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Other series racing press release

  • Matt Smith Looking for a Positive Ending to a Long Season

    POMONA, Calif.: On paper, a win and a potential third-place finish in the final points standings would appear to be a pretty successful season. However, racing isn’t done on paper. Matt Smith has seen his team lose a primary sponsor and has been plagued by gremlins on his Haltech/Redline Oil/Affliction Buell. After qualifying seventh for Sunday’s Auto Club NHRA Finals with a 6.896 second ET, the 2007 class champion who also won this event that same year is looking forward to the offseason.

    “I’ll be glad to get the year over with,” he said. “It’s been a rough year with losing a sponsor and three of the last five runs I’ve made we haven’t gone further than five feet on the track. We’ve got some kind of little problem going on. We don’t know if it’s the clutch or the two-step switch or the tires. We changed everything on the last pass and everything worked on the last pass. It’s something I’ll figure out over the winter while testing and get it right, but we’ll just be glad to be done with the season.”

    Smith faces Chip Ellis in E1 Sunday while his two teammates, Michael Ray and wife Angie Smith, face each other after qualifying eighth and ninth, respectively. Matt will try to maintain his hold on third place against current fourth-place rider and weekend top qualifier, Andrew Hines.

    “We’ll see what we can do tomorrow,” Smith said. “Hopefully we can finish third in points, if not, we’ll be fourth and we’ll go on towards next year.”

    Hines earned the pole with an ET of 6.820 seconds. Pro Stock Motorcycle and Pro Stock were able to complete their fourth round of qualifying, but the event was shut down in the midst of Funny Car quals due to inclement weather. Hector Arana Jr. and Hines’ teammate and former class champion Eddie Krawiec are battling for the season title.

    The Smiths Pose for Charity: Angie and Matt are featured in Tony Pedregon’s NHRA Full Throttle Series Real Families calendar to benefit children’s cancer research. For more information, click HERE.

    Matt Smith Racing is entered in the Auto Club NHRA World Finals this weekend in Pomona. Sunday’s pre-race ceremonies begin at 9:45 a.m. with first round of eliminations running at 11. For tickets, click HERE.

    Fans of Matt Smith can find updates and photos of Matt Smith Racing at MattSmithRacing.com, Facebook.com/MattSmithRacing, and Twitter.com/MattSmithRacing. Videos of Matt and Matt Smith Racing can be found at YouTube.com/MattSmithNHRA. For information regarding sponsorship opportunities with Matt Smith Racing, please e-mail MattSmithRacing@yahoo.com.

    For more information on HighSide Media, its programs, and its clients, visit HighSideMedia.com. You can also follow HSM at Twitter.com/HighSideMedia and on its official page on Facebook.

    -HSM-

    About HighSide Media

    Founded in 2007, HighSide Media has represented some of the top drivers, teams, facilities, sponsors, and sanctions in American motorsports. HighSide Media provides public and media relations for racers at every level with tailor-made programs for every budget. Pass YOUR Competition on the HighSide.

  • Beau Slocumb Memorial Spotters Tower Unveiled Saturday at Gresham Motorsports Park

    JEFFERSON, GA (November 12, 2011)– On Saturday, November 12th, prior to the start of the Beau Slocumb Memorial 100 Pro Late Model feature as part of the 28th-Annual Rheem World Crown 300 weekend, Gresham Motorsports Park (GA) honored the life and memory of Slocumb with the unveiling of the Beau Slocumb Memorial Spotters Tower.

    “Beau Slocumb was a great competitor and friend to everyone in the motorsports community,” said Dan Elliott, General Manager at GMP.  “We lost a true friend and racer earlier this year when he passed away. We are honored to be able to keep his memory alive by the naming of the Beau Slocumb Memorial Spotters Tower here at Gresham Motorsports Park.”

    Slocumb, a Georgia native, began his racing career at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Legend Cars before graduating up to the Late Model ranks. In total, Slocumb earned 131 feature wins in Legends and Late Model competition. Slocumb then moved on to ARCA competition, making four starts in 2009.   He was able to compete in the 2009 World Crown 300, finishing third.

    In the spring of 2011, Slocumb lost his epic battle with cancer at the young age of 26.  He is survived by his wife Jessica, his parents Burke “Buster” and Jeanne, his brothers Seth and Daniel and his sister Maggie.

