Testing SpeedwayMedia.com

Category: XFINITY Series

NASCAR XFINITY Series news and information

  • Timmy Hill to run for Rookie of the Year in Nationwide for RWR

    When Timmy Hill turns 18 on February 25th, the opening day of NASCAR Nationwide Series practice at Phoenix, buying a lottery ticket or going to a movie rated “R” will not be on the agenda; jumping behind the wheel of his full time ride in the #15 Ford for Rick Ware Racing will be.

    “My Dad, Jerry, raced for Rick back in the day, and I ran a few ARCA and K&N races with RWR last season.  Of course, Rick and my Dad have been friends for a while, but I love working with him and the entire RWR crew.  Rick has given me the opportunity to pilot his NASCAR Nationwide entry for the 2011 season, and I don’t think my 18th birthday can come soon enough” Hill said.

    Due to NASCAR’s age restriction for drivers, Hill will sit out the opening race at Daytona, but his #15 car will be under the veteran care of Todd Bodine.

    “Missing the first race of the season by a week really stinks; I’m not going to lie.  Rules are rules though, and I know Todd Bodine will get the job done.   On the bright side, Phoenix will be a good place to make my debut.  I ran a K&N race there in November, so I’m familiar with the track,” Hill explained.

    Hill will compete for Rookie of the Year, and RWR purchased a stable of Fords with Roush-Fenway and engines from Roush-Yates for Hills efforts.

    “We have enough Nationwide NEW cars to start a second team, and we are excited to run Timmy for the entire season in the #15 car.  We haven’t officially named our primary sponsor, and like most the teams out there, we continuously search for funding.  Our goal is to find a teammate for Hill so we can increase our learning curve on the NEW car for the Nationwide Series.  We have a fleet of some of the best cars and engine combinations in the series and I know we can compete with the veterans each and every week“, stated Dave Mitchell, Vice-President.  “We look forward to working with some new and old sponsors for our organization in 2011 with Timmy who carries himself like a seasoned veteran of racing.”

    So when the lights go down in Daytona after the 500, some may feel sad that Speedweeks 2011 has come to an end, but for Timmy Hill, it will  be one day closer to the best birthday present an 18 year-old racer could wish for, his chance at the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

    For more information visit www.wareracing.com or you can also follow the team on Twitter at @rickwareracing

  • Kevin Harvick Inc. Announces Multi-Year Sponsorship Agreement with Mixed Martial Arts Apparel Brand TapouT

    Kevin Harvick Inc. Announces Multi-Year Sponsorship Agreement with Mixed Martial Arts Apparel Brand TapouT

    KERNERSVILLE, N.C. (February 1, 2011) — Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) announced today a multi-year partnership with world-renowned mixed martial arts (MMA) apparel brand TapouT, an Authentic Brands Group company. TapouT will make its NASCAR debut at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 5, 2011 as sponsor of the No. 2 Chevrolet Impala in the Nationwide Series event with driver Elliott Sadler.  KHI co-owner Kevin Harvick will also carry the world renowned black and white logo on the hood of the No. 2 TapouT Chevrolet Silverado in the Truck Series race at Michigan International Speedway in 2011.

    [media-credit name=”SBStudios.com” align=”alignleft” width=”279″][/media-credit]This partnership marks an unprecedented expansion for the TapouT brand, which to date has only sponsored MMA fighters and events. With the rise in popularity of MMA, TapouT is now branching out into new markets and reaching new fans in other sports.

    Co-founders of TapouT, Skyskrape and Punkass, believe that NASCAR and MMA fans alike will be excited about the company’s new sponsorship venture.

    “I expect NASCAR and MMA fans to be in a bit of shock – in a good way,” said Skyskrape.  “TapouT has never ventured outside of MMA like this, but seeing how the fans love both sports, I think they will be the real winners here. TapouT loves doing things out of the ordinary and we think this is going to be a great partnership.” 

