DAYTONA BEACH, FL – RIS – It will be an all-Ford front row when the Daytona 500 takes the green flag next Sunday. Carl Edwards went out early and won the pole for the coveted race. Greg baffle had the second fastest time and will start alongside Edwards.
DAYTONA BEACH, FL – RIS – Kyle Busch won a wild Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway after spinning out several times. Busch won the exhibition race that once was for the previous year’s pole sitters in an improbable way, passing Tony Stewart at the start-finish line for the win.
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - RIS - Martin Truex Jr. will lead the 25-car field to the green flag in the 34th annual Budweiser Shootout at Daytona on Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway. Truex secured the top starting position through the random selection process that took place Friday night at the SPEED Stage. The starting lineup was determined at the annual Budweiser Shootout Draw Party during which the participating drivers selected a Budweiser bottle featuring a number behind the Budweiser label. The number serves as the driver's starting position. Truex was the 18th driver to participate in the annual raw party and will make his second start in the Budweiser Shootout on Saturday night.
Small fire breaks out at Joe Gibbs Racing's machine shop.
THIRTIETH MEDIA TOUR LAUNCHES FOR 2012
(CONCORD, NC - JAN 23, 2012 - RIS) Media from across the globe and nation descended on Concord, NC and the
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - RIS - It looks like the Daytona Pre-Season Thunder event pushed teams to make decisions on 2012. If you remember, David Ragan, David Reutimann, Kurt Busch, and Clint Bowyer were dismissed or left their rides following the 2011 season. One by one, they found employment, but the changes were substantial.
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - RIS - Two Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas were the fastest in Day 1 of NASCAR Sprint Cup testing at Daytona International Speedway. Both Busch and teammate Joey Logano ran speeds in excess of 202 mph while drafting in the afternoon session. Brad Keselowski, A.J. Allmendinger, and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. were second through fifth fastest.
CONCORD, NC - RIS - Richard Petty Motorsports announced today that Aric Almirola will drive the No. 43 Ford Fusion during the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. With David Reutimann heading to Tommy Baldwin Racing and the hiring of Almirola, it left only former Roush-Fenway driver David Ragan and Red Bull's Brian Vickers among major drivers without a ride for the new season.
After the continuing activity during this off-season, I have but one conclusion. You just never know what is going to happen. Witness the separation of Penske Racing and Kurt Busch. Even though Busch pretty much sealed his own fate with his actions this year, you had to feel that a championship caliber driver would not be asked to move on. I was wrong. I imagine sponsor Shell-Pennzoil had a lot to do with that decision. So, the next shoe to drop shouldn’t have been a surprise.
Kurt Busch is out as driver for the No.22 Penske Racing Shell Dodge. According to multiple sources, Busch’s firing will be announced on Monday. It is the second time Busch has lost his job for off-track difficulties. In November, Busch was fired from Roush-Fenway Racing for being charged with criminal recklessness in Avondale, Arizona for what police described as an alcohol related event. Busch has already taken a ride for 2006 with Penske at the time.
HOMESTEAD, FL - RIS - Tony Stewart earned his third NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship the same way he got himself back in the title hunt - by winning. When changing the points system whereby winning got bonus points, NASCAR made it possible for a driver to get back into the championship pool by winning. Stewart won half of the ten races, and that was the difference.
(This was first written as an exercise in historical research. Since then, we’ve tried to keep it updated. In light of past seasons’ somewhat controversial endings, especially where the 2004 championship is concerned, here’s the version for the year just ended.)
Readers who would rather watch the race before learning the outcome should NOT follow this link. Those who wish to know about the finish should follow the link - let's just say, it was a great race to end the season.
HOMESTEAD, FL – RIS – Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. clinched his first Nationwide Championship early as drivers dropped out of the race, but couldn’t quite get past Brad Keselowski for the win in the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. After it was mathematically impossible for anyone to beat him for the championship, Stenhouse charged to the front. Keselowski held him off for the win, but the celebration began for Stenhouse and for Ford Motor Company.
HOMESTEAD, FL - RIS - Johnny Sauter did all he could do on Friday night. He led the most laps and won the Ford 200, but Austin Dillion's performance, though far from the front, was good enough for the 21-year old to win the Camping World Truck Series championship.
AVONDALE, AZ – RIS – Kasey Kahne broke an 81-race victory drought in winning the Kobalt Tools 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway. Kahne began the race by dropping back, but improved throughout the race. He took the lead with 13 laps to go when then-leader Brad Keselowski pitted for service. Edwards ate into the lead throughout the final laps, but fell about a second short.
