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Category: XFINITY Series

NASCAR XFINITY Series news and information

  • PASTRANA-WALTRIP RACING POSTPONES PASTRANA NASCAR NATIONWIDE DEBUT

    PASTRANA-WALTRIP RACING POSTPONES PASTRANA NASCAR NATIONWIDE DEBUT

    INDIANAPOLIS – Pastrana Waltrip Racing announced Friday it will withdraw the No. 99 Boost Mobile Toyota from Saturday’s race at Lucas Oil Raceway where action sports star Travis Pastrana planned to make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut.  

    Pastrana broke his right foot and ankle after back-to-back crashes during the Moto X Best Trick competition at the X Games in Los Angeles Thursday.  

    “Like fans everywhere we were so excited about Travis’ debut Saturday night,” said team owner Michael Waltrip. “We have a long term vision with Travis which includes lots of NASCAR. We can’t wait to get him healed and in our race cars. We talked to our sponsor Boost Mobile and agreed to withdraw from Indy and delay our debut. We’ve waited a long time for someone like Travis Pastrana. I guess we’ll just have to wait a little bit longer.”  

    Pastrana had planned to compete in Best Trick and Freestyle on Thursday and Friday, fly to Indianapolis to make his NASCAR Nationwide debut Saturday, then return to Los Angeles to compete in RallyCross on Sunday.

  • M&M’S MAKES RACE DAY MORE FUN WITH NEW 5 CHARACTERS, 5 CARS PROMOTION

    M&M’S MAKES RACE DAY MORE FUN WITH NEW 5 CHARACTERS, 5 CARS PROMOTION

    M&M’S® Let’s NASCAR Fans Shift into 5th Gear for Chance to Drive Off With One of Five New Toyota Models

    [media-credit name=”www.mms.com/us/racing” align=”alignright” width=”235″][/media-credit]HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (June 15, 2011) — M&M’S® fans, start your engines! Mars, Chocolate North America announced today that it is revving up race day excitement among all consumers with the launch of the 5 Characters, 5 Cars…Pick the Car You Want! promotion. Consumers will purchase participating M&M’S® items from specially marked displays in stores and enter a UPC code online for their chance to win one of five Toyota models from the sweepstakes drawing.

    Each car is aligned with a different fun-loving M&M’S® Character: Red with the Toyota Tundra, Yellow with the FJ Cruiser, Green with the Camry, Orange with the Prius and Blue with the 4Runner – as consumers enter the sweepstakes, they will choose which of the five cars they would like to be eligible to win. With each sweepstakes entry, consumers also have a chance to instantly win additional prizes including NASCAR® merchandise, gas cards and cash.

    “As ‘The Official Chocolate of NASCAR,’ we take pride in connecting with race fans to Make Race Day More Fun, and this promotion allows our consumers to combine the things they love the most –M&M’S, driving and winning,” explained Debra A. Sandler, Chief Consumer Officer at Mars Chocolate North America. “We’re thrilled to launch this promotion with Toyota to further elevate our commitment to NASCAR and the most dedicated fans in sports.”

    The promotion kicks-off on June 15 and consumers will be able to enter to win through the end of the year and will be supported through a dedicated 360 marketing approach including print, broadcast, online, social media and in-store programs allowing fans full visibility and opportunities to win.

    M&M’S PUTS NASCAR® PUSH IN FAST LANE

    M&M’S® and NASCAR® have long been a winning team and the 5 Characters, 5 Cars…Pick the Car You Want! promotion is just one of many new initiatives Mars is taking in 2011. Other firsts this year include the first-ever M&M’S NASCAR® television commercial featuring Red, Yellow and Kyle Busch; first-ever television advertising during NASCAR® races with an M&M’S® NASCAR® spot running throughout the season; the first-ever NASCAR® national FSI and the introduction of a new, dedicated tagline, “M&M’S® Makes Race Day More Fun,” which is being showcased throughout the season and connects consumers with the fun they experience both on and off the track..

    For more information on the M&M’S® NASCAR® partnership, the 5 Characters, 5 Cars…Pick the Car You Want! promotion and for your chance to enter, please visit www.mms.com/us/racing or www.facebook.com/mmsracing.

    About Mars Chocolate North America:

    Mars Chocolate North America is the North American chocolate operations of Mars, Incorporated. In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars’ first roots as a confectionery company. In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar. In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of building a business based on the philosophy of a “mutuality of benefits” for all stakeholders – this vision serves as the foundation of the Mars, Incorporated we are today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $30 billion and six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks and Symbioscience. More than 65,000 Associates worldwide are putting our Mars Principles in action every day to make a difference for people and the planet through our performance.

