Daytona News And Notes

posted by Bryan Davis Keith

Saturday February 18, 2012

2009 Daytona 500 champion Matt Kenseth led the pack at the conclusion of first practice for the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, joining Jeff Burton and David Ragan as drivers to top the 200 mph marker on their fastest laps. Jamie McMurray and Ryan Newman rounded out the top 5 in speeds.

The first practice session saw the return of pack drafting to Daytona, with a mass of 15 cars present on the track for much of the hour. While a number of teammates (EGR’s McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya, Hendrick’s Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr.) were seen working on two-car tandems, the pack draft proved just as fast under green-flag conditions, a dramatic departure from the racing seen at Daytona just a season ago.

The combination of tandem and pack drafting proved treacherous on-track. Late in the session, closing on a slow Martin Truex Jr. in turn 3, Tony Stewart bumped Kurt Busch entering the corner and sent the No. 51 car spinning, triggering a five-car wreck that collected Penske Racing teammates Brad Keselowski and A.J. Allmendinger as well as Kyle Busch. Stewart took responsibility for the incident in post-wreck remarks. Keselowski, Allmendinger and both Busch brothers will be going to backup cars for Saturday’s race; Stewart noted his team would be repairing his No. 14 machine. The wreck was especially costly for Kurt Busch, whose smaller Phoenix Racing team didn’t even have a spare seat to put in their backup car (SPEED reported the team’s limited staff of 18 employees only have enough cars prepared for the first three or four races as it stands).

With the first practice ending on such a destructive note, only 12 teams took to the track for second practice before rains forced NASCAR to end the practice early. Jamie McMurray led the session, followed by teammate Juan Pablo Montoya and Greg Biffle.

Penalties Possible for Knaus, No. 48 Team After Parts Confiscation

The No. 48 team may not be the defending champions this year, but they wasted no time making headlines at Daytona. The team’s Daytona 500 car failed first-day inspection at the track, with NASCAR confiscating the C-posts off the No. 48 machine for being too far out of compliance with templates. Sprint Cup Series director John Darby called the violations “major”, though NASCAR allowed the No. 48 team to replace the posts on the car and stated that any penalties to come would likely not be levied until after the 500.

Friday is hardly the first time the Chad Knaus-led No. 48 team has found trouble at the Great American Race. Knaus was suspended for the Daytona 500 for rules violations back in 2006; interim crew chief Darian Grubb ended up leading Johnson, the eventual Sprint Cup champion, to win the 500 that same week.

Sean Corr on ARCA Pole After Four Drivers DQ’d from Time Trials

Seven-time ARCA Daytona winner Bobby Gerhart appeared to have his fifth career pole at the 2.5 mile oval locked up. But the track that has been so kind to the Lebanon, PA native was anything but on Friday afternoon. Gerhart saw his time trial result thrown out after his engine failed post-qualifying inspection, handing the pole over to second-year ARCA regular Sean Corr. He will share the front row with Venturini Motorsports’ Ryan Reed. Gerhart and the No. 5 team were forced to take a provisional and will start Saturday’s Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 from the 42nd position.

Gerhart wasn’t the only driver to find trouble in post-qualifying inspection. Venturini Motorsports teammates Brennan Poole and Paulie Harraka also were forced to provisional starting positions after failing height measurements, while Truck Series regular Joey Coulter missed the field for a similar violation.

Track Changes Force World of Outlaws to Cancel Race at Tucson

posted by Mike Neff

Thursday February 9, 2012

Unavoidable issues with venue lead to cancellation of March 3 event at USA Raceway

CONCORD, N.C. – Feb. 9, 2012 – The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series has cancelled the Wildcat Shootout originally scheduled for March 3 at USA Raceway in Tucson, Ariz., because of permitting issues resulting from the recent change in track management.

Anyone who purchased advanced tickets will be contacted in the near future, and all tickets purchased will be refunded in full.

The World of Outlaws will now start its West Coast swing on Thursday, March 8, at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas. Following that event, the Outlaws will have seven races in California throughout the month of March, beginning with the SoCal Showdown on Saturday, March 10, at Perris Auto Speedway.

