Category: XFINITY Series

Carl Edwards– U.S. Cellular 250 presented by the Enlist Weed Control System

Team: No. 60 Fastenal Ford Mustang

Crew Chief: Mike Beam

Chassis: RK-648 – primary – last ran in Darlington.

RK–596 – backup – new Nationwide chassis

QUOTES

Carl Edwards on racing at Iowa Speedway:

“Iowa Speedway is just north of Columbia, Missouri and I have a lot of friends in the Des Moines area. I am always excited about going there and compete for the win. We had a pretty good race with Ricky (Stenhouse, Jr.) in May. He won and we finished second. It would be very special for me to win there this time. I think all the drivers would agree that this race has a really high energy level. The fans are race savvy and they know racing up there in Iowa. I’ll be in Pocono for the Sprint Cup race, so Brian Ickler will be practicing our Fastenal Ford Mustang. I can’t wait to go back and put our Mustang in victory lane.”

Crew chief Mike Beam on racing at Iowa Speedway:

“We finished second here in the spring right behind our teammate Ricky(Stenhouse, Jr.). We are bringing a different Fastenal Mustang that we believe will be even stronger. Carl is a great short track driver. Brian Ickler will practice the car while Carl is in Pocono on Friday to help us get the car ready for race trim.”

FAST FACTS

Edwards’ average finish at Iowa is 5.3.

So far in 2011, Edwards has five wins, 11 top-fives, and 14 top-10s

Edwards’ captured his 34th career NASCAR Nationwide win at Nashville Superspeedway.

TREVOR BAYNE

Race:  US Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway (.875-Mile Oval) Team:No. 16 3M Ford Mustang

Crew Chief: Chris Andrews

Chassis: RK-646-Last ran at Michigan, June 2011, Finished fifth

Broadcast Information: Saturday, August 6, 2011- 7:00p.m. (ET) ESPN2 and 7:00 p.m. on MRN radio affiliates and Sirius channel 90

FAST FACTS

* TREVOR BAYNE will make his 17th start of the season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Iowa Speedway

* ON THE TRACK…The No. 16 team will carry 3M as the primary paint scheme this weekend

* TREVOR BAYNE at Iowa .…In two starts Bayne has one pole and one top-five finish

QUOTES

Trevor Bayne on racing at Iowa Speedway:“I ran the very first race at Iowa in the Hooters Pro Cup, so I have been going to Iowa from the beginning. It’s got the characteristics of a mile and a half combined with a short-track. It’s easy to pass which creates great competition during a race.  I was on the pole last year and had a chance to win at the end, but fell just a little short.  I am looking forward to another shot at it Saturday night. We are excited to have 3M on our car this weekend and look forward to bringing all of their employees and customers a good run.”

Crew chief Chris Andrews on racing at Iowa Speedway:“We have run upfront and led more laps the last two races then we have all year.  I am excited about our chances this weekend because Trevor has run very well at Iowa in the past.  He sat on the pole last year and finished with a top-five.  Through all the adversity, our team has gotten closer and I truly believe we are close to getting a win with Trevor behind the wheel.”

Michael McDowell / No. 18 Pizza Ranch Toyota Preview

U.S. Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway  

No. 18 Pizza Ranch Toyota News & Notes:

·     BACK-TO-BACK RACES HAVE SMILE ON McDOWELL’S FACE:  Michael McDowell knows how important it is to make the most of his opportunities in Joe Gibbs Racing’s Nationwide Series equipment.  That makes the second event of the season at Iowa Speedway the most important so far for “McDriver.”  Why?  Because for the first time this year, McDowell will get a chance to race the No. 18 Pizza Ranch Toyota for the second-straight week.  McDowell returned to the seat of the No. 18 last weekend at Lucas Oil Raceway, starting ninth and finishing 10th.  Now, he’ll be right back in the seat this weekend in the US Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway.  And ask any aspiring racer, there is nothing better than being behind the wheel of a car consecutive weeks to help with chemistry and confidence.

·     THREE RACES, THREE IMPRESSIVE RUNS FOR McDOWELL & JGR:  So far in 2011, the Michael McDowell/Joe Gibbs Racing relationship has paid off for both parties.  Iowa will mark the fourth race of the year for McDowell in the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.  McDowell made his JGR debut at the spring Iowa event, starting second, leading 19 laps and finishing seventh.  Then, Michael got behind the wheel of the No. 18 Pizza Ranch Toyota at Road America, where he earned his first-career NASCAR Nationwide Series pole and dominated the event, leading 30 of the 50 laps, before getting involved in a late-race accident and finishing 12th.  Michael was back in the car last weekend, piloting the No. 18 to a 10th place finish.  That work has helped Joe Gibbs Racing keep their point lead in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Owner’s standings, where they hold a 27-point lead over the No. 32 of Turner Motorsports.  McDowell is scheduled to run two more events this season in the No. 18, including this weekend in Iowa and at Montreal in two weeks.

