Category: Other Series PR

Other series racing press release

  • Canadian Tire Series TV Package Announced

    Canadian Tire Series TV Package Announced

    [media-credit name=”hometracks.nascar.com” align=”alignright” width=”220″][/media-credit]TSN And RDS Combine For Bilingual Coverage Of All Events

    By Shon Sbarra, NASCAR
    May 2, 2012 – 4:30pm

    DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, Canada’s premier racing series, will have all of its 2012 events telecast in English and French on TSN, TSN2 and RDS2.

    TSN, Canada’s Sports Leader, has been the series’ television home since the series’ inception in 2007, while RDS2 is airing races for a second straight season.

    The schedule is highlighted by same-day coverage on TSN of the Saturday, Aug. 18 event at Montreal’s legendary Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, leading in to the network’s NASCAR Nationwide Series telecast from the famed road course. RDS will provide live coverage of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race from Montreal, marking the sixth straight year that the event is broadcast on the primary RDS platform with the event being re-aired on RDS2 later.

    Ten of the 12 scheduled NASCAR Canadian Tire Series events in 2012 will have a one-hour show telecast nationally on a tape-delayed basis on both TSN and RDS2. The Montreal race and the Sept. 22 season finale at Kawartha Speedway will be 90 minutes in duration. Additionally, there will be a season in review show telecast on Saturday, Nov. 17 on TSN. (See broadcast schedule below.)

    Many of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series shows on TSN will be telecast adjacent to its coverage of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series or NASCAR Nationwide Series events.

    “TSN has been a tremendous partner to the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series from the very beginning and adding the Canadian French-language coverage from RDS2 gives race fans the best of both worlds,” said George Silbermann, NASCAR vice president regional and touring series. “They can experience the thrill of the Canada’s premier stock-car racing series in person when the series comes to a nearby race track plus catch the action from all the races across the country with a television package that reflects the bilingual make-up of Canada.”

    “The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series showcases the best that Canadian motorsport has to offer and we’re extremely pleased to support our homegrown talent on the racetrack through coverage of the series on TSN, TSN2 and in French on RDS and RDS2,” said Randy Paul, managing director, NASCAR Canada. “With the powerful NASCAR brand behind these drivers, the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series gives racing fans in Canada a thrilling stock-car series to call their own.”

    “The support and enthusiasm from Canadian fans for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series has continued to grow exponentially since our first race in 2007,” said Allan MacDonald, senior vice president of Automotive and Canadian Tire. “This is large part due to our partners at TSN and NASCAR who continue to create thrilling experiences both on the track and on television for fans across the country.”

    The programs are produced by Fuel MediaLab (formerly James Robinson Associates Ltd.) and NASCAR Media Group which include race coverage, driver interviews and features. All coverage will be broadcast in HD.

    For the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series broadcasts on TSN, Dave Bradley and Adam Ross will share the play-by-play duties and Billy Rowse Jr. will handle the color analysis.  They will be joined by host Vic Rauter and pit reporter Todd Lewis.  Didier Schraenen and Eric Descarries will handle calling the action on the RDS side.

    Along with their NASCAR Canadian Tire Series coverage, TSN and RDS are the official broadcasters of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series in Canada.

    NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES BROADCAST SCHEDULE ON TSN & RDS2

    Race Date Venue TSN/TSN2 Premiere RDS2 Premiere
    Sun., May 20 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (RC) Sun., May 27, 4:30 p.m. Wed., June 13, 10 p.m.
    Sun., June 3 Circuit ICAR Sat., June 16, 12:30 p.m. Wed. June 27, 10 p.m.
    Sat., June 16 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (O) Sun., June 24, 1 p.m. Wed., July 11, 10 p.m.
    Sat., June 23 Delaware Speedway Sun., July 8, 3 p.m. Wed., July 25, 10 p.m.
    Sat., July 14 Motoplex Speedway Sun., July 22, 5 p.m. Sat., Aug. 11, 7:30 p.m.
    Sun., July 22 Edmonton City Centre Airport Sat., July 28, 3 p.m.* Wed., Aug. 22, 10 p.m.
    Wed., July 25 Auto Clearing Motor Speedway Sat., Aug. 4, 6:30 p.m.* Sun., Sept. 2, 6:30 p.m.
    Sun., Aug. 5 Circuit de Trois-Rivieres Sat., Aug. 11, 9:30 p.m.* Wed., Sept. 5, 10 p.m.
    Sat., Aug. 18 Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Sat., Aug. 18, 12:30 p.m. Wed., Sept. 19, 9:30 p.m.#
    Sat., Sept. 8 Barrie Speedway Sat., Sept. 15, Noon Wed., Oct. 3, 10 p.m.
    Sat., Sept. 15 Riverside International Speedway Sat., Sept. 22, Noon Wed., Oct. 17, 10 p.m.
    Sat., Sept. 22 Kawartha Speedway Sat., Oct. 6, 4:30 p.m. Wed., Oct. 24, 9:30 p.m.
    2012 Year In Review Sat., Nov. 17, 3 p.m. —-

    Times are ET. Check local listings for updated broadcast times.
    * On TSN2
    # Event also telecast live on RDS
    TENTATIVE BROADCAST SCHEDULE – SUBJECT TO CHANGE

  • INDYCAR News and Notes – May 2, 2012

    INDYCAR News and Notes – May 2, 2012

    [media-credit name=”IZOD IndyCar Series” align=”alignright” width=”287″][/media-credit]Today’s IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights and Mazda Road to Indy headlines:

    1.      INDYCAR amends Engine Manufacturer Guidelines

    2.      Hamilton adjusts to new role as team owner

    3.      Inaugural Mazda Road to Indy Victory Celebration is May 27

    1. INDYCAR amends Engine Manufacturer Guidelines: INDYCAR has modified the Supplemental Guidelines for Engine Manufacturers for the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season.

