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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: GT:
Rolex 24 Standings Through 18.5 Hours
posted by Phil Allaway
Sunday January 29, 2012
DP: GT:
Rolex 24 Standings Through 11 Hours
posted by Phil Allaway
Sunday January 29, 2012
DP: GT:
Standings after 5 Hours 50 minutes
posted by Phil Allaway
Saturday January 28, 2012
DP: GT:
Standings After Regulation Sprint Race Distance (2 hours, 45 minutes)
posted by Phil Allaway
Saturday January 28, 2012
DP: GT:
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.
SunTrust Racing, TRG fastest in Opening Practice for Rolex 24
posted by Phil Allaway
Thursday January 26, 2012
When the track opened up for practice at 10am Thursday morning, the teams were ready and raring to go. Many of the teams had new equipment to come to grips with, while others were using older, proven machinery. Unfortunately for Starworks Motorsport, their new equipment let them down before they even got onto the track. A failure in the Ford powerplant was found on pit road before the car even saw the track. As a result, they were forced to miss the first session while they changed the engine. The other 13 Daytona Prototypes managed to make their way onto the track and set times. The results more or less kept in line with the Roar Before the 24 test. The SunTrust Racing No. 10 Chevrolet Corvette DP driven by Max Angelelli turned in the fastest lap with a time of 1:41.952 (125.706 mph). This is about six-tenths of a second slower than the fastest test times. However, temperatures are just about 80 degrees at the track. Second was the No. 01 BMW Riley DPG3 for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. The car, driven by Graham Rahal, posted a lap at 1:42.086 (125.541 mph), a tenth and a half slower than the Corvette. Third was the No. 99 Gainsco/Bob Stallings Racing Chevrolet Corvette DP driven by Alex Gurney with a 1:42.199 (125.402 mph). Juan Pablo Montoya in Ganassi’s No. 02 and John Pew in the Michael Shank Racing No. 60 Ford Riley DPG3 rounded out the top-5. In GT, Spencer Pumpelly in the No. 67 TRG Porsche 911 GT3 Cup set down the fastest lap of the session right at the end of the session. His lap of 1:49.867 (116.650 mph) was less than two-hundredths of a second faster than Dirk Muller in the No. 94 BMW M3 for Turner Motorsport. Third in class was the Paul Miller Racing No. 48 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup driven by former Porsche factory driver Sascha Maassen with a 1:50.078 (116.426 mph). Sebastian Asch in the No. 17 Burtin Racing with Goldcrest Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup was fourth fastest, while Emil Assentato in the No. 69 FXDD Ferrari 458 Italia rounded out the top-5. |
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Team Lowe's Racing - Jimmie Johnson - Atlanta Motor Speedway Preview
Tuesday August 31, 2010
NEWS Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina and YWCA of San Diego County latest additions
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Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina (Charlotte, N.C.) and the YWCA of San Diego County (San Diego, Calif.) are two of 13 charities which will be featured on the Jimmie Johnson Foundation Samsung Helmet of Hope at Auto Club Speedway in October.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina's Kids Café program and the YWCA of San Diego County's Becky's House will each receive a $10,000 grant.
The Charlotte Observer's Jim Utter nominated Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina and their Kids Café program. The Kids Café program partners with agencies that serve children at risk of hunger and provides nutritious meals and snacks at those sites.
"In Mecklenburg County (N.C.) alone, as many as one in every six children is at risk for going to bed hungry every night," explained Utter. "One can hardly do well in school or at play on an empty stomach."
Greg Flores of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. nominated the YWCA of San Diego County's Becky's House. Becky's House is the first long-term transitional housing community in the City of San Diego for victims of domestic violence and their children.
"Achieving goals takes teamwork, dedication and sacrifice; characteristics that Hendrick Motorsports, Jimmie Johnson and the YWCA of San Diego County share," said Flores. "Because children who witness domestic violence are more likely to become abusers or victims of abuse as adults, it is important to me that the YWCA's Children's Health, Hope and Healing Program continues to provide services that break the cycle of violence and prevent abusive behaviors from being passed down from generation to generation."
"Every year over 200 children who, with their mothers, are fleeing domestic violence find safety at the YWCA's Becky's House," added Flores. "There, children receive the supportive services needed to succeed in school and begin the journey to achieve their dreams."
Johnson will draw one winner from a list of media submissions and one from a list of fan submissions each race weekend through the Atlanta event in September. The two charities selected Friday join the Feeding America® Kids Café program, which was nominated by Samsung to kick-off this year's campaign program. The Kids Café program works to address the growing epidemic facing children's hunger.
