Category: Other Series PR

[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.      Servia making up ground in a hurry

2.      Carpenter to serve as starter of 500 Festival Mini Marathon

3.      INDYCAR to offer IZOD IndyCar Series races on YouTube

4.      Fan Force United to field entry for Newton-John

5.      USF2000 back on track with series of tests

6.      INDYCAR, Lucas Oil team up with Indianapolis Motor Speedway to hold Indy 500 Soiree

1. Servia making up ground in a hurry: Oriol Servia has been on the move in the first four races this season. Now all he has to do is earn a decent qualifying position to be a podium contender.

Servia gained 12 positions relative to his starting spot in the Itaipava São Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle to finish a season-best 11th. Overfour races, he’s advanced 39 spots.

The rundown (all races with 26-car fields):

St. Petersburg — Started 23, finished 16

Barber — Started 26, finished 13

Long Beach — Started 23, finished 16

Brazil — Started 23, finished 11

“Life, especially in racing, is very interesting,” said Servia, who was driving the No. 22 WIX Filters car for Lotus DRR that received a fresh engine after qualifications. “We almost didn’t make the start of the race. The guys did an amazing job. They were working until the last second putting the engine together and we didn’t think that we were going to make it.

“Somehow we picked up the best result of the year and we’ll take it. The engine got up and running, but it was definitely challenging as we lacked top speed on the straights, which made it difficult. I knew that I just had to survive and stay out of trouble. I was hoping to not get hit and we were lucky that didn’t happen.”

It was the final race of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing using the 2.2-liter, twin turbocharged V-6 engine supplied by Lotus through Engine Developments Ltd. Earlier in the week, the team and Group Lotus reached an amicable agreement to terminate the engine lease agreement. The team, which is in its 13th full-time season in the IZOD IndyCar Series, is expected to announce this week its engine plans for the Indianapolis 500 and the remainder of the season.

“We are now turning the new chapter,” Servia said. “This rough beginning of the season has helped us to mature together. We’ve grown a lot, very fast and it will be a great way to proceed for the rest of the season.”

2. Carpenter to serve as starter of 500 Festival Mini Marathon: IZOD IndyCar Series team owner/driver Ed Carpenter will be an honorary starter for the 36th OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon in Indianapolis on May 5.

The “Mini” is the nation’s largest half-marathon with 35,000 participants.

Carpenter will join OneAmerica Chairman, President and CEO Dayton Molendorp, Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard and 500 Festival Board of Directors member Scott Thiems as starters for the 13.1-mile event.

“The ‘Mini’ really gets things going in Indianapolis for the Month of May,” Carpenter said. “It is a great event, and a spectacular view at the start downtown and at the Speedway with all of the runners.”

3. INDYCAR to offer IZOD IndyCar Series races on YouTube: INDYCAR announced today that it will offer IZOD IndyCar Series races to fans for the first time ever on the INDYCAR YouTube channel.

Starting with the Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle, which took place this past Sunday on the streets of Sao Paulo, full broadcast or specially-customized broadcast versions of each 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series race will be posted on YouTube for fans in the U.S. to view within 36 hours after the telecast.

“This is more than merely a great opportunity for INDYCAR to populate its YouTube channel with more racing footage,” said Randy Bernard, CEO of INDYCAR.  “It’s a chance for our drivers, teams and sponsors to receive more brand exposure and recognition and an opportunity to bring the thrill of INDYCAR racing to new audiences.”

In addition to making current IZOD IndyCar Series races available, INDYCAR will also bring archival footage, like historical fan-favorite races, to INDYCAR’s YouTube Channel.

To view the Sao Paulo Indy 300 online, visit INDYCAR’s YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/indycars.

4. Fan Force United to field entry for Newton-John: The Indianapolis 500 isn’t the only race hardcore open-wheel fans look forward to in the month of May. The Freedom 100, the premiere Firestone Indy Lights race of the season, is the feast of feasts for audiences looking to scope out the best of INDYCAR’s future stars, and the entry list just got one driver better.

Fan Force United announced that Emerson Newton-John, nephew of actress/singer Olivia Newton-John, will be joining the team in its second car for the Freedom 100 alongside season regular Armaan Ebrahim. The race will mark the new team’s first endeavor on an oval.

Newton-John brings a wide span of experience into Firestone Indy Lights. Most notable was his time in the Australian open-wheel Formula Holden Series, former stomping grounds of current IZOD IndyCar Series driver Will Power.

“As my goal is to compete in the [IZOD] IndyCar Series within the next two years, the Firestone Indy Lights series just makes complete sense for me,” Newton-John said, “and the Freedom 100 is the best way to kick off my return to the sport.”

