This headline should make you turn your head:
"Legendary Racers Waltrip, Pearson, Johnson, Gant Among drivers competing in Saturday Night Special at Bristol Motor Speedway March 21"
And it's true. We'll get to see those legendary drivers back on the track and at Bristol! It's a 50-lap charity event pairing the drivers mentioned above with "celebrity partners" and competing in late model stock cars. The winning team will have a $25,000 donation given to the charity of their choice.
The first Saturday Night Special will be held on Saturday, March 21st at Bristol Motor Speedway.
You'll find more details and pictures at: http://www.bristolmotorspeedway.com/news/speedway_news_releases/543508.html
Friday, February 6, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Bud Shootout Starting Line-up
The Budweiser Shoot Out - Saturday, February 7th
Daytona International Speedway at 8pm on FOX
The starting line-up was determined from a random draw at the Daytona International Speedway on Thursday night.
One of the first blogs I posted here was about the Bud Shootout Changes for this year.
http://sherivegas.blogspot.com/2009/01/changes-for-09-budweiser-shootout.html
Menard was among the last drivers to make his selection. This will be his first appearance in the annual season opener. Jeff Gordon will roll off the starting grid last.
Daytona International Speedway at 8pm on FOX
The starting line-up was determined from a random draw at the Daytona International Speedway on Thursday night.
- Paul Menard
- Elliott Sadler
- Reed Sorenson (Thursday was his 23rd birthday)
- Scott Speed
- Denny Hamlin
- Tony Stewart
- Brian Vickers
- Bobby Labonte
- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- Kyle Busch
- Carl Edwards
- Kurt Busch
- Robby Gordon
- Kasey Kahne
- Jamie McMurray
- David Ragan
- Michael Waltrip
- A.J. Allmendinger
- Joey Logano
- David Stremme
- Jimmie Johnson
- David Reutimann
- Jeff Burton
- Casey Mears
- Matt Kenseth
- Greg Biffle
- Kevin Harvick
- Jeff Gordon
One of the first blogs I posted here was about the Bud Shootout Changes for this year.
http://sherivegas.blogspot.com/2009/01/changes-for-09-budweiser-shootout.html
Menard was among the last drivers to make his selection. This will be his first appearance in the annual season opener. Jeff Gordon will roll off the starting grid last.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Daytona 500 - Pace Car
Did you catch this one? The 2010 Chevy Camaro is the Official Pace Car of this year's Daytona 500?
This isn't meant to be an advertisement for Chevy, but I'm not about to hesitate to show our American automakers some love.
This photo is from camaro5.com
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Changes for '09 - Drug Testing
Just released:
All NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series drivers have passed the preseason substance abuse test.
NASCAR sent out memos in December regarding the preseason substance abuse test for all crew members, spotters and race-day support personnel, including engineers, engine tuners, shock specialists, chassis specialists and tire specialists.
Policy states NASCAR can test at any time with reasonable suspicion, but this preseason substance abuse test is new this year as well as random testing at the track almost every race weekend. The tests will reportedly focus on the use of narcotics, beta blockers and steroids. Any driver that fails a test will be made public, but not those by crew members. Three failed tests will result in a lifetime ban from NASCAR.
"I might be opening up a can of worms when I say this, but why would you announce you're going to have a drug-testing time?" "I mean the whole idea of announcing it kind of takes away from the people that know how to cheat the system. Obviously, I know there's probably going to be some follow-ups with certain people ... but it just seems to me that you're only eliminating the really, really naïve people in the first testing or in the first screening like this." - Ryan Newman at the Lowe's Motor Speedway Media Tour
All NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series drivers have passed the preseason substance abuse test.
NASCAR sent out memos in December regarding the preseason substance abuse test for all crew members, spotters and race-day support personnel, including engineers, engine tuners, shock specialists, chassis specialists and tire specialists.
Policy states NASCAR can test at any time with reasonable suspicion, but this preseason substance abuse test is new this year as well as random testing at the track almost every race weekend. The tests will reportedly focus on the use of narcotics, beta blockers and steroids. Any driver that fails a test will be made public, but not those by crew members. Three failed tests will result in a lifetime ban from NASCAR.
"I might be opening up a can of worms when I say this, but why would you announce you're going to have a drug-testing time?" "I mean the whole idea of announcing it kind of takes away from the people that know how to cheat the system. Obviously, I know there's probably going to be some follow-ups with certain people ... but it just seems to me that you're only eliminating the really, really naïve people in the first testing or in the first screening like this." - Ryan Newman at the Lowe's Motor Speedway Media Tour
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Race Weekend - 1/23
NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown - Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, CA
Saturday night, Matt Kobyluck became the first two time winner of the Toyota All-Star Showdown. He also won in 2006. It was a wild finish with Joey Logano sliding into Peyton Sellers for the lead in turn 4 of the last lap. Kobyluck crossed the finish just a hair after Logano. However, Logano was penalized for rough driving and finished 40th.