    Mars brands include: Chocolate – M&M’S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Petcare – PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, SHEBA®, CESAR® and ROYAL CANIN®; Wrigley – ORBIT®, EXTRA®, STARBURST®, DOUBLEMINT® and SKITTLES®; Food – UNCLE BEN’S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS® and SEEDS OF CHANGE®; Drinks – ALTERRA COFFEE ROASTERS™, THE BRIGHT TEA CO.™, KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – SERAMIS®, CIRKU™ and COCOAVIA™.

    For more information, please visit www.mars.com.

  • Cup Drivers, Including Daytona Winner, In for Round Two at Iowa Speedway

    Cup Drivers, Including Daytona Winner, In for Round Two at Iowa Speedway

    Fan favorites Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski and Trevor Bayne elevate excitement for final race weekend

    NEWTON, Iowa – July 28, 2011 – Iowa Speedway is proud to welcome Daytona 500 champion, Trevor Bayne and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski to the U.S. Cellular 250 Presented by The EnlistT Weed Control System NASCAR Nationwide Series on Saturday, August 6. The three will join a talented list of Nationwide Series drivers for the second time this season to compete for a spot in Pizza Ranch Victory Lane.

    “I really enjoy going to Iowa Speedway. It’s close to home for me, so a lot of my friends and family will be there,” says Edwards. “It’s an exciting track and it will be cool to race there for the second time this year.”

    Keselowski is also excited about his return to Iowa for the second time this year.

    “Iowa Speedway is a great facility and a fun track to drive. The fans there are amazing and it creates a great atmosphere for racing. I’m really looking forward to getting back there because I think we’ve made enough improvements in our car that we can challenge for the win. We led a bunch of laps back in May, but we just didn’t have enough at the end. I really want another Iowa trophy.”

    Bayne, last year’s U.S. Cellular 250 NASCAR Nationwide race pole winner, missed the first Nationwide race in May due to an illness, and he is ready for his first trip back to Iowa Speedway. “It hurt to miss Iowa Speedway’s first Nationwide race in May, but I am 100 percent ready to race again. I can’t wait to get back out on the track and give Iowa fans a thrilling race!”

    Iowa Speedway fans are always treated to great racing, along with free parking, concerts, fireworks and tailgating. Having Sprint Cup drivers participate elevates the excitement, according to Jerry Jauron, Iowa Speedway President.

    “These drivers coming to Iowa Speedway is great for our fans,” says Jauron. “These three and many other outstanding teams who will be here, have excited our fans and given them plenty to cheer about. As a result, our great seats are going fast. Get your ticket to an action-packed, fun filled weekend today, before you miss out!”

    Call 1-866-RUSTY-GO or visit www.iowaspeedway.com for your ticket to thrills.

    About Iowa Speedway

    Iowa Speedway is a state-of-the-art 7/8 mile asphalt paved tri-oval race track and motorsports facility located just 30 miles east of Des Moines at I-80 Exit 168 in Newton, Iowa. The track is owned and operated by U.S. Motorsport Corporation and designed by former NASCAR Champion Rusty Wallace, now an anchor and analyst for ABC-TV/ESPN. Iowa Speedway is designed for year-round use and includes 30,000 permanent grandstand seats. Call 1-866-RUSTY-GO or visit www.iowaspeedway.com http://www.iowaspeedway.com/ to learn more.

  • NOTES FROM THE NASCAR NATION: THE NATIONWIDE SERIES MAKES IT FINAL ACCLAIM AT LUCAS OIL RACEWAY

    NOTES FROM THE NASCAR NATION: THE NATIONWIDE SERIES MAKES IT FINAL ACCLAIM AT LUCAS OIL RACEWAY

    Since 1982 the NASCAR Nationwide Series has been racing at a .686 mile bullring oval in Clermont-Indiana that virtually stands in the shadows of the grandstands at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway just down the highway. Now under the working name of the Lucas Oil Raceway, this annual short track classic has a tradition of generating some of the most exciting racing you’ll ever want to see. Saturday night’s 30th annual Kroger 200, benefiting the Riley Hospital For Children, is again expected to be its traditional sell out with literally millions more watching on live television.

    [media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignright” width=”227″][/media-credit]Sadly, this outstanding racing tradition may be coming to an official end after the checkers falls on the Kroger 200 Saturday night. In a rather surprising announcement made earlier this month by NASCAR officials, it appears that this race will be joining it’s NASCAR Sprint Cup counterparts at the mammoth Indianapolis Motor Speedway next year. Also on hand for that summer of 2012 weekend will be the Grand American Rolex Series, which is now owned by NASCAR, who will open the weekend with a race on the IMS road course.

    Where that announcement leaves the Lucas Oil Raceway Park remains to be seen. It’s seemingly apparent that the NASCAR Nationwide Series will not be returning to that track despite three decades of outstanding racing. The raceway’s annual NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, who will be racing at the Lucas Oil Raceway Friday night, will also be making their final acclaim at the famed short track and is not expected to return next year.

