THE QUARTET IS BACK FOR TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY’S INFIELD PARTY

The Big One on the Blvd – on Friday, Oct. 17, with New Twists

Bowyer, Harvick, Stenhouse, Jr. & Dillon Return for Tons of Fun Which Will Pay Competition Winner $1,000

TALLADEGA, AL – September 30, 2014 – NASCAR drivers Clint Bowyer, Kevin Harvick, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. and Austin Dillon had so much fun at Talladega Superspeedway’s first “Big One on the Blvd”  Parade in the track’s infamous infield in May that they are coming back for more during the track’s Oct. 17-19 weekend. And, this time, fans can expect even bigger and better from the wild side of NASCAR’s Party Capital.

Kevin Harvick

The quartet will oversee a new flurry of activities, which begins with the “Hallow-Dega” costume contest, on Friday, Oct. 17. The crowd, as well as the drivers, will play a key role in determining the fan that walks away with $1,000 in cash, not to mention a lifetime of bragging rights. The champion of the “The Big One on the Boulevard,” will have to win a series of competitions, which will include food and beverages used in unique, vicarious ways.

“This is what Talladega is all about – having clean fun and making sure everyone has a smile on their face, with both the racing and the social atmosphere,” exclaims Bowyer, who pilots the No.15 Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing and is a two-time winner at Talladega. “I can’t wait. This is Talladega baby!”

“If fans weren’t a part of this event in May, they need to make plans to attend this one,” said Dillon, driver of the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. “It’s going to be a blast.”

The parade gets rolling at 6:30 PM (CST) on Friday night at the north end of Talladega Blvd., Bowyer, Stenhouse Jr. and Dillon will be atop the lead float throwing out swag and welcoming fans to NASCAR’s version of Mardi Gras. The parade will make its way down the Blvd., building up excitement as it passes the most colorfully decorated campsites in all of NASCAR. At the south end of the Blvd. the parade will come to a halt, and Harvick will be anxiously waiting on the main staging area for the fan competitions.

“Talladega is a lot of fun,” said Harvick, who has gone to Victory Lane once at Talladega. And, Stenhouse, Jr.,  a regular visitor to Talladega Blvd. during the weekend, says “Talladega definitely knows how to throw a party for their fans. It is just awesome.”

Austin Dillon

On the track, Friday’s schedule at Talladega includes practice and qualifying for the fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race as well as practice for the GEICO 500 for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Saturday will see the drop of the green flag for the fred’s 250 event at high noon (CST), followed by the Food Land/Food Giant qualifying for the GEICO 500 at 3:40 p.m. (CST). Later in the evening, the Saturday Night Concert featuring Thomas Rhett will take place (Free admission with purchase of a Sunday GEICO 500 ticket). Sunday’s GEICO 500 gets underway at 1 p.m. (CST).

The track has many ticket options for fans of all ages, as well as hundreds of acres of FREE Camping. To find out more, call the Talladega ticket office at 1-877-Go-2-DEGA or visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.

 

NASCAR DELIVERS 2015 COMPETITION PACKAGE TO TEAMS

Rules Finalized Following Intensive Research & Development by the Industry

Gene Stefanyshyn

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. September 23, 2014 – Following more than a year of extensive collaboration with stakeholders throughout the industry, and with a keen eye towards the future, NASCAR has finalized and delivered to teams the 2015 racing package for all three national series.

“This race package represents a lot of hard work by NASCAR, the race teams, the drivers, our manufacturer partners and Goodyear,” said Gene Stefanyshyn, NASCAR senior vice president of innovation and racing development. “We’ve remained committed to constantly looking at our racing, and the work that has been done has been aimed at getting a rules package delivered to the race teams as early as possible.”

Highlighted in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series changes for 2015 are nearly 60 enhancements, including adjustments to the power train, aerodynamics and chassis that are designed to work in concert to deliver drivers more flexibility and teams more adjustability. Fans are expected to benefit from closer racing and more opportunities for drivers to pass on the track.

“We have had fantastic racing so far in 2014,” Stefanyshyn said. “We remain committed to constantly looking to improve it. Our fans deserve it and our industry is pushing for it. That will not stop with the 2015 package; the development will continue over many years to come.”

NASCAR will institute a shorter rear spoiler in its 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series package, which also includes a reduction of engine power, lower rear differential gear ratios and an optional driver adjustable track bar.