·     WELCOME BACK TO PIZZA RANCH:  Pizza Ranch, the largest regional pizza restaurant chain in Iowa , Minnesota , North Dakota and South Dakota , will return as sponsor of the No. 18 Toyota this weekend at Iowa Speedway.  Pizza Ranch and Joe Gibbs Racing formed their relationship in 2009 with Kyle Busch in the No. 18 Pizza Ranch Toyota at Iowa, where the Pizza Ranch team finished a strong second.  Since then, Pizza Ranch has been a sponsor with JGR for a number of races and will continue that relationship into 2011, where they will sponsor the No. 18 in four events; three with Michael McDowell (both Iowa Speedway events and Road American) and one with Kyle Busch (Michigan).  Pizza Ranch specializes in pizza and chicken and has grown steadily with franchises currently in nine states. Pizza Ranch offers a host of dining options to include a pizza/chicken/salad bar buffet, carry-out pizza, or delivery of chicken and pizza to the home. Pizza Ranch puts the customer first with extraordinary hospitality and service.

·     PIZZA RANCH & MICHAEL BUSY IN IOWA:  This weekend will not just be about the racing that takes place on the 0.875-mile Iowa Speedway for McDowell. The driver will also participate in a number of events throughout the week in the Des Moines / Newton area.  McDowell and Pizza Ranch will make an appearance at the Nationwide Series Employee event in downtown Des Moines on Thursday, followed by a trip to Blank Children’s Hospital later that afternoon.  Then on Friday, McDowell will make an in-store appearance at the Newton Pizza Ranch location from 12pm-1:30pm.  On Saturday, Pizza Ranch will host in excess of 400 guests at a hospitality area at Iowa Speedway and Michael will make an appearance to talk to the Pizza Ranch employees and guests.

·     CHASSIS:  The JGR team will take chassis #112 to Iowa this weekend.  The chassis was run at Nashville Superspeedway (with Kyle Busch; started sixth and finished second), Iowa Speedway (McDowell; started second, finished seventh) and New Hampshire (Busch; started fifth, finished first).

·     STAT OF THE WEEK:4.0. Michael’s career average starting position prior to the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series season was 25.7.  This season, his average starting position is 4.0.  That stat includes a pole at Road America, where Michael bested the second-place car by nearly a full second.

·     THE RACE:  The U.S. Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway (Newton, IA; 0.875-mile oval) is set for Saturday night, August 6th, 2011.  The race will be broadcast on ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m. EST, with radio coverage on MRN starting at 7 p.m. EST.    

McDowell’s 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series Season Stats: Starts Wins Top 5 Top 10 Poles Laps Led Earnings Avg. Start Avg. Finish 3 0 0 2 1 49 $71,039 4.0 9.7   McDowell’s Career NASCAR Nationwide Series Stats: Starts Wins Top 5 Top 10 Poles Laps Led Earnings Avg. Start Avg. Finish 75 0 0 8 1 57 $1,832,045 24.5 23.2   McDowell’s Career NASCAR Nationwide Series Stats at Iowa Speedway: Starts Wins Top 5 Top 10 Poles Laps Led Earnings Avg. Start Avg. Finish 3 0 0 2 0 19 $75,173 12.3 9.3    

Michael McDowell Quotes: “I think the biggest advantage we’ve got going into this weekend is the fact that we will finally be in the car for back-to-back weekends after our run in Indianapolis.  I just can’t even put into words how big that is for a driver and how important that is for your communication with your team and your confidence.  Just to get the chance to have back-to-back races will help me and will help my communication with Jason (Ratcliff, crew chief) and the rest of the team. I’ll be fresh behind the wheel, I’ll be fresh with the feel of the car and our team communication will just flow right from last week.  So I’m pretty pumped to get the chance to get right back in the car.  And on top of that, we’ll have only one week off (when Kyle gets back in the No. 18 car at Watkins Glen) and be right back in the car at Montreal.  So the next few weeks are going to be huge.  

“I’m pretty excited to be going back to Iowa too.  That has always been a very good track for me, from the ARCA days to even in my Nationwide Series career.  We were really good there in the first race of the year.  We started up front, led some laps and got a top-10 finish.  Now we are going back with the same car, some good notes and more time working together.  That just means we should even be that much better.  We’ve got a good package to start out with when we unload on Friday.  I am just going to have to work on not giving up the track position, especially with my restarts.  I actually got a chance to talk with Kyle at Indy about some of the things I was doing and some of the stuff he does and he helped me out quite a bit and gave me some advice on what he does compared to what I do.   “I’m also really excited to be back in the Pizza Ranch Toyota.  Pizza Ranch is a great company and such a pleasure to work with.  We’ve got a lot going on during the week and it should be a lot of fun.  We’ve got some hospitality to do during the weekend and that is always fun, because you get a chance to make these people’s race experience even that much more exciting.  We get to go to the track every week, but for some of these people, they only get to go to one or two races a year, so to be a part of their race experience and help make it that much more enjoyable is awesome.”    

No. 18 Pizza Ranch Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing Team   Driver – Michael McDowell                                     Crew Chief – Jason Ratcliff                     Car Chief – Charlie Brock Race Engineer – Matt Lucas                                  Shock Specialist – Brad Rothlin            Front-end Mechanic – Todd Brewer Rear-end Mechanic – Jason Clements                  Tire Specialist – Matt Sauer                  Setup Specialist – Kevin Kelley Engine Tuner – Chris Woodward                          Truck Driver – Dennis Valverde

The Headlines:

Welcome Home: Des Moines, Iowa’s Michael Annett returns to his home track this weekend for Iowa Speedway’s second Nationwide Series event of 2011. Competing under the Rusty Wallace Racing banner this season, Annett’s ties to Iowa Speedway grow even deeper as his team owner Rusty Wallace designed the signature .875 mile oval. In his three previous Nationwide Series races at Iowa Speedway, the native Hawkeye claimed 11th, seventh and 13th place finishes respectively.