    Under the amended rule 3.8, which went into effect beginning April 30, teams can only pair with one manufacturer in any single season unless approval is granted by INDYCAR.

    “The intent of the rule is to try to help build a partnership between a team and its engine manufacturer,” said Trevor Knowles, INDYCAR’s director of engine development. ” Having a long-term commitment helps ease concerns about confidentiality of any information the manufacturer may share with a team. It also limits a manufacturer’s ability to drop a team from its line-up if they are going through a bad patch. Without it, one would see a drift of all the teams with the best results to the manufacturers with the best results creating a big imbalance across the field.

    “However, we have to be pragmatic and realize that there have been and will be times when a team and its manufacturer have to go their separate ways to their mutual benefit. This change allows that to happen while still maintaining control of the process.”

    2. Hamilton adjusts to new role as team owner: It was strange, Davey Hamilton acknowledges, checking the Indianapolis 500 entrant list and not spotting his name.

    Hamilton, an 11-time starter in the 500 Mile Race, this year is concentrating on his role as co-owner of SchmidtHamilton HP Motorsports.

    “I still have that drive and desire to be in the car, knowing I can’t be on road courses because of my injuries, but still be able to do something,” says Hamilton, who returned to the Speedway in 2007 following the 2001 crash atTexas Motor Speedway that required more than 20 surgeries to his lower extremities.

    “The only way I’ll drive an IndyCar again is if it’s an asset to the team — if it’s done in the right manner and funded. But if it’s a hindrance to the team and a financial stress to the team I won’t do it.”

    Hamilton will compete May 5 on opening night at Oswego (N.Y.) Speedway in the Novelis Supermodified division, driving the No. 6 Nicorta Racing car. He ran his first Supermodified event at Oswego in the 1992 Budweiser International Classic.

    “I will do some short-track stuff to have some fun and mining the grassroots,” he says.

    Hamilton and Sam Schmidt teamed up again to operate a full-season IZOD IndyCar Series team, with Simon Pagenaud as the driver of the No. 77 Honda-powered car. The Itaipava São Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle on April 29 marked the 63rd time Schmidt-owned car has lined up on the grid of an IZOD IndyCar Series race.

    Hamilton was in the cockpit of the No. 99 car when SSM made its first race in March 2001 at PhoenixInternational Raceway. That was a long time ago, Hamilton says, with numerous twists and turns for both team owners.

    “It’s a big step,” Hamilton says of the ownership stake. “This is the pinnacle of open-wheel racing and I never knew I would be in this position to be able to do it and being able to do it with Sam – a guy I’ve been friends with for so long. He’s been very successful as an owner. To be able join him and help each other out brings a good package, and we’re fortunate to have Simon as a driver.”

    Pagenaud, who has finished in the top 10 in three of the first four races — with a high of second in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach – will participate in the Rookie Orientation Program on May 10 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indianapolis 500. He’s by far the Rookie of the Year points leader heading into the first oval race of the season May 27.

    Hamilton will be in attendance – in a different capacity.

    “I was a rookie in IndyCars in the mid-90s and I was a rookie again when I came back from my injuries in ’07 because I was so far out of it,” said Hamilton, who has a best finish of fourth in the 1998 500 Mile Race. “And now here I am a rookie again as a car owner. I’m learning a lot and it’s a change of pace. It’s been a lot of hard work.

    “I look at drivers in a different way now. I know what kind of money it takes to do this, and the pressure is on me to find the proper funding to have a winning team. As a driver, I just drove my own. It’s good to have different aspects of sports.

    “There will be more responsibilities for me and I look forward to it. Right now, I’m just getting my feet wet.”

    Hewlett Packard, the multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif., which has a long association with Hamilton, came on board as the primary sponsor this season.

    “HP it what makes it happen; they’ve been great partners since my comeback in ’07,” Hamilton says. “It’s a good business relationship and a very good friendship with all the folks at HP. When you can create friends out of any business it’s great.

    “From the first year doing the Indy 500 in my comeback and here we are with a full-funded program with Simon, Sam and HP it’s really a dream come true.”

    3. Inaugural Mazda Road to Indy Victory Celebration is May 27: Future Indianapolis 500 competitors will be honored at the inaugural Mazda Road to Indy Victory Celebration on May 27 at Sensu Restaurant and Nightclub in downtown Indianapolis.

    Podium finishers of the Firestone Freedom 100 (Firestone Indy Lights) and Night Before the 500 races (Star Mazda and USF2000) will be recognized for their accomplishments at the event that follows the 96th Indianapolis 500. Roger Bailey, former executive director of Firestone Indy Lights, will be the guest of honor.

    “The Victory Celebration will cap the exciting Month of May for the Mazda Road to Indy program, which includes the races and events surrounding the Indianapolis 500,” said Tony George Jr., director of Firestone Indy Lights. “It also allows everyone to congratulate Roger and reflect on his 50-plus-year career in motorsports.”

    A painting of 2011 Indianapolis 500 champion Dan Wheldon, which motorsports artist Bill Patterson will produce during the event, will be auctioned – along with several prints — at the conclusion of the event.

    Individual tickets are $50, with proceeds benefiting CARA Charities. They can be purchased athttp://caracharities.org/roadtoindy.html.