    Punkass echoed Skyskrape’s sentiments. “There are so many crossover fans that will love to see TapouT breaking ground into other competitive sports.”

    Fellow MMA fan and supporter Kevin Harvick is also looking forward to the opportunity to help TapouT expand into this market.

    “TapouT has become one of the most well known brands in sports,” said Harvick. “To have the opportunity to become part of the TapouT organization means a lot to not only me, but the KHI racing family. DeLana and I are very excited about this program and look forward to kicking it off in Las Vegas.”  

    Elliott Sadler will be exposing the TapouT brand to the NASCAR nation for their first event in Las Vegas.

    “TapouT is coming on board with us in the perfect NASCAR market to launch our partnership,” said Sadler.  “When you think of Las Vegas you think of all the historic fights that have been held in that town. I’m a huge fan of mixed martial arts and TapouT apparel. They have some really bold designs that will definitely be appealing to NASCAR fans. We’re going to work very hard to get these guys into victory lane in Vegas and work really hard to market the TapouT brand to all of the NASCAR fans.”

    The multi-year sponsorship includes co-branded Kevin Harvick and TapouT product launching in Spring 2011.

     

     

    About Kevin Harvick Inc.:

    Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) enters 2011 celebrating 10 years of NASCAR racing. From the start, co-owners Kevin and DeLana Harvick set a goal to become leaders within the industry. With two Truck Series championships to their credit, the organization has built a reputation of integrity and competitiveness within the NASCAR community. KHI is housed in an over 80,000 sq. ft. facility located in Kernersville, N.C. This season, the organization will field three full-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams and two full-time NASCAR Nationwide Series teams, competing for the drivers and owners championships in each series. With a roster comprised of both up-and-coming and veteran championship-caliber drivers, KHI continues to establish itself as one of the top teams in NASCAR competition. For more information about KHI and its teams, please visit www.KevinHarvickInc.com.

    About TapouT:

    Founded in 1997 by Mask, Punkass and Skyskrape, TapouT is the first brand to represent the sport of MMA. From humble beginnings when the brand was sold at underground events, TapouT has become synonymous with the sport and is the most recognized MMA brand in the world. Athletes and millions of global fans wear TapouT as a badge of honor as it symbolizes the brands fighting spirit and that quitting is never an option. TapouT’s worldwide movement is founded on Mask’s conviction that anything is possible if one simply believes…

    About Authentic Brands Group LLC:
    Authentic Brands Group, in partnership with Leonard Green & Partners, is an intellectual property corporation with a mandate to acquire, manage and build long-term value in prominent consumer brands. A New York based company with offices in Toronto, ABG’s mission is to acquire and manage iconic consumer brands in apparel, sporting goods, action sports, home, celebrity, entertainment and consumer electronics and enhance brand equity through best-in-class brand licensee and direct-to-retail partnerships. ABG holds Marilyn Monroe, TapouT, TapouT MPS, TapouT Pro, TapouT Vintage, Silver Star Casting Company, Iron Star, Hitman Fight Gear and Sinister Brand. ABG manages the merchandise licensing programs for the Bob Marley family of brands.
    www.authenticbrandsgroup.com <http://www.authenticbrandsgroup.com>

    For more information on Authentic Brands Group holdings: www.tapout.com <http://www.tapout.com> , www.buysilverstar.com <http://www.buysilverstar.com> and www.sinisterbrand.com <http://www.sinisterbrand.com>

  • Virginia College Savings Plan Renews Partnership With Richmond International Raceway

    Virginia 529 College Savings 250 Kicks off Fall NASCAR Weekend  

    Richmond, VA (January 31, 2011)—Richmond International Raceway officials announced today the Virginia College Savings Plan has renewed its partnership with America’s Premier Short Track. The Virginia 529 College Savings 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race kicks off the Fall NASCAR Doubleheader weekend “under the lights” on Friday night September 9. The Virginia College Savings Plan remains the Official College Savings Plan of the track and presenting sponsor of the Family Sections presented by Virginia 529 College Savings Plan.  