    This decision has sparked a tremendous amount of debate. Some believe that it’s important for the Nationwide Series teams to race on the most internationally known speedway in the world. There’s also the opinions that say three prominent series racing on the same track on the same weekend is going to generate a lot of attention, a lot of good racing and a lot of money. Still others believe this is a horrible decision that will ultimately cause more embarrassment than good. These opponents openly wonder why would NASCAR pull a race off of the Nationwide Series schedule that is so steeped in history and quality. I suppose we will have to wait until next summer to discover who’s right.

    THE STORY BREAKDOWN

    The Nationwide Series teams will be bringing an extra layer of drama to Saturday’s Kroger 200 with a very tight, way too close to call, championship points battle. Reed Sorenson, and his Turner Motorsports Toyota, is currently the points leader going into Saturday but only holds a five point advantage over the Roush Fenway Racing Ford team led by driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Holding down third, only 14 points from the top, is Elliot Sadler last week’s points leader. The misfortune of a broken gear, during a pit stop, dropped Sadler from first to third in the standings. However the driver of the Kevin Harvick Inc Chevrolet will be expected to be a hard charger Saturday night while seeking his first win of the season as well as a return to the top of the points standings.

    Also of interest here are the overall lack of double dip drivers in this race. The double dippers are of course the Sprint Cup drivers, and their high dollar teams, who frequently enjoy a little extra racing on Nationwide Series Saturday. With the Cup team just down the highway, for Sunday’s Brickyard 400, one would think that they would jump on some double dip fun available to them at the Lucas Oil Raceway.

    Apparently not. There are only four them entered in the Kroger 200. That list is topped by Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski who have been very busy racing both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series full schedules this year. Joining them will be Michael McDowell who will be driving the Joe Gibbs Racing #18 Toyota normally occupied by Kyle Busch. That’s right, for the second week in a row a Nationwide Series race will be ran Busch free despite the fact that he’s the defending race winner from last year. Joining the double dip squad will be NASCAR Camping World Truck Series regular Austin Dillon who, for the second race in a row, will be driving Kevin Harvick Inc’s #33 Chevrolet.

    Yet another Kroger 200 storyline that will generate a lot of attention Saturday night will be the Nationwide Series debut of Travis Pastrana. His accomplishments in the action sports arena are well documented. He has 16 medals in the famed X games as well as multiple titles in supercross and motocross racing and equal success driving rally cars. His transition to NASCAR stock cars this year has included five appearances in the K&N Pro Series East and West, NASCAR’s racing feeder system. His best finish came in January when he finished sixth in the Toyota All Star Shootout at the Irwindale Speedway near Los Angeles. His transition has been helped by his driver coach Matt Crafton a veteran of NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series.

    Pastrana is well versed in handling busy schedules. That’s a good thing because his schedule for this weekend is well beyond hectic. It starts on Thursday night when he will be at the annual X Games in Los Angeles to compete in the Best Trick Competition. Pastrana will once again attempt the 720 at the X Games. He will fly off of a ramp on his motorcycle and do two complete back flips. He’s been trying to perfect this dangerous stunt for approximately four years now and he recently pointed out “if you miss any one of the steps any time you will be broken.” Speaking of broken, this is the same trick that handed Pastrana multiple injuries during the X Games two years ago.

    On Friday he will be participating in the X Games’ Freestyle Competition. Then it’s off to the airport to catch a late night flight to Indianapolis. There he will have a full day at the Lucas Oil Raceway that begins with a rookie meeting, two Nationwide Series practice sessions, qualifying and of course the running of the Kroger 200. Then it’s back to the airport for a return flight to Los Angeles, and the X Games, to compete in the Rally Cross Competition. On Monday morning he will fly to Salt Lake City-Utah to spend the week filming his “Nitro 3-D Circus” movie. Again, he’s well versed in handling busy schedules. So is the ESPN Network who will covering all of Pastrana’s activities including his back and forth commute.

    THE RACE BREAKDOWN

    The Kroger 200, Benefiting the Riley Hospital For Children, is 200 laps/137.2 miles around the Lucas Oil Raceway’s challenging .686 mile oval with its progressive banking.

    The race has 44 entries vying for the 43 official starting berths. 14 of those entries are on the go or go home list meaning they are not guaranteed a starting berth because they are currently outside of the top 30 in the Nationwide Series owner’s points. These teams will have to rely on qualifying speeds to make the race. The lone exception here is driver Jeff Green who can make the race via a past champion’s provisional.

    Weather could turn out to be more challenging than the race track. The Saturday forecast for the Clermont-Indiana area calls for a chance of scattered thunder storms with daytime highs at 87 degrees.

