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

HOMECOMING FOR DANICA PATRICK AND OTHERS THIS WEEKEND AT PHOENIX

Danica Patrick

February 27, 2014 – Danica Patrick is another driver who was disappointed at Daytona, after a 40th-place finish that belied a semi-strong run. A hard crash into the wall entering the DIS tri-oval ended her effort.

This week Patrick returns to her adopted hometown of Phoenix. Patrick, from Roscoe, Ill., has three NASCAR Sprint Cup starts at PIR with a best finish of 17th in November 2012.

A few more Phoenix connections to watch for this weekend:

• Denny Hamlin, fresh off his runner-up Daytona 500 finish, has an affinity to the area – renting a house in Scottsdale in the offseason between the 2011-12 seasons. He won at PIR in March 2012 and got his first series pole there in November 2005. Hamlin’s listed hometown is Chesterfield, Va.
• Michael McDowell, driving the No. 95 Leavine Family Racing Ford, is from nearby Glendale. McDowell failed to qualify for the 500.
• Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Alex Bowman, from Tucson, Ariz., will make his series PIR debut after a 23rd-place finish in the 500.

And new NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Managing Director Richard Buck is a Phoenix native. Buck was named series director in January of this season after overseeing the merger of GRAND-AM and the American Le Mans Series. Prior to his role at IMSA, Buck served as the director of NACAR’s touring series from 2006-12.

 

DALE EARNHARDT, JR. WINS SECOND CAREER DAYTONA 500

10 Years After His First 500 Victory, No. 88 Driver Outlasts Competition in Thrilling Finish

Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 National Guard Chevrolet SS, celebrates his victory Sunday, February 23, 2014, winning the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by HHP/Harold Hinson for Chevy Racing)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – February 24, 2014 – A decade after his first DAYTONA 500 victory, Dale Earnhardt Jr. returned to Gatorade Victory Lane in a thrilling finish to the 56th annual DAYTONA 500 on Sunday at Daytona International Speedway.

After being the runner-up three of the last four years in the DAYTONA 500, Earnhardt – who had not won a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway since his Budweiser Duel and Sprint Unlimited wins during the 2008 Speedweeks – took the time to let it soak in with a long, reverse-lap drive down the frontstretch of the 2.5-mile tri-oval, showing his appreciation for the win and for the fans.

“To win this race is the greatest feeling you can feel in this sport, aside from accepting the trophy for the championship,” said Earnhardt after climbing out of the No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet. “I didn’t know if I’d ever get a chance to feel this again and it feels just as good, if not better than the first (win) because of how hard we tried year after year after year, running second all of those years.

“This race car was awesome. We showed them all night long what a good car we had,” continued Earnhardt, who led a race-high 54 of the 200 laps. “That (car) could do anything – we fought off battles after battles and we got a little help from Jeff (Gordon) at the end to get away on that restart. This is amazing. I can’t believe this is happening. I’ll never take this for granted because this doesn’t happen twice, let along once, so I’m thankful.”

Coming in second was Denny Hamlin in the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. After winning The Sprint Unlimited and his qualifying race in the Budweiser Duel, Hamlin hoped to become the first driver to ever win all three of the Sprint Cup Series races during Budweiser Speedweeks. Hamlin had a strong car and remained in the lead pack throughout the night despite being without radio communication for the majority of the race.

“There’s a lot to be disappointed about, but there’s a lot to be happy about,” Hamlin said. “My radios weren’t working so I had to wing it those last 150 laps on my own. With not having a spotter there on that last (restart), I didn’t know whether to back up more. I was just trying not to wreck anyone, trying not to get in trouble, trying to spot all six corners by myself. Still a great run, but I am a little disappointed.

“Any other year I probably would have been jumping up and down,” Hamlin said about his finish. “We can hardly finish these races, much less have a shot at a victory.”