$100,000 Cash Up for Grabs: With a $100,000 bonus courtesy of Nationwide Insurance on the line, Annett is geared up for this weekend’s Dash 4 Cash event at Iowa Speedway. The 25-year-old’s sixth place finish in Nationwide Insurance’s first Dash 4 Cash race at Daytona International Speedway in July qualified him as one of only four contenders for the second Dash 4 Cash payout. Reed Sorenson, Justin Allgaier and Jason Leffler are also eligible for the $100,000 bonus. The highest finisher of those four competitors in Saturday’s race will take home the bonus and qualify for the next Dash 4 Cash event at Richmond International Speedway in September. With the Iowa Speedway grandstands filled with Annett’s hometown crowd, he’s hoping to win big in Saturday’s 250 lap Dash 4 Cash showdown.

Annett Contributes to Third Annual Helmet Raffle: This weekend marks Annett’s third year of supporting the Team WillyK fundraising team in their efforts to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) with an annual helmet raffle. Annett’s initial interest in organizing the race-related raffle started when close family friend, Will Krueger, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia three years ago. Since Annett and Will’s fundraising group teamed together to start the raffle at Iowa Speedway’s inaugural Nationwide Series race in 2009, they have raised $25,000 for LLS. The Team WillyK fundraising team will be on-site at Iowa Speedway this weekend in teal Team WillyK shirts selling raffle tickets. The cost of the tickets is $5 per ticket or five tickets for $20. The raffle winner will receive a commemorative helmet signed by all 43 drivers slated to compete in Saturday’s race. All proceeds benefit LLS.

Back to his Roots: Recognizing the state’s agricultural heritage, Iowa Speedway and Nationwide Insurance will host a “Farm-a-thon” at Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa on Friday at 9 a.m. CT. The four Dash 4 Cash drivers will be participating in three farm-related contests at Living History Farms including a horse-drawn carriage showdown, cow milking race and corn shelling battle. The winning driver will receive a $4,000 gift to their charity of choice. Annett hopes to claim the victory and donate to Team WillyK’s Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training and Pilot Flying J’s charity of choice, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Home Track History: Hometown favorite Annett’s combined 10.3 average finish in his three most recent races at Iowa Speedway proves his knack for the track. Growing up just miles from the Newton, Iowa oval, Annett gained experience there competing in the ARCA Racing Series as well as the ASA Late Model Series Challenge Division events. Annett made his debut in the ARCA Racing Series at Iowa Speedway in June 2007, where the young driver won the SIM Factory Pole Award, led eight laps of the 250 lap race, and came home with a third place finish as he made his first start in the series.

Walk with RWR Stars in Support of Iowa Speedway Foundation: In addition to piloting his racecar at Iowa Speedway this weekend, Annett will also make treads around the .875 mile track in Saturday’s Inaugural Iowa Speedway Foundation Track Walk. Annett will join his team owner, Rusty Wallace, as well as his teammate, Steve Wallace, to walk with fans in support of the Iowa Speedway Foundation. Saturday’s track walk begins at 11 a.m. CT. and fans can participate with a $25 donation that benefits the Iowa Speedway Foundation and Marion County Humane Society. Register online at www.iowaspeedway.com or in person at Iowa Speedway this weekend.

Meet Michael: Annett and several of his fellow Nationwide Series drivers will be signing autographs on Saturday from 2-3 p.m. CT behind the Manatt Grandstands.

For the latest updates on Michael Annett, visit www.michaelannett.com.

From the Cockpit:

Michael Annett on Nationwide Insurance’s Dash 4 Cash Race at Iowa Speedway:

“I’m extremely excited about being one of the four drivers eligible for this weekend’s $100,000 Dash 4 Cash payout. There are a lot of elements that make this week special including Nationwide Insurance’s bonus incentive. We’re racing on my home track, a track that was designed by my team owner, Rusty Wallace, and we’ve really been on top of our game with four top-10s in the last six races. Winning the Dash 4 Cash bonus on my home track would just be the icing on the cake.”

“It’s really exciting that Nationwide provides us with this opportunity, because Saturday’s Dash 4 Cash is a race within a race. Iowa Speedway always puts on a great show, but there are four of us that are racing for that $100,000, and that will make the show even better. It’s another reward that Nationwide Insurance does for us Nationwide-only drivers. They’ve been doing unique things like this ever since they came on board as the sponsor of our series. It’s just really going to make Saturday even more exciting not only for the drivers, but for all the fans as well.”

Michael Annett on Returning to his Home Track:

“I’m really looking forward to racing at my home track this weekend. Being the premier racing series that comes to Iowa Speedway combined with the fact that it’s just down the road from home and I get to be a part of the race is just a dream come true for me. I’m spending the week in Iowa making appearances throughout the area and catching up with those who have been there for me since the start of my racing career. My family, friends, fan base and our primary sponsor this week, Northland Oil, are here in my hometown, so I’m really excited about returning to Iowa Speedway this weekend. I’m very appreciative to the track for all they’ve done for me. Iowa Speedway has played a big role in helping me and Team WillyK to get our third annual helmet raffle organized, and they’ve always been a valued partner.”