    “CARA is thrilled to share in the Mazda Road to Indy Victory Celebration” executive director Cathie Lyon said. “As an organization that has worked hard to promote Indy car for 30 years, we have a strong commitment to invest in the future of open-wheel racing. To be the official beneficiary of such a spectacular event is truly an honor to CARA, its Board of Directors and our members around the globe.”

    ***

    The next IZOD IndyCar Series race is the Indianapolis 500 Mile on May 27 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race will be televised by ABC at 11a.m. (ET) and broadcast by the IMS Radio Network on SiriusXM (XM 94 and Sirius 212). The next Firestone Indy Lights race is the Firestone Freedom 100 on May 25 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race will be televised live by NBC Sports Network at Noon (ET).

  • Erik Jones Brings Home Fifth Place Finish in Second ARCA Start

    Erik Jones Brings Home Fifth Place Finish in Second ARCA Start

    [media-credit name=”ARCA Racing Network” align=”alignright” width=”180″][/media-credit]Concord, NC (May 1, 2012) — 15-year-old Rookie, Erik Jones did more than impress fans today with a fifth place finish at Salem Speedway in only his second career start in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

    Jones made history in March at Mobile Int’l Speedway by becoming the youngest driver to ever race in the prestigious series. Age not being a factor, the Byron, Michigan native qualified his No. 55 CJ Solar Band/Paragon Corvette Reproductions Chevrolet in the tenth position for the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200. 

    “Never racing at Salem before I really didn’t know what to expect,” stated Jones. “You can’t compare it to anywhere else because of all its character. I wished we would have qualified a little better but I was confident in the car the Venturini crew gave me and I think that showed in the end.”

    At the drop of the green flag Jones quickly found his groove and settled into the ninth position. Demonstrating his veteran mentality, he took the race lap by lap and found himself in the third position at the halfway point. As the race went on, Jones effortlessly dodged all ten cautions that seemed to happen right in front of him. Out of the 33 drivers to start the race, ten remained on the lead lap at the end. Jones ended his day successfully in fifth.

    “You really have to be on the wheel the entire time while racing here,” joked Jones. “If you fall out of your seat for one lap you could go backwards in a hurry. I was really happy with how things turned out today. The No. 55 Venturini crew did a great job on my pit stops and I can’t thank them enough for assisting me in bringing home the top five finish.”

    Jones’ next Venturini Motorsports ARCA appearance will be at the familiar Toledo Speedway on Sunday, May 20. The 2011 JEGS/CRA All-Star Tour champion finished third when he visited with that series at the track last April. In between time he will be making appearances in his CRA Late Model at Winchester Speedway on May 5 and Berlin Raceway on May 12.

    For more media information please contact Stephanie Bigelow, sbigelow@erikjonesracing.com

    Official: www.ErikJonesRacing.com  |  Twitter @erik_jones  |  Facebook: Erik Jones Racing

    About Venturini Motorsports 
    Venturini Motorsports (VMS), fielding cars in the ARCA Racing Series, is one of the premier NASCAR driver development programs in the country. The 2012 season marks the teams 30th Anniversary of competition in the ARCA Series. Multiple team championships and consistent on-track success, VMS has evolved into one of the most recognizable names in motorsports.

    Since 2007, VMS has assisted in the career development of notable NASCAR drivers such as Joey Logano, Justin Allgaier, Steve Arpin, Brian Scott, Max Gresham, Miguel Paludo, Josh Richards, Ryan Blaney, and Scott Lagasse, Jr.

    Official: www.VenturiniMotorsports.com  |  Twitter @VenturiniMotor  |  Facebook: Venturini Motorsports

  • CJ Solar Band and Jaclyn North Headline ARCA Racing “Green Flag” Concert

    CJ Solar Band and Jaclyn North Headline ARCA Racing “Green Flag” Concert

    Talladega, AL (May 2, 2012) — Celebrating its 60th season the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards returns to “Sweet Home Alabama” for the running of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.

    Kicking off the week’s ARCA and NASCAR festivities will be a pre-race “Green Flag” party hosted by So Good! Entertainment and Venturini Motorsports featuring Nashville recording artists CJ Solar Band and Jaclyn North.

    These young and energetic country rockers will perform Thursday, May 3rd and Friday 4th at the Smoking Moose Bar in Anniston, Alabama. Both nights the doors will open at 7pm with the concert starting at 9pm.

    The CJ Solar Band will also serve as primary sponsor of the No.25 Venturini Motorsports entry driven by current series points’ leader, Brennan Poole in Friday’s ARCA race at Talladega.

    CJ SOLAR BAND BIO 
    CJ Solar Band puts the Rock in your country! With their high energy shows and sound, they have been described as “bringing southern rock back to life” and their original music will crank up any crowd. 

    Headed by front man CJ Solar from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, his style of country rock developed from years of covering a variety of styles of music from Lynyrd to Stone Temple Pilots, CCR to Jonny Craig; as well as, influenced by the soulful musicians from his home state of Louisiana like Marc Broussard.

    The CJ Solar Band came together at Belmont University in Nashville after years of playing music in their respective hometowns around the country. They form a cohesive unit that really rocks with CJ Solar, who provides lead vocals for the group and gives them their unique sound.

    They have been described as “Country with a hint of grunge” and “Daughtry meets Aldean”. CJ also plays guitar with Zach Sheffer of St. Louis, MO complimenting on lead guitar. Nick Gibbens from Dallas, TX plays bass; and Ryan Connearney from Boston, MA has the keys. All of the band members who are all music, audio engineering, or songwriting majors at Belmont University.

    More information and sampling of music can be found at www.CJSOLARBAND.com.

