Jack Roush Sr. celebrated a racing milestone yesterday at Homestead-Miami Speedway when his son, Jack Roush Jr., and co-driver Billy Johnson won the Homestead 200 (Grand Sport Class) at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  The win marked the 400^th all-time victory for Roush Sr. in road racing and NASCAR combined.

The race, which was part of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series, featured Roush Jr. starting from the 34^th position and driving his Mustang GT all the way through the field until he finally got the lead on Lap 35 of the 91-lap event.

Roush Sr. spoke about his feelings on that memorable victory while Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing North America Motorsports, also provided some comments after witnessing yesterday’s race.

JACK ROUSH SR., Owner, Roush Fenway Racing – JACK HAD TO START FROM THE BACK AND DROVE IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE FIELD.  WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS WATCHING THAT?  “It was unfortunate in the race yesterday that the pole qualifying time Jack earned was disqualified based on an infraction the sanctioning body said that he had for his brake duct placement, so they removed the brake ducts that were in question and he had to start in the back.  There were two or three other cars that had to start in the back as well, but without pit stops he went to 12^th or 13^th under green, and when he turned the car over to Billy Johnson around the midway point, he was in first place.  Billy was able to maintain that, and one of the reasons was a decision to only make one stop.  The fuel system of the Ford Mustang was able to get great fuel economy that allowed them to make one stop instead of two, so they raced up front the last half of the race.  It was a timed race of two hours and 30 minutes, and when the last caution occurred within 15 minutes of the end, he was able to stretch his lead out in the closing laps and they were able to finish first.  That’s the second time this driver combination has won.”

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION?  “When Jack decided he wanted to road race three years ago, I was not sure that’s what we needed to be doing.  He was already more than 30 years old and past the time when a lot of drivers would get started.  He was building his family and building his career at Roush Industries, and I wasn’t sure that’s what he ought to be doing, but he seemed to be committed to it, as my daughter is, and she works for the company as well, in addition to drag racing.  So I forwarded him the consideration of providing some sponsorship and, initially, he found Rehagen Racing, a Michigan team that races Ford Mustangs, and he purchased a seat with that team for a year-and-a-half, and then last year made the deal with Mike Canny of Horsepower Ranch out of Virginia.  I thought was going to be my salvation of not having to put forward another race team for my son, but then Mike Canny decided in February of 2009 that he wouldn’t race anymore.  Jack raced the equipment that Canny had, exclusive of the car which he owned, but he used Canny’s trailer and his equipment for the balance of 2009 and then we fitted him up with his own stuff.  We re-committed Roush Racing, which was in a dormant state, to go road racing with Jack and Susan, and he won in his second race.”

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  Greg Biffle, driver of the No. 16 U.S. Census Ford Fusion, was forced to a backup after hitting the wall during practice on Saturday.  Biffle, who qualified 13^th but will now start from the back of the field, spoke about what happened.

GREG BIFFLE – No. 16 U.S. Census Ford Fusion – ARE YOU HAPPY TO HAVE GOTTEN A FEW LAPS WITH THE BACKUP CAR?  “Yeah, I’m really happy.  To be honest with you, it couldn’t have gone better.  I got out with six minutes to go.  The car drove really, really well and it drove better than my old car for that short run.  I think we’re gonna be pretty good.”  WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE PRIMARY CAR?  “I just got a little bit loose running the top.  The back end touched the wall and sucked the nose over right where they stopped the SAFER barrier.  I hit right in the worst spot, where the wall was kinked out.  I touched and it turned the car in to where I hit the part of the wall that was jutting out and it just killed the car.”

PAUL MENARD – No. 98 CertainTeed/Menards Ford Fusion (Qualified 23^rd) – “All of the RPM cars got early draws.  I think we’re all in the top 10 or top 11, which is pretty big here because the sun is going down and it’s gonna be dark here in another 20 minutes.  The car has been good since we unloaded it.  We did a few race runs and had a lot of speed on old tires, so that’s big here.  We picked up four-tenths in qualifying, so, hopefully, we get a top 20 start.  That’s kind of what I was shooting for today, but the draw is hurting us.”  DID YOU WORK ON QUALIFYING RUNS MORE THIS WEEKEND?  “Yeah, the last two weeks Saturday was supposed to be a washout at California and Las Vegas, so we had to practice race runs on Friday.  Today, we didn’t really have to but we did a little bit to get an idea for tomorrow.  Obviously, the track is gonna rubber up a lot and in happy hour we’ll get a good read on it, but the car is good.”