    “Virginia 529 is pleased to be entering our third year of sponsoring the Virginia 529 College Savings 250 at Richmond International Raceway,” said Mary G. Morris, CEO of the Virginia College Savings Plan, “particularly with the family-friendly enhancements at the track this year, which fits with our focus on helping families make higher education a reality.”

    “The Virginia College Savings Plan is a great partner for Richmond International Raceway,” said track president Doug Fritz. “We are proud to have them on board again in 2011 and look forward to kicking off the September NASCAR Doubleheader Weekend with the Virginia 529 College Savings 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race. Additionally, their sponsorship of the Family Sections is a perfect fit.”  

    The Virginia 529 College Savings 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race is part of one of the biggest weekends on the entire NASCAR season schedule. The Fall NASCAR Doubleheader Weekend at Richmond International Raceway features two great races “under the lights”—the Virginia 529 College Savings 250 on Friday night, September 9 and the “One Last Race to Make The Chase” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Saturday night, September 10.  

    The season-long Family Sections presented by Virginia 529 feature a special price on NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tickets for kids 12 and under and alcohol is prohibited in these sections. For NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, tickets for kids 12 and under start at $25 when accompanied by a paying adult. You must call 866-455-RACE (7223) to purchase children’s tickets in the Family Sections presented by Virginia 529 College Savings Plan.  

    NASCAR returns to Richmond International Raceway for a NASCAR Tripleheader April 28-30, highlighted by the Saturday, April 30 Crown Royal Presents The Your Name Here 400 Sprint Cup Series race. Tickets start at $45 and can be purchased online at www.rir.com or by calling 866-455-RACE (7223).  

    The weekend also features the Friday, April 29 BUBBA burger 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race “under the lights.” Friday’s tickets start at $30 in advance. The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East kicks off the weekend on Thursday, April 28, when they debut at America’s Premier Short Track for a race “under the lights.” Thursday’s tickets are general admission and $10. Children 12 and under are admitted free with a ticketed adult in general admission sections on Thursday and Friday. For tickets and information, log on to www.rir.com or call 866-455-RACE (7223).  

    About the Virginia 529 College Savings Plan: The Virginia College Savings Plan (VCSP) provides four 529 college savings programs under its umbrella and each aims to appeal to a broad group of people interested in saving for college by providing options which suit their pocketbooks, their risk tolerance and their college planning time horizon. The VCSP offers the Virginia Prepaid Education Program (VPEP), the Virginia Education Savings Trust (VEST), CollegeAmerica, and CollegeWealth. These programs are marked by their flexibility, affordability, diversity of investment options, strength of underlying managers, and superior customer service.  Its efforts were recognized by the investment research firm Morningstar Inc., which ranked Virginia’s two savings programs—CollegeAmerica and VEST—among the Best Five college savings programs in the country for two consecutive years. The VCSP has been in existence for 13 years and isthe largest 529 plan in the country, with more than 2 million accounts and more than $28.4 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2009.  For more information on the Virginia College Savings Plan visit Virginia529.com or call toll-free 888-567-0540.  

    About Richmond International Raceway: Richmond International Raceway, known as America’s Premier Short Track, offers exciting night racing action and a commitment to the fan experience. One of the most popular facilities among drivers and fans in all of motorsports, Richmond International Raceway annually hosts all of its major events—two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, two NASCAR Nationwide Series events and one NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race—under the lights on its ¾-mile D-Shaped oval. The unique layout consistently produces the thrill of side-by-side racing, coupled with high enough speeds for a superspeedway feel. Combined with first-class amenities (including the state-of-the-art Video Scoring Tower) and a focus on the fans, guests at Richmond International Raceway can expect to experience what “Racing Perfection” truly is. For tickets to events at Richmond International Raceway, call 866-455-RACE or visit www.rir.comonline.Find us on Facebookand follow us on Twitter @RIRInsider.