Rolex 24 - Daytona International Speedway
Sunday, David Donohue won the Rolex 24 with the team of Buddy Rice, Antonio Garcia and Darren Law. Donohue started from the pole. The margin of victory (.167 seconds) will go down as the closest finish in the 24 hour race's 47 year history at Daytona International Speedway. Donohue passed Juan Pablo Montoya with just 41 minutes from the finish. There was also a record 25 full course cautions.
Saturday night, Matt Kobyluck became the first two time winner of the Toyota All-Star Showdown. He also won in 2006. It was a wild finish with Joey Logano sliding into Peyton Sellers for the lead in turn 4 of the last lap. Kobyluck crossed the finish just a hair after Logano. However, Logano was penalized for rough driving and finished 40th.
Rolex 24 - Daytona International Speedway
Sunday, David Donohue won the Rolex 24 with the team of Buddy Rice, Antonio Garcia and Darren Law. Donohue started from the pole. The margin of victory (.167 seconds) will go down as the closest finish in the 24 hour race's 47 year history at Daytona International Speedway. Donohue passed Juan Pablo Montoya with just 41 minutes from the finish. There was also a record 25 full course cautions.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Changes for '09 - Silliest Season Ever!
....And here last year at this time we thought the COT was going to be a major change to get used to. There's been more driver & crew chief changes than in recent memory, a few mergers, another series title change and even sponsors have realigned with different teams, cut back or have left the sport altogether. Call it a sign o' the times. NASCAR hasn't been merely changed, it's been restructured. You've heard it before and we'll hear it again that these hard economic times have affected NASCAR more than any other sport.* Here we go with some of the changes that we'll need to get used to for the start of the season.
Driver Changes:
#20 - #14
After 10 years with Joe Gibbs Racing and two series championships, Tony Stewart has left to start his own team, Stewart-Haas Racing. Look for him in the #14 Old Spice/Office Depot Chevrolet.
Joey Logano takes over the #20 ride. At 18, he’ll make history as the youngest driver ever to run the Daytona 500!
#12 - #39
Ryan Newman joins Stewart-Haas Racing and will drive the #39 U.S. Army Chevy.
David Stremme has filled the #12’s empty seat at Penske Racing.
#5 - #8 - #07 - #33
Mark Martin gives up “semi-retirement” leaving DEI and the #8 team for a full time ride with Hendrick Motorsports in the #5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet.
Look for Aric Almirola in the #8 for Earnhardt/Ganassi.
Casey Mears leaves the #5 behind for the #07 at Richard Childress Racing.
Clint Bowyer’s not switching teams, but he’s moving from the #07 to the #33 to make room for his new teammate.
#41 - #43 - #96
Reed Sorenson moves from the #41 to the #43 for Richard Petty Motorsports.
Bobby Labonte no longer drives the #43 as he’ll drive the #96 AskMen.com Ford this season.
Jeremy Mayfield is set to return to the Sprint Cup Series as both team owner and driver of the #41 Toyota under Mayfield Motorsports.
A.J. Allmendinger signed with Richard Petty Motorsports to drive the #44 Dodge.
Look for Scott Riggs in the #36 Toyota for Tommy Baldwin Racing.
Paul Menard changes teams this year, too and is moving from DEI's #15 to the #98 Menard’s Ford for Yates Racing.
Regan Smith ('08 Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year) also moves from DEI to drive the #78 Chevy for Furniture Row Racing for a reported 12 races this season.
The Mergers and/or Switches & Outs:
Gillet Evernham Motorsports + Petty Enterprises = Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) Drivers include Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler, Reed Sorenson and A.J. Allmendinger
Dale Earnhardt Inc. + Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates = Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates that’ll include full-time drivers Juan Pablo Montoya, Martin Truex Jr. and Aric Almirola.
Bill Davis Racing is no longer. Bill Davis sold his team. As announced on February 4th, Bill Davis has become a minority owner in Penske Racing which will now be known as Penske Championship Racing.
Hall of Fame Racing and Yates Racing are partnering up.
Add Joe Nemechek to the driver and owner list as he's just announced plans to run the full schedule in both the Sprint Cup (#87 Toyota) and Nationwide Series (#87 Chevy).
Robby Gordon makes a manufacturer’s switch from Dodge to Toyota.
Other Notes:
The Craftsman Truck Series is now: The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
The series opener at the Daytona International Speedway will mark the 10th anniversary of the truck series racing at the legendary track.
Only 2 full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers plan to run the full Nationwide Series schedule this year: Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch.
What do you think of some of these changes? What are you most looking forward to? What are you least looking forward to?
*According to this article from the Associated Press, it's estimated at over 600 people were let go from various NASCAR organizations since November. You can read the full article here.
We also must consider NASCAR has more than 400 unique corporate sponsors and the most Fortune 500 involvement in all of professional sports. According to custom research findings recently released by Sports Business Journal with Image Impact, NASCAR sponsors received almost 1.7 billion dollars in exposure for their brands in the '08 season with close to 600 sponsors being tracked. It's an interesting read, click here.
Driver Changes:
#20 - #14
After 10 years with Joe Gibbs Racing and two series championships, Tony Stewart has left to start his own team, Stewart-Haas Racing. Look for him in the #14 Old Spice/Office Depot Chevrolet.