Steve O’Donnell

Based on the success of group qualifying formats, which were introduced in 2014 for all national series, NASCAR also announced that group qualifying will be utilized for the first time for the Daytona 500.

Additional changes for the 2015 rules include the elimination of team-facilitated private testing, with race teams being instead invited to participate in NASCAR / Goodyear tests throughout the season. NASCAR also will work alongside Goodyear to introduce rain tires should conditions warrant during road course events in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2015.

“We’re very pleased with the rules package and what it will do for our racing,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “We’re confident it will continue to generate great racing, along with continuous safety improvements.

The work alongside our industry has been unprecedented. We’ve had great dialogue with our drivers and teams, our manufacturers and Goodyear, allowing us to build greater efficiencies into the 2015 rules package. We’ve met our goal of delivering rules to teams with time to prepare for next season and we’re seeing the benefits of an updated process for developing our rules paying dividends. It will only continue to improve.”

Fact Sheet: 2015 Rules Package

Nearly 60 different enhancements / updates have been made to the NASCAR national series rules packages for 2015 in the following areas:

• New Rules, with one or more of the following goals in mind: enriched competition, improved safety, reduced cost, enhanced product relevance and environmental (green) improvements.
• Enhanced Enforcement of Existing Rules
• New Officiating Processes
• Newly Approved Parts
• Updated Business Processes

The following are among the significant updates to the competition package.

Testing

There will be a NASCAR-mandated ban on all team-initiated private testing in 2015

• Teams will be invited to participate in NASCAR / Goodyear tests
• NASCAR will not conduct a test at Daytona International Speedway prior to the Daytona 500

Rules

• 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Package includes
• Reduction of horsepower to 725 via tapered spacer
• Roller valve lifters to replace flat valve lifter
• Lower rear differential gear ratios targeting 9,000 RPM
• Rear spoiler adjustment to 6 inches high (2014 height: 8 inches)
• Optional driver adjustable track bar
• 38-inch wide radiator pan
• Minimum vehicle weight drops 50 lbs. via ballast reduction (2014 weight: 3,300 w/o driver)
• Updated qualifying formats for all tracks
• Rain tires on road courses, similar to rules in place for the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series; mandatory wipers, defogger and rear flashing rain light installed for the event weekend

New Officiating Processes

• Data Log and Capture System for pre-race inspections
• Automated pit road officiating at race events

Newly Approved Parts

• Revised brake calipers

Updated Business Processes

• Electronic rule book
• New parts approval process

Source: NASCAR

 

 

RHYS MILLEN CLAIMS THE VICTORY FOR TEAM HYUNDAI AT RED BULL GLOBAL RALLYCROSS LOS ANGELES DAY TWO

Millen Earns Pole Position at the Port of LA Final and Refuses to be Passed in his Veloster racer, Dominating the Eighth Race of the Season. Victory represents recent Coast-to-Coast Wins in both Los Angeles and Daytona

Victory represents recent Coast-to-Coast Wins in both Los Angeles and Daytona

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 22, 2014 – Rhys Millen masterfully piloted his Hyundai Veloster rallycross racer to victory in the Red Bull Global Rallycross Championship race in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon.

Millen had an extremely successful event overall, earning pole position in the final and holding his position for the entire race, refusing to be passed despite fierce competition. Millen had great momentum for the Sunday race, having topped many competitors in earlier practice runs and previous heats.

The win came on Day Two of the weekend double-header on the waterfront at the Port of Los Angeles. The Hyundai/Rhys Millen team continues to build momentum with recent victories on both east and west coast venues in the latter half of the season.

“We’re extremely proud of our Hyundai team’s second win of the 2014 season, coming fresh off our victory in Daytona just a few short weeks ago,” said Millen in a post-race interview. “It’s amazing; we just believe in the car and myself and the crew. We brought that momentum to Los Angeles, qualifying fastest yesterday, winning the semi-final and then the main without being passed. I couldn’t be more proud of our effort.”

The Los Angeles GRC race is the closest of the season to both Hyundai and Rhys Millen Racing’s corporate headquarters, making the local victory very satisfying for fans and employees alike. Next up for the Millen team is the Global Rallycross event in Snoqualmie, Washington, a wooded setting outside Seattle, September 27. The primarily dirt venue promises to make great use of Millen’s hill-climbing, drift and rallycross skills with its loose surface conditions, and is a particularly exciting venue for GRC fans.