  • JD Motorsports signs Brad Parrott as crew chief for Mike Wallace

    GAFFNEY, S.C. (January 29, 2011) – In an effort to build on their momentum from last year, JD Motorsports has signed veteran NASCAR Nationwide Series crew chief Brad Parrott for driver Mike Wallace and their No. 01 Chevrolet team.

    Parrott will take over the running of the shop and pit box duties from team owner Davis. This will allow Davis to concentrate on the overall running of the team and alleviate him from overseeing every aspect of the car preparation during the week and at the track.

    “This is the type of move I’ve been wanting to make for awhile,” Davis said. “After talking things over with Mike and the team, we all feel bringing someone like Brad on will help us get better on and off the track.

    “His experience and past success is something we’re hoping to achieve again with him now at JD Motorsports. And, this will make us even more attractive to the potential primary and associate marketing partners we’ve been talking to lately.”

    This is also a reunion of sorts for the Wallace and Parrott families. In 1989, older brothers Todd Parrott and Rusty Wallace earned the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship and multiple victories together.

    “I feel very good about making this move to JD Motorsports,” Parrott said. “This new car is something I have really spent a lot of time on and really done some great research to be ready for when someone came calling.

    “Working with Mike is going to be great. He’s a good driver, knows what it takes to get better during practices and races, and will give you 100 percent every time out there. Having a Parrott and Wallace teamed up again is pretty cool, too. I can’t thank Johnny and Mike enough for giving me this chance.”

    Wallace has four NNS victories to his credit and is looking forward to having Parrott on board with the team.

    “This is a pretty great deal having Brad become part of our team as my crew chief,” said the middle of the three Wallace brothers. “I really have to give Johnny credit for doing this and giving up something he has been so great in doing to keep this team competitive.

    “Brad can move in there, pick up right where we left off last year and bring some of his knowledge to the deal, too. We have our cars ready for the beginning of the season and I am very much looking forward to Daytona, and the rest of the season, this year.”

  • Blackwell Angus Beef Returns as Primary Sponsor for Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 6 Nationwide Series Ford

    Blackwell Angus(R) to serve as primary sponsor for eight races in 2011; beginning at season opener in Daytona

    CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 27, 2011) – Roush Fenway Racing has announced that Blackwell Angus(R) Beef will return in 2011 and serve as a primary sponsor for Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and the No. 6 Nationwide team. Blackwell Angus(R) will be featured on Stenhouse’s Ford Mustang in the season opener at the famed Daytona International Speedway and the car will carry the brand’s paint scheme as its primary for at least eight races this season.

    “We are very excited to have Blackwell Angus beef back on the car,” said Stenhouse, who captured last season’s Nationwide Rookie of the Year award. “We will have them on the car starting in Daytona, which is exciting because their first race last year was Daytona and we went out and had one of our strongest outings of the season.

    “We understand the value of strong partners and industry leaders and nobody fits that mold better than Blackwell Angus. We fully expect to compete for the Nationwide championship this season and we are looking forward to having those guys on board.”

    “I know the crew really enjoys the steaks they send down for the team when they sponsor the car,” added Stenhouse. “And they will be pretty fired up that we’ll be enjoying that quite a few more times in 2011.”

    “We found our partnership with Roush Fenway provided a great marketing platform last season,” said Ivan Brown, Blackwell Angus brand manager. “The partnership delivered a unique opportunity to engage consumers at the grocery store-level and has helped drive sales in the meat case for our retail partners. We are excited about the future with Roush Fenway, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and the No. 6 team.”

    Blackwell Angus was the primary sponsor on Stenhouse’s No. 6 Ford four times last season, with the car finishing inside the top 10 on three occasions, including a season-high third-place finish at Daytona in July.

    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 southern retailer stores, and throughout the United States. Fan Blackwell Angus beef at www.facebook.com/blackwellangusbeef.

    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 tea

    ms, 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.