To nominate a charity, fans may visit www.HelmetofHope.org.
RACE NOTES
Atlanta Motor Speedway
- Johnson has made 18 Sprint Cup Series starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he has earned three wins, nine top-five and 11 top-10 finishes.
- Johnson has completed 99.3% (5755 of 5798) of competition laps at the 1.54-mile oval and has led 402.
- He has an average start and finish of 8.2 and 10.8.
- Chassis No. 592 will be the primary for Sunday night's event. Johnson last piloted that car to a 10th-place finish at Pocono in July.
- Back up chassis No. 553 has collected three wins in four starts – the most recent coming at Auto Club Speedway in February.
QUOTES
WHAT'S YOUR MENTALITY GOING INTO THESE FINAL TWO RACES? "I hate that we've run into some bad racing luck the last few weeks. We've had good race cars, but just haven't been able to get the finishes. The important thing is to just stay the course and continue to work as hard as we can. We're looking forward to going to Atlanta this weekend. Atlanta has its own characteristics and reminds me more and more of a Darlington the way it used to be. Although Atlanta is different from a lot of the mile-and-a-half tracks we run on, it will give us an opportunity to work on that program."
SPRINT CUP SERIES CAREER NOTES
Career Wins
- Johnson has 52 wins in his Sprint Cup Series career, his most recent coming at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 27, 2010.
- The El Cajon, Calif.-native is currently 10th on NASCAR's all-time wins list, two victories behind Lee Petty.
- He is second in total wins among active drivers, behind Jeff Gordon (82).
- Johnson needed only 296 starts to hit the 50 mark. Only three drivers have reached 50 victories quicker – Gordon (232), Darrell Waltrip (278) and David Pearson (293).
- Johnson has won at least three Cup races a season since he posted his first victory in 2002. He is the only driver in the modern era to win at least three races in each of his first eight full-time seasons.
- Johnson has won Sprint Cup Series races at all but four (Michigan, Chicago, Watkins Glen, Homestead) of the 22 tracks on which the series competes.
- Johnson was the first driver to win three of the first five races in The Chase.
- Johnson's 10 wins in 2007 was the highest number recorded in a single season since Jeff Gordon posted 13 victories in 1998.
- The four-consecutive wins scored by the No. 48 team in the 2007 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup ties a modern-era NASCAR record.
- Johnson has collected 24 poles in his Sprint Cup career.
- The championship driver has earned at least one pole a year since his first full-time season in 2002.
- He had a career-high six poles in 2008.
- Johnson's most recent pole position was at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 20, 2010.
- In 24 2010 starts, Johnson has collected five wins, eight top five and 12 top-10 finishes.
- Johnson has finished in the top five in the Sprint Cup Series point standings each year since his first full season in 2002.
- Johnson is the only driver to qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup every year since the format was adopted in 2004.
- In 315 Sprint Cup Series starts, Johnson has posted 125 top-five and 192 top-10 finishes.
- He has a top-five finish at every track on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series circuit.
- Johnson has led a total of 10,749 laps (of 90,402) in his Sprint Cup career, covering over 121,462 miles.
- He has finished on the lead lap 242 times.