Joey Logano takes over the #20 ride. At 18, he’ll make history as the youngest driver ever to run the Daytona 500!
#12 - #39
Ryan Newman joins Stewart-Haas Racing and will drive the #39 U.S. Army Chevy.
David Stremme has filled the #12’s empty seat at Penske Racing.
#5 - #8 - #07 - #33
Mark Martin gives up “semi-retirement” leaving DEI and the #8 team for a full time ride with Hendrick Motorsports in the #5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet.
Look for Aric Almirola in the #8 for Earnhardt/Ganassi.
Casey Mears leaves the #5 behind for the #07 at Richard Childress Racing.
Clint Bowyer’s not switching teams, but he’s moving from the #07 to the #33 to make room for his new teammate.
#41 - #43 - #96
Reed Sorenson moves from the #41 to the #43 for Richard Petty Motorsports.
Bobby Labonte no longer drives the #43 as he’ll drive the #96 AskMen.com Ford this season.
Jeremy Mayfield is set to return to the Sprint Cup Series as both team owner and driver of the #41 Toyota under Mayfield Motorsports.
A.J. Allmendinger signed with Richard Petty Motorsports to drive the #44 Dodge.
Look for Scott Riggs in the #36 Toyota for Tommy Baldwin Racing.
Paul Menard changes teams this year, too and is moving from DEI's #15 to the #98 Menard’s Ford for Yates Racing.
Regan Smith ('08 Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year) also moves from DEI to drive the #78 Chevy for Furniture Row Racing for a reported 12 races this season.
The Mergers and/or Switches & Outs:
Gillet Evernham Motorsports + Petty Enterprises = Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) Drivers include Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler, Reed Sorenson and A.J. Allmendinger
Dale Earnhardt Inc. + Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates = Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates that’ll include full-time drivers Juan Pablo Montoya, Martin Truex Jr. and Aric Almirola.
Bill Davis Racing is no longer. Bill Davis sold his team. As announced on February 4th, Bill Davis has become a minority owner in Penske Racing which will now be known as Penske Championship Racing.
Hall of Fame Racing and Yates Racing are partnering up.
Add Joe Nemechek to the driver and owner list as he's just announced plans to run the full schedule in both the Sprint Cup (#87 Toyota) and Nationwide Series (#87 Chevy).
Robby Gordon makes a manufacturer’s switch from Dodge to Toyota.
Other Notes:
The Craftsman Truck Series is now: The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
The series opener at the Daytona International Speedway will mark the 10th anniversary of the truck series racing at the legendary track.
Only 2 full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers plan to run the full Nationwide Series schedule this year: Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch.
What do you think of some of these changes? What are you most looking forward to? What are you least looking forward to?
*According to this article from the Associated Press, it's estimated at over 600 people were let go from various NASCAR organizations since November. You can read the full article here.
We also must consider NASCAR has more than 400 unique corporate sponsors and the most Fortune 500 involvement in all of professional sports. According to custom research findings recently released by Sports Business Journal with Image Impact, NASCAR sponsors received almost 1.7 billion dollars in exposure for their brands in the '08 season with close to 600 sponsors being tracked. It's an interesting read, click here.
Changes for '09 - Budweiser Shootout
NASCAR announced last week a revision to the format that will provide each manufacturer a "wild card" entry. The size of the field will increase from 24 to 28 cars. As previously announced, the line up will consist of the top 6 teams from each manufacturer. And as previously announced, the race distance will increase from 70 laps to 75 laps with two segments of 25 and 50 laps. Both green and yellow flag laps will count. Between segments, there will be a 10 minute pit stop in which teams will be permitted to work on cars and will be allowed to perform functions they would normally do during a regular pit stop.
So who's in?
Chevrolet: 48, 29, 07, 31, 24, 88 and (wild card) 14
Ford: 99, 16, 17, 6 ,26, 28* and (wild card) 38*
Dodge: 9, 12 , 2 ,43, 19, 7 and (wild card) 10
Toyota: 11, 20, 18, 83, 44 (will be #00), 55 and (wild card) 22
* may be switching numbers
Starting positions will be determined by a blind draw on Thursday night, Feb. 5th from the SPEED Channel stage, outside Turn 4 at the Daytona International Speedway.
The Budweiser Shootout is Saturday night, Feb. 7th
Daytona International Speedway
75 laps = 187.5 miles
Last year's winner: #88, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
So who's in?
Chevrolet: 48, 29, 07, 31, 24, 88 and (wild card) 14
Ford: 99, 16, 17, 6 ,26, 28* and (wild card) 38*
Dodge: 9, 12 , 2 ,43, 19, 7 and (wild card) 10
Toyota: 11, 20, 18, 83, 44 (will be #00), 55 and (wild card) 22
* may be switching numbers
Starting positions will be determined by a blind draw on Thursday night, Feb. 5th from the SPEED Channel stage, outside Turn 4 at the Daytona International Speedway.
The Budweiser Shootout is Saturday night, Feb. 7th
Daytona International Speedway
75 laps = 187.5 miles
Last year's winner: #88, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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