NASCAR Official Press Releases

NASCAR Issues Fines And Probation Kurt Busch and Others For Post Race Incident at Darlington

by 4ever3 on May 16, 2012 10:12 AM EDT in NASCAR Official Press Releases

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 15, 2012) – NASCAR has fined Kurt Busch, driver of the No. 51 car in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, $50,000 and placed him on NASCAR probation until July 25 for his actions during the May 12 race at Darlington Raceway.

Kurt Busch violated Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing; reckless driving on pit road during the race; involved in an altercation with another competitor after the completion of the race) of the 2012 NASCAR Rule Book. Additionally, Craig Strickler, a crew member for the No. 51 team, has been fined $5,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31 for violating Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing; interfering with a member of the broadcast media).

Tony Gibson, crew chief for the No. 39 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team, has been placed on NASCAR probation until June 27 for violating Section 12-1 and Sections 12-4G and 9-4A (Crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of his team members). Andrew Rueger, a crew member for the No. 39 team, has been fined $5,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until June 27 for violating Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing; failure to comply with a directive from a NASCAR official). Both of these violations occurred post-race.

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Carroll Shelby, Automotive Legend Dies at 89

by 4ever3 on May 11, 2012 5:24 PM EDT in NASCAR Official Press Releases

The following is a press release sent to me by Ford MoCo about 20 min. ago:

Carroll Shelby, Ford Family for More Than Half a Century

The following statement is attributable to Edsel B. Ford II, member of the Board of Directors of Ford Motor Company and great-grandson of Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Company.

"Today, we have lost a legend in Ford Motor Company's history, and my family and I have lost a dear friend. Carroll Shelby is one of the most recognized names in performance car history, and he's been successful at everything he's done. Whether helping Ford dominate the 1960s racing scene or building some of the most famous Mustangs, his enthusiasm and passion for great automobiles over six decades has truly inspired everyone who worked with him. He was a great innovator whose legend at Ford never will be forgotten. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends."

JAMIE ALLISON, Director, Ford Racing on the passing of Carroll Shelby:
"In the history of our company there are a handful of men who have stamped their imprint on the heart and soul of what we do at Ford Racing and Carroll Shelby is definitely one of them. I'm just so fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet him and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. We at Ford and his legions of fans will have a silent moment to reflect on what he's done for the company. It's personal for me and I'm sure it's personal for many fans."

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First Southern 500 Featured 75 Cars, Many Driven To Track Then Home Again

by 4ever3 on May 9, 2012 11:51 PM EDT in NASCAR Official Press Releases

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 9, 2012) – NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series history began in Charlotte, N.C. on June 19, 1949 with Jim Roper’s victory in a 150-mile race over the 3/4-mile dirt Charlotte Speedway.

The foundations of the modern sport, however, were poured the following year with the opening of Darlington Raceway in South Carolina. The track’s 63rd running of the Bojangles’ Southern 500 is set for Saturday night (FOX, 7 p.m. ET).

Before Harold Brasington’s then-1.25-mile track was built – a year-long process – asphalt race tracks were virtually unheard of in the southeastern United States. The Strictly Stock Series competed on paved ovals only twice pre-Darlington, at the 1/2-mile Dayton Speedway in Ohio although Daytona’s Beach & Road Course surface was a combination of pavement and sand.

Darlington, however, was the game-changer leading to construction of paved, banked superspeedways (tracks measuring a mile or longer) over the next decade in Daytona Beach, Fla., Charlotte and Atlanta.

More than 80 cars from all points of the compass turned out for the Sept. 4, 1950 Southern 500, driven rather than towed in many cases from small Carolina towns a few miles from the track and more than 2,500 miles distant. Qualifying for the 75-car field took two weeks as Brasington mimicked events leading up to the Indianapolis 500.

Johnny Mantz, a 31-year-old from Long Beach, Calif., drove a six-cylinder Plymouth to a nine-lap victory over Fireball Roberts in a race that took more than six and a half hours to complete. Much of the race was run on the track’s flat apron because the banking was rough and abrasive and quickly wore tires down to the cords.

Mantz’s Plymouth, jointly owned by Hubert Westmoreland and Bill France Sr., was the only car in the field equipped with special Firestone racing tires that lasted all day. While his competitors were in the pits for tire changes, Mantz only had to stop periodically for fuel – leading to his enormous margin of victory. He averaged 75.25 mph – not much slower than Curtis Turner’s 82.034 mph pole speed.

Many of those competing in the first Southern 500 are deceased including top four finishers Mantz, Roberts, the season’s champion to be Bill Rexford and 1949 champion Red Byron.

Still living are Cotton Owens, now 87 and a NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee, who finished seventh in a Plymouth. Hershel McGriff, racing the same Oldsmobile 88 with which he’d won the year’s inaugural Carrera Pan America – Mexican Road Race – was eighth. McGriff competed in several NASCAR K&N Pro Series events in 2011 at the age of 84.