Primary Car History – Chassis No. 592
Date | Event | Start | Finish |
05/30/2010 | Charlotte | 5 | 37 |
08/01/2010 | Pocono | 6 | 10 |
Backup Car History – Chassis No. 553
Date | Event | Start | Finish |
07/26/2009 | Indy | 15 | 1 |
10/10/2009 | California | 3 | 1 |
11/22/2009 | Homestead | 1 | 5 |
02/21/2010 | California | 7 | 1 |
Jimmie Johnson – Atlanta Motor Speedway
Date | Start | Finish | Laps | Status | Led |
11/18/2001 | 21 | 29 | 322/325 | Running | 0 |
03/10/2002 | 15 | 3 | 325/325 | Running | 0 |
10/27/2002 | 2 | 22 | 247/248 | Running | 0 |
03/09/2003 | 11 | 32 | 308/325 | Engine | 2 |
10/28/2003 | 9 | 3 | 325/325 | Running | 1 |
03/14/2004 | 3 | 4 | 325/325 | Running | 0 |
10/31/2004 | 8 | 1 | 325/325 | Running | 17 |
03/20/2005 | 3 | 2 | 325/325 | Running | 156 |
10/30/2005 | 12 | 16 | 325/325 | Running | 0 |
03/19/2006 | 14 | 6 | 325/325 | Running | 0 |
10/29/2006 | 3 | 2 | 325/325 | Running | 27 |
03/18/2007 | 3 | 1 | 325/325 | Running | 135 |
10/28/2007 | 6 | 1 | 329/329 | Running | 8 |
03/09/2008 | 11 | 13 | 325/325 | Running | 0 |
10/26/2008 | 1 | 2 | 325/325 | Running | 28 |
03/08/2009 | 7 | 9 | 330/330 | Running | 11 |
09/06/2009 | 3 | 36 | 303/325 | Running | 17 |
03/07/2010 | 16 | 12 | 341/341 | Running | 0 |
Jimmie Johnson – Year-by-Year Cup Statistics
Year | Starts | Wins | Top 5 | Top 10 | Poles | Final |
Points | ||||||
2001 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52 |
2002 | 36 | 3 | 6 | 21 | 4 | 5 |
2003 | 36 | 3 | 14 | 20 | 2 | 2 |
2004 | 36 | 8 | 20 | 23 | 1 | 2 |
2005 | 36 | 4 | 13 | 22 | 1 | 5 |
2006 | 36 | 5 | 13 | 24 | 1 | 1 |
2007 | 36 | 10 | 20 | 24 | 4 | 1 |
2008 | 36 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 6 | 1 |
2009 | 36 | 7 | 16 | 24 | 4 | 1 |
2010* | 24 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 1 | 9 |
* to date
No. 48 At-Track Crew List
Name | Shop Job | Track Job | Hometown |
Knaus, Chad | Crew Chief | Crew Chief | Rockford, IL |
Apple, Bart | 48 Interior | Driver Equipment | Columbus, OH |
Barban, Earl | Facilities | Spotter | St. Louis, MO |
Barnette, R.J. | Pit Support | Pit Support | Birmingham, AL |
Bazzell, Kyle | Truck Driver | Truck Driver | Fairbury, IL |
Boydston, John | Engine Tuner | Engine Tuner | Oswego, NY |
Bradshaw, Randy | N/A | Pit Support | Charlotte, NC |
Brown, Andy | Mechanic | Rear Tire Carrier | Jamestown, NY |
Claridge, Joe | Mechanic | Mechanic | Barrington, NH |
Flynn, Keith | Asst. Pit Crew Coach | Asst. Pit Crew Coach | Burlington, NC |
Gutierrez, Rich | Mechanic | Gas Man | Yorba Linda, CA |
Harder, Brandon | Truck Bay | Back-Up Jackman | Oak Harbor, OH |
Ives, Greg | Race Engineer | Race Engineer | Bark River, MI |
Kohn, Chad | Truck Driver | Truck Driver | Decatur, IL |
Lingerfelt, Mike | Mechanic | Front Tire Changer | Greenville, SC |
Malec, Ron | Mechanic | Car Chief | Franklin, WI |
Michel, Pete | Shock Specialist | Shock Specialist | Cobleskill, NY |
Miller, Zack | Tire Specialist | Tire Specialist | Mission Viejo, CA |
Morin, Greg | Pit Crew Coach | Pit Crew Coach | Waltham, MA |
Plemmons, Cody | Engineer | Engineer | Charlotte, NC |
Puchalski, Marc | Mechanic | Mechanic | San Jose, CA |
Purcell, Kenneth | Mechanic | Jackman | Savannah, GA |
Simmons, Art | Chassis Set Up | Front Tire Carrier | Kirksville, MO |
Teague, Calvin | N/A | Catch Can | Taylorsville, NC |
West, Jeremy | Mechanic | Rear Tire Changer | Harbor City, CA |
This Week on the Frontstretch:
Mirror Driving: Rebuilding Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch, Penske, And The NASCAR Banquet’s Future
The Only Thing Mutual? Penske, Kurt Busch Both Stand to Lose Big
Who Gets An Early Christmas Gift? Sorting Through Potential Busch Replacements
Burned At The YouTube Stake: How Technology Brought Busch Down
2011 NASCAR Driver Review: Justin Allgaier
2011 NASCAR Driver Review: A.J. Allmendinger
2011 NASCAR Driver Review: Aric Almirola
2011 NASCAR Driver Review: Marcos Ambrose
2011 NASCAR Driver Review: Michael Annett
2011 NASCAR Driver Review: Greg Biffle
2011 Driver Review Schedule
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