Being his own spotter was quite a feat for Hamlin in a race where the top drivers in the world showcased their talent racing two- and three-wide the entire race. There were 42 lead changes among 18 drivers, the most in the season opener since 2011.

Hendrick Motorsports had a strong showing and held the top-three spots with under 10 laps to go. Gordon ended up fourth and defending race and series champion Jimmie Johnson fifth. Chevrolet held five of top-10 positions and has won the DAYTONA 500 six of the last seven years.

The 43-car field included nine former DAYTONA 500 champions and seven Rookie of the Year candidates. With a ninth-place finish, the highest-finishing rookie was Austin Dillon, who qualified the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet on the pole and led the first lap. The race marked the return of the No. 3 car to NASCAR Sprint Cup competition. Dillon was involved in multiple incidents during the race and admitted it was a learning experience.

“It was a good run. I felt like we were a pinball out there a little bit,” Dillon said. “I learned a lot. Definitely the rookie stripes were out tonight, but somehow we ended up with a top 10.”

The race was red flagged for 6 hours, 21 minutes and 40 seconds for rain and slowed seven times for 39 laps.

Pre-race festivities included a concert by reigning Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan. The world-renowned USAF Thunderbirds made their fifth appearance in “The Great American Race” performing the fly-over as singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc sang the National Anthem. Actor Chis Evans, of Marvel’s Captain America, gave the command for the drivers to start their engines and actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise waved the green flag to start the race.

Fans can follow NASCAR on Twitter (@NASCAR) and stay up to speed on the latest news by using hashtags #NASCAR.  Stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for the latest news all season long.  Fans can also follow the latest on DAYTONA Rising, the $400 million frontstretch renovation at the “World Center of Racing” by using #DAYTONARising on Twitter or visiting www.daytonarising.com.

 

JIMMIE JOHNSON RACES TOWARD HISTORY BY CAPTURING HIS SIXTH NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP

Denny Hamlin takes the checkered flag in the Ford EcoBoost 400

Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS is with his crew chief Chad Knaus, left, and Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, center. Johnson won the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship Sunday, November 17, 2013 during the final race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. Johnson secured his title with a 9th place finish. This is the sixth career championship for Johnson. (HHP/Harold Hinson for Chevrolet)

Miami Nov. 18, 2013 – Jimmie Johnson finished ninth in tonight’s Ford EcoBoost 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway to secure the series championship by a 19-point margin over Matt Kenseth, who finished second in the race.  Johnson is the first driver to win six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship titles in an eight-year span.

Going into the race, the driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet led the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup with 28 points over pole winner Matt Kenseth. Johnson needed to finish 23rd or better to capture the title. “I am so thankful to be able to drive for this race team, and so honored and so excited to have a six-pack,” said Johnson. “I don’t know how to describe it to be honest.”

With six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championships, crew chief Chad Knaus is second on the all-time crew chief championship list. “You can’t take wins for granted and you can’t take championships for granted,” said Knaus. “They’re so hard to achieve and you have to cherish each one of them.”

Johnson’s six championships have come in three distinctly different NASCAR Sprint Cup cars – including the Gen-6 Chevrolet SS that debuted this season.

Johnson’s victory earned Hendrick Motorsports a record 11th series owner championship. “It’s hard to win one of these and I’m really proud of Chad and Jimmie for getting six and the whole organization getting 11,” said team owner Rick Hendrick. “I never thought we would get one let alone 11. Every one is special and makes you hungry and continue to want more.”

Denny Hamlin topped Matt Kenseth by a 0.800 second margin to win the Ford EcoBoost 400, his first NASCAR Sprint Cup win in 2013. Tonight’s win gives Hamlin at least one win in each of his last eight NASCAR Sprint Cup Series seasons. “I think this does so much more emotionally to our confidence knowing that we can get back to the top,” said Hamlin. “For me it just makes me appreciate that opportunity that I have.”