 

 

 

COLORADO AND CANYON WILL LEAD MIDSIZE PICKUP SEGMENT IN FOUR-CYLINDER FUEL ECONOMY AND PAYLOAD

2015 GMC Canyon SLE All-Terrain Front End; Cyber Gray Metallic 2015 GMC Canyon with the off road-inspired All Terrain package is available on SLE models – 2WD and 4WD

DETROIT – September 21, 2014 – The 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon will offer segment-leading highway fuel efficiency for four-cylinder midsize pickup trucks, according to EPA fuel economy estimates. The Canyon will also offer segment-leading payload ratings. No competitor in the segment offers more payload capacity than the Colorado or Canyon.

The all-new midsize trucks, powered by the 2.5L four-cylinder engine with 2WD and available 6-speed automatic transmission, will have an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city and 27 mpg highway, for a combined 22 mpg rating overall.

Trucks outfitted with 4WD will have EPA-estimated 19 city mpg and 25 mpg highway for a combined 21 mpg, giving Colorado and Canyon segment-leading highway fuel efficiency and segment-leading power for a four-cylinder models with automatic transmissions.

With the 3.6L V-6 engine, payload ratings for the Colorado and Canyon are 1,590 pounds and 1,620 pounds, respectively. The difference is due to slight differences in curb weight – the Canyon has alloy wheels standard while the standard wheels on the Colorado are slightly heavier steel wheels.

“Offering segment-leading four-cylinder fuel economy is yet another item to add to the Chevrolet Colorado’s long list of segment leads,” said Tony Johnson, Colorado marketing manager. “It shows once again how the midsize segment can benefit from a fresh competitor offering the latest technologies.”

“The 2015 GMC Canyon uses innovations like available active grille shutters, which close to get the most out of every gallon of fuel and open when more air is needed, like when transporting heavy loads” said Kenn Bakowski, Canyon marketing manager. “Having segment-leading V-6 and four-cylinder efficiency, plus the highest payload rating, proves GMC has applied the latest technologies in just the right places, and our customers reap the benefits.”

The Colorado and Canyon began shipping to dealers last week. For the 2016 model year, Colorado and Canyon will add a 2.8-liter Duramax turbodiesel to the engine lineup. Technical details and EPA fuel economy estimates will be available closer to launch.

With the introduction of Colorado and Canyon, Chevrolet and GMC will offer customers more pickup choices than any other brand, including midsize, full-size light duty and heavy-duty pickups.

 

SUBARU LAUNCHES AD CAMPAIGN FOR 2015 OUTBACK

Subaru’s latest campaign focuses on going where you’ve never been

The two TV spots, “Bison” and “Memory Lane”, highlight the Outback crossover’s reliability, versatility, longevity, and safety within Subaru’s broader campaign, “Love”

Cherry Hill, N.J. –  September 20, 2014 – Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) has debuted its new advertising campaign for the all-new 2015 Subaru Outback. The campaign includes two national television spots by acclaimed director Lance Acord (known for his work on Lost in Translation and Being John Malkovich).

The new campaign, created by agency of record Carmichael Lynch, focuses on the vehicle’s ability to “go anywhere” and the insatiable curiosity of Subaru owners that drives them to seek out new places. With all-wheel drive, class-leading ground clearance and renowned reliability and durability, the Subaru Outback is perfectly suited to fulfill its owner’s needs.

The two TV spots, “Bison” and “Memory Lane”, highlight the Outback crossover’s reliability, versatility, longevity, and safety within Subaru’s broader campaign, “Love”.

Bison

In “Bison” a father finds himself in a predicament with his young son that’s very familiar to parents these days — competing with the virtual world of mobile devices and information on- demand. The two crisscross the country in their Outback, touring America’s natural wonders, but the father doesn’t capture his son’s attention until they come face-to-face with a living, breathing icon.

“Bison” is available to view on Subaru of America’s YouTube channel here:

http://bit.ly/ZodyJL

Memory Lane

“Memory Lane” focuses on three generations of the same family as they take a trip to visit their roots, which happen to have been planted during the “Summer of Love.” As they wander off the beaten path in their Outback, a hippie grandmother teaches her granddaughter the ways of the world, whether her parents like it or not. But in the end, some quality time together makes it all worthwhile.