  • Dateline Charlotte: Media Frenzy Continues

    Dateline Charlotte: Media Frenzy Continues

    Day three of the 29th annual NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway continued at NASCAR race central, Charlotte, N.C.

    [media-credit name=”Brad Keppel” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]The day began with a first for the media tour.  A breakfast and presentation was held in the sparkling new retail outlet for Furniture Row sponsor of the No. 78 Chevrolet driven by Regan Smith.

    The Furniture Row team is based in Colorado, not an ideal location for a NASCAR race team, but they are determined to make it work well with great preparation and a lot of trucking strategy.

    The team is supported by Richard Childress Racing with engines, chassis and a very high level of technology.  If they can secure sponsorship, a second team is in their plans.

    Smith is confident with the strides the team made last year and stated, “I feel I can easily run top-10’s by the end of this year.”  He added, “this is the most pumped I felt in an off-season.”

    Richard Petty Motorsports showcased the No. 43 Best Buy Chevrolet that will be driven by AJ Allmendinger and the No. 9 Stanley car Marcos Ambrose will be driving.

    Andrew Murstein of Medallion Financial is the business partner of Richard Petty and furnished the financial support for the reorganization of RPM.  He used the similarities in business models of both companies by saying they were based on “great tradition and great integrity.”

    Murstein is in the racing deal with Petty for the long run and said, “I promise the best is yet to come at Richard Petty Motorsports.”

    Allmendinger looked at his No. 43 and said, “For a team that looked like it wasn’t going to make it, we have a lot of sponsors.”

    The driver of the No. 43 joked with his teammate, the driver of the No. 9, saying, “Hope you won’t run into me near as much.”  Ambrose responded, “If I run into you it is because you are going to slow.”

    The light-hearted banter showed how happy all parties including the owners are to have a solid team that is anxious to go racing.

    [media-credit name=”Brad Keppel” align=”alignleft” width=”225″][/media-credit]A luncheon at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Speedway Club included three very special guests, Bobby Allison, Bud Moore and Ned Jarrett who will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame this year.

    Jamie Allison, Director of Ford Racing, spoke briefly about this year being the 110th anniversary of Ford racing.  He spoke of the relationship Ford has with Roush Fenway Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports and the Wood Brothers.  As of now, Ford has 599 Cup wins and he hopes to see the 600th shortly into the season.

    Rick Hendrick took the stage with his drivers, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin at Hendrick Motorsports.

    Hendrick said, “Last year was the most competitive of all the years I have been in the sport.”  He obviously is very pleased with the driver and team changes he has made with Earnhardt Jr., Gordon and Martin and looks forward to great results in 2011.

    Mark Martin commented on 2012 by saying, “I am absolutely without a doubt going to be driving race cars.”  He is happy with Lance McGrew as his new crew chief and recalled the win he got in the NASCAR Nationwide series with McGrew as his crew chief.

    Jeff Gordon spoke of Daytona and said, “It may be the most exciting Daytona 500 we have ever seen.”  He, like most drivers, believes simplification of the points system is a good thing.

    The Daytona 500 will be Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s 400th start, but he didn’t think it seemed like a lot.

    Mark Martin was laughing and Earnhardt joked that to him it wouldn’t seem like much.  Junior said, “How many do you have, 4,000?”  Everyone was laughing as Martin announced it was more like 800.

    Jimmie Johnson of course wants his sixth title and will continue to remain focused under the guidance of his crew chief, Chad Knaus.

    So that is about it for now from the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour.  Tonight Brian France will unveil his announcements for the upcoming season at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

    There will undoubtedly be a flood of attention given to his statements.  Stay tuned!

    Find more of Brad Keppel’s Photos of Day 3 here.

    .