    The Kroger 200, Benefiting the Riley Hospital For Children, will be broadcast live by the ESPN Network beginning at 7 pm eastern time.

  • Edwards Kroger 200 Advance

    Edwards Kroger 200 Advance

    Carl Edwards–Kroger 200 Advance  

    Team:           No. 60 Fastenal Ford Mustang

    Crew Chief:  Mike Beam

    Chassis:       RK-621 – primary – last ran in Iowa . Finished 2nd                      RK–596 – backup   

    QUOTES

    Carl Edwards on racing at Lucas Oil Raceway:   “It will make the Raceway Park race more special this year knowing we won’t be here next year. I really love racing at Raceway Park and I have a feeling it won’t be my last race here, even if it is a silver crown race or something in the future.”  

    Crew chief Mike Beam on racing at Lucas Oil Raceway:   “We are bringing the same chassis that we finished second with at Iowa . Carl is an expert short track racer. Getting the Fastenal Ford to roll through the center and to have good forward drive off the corner will be two things we focus on for LOR. We hope to be celebrating again in victory lane on Saturday night.”  

    FAST FACTS  

    * So far in 2011, Edwards has five wins, ten top-fives, and 13 top-10s

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

    * Edwards’ average finish at Lucas Oil Raceway is 8.0.

  • Michael Annett Lucas Oil Raceway News and Notes

    Michael Annett Lucas Oil Raceway News and Notes

    The Headlines:   Short Tracks Back-to Back: With his homecoming at Iowa Speedway just one week away, Nationwide Series driver Michael Annett is gearing up for two consecutive weeks of short track racing. Driving for a team owner known as a short track ace, Annett has his eyes on two strong finishes in back-to-back short track races at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis and his home track Iowa Speedway. Saturday’s 30th Annual Kroger 200 will be the Des Moines, Iowa native’s third career Nationwide Series start at Lucas Oil Raceway.  

    RWR’s McKinney Visits Home State: Car chief and rear tire changer of the No. 62 Pilot Flying J Toyota, Ryan McKinney, hails from the Hoosier State. McKinney’s 14-year tenure in the sport led him to his current position with Rusty Wallace Racing at the beginning of the 2011 season. The Anderson, Indiana native’s initial interest in racing was sparked back at his hometown track watching his uncle race at Anderson Speedway.

    McKinney is no stranger to Victory Lane at Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Raceway. The Rusty Wallace Racing car chief visited Lucas Oil Raceway’s winners circle with late model driver Brian Rievley in his early years in racing as a late model mechanic. In his spare time, McKinney enjoys working on hot rods and spending time with his daughter Kendall and wife Allison, who also works in the Nationwide Series.  

    Rusty Wallace Racing at Lucas Oil Raceway: Since 2008, the two-car Rusty Wallace Racing team has one top-five and four top-10s in six starts at Lucas Oil Raceway. The No. 62 entry recorded a sixth place finish in Lucas Oil Raceway’s 2010 Nationwide Series event. Annett’s teammate, Steve Wallace, has finished fifth and tenth respectively in his last two attempts at Lucas Oil Raceway’s .686 mile oval in a Rusty Wallace Racing powered Toyota Camry.  

    Most Popular Driver Voting Continues: Nationwide Series Most Popular Driver voting has returned for the fourth consecutive year in 2011 and is underway on NASCAR.com. Fans can cast their vote for Rusty Wallace Racing’s Michael Annett once per day by visiting www.NASCAR.com/nnsmpd. Voting runs from now until November 17. The winner of the Nationwide Series Most Popular Driver award will be announced at the year-end banquet on November 21.  

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

    The Machines:   Team 62 Primary: RWR-059 – RWR’s No. 62 team most recently earned a seventh place finish with chassis 059 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The team has also competed with this chassis at Texas Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Michigan International Speedway in 2011.  

    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.  

    Pilot Flying J Locations on the Way:   Pilot Flying J provides 34 Pilot Travel Center and Flying J locations throughout the state of Indiana. Fourteen of these locations are conveniently positioned within a 50 mile radius of Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.

    For more information on Pilot Flying J and to map their nearest locations along your route, please visit www.pilotflyingj.com.  