The Charlotte, N.C., resident recently tested a Firestone Indy Lights car with the team at Putnam Park Raceway, just west of Indianapolis. His first effort impressed team principals Scott Williamson and Tyce Carlson, especially with poor weather conditions.

“All of our guys at the test were impressed with his feedback and how he got up to speed. He didn’t bobble at all and that shows good composure,” Williamson said. “He was aggressive and confident. He was really pushing, braking very deep in the corners. It was windy and cold and we didn’t have a lot of tire temperature. Still, he was focused on getting up to speed regardless of the conditions. Very impressive.”

Before Newton-John can hope to participate in the race, he must pass the rookie oval test and gain his license. All rookie drivers will head to Iowa Speedway to make the final preparations for their oval debut.

Newton-John is confident that his past experience will make for a smooth transition into the series, and noted that his time in the Formula Holden Series helped him ease into the Firestone Indy Lights car. It’s not an easy task to enter a new series in the largest event on its schedule at one of the most famous racetracks in the world, but he has set goals that he fully plans on accomplishing.

“My goals for the race are to stay out of the crashes that are bound to happen, and to finish in the top 6,” Newton-John said. “Don’t get me wrong though…if I can figure that magical place out quickly, then there is no reason why I won’t push for more.”

5. USF2000 back on track with series of tests: The Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda is back in action this week as a field of 24 drivers will take to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course tomorrow for a pair of official series test days on the 2.258-mile, 13-turn permanent road course.

The outing will offer 15 total hours of track time to prepare drivers for Rounds 6 and 7 of the championship when the series returns to the Lexington, Ohio-based circuit on August 4 and 5, and additional road courseevents at Road America and Virginia International Raceway.

On Friday, drivers will travel to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the second annual Mazda Road to Indy Oval Clinic, joining their fellow competitors in the Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear and Firestone Indy Lights. Hosted by INDYCAR’s Director of Grassroots Initiatives Jason Penix and led by multiple driving champion and USF2000 driving coach Gerardo Bonilla, the clinic covers all aspects of oval racing with the intricacies supported by video footage.

The panel of experts who will be sharing their oval racing knowledge include INDYCAR President of Competition Beaux Barfield, IZOD IndyCar Series driver and team owner Ed Carpenter, former Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year and Elite Engines owner Steve Knapp, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team owner and former Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal, and former driver, INDYCAR race steward and Cooper Tires Technical/Driver Consultant, Performance Advisor and spokesman Johnny Unser.

Drivers – many of whom will be turning their first oval laps – will have the opportunity to put these lessons to practice the very next day during a test at nearby Lucas Oil Raceway on Saturday, May 5. Sharing the track with Star Mazda, USF2000 drivers will have five hours of testing on the 0.686-mile oval in preparation for the popular “Night Before the 500″ on May 26 – Round 5 of USF2000 competition and the only oval event on the series calendar.

“May is always a great month of learning for our drivers,” said Dan Andersen, President and CEO of Andersen Promotions, the series promoter. “With 20 hours of testing, the oval clinic and Mazda Road to Indy Summit activities around the Indy 500, the goal is to provide our drivers with all the tools to be successful on track, gain exposure and move up the racing ladder. INDYCAR is a tremendous supporter of the next generation of talent as witnessed by these programs and they are continually striving to bring more to the table. The entire ladder system is just a fantastic program.”

Summit activities surrounding the Indianapolis 500 include an autograph session on Community Day, a shop tour of Andretti Autosport hosted by Michael Andretti, track laps at the famed Brickyard, a driver fitness and wellness course by PitFit Training, a meet-and-greet with IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights team owners as well as the opportunity for the winners of the “Night Before the 500″ in USF2000, Star Mazda and Firestone Freedom 100 races to be interviewed on  victory podium minutes before the start of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

6. INDYCAR, Lucas Oil team up with Indianapolis Motor Speedway to hold Indy 500 Soiree: INDYCAR and Lucas Oil Products announced today that they have partnered with Indianapolis Motor Speedway to celebrate one of Indianapolis’ richest traditions, the Indianapolis 500, and give back to the community with the Indy 500 Soiree presented by Lucas Oil.

The Indy 500 Soiree presented by Lucas Oil will be an evening filled with distinctive entertainment, gourmet food, cocktails, live music, dancing and other surprises. It is scheduled to take place at the Lucas Estate, Friday, May 25 at 7 p.m. This annual event will raise money for charities which support Indianapolis and the surrounding community. Garth Brooks’ Teammates for Kids Foundation and its Riley Hospital for Children Child Life Zone project will be the beneficiary of the proceeds raised during this year’s party.

“We wanted to give Indianapolis a spectacular event that residents could look forward to each year and also support the community that has loyally followed Indy car racing and the ’500′ for decades,” said Randy Bernard, CEO of INDYCAR. “With each annual soiree, we plan to celebrate the Indy 500 and champion a cause worthwhile to our community. Teammates for Kids’ Child Life Zone at Riley Hospital for Children is the first of many causes we hope to benefit.”