  • Gaughan Kickstarting Daytona Experience with 24 Hours at Daytona

    Mooresville, N.C. (01-26-2011) – As many NASCAR drivers are taking in their last moments of relaxation before the start of the racing season, Brendan Gaughan has joined the list of race car drivers anxious to start their 2011 season early. Gaughan will make his debut in the 2011 Grand-Am Rolex Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 Rolex 24 Hour at Daytona. The rookie driver will be in veteran company taking turns behind the wheel of the No. 67 TRG/Sargent&Lundy/South Point Hotel & Casino Porsche. He plans to keep his fans in the loop by ‘tweeting’ about his first 24 Hour experience on his Twitter page (@Brendan62).

    “I’m in racing because I love to race. I’ve raced off road, I’ve raced in NASCAR and I’ve raced at Daytona. I’ve never competed in the Rolex 24 Hour at Daytona. This will be a new experience and a great way to kick off the 2011 season,” said Gaughan, who’ll use social media to share his experience with his fans. “I love to tweet. Twitter fans are great and I plan on posting as many updates as I can…except when I’m in the car!”

    The Las Vegas native has had the opportunity to test with the No. 67 entry for the Rolex 24, and with Germain Racing and the No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino Tundra team in recent days. Gaughan discusses the differences.

    “For the 67 team the worst thing that happened was that the airline cancelled all of our flights,” Gaughan said.  “It was a really successful test.  Those guys have so much data to draw from and it is really fun.  The comparison of data is different in Grand Am than in NASCAR, but Germain Racing has built volumes of testing and race data over the last seven seasons. We just completed our first test with the No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino Tundra and it confirmed what I already knew. The team is a great bunch of racers that have a unique and tireless commitment to winning races. I’m excited about Daytona! I’m excited about racing in my first 24 Hour event and getting back to my roots in the Camping World Truck Series.”

    Gaughan is a rookie in the 24 hour event, but his team has collected several wins, and his co-drivers have helped his learning curve.

    “I took our testing weekend like a road course driving school with the 67 car.  I have my rolling into corner speeds the same as my co-drivers.  I have my throttle pick up in the same place as them.  The last, and crucial part, is the big ball part – how far can you take the car into the corner and match how deep the guys go into the braking zone.  I don’t think I need to match that!  I was able to run what I was told is going to be race pace.  For me on this program I am happy with where I am at after the test. I’m not fantastic yet but my partners are,” said Gaughan with a smile.

    Following the Rolex 24 Hour at Daytona, Gaughan will return to Daytona International Speedway to compete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season kick-off on Friday night, February 18th.

    Germain Racing has earned two championship titles in the Truck Series. The Toyota team owns 22 victories and 9 pole awards in the series that continues to grow ratings on SPEED. For more information on Germain Racing, visit www.GermainRacing.com or follow the team on Twitter @GermainRacing.

    Brendan Gaughan holds eight Truck Series victories to go along with his two K&N Pro Series West championship titles. Follow Gaughan at www.BrendanGaughan.com or on Twitter @Brendan62.

    About South Point…The South Point (http://www.SouthPointCasino.com) is a 2,200-room resort in Las Vegas , Nevada providing affordable luxury while catering to visitors and locals alike. This casino destination features a world-class spa, bowling center, eight restaurants, showroom, equestrian arena, convention center, exhibit hall, bingo and all of the casino games that made Las Vegas famous. The South Point opened in December 2005.

  • NASCAR.COM Launches the First and Only NASCAR Fantasy Game With Live Race Data as Part of its Scoring System

    NASCAR Fantasy LIVE! to Provide Deeper Fan Engagement in the Short Term and Potentially Increased Interest in NASCAR in the Long Term

    NASCAR.COM, the official online destination of NASCAR, announced today that it will be adding an innovative new fantasy game to its stable of live, in-race products. NASCAR Fantasy LIVE!, the first and only NASCAR fantasy game to offer live scoring during races, instantly becomes a one-of-a-kind experience providing deeper fan engagement for the sport’s millions of fans and potentially becomes, over time, a vehicle to help grow the sport among casual fans.

