Alon_Day) – One of two international drivers on the list, Day is the first NASCAR Whelen Euro Series driver to earn a NASCAR Next recognition. Day, 24, from Ashdod, Israel, completed his first full season in the Whelen Euro Series as championship runner-up. Including the final two rounds of 2015, Day has won four of the last eight Elite 1 races and is again a threat win the title.

    Tyler Dippel (@Tyler_Dippel) – An accomplished dirt racer, the 16-year-old from Wallkill, New York, has already scored his first NASCAR K&N Pro Series East victory in March. Dippel previously competed in the DIRTcar Racing Series in the northeast, earning the rookie of the year title and becoming the youngest race winner in that series.

    Todd Gilliland (@ToddGilliland_) – The son of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series veteran David Gilliland, the 16-year-old from Sherrills Ford, North Carolina, made NASCAR history by winning his first four career NASCAR K&N Pro Series starts. He became the youngest winner in series history with his victory last fall and has followed it up with wins in both the K&N Pro Series East and West season openers this year.

    Noah Gragson (@NoahGragson) – The 17-year-old from Las Vegas finished second in the championship standings last year in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, collecting the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award in the process. Gragson followed the path set by Kyle and Kurt Busch, learning his trade in the Legends and Bandolero Divisions at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He earned a pair of K&N Pro Series West wins in 2015 and is again a championship contender.

    Gary Klutt (@Garyklutt) – The second Canadian to be named to the program and the first full-time driver from the NASCAR Pinty’s Series, Klutt represents a crop of young drivers making an impact on Canada’s championship stock car series. The 23-year-old from Halton Hills, Ontario, earned his first career pole and win last year en route to being named the Jostens Rookie of the Year. He finished fifth in series points and will be among the title contenders when the series opens later this month.

    Julia Landauer (@julialandauer) – Landauer, 24, from New York City, got her start racing a variety of cars – from Formula BMW to Ford Focus Midgets to stock cars. The versatile Landauer was a contestant on the hit reality show ‘Survivor’ before graduating from Stanford in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Science, Technology, and Society. She became the first female to win a Limited Late Model division championship at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Virginia, last year before graduating to the K&N Pro Series West this season.

    Ty Majeski (@TyMajeski) – The 21-year-old from Seymour, Wisconsin, showcased his ability with a dominating display at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway in February, collecting three wins and earning the 2016 Super Late Model championship in the 50th Annual World Series of Stock Car Racing. Majeski added a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model track record and victory in the FrostBuster at Wisconsin’s LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway in April.

    Matt Tifft (@Matt_Tifft) – A development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, the 19-year-old from Hinckley, Ohio, is driving part-time in the NASCAR XFINITY Series for JGL Racing as well as JGR, and racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for Red Horse Racing. He earned his first career pole in the NASCAR XFINITY Series at Talladega earlier this month.

    Since its inception in 2011, 27 of the 35 drivers who have been selected as part of the program have gone on to compete in one of NASCAR’s three national series. Nearly a third of the drivers have made a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start, with nine drivers winning a NASCAR national series race.

    The last two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sunoco Rookies of the Year have been NASCAR Next alum, as are the top two contenders for this year’s award: Blaney and Elliott. The last three Sunoco Rookie of the Year winners in both the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series were also part of the NASCAR Next program.

    For more information, visit NASCARNext.com and make sure to follow the drivers on Twitter and on the track.

    About NASCAR

    The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States. NASCAR consists of three national series (the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™, NASCAR XFINITY Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), four regional series, one local grassroots series and three international series. The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit http://www.NASCAR.com and http://www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

     

  • Chance at ‘perfect season’ for Mercedes ruined on opening lap

    Chance at ‘perfect season’ for Mercedes ruined on opening lap

    What had been a “perfect season” for Mercedes turned into a disaster on the opening lap of today’s race in Spain.

    After locking up the front row in qualifying, the Spanish Grand Prix had the makings of another runaway race dominated either by Lewis Hamilton or Nico Rosberg. On the initial start, Rosberg got off the line better and drove by Hamilton on the outside to take the lead in turn 1. Hamilton pulled back up to his teammate exiting turn 3 and dove to the bottom to make the pass going into turn 4.

    Rosberg moved down to block his advance and he ran onto the grass. Hamilton lost control of his car, spun out, crashed into the back of Rosberg and sent both of them into the sand trap.