KASEY KAHNE – No. 9 Budweiser Ford Fusion (Qualified 6^th) – “I was really happy with it.  Our Budweiser Ford was fast and did everything I wanted it to do, but the sun is just straight in your eyes so you’re completely blinded on entry into one.  You just hope you pick the right spot.  I came pretty close, but I missed it. The wind was fine.  I didn’t even feel it.  You just kind of drive through it.  When these cars are in qualifying trim and locked down on the ground like that, you don’t really feel the wind.  They’re pretty sealed off and it’s a lot of fun to drive a car like that.  You can drive about as hard as you want to.”

GREG BIFFLE – No. 16 U.S. Census Ford Fusion (Qualified 13^th) – “I just couldn’t see anything.  I was trying to reference where the wall was so I didn’t hit it and I couldn’t see anything at all.  As far as Sunday goes, though, I feel pretty good.  It’s not any fun starting from the back, but I think we’ve got a pretty good car.  We’re just looking forward to tomorrow’s practice to try and fine tune it.  We only got two runs today in race trim, so we’ll see about tomorrow and see if we can’t get it better.”

CARL EDWARDS – No. 99 Scotts Ford Fusion (Qualified 10^th) – “The lap was OK.  It’s very exciting going into turn one.  The Scotts Ford Fusion, I drove down in there and you can’t see anything.  It didn’t really slow me down much, though, because I think I lost more time down there in three and four.  I actually got in turns one and two pretty good with some luck and I’m just hoping it holds up for a top 15 or so.   We got kind of a bad draw.  The cars that go out later are gonna get faster and faster, but hopefully we get a good spot.  I’m pretty excited about the race.  This is one of my favorite race tracks to race on.  It’s my favorite oval and I’m just excited about it.”

ELLIOTT SADLER – No. 19 Hunt Brother’s Pizza Ford Fusion (Qualified 8^th) – “I’m so tickled.  We haven’t qualified that good the last couple races, so we decided to put a lot of emphasis and a lot of effort into it this weekend to come to Atlanta, and I’m very proud of my guys.  We’ve got Hunt Brother’s Pizza on the car today and the car looks good.  It’s a lot warmer than standing outside, to be honest with you, right now, but I’m very proud of my guys.  It’s a good way to start the weekend off.”  WAS THE SUN DOWN ENOUGH FOR YOU?  “It was kind of tough getting into turn one from the sun standpoint.  The draw did not help our team, but I’m very satisfied with the effort we put forth today.  It was a great effort by everybody.”

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Wendell Scott (middle) via Motorsports Images and Archives at nascarmedia.com.

I know this is just a press release and that I usually just put the press releases on the NASCAR Related Press Releases section of the site and not on the Front Page, but I think this is a significant event. 

I wasn't born yet when Wendell made his first start, but I wish I was able to see it.  There is a movie about Wendell staring Richard Pryer called 'Greased Lightning' that I think is good.  If you want to find out a little bit more about Wendell I suggest you rent the movie.  I know it is a Hollywood version of Wendell and what he went through, but I think it is a more accurate stock car movie than 'Days of Thunder'.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 3, 2010)– In honor of the anniversary of African-American racing trailblazer Wendell Scott making his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start, vehicles competing this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway will have a commemorative decal baring the image of Scott.

Scott made his first start in NASCAR’s premier series on March 4, 1961 at Spartanburg, S.C. On Dec. 1, 1963 in Jacksonville, Fla., Scott became the first African-American to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup event, a distinction he still holds.

To further recognize the occasion this weekend at AMS, Sybil Scott, daughter of the late Scott, will be in attendance as will NASCAR Drive for Diversity competitor Jason Romero.

Romero was last season’s winner of the Wendell Scott Trailblazer Award, given annually to a female or minority driver in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series who personifies excellence on and off the race track.

Mooresville, N.C. (February 24 2010) - Coming off an extremely successful debut class, Erin Crocker and Dirt Track Racing School President Shawn Parker have set the dates for their second class, which offers a unique mix of classroom learning and hands-on experience behind the wheel. 

The second Erin Crocker Racing School will be held April 10th and 11th, 2010. It will include one day of classes to be held at Ray Evernham Enterprises in Mooresville, NC and one day of on-track activity at nearby East Lincoln Speedway.
 