“Memory Lane” is available to view on Subaru of America’s YouTube channel here:

http://bit.ly/ZngAhm

“The all-new Outback embodies adventure and the new campaign demonstrates how the Outback is ‘Built to take you to the place you’ve never been’,” said Alan Bethke, vice president of marketing for Subaru. “This new generation Outback delivers SUV and crossover characteristics that consumers want while also providing carlike fuel economy and handling,” Bethke added.

2015 Subaru Outback

The 2015 Outback offers the roomiest interior, most capable chassis and best fuel-efficiency in the model’s 20-year history. Its bold new design delivers an even more compelling blend of on-road agility, off-pavement control, ride comfort, interior refinement and safety technology including award-winning Subaru EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology. Sales of the previous generation Outback more than doubled and Subaru expects sales to increase still further with this new generation.

 

MCMURRAY LEADS TEAM CHEVY IN QUALIFYING AT NEW HAMPSHIRE; SIX CHEVROLET SS RACE CARS TO START SYLVANIA 300 IN TOP 12

Jamie McMurray, driver of the #1 Belkin/Wemo Chevrolet SS qualified for second position September 19, 2014 for Sunday’s Chase Challenger 16 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Garry Eller/HHP for Chevy Racing)

LOUDON, N.H. – September 20, 2014 – In the final round of qualifying for Sunday’s Sylvania 300 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Jamie McMurray turned a quick lap of 27.121 seconds, 140.437 mph to claim the second-place starting position in his No. 1 Belkin/WEMO Chevrolet SS.

It marked his 11th top-10 start of the 2014 season, and his fifth in 24 races at the 1.058-mile oval known as the ‘Magic Mile’.

Kevin Harvick was close behind McMurray, turning a lap of 27.193 seconds, 140.065 mph in his No. 4 Budweiser Designate a Driver Chevrolet SS, and will start third in the 43-car field.  It will be Harvick’s 11th top-10 start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and his 19th in 28 races thus far this season.

Other Team Chevy drivers who qualified in the final qualifying round of 12 for the 300-mile race are as follows:  Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS will start sixth, Ryan Newman, No. 31 Quicken Loans Chevrolet SS will start ninth, Kyle Larson will start 10th in his No. 42 Target Chevrolet SS, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start from the 11th position in his No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet SS.

Brad Keselowski (Ford) was the pole winner, Denny Hamlin (Toyota) qualified fourth, and Kyle Busch (Toyota) qualified fifth to round out the top-five starters.

The field is set for the second round of the final 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, in which Team Chevy currently has eight contenders.  They qualified as follows:

Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Budweiser Designate a Driver Chevrolet SS = 3rd

Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS = 6th

Ryan Newman, No. 31 Quicken Loans Chevrolet SS = 9th

Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet SS = 11th

Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet SS = 13th

Kurt Busch, No. 41 Haas Automation Chevrolet SS = 15th

Kasey Kahne, No. 5 Time Warner Cable Chevrolet SS = 17th

AJ Allmendinger, No. 47 Bush’s Beans Chevrolet SS = 27th
The 300-lap/317.4 mile Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is scheduled to begin Sunday September 21st at 2:00 p.m. ET. Live coverage will be available on ESPN, PRN, Sirius NASCAR Radio Channel 90 and NASCAR.com.

NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY / SYLVANIA 300; TEAM CHEVY POST QUALIFYING DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT

WHAT IS YOUR OUTLOOK FOR THIS WEEKEND?

Jamie McMurray

JAMIE MCMURRAY: “We unloaded today similar set-up to what we ran the first race.  We qualified pretty well the first race, raced well and thought we were one of the, maybe the best car in race trim.  The No. 4 car was maybe a little bit better, but overall good in race trim.  Then we switched over to qualifying trim, second in the practice, so it’s been a good weekend. This is one of those tracks that if you show up on Friday and you are struggling it’s almost impossible to get your car competitive.  On the flip side if you show up with a quick car it typically stays fast all weekend.  We brought a fast car, a brand new car this weekend, first race and Keith (Rodden, crew chief) has done a really good job again and qualified second.  The pit selection here is also a big deal getting blocked in because you do a lot of two tires.  The fact that we qualified well, you get to have that opening leaving is going to be really valuable especially if you are running up front.”