    Toto Wolff, executive director of Mercedes AMG Petronas, said that Hamilton and Rosberg were “both upset for themselves and the team. They were both apologetic to the team. We lost a potential one-two, lost 43 points. It was just thrown away.”

    In response to whether Hamilton or Rosberg were fully to blame for the incident, Wolff said “No. It was a very difficult situation and difficult to analyze. There was not a clear cut thing. Coming out of the corner, Nico closed up the door, and then Lewis went on the grass. Definitely not 100% for one and zero for the other.”

    Niki Lauda, three-time world champion and non-executive chairman of Mercedes, laid the blame largely on Hamilton.

    “Lewis was too aggressive,” Lauda said after the crash. For both to be out after two corners is completely unacceptable.”

    Despite the wreck, Rosberg leaves Barcelona as the championship leader. Reigning world champion Hamilton fell to third with a 43-point deficit on his teammate.

    Neither driver has to leave his current residence for the next race, as Formula 1 heads to the streets of Monte Carlo. Rosberg goes into Monaco having won the last three races in one of the crown jewel races of the sport and not having finished worse than second in the last four.

  • Max Verstappen makes history in Spain

    Max Verstappen makes history in Spain

    Max Verstappen, in only his second year of competition, made history in his maiden ride with Red Bull and  took to the top step of the podium in Barcelona.

    Working on a two-stop strategy, the driver of the No. 33 Red Bull Racing car held off a hard charging Kimi Räikkönen for over 20 laps to score the victory in the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. At 18 years, seven months and 16 days old, Verstappen displaced Sebastian Vettel as the youngest winner in Formula 1 history.

    “It feels amazing,” Verstappen said. “I can’t believe it. It was a great race. I have to say thank you to the team for giving me such a great car. To win straight away in the first race, it’s an amazing feeling.”

    Verstappen, who had never turned a lap in a car for RBR, took over the ride formerly occupied by Daniil Kvyat after the Russian Grand Prix.

    Räikkönen brought his No. 7 Scuderia Ferrari home to a runner-up finish. Vettel rounded out the podium in his No. 5 Ferrari. Daniel Ricciardo, who led most of the race, brought his No. 3 RBR car home fourth in spite of a tire puncture with two laps remaining. Valtteri Bottas rounded out the top-five in his No. 77 Williams-Martini Mercedes.

    Carlos Sainz Jr. finished sixth in his No. 55 Scuderia Toro Rosso Ferrari. Sergio Pérez finished seventh in his No. 11 Sahara Force India Mercedes. Felipe Massa, after failing to advance out of Q1 the day before, finished eighth in his No. 19 Williams Mercedes. Jenson Button finished ninth in his No. 22 McLaren-Honda. After being relegated to the sister Toro Rosso team, Kvyat brought his No. 26 car home to a 10th-place finish.

    As for the Haas F1 Team, Esteban Gutiérrez finished 11th in his No. 21 car and Romain Grosjean exited the race with less than 16 laps remaining and finished unclassified. As of the publishing of this piece, no reason was given for Grosjean’s retirement.

    Championship leaders Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton were involved in a lap 1 wreck that took both of them out going into turn 4. As of the publishing of this piece, no actions have been taken by the stewards.

    Rosberg leaves Barcelona with the championship lead. Räikkönen leap-frogged Hamilton for second and tails Rosberg by 39 points. Hamilton trails by 43. Vettel and Ricciardo leave tied for fourth trailing by 52. Race winner Verstappen leaves sixth trailing by 62.

    The next race on the Formula 1 calendar is the Grand Prix of Monaco on May 29.

  • M&M’S® Racing Gives Kyle Busch a Sweet New Number

    M&M’S® Racing Gives Kyle Busch a Sweet New Number

    NASCAR® Champion Replaces No. 18 with No. 75 to Celebrate M&M’S® 75th Anniversary

    HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (May 13, 2016) – When it’s your birthday, you wear something special… especially when celebrating your 75thbirthday. In honor of M&M’S® 75th anniversary, NASCAR® champion Kyle Busch’s No. 18 Toyota will be sporting a new number, No. 75, at the NASCAR® Sprint All-Star Race in Charlotte on Saturday, May 21. The number change is part of a season-long celebration for the brand that kicked off with a birthday party at the DAYTONA 500 in February.