Classroom training on the first day will provide valuable information regarding driving techniques, safety, fitness, marketing and public relations. That evening each student will have the opportunity to attend the races at the East Lincoln Speedway. The entire second day will take place at the racetrack. Each student will turn laps in two different types of open wheel dirt cars, including a full-size Sprint Car. Crocker also will provide each student with a ride in a two-seat 410 winged sprint car.
 
Crocker and Parker started the school with the concept of running a special program where she could put her experience to use helping young drivers reach their goals. Crocker, the only woman to ever win a World of Outlaw Series race, has spent years racing on dirt tracks all over the world. She has also competed successfully in the ARCA series and the NASCAR's truck and Nationwide series.  

"Erin and I were happy with our first class together last month, and we're excited to follow it up with our second class in April," says Parker. "We couldn't have asked for a better group of students. They were all great to work with, and the feedback we got was terrific."

Although Crocker plans to do plenty of Sprint Car racing in 2010, the development of the Erin Crocker Racing School remains a top priority. "In my opinion, racing a partial sprint car schedule this season myself is only going to enhance the value of the school. Everything I do at the races will be fresh on my mind making it easier for me to educate the students."
 
For pricing, availability and more information on the program, please call the Dirt Track Racing School at 704-728-2969. You can also visit them online at  www.DriveOnDirt.com.

Irish Hills track offers NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race tickets as incentive for kids to read

BROOKLYN, Mich. (Feb. 26, 2010) ­— Read a book, get a chance to win a ticket to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway this June.

MIS is helping two area schools promote reading during “March is Reading Month” in the state of Michigan, offering tickets as incentive.

The speedway is working with two hometown schools — Brooklyn Elementary School in Brooklyn, Mich., and Onsted Middle School in Onsted, Mich. — to give school kids incentive to read. At Brooklyn Elementary, all kids who meet their reading goals for the entire month of March will be entered into a drawing for tickets to the June 13 Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 Sprint Cup Series race with multiple winners being selected. Additionally, all kids who read during the month will receive an MIS bookmark.

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LAS VEGAS (February 25, 2010) – NASCAR has indefinitely suspended Kenneth Luna, crew member for R3 Motorsports, for violating their substance policies. Luna was the team’s gas runner and second –can man on race day and has various shop duties during the week, as well.

“This in an unfortunate instance and we hate to see something like this happen to Kenneth and our team,” said Robert Richardson, Sr., owner of R3 Motorsports. “We fully support and stand side-by-side with NASCAR’s substance violation policies and will continue to follow their guidelines in this area. This isolated incident will be dealt with and handled by NASCAR and our race team.

“Our job now is to move forward and have a good race this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.”

WHO:                          NASCAR star Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevy in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and team owner at Stewart-Haas Racing.

WHAT:                       Stewart will sign autographs for fans at the local Office Depot store in North Las Vegas, Nevada. Office Depot is the Official Office Products Partner of NASCAR and co-primary sponsor of Stewart and the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevy.

The two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion will compete in the upcoming Shelby American Sprint Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In 11 career races at the 1.5-mile track, Stewart has one runner-up and six top-10 finishes.

Office Depot "Smokin’ Hot" Instant Win Game

Fans planning to attend the autograph session should also take part in the new Office Depot "Smokin’ Hot" Instant Win Game. Now through March 6, fans who make any purchase at an Office Depot store will receive a scratch-off card for a chance to win instantly.

The game will have more than 35,000 instant winners, and one grand prize winner will receive a VIP race experience with Stewart at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, plus a trip to Stewart’s "Smoke Show" fantasy driving experience at Texas Motor Speedway later this year.

Additional prizes include $100 Office Depot gift cards and exclusive Tony Stewart posters.

WHERE:                     Office Depot

                                    1435 West Craig Road

                                    North Las Vegas, NV 89032

WHEN:                       Thursday, February 25, 2010

4-6 p.m. local time

PHOTO OPS:            -     Stewart signing autographs for fans

-       The No. 14 Office Depot show car

-       Fans trying out the No. 14 Office Depot race car simulator

-       The No. 14 Office Depot show car can be used as a news, weather or race segment backdrop for interested media outlets

NOTE:                        This event is open to the general public, and 700 wristbands will be distributed for autographs (one per person). The wristbands may be obtained on a first-come, first-served basis at the store beginning at 8 a.m. local time on the day of the event only.