Tickets for most of the events can be ordered online by clicking WorldofOutlaws.com/tickets or by calling 877-395-8606. For tickets to Las Vegas, click LVMS.com and for tickets to Thunderbowl Raceway, click ThunderbowlRaceway.com.

Rolex 24 Standings Through 21.5 Hours (1pm EST)

posted by Phil Allaway

Sunday January 29, 2012

DP:
1. 8- Allan McNish Starworks Motorsports
2. 60- AJ Allmendinger Michael Shank Racing
3. 01- Graham Rahal Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates
4. 6- Michael McDowell Michael Shank Racing
5. 02- Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates
6. 5- David Donohue Action Express Racing
7. 77- Billy Johnson Doran Racing
8. 90- Antonio Garcia Spirit of Daytona Racing
9. 2- Michael Valiente Starworks Motorsports
10. 9- Max Papis Action Express Racing

GT:
1. 44- Andy Lally Magnus Racing
2. 59- Leh Keen Brumos Racing
3. 67- Jeroen Bleekemolen TRG
4. 63- Olivier Beretta Risi Competizione
5. 57- Ronnie Bremer Stevenson Motorsports
6. 66- Dominik Farnbacher TRG
7. 70- Marino Franchitti SpeedSource
8. 23- Marco Holzer Alex Job Racing
9. 69- Jeff Segal Team FXDD AIM Autosport Racing with Ferrari
10. 45- Jorg Bergmeister Flying Lizard Motorsports with Wright Motorsports

Rolex 24 Standings Through 18.5 Hours

posted by Phil Allaway

Sunday January 29, 2012

DP:
1. 01- Scott Pruett Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates
2. 60- Ozz Negri, Jr. Michael Shank Racing
3. 8- Allan McNish Starworks Motorsports
4. 6- Jorge Goncalvez Michael Shank Racing
5. 5- David Donohue Action Express Racing
6. 02- Juan Pablo Montoya Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates
7. 2- Ryan Hunter-Reay Starworks Motorsports
8. 77- Brian Frisselle Doran Racing
9. 90- Richard Westbrook Spirit of Daytona Racing
10. 9- Joao Barbosa Action Express Racing

GT:
1. 59- Andrew Davis, Brumos Racing
2. 44- Richard Lietz, Magnus Racing
3. 67- Spencer Pumpelly, TRG
4. 57- Ronnie Bremer, Stevenson Motorsports
5. 63- Olivier Beretta, Risi Competizione
6. 23- Cooper MacNeil, Alex Job Racing
7. 70- James Hinchcliffe, SpeedSource
8. 66- Patrick Pliet, TRG
9. 88- Tom Milner, Autohaus Motorsports
10. 69- Jeff Segal, AIM Autosport with Team FXDD

Rolex 24 Standings Through 11 Hours

posted by Phil Allaway

Sunday January 29, 2012

DP:
1. 8- Allan McNish
2. 5- David Donohue
3. 6- Gustavo Yacaman
4. 60- AJ Allmendinger
5. 02- Scott Dixon
6. 01- Graham Rahal
7. 90- Richard Westbrook
8. 76- Ricardo Zonta
9. 9- Joao Barbosa
10. 2- Marco Andretti

GT:
1. 44- Andy Lally
2. 59- Marc Lieb
3. 23- Butch Leitzinger
4. 67- Spencer Pumpelly
5. 88- Tom Milner
6. 57- John Edwards
7. 63- Toni Vilander
8. 70- Sylvain Tremblay
9. 32- James Sofronas
10. 66- Allan Simonsen

Standings after 5 Hours 50 minutes

posted by Phil Allaway

Saturday January 28, 2012

DP:
1. 90- Oliver Gavin Spirit of Daytona Chevrolet Corvette DP
2. 99- Alex Gurney GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Chevrolet Corvette DP
3. 01- Joey Hand Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates BMW Riley DPG3
4. 60- Ozz Negri, Jr. Michael Shank Racing Ford Riley DPG3
5. 6- Michael McDowell Michael Shank Racing Ford Riley Mk XX
6. 02- Dario Franchitti Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates BMW Riley DPG3
7. 9- JC France Action Express Racing Chevrolet Corvette DP
8. 2- Enzo Potolicchio Starworks Motorsport Ford Riley DPG3
9. 5- Christian Fittipaldi Action Express Racing Chevrolet Corvette DP
10. 8- Allan McNish Starworks Motorsport Ford Riley DPG3