    Pilot Travel Center I-465 and IN 37 Exit 4 4607 South Harding St. Indianapolis, IN 46217  

    Flying J I-465 Exit 4 1720 W. Thompson Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46217  

    Pilot Travel Center I-70 Exit 96 2640 North 600 West Greenfield, IN 46240  

    Pilot Travel Center I-65 Exit 95 2962 East 500 North Whiteland, IN 46184  

    Flying J I-65 Whiteland Rd. Exit 95 4982 North 350 East Whiteland, IN 46184  

    Pilot Travel Center I-74 Exit 109 1851 West 400 North Shelbyville, IN 46176  

    Pilot Travel Center I-74 Exit 39 4403 East State Route 32 Crawfordsville, IN 47933  

    Flying J I-65 Exit 139 520 South State Road 39 I-65 Lebanon, IN 46052  

    Pilot Travel Center I-69 Exit 14 7455 South State Road 13 Pendleton, IN 46064   Pilot Travel Center I-69 Exit 34 15876 West Commerce Rd. Daleville, IN 47334  

    Pilot Travel Center I-69 Exit 34 15151 Commerce Rd. Daleville, IN 47334  

    Flying J I-70 Exit 123 5300 South State Rte. 3 Spiceland, IN 47385  

    Pilot Travel Center I-70 Exit 23 4376 North SR 59 Brazil, IN 47834  

    Pilot Travel Center I-70 and IN 46 Exit 11 5555 E. Margaret Ave. Terre Haute, IN 47803  

    About Pilot Flying J:  

    Pilot Flying J is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, and has more than 550 locations in North America. The company employs more than 20,000 people and is the largest retail operator of travel centers in North America. Follow Pilot Flying J on Twitter at @pilottravel.   Broadcast Info:   Final Practice Saturday, July 30, 11:30 a.m. ET ESPN2   Qualifying Saturday, July 30, 4:30 p.m. ET ESPN2   30th Annual Kroger 200 Saturday, July 30, 7:30 p.m. ET ESPN

  • Dodge Motorsports Notes & Quotes – NNS Race Advance – Lucas Oil Raceway

    Dodge Motorsports Notes & Quotes – NNS Race Advance – Lucas Oil Raceway

    Dodge Motorsports Notes & Quotes

    NNS Race Advance 30th Annual Kroger 200

    Lucas Oil Raceway Saturday, July 30, 2011

    BRAD KESELOWSKI – No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Challenger R/T

    Career Stats:

    Starts: 158

    Wins: 13

    Top Fives: 66

    Top 10s: 94

    Poles: 10

    Laps Led: 2,213

    Average Start: 14.8

    Average Finish: 12.6

    2011 Season Stats:

    Starts: 19

    Wins: 1

    Top Fives: 7

    Top 10s: 12

    Laps Led: 365

    Average Start: 8.0

    Average Finish: 11.8

    Lucas Oil Raceway Stats:

    Starts: 4

    Wins: 0

    Top Fives: 1

    Top 10s: 3

    Laps Led: 1

    Average Start: 11.2

    Average Finish: 10.2

    Highlights:

    ·  Last NASCAR Nationwide Series win came at Kentucky Speedway earlier this month.

    ·  The reigning NASCAR Nationwide Series champion.

    ·  Earned Penske Racing its first NASCAR champion last season.

    ·  In 2010, set career-bests in wins (6), top five’s (26), top 10s (29) and poles (5).

    ·  First Nationwide victory came at Nashville Superspeedway (2008).

    DID YOU KNOW

    ·  Dodge’s Brad Keselowski has started from the pole in the last two Nationwide Series races (New Hampshire and Nashville).

    THE NUMBERS

    ·  Dodge’s Brad Keselowski is making his fifth career Nationwide start at Lucas Oil Raceway.  His career bests at the .686-mile track came in 2009.  He started fourth and finished seventh.

    ·  Dodge is seeking its first NNS win at Lucas Oil Raceway.

    DODGE QUOTES: “It may have a new name, but it’s the same old, tough race track.  I’m really going to miss this place after this season, but I can understand the move that the series is making to the ‘big track’ (Indianapolis Motor Speedway).  The racing we are able to put on there is unmatched by most of the other race tracks on the circuit.  It really brings a grassroots feel back to short track racing in the Nationwide Series.  We get a good crowd of Midwesterners that show up at the race, which adds to the excitement.  It’s usually a sellout crowd and, as a driver, that’s a cool feeling.  The Raceway has a great, unique tradition behind it with the open pit area and no haulers in the infield.  It really takes me back a few years to when I was racing late models on the local level.” Brad Keselowski, No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Charger

    FROM THE CREW CHIEF “Lucas Oil Raceway is really a momentum race track.  The line is very high and you tend to roll the top of the track without using much braking.  The straightaways are not long so there is no aerodynamic dependency.  It’s just an old-school short track where you rely on mechanical grip more than anything else.  The car needs to rotate in the center of the corner without being too loose on exit.  Tight in the center and loose off the corner is usually the condition you have to fight when racing there.  The driver that can run both lanes of the track is usually the winner because you need to be able to use the bottom to pass.” Todd Gordon, crew chief, No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Challenger R/T

  • JR Motorsports — NNS Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis Preview

    JR Motorsports — NNS Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis Preview

    JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW  

    No. 88 GT Vodka Chevrolet / No. 7 iRacing.com Chevrolet  

    EVENT – 30th Annual Kroger 200 (200 laps / 137 miles)

    TRACK – Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis (.686-mile oval)

    DATE – Saturday, July 30, 2011

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

    Aric Almirola   No. 88 GT Vodka Chevrolet “It doesn’t seem like it’s been a year since I joined JRM. Time flies when you’re racing most weekends. It’s been a lot of fun. We’ve had our challenges, but the past two weeks I feel our GT Vodka team has shown a lot of progress. Knowing we’re going in the right direction is a good feeling.  