Michael Annett on Northland Oil’s Support for Saturday’s Race:

“Northland Oil, a longtime supporter of my racing career, will be featured as the primary sponsor on our Toyota Camry this weekend. We also ran the Northland Oil scheme at Texas in April, and I can’t think of a better place than Iowa Speedway to get a strong finish with their brand on the hood. We’ve really shown our team’s strength since Rick Viers came on board as crew chief in Charlotte, and we’re prepped and ready for running up front all night with our No. 62 Northland Oil Camry at Iowa.”

Talking Shop:

Crew Chief Rick Viers on the Iowa Speedway Race:

“We’ve got Iowa-based Northland Oil on the car this weekend, and their black, red and gold paint scheme looks sharp on the No. 62 Toyota. We’ve got a pretty blue spoiler worth $100,000 on our car this weekend too. I know this weekend is special to Michael with it being his home track, and especially with the $100,000 Dash 4 Cash bonus on the line. We’re going into Iowa this week with a really good plan for Saturday’s race. We’re taking a new car and I think we’ve got a good chance for a solid top-five. We feel good about what we’ve accomplished so far as a team and we’ll take that confidence with us to Iowa looking for another top-notch performance.”

The Machines:

Team 62 Primary: RWR-063 – This car is a brand new chassis from the RWR stables.

Team 62 Back-Up: RWR-051 – The No. 62 Pilot Flying J team’s last race competing with this chassis was at Bristol Motor Speedway in March.

About Northland Oil:

Northland Products Company, headquartered in Waterloo, Iowa, formulates, manufactures, markets and distributes premium quality engine oil, lubricants, engine coolants and associated fluids throughout North America. Since 1908, Northland’s superior products and customer-driven service are provided to trucking fleets, OEM factory-fill, industrial, automotive and agriculture markets.

Northland has enjoyed continued customer growth due to a staff of experienced and talented employees, advanced lubricant technology, a customer focused service strategy and premium quality products. Uncompromising quality, professional service and superior customer support is the foundation of Northland’s success. Northland Products Company is certified to the ISO 9001 and the ISO 14001 standards.

Broadcast Info:

For live coverage of Saturday’s Nationwide Series U.S. Cellular 250 presented by Enlist Weed Control System, tune to ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW

No. 88 Ragu Chevrolet / No. 7 iRacing.com Chevrolet

EVENT – U.S Cellular 250 (250 laps / 218.75 miles)

TRACK – Iowa Speedway (.875-mile oval)

DATE – Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011

TV / RADIO – ESPN2 (coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. EST) / MRN (broadcast begins at 7 p.m. EST)

Aric Almirola

No. 88 Ragu Chevrolet

“Right now our Ragu team is having a lot of fun. We’ve been unloading at the racetrack with strong cars, and we’ve made a lot of gains over the past few races. Pops (Eury Sr., crew chief) has made some great calls on top of the pit box and that’s helped us finish well. Anytime you can get positive momentum going for your team, you want to keep riding it as long as possible.

“Iowa wasn’t good to us when we were out there in the spring. We ran in the top-five for a time, but after the final restart that long green-flag run really hurt us. It seemed like we had a good car for the short run. It just didn’t play out the way we needed it to.”

Josh Wise

No. 7 iRacing.com Chevrolet

“Iowa is a great little short track that I really enjoy. The last race there was problematic for our iRacing.com team. I think we ran something like the first 20 laps before we had brake problems that brought us to pit road for repairs. We were behind the eight ball from the very beginning. Luckily, it happened early enough that the guys fixed it and we were able to get back out there and log laps.

“This is going to be my last race in the 7 car for a couple of weeks and it would mean a lot to me to help get these guys a finish they deserve.”

JR MOTORSPORTS NOTEBOOK –

RAGU RETURNS – The red and yellow paint scheme of Ragu makes its return to the racetrack at Iowa Speedway on board Aric Almirola’s No. 88 Chevrolet. This marks the second of four races for the brand in 2011. It joins Hellmann’s, Degree and Suave Men as Unilever brands to have primary paint schemes with JRM this season. The No. 88 Chevrolet will also carry the Ragu brand at Watkins Glen International (Aug. 13) and Dover International Speedway (Oct. 1).

SECOND OF TWO FOR IRACING.COM – Wise’s No. 7 Chevrolet will race under iRacing.com colors for the second time in as many races at Iowa Speedway this weekend. Iracing.com, an online racing simulator, is celebrating a new software release titled iRacing 2.0. This long awaited release will add many user enhancements and features to the popular multi-player racing title.

2009 WINNERS – The Tony Eury Sr.-led No. 88 team won the inaugural Nationwide Series race at Iowa Speedway in 2009. The team started 11th and led 121 of 250 laps en route to its second of four victories during the 2009 season.

ALMIROLA’S POINTS UPDATE – Almirola has totaled 118 points over the past three weeks of competition, giving him the second most points of any Nationwide Series regular in that time. Currently he is ranked fifth (-69) in the championship hunt, 18 points behind fourth place Justin Allgaier and 25 points ahead of sixth place Jason Leffler.