“The Indianapolis 500 is one of Indiana’s most celebrated traditions. What better way is there to join the celebration than to get the community involved in such a meaningful initiative that we hope to pull off successfully for Riley Hospital,” said Forrest Lucas, president and CEO of Lucas Oil Products. ”As a proud board member of this organization, I am thrilled that Teammates for Kids has committed to improve Riley Hospital by bringing their Child Life Zone to our community. Charlotte and I are so excited to open our private estate and welcome everyone who chooses to partake in the exciting festivities that the Indy 500 Soiree presented by Lucas Oil will bring. We are honored to be given this opportunity to help Riley Hospital reach its goals as one of our many efforts in this community!”

Brooks co-founded the Teammates for Kids Foundation in 1999 to develop and implement innovative concepts that generate funds for the benefit of children’s charities. The foundation partnered with the Troy Aikman Foundation to build Child Life Zones in hospitals across the country. These zones are state-of-the-art therapeutic and educational environments for children and families filled with high-tech electronics/games, a multi-use theatre, performance stage, interactive broadcast studio, kitchen/eating area and a therapeutic craft and play center. To date, the partnership has built seven Child Life Zones throughout the United States. Riley Hospital for Children is one of the next recipients.

 

“Teammates is honored to team with Riley Hospital for Children in bringing the Child Life Zone to the great city of Indianapolis,” Brooks said. “Not only will the Zone improve the lives of Indiana’s children, it will also improve the lives of children around the globe. Teammates is a large believer in Child Life programming, and we look forward to the many great opportunities the Zone at Riley Hospital for Children will create.”

Said Dr. Jeff Sperring, president and CEO of Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health: “We are honored and grateful that Teammates for Kids has selected Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health as one of the next children’s hospitals to receive their gift of a Child Life Zone. Teammates for Kids recognizes the important role Child Life plays in children’s healing. The Teammates for Kids Child Life Zone at Riley at IU Health will feature spaces where children and their families will be able to receive therapy together. We know the space will be incredible. Even more incredible, however, will be how our Child Life professionals use this space to produce better outcomes for our Riley patients and families. We’re very thankful to INDYCAR, Lucas Oil and IMS for working with Teammates for Kids to put on the Indy 500 Soiree for our benefit.”

The Indy 500 Soiree presented by Lucas Oil will offer an exclusive VIP reception with red carpet for guests to mingle with Brooks, Indy 500-qualified drivers, and other celebrities from 6-7 p.m. The doors for general admission guests open at 7 p.m. For opportunities to support the event through sponsorship or donations, or for more information, please visit www.lucasoil.com/indy500soiree or call Detail & Design at 317 423 3590.

***

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).

[media-credit name=”ARCA Racing Network” align=”alignright” width=”180″][/media-credit]TALLADEGA, Alabama (May 1, 2012) – – For part-time ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards competitor Steve Blackburn every race has a meaning. After his most recent start in the season-opening Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Blackburn is more than eager to prove that his team’s performance was no fluke in Friday afternoon’s International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

Before February’s performance at “The World Center of Racing”, Blackburn had experienced his fair share of disappointment in restrictor plate racing. Now with a new outlook based on his fourth place finish nearly three months ago, Blackburn is ready to get behind the wheel of the No. 94 Harley Davidson Pikeville / Pop’s Chevrolet Buick Cadillac Honda of Prestonsburg Chevrolet and contend for the win.

“I’ve been slowly counting down the days to Talladega since February,” said Blackburn, a native of Prestonsburg, Kentucky. “We made a huge change in our program between the 2011 and 2012 seasons and we were finally able to prove our worth at Daytona. We’re keeping our heads clear heading to Talladega this week, but I would be lying if I said we weren’t pumped about racing on Friday afternoon.”

Armed with the same Chevrolet Impala from Daytona and steam under the hood from Earnhardt-Childress Engines (ECR), Blackburn knows that he’ll have to exercise the same type of patience but rely heavily on the calls from his spotter and crew in order to be near the front when the white flag waives this week.

“The finish to Daytona was wild,” recalled Blackburn. “Imagine if that happened at Talladega, where the start-finish line is way down near towards turn one. It could happen again, but we’re not going to take any chances like some of them did at Daytona. By playing it safe, we found ourselves in the hunt for a top-five and our goal is to do the same at Talladega.”

 

Blackburn, poised to make his 10th career ARCA start Friday afternoon mentioned about the spark of interest from his hometown following Daytona and how it will affect his Steve Blackburn Motorsports (SBM) team.