    This interactive virtual competition, which allows players to accumulate points on an on-going basis throughout the race, will be the first and only NASCAR fantasy game with a scoring system that doesn’t focus simply on finishing position but rather on drivers’ in-race performance. For the first time in NASCAR fantasy history, players will accumulate points based on the following categories, most of which use real-time race data provided by the sanctioning body:

    –          Finish Position

    –          Place Differential

    –          Pass Differential

    –          Laps Led

    –          Number of Fastest Laps

    “As the official site of NASCAR, NASCAR.COM strives to provide the most interactive experience for fans before, during and after each race,” said Matthew Hong, senior vice president and general manager, sports operations, Turner Sports. “The new NASCAR Fantasy LIVE! game will not only create a more exciting way for fans to get ready for each event, it will provide greater engagement throughout the race and the entire week as we continue to evolve to a more immersive, seven-day-a-week digital NASCAR experience.”

    In NASCAR Fantasy LIVE!, players are allowed to choose five drivers each week to create their roster with a “Salary Cap” determining each team’s lineup. In addition to the live scoring component, players will also be able to update their progress and trash talk with friends and opponents.  Players that win their league will compete with other league winners in a play-off during the 10-week Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup to determine the game’s overall grand winner.

    “Fantasy games have had a significant, positive impact on the mainstream popularity of traditional stick-and-ball sports,” said John Martin, managing director of business operations for NASCAR Media Group. “NASCAR Fantasy LIVE! gives NASCAR and all its fantasy players a real-time scoring system that will make every lap, not just the last, important. That deeper fan engagement is something we think can help grow the sport over time.”

    Fans can continue to follow NASCAR.COM on Twitter http://twitter.com/NASCAR and on the league official page on Facebook www.facebook.com/NASCAR.

    About NASCAR.COM

    Turner Sports acquired all of NASCAR’s interactive rights in October 2000 and became the exclusive producer of NASCAR.COM in January 2001. The official online destination of NASCAR, the site consistently ranks among the top three sport league sites on the Internet. In 2008, NASCAR.COM was awarded a Global Media Award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) for TNT RaceBuddy as the outstanding interactive platform of the year.  The site has also earned an Emmy® for its TrackPass with PitCommand application in 2003 and was nominated for an Emmy® in 2007 for TrackPass RaceView.

  • Steve Arpin Looks to 2011 After Successful 2010 Season

    Steve Arpin Looks to 2011 After Successful 2010 Season

    This past 2010 season, Steve Arpin had his breakout year as it saw him having success on a magnitude of scales. It welcomed a solid year in the ARCA Series with multiple visits to victory lane and a chance to move up and run some Nationwide Series races for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Arpin was honored for his success at the 2011 Canadian Motorsports Expo as the 2010 Inside Track Reader’s Choice Awards Canadian Racer of the Year at the Highest Levels of International Competition.

    [media-credit name=”stevearpin.net” align=”alignright” width=”200″][/media-credit]“It was a complete success for us,” Arpin said of the season. “Everything about 2010 was a definite success. There was definitely some learning curves throughout the year. We accomplished everything we wanted to accomplish. We wanted to go out there and run strong, run strong consistently and run upfront consistently. We wanted to open eyes and get an opportunity at a higher level, and we did that with JR Motorsports. We won the most races in the ARCA series. Unfortunately with the timing of the deal with JR Motorsports, we weren’t able to compete for the championship in the ARCA series. But everything I learned, the progression I made was all a true success.”

    The season started off solid for the Fort Frances, Ontario native as he finished 10th and fifth in the first two ARCA races of the season. Though following a win in the third race of the season at Salem, the season took a whole new course in a 24-hour period.

    “I would say the coolest part of my career is a 24 hour span,” Arpin said of the moment. “Last year, when we won Salem on Sunday night and Monday morning, we signed Mike’s Hard Lemonade to sponsor the ARCA program and then Monday afternoon, Dale Jr. called me to drive his racecars. I say that has to be the biggest memory of my life.”