    “This is by far one of my favorite tracks. I think a lot of us have a bittersweet feeling heading out there this year. It’s going to be cool to race at the big track next year, but the Nationwide Series has been racing at Lucas Oil Raceway for a very long time, and there is a lot of history tied to that track. I can’t describe what it would mean to win there. To have your name tied to such a historic place and go down as a NASCAR winner there would be huge for myself and JR Motorsports.”  

    Josh Wise No. 7 iRacing.com Chevrolet “This is going to be an exciting weekend at Lucas Oil Raceway. It’s such a fun racetrack. I think I’ve logged more laps there than any other track. I’ll be running the USAC Silver Crown race on Thursday night, in addition to the Nationwide race on Saturday, so I’m looking forward to getting up there and turning some laps.    

    “This week we have iRacing on the car. I’m a big supporter of online racing, and I spend a lot of time playing iRacing during the week. Hopefully we can go out there and earn a solid finish. Our team has been in position to score much better finishes than our results show. Tony (Eury) Jr. puts a lot of thought into pit strategy, and we just haven’t had things fall our way in the closing laps. We just need to shake off some of this bad luck and stay positive. Good finishes will come for our team.”  

    JR MOTORSPORTS NOTEBOOK –   ONE-YEAR MARK FOR ALMIROLA – This weekend’s race at Lucas Oil Raceway will mark Almirola’s one-year anniversary with JR Motorsports. Almirola joined the No. 88 GT Vodka team for this event last year, and after qualifying sixth he raced among the top-three for the bulk of the night en route to a third-place finish. The Tampa, Fla. native drove in seven more races in the organization’s flagship car last season and signed on to drive fulltime in 2011. During his tenure, Almirola has amassed four top-five and 14 top-10 finishes with JRM.  

    WISE RETURNS TO USAC ACTION – Prior to Saturday’s Kroger 200 Nationwide Series race, Wise returns to familiar territory on Thursday night in the USAC Series. He will compete in the USAC Silver Crown race at Lucas Oil Raceway in the No. 17 RW Motorsports entry, previously driven by Shane Hmeil. Hmeil will serve as Wise’s crew chief during the race. A veteran of the series, Wise is a five-time champion and winner of 34 events. In 1999 after securing his initial title, he became the youngest USAC champion at the age of 16.  

    FIRST OF TWO FOR IRACING.COM – Wise’s No. 7 Chevrolet will race under iRacing.com colors beginning this weekend at Lucas Oil Raceway and continuing next week at Iowa Speedway. 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.  

    SHORT TRACK SUCCESS – In eight starts at the .686-mile bull ring, JRM has earned two top-five and five top-10 finishes with four different drivers. The organization is averaging a finish of 10.6 at the track.   

    WISE UPDATE – Wise owns three starts at Lucas Oil Raceway with one top-five and one top-10 finish. It was the sight of his career-best Nationwide Series finish of fifth in 2008. He is averaging a finish of 13.3 at the facility. The 28-year-old native of Riverside, Calif. is currently 14th in driver points but has raced in only 18 of the 20 Nationwide Series events to date in 2011.  

    ALMIROLA’S LOOP DATA STATS – Almirola ranks among the top-five and the top-10 in the following NASCAR statistical services loop data stats, includes the past six races at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis: laps in the top-15 (second), fastest laps run (fourth), laps led (fourth), fastest on restarts (fifth), speed in traffic (fifth), fastest late in a run (sixth), green flag speed (sixth), driver rating of 104.2 (seventh), fastest early in a run (seventh) and average running position (10th).  

    ALMIROLA AT LOR – In four starts, Almirola secured one top-five and two top-10 finishes with one pole at Lucas Oil Raceway. He has also led 88 laps. After a pair of consecutive top-fives over the past two weeks of competition (New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Nashville Superspeedway), Almirola has cut into the championship gap by 17 points and is currently ranked fifth in driver points (-71).  

    CHASSIS INFO FOR 88 TEAM – The No. 88 crew will bring chassis no. 594 to Lucas Oil Raceway. Almirola raced to a fifth-place finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with this chassis. It also raced at Iowa, Phoenix, Richmond and Road America.   

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

    FIVE OF FIVE –All five drivers that have driven the No. 7 Chevrolet this year have scored top-10 finishes. The list encompasses an impressive cast of drivers, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ron Fellows, Kasey Kahne, Danica Patrick and Josh Wise.  