“We’ll have a lot of support for Talladega. From Alabama to all the way back to Kentucky, we have a lot of people rooting for us and that’s a good feeling,” Blackburn said. “We’re extremely thankful to have Harley Davidson of Pikeville (Kentucky) and Pop’s Chevrolet Buick Cadillac Honda of Prestonsburg back on-board.”

Like Daytona, Gary Hostettler will assume the primary role as crew chief while NASCAR veteran Mike Abner will join the team in a consultant role. Lorin Ranier, who spotted for Blackburn at Daytona, will return in the same role this week putting all the key ingredients back together for the final restrictor plate race of the year.

“Right now, this is our final race of the year, so we would like to go out on top (if we can),” added Blackburn. “I feel like we have a great group of guys who all deserve one thing, winning. With a little luck, we’ll have a similar if not better run than Daytona.”

Since 2005, Steve Blackburn has competed in nine ARCA Racing Series races. In addition to Daytona and Talladega, Blackburn also has made three starts at Kentucky Speedway and one at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway respectively. In those nine outings, Blackburn has delivered a best starting position of third at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (2012) and backed it up the same weekend with a career-best finish of fourth in the same weekend.

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 atarcaracing.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).

[media-credit name=”ARCA Racing Network” align=”alignright” width=”180″][/media-credit]Realtors will be the primary sponsor for Thomas “Moose” Praytor’s entry in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega Superspeedway on May 4th.

“The Real Estate market is turning around in the state of Alabama and racing at Talladega is a great way to get the word out,” offered Jo Glenn, President of the Montgomery Association of Realtors. “Race weekend follows the Realtors National Open House Weekend and the timing is perfect to promote homeownership and the value of using a Realtor.”

The iconic Realtor R will adorn the hood and quarter panels of Alabama native Thomas “Moose” Praytor’s Andy Belmont Racing Ford Fusion. A fellow Realtor the Moose will be making his first start on the famed high banks of Talladega Superspeedway.

“For an Alabama driver it doesn’t get any bigger than Talladega. As a 3rd generation Realtor to have the support from your fellow Realtors at racings biggest track is just awesome,” said Praytor. “Being a Realtor and serving the people who entrust their biggest investment, their home, meant everything to my Grandmother (Jamie Praytor). Every day we try to live up to the standards she set for all of us in the real estate business.”

Race fans will get an opportunity to see the Realtor car up close and meet the Moose as they embark on the “My Home Is In Alabama” tour, April 27th through May 1st. The tour will begin in Mobile with stops across Alabama leading up to Talladega.

“We hope that by taking the Realtor car to the people across the state we will remind everyone that home ownership matters,” Gina Stopa President, Baldwin County Association of Realtors MLS. “We feel like the Alabama housing market is just like a racecar after a pit stop-we made an adjustment, put on 4 fresh tires, full of fuel and we’re ready to go go go!”

The International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 is the opening act of Aarons Dream Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway May 4th-6th. Alabama racing legend Bobby Allison will wave the green flag and one of the Hall’s newest inductees, Richard Childress will serve as the Grand Marshall. The race will be broadcast live on Speed TV and hosted on radio by Thunder 92.7. The radio broadcast along with timing and scoring will be streamed live on www.arcaracing.com.

REALTORS®: Are “The Voice for Real Estate.” REALTORS® are composed of residential and commercial REALTORS®, who are brokers, salespeople, property managers, appraisers, counselors and others engaged in all aspects of the real estate industry. REALTORS® are working for America’s property owners, providing a facility for professional development, research and exchange of information among its members and to the public and government for the purpose of preserving the free enterprise system and the right to own real property. The term REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estateprofessional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

[media-credit name=”ARCA Racing Network” align=”alignright” width=”180″][/media-credit]TALLADEGA, Alabama (May 1, 2012) – – Owensboro, Kentucky native Brett Hudson has shown speed at both Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, both defined as restrictor plate races on the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards tour.

While Daytona has resulted in mixed feelings, Hudson’s last tango with the 2.66-mile track of Talladega was one that hasn’t forgotten and a race that he’s circled on his 2012 calendar.

“You can’t explain truly what restrictor plate racing is like, unless you’re doing it yourself,” said Hudson, who finished an impressive fourth last April at Talladega. “It’s like an extreme roller-coaster ride at 200 miles per hour adrenaline wise. They say, it’s a mental game and it really is. I think though that’s the thrill of plate racing and it comes with the territory. It can be mentally exhausting but when you’re in the moment, that’s not what’s on your mind – what’s on your mind is how to push yourself to the front or who do I hook up with or get away from. It’s a game that never ends until the checkered flag falls.”

Hudson will drive the same No. 11 Hudson Performance Drivelines Dodge Charger that he raced at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway where he took the checkered flag third but a penalty call from ARCA officials kicked the part-time competitor back to 21st in the final rundown. While the Kentuckian has put the Daytona fiasco behind him, he’s hoping that the penalty doesn’t come back to haunt him.