GT:
1. 44- John Potter Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
2. 57- Ronnie Bremer Stevenson Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro GT.R
3. 59- Hurley Haywood Brumos Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
4. 23- Cooper MacNeil Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
5. 66- Allan Simonsen TRG Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
6. 88- Tom Milner Autohaus Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro GT.R
7. 67- Marc Goossens TRG Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
8. 70- Sylvain Tremblay SpeedSource Mazda RX-8
9. 69- Jeff Segal AIM Autosport FXDD Ferrari 458 Italia
10. 68- Chris Cumming TRG Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

Standings After Regulation Sprint Race Distance (2 hours, 45 minutes)

posted by Phil Allaway

Saturday January 28, 2012

DP:
1. 60-Justin Wilson MSR Ford Riley DPG3
2. 99-Memo Gidley GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Chevrolet Corvette DP
3. 9-Joao Barbosa Action Express Racing Chevrolet Corvette DP
4. 2-Michael Valiente Starworks Motorsports Ford Riley Mk XX
5. 8-Lucas Luhr Starworks Motorsports Ford Riley DPG3
6. 01-Memo Rojas Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates BMW Riley DPG3
7. 90-Jan Magnussen Spirit of Daytona Chevrolet Corvette DP
8. 6-Felipe Nasr MSR Ford Riley Mk XX
9. 76-Nic Jonsson Krohn Racing Ford Lola
10. 02-Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates BMW Riley DPG3

GT:
1. 88-Paul Edwards Autohaus Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro GT.R
2. 45-Mike Rockenfeller Flying Lizard Motorsports with Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
3. 66-Patrick Pliet TRG Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
4. 44-Rene Rast Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
5. 32-Nicolas Armindo Orbit/GMG Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
6. 69-Anthony Lazzaro AIM Autosport Ferrari 458 Italia
7. 67- Wolf Henzler TRG Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
8. 23- Emmanuel Collard Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
9. 59- Leh Keen Brumos Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
10. 24- Bill Sweedler Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

Grand-Am to Add B-Spec Events Later in 2012

posted by Phil Allaway

Saturday January 28, 2012

On Saturday, Grand-Am Road Racing officially announced the creation of a new series that will act as the teritary division for the organization. The series will simply be referred to as “B-Spec.”

The new B-Spec class is designed to be a very inexpensive way for brand new organizations to get involved with racing, and for existing organizations to cultivate new talent at a minimal cost. No professional drivers from any series will be allowed to participate in any B-Spec races.

The B-Spec series will race four cylinder subcompact automobiles. Five manufacturers have already signed on to provide vehicles for the series. Those are Mazda with their 2, Honda with their Fit, Ford with their Fiesta, Mini with their Cooper and Kia with their brand-new Rio.

As for how expensive these cars will be, Mazda would have prospective teams purchase a new Mazda 2. These start at roughly $15,000. From there, there would be a $2600 package that teams would have to buy from Mazdaspeed Motorsports. Finally, there would the all-important safety equipment (roll cage, racing seat, safety harness, fire extinguisher, etc.). The total cost per new car would be somewhere between $20,000-$30,000.

Grand-Am brass are quite confident that the series will be a great fit in the organization.

“This new form of Grand-Am racing will attract new racers and in the process, new fans,” said Mark Raffauf, Grand-Am’s Managing Director of Racing Operations. “The cars are cool and the competition will be door-to-door, which should be a lot of fun for everyone – a nice fit with what Grand-Am already has happening at every event.”

The B-Spec class will race at six tracks later this season starting with Homestead at the end of April. Subsequent rounds would be held at New Jersey Motorsports Park, Mid-Ohio, Watkins Glen (during the Six Hour weekend), Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and Lime Rock Park. Events will be 30-45 minutes in length with no pit stops.

The new series has been likened to the Renault Cup, a spec-series of Renault Le Car’s (and later Renault Alliances) back in the 1980’s. However, it more closely resembles IMSA’s International Sedan Series, which featured Acura Integras, Plymouth Horizons, Volkswagen Golfs, and the 1980’s version of the Dodge Charger, amongst others.