DID YOU GET EVERYTHING OUT OF THE LAP OR DO YOU FEEL LIKE THERE WAS SOMEWHERE ON THE TRACK THAT YOU LEFT SOMETHING?

JAMIE MCMURRAY: “No I felt like my first run that I didn’t get everything out of the car, maybe left a little bit on the table.  We watched this dart fish where you can kind of compare your lap to other guys.  In practice I was second and looked at a couple of other guys and thought I found some area that I could make my car better in.  It’s hard to do that the first time by on the track.  The first run I didn’t feel like I got it all.  But the second run out the second lap was really good.  I came off turn four and I tried to run three laps and tried to just drive even a little bit harder, but the tires just wouldn’t hold up for another quick lap.  When they told me the lap times like a 27.12 (seconds) I didn’t think anybody was going to beat that because we could only run like a 27.28 the first run out. Then I saw Denny (Hamlin) only ran like a 27.25.  I’m like ‘that is going to be a tough lap to beat’.  Brad (Keselowski) obviously just barely beat us.”

DO YOU WISH THAT CHIP GANASSI RACING WOULD HAVE BEEN RUNNING LIKE THIS EARLIER IN THE SEASON?  YOU AND YOUR TEAMMATE SEEM TO BE RIGHT ON THE CUSP OF A WIN. IS IT JUST A MATTER OF TIME?

JAMIE MCMURRAY: “We definitely like Bristol, Chicago have been probably – Sonoma – have been some of my best races this year.  I don’t really feel like we are faster now than what we were at the beginning of the season.  I feel like the speed has been there all year.  Certainly have had some tire issues and some things kind of out of your control that happened that put us way back.  We won the All-Star race earlier in the season, so we have had speed all year long.  It’s just the last few weeks you have been able to put it all together.  We still struggle a little bit I feel like at the end of the races.  At Chicago our car was super-fast as the track rubbered up at Chicago and at Bristol we just couldn’t get the car freed up enough.  It just would get too tight.  I don’t know I feel like we have had speed all year long and just been able to kind of put more of the race together the last month or so.”

TALK ABOUT YOUR OUTLOOK FOR SUNDAY’S RACE:

Kevin Harvick

KEVIN HARVICK: “Just need to keep doing the things that we are doing.  The cars are fast and we are putting ourselves in position as we get towards the end of these races and feel like hadn’t all worked out.  Last week the No. 42 was a little bit better at the end of the race, but still in the mix as we get towards the end.  That is just in my opinion what we need to do.  We need to keep being consistent and keep leading laps and keep putting yourself in position to win.  It will eventually just come and make up for the ones that you lost.  It’s just going good and got to keep it that way.”

IS IT MORE IMPORTANT NOW JUST TO ADVANCE AND BE CONSISTENT OR IS IT TIME TO GO ALL OUT FOR WINS RIGHT NOW?

KEVIN HARVICK: “I think the whole winning thing is really overrated.  Obviously you want to win.  You want to win every week and you show up to try to win, but you can’t take any unnecessary chances and that is kind of the box that the point system puts you in.  It’s good and bad.  It’s like last week you are racing for the win.  I felt like the No. 42 was faster and obviously drove by us and then as we got to the end you are kind of in a pretty vulnerable spot and you don’t want to turn a top five finish into a 25th place finish because the risk versus reward is not there, especially in the first round.  If you are in desperation mode and you are in the third round of one of the rounds and outside looking in then the circumstances change.  It’s all very circumstantial as far as what you need to do.  I feel like that goal changes on a weekly basis and you have to adjust to that as you go and how much risk versus reward that is there for you.”

JOE GIBBS RACING JUMPS INTO CHASE WITH STRONG SHOWING

Kyle Busch

September 19, 2014 – The majority of attention heading into the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup was focused on the drivers from Hendrick Motorsports and Team Penske. And deservedly so. Drivers from those organizations won 13 of the previous 16 regular season races.

But, coming in under the radar, Joe Gibbs Racing made a statement at Chicagoland Sunday.

Its trio of Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth finished sixth, seventh and 10th. It was only the third time that’s happened this season.