As the race winner, Hamlin will leave Miami with a 25-foot Bay Boat from Homestead-based Contender boats. “They said I won a 25-foot Contender boat, so that’s awesome. It’s just a heck of a way to go out.”

Finishing in the 22nd spot, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. became the 2013 Sunoco Rookie of the Year.

Yesterday’s race closes out the 2013 season of NASCAR racing. Homestead-Miami Speedway will again host Ford Championship Weekend and NASCAR championship races in its top three series from Nov. 14-16, 2014.  It will mark the 13th consecutive year NASCAR’s season finales will be held in Miami.

 

NASCAR AFTER THE LAP™ SPONSORED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND COCA-COLA RETURNS TO LAS VEGAS FOR FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

NASCAR After The Lap Sweepstakes Gives Fans A Chance To Win A 2014 Ford F-150 Tremor; Fan Event Celebrates End Of 2013 NASCAR Season

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Aug. 19, 2013 – NASCAR® announced – NASCAR After The Lap – sponsored by Ford and Coca-Cola will return to Las Vegas for the fifth consecutive year. NASCAR After the Lap has become a favorite event of both fans and drivers during NASCAR’s annual celebration of its season, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week™. This year’s event will take place at the Pearl Palms Concert Theater inside the Palms Casino Hotel on Thursday, December 5 at 5 p.m. PT.

NASCAR fans are invited to “Buckle Up” when all 12 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers show off their distinctive personalities and interact with their loyal fan base. Impromptu questions and unexpected requests deliver memorable moments such as Denny Hamlin performing the “Dougie” on stage or a NASCAR produced Gangnam Style video that set the crowd abuzz and generated spirited conversation across social media.

“NASCAR After The Lap is an event unlike any other in sports that gives our fans the chance to see the drivers with their helmets off and their guard down,” said Norris Scott, NASCAR vice president of partnership marketing. “Celebrating its fifth consecutive season, NASCAR After The Lap has evolved into one of the most talked about events of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week™ and provides two long-standing partners, Ford and Coca-Cola, a valuable platform to connect with our brand-loyal fan base.”

Beginning today, NASCAR fans can enter the NASCAR After The Lap sweepstakes by visiting www.NASCARafterthelap.com up until November 17. This is the biggest giveaway ever for the NASCAR After The Lap sweepstakes, providing two winners an all-inclusive VIP trip for them and a guest to NASCAR After The Lap in Las Vegas and either one trip to the 2014 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway or one trip to the 2014 Ford Ecoboost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  One lucky winner will also be taking home the ultimate grand prize – a 2014 Ford F-150 Tremor.

“Over the last five years as event sponsor, Ford has enjoyed some remarkable and very unpredictable moments with our NASCAR drivers,” said Tim Duerr, motorsports marketing manager for Ford Racing. “The NASCAR After The Lap Sweepstakes continues to provide Ford with a great avenue to engage with fans by offering them a chance to not only win a trip out to Las Vegas, but also an opportunity to go home with a brand-new 2014 Ford F150 Tremor. This sponsorship delivers results to Ford on many levels.”

“As a long-time partner, Coca-Cola is proud to celebrate the 2013 season with the stars of NASCAR at this year’s NASCAR After The Lap,” said Ben Reiling, director of motorsports for Coca-Cola North America Group. “In our fifth year as an event sponsor of NASCAR After The Lap, we are offering fans a stellar experience to interact directly with members of our Coca-Cola Racing Family and a chance to win a trip to our marquee event, the Coca-Cola 600. We’re looking forward to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week, it’s going to be a wild ride.”

Tickets for the event will go on sale September 16 and are priced at $20 apiece. All ticket sale proceeds benefit The NASCAR Foundation™, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit that raises funds to support children’s charities and important causes throughout the nation. Fans can visit www.NASCARafterthelap.com to purchase tickets. For fans unable to attend NASCAR After The Lap, NASCAR.com will offer a live stream of the event.