AVONDALE, AZ - RIS - Kasey Kahne came on late and won the Kobalt Tools 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway. Carl Edwards finished second and Tony Stewart third. Jeff Burton and Ryan Newman rounded out the top five.
Unofficial Driver Standings after Phoenix for the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Pos. 1-47:
Pos Driver BPts Points Ldr Nxt Starts Poles Wins T5s T10 DNFs Money Won PPos G/L
1 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 25 1179 0 0 33 3 2 15 25 2 $1,030,804 1 0
2 Elliott Sadler 12 1138 -41 -41 33 5 0 12 23 1 $910,549 2 0
3 Justin Allgaier 9 1074 -105 -64 33 0 1 6 17 3 $891,019 3 0
4 Aric Almirola 9 1059 -120 -15 33 1 0 7 17 2 $811,489 4 0
5 Reed Sorenson 8 1043 -136 -16 33 0 1 7 18 3 $831,857 5 0
6 Jason Leffler 3 996 -183 -47 33 0 0 2 12 2 $799,719 6 0
AVONDALE, AZ - RIS - Sam Hornish, Jr. used pit strategy to get him track position and then went on to breeze to a victory in the WYPAL 200 at Phoenix International Raceway on Saturday. Taking the lead after a two-tire stop on Lap 131 put him on the front row, Hornish held off teammate Brad Keselowski to win the Wypall 200 at Phoenix International Raceway. Carl Edwards ran third, followed by Joey Logano and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who all but locked up his first series championship with one race left.
AVONDALE, AZ - RIS - Matt Kenseth backup up quick practive times by winning the pole for Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. It was a Ford sweep of the top three positions as two Richard Petty Motorsports drivers, A,J, Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose, qualified second and third.
The plane carrying Rick Hendrick and his wife Linda went nearly 1000 feet off the runway in Key West after the brakes failed during landing Monday night.
Here is the full text of the NTSB preliminary report:
On October 31, 2011, at about 1940 eastern daylight time, an Israel Aircraft Industries G150, N480JJ, went off the end of the runway on landing roll out. The nose landing gear collapsed and the airframe sustained structural damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR), flight plan was filed. The certificated airline transport rated pilot-in-command (PIC), airline transport rated co-pilot and one passenger reported minor injuries. One passenger sustained serious injuries. The flight departed from Witham Field Airport (SUA), Stuart, Florida at 1900. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Examination of the crash site revealed the airplane departed the runway, crossed a 600-foot overrun, impacted the far side of a ditch, crossed a dirt road, cleared another ditch, and came to a stop 820 feet from the departure end of the runway.
FORT WORTH, TX – RIS – Tony Stewart backed up all the tough talk from Martinsville last week. Stewart had said that Carl Edwards, the Sprint Cup points leader had better watch his back over the last three races. Well, Edwards found that he was in back of Stewart in Sunday’s AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. It was Stewart’s fourth win in the Chase and the second time in the last eight races that he was won two in a row. Edwards finished second, but bonus points cut his lead over to Stewart to a mere three points with two races to go.
FORTH WORTH, TX – RIS – Trevor Bayne won his career first Nationwide Series race on Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway. He did it in dramatic fashion. On the restart at Lap 194 (of 200), Bayne powered past teammate Carl Edwards, held off Denny Hamlin, and won the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge. It was the first victory for Bayne since he won the Daytona 500 in February.
Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX.
Kyle Busch crosses too many lines for NASCAR to close a blind eye this time. NASCAR has suspended the Bad Boy of racing for the remainder of the weekend, and may have to look at the remainder of the 2011 season. Last evening during the Camping World Series Truck race it was quite evident that Kyle took umbridge with Ron Hornaday and turned him into the third turn wall ending Hornaday's night and probably his Championship run for the season.
CATAWBA, NC - RIS - Former NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield was arrested Tuesday night on drug charges. Mayfield was arrested in his home in the town of Catawba on possession of methamphetamine charges, according to the Catawba County Sheriff's Office. Deputies had gone to Mayfield's home to execute a search warrant on a tip there were stolen goods there. Mayfield has a scheduled court appearance Wednesday morning. His is out of jail on a $3,000 bond.
(KANNAPOLIS, NC - NOV. 1, 2011 - RIS)Quicken Loans, the country's largest online mortgage lender, today announced a partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing and driver Ryan Newman.
KEY WEST, FL - RIS - A private G150 Gulfstream jet containing four people missed the runway while landing at Key West International Airport and ran into the salt ponds at 7:45 p.m.tonight. No one was seriously injured. The airplane was co-owned by Jimmie Johnson Racing II Inc. and Hendrick Motorsports LLC of Charlotte, N.C.