    “We are so honored that the Gresham’s have chosen to dedicate this race and the spotters stand to Beau’s memory,” said Slocomb’s Sister Maggie.  “Gresham Motorsports is where Beau began his Late Model career and he never would have made it as far as he did without their support.  Beau loved to race at this track back when it was Peach State Speedway and he got to race on it a few times after it became Gresham Motorsports Park.”

    For more information on the 28th-Annual Rheem World Crown 300, visit the Gresham Motorsports Park website at www.greshammotorsportspark.com, and make sure “LIKE” the GMP Facebook page at www.facebook.com/greshammotorsportspark and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GreshamMP.

  • Vietnam Veterans to Ride Along with Schumacher, Newman in NHRA, NASCAR Races

    FORT KNOX, Ky. (Nov. 7, 2011) — As a Veterans Day tribute, the U.S. Army Racing cars for drivers Tony Schumacher and Ryan Newman will be adorned with more than 350 faces of Army Vietnam Veterans during this weekend’s NHRA and NASCAR races. The Army race teams are honoring the Veterans for their service and sacrifice during the Vietnam conflict that started 50 years ago. 

    Schumacher’s U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster will carry the Vietnam Veteran faces at the NHRA season finale — the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif. (Thursday-Sunday) while Newman’s No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet will carry the same paint scheme in the Kobalt Tools 500k Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway (Friday-Sunday).   

    “What a cool way for us to say ‘thank you’ and honor the Vietnam Veterans,” said Newman, a 15-time NASCAR Sprint Cup race winner. “History tells us that many who served in Southeast Asia were not properly recognized upon their return. It will be a sincere privilege and inspiration for our race team to have the Army Strong Vietnam Soldiers ride along with me in the Phoenix race.”

    For seven-time NHRA champion Schumacher, driving the U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster is always a powerful reminder of what it means to be Army Strong.

    “It’s truly inspiring to represent our Soldiers who served in Vietnam,” Schumacher said. “Many of the Vietnam Veterans are drag-racing fans who grew up at the height of the muscle-car and hot-rod era. We see many Vietnam veterans at our NHRA races, and that’s why this paint scheme will carry a special meaning for our U.S. Army team.”

    The special paint scheme will serve as an extension of Veterans Day (Nov. 11) when, as a country, we honor and remember the heroism, courage and dedication displayed by our Veterans. While the nation remembers the service of its Veterans, the millions at home and at the track watching Newman and Schumacher will get a chance to see some of the faces who represent true heroes. 

    “Every time these guys drive with the Army colors, they represent the more than one million men and women who proudly serve our nation,” said John Myers, Director, Strategic Communications and Outreach, U.S. Army Accessions Command. “For these races, with these paint schemes, we pay tribute and say thank you to our Vietnam heroes as well as all past and present Soldiers and their families. Each picture, each face, is a reminder of the sacrifice and service of the millions who have made our Army strong and our nation free.”

    Vietnam Army Veterans, along with their families, friends and loved ones, were given the opportunity to submit photos of the men and women who have embraced the call of duty and helped build and protect our country at www.goarmy.com/yourphotohere. All Vietnam Veterans shown in uniform were eligible for inclusion among the photos in the special paint scheme. Images were collected through Sept. 16.

    To view photos of Army Vietnam Veterans on the No. 39 Chevrolet, go to: 

     

    About U.S. Army Accessions Command

    The U.S. Army Accessions Command (USAAC), a subordinate command of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, meets the human resource needs of the Army by transforming volunteers into officers, warrant officers, and enlisted Soldiers. In providing the force, the 18,400 men and women of Accessions Command prepare these future Soldiers and leaders for their initial military training. Commanded by Lt. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley, USAAC is located at Fort Knox, Ky.

  • Federal-Mogul’s Champion® Brand to Offer $100,000 in Racing Sponsorships Through Web-Based ‘Search for a Champion’ Contest

    Federal-Mogul’s Champion® Brand to Offer $100,000 in Racing Sponsorships Through Web-Based ‘Search for a Champion’ Contest

    Program to Connect Company’s Legendary ‘Performance Driven’ Brand with Talented Local Racing Teams Across North America

    Southfield, Michigan, October 20, 2011…The legendary Champion® spark plug, filter, wiper and performance chemicals brand from Federal-Mogul Corporation (NASDAQ: FDML) will support a new generation of talented amateur racers through an innovative Web-based video contest that will award $100,000 (USD) in motorsports sponsorships.