“Everyone has their own take on the outcome of Daytona. We’ve put it way behind us, but it’s definitely something that we don’t want to fool around with at Talladega, especially if it was to hurt a strong finish like we felt like we should have had. I don’t know what it is about our No. 11 Hudson Performance DrivelinesDodge Charger, but it just drafts awesome. When we get hooked up with the right car, I am able to maneuver it wherever I go and that’s a bonus to plate racing.”

 

The 24-year old was in attendance in the most recent ARCA Racing Series event but he wasn’t behind the wheel of a racecar instead, the father-to-be of baby girl Brystal was on-hand to support and coach fellow friend Blake Hillard who made his ARCA debut at Salem (Ind.) Speedway, a place where Hudson has enjoyed much success over the years.

“It was different not to be in the seat, but I enjoyed the “coaching” role at Salem,” Hudson offered. “We knew with Salem and Talladega back-to-back, it really wasn’t feasible for us to race, so we put all of our ducks into ‘Dega knowing that it’s a race where we definitely contend for the win.”

Again, in Talladega, the Hudson Motorsports team will bring awareness to a big fan of theirs, Harlie Bryant. Last year, the fellow Kentucky native was diagnosed with brain cancer and continues to fight her battle. The team will continue to spread her message of “hope and love.”

“Harlie’s a real trooper,” sounded Hudson. “She is one courageous little girl. We’re hoping she may be able to make the trip to Talladega to actually watch us in person, but if she can’t we know she will be with us in spirit and watching the race on television. Hopefully, we can have a good run for her and everyone at BHM.”

Another presence will be missed floating around the BHM garage area this year. Steve Ash, a longtime member of the organization underwent a medical procedure last fall that prohibits him from being at the racetrack. Still, Ash will work the team in a satellite role as race strategist from his home in Kentucky.

In addition to Hudson Performance Drivelines, D-N-J Auto Parts, Double H Hydraulics, Fischer’s Keystop Trucking & Towing, G&A Trucking, Gene Patient Fabrication (GPF), Miles Racing Fuel and Warricktubing.com join the team as associate marketing partners in the fourth race of the season.

Additional sponsorship opportunities are still available for this weekend’s activities. Interested parties are encouraged to contact Lisa Hudson of Brett Hudson Motorsports at 270.929.2160 or hudson00@adelphia.net.

In 27 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards starts, Hudson has produced three top-fives including acareer best of fourth at Salem (Ind.) Speedway in 2007 and Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway (April 2011) and 13 top-10 finishes overall. Hudson has one career ARCA pole also coming at Salem (Ind.) Speedway in 2005 driving the No. 62 Hudson Machine Shop Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

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).

[media-credit name=”ARCA Racing Network” align=”alignright” width=”180″][/media-credit](TOLEDO, Ohio) – Jim Vandiver is 72 years old today, a man over 35 years removed from his perfect ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards record at Talladega Superspeedway: two starts, two wins.

Even if Vandiver is no longer the same young driver who swept two ARCA races five years apart, he’s still the name that stands first on the long list of winners at the historic 2.66-mile oval, where ARCA will race Friday for the 50th time in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250.

Vandiver led 132 of 188 laps on October 26, 1969, allowing him to top Ramo Stott and Freddy Fryar in ARCA’s first appearance at Talladega. Since then, Stott earned two wins of his own and Vandiver then won in 1975, paving the way for a rising driver like Mark Martin, then just 22, to win in 1981. Alabama Gang driversDavey Allison and Red Farmer and fellow Southern star Grant Adcox of Tennessee won 11 straight races at Talladega between 1983 and 1988.

Since then, winners have included Tracy Leslie, Jimmy Horton, Charlie Glotzbach, Tim Steele, Frank Kimmel, and Bobby Gerhart, among others up to Ty Dillon in last year’s thrilling finish. If Dillon’s last-lap pass of Kimmel from 2011 is any indicator of what’s to come in Friday’s 94-lap event, ARCA’s 60th Anniversary Season is bound to get more exciting.

The International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega will begin Friday at 5 p.m. ET (4 local) and air live on SPEED. ARCARacing.com will feature live timing and scoring coverage, as well as live audio coverage, as presented by WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM of Talladega.

The trip to Talladega is a drastic change of pace for many ARCA Racing Series teams just winding down from Sunday’s race at the 0.555-mile Salem Speedway, a rough, high-banked oval in southern Indiana. According to new ARCA points leader Brennan Poole, the smooth, wide, and numerous grooves at Talladega should create an action-packed race, as usual. Poole compared Talladega to the only other large track on which the series has raced this year, Daytona International Speedway.