    CHASSIS INFO FOR THE 7 TEAM- The No. 7 team will unload chassis no. 621 this weekend. The team earned its second-best finish of the season (third) with it at New Hampshire Motor Speedway two weeks ago. It also previously raced at Bristol, Dover, Charlotte, Kentucky, Michigan and Phoenix.  

    NO. 7 SEASON STATS – The No. 7 team holds four top-five and nine top-10 finishes in 2011. The team occupies 11th position in owner points.  

    JRM AUTOGRAPH SIGNINGS – Aric Almirola and Josh Wise will sign autographs at the JR Nation merchandise hauler, located in the fan concourse area, on Saturday, July 30, from 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

    EST.   WIN DALE JR.’S RIDE – There is still time to win the keys to Dale Jr.’s Camaro. The Dale Jr. Foundation is giving fans the chance 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. The contest will run through Sept. 1, 2011, with all proceeds benefitting The Dale Jr. Foundation. Additionally, the purchase of a Camaro raffle ticket also makes fans eligible for a number of other prizes, including Dale Jr. autographed memorabilia and a Dale Jr. tailgating tent during the month of July.

  • STEVE WALLACE, NO. 66 5-HOUR ENERGY RACING NOTES – LUCAS OIL RACEWAY

    STEVE WALLACE, NO. 66 5-HOUR ENERGY RACING NOTES – LUCAS OIL RACEWAY

    . This Week’s 5 Hour Energy Toyota … Steve Wallace will pilot Rusty Wallace Racing chassis RWR-066 in Saturday night’s Kroger 200 at Lucas Oil Raceway. Built new for the 2011 season, this Toyota Camry debuted at Iowa Speedway in May, where Wallace started 17th and finished 11th. The Greensboro, N.C. native then raced it at Chicagoland Speedway, where he started 10th and finished 12th. Most recently, Wallace raced this chassis to a ninth-place finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway earlier this month.

    . Through 20 Races … With 20 races of the 2011 season in the record books, Wallace has accumulated one top-five, three top 10 and nine top-15 finishes, an average starting position of 13.9 and an average finish of 16.2. Wallace has completed 98.1 percent of the laps contested (3,620 of 3,689) thus far.

    . Get to the Points … Wallace is currently ranked eighth in the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver point standings, 47 in arrears to seventh-place driver Kenny Wallace.

    . Wallace at LOR … This weekend Wallace heads to the track where he statistically has performed the best over his seven-year Nationwide Series career. In five previous series starts at LOR, Wallace boasts one top-five and three top-10 finishes. His best finish, fifth, came in the 2009 running of the annual classic. The 23-year-old driver has completed all but one lap of competition (1,000 of 1,001) at the .686-mile oval.

    . Welcome Aboard … 5-Hour Energy Racing welcomes Kroger and Circle K as partners for this weekend’s race at LOR. Kroger branding will adorn the TV panel of Wallace’s No. 66 Toyota in Saturday evening’s race, while Circle K will have a presence on the B-post.

    . Last Time at LOR … Wallace appeared to be a contender over the first half of last year’s Nationwide Series event at LOR, but an ill-handling Toyota and a late-race miscue on pit road saw Wallace fall to 23rd with just 30 laps remaining. Wallace rallied, gaining 13 positions to claim the 10th position when the checkered flag waved.

    . Last Time Out … Wallace and 5-Hour Energy team started last Saturday night’s Federated Auto Parts 300 from the second position and persevered through changing track conditions to record an 11th-place finish at Nashville Superspeedway.

    . Rusty Wallace Racing at LOR … In 13 previous NASCAR Nationwide starts at LOR, Rusty Wallace Racing has earned one top-five and five top-10 finishes dating back to August 5, 1989.

    . Rusty Wallace Racing in 2011 … With 20 races completed in the 2011 season, Rusty Wallace Racing’s three NASCAR Nationwide Series entries have recorded a combined two top-five and nine top-10 finishes. Rusty Wallace Racing Toyotas have completed 7,908 of a 8,194 laps contested, and have been atop the leaderboard for 15 laps with drivers Michael Annett, Jason Bowles, David Reutimann and Steve Wallace.

    . Happy Birthday … Greg Molyneaux, mechanic on the No. 66 5-Hour Energy team, celebrated his 25th birthday on Monday, July 25.