    The new number is for one non-points race only, so fans don’t have to worry about replacing their favorite No. 18 Toyota apparel or keepsakes. They can, however, continue to share their favorite M&M’S® racing memory on lap 75 of every M&M’S® NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race using #MMS75. Fans who use #contest in their post will also have the chance to win M&M’S Racing gear*.

    “NASCAR® fans have been enthusiastic all season about the M&M’S® 75th Anniversary, so we’re excited to continue the celebration by changing Kyle’s racecar from the No. 18 to No. 75,” said Tanya Berman, Director, M&M’S Brand®. “It has been an amazing 75 years for the M&M’S® brand and this year not only allows us look back at our accomplishments, but forward as well to our exciting future.”

    “We’ve had fun all season celebrating M&M’S® birthday with our fans – there has been a lot to celebrate since their big year comes right after our incredible championship,” said Kyle Busch, 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion and driver of the No. 18 M&M’S® 75thAnniversary Toyota. “For us the best part has been reading our fans’ favorite M&M’S® racing memories, and hopefully with our success so far this season, we’ve been able to make a few more.”

    To learn more about M&M’S® Racing and the M&M’S 75th Anniversary, visit them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MMSRacing.

  • Osborne Named First Quarter NMPA/Pocono Spirit Award Recipient

    Osborne Named First Quarter NMPA/Pocono Spirit Award Recipient

    DARLINGTON, S.C. – Chris Osborne, spotter for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Matt Kenseth, has been named the first quarter recipient of the National Motorsports Press Association’s Pocono Spirit Award.

    The award recognizes character and achievement in the face of adversity, as well as sportsmanship and contributions to motorsports.

    Osborne, who also works as a spotter for driver Daniel Suarez in NASCAR’s XFINITY Series (JGR) and the Camping World Truck Series (Kyle Busch Motorsports), suffered a compound fracture of his right leg when he and his family were hit head-on by another driver on Dec. 17, 2015.

    Osborne’s wife Melissa and son Austin also suffered significant injuries.

    Although he had originally hoped to return to his spotter duties when the season got underway at Daytona International Speedway in February, Osborne was not cleared to return to work until the series traveled to Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in April for the Sprint Cup Series’ sixth points event.

    Osborne told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that it had been “a lot of tough days and nights and healing,” prior to his Martinsville arrival. “The mindset was to get back at Daytona, but the physical part of it and the reality was, there just wasn’t enough healing time,” he said.

    “Definitely good to have him back, not just from a selfish standpoint but from a performance standpoint as well … to see him get back and be able to do that was good,” Kenseth said following Osborne’s Martinsville return.

    Osborne received approximately 80 percent of the votes cast by the NMPA membership. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Kevin Harvick and Jimmie Johnson also received votes for the first-quarter award.

    Members of the NMPA select quarterly recipients as well as an overall winner each year. The award is sponsored by Pocono (Pa.) Raceway and has been presented annually since 1992.

     

  • Dave Blaney Injured in Qualifying Crash at World Of Outlaws Event At Eldora Speedway

    Dave Blaney Injured in Qualifying Crash at World Of Outlaws Event At Eldora Speedway

    UPDATE: May 6, 2016 11:30 p.m.
    Dave was released from the hospital tonight. Will send further updates tomorrow.

    ROSSBURG, Ohio (May 6, 2016) – Dave Blaney, driver of the Motter Equipment Mohawk Northeast Beltline Body Shop 71M sprint car, was injured in a qualifying accident during the World of Outlaws #LetsRaceTwo at Eldora Speedway.

    Blaney had completed the first of two laps and was fourth fastest (14.493) in the second flight of qualifying. As he began his second lap, the car made hard contact with the wall between turns one and two followed by multiple flips. He was extricated from the car by the track safety crew and transported by ambulance to a local hospital.

    Dan Motter, team owner, accompanied Blaney in the ambulance. At the hospital, emergency personnel performed a CT scan that revealed no breaks or fractures. Blaney was sore but was able to sit up. He was admitted to the hospital overnight for observation.

    We will have updates as warranted.

    “I know Dave joins in thanking all the fans, friends, and media for the tremendous outpouring of love tonight,” said Motter. “It was a scary crash. We want to thank the track safety crew for taking care to extricate him from the car. We are very grateful to all.”