    Through the “Search for a Champion” contest, Federal-Mogul will award each of five finalist prize winners a $10,000 (USD) motorsports sponsorship and one grand-prize winner a $50,000 (USD) sponsorship for submitting videos that best demonstrate their ability to win a racing championship in 2012. Entries will be accepted from amateur teams in any form of engine-driven racing, whether on earth/dirt, asphalt, snow, ice, water or other course. Judging will be based on viewer voting on the brand’s newly updated www.AlwaysaChampion.com website as well as input from NASCAR® driver and team owner Kevin Harvick. (See www.AlwaysaChampion.com for contest rules.)

    The contest was announced by Harvick, driver of the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet in Sprint Cup racing and official spokesperson for the Champion brand. “I got my start racing go-karts, so I know what a sponsorship can mean to a small race team,” he said. “This program enables Champion to give back to the sport that has helped make it one of the world’s most popular brands by supporting local racers who have what it takes to capture a title in local and regional racing.”



  • SKF To Sponsor Penske Racing Teams Beginning in 2012

    Expands reach beyond NASCAR Cup Series to includeNationwide and IZOD IndyCar Series

    SKF USA Inc. announced today it will be a major associate sponsor of the Penske Racing teams beginning with the 2012 racing season. The SKF brand will be featured in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as well as the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the IZOD IndyCar Series next season.

    Entering its 15th year as a major associate sponsor of auto racing in North America, the SKF brand will be featured in 2012 on the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge driven by Brad Keselowski and the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge driven by Kurt Busch in the Sprint Cup Series; the No. 12 Alliance Truck Parts Dodge driven by Sam Hornish Jr. in the Nationwide Series and the No. 3 Team Penske IndyCar driven by three-time Indianapolis 500 Champion Helio Castroneves.

    ”We are excited to be associated with Penske Racing,” said Poul Jeppesen, President of SKF North America. “Their reputation for quality, preparation and consistency are a perfect match to the products SKF manufactures and the services we sell.”

    “We are excited to welcome SKF to the Penske Racing team,” said Roger Penske. “The addition of SKF’s technical knowledge and specialized mechanical expertise will be a significant benefit to our teams’ ability to win across all of our racing categories.”

    Additionally, SKF’s racing involvement stretches around the globe. Since 1947, SKF has joined forces with Formula One’s Scuderia Ferrari, creating the longest technical supplier relationship in the sport. The Scuderia Ferrari F1 machines contain over 150 SKF components, designed and manufactured exclusively by SKF. SKF also maintains a close racing partnership with Ducati.

    SKF is a leading global supplier of bearings, seals, mechatronics, lubrication systems and services which include technical support, maintenance and reliability services, engineering consulting and training. SKF is represented in more than 130 countries and has 15,000 distributor locations worldwide. Annual sales in 2010 were SEK 61,029 million and the number of employees was 44,742. Learn more at www.skf.com.

    Penske Racing is one of the most successful teams in the history of professional sports. Competing in a variety of disciplines, cars owned and prepared by Penske Racing have produced over 340 major race wins – including a record 15 Indianapolis 500 victories, more than 410 pole positions and 23 National Championships. For more information about Penske Racing, please visit www.penskeracing.com.

  • Statement From Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Dan Wheldon

    MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 16, 2011) – JR Motorsports owner and NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. issued the following statement Sunday evening after the passing of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon:

    “I had the pleasure of meeting Dan Wheldon at the National Guard Youth Challenge dinner about five years ago, and we crossed paths several times since then, mostly through our mutual partnership with the National Guard. His success as a racer speaks for itself, but I will remember him as a true professional who was friendly, respectful, and genuine. On behalf of everyone at JR Motorsports, I send condolences to Dan’s family, team, and friends in the racing community.”

  • Statement From Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage On Passing Of Dan Wheldon

    Statement from Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage on IndyCar Series driver Dan Wheldon, who lost his life Sunday after being involved in a multi-car accident during the IndyCar Series season finale.

    “On behalf of the entire staff at Texas Motor Speedway, our sincere condolences go out to Dan’s wife Susie and their two young boys, Oliver and Sebastian. Dan was a tremendous race-car driver and even more tremendous as a person. I was fortunate to get to know Dan over the years with the series annually visiting Texas Motor Speedway and he always arrived with that infectious personality and charming wit. His outstanding skill in the cockpit and his personality and good nature out of it will be greatly missed by the entire IndyCar community.”