America was a far different place five years after the end of World War II. There was little infrastructure, especially in the south, no Interstate highways and not much in the way of hotels in such rural areas as Darlington, S.C.

Gasoline cost 18 cents a gallon, a new car, which could be raced in the Southern 500 without modification, went for $1,510 and the average annual salary was $3,210. The price of a black and white television set was $249.95 but it was unlikely you’d find auto racing programming on the few available channels.

Owens, whose crew was comprised with relatives and friends, had begun racing close to home with a Chrysler dragged from a wrecking yard. His friends included NASCAR Hall of Famer Walter “Bud” Moore. He “commuted” to the track each day – a three-hour drive – from his home in Union, S.C.

McGriff met France and Turner at the Mexican race. “Bill invited me to come to Darlington,” said McGriff, who raced in California, Oregon and Washington. “Otherwise I wouldn’t have known about it.”

McGriff drove his Oldsmobile cross country from Portland, Ore., a distance of more than 2,600 miles sharing driving duties with his owner/mechanic Ray Sundstrom. “I slept two or three nights on the county courthouse lawn and went into the bathroom to clean up,” said McGriff, then 22 years of age.

The race itself was spectacular – if only because so many cars were confined to a relatively small space. McGriff remembers the field being lined up and stretching all the way around to turns 3 and 4. “I can’t imagine how they scored them,” he said. “You could go 10 deep the track was so wide. We ran on the flat (apron). You could run on the top part (banking) and go faster but you wouldn’t run far.”

The race was an endurance contest as much in the pits as on the track.

McGriff had found three or four volunteers at a local gas station to service his car. Changing a tire required a heavy floor jack and a lug wrench – air guns and lightweight jacks came to stock car racing much later. Gas was dumped into the car through a funnel.

Mantz, meanwhile, kept up a consistent pace content to let the faster, eight-cylinder cars wear out their tires. McGriff changed 14 – at $15 a tire. “Then we’d go by him like he was standing still,” said McGriff, who completed 374 of the 400 laps and was paid $500.

And afterwards? “I got back in the car and drove home,” said McGriff. “I didn’t get any dents. There was so much room that if a guy wrecked in front of you, you could stop.” Today’s Darlington racing, where speeds exceed 180 mph, obviously is not your grandfather’s Southern 500.

Owens went on to win nine times as a driver and 38 races as an owner. NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson drove Owens’ No. 6 Dodge to the 1966 NASCAR Sprint Cup championship. “His hobby was his love; he got to do it as a living and we did it as a family,” said Debbie Davis, Owens’ daughter.

McGriff, named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998, won four times and finished sixth in 1954 standings. Offered one of Carl Kiekhafer’s potent Chrysler 300s for the 1955 season, McGriff instead chose to stay in Oregon to run the family’s lumber business.

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NASCAR Star Carl Edwards to Join ESPN for Two Races

by 4ever3 on May 9, 2012 11:44 PM EDT in NASCAR Official Press Releases

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star Carl Edwards will move from the cockpit of his race car to the broadcast booth as he becomes an analyst for ESPN on two upcoming telecasts of NASCAR Nationwide Series races.

Edwards will make his debut during ESPN2’s live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway on Friday night, May 11, at 6:30 p.m. ET. Edwards also will serve as an analyst for the June 29 event at Kentucky Speedway.

For the Darlington race telecast, Edwards will join lap-by-lap announcer Allen Bestwick and analyst Andy Petree in the booth. While Edwards has never called a race, he has worked closely with ESPN the past two years during ESPN’s portion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule by doing post-race analysis for SportsCenter.

"I am humbled by this opportunity to broadcast for ESPN and be part of their team," said Edwards. "This Friday in Darlington, I will hop out of my Sprint Cup Car and trade my firesuit for a suit and tie to see the Nationwide race from a totally different perspective.

"I am honestly a little nervous as it will be my first time being part of the broadcast," he said. "ESPN has been a great partner for everyone in NASCAR and I hope I can add some insight for the fans."

Edwards, who drives for Roush Fenway Racing, stopped competing in NASCAR Nationwide Series races this season after racing fulltime in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series the past seven years. He was the Nationwide Series driving champion in 2007, and earned the 2011 series owner’s championship for Roush Fenway Racing, but decided to concentrate his efforts on the Sprint Cup Series this season.

"Having a past NASCAR Nationwide Series champion and active NASCAR Sprint Cup driver in the booth will certainly bring some unique perspective to our viewers," said Rich Feinberg, ESPN vice president, motorsports, production. "We have a very strong on-air team for NASCAR and this addition makes it even stronger."