  • New NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Format Ignites the Night at Charlotte Motor Speedway

    New NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Format Ignites the Night at Charlotte Motor Speedway

    • 2016 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race format to include three segments of 50, 50 and 13 laps; New format highlights aggressive driving skill, cohesive teamwork and meticulous tire strategy
    • Sprint Showdown format updated to three segments of 20, 20 and 10 laps; three segment winners, Sprint Fan Vote winner advance to NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race
    • Frontstretch tickets for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, including no-speed-limit pit stop qualifying and a free pre-race Andy Grammer concert, start at just two for $99 and can be purchased online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3627)

    CONCORD, N.C. (May 6, 2016) – Charlotte Motor Speedway will host a new, thrilling format for the May 21 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, the biggest all-star event in all of sports, that will see the brightest stars in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series dueling for 113 laps to decide the winner of a $1 million prize.

    The unique format for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race includes two 50-lap segments with mandatory green-flag pit stops destined to shuffle the field. It all culminates with a 13-lap trophy dash that promises to deliver breathtaking racing, with a wrinkle sure to add intrigue.

    Prior to the start of the final segment, a random draw will decide whether the top nine, 10 or 11 cars will enter pit road for a mandatory four-tire pit stop. The rest will stay out on older tires and lead the field to green for the final segment. Cars with four new tires will line up behind those with older tires. It all adds up to a gripping fight-to-the-front finish for $1 million.

    “We worked with NASCAR and talked to several drivers to gather feedback for what they thought would make the very best race for the fans,” Charlotte Motor Speedway President and General Manager Marcus Smith said.

    “The drivers don’t all agree on the perfect strategy, which means some drivers will be fighting on race-worn tires to stay up front at the end, while others will be charging through the field on new tires after the final pit stop. At the end of the final shootout, one driver will have a million reasons why ‘13’ is a lucky number.”

    The new format is a throwback to the early years of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, when longer segments put more racing in the drivers’ hands, while the final 13-lap sprint offers the thrill of the unknown as teams battle to the front on fresh tires. The 2016 rules package for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, which has provided two of the closest margins of victory in NASCAR history so far this season, also lends itself favorably to the updated format.

    “The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race has always been a special race for our sport and I believe this year’s format may offer up the best race to date,” said 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski, who is still seeking his first NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race victory. “I hope to be the one with a million-dollar check at the end. The last segment is sure to demand the ultimate performance. Winning the last segment will require the driver to masterfully navigate traffic and hunt down the leader, or hold off the best drivers with an ill-handling car on old tires with everything on the line.”

    “The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race has long been a fan favorite,” said NASCAR Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Jim Cassidy. “We think this year’s format will ensure one of the best all-star races to date and we can’t wait to see it play out.”

    Live coverage of the Sprint Showdown begins Friday, May 20 at 7 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will also carry the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on Saturday, May 21 beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

     

    NASCAR SPRINT ALL-STAR RACE FORMAT (MAY 21):

    • Segment 1 (50 laps): Field set determined by qualifying, mandatory green-flag pit stop for a minimum of two tires;
    • Break 1 (3-5 minutes): Mandatory pit stop with a minimum two-tire change before Segment 2;
    • Segment 2 (50 laps): Field set determined by pit-road exit, one mandatory green-flag pit stop for a minimum of two tires before lap 85;
    • Break 2 (3-5 minutes): Random draw to decide whether the top nine, 10 or 11 cars must enter pit road for a mandatory four-tire pit stop, pit road closed for all other cars, pit-road exit determines Segment 3 starting order, cars leaving pit road line up behind cars that did not pit;
    • Segment 3 (13 laps): Only green-flag laps count (NASCAR Overtime procedures apply).


    SPRINT SHOWDOWN FORMAT (MAY 20):

    • Segment 1 (20 laps): Field set by practice speed, winner advances to NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and does not continue in Showdown;
    • Segment 2 (20 laps): Field set by pit-road order after mandatory minimum two-tire pit stop, winner advances to NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and does not continue in Showdown;
    • Segment 3 (10 laps): Field set by pit-road order after mandatory minimum two–tire pit stop, winner advances to NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (NASCAR Overtime rules apply).

    ELIGIBILITY:
    Drivers who have won a race in the current or preceding year, past NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race winners, past NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions, Sprint Showdown Segment 1, 2 and last-chance qualifier winners and the Sprint Fan Vote winner are eligible to compete. The final order of the Sprint Fan Vote will fill any remaining spots until the field reaches the minimum of 20 cars. Sprint Fan Vote balloting ends prior to the Sprint Showdown on May 20.