WISE UPDATE – Wise holds two previous Nationwide Series start at Iowa in the No. 7 car, with a best finish of 11th in 2010. The 28-year-old native of Riverside, Calif. is currently 14th in driver points but has raced in only 19 of the 21 Nationwide Series events to date in 2011.

ALMIROLA AT IOWA – Almirola owns two starts in the Nationwide Series at Iowa. He also has two starts in the Camping World Truck Series with a best finish of 2nd (2009). Additionally, he has never qualified outside the top-10 in two truck starts at Iowa.

NO. 88 SEASON STATS – The No. 88 team owns four top-five and 11 top-10 finishes this season. The team is ranked ninth in owner points.

NO. 7 SEASON STATS – The No. 7 team holds four top-five and nine top-10 finishes in 2011. The team occupies 12th position in owner points.

JRM AUTOGRAPH SIGNINGS – Fans have two opportunities to meet JR Motorsports drivers Aric Almirola and Josh Wise at Iowa Speedway this weekend. The pair will sign autographs at the Nationwide Series autograph session behind the Manatt Grandstands on Saturday, Aug. 6, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. CST. Then from 4:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. CST the teammates will sign at the JR Nation merchandise hauler in the fan concourse area.

BUY FOUR TICKETS GET ONE FREE FOR WIN DALE JR.’S RIDE CONTEST – August is the final month to enter for a chance to win the keys to Dale Jr.’s Camaro. The Dale Jr. Foundation is giving fans the opportunity to win one of three prizes with the purchase of a $25 raffle ticket, including a shot at Earnhardt Jr.’s own 2011 Chevrolet Camaro. As a special incentive this month, if fans buy four raffle tickets, they’ll get a fifth free. The contest will run through Sept. 1, 2011, with all proceeds benefitting The Dale Jr. Foundation. For complete details visit www.windalejrsride.com.

WATCH JRM RACING.COM’s VIDEO SERIES – In a continued effort to be at the forefront of web-based content through its website www.jrmracing.com, the team has added a multitude of videos into its video gallery. Click here to view race preview videos, the “JRM 360” series and more.

Sneak peak of No. 7 Jimmie Johnson’s Anything With An Engine Chevrolet available at www.facebook.com/JimmieJohnsonRacingGame

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Aug. 2, 2011) – If Jimmie Johnson will race anything with an engine, driving one that could carry him to victory in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Watkins Glen International is a no-brainer. JR Motorsports announced today that Johnson will pilot the No. 7 Chevrolet in the Aug. 13 road-course event at Watkins Glen in promotion of his soon-to-be-launched video game Jimmie Johnson’s Anything With An Engine. Published by Autumn Games and developed by Isopod Labs, Jimmie Johnson’s Anything With An Engine is scheduled for an October 2011 release on all three major home consoles.

A five-time champion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Johnson’s entry at Watkins Glen will mark his first Nationwide Series race since competing in four events for JR Motorsports in 2008. In 91 career Nationwide races, he has one win, eight top-fives and 23 top-10s. The road-course car he will drive at Watkins Glen will be the same one that carried Ron Fellows to a second-place finish at Road America on June 25th.

“This is a unique opportunity to not only run in the Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports, but a fun way to remind fans that our new video game will be released in a few months,” Johnson said. “We had a lot of fun creating this game, and I think the fans will appreciate the imagination we put into it. Being able to race a JR Motorsports car and promote my game at the same time is a great opportunity. Tony Eury Jr. and Ron Fellows nearly won at Road America in June, so maybe we can do one better.”

Jimmie Johnson’s Anything With An Engine will allow players to race unconventional vehicles created from the most unlikely of everyday objects such as shopping carts and dumpsters, armed with powerful side rams and front and rear custom weapons. The game introduces an eccentric group of characters, including Hazzard Mower, who uses his souped-up lawnmower to cut down the competition and Megaton, a former military officer who barrels around the track on a high-speed bomb. It features progressively challenging tracks complete with pyrotechnics, hazards, traps and jumps.

The game will feature up to eight-player online multiplayer action on supported consoles, including ranked and private races, and up to four players in split-screen multiplayer as they battle for first place across the couch, around the globe, or both.

“We couldn’t be more excited about partnering with JR Motorsports to help kick off the unveiling of Jimmie Johnson’s Anything with an Engine,” said Alex Collmer, CEO of Autumn Games. “We’ve been working hard with Jimmie for a long time now to build a humorous game that fans of all ages will have a blast playing, and now it’s time to start sharing the fun with racing fans all over.”

Five different drivers have piloted the No. 7 Chevrolet this year – Fellows, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Danica Patrick, Josh Wise and Kasey Kahne – and all five have scored top-10 finishes.

About JR Motorsports

JR Motorsports is the management company and racing operation for Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s eight-time Most Popular Driver and winner of more than 40 NASCAR-sanctioned races. JR Motorsports competes in multiple racing divisions, including the NASCAR Nationwide Series; however the Dale Jr. business model extends well beyond the race track and includes multiple business ventures. Among those entities is the full-service production company Hammerhead Entertainment (www.hammerheadent.com), JR Nation Retail Store (www.ShopJrNation.com), The Dale Jr. Foundation (www.thedalejrfoundation.org), and Whisky River (www.whiskyrivercharlotte.com), the bar and nightclub located in the uptown Charlotte Epicentre.