    JACLYN NORTH BIO 
    Country Music Artist and American Idol semi-finalist Jaclyn North is one of the brightest up and coming artists in all of country music. This exciting 21-year old songwriter / entertainer from Garland, Texas is based in “Music City”, and will be performing her award winning hits this week in Talladega.

    North, who wowed judges Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres, Kara Dioguardi, and Randy Jackson on the Fox Network’s American Idol in 2010 (season 9) recently teamed up with Venturini Motorsports as a sponsor in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

    After competing over 28 times in 5 years in the Texaco Country Showdown, North earned the coveted slot as one of five finalists out of 50,000 nationwide contestants in 2011. North ended the night on the Historic Ryman Auditorium stage in Nashville by winning the grand prize, awarded by LeAnn Rimes, and the title of “Best New Act in Country Music.”

    The music Jaclyn North writes and loves to perform has been described as a “smooth blend of southern rock and traditional country, with a sultry kiss of blues.” She has performed on the same stages as Randy Houser, Montgomery Gentry, LeAnn Rimes, Daughtry, Jerrod Niemann and the famous Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.

    More information and sampling of music can be found at www.JaclynNorth.com.

    Special thanks to 97.9 WVOK East Alabama’s Favorite Music, Insight Magazine and Daybreak Productions.

    The “Green Flag” party event details: 
    The Smoking Moose 
    1214 Noble Street
    Anniston, 
    Alabama 36201
    256-741-9300

    ABOUT VENTURINI MOTORSPORTS
    Venturini Motorsports (VMS), fielding cars in the ARCA Racing Series, is one of the premier NASCAR driver development programs in the country. The 2012 season marks the teams 30th Anniversary of competition in the ARCA Series. Multiple team championships and consistent on-track success, VMS has evolved into one of the most recognizable names in motorsports.

    Since 2007, VMS has assisted in the career development of notable NASCAR drivers such as Joey Logano, Justin Allgaier, Steve Arpin, Brian Scott, Max Gresham, Miguel Paludo, Josh Richards, Ryan Blaney, and Scott Lagasse, Jr.

    Official: www.VenturiniMotorsports.com  |  Twitter @VenturiniMotor  |  Facebook: Venturini Motorsports

  • Josh Williams Ready To Roll At Talladega

    Josh Williams Ready To Roll At Talladega

    TALLADEGA, Alabama (May 2, 2012) – – Fresh off their first top-10 of the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season at Salem (Ind.) Speedway last weekend, Josh Williams and his team, Josh Williams Motorsports (JWM) turn their concentration towards Friday afternoon’s International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway as an opportunity to keep the team moving in the right direction.

    After a less than desirable start in the first two races of the year at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and Mobile (Ala.) International Speedway respectively, the Concord, North Carolina-based team has poured countless hours into their program hoping to improve their presence on the track. If last weekend’s race was an indicator, the hard work is paying off.

    Williams had high hopes for his restrictor plate debut at Daytona in February, but when the driver of the No. 02 Southwest Florida Cable Construction Ford Fusion found the vehicle to be more than just a handful, the team immediately went back to the drawing board in order to improve the car for Friday’s anticipated thriller.

    The team completely stripped their blue oval, worked closely with Performance Vehicle Works (PVW) on the overall body appearance and much more. With most of the changes complete, the family-owned operation elected to participate in the open-test session at the 2.66-mile superspeedway where overall, the team was pleased about the direction of their superspeedway program.

    “Believe it or not, Talladega’s an important race for us,” offered the 18-year old driver. “We spent a lot of last year building on the opportunity to go plate racing and after the disappointment at Daytona, we knew we had to get back to work and do whatever we could to make our No. 02 Southwest Florida Cable Construction Ford Fusion a little more competitive. Thanks to people like Timmy McKichan (Performance Vehicle Works), our chances to improve on our Daytona effort increase tremendously. I can’t also thank RoushYates Engines enough for everything that they do for our team too. We’re just a little group trying to make big things happen.”

    From his experience at Daytona and watching prior races at Talladega, Williams is well aware that restrictor plate racing is unpredictable.

    “You can try and predict what’s going to happen on Friday, but for me, I just have to go with the flow,” sounded Williams. “I know it’s going to be important to stay in the lead draft and work with the cars that I’m most comfortable with. Hopefully, we can escape any “big one” that may occur and be around for the final laps of the race and bring home back-to-back top-10 finishes for our JWM team.”

    Picking up 10 additional positions in the ARCA Racing Series championship standings since Salem to 13th overall has given the team some light – but Williams is tuned on moving JWM up the ladder.

    “We’ve picked up 20 spots over the course of the last two races, that’s a lot,” Williams said. “Our goal is to hopefully leave Talladega either inside the top-10 or just outside that and keep our JWM team chugging forward as the season presses on.”

    The International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 (94 laps / 250 miles) is the fourth of 20 events on the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 50th ever ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway is a two-day show. Practice begins Thursday, May 3rd with a three hour practice session planned from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for later in the day slated to begin at 5:05 p.m. Coverage of time trials is available online through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com in collaboration with Alabama’s local WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM. A 45-minute final practice has been etched in on Friday, April 4th from 10:00 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. The event will take the green flag that afternoon shortly after 4:00 p.m. The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional live broadcasting available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com in collaboration with Alabama’s local WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM. All times are local (Central).

    For more information on Josh Williams, his Josh Williams Motorsports team and sponsorship opportunities for the 2012 season please connect to the team’s official website at Joshwracing.com.