     

    TICKETS:

    Weekend passes for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway start at just $99 and include admission to the May 20 Sprint Showdown and North Carolina Education Lottery 200, and a pre-race concert featuring triple-platinum recording artist Andy Grammer. Fans can buy tickets, race-day upgrades and camping by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3267) or shopping online atwww.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

     

    ABOUT SPRINT:

    Sprint (NYSE: S) is a communications services company that creates more and better ways to connect its customers to the things they care about most. Sprint served more than 58.8 million connections as of March 31, 2016 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; leading no-contract brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Sprint has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America for the past five years. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint andwww.twitter.com/sprint.

     

    ABOUT CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY:

    For more than 50 years, Charlotte Motor Speedway has set the standard for motorsports entertainment for fans of all ages.

    Charlotte Motor Speedway is the only race vacation destination where fans can immerse themselves in the heart of NASCAR country. Visitors can see spectacles including the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, the Coca-Cola 600 and the Bank of America 500; take speedway and race shop tours; explore the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and drive an 800-horsepower stock car.

    Charlotte Motor Speedway puts FANS FIRST with a never-ending commitment to enhance the fan experience, with unmatched value through affordable season tickets, unparalleled pre-race entertainment and more opportunities for fans to see their favorite drivers.


    ABOUT NASCAR:

    The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States. NASCAR consists of three national series (the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™, NASCAR XFINITY Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), four regional series, one local grassroots series and three international series.

    The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit http://www.NASCAR.com and http://www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (’NASCAR’).

  • NASCAR Announces 2017 National Series Schedules

    NASCAR Announces 2017 National Series Schedules

    Unprecedented Industry Collaboration Triggers NASCAR’s Earliest Schedule Release

    DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 5, 2016) – NASCAR today announced the 2017 schedules for its three national series, giving fans and stakeholders a significant head start in planning for next season’s thrilling slate.

    A credit to unprecedented industry collaboration, specifically the five-year sanctioning agreement between NASCAR and its tracks, the sanctioning body finalized its 2017 schedules months ahead of previous years’ release.

    The result: Three unique schedules featuring race tracks that have hosted record-setting races already this season, with the majority of the slate still remaining.

    A notable change in the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series schedule includes a date swap between a track that just hosted one of the most competitive races in its history, and one that will showcase the lower downforce competition package this coming weekend.

    Talladega Superspeedway, which last Sunday had the second-highest total of green flag passes for the lead ever recorded (213), will become the second race in the Round of 12 in 2017 (Oct. 15). Kansas Speedway will now become the third and final race in that round (Oct. 22).

    “Announcing the 2017 national series schedules this early in the season is another example of the collaborative spirit across the NASCAR industry,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “It is an exciting time in NASCAR, with some of the most intriguing racing we’ve seen in years. With the 2017 schedule solidified, the industry can now concentrate on the remainder of this season, while planning for the future much earlier than in previous years.”

    Texas Motor Speedway’s spring Cup race shifts to Sunday (Apr. 9), a move expected to produce great racing action like that seen after Richmond International Raceway switched to a Sunday race for the 2016 season. Other changes in the NASCAR Cup schedule include Dover International Speedway’s spring date move to June 4, a week after the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 28). Michigan International Speedway’s second race will return to its traditional early August slot, on Aug. 13.

    The NASCAR Cup Series 2017 schedule opens with The Great American Race, the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 26. The season culminates with the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 19.

    The NASCAR XFINITY Series will kick off at Daytona on Feb. 25, and crown its champion at Homestead on Saturday, Nov. 18. Its schedule features four standalone events – Iowa Speedway (July 29), Mid-Ohio (Aug. 12), Road America (Aug. 26) and Kentucky Speedway, the first event in the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase (Sept. 23). For the second consecutive season, Iowa will host a NASCAR XFINITY Series-NASCAR Camping World Truck Series companion weekend on June 23-24.

    The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series opens its season at Daytona on Feb. 24, and culminates at Homestead on Nov. 17. Five standalone races are included among the 2017 lineup: Texas Motor Speedway (June 9), Gateway Motorsports Park (June 17), Eldora Speedway (July 19), Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Aug. 27) and Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Sept. 30). The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase once again begins at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Sept. 23).