“Daytona’s really tough to pass on, when you start in the back; it’s such a ‘bottom’ race track,” said Poole, who finished seventh in the season opener at Daytona. “At Talladega, we can move around. I hope this time I won’t be starting in the back and I can have better track position. The Venturinis have a great engine program and great chassis, along with smart people working on these cars. I feel like we’re going to be right there in the mix of everything and have a shot at winning the race.”

Will Kimmel finished third at Daytona, showing that he has the superspeedway power necessary to remain in the top 10 in points. He, too, compared the two mammoth superspeedways, just before driving the fastest lap in open testing at the track earlier this month.

“Talladega is so much easier to drive (than Daytona),” Kimmel said. “That’s just because Daytona kind of throws you into the turn and the turns are pinched…and the track itself at Daytona is a little more narrow. Here at Talladega, you’ve got so much room to race, so you can really give each other a lot of room and run wide open, two- or three-wide really, really comfortably here.”

Practice on Thursday, May 3 will begin at 11 a.m. ET (10 a.m. local time) and last for three hours, and will be followed by Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell at 6:05 (5:05 local). The series will hold a final practice Friday morning, from 11-11:55 (10-10:55 local).

In a fitting tie to the race name, ARCA will also be represented at Thursday’s International Motorsports Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The Hall of Fame is located on Talladega Superspeedway property, and this year will induct Richard Childress, last season’s champion team owner in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. Ty Dillon, grandson to Childress and the 2011 ARCA Racing Series driving champion, will be recognized on stage at the ceremony.

In addition, ARCA will unveil its newly-designed wing within the International Motorsports Hall of Fame that evening. The walls of the ARCA wing will feature a more modern look and honor each of the 29 driving champions of ARCA’s previous 59 seasons.

2012 is the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards’ 60th Anniversary Season, featuring 20 races at 18 tracks. The complete 2012 event schedule is available at ARCARacing.com.

The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards has crowned an ARCA national champion each year since its inaugural season in 1953, and has toured over 200 race tracks in 28 states since its inception. The series has tested the abilities of drivers and race teams over the most diverse schedule of stock car racing events in the world, visiting tracks ranging from 0.4 mile to 2.66 miles in length, on both paved and dirt surfaces as well as a left- and right-turn road course in its most recent season. This year, the series visited Alabama’s Mobile International Speedway for the first time. In June, the first event at Minnesota’s Elko Speedway will give ARCA a race in a 29th state.

Founded by John and Mildred Marcum in 1953 in Toledo, Ohio, the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is recognized among the leading sanctioning bodies in the country. Closing in on completing its sixth decade after hundreds of thousands of miles of racing, ARCA administers over 100 race events each season in three professional touring series and local weekly events.

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Concord, NC (May 1, 2012) — After taking on the super-fast short track of Salem Speedway this past Sunday and qualifying the No. 15 RaceHard.com/JDRF racecar in the 13th position and finishing 11th, Ryan will head down South to Talladega Superspeedway with Venturini Motorsports for the fourth race in the ARCA Racing Series season that will take place on Friday, May 4th.

But before Ryan hits the racetrack for practice on Thursday, Ryan will be making several appearances in the Birmingham, AL area for promotions with Ryan’s Mission benefitting JDRF.

On Tuesday, May 1st at 6:00pm CT, Ryan’s Mission will be set up at the Birmingham Barons’ baseball game. This will mark the debut appearance of the No. 15 Ryan’s Mission Simulator Show Car.

“Man, I can’t wait to show off the simulator show car! It gives fans a real NASCAR experience of driving while being in a real racecar,” said Ryan. “It has two Playseats inside of the car with Logitech steering wheels and the iRacing program on the computer monitors. I actually use iRacing to practice and log laps at racetracks I am going to be racing on to prepare better and study the track. It’s amazing how real life it is!”

Along with the simulator show car, Ryan’s Mission will have a booth set up with Ryan’s Mission/JDRF wristbands, Ryan’s Mission stickers, apparel, and JDRF awareness collateral. There will also be a raffle for two tickets to Ryan’s ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway on May 4th. All proceeds for the event will benefit JDRF.

Afterwards, make sure to come out and join Ryan and his team for the Birmingham Barons’ baseball game starting at 7:05pm CT. Ryan will be throwing the first pitch at the game against the Jacksonville Suns.

On Wednesday, May 2nd from 4:00pm to 6:00pm CT, Advance Auto Parts will be hosting a promotional appearance for Ryan Reed and Ryan’s Mission benefitting JDRF. The event will take place in the parking lot of Advance Auto Parts, 2247 Pelham Pkwy, Pelham AL 35124.