The first time: New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

All that’s left for JGR to assert itself into championship contender talk is for one of its drivers to take a stroll through victory lane – a feat it hasn’t accomplished since Denny Hamlin won at Talladega in May.

After posting a career-high seven victories last year in his first season with JGR, Kenseth has no checkered flags to his credit in 2014. Still, he’s been one of the most consistent drivers in the series, finishing sixth in the regular season point standings (his 17 top 10s rank second only to Jeff Gordon’s 18).

Kyle Busch has experienced an up-and-down season. He notched a quick victory at Auto Club in March and owns three runner-up finishes on the season. Simply put: At New Hampshire, he’s due. He’s finished second the last three races there, with his last win coming 2006.

The New Hampshire race also sets up well for Hamlin. He has three top-10 finishes at Loudon in his last five starts, including a victory, a runner-up and an eighth place showing in July.

NASCAR

LARSON AND VICKERS LOOK TO PLAY SPOILER

September 19, 2014 – Close, but not close enough. That was the story for Kyle Larson over the weekend in Chicagoland.

Kyle Larson

Battling Kevin Harvick for the lead as late as Lap 252, the Sunoco Rookie of the Year frontrunner had a golden opportunity to spoil the first race of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Then, in an instant, Brad Keselowski powered between Larson and Harvick and stayed out front the rest of the way to win the MyAFibStory.com 400.

It’s been a year of “not-quites” for the 22-year-old Larson, who has flashed his unlimited potential with a runner-up and two third-place finishes this season and barely missed making the Chase on points.

The NASCAR Next and NASCAR Drive for Diversity graduate will attempt to capture his elusive first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory in Sunday’s Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (2 p.m. on ESPN), where he finished third in the circuit’s earlier visit this season. He claims fourth and 14th-place showings in his two NASCAR Nationwide Series appearances at the Magic Mile.

Larson is far from the only spoiler candidate in the second Chase race. Michael Waltrip Racing driver Brian Vickers won at New Hampshire last season and owns five top-10 finishes there.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Etc.

Clinch Scenarios: Though unlikely, drivers can mathematically clinch a spot in The Contenders Round without a win this weekend. If a Chase driver other than Brad Keselowski wins, anyone who has at least a 45-point lead on the 10th highest winless Chase driver would advance to the next round. If a non-Chase driver or Keselowski wins, the potential clinching driver needs to lead the 11th highest winless Chase driver by at least 45 pts. Conversely, for a driver to be in a must-win situation at Dover, they would have to be 45 points or more behind the 9th ranked winless driver if there’s a Chase winner that’s not Keselowski; or 45 points or more behind the 10th ranked driver if there’s a non-Chase winner or Keselowski. … Corey LaJoie will make his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut this weekend. LaJoie, who finished second in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship standings in 2012, is the son of two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Randy LaJoie.

 

CHASERS CAN HELP BREAK RECORD AT NEW HAMPSHIRE

After posting three wins, his highest total since he racked up six in 2004, Earnhardt will try to automatically advance to the Chase’s Contender Round with a New Hampshire checkered flag

September 19, 2014 – Thirteen different drivers have taken the checkered flag in the last 13 races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway – tied with Texas Motor Speedway for the all-time record streak without a repeat winner.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

And there’s a better than average chance the Magic Mile takes sole possession of the record after this Sunday’s Sylvania 300 (2 p.m. on ESPN) as Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are all missing from the 13-in-13 stretch.

Gordon owns three victories at New Hampshire, but has not won there since 1998. He has been knocking on the door for his fourth win of the season after posting runner-up finishes the last two races. The No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports driver will attempt to improve on his last Loudon showing in July when he finished 26th, but did lead for 19 laps. Despite his Granite State drought, Gordon boasts the highest average running position in the series at the 1.058 oval (7.7) where he has competed in all 39 of its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events – tied with Jeff Burton for its all-time starts record.

Similar to Gordon, Harvick has one win at New Hampshire, but he notched it eight years ago (September 17, 2006). In his last two races at the track, he has finished 30th and 20th, respectively. Harvick can likely count on a solid starting position, at least. He boasts a series-best six Coors Light Pole Awards on the season and has started lower than sixth once his last eight races, ironically at New Hampshire. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver opened the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup with a fifth-place finish at Chicagoland Speedway.