    All races will air on either the FOX or NBC family of networks, MRN, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

    See below for all three NASCAR national series schedules.

    About NASCAR
    The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States. NASCAR consists of three national series (the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™, NASCAR XFINITY Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), four regional series, one local grassroots series and three international series. The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit http://www.NASCAR.com and http://www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (’NASCAR’).

    2017 NASCAR CUP SERIES SCHEDULE

    Date Site  
    2/18 Daytona International Speedway (Unlimited)
    2/19 Daytona International Speedway (Daytona 500 Qualifying)
    2/23 Daytona International Speedway (Duel)
    2/26 Daytona 500
    3/5 Atlanta Motor Speedway
    3/12 Las Vegas Motor Speedway
    3/19 Phoenix International Raceway
    3/26 Auto Club Speedway
    4/2 Martinsville Speedway
    4/9 Texas Motor Speedway
    4/23 Bristol Motor Speedway
    4/30 Richmond International Raceway
    5/7 Talladega Superspeedway
    5/13 Kansas Speedway
    5/20 Charlotte Motor Speedway (NASCAR All-Star Race)
    5/28 Charlotte Motor Speedway
    6/4 Dover International Speedway
    6/11 Pocono Raceway
    6/18 Michigan International Speedway
    6/25 Sonoma Raceway
    7/1 Daytona International Speedway
    7/8 Kentucky Speedway
    7/16 New Hampshire Motor Speedway
    7/23 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
    7/30 Pocono Raceway
    8/6 Watkins Glen International
    8/13 Michigan International Speedway
    8/19 Bristol Motor Speedway
    9/3 Darlington Raceway
    9/9 Richmond International Raceway
    9/17 Chicagoland Speedway
    9/24 New Hampshire Motor Speedway
    10/1 Dover International Speedway
    10/7 Charlotte Motor Speedway
    10/15 Talladega Superspeedway
    10/22 Kansas Speedway
    10/29 Martinsville Speedway
    11/5 Texas Motor Speedway
    11/12 Phoenix International Raceway
    11/19 Homestead-Miami Speedway      

    SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

     

     

    2017 NASCAR XFINITY SERIES SCHEDULE

    Date Site  
    2/25 Daytona International Speedway
    3/4 Atlanta Motor Speedway
    3/11 Las Vegas Motor Speedway
    3/18 Phoenix International Raceway
    3/25 Auto Club Speedway
    4/8 Texas Motor Speedway
    4/22 Bristol Motor Speedway
    4/29 Richmond International Raceway
    5/6 Talladega Superspeedway
    5/27 Charlotte Motor Speedway
    6/3 Dover International Speedway
    6/10 Pocono Raceway
    6/17 Michigan International Speedway
    6/24 Iowa Speedway
    6/30 Daytona International Speedway
    7/7 Kentucky Speedway
    7/15 New Hampshire Motor Speedway
    7/22 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
    7/29 Iowa Speedway
    8/5 Watkins Glen International
    8/12 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
    8/18 Bristol Motor Speedway
    8/26 Road America
    9/2 Darlington Raceway
    9/8 Richmond International Raceway
    9/16 Chicagoland Speedway
    9/23 Kentucky Speedway
    9/30 Dover International Speedway
    10/6 Charlotte Motor Speedway
    10/21 Kansas Speedway
    11/4 Texas Motor Speedway
    11/11 Phoenix International Raceway
    11/18 Homestead-Miami Speedway

    SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

     

     

     

    2017 NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES SCHEDULE

    Date Site  
    2/24 Daytona International Speedway
    3/4 Atlanta Motor Speedway
    4/1 Martinsville Speedway
    5/12 Kansas Speedway
    5/19 Charlotte Motor Speedway
    6/2 Dover International Speedway
    6/9 Texas Motor Speedway
    6/17 Gateway Motorsports Park
    6/23 Iowa Speedway
    7/6 Kentucky Speedway
    7/19 Eldora Speedway
    7/29 Pocono Raceway
    8/12 Michigan International Speedway
    8/16 Bristol Motor Speedway
    8/27 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
    9/15 Chicagoland Speedway
    9/23 New Hampshire Motor Speedway
    9/30 Las Vegas Motor Speedway
    10/14 Talladega Superspeedway
    10/28 Martinsville Speedway
    11/3 Texas Motor Speedway
    11/10 Phoenix International Raceway
    11/17 Homestead-Miami Speedway