Ryan Dalziel Wins Overall Pole for Rolex 24, Brumos Racing on GT Pole

posted by Phil Allaway

Friday January 27, 2012

One of the sport’s legendary racetrack owners, spearheading the last independently-owned Sprint Cup facility has died. Dr. Joe Mattioli, 86, passed away Thursday afternoon at the Lehigh Valley Hospital Center after a lengthy illness. A dentist by trade, the patriarch of one of the most influential NASCAR families staked the biggest portion of his reputation on racing, constructing the 2.5-mile Pocono Raceway in Northeast Pennsylvania and convincing the most popular series in the country to stage races there. Constructed in the early 1960’s, the “Tricky Triangle” as it’s become known has hosted a total of 68 Cup Series events, beginning in 1974. Pocono Raceway is also home to a successful driving experience, a mainstay for the ARCA Series (two races per year) and has recently hosted one Camping World Truck Series event per season. Open-wheel cars also once graced the asphalt at a facility that has grown to hold over 100,000 fans.

But Mattioli’s legacy reaches far beyond the racetrack. His land in Northeast PA is now home to a 25-acre solar energy system, made up of 40,000 American-made photovoltaic modules that will produce more than 72 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy over the next 20 years. Opened in 2010, it makes the raceway the largest solar-powered sports facility in the country, spearheading NASCAR’s push towards protecting the environment and renewable energy.

A Navy medic during World War II, Mattioli went to Temple University in Philadelphia, PA through the G.I. Bill and established a successful dental practice in the area. Investing in real estate during the ensuing decades allowed him to accumulate wealth and establish the funding necessary to build the racetrack, which now has expanded to include nearby lodging year-round among other projects, past, present and future which have helped boost the economy in the Pocono Mountain Region.

“‘Doc’ was a true leader in every sense of the word,” said the Mattioli family in a statement. “As a visionary, he brought an unknown sport into an alien place, where he along with his unstoppable will and undeniable tenacity built one of the biggest monuments of sports. His passion for his projects was only overshadowed by his deep love for his family, which he gave to all of us hand over fist.”

For years, other corporations have looked to buy the speedway and the surrounding land but Mattioli would never sell. That leaves Pocono one of just three tracks on the NASCAR schedule not owned by NASCAR-linked International Speedway Corporation or Bruton Smith’s Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (Indianapolis and Dover are the other two). Mattioli also steadfastly clung to the track’s 500-mile distances, a tradition that was only recently changed for 2012.

The good doctor leaves behind his wife Rose – the couple was married 63 years – three children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. In August, 2011 he had retired from his role as President of the Raceway and left the day-to-day operations in the hands of grandchildren Brandon, Nick, and Ashley Igdalsky. There are no plans to sell the facility in the wake of his death; in fact, it was left in a trust so the track will remain in family hands for generations to come.

“They can’t touch it,” he said last year in a conversation recounted by Brendan Gaughan Thursday on SiriusXM’s NASCAR channel. “They’re going to learn how to run it or starve.”

Chances are, with the great teacher the grandkids had to learn from success, not starvation will be the modus operandi for years to come.

Statement On Dr. Joe Mattioli's Passing

posted by Thomas Bowles

Friday January 27, 2012

From the family of former Pocono Raceway owner and president, Dr. Joseph Mattioli…

It is with the upmost remorse that we announce that Dr. Joseph Mattioli passed away this afternoon. His loss has left with each of us an unbearable sadness, which we’ll bear with us for the rest of our lives.

“Doc” was a true leader in every sense of the word. As a visionary, he brought an unknown sport into an alien place, where he along with his unstoppable will and undeniable tenacity built one of the biggest monuments of sports. His passion for his projects was only overshadowed by his deep love for his family, which he gave to all of us hand over fist.

Beyond our family, he had a true love and admiration for the wonderful members of his North Eastern Pennsylvania Community. He had a great respect for all of the great people that laid the foundations of prosperity before him, and an even greater hope for the future of our area, which he believed lies in its youth.

He leaves not only his family, but also everyone he’s ever met with an insatiable desire to take life by the horns. He always lived life on his own terms He did it his way.

“Every man’s life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another.” – Ernest Hemingway

He died loved, respected, and admired.