After posting three wins, his highest total since he racked up six in 2004, Earnhardt will try to automatically advance to the Chase’s Contender Round with a New Hampshire checkered flag. In 30 starts at Loudon, he has seven top fives and 13 tops 10s to his credit, but has never finished higher than third. Since Earnhardt’s emphatic win at Pocono, he has posted one top-10 finish in the last six races, a fifth-place showing at Michigan.

Source: NASCAR

 

2015 NASCAR HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE WENDELL SCOTT TO BE HONORED AT MARTINSVILLE

NASCAR, Front Row Motorsports, Kyle Busch Motorsports and Martinsville Speedway Pay Tribute To Scott With Special Paint Scheme, Number Change

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. September 19, 2014 – NASCAR, Front Row Motorsports, Kyle Busch Motorsports and Martinsville Speedway announced today they will honor 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Wendell Scott, the first African-American driver to win a NASCAR premier series event, with a series of tributes during the Martinsville race weekend from Oct. 24-26.

Wendell Scott

Front Row Motorsports will pay homage to Scott, also the first African-American driver to race full-time in NASCAR’s premier series, with a full throwback paint scheme on its No. 34 Ford driven by David Ragan, reminiscent of the blue No. 34 that he drove to Victory Lane for his first NASCAR premier series victory at Jacksonville Speedway on Dec. 1, 1963. Ragan is one of just three drivers to win in the No. 34, and the first since Scott.

“It’s going to be cool to honor Wendell Scott at his home track with his family,” said Ragan. “I got to drive a tribute scheme for Ned Jarrett a while back, and it’s a tribute to the history of our sport that I get to honor Mr. Scott as an inductee, the last driver to win in the No. 34 before I did. I’m a fan of our sport’s history and have a real appreciation for it, so it’s special to be able to bring that paint scheme back for a weekend.”

In addition, Kyle Busch Motorsports will change the number of Darrell Wallace Jr.’s truck from 54 to 34 in honor of Scott. A NASCAR Drive for Diversity graduate, Wallace became the first African-American to win a NASCAR national series race since Scott’s historic 1963 triumph when he captured the checkered flag in last season’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Kroger 200 at Martinsville.

“It’s an honor to run the No. 34 Toyota Tundra at Martinsville,” said Wallace. “I got my first win at Martinsville and the historical significance of that win and to be so close to Wendell Scott’s hometown was a really cool bonus to getting my first win. The Scott family has followed my career since I ran the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program for Rev Racing and I’ve kept a relationship with the family over the years. Thanks to Joe Gibbs Racing, Kyle Busch Motorsports, Toyota and NASCAR for allowing me to run the No. 34 at Martinsville. I’m pumped to get back there and hope to get another victory.”

Adding to the celebration, Martinsville Speedway and the NHOF will host members of the Scott family during the race weekend and offer special Q&A opportunities for fans on-site.

“Wendell Scott faced numerous adversities throughout his racing career. At the end of the day though, he persevered and overcame all odds,” said Clay Campbell, president of Martinsville Speedway. “That perseverance serves as an inspiration today and as a testament to that, he was inducted to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.”

A trailblazer whose legacy extends to the present day, Scott was the 1959 NASCAR Virginia Sportsman champion and won over 100 races at local tracks prior to starting his NASCAR premier series career. The Danville, Virginia native served three years in the U.S. Army during World War II where he honed his skills in the motor pool. In 13 years of NASCAR premier series competition, Scott made 495 starts (35th on the all-time list), accumulating 20 top-five and 147 top-10 finishes. He passed away in 1990, at the age of 69.

NASCAR currently awards scholarships in Scott’s name through the United Negro College Fund, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund. The Wendell Scott Trailblazer Award is awarded to a diverse or female driver in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series who has demonstrated significant contributions on and off the track. Current NASCAR D4D driver and last year’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Nevada state champion Jay Beasley was the 2013 award recipient.

In addition, NASCAR has designated the first race weekend in March as a time to remember Wendell Scott’s legacy during a week that marks his first career start. Cars in all series run a decal in honor of his accomplishments within the sport.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Goody’s ® Headache Relief Shot ® 500 will run Sunday, Oct. 26 at 1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Kroger 200 will run Saturday, Oct. 25 at 1:30 p.m. on FOX Sports 1. Both races will also air on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, with additional coverage on NASCAR.com.