About Autumn Games

Autumn Games is a premier digital publisher of interactive entertainment focused on partnering with leading creative talent to deliver blockbuster video games and related media through long-term partnerships with a number of the most respected game studios in the industry. Autumn Games’ mission is to support these creative teams in their efforts to make cutting-edge, culturally impactful entertainment for the exploding array of connected digital devices. For more information, please visit www.autumngames.com

About Isopod Labs

Founded in 2007, Isopod Labs is a videogame development studio aiming to deliver innovative titles for online downloads and traditional distribution channels. The Isopod Labs crew is comprised of industry veterans with a solid track record delivering best-selling titles as a team. Formerly with Disney, Sega, Dreamworks, Luxoflux (their former company) and Activision, the three managing partners represent 60 plus man-years of experience in engineering, game design, IP development, and studio management. Along with its initial slate of products, the company has been developing a proprietary cross-platform engine and asset workflow to facilitate rapid prototyping and quick-to-market delivery of its future titles. Isopod Labs is located in west Los Angeles, and is working on two new titles with publisher Autumn Games.

MIKEY KILE QUICK FACTS N

o. 30 AccuDoc Solutions Chevrolet Impala

US Cellular 250

Iowa Speedway August 6, 2011    

No. 30 AccuDoc Solutions Chevrolet News and Notes       

* In the driver’s seat…After a short, one-week hiatus from the seat of the No. 30 machine, ARCA Racing Series graduate, Mikey Kile, will return to the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) this weekend at Iowa Speedway. In 28 ARCA Racing Series starts in 2009 and 2010, Kile boasts one win, eight top-five and 19 top-10 finishes. He captured two pole awards in 2010 and has led a total of 183 laps. Kile has made four NNS starts this season with two top-15 finishes.       

* Transition to NNS… As he makes his transition into the Nationwide Series with a limited schedule, Kile has had some impressive runs with the No. 30 team. Three weeks ago at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Kile posted fast practice speeds before bringing home a solid 16th-place result. Then, two weeks ago at Nashville Superspeedway, he one-upped that finish by bringing home his series career-best finish of 15th.       

* This week’s Impala… The No. 30 AccuDoc Solutions team will unload chassis TMS-119 this weekend at Iowa Speedway. This is the same chassis Reed Sorenson piloted at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Auto Club Speedway and Kentucky Speedway.       

* No. 30 team: On a roll… The Stewart Cooper led AccuDoc Solutions team is heading to Iowa with some serious momentum. The team is coming off of a hard-fought second-place finish with James Buescher last weekend at Lucas Oil Raceway. This season the team, who moonlights as the No. 38 Great Clips crew for the eight events Kasey Kahne pilots the entry, has collected three top-five and seven top-10 finishes. The group has worked with several different drivers on a limited basis including Kile, Buescher and Kahne as well as Sprint Cup Series veteran Ryan Newman, NNS championship contender Sorenson and 15-time AMA champion Ricky Carmichael.          

* Turner Motorsports: In the hunt… In 21 Nationwide Series events in 2011, Turner Motorsports-prepared entries have notched three wins, 19 top-five and 44 top-10 finishes. All three of Turner Motorsports’ championship-contending drivers are inside the top-six in the driver point standings with Sorenson in second, Justin Allgaier in fourth and Jason Leffler in sixth.   

Follow the No. 30 team on Twitter!Twitter.com/No30TurnerNNS 

Follow Mikey Kile on Twitter! Twitter.com/MikeyKile   

Follow Turner Motorsports on Facebook!Facebook.com/TurnerMotorsports   

Kile on Iowa Speedway   “I am really excited about getting back behind the wheel of the AccuDoc Solutions Chevy. We have put together two great runs my last two races and I am really learning a lot.. We worked through a lot of adversity to finish 15th at Nashville and I was really proud of the whole team. I know we are going to bring home another solid run at Iowa. It’s a track that I have been to once in the ARCA car, and we practiced and qualified well. Unfortunately, a wreck took us out early, but I had a good feel for the track which should help me this weekend.”

LEFFLER QUICK FACTS

No. 38 Great Clips Impala 

Iowa Speedway 

U.S. Cellular 250          

August 6, 2011  

No. 38 Great Clips Chevrolet News and Notes     

* New look for the Great Clips machine…This weekend, the No. 38 Great Clips Chevrolet will debut a new look with a special “Online Check-in” paint scheme. Recently, Great Clips launched the salon industry’s first-ever Online Check-In system which allows customers to remotely log in from a computer or smart phone and view the estimated wait time at surrounding salons. Consumers can click the “check-in” icon to add their name to the list at the Great Clips salon of their choice and, by the time they arrive, they are likely next or almost next in line-saving precious time they might have spent waiting in the lobby for their haircut. The new paint scheme will be featured for the remainder of the 2011 season.       

* Making a Dash 4 Cash… This weekend marks the second of four Nationwide Series Dash 4 Cash (D4C) races in 2011. All three of Turner Motorsports NNS-regulars including Leffler, Reed Sorenson and Justin Allgaier, as well as fellow competitor, Michael Annett, are eligible to win the $100,000 bonus this weekend at Iowa Speedway.     