  • Tom Hessert Feels The Need For Speed At Talladega

    Tom Hessert Feels The Need For Speed At Talladega

    “Hessert In Search Of Fourth Top-10 In A Row At ‘Dega”

    TALLADEGA, Alabama (May 2, 2012) – – When it comes to restrictor plate racing a racecar driver will tell you they either love it or hate it. For Tom Hessert III, driver of the No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Toyota Camry he will tell you that the intense racing that you can expect in Friday’s International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway will be something he looks forward to.

    The Cherry Hill, New Jersey native will look to improve on his 10th place run in the season-opening restrictor plate race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and put his Ken Schrader Racing (KSR) team on the map. The veteran ARCA driver will make his fifth start at the 2.66-mile superspeedway and look to mount his fourth consecutive top-10 at the facility.

    To help Hessert pull off the feat, the KSR team led by veteran crew chief Donnie Richeson participated in the open-test session a few weeks ago where the team concentrated on several areas to help produce speed in their No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Toyota Camry. With race week now upon them, Hessert is eager to see what the team has produced.

    “We were content with the way we tested, but we knew we still had some work to do, so the guys have been thrashing on our Toyota Camry getting it ready for Friday,” said Hessert, whose best finish at Talladega occurred last April with KSR when he finished sixth. “We don’t get to run Toyota much but this speedway car always seems to step up to the plate and provide some muscle under the hood when we need it. The biggest area we’ve concentrated on is getting the car to draft better. Ultimately, I think that’s what we’re going to need at the end of the day to have a shot at a good finish.”

    He added, “I really think with the cars that are planning to be there, we’re going to see an intense race. It’s going to be a strong field, just like Daytona. The action tends to get tenser when we come to Talladega for whatever reason, but that fans love it and that’s what really matters. No one wants or really cares for a single-file race. I don’t expect that, I think you’ll see a lot of side-by-side racing and three and maybe four-wide racing in the closing laps. I just hope that when push comes to shove, we’re around when it counts the most.”

    With a top-five finish escaping the team last weekend at Salem (Ind.) Speedway, the former NASCAR Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car driver is eager to rebound and produce the team’s third top-10 in four races.

    “Really, circumstances beyond our control kept us from scoring our first top-five of the year, but I’m really proud of the efforts by the team. They gave me a really strong racecar and that’s a positive feeling as we keep marching forward,” Hessert noted.

    Hessert has been able to prove over the last three years that if you’re able to stay out of the chaos that sometimes erupts during the course of a restrictor plate race; you can find yourself in a prime position when the last lap arrives.

    “I came really close to winning at Talladega in 2010, but all heck broke loose on the last lap and I had the win literally stolen from me within the last mile or so of the race,” he recalled. “It definitely was heartbreaking, but I’ve been itching for a fair rematch since. We tried last year, but came up short. This year, we’re going all in. It would be big to win at a place like Talladega. It’s ARCA 50th trip there. That’s a milestone in its own. If we were able to pull off the task of winning – that’s a bit of Hall of Fame material in my eyes.”

    Three races down, 17 to go; Hessert currently ranks fourth in the championship standings, 75 points behind the leader and 30 points behind second. “Talladega is one of those pivotal races as far as the championship standings is concerned. I think we’ve already made up our minds that we’re going to try and obtain some bonus points. Who knows that could determine the overall outcome when Kansas rolls around in October,” Hessert said.

    The International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 (94 laps / 250 miles) is the fourth of 20 events on the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 50th ever ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway is a two-day show. Practice begins Thursday, May 3rd with a three hour practice session planned from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for later in the day slated to begin at 5:05 p.m. Coverage of time trials is available online through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com in collaboration with Alabama’s local WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM. A 45-minute final practice has been etched in on Friday, April 4th from 10:00 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. The event will take the green flag that afternoon shortly after 4:00 p.m. The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional live broadcasting available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com in collaboration with Alabama’s local WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM. All times are local (Central).

    Entering Talladega, Hessert has 86 career ARCA Racing Series starts. In those outings, he has maneuvered two poles, one win, 19 top-fives and 45 top-10s.

    For more on Tom Hessert III, please visit tomhessert.com.

    Hessert has joined the Twitter crave. Follow and connect with him @TomHessert.

  • Joey Coulter No. 61 Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 Pre-Race Report

    Joey Coulter No. 61 Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 Pre-Race Report

    [media-credit name=”twitter.com/CoulterMtrsprts” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards

    Race: International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250

    Track: Talladega Superspeedway

    Joey Coulter No. 61 Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet

    International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 Pre-Race Report

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 1, 2012) – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Joey Coulter returns to the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Friday in the No. 61 Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet for the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega Superspeedway.

    Coulter, the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series rookie of the year, is no stranger to ARCA competition, as it marks the place where he got his professional racing career start. In Coulter’s two full-time seasons in the series, he earned nearly two dozen top 10s including a win at Berlin Raceway in 2010.

    In three ARCA Racing Series starts at the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway, Coulter has a best finish of eighth coming in his rookie season in 2009. He returns to the high banks this weekend with crew chief Harold Holly, a Pell City, Ala., native, who leads his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team with Richard Childress Racing.

    Coulter will be piloting the No. 61 Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet which will be adorned with a special Power paint scheme representing the energy drink’s 15 awesome flavors consumers can choose from. Rip It also will be on board with Coulter’s three remaining ARCA races in 2012 at Toledo Speedway, Michigan International Speedway and Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.

    “I’m looking forward to representing Coulter Motorsports and Rip It Energy Fuel in the ARCA Racing Series again this weekend,” Coulter said. “Talladega Superspeedway always produces some adrenaline-filled, highly competitive racing and I’m excited to be a part of that.”