    Arpin drove seven races for JR Motorsports in 2010, including a 10th place finish at Daytona last July. Arpin says that lessons learned there led to the ARCA Series success that he would have in winning three races, seven top fives and 10 top 10s. Arpin comes from a dirt background so he has worked at taking advantage of all the seat time to learn more.

    “The biggest thing for me is that in my career, I’ve only got 47 asphalt races to this day and there’s a lot to learn,” he told me. “These are a whole different type of racecar so we’ve been really working hard at a developing myself, developing me to the point where I’m comfortable in every situation. Its not so much being comfortable, but making the right decisions and there’s a lots of things you got to learn the hard way and do wrong before you know what’s right, and we went through a lot of that. I shouldn’t say we went that a lot this year – we made a lot of wrong decisions in 2009 and I was able to go back and be put in those same situations this year and come out ahead of the game making the right decisions.”

    For 2011, Arpin is working at continuing to run more NASCAR races to continue moving up the ladder and growing as a driver.

    “I’ve got all my plans – I’ve just got to convince all the teams owners to go along with it,” he said. “We’ve been working feverishly on it and we actually had a lot of big meetings this past week. I’m not at liberty to say exactly what the plans are, but we’re hoping in the next two or three weeks that we have an announcement.”

    Arpin has already been behind the wheel in 2011 season as he tested at Daytona for Venturini Motorsports during the ARCA test.

    “The new surface is awesome,” he said. “It’s going to make for awesome racing. I tested twice there since the new surface has been down – the tire test for Hoosier and the ARCA test for Venturini Motorsports. Venturini had a whole fleet of fast racecars there; it’d be cool to go back there and drive one, but the new race track is going to make for awesome racing. I think you’re going to see the whole bunched up, nose-to-tail, a lot tighter, more so like you do at Talladega. But then in token with the transitions so much more aggressive at Daytona, it’s going to make for a lot of interesting scenarios throughout the race.”

    Arpin would like to run the Daytona race, though is still working at locking down a deal to do it. He originally just went down to just coach Venturini Motorsports young drivers Hal Martin and Kyle Fowler, though ended up also testing a car for them.

    “Billy brought me down as he knows I work well with the young guys and Kyle and Hal are doing absolutely great,” he said. “Hal has done a couple speedway races before so he knows a little bit more of what’s going on and Hal is really going to come on strong and fit in real good.”

    With having a diverse background, Arpin has hit a lot of tracks throughout his career, whether dirt and asphalt, so it equals no wonder that he has a diverse list of favorites.

    “Every time we go to a racetrack and at the end of the race, I say ‘God, that’s my favorite track’ and so, I couldn’t honestly tell you what my favorite track would be,” he said. “As far as dirt tracks, my favorite track by far is Deer Creek Speedway up in Rochester, MN. Asphalt so far – asphalt racing, every track is completely different. A short track – my favorite one would be Salem, just because it’s high-banked, its rough and you’re just up on the wheel every lap. And then you go to the intermediate tracks and that’s more of a mental focus. It’s more of a mental chess game as you have to figure how to use the air and do things like that right. So intermediate tracks, I’d have to say Texas for sure and Daytona is just Daytona – it’s the coolest place ever, just the history there.”

  • Site Construction Continues for Installation of the World’s Largest HD Video

    CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 25, 2011) – Construction crews have nearly completed the first phase of work on the site where the world’s largest high-definition video board will rise 110 feet above the track for its debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s 2011 May race events.

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

    The next phase of site work will include removing another 900 cubic yards of dirt by drilling 12 holes, each 54 inches in diameter, more than 50 feet deep to bedrock level. Concrete piers will then be installed in the holes to support the massive 500,000-pound steel frame that will hold the 165,000-pound video board. When completed, the total structure will weigh 332-and-a-half tons or 665,000 pounds.

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

    Frontstretch tickets with the best views of the new HD video board and pit road start at just $49 for the May 21 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. Fans can also purchase two frontstretch tickets for just $99 to the May 29 Coca-Cola 600 by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.