MARTINSVILLE, VA - RIS - Martinsville Motor Speedway once again did not lack action, mayhem and a few temper tantrums.
Unofficial Points Report After Martinsville - Driver Standings
Fin Str Car Driver Team Laps Pts Bns Driver Rating Winnings Status Tms Laps
1 4 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot / Mobil 1 Chevrolet 500 47 4 99.2 $198,983 Running 3 14
2 7 48 Jimmie Johnson Mylowes Chevrolet 500 43 1 126.1 $161,786 Running 2 61
3 10 24 Jeff Gordon Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet 500 42 1 122.5 $142,211 Running 2 113
4 5 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet 500 41 1 110.9 $139,386 Running 2 35
5 11 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Ground Toyota 500 40 1 120.7 $131,350 Running 2 58
6 23 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet 500 38 91.3 $91,225 Running
7 9 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Diet Mt. Dew Paint the 88 / National Guard Chevrolet 500 37 100.1 $89,150 Running
8 24 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota 500 36 92.4 $88,425 Running
9 1 99 Carl Edwards Scotts Winterguard Ford 500 36 1 79.0 $123,916 Running 1 28
10 12 39 Ryan Newman HAAS Automation Chevrolet 500 35 1 95.0 $118,225 Running 2 41
Tony Stewart came on late and passed Jimmy Johnson to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Tums Fast Relief 500. It was Stewart’s third victory of the Chase and his third victory at Martinsville Speedway. Stewart passed Johnson on the outside on Lap 498 and went on to hold off the five-time champion for the win.
Unofficial owner points following race #23 Martinsville Speedway Kroger 200.
Unofficial drive points Martinsville Speedway Kroger 200.
MARTINSVILLE, VA – RIS – Denny Hamlin continued his expertise at Martinsville Speedway by winning Saturday’s Kroger 200 Camping World Truck Series race. Hamlin passed both leader Austin Dillon and Ron Hornaday, taking them three-wide, to gain the point position and go on to the win.
MARTINSVILLE, VA - RIS - Denny Hamlin won the 13th Annual Kroger 200, his first victory in 12 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
Starting Line Up by RowRow 1: 1 99 Carl Edwards Scotts Winterguard Ford 2011 Owner Points 1
2 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Ford 2011 Owner Points 2
Row 2: 3 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge 2011 Owner Points 3
4 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot / Mobil 1 Chevrolet 2011 Owner Points 4
Row 3: 5 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet 2011 Owner Points 5
6 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Halloween Toyota 2011 Owner Points 6
Row 4: 7 48 Jimmie Johnson Mylowes Chevrolet 2011 Owner Points 7
8 22 Kurt Busch Shell Pennzoil Dodge 2011 Owner Points 8
Row 5: 9 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Diet Mt. Dew Paint the 88/NationalGuard Chev 2011 Owner Points 9
10 24 Jeff Gordon Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet 2011 Owner Points 10
NASCAR.COM LIVE LAUNCHES ON GOOGLE TV
NASCAR.COM today announced the launch of NASCAR.COM LIVE, a new app available on Google TV, the open TV platform that brings entertainment from the Web to your TV. Through NASCAR.COM LIVE, fans can access interactive features including HD video on-demand clips, driver profiles, standings and schedules for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and the Camping World Truck Series. NASCAR.COM LIVE is the first racing app for Google TV.
NASCAR.COM LIVE provides users with exciting free content throughout the week and brings fans closer to the action during the race. On a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race day, users can launch “Live Mode” to access the app’s lap-by-lap updates and follow lead changes and statistics with the live leaderboard. Additionally, users can complement their viewing experience of the live race broadcasts on FOX, TNT and ESPN/ABC by pairing the app’s “Live Mode” with their existing TV service’s picture-in-picture feature. On Non-Race Days, users can access a library of HD video on-demand clips, upcoming race schedules, standings, archived race results, driver profiles and a NASCAR 101 section with information about the points system, common NASCAR terms, and an overview of how the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup works.
Starting Line Up by Row
MARTINSVILLE, VA - RIS - Matt Crafton powered his No. 88 Chevrolet to the pole position for today's Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. He edged Ron Hornaday by 0.026 seconds to claim the No. 1 starting position.
MARTINSVILLE, VA - RIS - After early morning rain, blue skies have appeared and the schedule has Camping World Truck qualifying starting as I type and Sprint Cup practice beginning shortly after noon. The Sprint Cup field was set on owner's points, which means Carl Edwards will start on the pole with Matt Kenseth starting alongside.