    Talladega Superspeedway’s ARCA Racing Series activity begins Thursday with practice from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and qualifying at 5:05 p.m. A final practice precedes the main event on Friday (10 – 10:55 a.m.) and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 will officially get underway at 4 p.m. (All times Central.)

    You can get LIVE updates wherever Coulter Motorsports travels by following on Twitter at http://twitter.com/CoulterMtrsprts

    Facebook at www.facebook.com/CoulterMotorsports

    Also please be sure to support Coulter Motorsports’ sponsors at:

    Shell Shock: shellshock.homestead.com

    Tempest Cycles: www.tempestcycles.com

    WileyX: www.wileyx.com

    About Rip It Energy Fuel:

    www.RipItEnergy.com

    Rip It Energy Fuel by National Beverage Corp. (NASDAQ: FIZZ) is available in fifteen exhilarating flavors, including three sugar-free varieties. Great-tasting and power-packed, Rip It provides REAL energy for REAL people at a REAL value. In an office, on the job, on a mountain, riding waves, doin’ flips, doin’ tricks, jammin’ all night, crammin’ all night, whatever your life calls for, Rip It is there to fuel you.  Crack open an ice-cold Rip It Power and Feel the REAL Taste of BOLD energy surge through your body. Or maybe you prefer the sweet taste of Sugar FREE Citrus X to slap your tongue back to life. Rip It Energy Fuel has the complete line of Regular and Sugar FREE flavors in both 16 oz cans and 2 oz shots to make Rip It a REAL part of your everyday life.

    About Darrell Gwynn Foundation (DGF)

    www.darrellgwynnfoundation.org

    The Darrell Gwynn Foundation (DGF) is a certified non-profit 501(c) 3 agency. DGF exists to prevent, provide for and ultimately cure spinal cord injuries and other debilitating illnesses. To expedite specific cures, the Foundation assists in the funding of targeted research. DGF is also dedicated to injury prevention, with special emphasis on programs targeting children. The Foundation helps improve the quality of life for those already afflicted with injury or illness, by providing necessary equipment or special services. DGF is an official charity of the Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction, National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and has a close affiliation with NASCAR and the NASCAR Foundation.

  • Carter 2 Motorsports Fielding Four Cars At Talladega

    Carter 2 Motorsports Fielding Four Cars At Talladega

    [media-credit name=”RogerCarter2Racing.com” align=”alignright” width=”282″][/media-credit]TALLADEGA, Alabama (May 2, 2012) – – The final restrictor plate race of the season is upon the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards and Carter-2-Motorsports, one of the full-time teams on the tour will field four Dodge Chargers in Friday’s International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

    On the heels of their season-best finish last Sunday afternoon at Salem (Ind.) Speedway, the Mooresville, North Carolina-based team is hoping to turn the finish into some momentum at the 2.66-mile superspeedway.

    Larry Barford Jr., will play the lead role for the C2M team on Friday behind the wheel of the No. 04 First (1st) Mariner Bank / Trauma Doc Dodge Charger while team owner Roger Carter II takes his turn behind the wheel for the first-time in 2012 behind the wheel of the No. 67 Ron Paul 2012 Dodge Charger.

    Superspeedway veteran Donnie Neuenberger returns to the series vying for a starting spot in the No. 97 Eagle Convenience Stores Dodge Charger and the team welcomes newcomer Greg Hutto Jr., a native of Grand Bay, Alabama behind the wheel of the No. 40 Affordable Auto Glass / Suncoast Auto Sales Dodge Charger.

    “It’s definitely going to be our busiest weekend yet,” offered Carter II. “But, we’re happy to be going to Talladega with four Dodges and the prospects of getting all them into the field look good, so that’s a good feeling. Realistically, we know it’s going to be a stout field, so our expectations and goals for the race are feasible, take the green flag and see the checkered flag. If we can all finish somewhere competitively inside the top-25, we’ll all be tickled.”

    Barford Jr., a rookie on the ARCA Racing Series tour finished 19th at Salem Speedway last weekend and turns to Talladega as an opportunity to sharpen his superspeedway skills and improve on his Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway finish.

    “I’m looking forward to getting behind the wheel of our No. 04 First (1st) Mariner Bank / Trauma Doc Dodge Charger,” said Barford Jr. “As a team, we’ve made incredible strides early on in the season and I only see us moving forward. Racing at Talladega is something I’ve always wanted to do and I’m thankful for the opportunity. We just need to keep our Dodge Charger tucked in the draft and stay out of trouble and we should come home with a solid finish.”

    For Hutto, an accomplished local racer, his dream of competing in a stock-car at ‘Dega is coming to fruition. “I can’t begin to thank everyone on the Carter-2-Motorsports team for the opportunity to race at Talladega. I especially want to thank Affordable Auto Glass and Suncoast Auto Sales for jumping on-board, it really means a lot to me.”

    Carter will look to make his fourth career ARCA start, while Barford Jr. aims for his third with Hutto and Neuenberger look to make their inaugural run.

    The International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 (94 laps / 250 miles) is the fourth of 20 events on the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 50th ever ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway is a two-day show. Practice begins Thursday, May 3rd with a three hour practice session planned from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for later in the day slated to begin at 5:05 p.m. Coverage of time trials is available online through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com in collaboration with Alabama’s local WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM. A 45-minute final practice has been etched in on Friday, April 4th from 10:00 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. The event will take the green flag that afternoon shortly after 4:00 p.m. The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional live broadcasting available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com in collaboration with Alabama’s local WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM. All times are local (Central).