    “Lucas Oil Raceway is by far my favorite racetrack. I always look forward to going there, we typically run well there, and we need to continue doing that this time around to get our season headed back in the right direction. I always look forward to this race because we always seem to run well there. I grew up, like a lot of the other guys, short track racing, so it’s really getting back to my roots and what’s most familiar to me.” – Steve Wallace on racing at Lucas Oil Raceway

    # # #

    ABOUT RUSTY WALLACE RACING, LLC

    North Carolina-based Rusty Wallace Racing (RWR) is a professional auto racing team steeped in the legendary racing history of its founder, Rusty Wallace. The team currently campaigns the No. 66 and No. 62 Toyota Camrys-driven by Steve Wallace and Michael Annett, respectively-in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. RWR will also campaign the No. 64 Camry in select 2011 events. RWR entries have finished among the top-ten in the Nationwide Series driver or owner standings in each of the last three seasons. For more on Rusty Wallace Racing, please visit the award-winning rustywallace.com.

    ABOUT LIVING ESSENTIALS, LLC

    Farmington Hills, MI-based Living Essentials, LLC, is the maker of 5-Hour Energy, the category leader in two-ounce liquid energy shots. 5-Hour Energy is available nationwide at major retailers in the Grocery, Drug Store, Mass Merchant, Warehouse and Convenience Store classes of trade. Living Essentials sells over seven million bottles of 5-Hour Energy per week. For more information, please visit 5hourenergy.com.

  • Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Kroger 200 Advance

    Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Kroger 200 Advance

    Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – Kroger 200 ADVANCE

    Team:              No. 6 Blackwell Angus Quality Beef and Cargill Ford Mustang

    Crew Chief:        Mike Kelley

    Chassis:            RK-635

    THE QUOTES

    Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 6 Blackwell Angus Quality Beef and Cargill Ford Mustang:  YOU ARE SECOND IN THE NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS.  DO YOU THINK THE NEW POINTS STRUCTURE HAS HELPED THE SERIES CREATE ITS OWN IDENTITY?  “I feel like the fans are into it.  Every time we do autograph sessions they’re talking about the points so I think that’s a great thing that the fans are talking about us Nationwide regular drivers.  We’ve still got to go out here and win races against Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch and those guys. It’s working out great for us right now.  We’re paying attention to the points.  We want to win the points in the Nationwide Series but we want to go out and beat Carl, Kyle, Kevin Harvick and those guys when they’re here because that’s really what proves us.”

    THE FACTS

    Stenhouse Jr. is second in the in the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship standings, five points behind leader Reed Sorenson and nine ahead of third-place Elliott Sadler.  He leads fourth-place Justin Allgaier by 25 points and fifth-place Aric Almirola by 66… Gained 26 points on NNS point leader over the last three races – was 31 points behind first-place Elliott Sadler after race No. 17 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway…Chassis RK-635 finished fifth at Nashville (race No. 8) and qualified third at Chicagoland (Joliet, Ill.) Speedway (race No. 14)…Has earned more top-10 finishes (15) and collected more bonus points (15) than any other NNS competitor…First-career NNS victory came on short track at Iowa Speedway (race No. 12) in his 51st career start… Has scored top-10 finishes in five of the last six races including three top-fives…Is the only NNS regular to lead a lap in all three previous short track races this season (71 laps, 52.29 miles)…Won pole at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway (race No. 4) and has started ninth or better in all three short track races…Tops NNS regulars in number of laps led (207) and miles led (264.267)…Completed 98.3 percent of total possible laps (3,627 of 3,689) this season with an average start of 7.1 and average finish of 9.9.

    THE TEAM

    Name                                              Duties                                      Ricky Stenhouse Jr.                Driver                    Mike Kelley                Crew Chief            Seth Barbour                Engineer                                                  Richard Letendre                Car Chief    Chris Letourneau                Front Tire Changer Kyle Coolidge                Front Tire Carrier Will Sturgill                Jack Man Josh Frankos                Rear Tire Changer Jon Bernal                Rear Tire Carrier Brian Carr                Gas Man/Truck Driver Mike Calinoff                Spotter Larry Lally                2nd Truck Driver Edgar Alleman                Engine Tuner/Support Lance Allen                Pit Support Joe Elliott                    Pit Support Kenny Deguisto                 Pit Support Jonathan Dhein                Pit Support Geoff Doucette                2nd Spotter

    #####

    About Roush Fenway Racing Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR’s largest team operating seven motorsports teams. Four in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with drivers Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; and three in the Nationwide Series with Edwards, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Trevor Bayne. For more information on any of the Roush Fenway Racing teams, log onto www.RoushFenway.com. Become a fan of Roush Fenway Racing on Facebook by going to http://www.facebook.com/roushfenway and follow us on Twitter @roushfenway. For sponsorship inquiries please contact Robin Johnson at 704.720.4645.

    About Blackwell Angus® beef Blackwell Angus® beef is quality U.S. Angus beef at an everyday price. It is hand-selected, hand-cut and grain-fed to be consistently juicy and flavorful. Blackwell Angus beef is available at select retail stores throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.BlackwellAngus.com. Become a fan at www.facebook.com/blackwellangusbeef.