* First Annual Nationwide Series Farmathalon -On Friday morning, Leffler and the other three D4C competitors, will compete in a Farmathalon at Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa.  The drivers will compete in three different activities including a horse drawn carriage race along with a cow milking and corn shucking contest.  The driver with the lowest combined time will have a donation made to the charity of their choosing.      

* Statistically Speaking… In three starts at Iowa Speedway, Leffler has posted two third-place finishes. He was running top-five in this season’s first stop at the .875-mile track when an overheating issue forced him into the garage.      

* Leffler “in the loop” at Iowa…According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, Leffler is ranked in the top-10 in a number of categories at Iowa Speedway including Fastest Early in a Run (4th), Fastest Late in a Run (8th), Fastest Laps Run (8th), Fastest on Restarts (5th), (Green-Flag Speed (4th), Laps in the Top-15 (5th), and Speed in Traffic (6th).      

* This week’s Impala…. This weekend at Iowa Speedway, the No. 38 Great Clips team will unload chassis TMS-127. This is the team’s “go-to” chassis as it has more seen more track time than any other car in rotation. Leffler has driven TMS-127 at Kentucky Speedway (13th), Michigan Int’l Speedway (10th), Dover Int’l Speedway (11th), Charlotte Motor Speedway (21st) and Darlington Raceway (9th).       

* Turner Motorsports: In the hunt… In 21 Nationwide Series events in 2011, Turner Motorsports-prepared entries have notched three wins, 19 top-five and 44 top-10 finishes. All three of Turner Motorsports’ championship-contending drivers are inside the top-six in the driver point standings with Sorenson in second, Allgaier in fourth and Leffler in sixth.      

* Happy 10-Year Anniversary, Great Clips…This season marks Great Clips’ 10-year anniversary as a primary sponsor in the NNS. The Minneapolis-based Great Clips, Inc., which is currently the longest-running primary sponsor in the series, came onto the scene in 2001 as a primary sponsor of Akins Motorsports No. 38 entry, then driven by Christian Elder.     

* Leffler on SIRIUS’ Morning Drive every Wednesday… Don’t forget to tune in to SIRIUS Radio’s “Morning Drive” with Mike Bagley and Pete Pistone every Wednesday at 10:30am to hear Leffler’s take on recent events in the Nationwide Series and what you can expect from the week’s upcoming race.  

Follow the No. 38 team on Twitter!Twitter.com/No38TurnerNNS

Follow Jason Leffler on Twitter! Twitter.com/JasonLeffler  

Follow Turner Motorsports on Facebook!Facebook.com/TurnerMotorsports  

Leffler on Iowa Speedway “You can’t really compare Iowa Speedway to anywhere else we go throughout the year. Turns one and two are pretty bumpy so that is something you have to work on throughout practice. It’s like a short track in length, but it’s also very fast, which makes it unique and challenging in itself. I’m excited to be able to participate in Nationwide’s Dash 4 Cash race. It’s like a race within the race and it just adds a different element of excitement to the whole event!”  

About Turner Motorsports: Turner Motorsports, LLC, established in 1999, is in the midst of its sophomore season of NASCAR competition. Owned by Texas-native, Steve Turner, the racing organization has expanded in 2011 from a two-truck operation in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series to become the largest stand-alone multi-series team in NASCAR’s top-tier touring series.  Turner Motorsports operates out of an 110,000 square-foot state-of-the art facility in Mooresville, N.C., and will house three entries in the Camping World Truck Series and four entries in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The team boasts an all-star driver line-up that includes Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin, Jason Leffler, Reed Sorenson, Justin Allgaier, Ricky Carmichael, James Buescher and Brad Sweet.  The Chevrolet-backed team has created alliances with General Motors powerhouse teams Hendrick Motorsports, who will provide engine support for both its NNS and NCWTS programs, Kevin Harvick Inc. for body and aero support, and Earnhardt Technology Group for drive train and suspension technology assistance. Turner Motorsports’ marketing partners include Dollar General, Great Clips, Monster Energy, BRANDT, Rexall, Exide, AccuDoc Solutions, Wolfpack Rentals, Fraternal Order of Eagles and ABF Freight. For more information on Turner Motorsports, visit www.turnermotorsportsllc.com.

ALLGAIER QUICK FACTS

No. 31 BRANDT Chevrolet

U.S. Cellular 250 Iowa Speedway

August 6, 2011      

Justin Allgaier 2011 Season Starts Poles Wins Top-fives Top-10s Avg. Start Avg. Finish DNFs 21 0 1 6 11 10.3 11.6 3   No. 31 BRANDT Chevrolet News and Notes          

* Allgaier Heads to the Hawkeye State Fourth in Points…Allgaier remains in fourth-place in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) championship point standings, 52 points behind leader Ricky Stenhouse Jr.  All three championship-contending Turner Motorsports drivers are currently in the top-10, with Reed Sorenson in second and Jason Leffler in sixth place.       

* Iowa Speedway by the Numbers… The 25-year-old Turner Motorsports Chevy driver has three NNS starts at Iowa Speedway.  He is credited with two top-10 finishes and has never qualified outside the top-10.  He has a 100% lap completion rate, an average start of 6.3 and finish of 10.3.       