    The official website of Carter-2-Motorsports is in the process of a complete makeover for the official kickoff of the new season, but for the latest on the team, drivers and sponsors, please log onto RogerCarter2Racing.com.

    For more on Ron Paul and his mission to “Restore America Now”; please log onto ronpaul2012.com.

  • Mikey Kile; ABR And ModSpace Upbeat About Talladega Appearance

    Mikey Kile; ABR And ModSpace Upbeat About Talladega Appearance

    [media-credit name=”ARCA Racing Network” align=”alignright” width=”180″][/media-credit]TALLADEGA, Alabama (May 1, 2012) – – The fourth race on the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards tour treks to Talladega (Ala.) International Speedway for the running of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 and the entire Andy Belmont Racing (ABR) team including driver Mikey Kile cannot wait for their No. 1 ModSpace Ford Fusion to hit the pavement on Thursday.

    ABR, a long-time fixture in the ARCA Racing Series has strengthen its restrictor plate racing program over the years and with impressive results in a recent test session at the 2.66-mile speedway, Kile leads the team in an upbeat demeanor about their chances for a strong performance if not victory in Friday afternoon’s contest.

    “I’ve felt real good about Talladega; even before the test,” said Kile, who has two top-five finishes in two prior starts at the Alabama-based racetrack. “Without question, we had a top-five car at Daytona, but if not for that late-race stop for fuel, we would have been right there in the hunt near the end. I’m really stoked though about our chances for Friday.”

    To be in contention for his second-career ARCA victory but first with ABR, the Westlake, Louisiana native knows that he has to play it safe and keep the fenders on his No. 1 ModSpace Ford Fusion.

    “Like Daytona, I’m expecting a little excitement at Talladega, but I think we’re prepared for anything that may and try and thwart our efforts,” Kile explained. “Believe me, the goal is to keep our ModSpace Ford Fusion glued to the bottom of the racetrack until its go time and then (it’s) game on. We’ve had a solid start to our season and definitely a worthy run on Friday afternoon will continue to keep everyone looking at our No. 1 as contenders all year long.”

    When asked about his prior success at Talladega, Kile described his finishes as being at the right place at the right time. “A fourth and a fifth at Talladega is good, but a win would be so awesome,” sounded Kile. “Our car really seems to hook-up well in the draft and if we can get the right partner (drafting) behind us, who knows what we’re able to do. It’s all about positioning and timing. I just have that gut feeling that our ModSpace Ford Fusion is going to be stout.”

    Team principal Andy Belmont likes his driver’s optimism for Friday’s race and shares similar feelings about their chances. “It’s Talladega and anything can happen, but Mikey has been hyping on this race since climbing out of the car at Daytona,” Belmont commented. “Jeff (McClure, crew chief) and Mikey have really seemed to connect over these last three races and the trust is there together, so that’s a good element for a race like we’re expecting on Friday afternoon. Hopefully, we’ll be like Mikey said at the right place at the right time and we can get this ModSpace Ford Fusion back in victory lane!”

    After finishing a respectable 12th in the most recent race at Salem (Ind.) Speedway, Kile sits fourth in the championship standings entering the fourth race of the season, 75 points behind leader Brennan Poole.

    “Another reason to play it safe until near the end of the race is that Talladega is a crucial race as far as the point standings are concerned. There’s going to be a lot of cars and you either can gain or potentially loose a bunch of points if something goes amuck. This early into the season, we’re sitting okay as the championship is concerned, but we definitely need to make some ground up on the guys ahead of us and I’m hoping that’s where experience will come into play.”

    “ModSpace Motorsports looks forward to this weekend at Talladega with ABR and the No. 1 Ford Fusion,” stated William Mann, Vice President of Motorsports for ModSpace. “The team had a great run at Daytona and has a strong superspeedway program. They will be contenders for the win this weekend.”

    For the third time this year, Kile will have a teammate at ABR as rookie Thomas Praytor will steer the No. 2 Realtor Ford Fusion in the final restrictor plate race of the season.

    The International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 (94 laps / 250 miles) is the fourth of 20 events on the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 50th ever ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway is a two-day show. Practice begins Thursday, May 3rd with a three hour practice session planned from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for later in the day slated to begin at 5:05 p.m. Coverage of time trials is available online through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com in collaboration with Alabama’s local WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM. A 45-minute final practice has been etched in on Friday, April 4th from 10:00 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. The event will take the green flag that afternoon shortly after 4:00 p.m. The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional live broadcasting available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com in collaboration with Alabama’s local WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM. All times are local (Central).

    For more on Mikey Kile, please visit him online at MikeyKile.com and through Twitter @MikeyKile.

    Additional information on Andy Belmont Racing is available by logging on to AndyBelmont.com.

    About ModSpace:

    Modular Space Corporation (ModSpace), based in Berwyn, Pa., is a leading provider of modular buildings, portable storage and services for temporary and permanent space needs. With more than 40 years of experience, ModSpace serves a diverse set of customers and markets through a network of 80 branches throughout the United States and Canada. Further information is available by visiting .

    About Andy Belmont Racing (ABR):

    Andy Belmont Racing (AndyBelmont.com) is a competitive and respected motorsports operation who fields race cars in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. ABR has been serving the motorsports community and winning for nearly 25 years. Currently, the team fields a full-time ARCA Racing Series program for series winner Mikey Kile in the No. 1 ModSpace Ford Fusion.