Fans will be able to experience the Ryan’s Mission Simulator Show Car along with special appearance by American Idol finalist, Jaclyn North and a silent auction full of Advance Auto Parts products, Ryan’s Mission gear, and a special one-of-a-kind framed artwork from NASCAR artist, Sam Bass. Advance Auto Parts will also be hosting a cookout at the event that is all open to the public. All proceeds and donations will benefit JDRF in working towards a cure for type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Ryan Reed will then make his next appearance in the No. 15 JDRF racecar on the high-banked track of Talladega Superspeedway where he looks to back up his first Superspeedway ARCA start with Venturini Motorsports where he qualified on the front row.

On-track activity begins at 10:00am-1:00pm CT on Thursday, May 3rd and continues with Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell at 5:05pm CT.

The 94-lap, 250-mile International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 will begin at 4:00pm CT. on Friday, May 4th. The ARCA race event will be aired live of SPEED TV. Live timing and scoring of all on-track activity will be presented by ARCA Nation at ARCARacing.com.

ABOUT RYAN REED & RYAN’S MISSION 
Ryan Reed is a NASCAR development driver racing under the Venturini Motorsports banner in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

Ryan was diagnosed with T1D in February 2011 and initially told by doctors his “racing career” was over. Armed with the passion and determination to fulfill his dreams, Reed shifted his focus and poured all his energy into managing his health and educating himself on the disease. He uses his racing platform and personal story to inspire others living with T1D to continue living life to its fullest through Ryan’s Mission.

Reed’s off-track goodwill has made him a National Celebrity Advocate of JDRF, the world’s largest funder of research towards curing, treating and preventing T1D and its complications. Today, Reed is only one of three professional race car drivers in the world to compete at the highest levels of racing with T1D.

Official: www.RyansMission.org  |  Twitter @driverRyanReed  |  Facebook: Ryan Reed

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

[media-credit name=”ARCA Racing Network” align=”alignright” width=”180″][/media-credit]May 1, 2012 – (Mooresville, NC) – Not only does Cunningham Motorsports’ Alex Bowman have a busy few days on the race track, but he also has a full schedule off the track. Just a few days ago Bowman took the checkered flag on the high banks of Salem Speedway, after qualifying on the outside pole. Now, he is looking ahead to the 2.66 mile Talladega Superspeedway, as the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards kicks into high gear.

The International Motorsports Hall of Fame ARCA 250 weekend begins Thursday with a three hour practice session, beginning at 11:00am EST, followed by Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell at 6:00pm (all times are EST). In between practice and qualifying, Bowman will take some time out to visit with the children at Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB) in nearby Talladega, Alabama. Bowman will tour the facility, visiting some of the children in their classrooms. With Alex’s association with sponsor St. JudeChildren’s Research Hospital, it seems only natural for him to choose other local children’s charities to visit.

Final practice is scheduled Friday at 11:00-11:55am. The 94 lap race will be carried live on SPEED at 5:00pm. All events will be covered live on arcaracing.com, as well as by following Cunningham Motorsports on twitter @cunningham_race.

As the official charity of Talladega Superspeedway, AIDB holds their annual Race Fever event at the SPEED Channel Dome, International Motorsports Hall of Fame, Friday evening just outside of the race track. Over the past 25 years, Race Fever has donated $4 million to AIDB. Bowman will be attending the Race Fever event after completing 250 miles on the historic ‘Dega track, meeting with fans and signing autographs.

Since 1858, AIDB has been a leader in education and rehabilitation services for Alabama’s sensory impairedchildren and adults. Through five Talladega campuses and eight regional centers throughout Alabama, AIDB serves thousands of children and adults who are deaf, blind and multi-disabled in all 67 counties of Alabama. For more information on AIDB visit www.racefever.org or aidb.org.

Get live updates on Cunningham Motorsports twitter @cunningham_race

Follow Alex Bowman on twitter @AlexBRacing

[media-credit name=”ARCA Racing Network” align=”alignright” width=”180″][/media-credit]SALEM, I.N. (April 30, 2012) – While the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards headed into the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers200 for the 91st time at Salem Speedway, Sunday’s race marked the first trip for Matt Lofton and his No. 16 Strutmasters.com Chevrolet.

Kicking off the weekend’s festivities with two practice sessions on Saturday, Lofton a Roxboro, N.C. native, set out to tame the high-banks of Salem. Using the practice sessions to learn the ever-changing groove and bumps while dialing in the Coulter Motorsports Impala SS, Lofton ended the sessions confident in his hotrod.

Starting the afternoon’s race 17th after laying down a 17.629 second lap in Menards Pole Qualifying, Lofton set in for the ride to the front. Working his way to 13th Lofton radioed crew chief Jon Wolfe that the car had picked up a tight in and loose off condition.