* All About The Benjamins…  Allgaier heads to Iowa in contention for Nationwide’s “Dash 4 Cash” program.  Allgaier qualified after finishing among the top-four in Nationwide Series regulars at Daytona International Speedway in July. Allgaier will be competing for the $100,000 along with teammates Reed Sorenson and Jason Leffler and competitor Michael Annett. The highest finishing of the four will win the $100,000 as well as be eligible for the next “Dash 4 Cash” race at Richmond International Raceway on September 9th.       

* This Week’s Impala… The No. 31 BRANDT team will hit the track with chassis TMS-132 this weekend at Iowa Speedway.  This chassis last saw track time at New Hampshire Motor Speedway where Allgaier started eighth, and finished in the 10th position.       

* In the Loop… Thus far in 2011, Allgaier ranks among the top-10 in several of NASCAR’s Loop Data statistics: Quality Passes (4th), Percentage of Laps Run on the Lead Lap (5th), Fastest on Restarts (5th), Laps in the Top-15 (6th), Average Running Position (7th), Fastest Speed in Traffic (8th), Fastest Early in the Run (9th), Green Flag Speed (9th) and Fastest Late in the Run (10th). 

* Turner Motorsports In the Hunt… In 21 Nationwide Series events in 2011, Turner Motorsports-prepared entries have notched three wins, 19 top-five and 44 top-10 finishes.  

Justin Allgaier on Iowa Speedway: “This weekend is going to be important for the No. 31 team.  We need to rebound after Indianapolis, plus we’re racing for Nationwide’s Dash 4 Cash.  It would be great to come home with a great finish, make gains in the point standings and grab an extra 100k,” said Allgaier.  “I’ve had some great runs at Iowa.  It’s a track has tight corners and longer straightaways that provide for some exciting racing for the fans as well as the drivers.”  

Follow the No. 31 team on Twitter!Twitter.com/No31TurnerNNS

Follow Justin Allgaier on Twitter!Twitter.com/J_Allgaier

Follow Turner Motorsports on Facebook!Facebook.com/TurnerMotorsports  

Justin Allgaier Career Race by Race NNS Stats at Iowa Speedway Year/Event Start Finish Laps Status Led 2009 (Aug.) 2 14 250/250 Running 35 2010 (July) 8 8 250/250 Running 0 2011 (May) 9 8 250/250 Running 11 Avg. Start Avg. Finish Total Laps  Total Led 6.3 10.3 750/750  46 Career NNS Stats at Iowa Speedway Starts Poles  Wins Top-fives Top-10s DNFs 3 0 0 0 2 0

CHINA GROVE, N.C. (August 2, 2011) – Robert Richardson, Jr. has been ready for this weekend’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Iowa Speedway for quite a few weeks.

With the task of switching the No. 23 North Texas Pipe race cars back to Chevrolets recently almost completed, Richardson and team are ready to get back to doing what they like most – racing. The native of McKinney, Texas and team head to the Midwestern track loaded with optimism and readiness for the weekend’s events.

For this race, the team has Best Western Plus Marquis Des Moines Airport Hotel on board as an associate sponsor. Fans are invited to the Bennigan’s located on the lower level of the hotel for an autograph session on Friday night at 8:30 p.m. Richardson will be joined by fellow drivers. Jennifer Jo Cobb and Morgan Shepherd to meet and greet fans.

Fast Facts:Richardson, 29, will be making his 85th career NNS start and 16th of the 2011 season. To date in 2011, his best finish of 20th took place at Richmond International Speedway. The No. 23 is locked in via the Owner’s Points, so there’s no pressure to qualify in on time leaving driver and team plenty of time to dial in their Chevrolet through the practice sessions.

Track Facts:This will be his third start at the short track of Iowa where he’s had finishes of 23rd and 22nd, respectively, while completing an impressive 98.2 percent of the laps contested.

Tune in for the Win:There will be two practice sessions on Friday, with the first taking place from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., than 6 to 7:30 p.m. – neither of those are aired. Saturday action begins with qualifying at 4:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, then followed by race coverage beginning at 7 p.m. Listen in on MRN Radio or Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Ch. 90, as well, for all 250 laps of action.

Robert Richarsdon, Jr. Quotes:“First, I want to thank Walter Giles (crew chief) and all the guys for the work they’ve been putting in for us to get back to being Chevrolets. I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of the No. 23 for R3 Motorsports. We have a good stretch of races coming up here where we hope to be very competitive. It all starts with this race here in Iowa.

“I like this track because you can drive the low and high sides to get your car just right. Racing under the lights here is pretty cool because these fans get all pumped up for when we race there at Iowa – day or night. The energy from this crowd is pretty intense.

“Hope you all come out to the Bennigan’s located on the ground floor of the Best Western at the Des Moines Airport on Friday night. Stop by, say hi, get an autograph and have your picture taken with us. That’s one of the best parts about this sport is meeting the fans in a casual atmosphere.”

About the Best Western Plus Marquis Des Moines Airport Hotel: This Des Moines, Iowa hotel is the recipient of Cityview Magazine’s Best Hotel Award and is near the Blank Park Zoo and the Iowa State Capital Building. The BEST WESTERN PLUS Marquis Des Moines Airport Hotel is a full-service hotel located right next to the Des Moines International Airport. Hotel guest will find easy access to key area attractions including the Science Center Museum, the Wells Fargo Arena and Drake University.