  • Chad Hackenbracht “Paying It Forward” In Talladega

    Chad Hackenbracht “Paying It Forward” In Talladega

    [media-credit name=”ARCA Racing Network” align=”alignright” width=”180″][/media-credit]TALLADEGA, Alabama (May 1, 2012) – – ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards driver Chad Hackenbracht may be one of the busiest drivers leading into Friday’s International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

    But, the New Philadelphia, Ohio native will be the first to tell you, he doesn’t mind the hectic schedule. In fact, he embraces it. While his CGH Motorsports team will be doing their due-diligence on Wednesday at the track, Hackenbracht will be off-site partaking in some pre-race activity.

    His first stop mid-week commences with a trip to WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM studios in Oxford, Alabama where Hackenbracht will be on-hand for the station’s “Wake Up Show Pit Crew Challenge” where listeners will earn the opportunity to be an on-site correspondent for WTDR Thunder 92 while also be an honorary CGH Motorsports crew member for the fourth race of the season.

    From Oxford, Hackenbracht will head to Fort Rucker where he will spend several hours with members of the Armed Forces (United States Army), returning from stations all over the world. Fort Rucker is known as the home of “Army Aviation.” Following his visit, he will retreat to spend the evening with his team and prepare for practice and qualifying on Thursday.

    His off-track duties will shift into overdrive following his third start at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on Friday night as he will attend an event in support of the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind located at the SPEED Dome near the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, just outside the race track. The popular driver will be attending the “Race Fever” event as an opportunity to meet and mingle with the race fans and sign autographs.

    “I really enjoy the off-track appearances,” offered Hackenbracht. “It’s a good opportunity to not only spend time with your current fans but also have the chance to make new ones too. Everyone loves Talladega, myself included. I’m doing a little bit of everything this week, so I get the opportunity to meet so many fans on a variety of levels; it really just makes you appreciate the privilege you have to drive a racecar.”

    Beyond the glamour, Hackenbracht knows he still has a job to do on Thursday and Friday and with the support of his crew chief Kevin Reed, the duo looks to make some noise and flex their muscle during the race in the No. 58 Tastee Apple Chevrolet Impala.

    “We’re bringing the same car we had at Daytona,” Hackenbracht said. “It was a top-10 car all day at Daytona, unfortunately, we just found ourselves shuffled back near the end of the race and didn’t have enough laps to get ourselves back to the front. We haven’t made a lot of changes, but we’ve made some to see if we can get our No. 58 Tastee Apple Chevrolet Impala faster, because I sure would like to arrive at “Race Fever” calling ourselves a first-time winner in the ARCA Racing Series.

    The 20-year old knows that winning the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 is going to be a huge task, but it’s one that his team is more than ready to contend for. “We’ve shown for a while now that we have built our team into a competitive fixture each weekend in the ARCA Racing Series,” he said. “Everyone also knows that we’ve put a lot of time and effort into our superspeedway program and a win would just make all of that hard work pay off. Plus, it’s Talladega!”

    Another reason that Hackenbracht and his Mooresville, North Carolina-based CGH Motorsports are eyeing a breathtaking performance in Friday’s contest – sponsorship. The team is still hunting for a marketing partner to join their operation that will help them continue to have a presence on the tour and more importantly an opportunity to surge towards an ARCA championship.

    “It’s no secret, that we’ve been looking for some help for a while now,” Hackenbracht commented. “This is a great team. We’re full of energy, ideas and ambitions. I know if we can just find that right sponsor, we can definitely make bigger and better things happen for all of us.”

    While many of the ARCA Racing Series drivers are expected to trek back home for a much deserved week off, Hackenbracht will remain in Talladega where he will continue to show his support for the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind by providing NASCAR Nationwide Series pit tours and making an appearance on behalf of Armour Vienna Sausages on Saturday.

    The International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 (94 laps / 250 miles) is the fourth of 20 events on the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 50th ever ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway is a two-day show. Practice begins Thursday, May 3rd with a three hour practice session planned from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for later in the day slated to begin at 5:05 p.m. Coverage of time trials is available online through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com in collaboration with Alabama’s local WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM. A 45-minute final practice has been etched in on Friday, April 4th from 10:00 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. The event will take the green flag that afternoon shortly after 4:00 p.m. The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional live broadcasting available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com in collaboration with Alabama’s local WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM. All times are local (Central).

    CGH Motorsports still has marketing partnerships available for the 2012 ARCA Racing Series season. Interested parties can contact Jordan Dahl atJordan@cghmotorsports.com or 570.234.5449.

    For more information on Chad Hackenbracht and CGH Motorsports, please visit ChadHackenbracht.com and CGHMotorsports.com.

    To purchase the popular “What’s A Chad Hacken-Something” tee-shirt, please log on to store.cghmotorsports.com or CGHMotorsports.com.

    Connect with Chad Hackenbracht and CGH Motorsports through Facebook by clicking here.

    Tweet with Chad Hackenbracht through Twitter at @ChadH58 or CGH Motorsports @CGH5858.

     

    About CGH Motorsports:

    CGH Motorsports (CGHMotorsports.com), established in 2007 by Ohio entrepreneur Greg Hackenbracht is located in a 10,000 sq. foot facility located in Mooresville, North Carolina. CGH Motorsports is home of rising sensation Chad Hackenbracht, who competed in nine ARCA Racing Series races in 2010 after an aggressive ARCA testing schedule in 2009. Chad Hackenbracht is the 2008 National Asphalt Legends champion, winning 33 percent of his races and finishing in the top-10, 85 percent of the events he competed in. The team has stepped up their commitment from a partial schedule in 2010 and ran a full-effort in 2011, and will attempt another full season of competition in 2012.