  • STATEMENT FROM MIS PRESIDENT ROGER CURTIS ON THE PASSING OF DAN WHELDON

    STATEMENT FROM MIS PRESIDENT ROGER CURTIS ON THE PASSING OF DAN WHELDON

    STATEMENT FROM MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY PRESIDENT ROGER CURTIS ON THE PASSING OF DAN WHELDON

    “I am saddened for the entire racing community and all race fans. Dan Wheldon was one of the most personable and friendliest drivers I have ever met in this sport. And he was a passionate, talented and exciting driver whose love of racing really showed. But more than that, he loved his family and our thoughts are with them during this very sad time.”

  • Pulliam Bumps Way To Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 Victory

    Pulliam Bumps Way To Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 Victory

    Pulliam Bumps Way To Victory In Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300

    MARTINSVILLE, Va. (Oct. 9, 2011) – At a track known for wild finishes, Sunday’s Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 produced one of the wildest ever in the 64-year history of Martinsville Speedway.

    In a race filled with 17 caution periods, a next-to-the-last-lap bumping incident between eventual winner Lee Pulliam and leader Matt McCall had fans on their feet and tempers running wild in the pits. Pulliam made contact with McCall as they went into Turn 3 to make the pass and take home the $25,000 first-place check and the legendary grandfather clock trophy.

    McCall retaliated by spinning Pulliam in the third turn on the cool-down lap after the race.

    “This is breathtaking and the biggest win of my career,” Pulliam said. “I can’t think of a bigger stage to be on and get it (win). This is our Daytona 500.”

    Pulliam, who finished third in the final NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national point standings, made the pass after running in the top five during the entire race.

    “He got into me going into Turn 1 on the final restart and I just paid him back going into Turn 3,” Pulliam said of the finish.

    Brandon Butler took advantage of the action up front to finish second and Stacy Puryear finished third. Dexter Canipe Jr. rebounded from an earlier spin to come home fourth. McCall was able to save his car and collect a fifth-place showing.

    McCall visited the post-race stage to have a few words with Pulliam.

    “I went up to him and told him I will see him around,” McCall said. “I have got too much going for me on my other career in racing but I will remember this and I will see him again.”

    Davin Scites finished sixth and Greg Edwards seventh. Jeb Burton finished an impressive eighth, followed by Coleman Pressley and Mike Darne.

    Philip Morris, the 2011 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Champion and defending race winner, battled mechanical issues all day after winning the pole in Saturday’s qualifying and finished a disappointing 22.

    Racing returns to Martinsville Speedway on October 28-30 with the Tums Fast Relief 500 weekend.

    Tickets for the TUMS Fast Relief 500 are on sale and may be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com online.

  • My early days – David Martinez

    My early days – David Martinez

    My early days

    10/07/2011

    By David Martinez

    With Steve Jobs passing away this week, one of many extraordinary comments he made, created an impact on me and got me to think about my early days. “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”

    My dad grew up in the farming business inside a wealthy and large family. He is the oldest of 5 brothers and developed an interest for motorsports when he was young. After a while, dad finally convinced my grandfather to buy him a go kart and he was successful right away. He would go to a local track every day after school and practice until the light was gone.

    Gerardo “Platano(Banana)” Martínez as the people knew him, went to win many national championships, but once he finished college he stayed in the family business. While being successful professionally, he got married to my mom and had two sons. Until that day my brother and I had no idea about racing, we were raised in a small town called Mante City located in the State of Tamaulipas.

    As time passed. dad reached his 40´s, and found an opportunity to go racing. He didn´t hesitate and moved our family to Monterrey, Mexico. Like in most of his life, he was successful right away and after only a couple of years, he was already about to start what would be one of the most successful racing teams in Mexican History.

    For me, racing started when I was 4. My dad had just brought us to Monterrey to start a new life. I can still remember the first times I went to a race track, the loud noise and the heat did not do too much for me then. A couple of years later my older brother Gerardo, was already eager and pushing dad to go karting. I will never forget this day. Dad took us to a local rental karting facility. I got in the kart, got to turn 1 and I just knew it. This is what I want to do all my life.

    Now, I will never need to answer this question ¿How did I know I would be good enough to succeed? I have no idea. It was just something I knew and it came from the heart.

    Stay tuned for Racing for Mexico Race Car Driver David Martinez