Unfortunately Lofton’s progress forward was halted on lap 40 when he was forced into a multi-car wreckhappening in front of him. Lofton limped his battered No. 16 Strutmasters.com Chevy to pit road for some much needed attention by his Coulter Motorsports crew. The team managed to get Lofton back on track, but as misfortunate would have it, a flat right front tire would force him back to pit road 20-Laps later. Forced with the green-flag pit stop at the fast paced Salem, Lofton was trapped five-laps down but showing the poise and determination of a veteran, would not give up.

With the checkered flag waving over the field on lap 200, Lofton crossed the line in 14th in the No. 16 Strutmasters.com Chevrolet, earning a hard fought top-15 place finish.

Next up for Lofton and the No. 16 Strutmasters.com Coulter Motorsports team in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards is the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega Superspeedway on Friday, May4.

LOFTON ON SALEM

“Salem Speedway is an extremely fast paced, rough and demanding race track that is really a lot of fun to drive. Our qualifying results weren’t exactly what we had planned on but our race pace was right on. I believe if we had not had the unfortunate circumstances of the wreck and then flat tire we would have been up front at the end of the day. I am really proud of how hard my Coulter Motorsports guys worked and I want to thankStrutmasters.com for all of their support.”

[media-credit name=”ARCA Racing Network” align=”alignright” width=”180″][/media-credit]April 29, 2012 – (Mooresville, NC) – Cunningham Motorsports team added their name yet again to the list of race winners at Salem Speedway, this time with driver Alex Bowman. The just-turned 19 year old from Tucson, Arizona led 146 of the 200 laps at the .555 mile speedway in the ARCA Racing Series 91st event at the track.

After posting the 2nd quickest laps in both of the 45 minute practice sessions on Saturday, Bowman maintained his consistency and put the #22 St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Dodge on the outside pole for the race Sunday. Prior to the green flag an anxious Bowman said, “We have a really fast race car. This car is the same chassis that Parker (Kligerman) finished 2nd with and Dakoda (Armstrong) won here with. That puts a lot of pressure on me to live up to those finishes.”

As soon as Bowman strapped on his helmet, he was on a mission. Starting from the 2nd spot allowed Bowman the preferred outside line. It appeared that after the green flag flew, pole sitter Chris Buescher and Bowman were going to be content pulling away from the rest of the racers. As the initial caution flag came out for a spin in turn 1 on lap 5, Bowman got bogged down in lapped traffic when the race resumed, allowing Tom Hessert to pass him for the second spot. As Bowman worked his way through traffic, he reclaimed second and by lap 40 he took the lead. As the second caution came out for another spin in turn one, NASCAR veteran crew chief, Paul Andrews kept Bowman on the track. As the green flew on lap 51, Bowman once again set sail, pulling the #22 Dodge to an impressive straightaway lead by lap 70 over Hessert, in second. When the caution came out on lap 80, Andrews called Bowman to the pits for right side tires and fuel. As most of the leaders took advantage of the caution flag, Bowman’s crew whipped off a quick stop to get their driver back on the track in second. Once the green flag flew, it didn’t take Bowman long to reestablish himself as the leader. On lap 91 he was back at the point.

Again Bowman started pulling away from the rest of the field, making quick work of most lapped cars. Sometimes his lead was almost a half lap over the second place car; telling Andrews at one point, “We are just cruising.” Twice his advantage was wiped away due to a caution flag. Under the caution on lap 135, Andrews called Bowman into the pits for 4 new Hoosiers and fuel. Once again the pit crew performed flawlessly, sending the #22 back on track in third, since the first two cars didn’t pit during the caution. Bowman easily took the lead on the restart on lap 140. Bowman continued to hold his lead, with Frank Kimmel shortening his lead to under a half second on lap 160. With his lead once again increasing over Kimmel, puffs of smoke could be seen coming from the right side of the Dodge in turns 3 and 4. In spite of what turned out to be a broken sway bar arm, Bowman held off nine-time ARCA Racing Series champ Kimmel to take his third ARCA Series victory in 5 races.

After engulfing the front stretch and all of the fans in a smoke-filled burn out, Bowman exited the winning car saying, “That was the best race car I’ve ever had in my life and there toward the end, something started breaking or going wrong in the right front. I was actually worried we were going to cut our right front down. Frank started catching us, and I was like, ‘Man, you’re going to lose this in the last 10 laps.’ Seeing that #44 car in your rear view mirror at any race is not what you want to see, but definitely not here at his home track. Those last five laps were an eternity, but the car held up and we brought it home.”

Bowman finds himself 2nd in the season-long championship points race, 45 markers behind the leader.

The team must complete a quick turnaround this week at the shop, as they will be at Talladega Superspeedway for the International Hall of Fame 250 Wednesday. A three hour practice session is scheduled for Thursday with qualifying following. Race day, Friday, begins with a final practice session, followed by the race at 6:00 pm EST with live coverage on SPEED.