Visit www.espnmediazone.com for ESPN's latest releases, schedules and other news, plus photos, video and audio clips and more.

About NASCAR on ESPN:
ESPN produces comprehensive, multi-platform coverage featuring telecasts of the final 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup races, including the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Additionally, ESPN is the television home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series. ESPN’s NASCAR coverage extends to ESPN.com, SportsCenter, ESPN the Magazine, WatchESPN, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio and ESPN International, among other ESPN platforms. ESPN aired 262 NASCAR Cup Races over a 20-year period starting in 1981 and returned to NASCAR coverage in 2007. The network's award-winning, live flag-to-flag coverage on ESPN has been honored with 19 Sports Emmy Awards, as well as many industry honors. It is widely credited for helping to popularize the sport nationwide.

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Two NASCAR Nationwide Series Crew Chiefs Fined; Crew Chiefs, Car Chiefs Placed On Probation For Infractions At Talladega Superspeedway

by 4ever3 on May 8, 2012 10:38 PM EDT in NASCAR Official Press Releases

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 8, 2012) – NASCAR announced today that two NASCAR Nationwide Series crew chiefs had been fined and placed on probation for violations during this past weekend’s event at Talladega Superspeedway. In addition, the teams’ respective car chiefs have also been placed on probation for the remainder of the year.

Crew chiefs Jeremy Bullins (No. 22 team) and Chad Walter (No. 12 team) have each been fined $10,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. Additionally, the teams’ respective car chiefs – Thomas Clavette (No. 22) and Raymond Fox (No. 12) – have been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.

The rules violations referred to Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules detailed in Section 20-A of the rule book); 20A-2.1E (streamlining of the contours of the car, beyond what is approved by the series director will not be permitted. Installation of air directional devices, underpans, baffles, shields or the like beneath the car or the car’s hood and fender area, front firewall, floor, rear firewall area, rear deck and quarter panel will not be permitted. If, in the judgment of NASCAR officials, any part or component of the car not previously approved by NASCAR has been installed or modified to enhance aerodynamic performance, will not be permitted. All cars must remain standard in appearance); 20A-3.10A (front upper bumper cover must be from the respective OEM manufacturer and must be approved by NASCAR. The front lower bumper cover and rear bumper cover must be from an approved manufacturer and must be approved by NASCAR. Once approved, the front lower bumper covers may be used on all approved models. NASCAR officials may use bumper covers provided by the respective manufacturer as a guide in determining whether a competitor’s bumper cover conforms to the specifications of the NASCAR rule book. Unless otherwise authorized by the series director, cutting and reshaping of bumper covers will not be permitted.)

The infractions were discovered during opening day inspection on May 3.

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Start Time Announced for Inaugural Good Sam Club Roadside Assistance Carolina 200 presented by Cheerwine at Rockingham Speedway

by 4ever3 on Feb 6, 2012 10:51 PM EST in NASCAR Official Press Releases

Start Time Announced for Inaugural Good Sam Club Roadside Assistance Carolina 200 presented by Cheerwine at Rockingham Speedway

NCWTS to roll off at 1 p.m. April 15 for 200-lap tilt

Rockingham, N.C. (February 6, 2012) - NASCAR fans have known since last September that NASCAR would be returning to Rockingham Speedway for the first time in eight years with the Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) on April 15, 2012.

Now, the race has an official start time.

The historic Good Sam Club Roadside Assistance Carolina 200 presented by Cheerwine will take the green flag at 1 p.m. on the legendary one-mile oval.

"This place (Rockingham Speedway) is steeped in tradition," said speedway President Andy Hillenburg, "so, it's nice to be back in that traditional Sunday afternoon 1 p.m. time slot."

For more information on the Good Sam Club Roadside Assistance Carolina 200 presented by Cheerwine, or to purchase tickets, contact Rockingham Speedway at 910.205.8800 or visit online at www.rockinghamspeedway.com.

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Celebrate the New Year with an affordable weekend getaway at the NASCAR Hall of Fame

by 4ever3 on Jan 19, 2012 12:21 AM EST in NASCAR Official Press Releases

NASCAR families, friends, resident enthusiasts and new fans looking for their first affordable weekend getaway of the New Year will find it at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and the Charlotte (N.C.) Convention Center, where NASCAR Acceleration Weekend 2012 will hit into high gear. The action-packed weekend, slated for Jan. 20-22, provides an opportunity for audiences to interact with the sport’s legends, current stars and catch a sneak peek at the upcoming season.

A snapshot of events includes:

· Friday, Jan. 20: Storytelling with 2010 and 2011 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductees in the Great Hall (4 p.m.), followed by the Red Carpet event (4:30-6 p.m.) featuring past and current Hall of Fame Inductees, celebrities and NASCAR executives leading up to the 2012 Induction Ceremony. The Hall will welcome its third class – Darrell Waltrip, Cale Yarborough, Glen Wood, Dale Inman and Richie Evans (posthumously) – with enshrinement.

· Saturday, Jan. 21: NASCAR legend Junior Johnson will serve breakfast to Hall of Fame guests, free with paid admission to the NASCAR Hall of Fame (7-9 a.m.) kicking off NASCAR Preview 2012, Presented by Sprint. Top NASCAR drivers and legends will be on hand throughout the day (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.) for autographs and on-stage Q&A sessions, as well as interactive experiences for fans held at the Charlotte Convention Center. To put a nightcap on the day’s events, NASCAR legends and new Hall Inductees will be stationed at their respective exhibits telling stories and visiting with fans (7-9 p.m. ET).

· Sunday, Jan. 22: Fans will have the opportunity to mingle with the 2012 Hall of Fame class as they get their first glimpse of each inductee’s Hall of Fame cars and exhibits (9:30-10:30 a.m.). A perfect exclamation point to the weekend!

· Ticket special: Combo tickets for the NASCAR Hall of Fame and NASCAR Preview 2012 start at $20. Children under five-years old are FREE.

For more information on NASCAR Acceleration Weekend, visit NASCARacceleration2012.com or call 1-800-745-3000

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Richard Childress Racing Reaches 100th Win

by 4ever3 on Oct 23, 2011 10:59 PM EDT in NASCAR Official Press Releases

Clint Bowyer does a burnout to celebrate winning the Good Sam Club 500, the 100th victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing. Credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images for NASCAR
via nascar-assets.americaneagle.com

With NASCAR Hall of Fame Nominee At Helm, Organization Adds To Highlight Reel

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 23, 2011) – With its sixth victory of the 2011 season, by Clint Bowyer at Talladega Superspeedway, Richard Childress Racing reached historic NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win No. 100, a major milestone in the storied history of one of NASCAR’s most prolific teams. It was the team’s 12th win at Talladega, which puts it atop the all-time wins list at the historic track.

Richard Childress Racing started its trek to the top of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 1969, as a single-car team with its driver also its owner. Richard Childress paired his business acumen with driving skills that produced results. Childress finished his driving career with six top fives and 76 top 10s.

But it was when Childress took the back seat that Richard Childress Racing exploded. It earned its first win in 1983 at Riverside International Raceway with driver Ricky Rudd. A year later, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt joined the organization fulltime, and the rest – as they say – is history.

Earnhardt won six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships and 67 races while flying the Richard Childress flag.

Now, the team has reached another milestone, and another accolade – 100 victories. RCR has won with seven different drivers, at 22 different tracks. Below is a timeline of Childress’ notable and milestone victories on its way to 100:

1 – On June 5, 1983 at Riverside, Ricky Rudd earned RCR’s its first victory. He led 57 laps in the event.

11 – RCR won its first Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, on May 25, 1986 with Dale Earnhardt driving.

23 – RCR won its first Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. On Sept. 6, 1987, Dale Earnhardt led 109 laps en route to his own milestone – victory No. 30.

50 – On July 3, 1993, Earnhardt won the Daytona International Speedway night race. He led 110 laps for his 57th career victory.

59 – RCR won its first Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. On Aug. 5, 1995, Earnhardt won the second running of the Brickyard 400. RCR has won three Brickyard 400s in all, with Earnhardt, Kevin Harvick in 2003 and Paul Menard in 2011.

64 – RCR won its first Daytona 500. In an emotional – and memorable – victory, Dale Earnhardt finally reached Daytona 500 Victory Lane on Feb. 15, 1998. It took Earnhardt 20 tries to get there.

84 – RCR won its second Daytona 500, with Kevin Harvick on Feb. 18, 2007.

Below lists the number of wins per driver, crew chief and track for Richard Childress Racing.

RCR Wins By Driver Driver Wins Dale Earnhardt 67 Kevin Harvick 18 Clint Bowyer 5 Jeff Burton 4 Robby Gordon 3 Ricky Rudd 2 Paul Menard 1 RCR Wins By Crew Chief Driver Wins Kirk Shelmerdine 46 Andy Petree 15 Gil Martin 11 Kevin Hamlin 9 Todd Berrier 8 Scott Miller 5 David Smith 2 Shane Wilson 2 Larry McReynolds 1 Richard Labbe 1 RCR Wins By Track Driver Wins Talladega 12 Atlanta 9 Bristol 9 Darlington 8 Richmond 8 Martinsville 7 Charlotte 6 Daytona 5 North Wilkesboro 5 Dover 4 Loudon 4 Indianapolis 3 Michigan 3 Phoenix 3 Rockingham 3 Chicago 2 Infineon 2 Pocono 2 Watkins Glen 2 Auto Club 1 Riverside 1 Texas 1