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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.
Ford Racing unveils 2013 Ford Fusion
posted by Mike Neff
Tuesday January 24, 2012
In the biggest announcement so far of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway, Ford Racing took the wraps off of their 2013 Ford Fusion. The car incorporates common areas agreed upon by all manufacturers with style components unique to the 2013 production car to give fans a race car that truly resembles the street version of the Fusion. While there are most likely going to be some tweaks to the design the car is definitely a much needed change from the current race car and a vast improvement toward bringing the STOCK back to stock car racing. The car was a collaborative effort across many different parts of the Ford organization. One of the key members of the project was Garen Nicoghosian, design manager for specialty vehicles. He was oozing with pride over the car as the assembled members of the media commented on the great looks. He’s a fan of the cars that used to race in the old Trans Am series and it shows in the end product. “I am a big fan of the flared fenders” Nicoghosian said. “The body style and the proportions we came up with lent itself to the flared fenders and the planted look that it gives to the car. It reminds you a lot of a Porsche 911 in how it just looks planted into the track.” While the other manufacturers have not yet unveiled their proposed cars for 2013, Ford has certainly set the bar high with their Ford Fusion. |
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Sprint Cars Invade SSP's Stock Car Saturday Night; Start Time at 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday September 16, 2009
Free Admission for all Maryland Residents on Saturday Night
Newberrytown, PA (September 10, 2009) – The PA Sprint Series (PASS) invades Stock Car Saturday Night at the Susquehanna Speedway Park this weekend on Saturday night, September 22. It will also be The Auto Racing Club of Hagerstown (A.R.C.H.) night, whih has been postponed twice this season due to rain. Racing action will feature the Late Models, Street Stocks, Xtreme Stocks, Sprint Cars and the Road Warriors.
The September 12 race event will also be the “Hometown Heroes” night featuring the towns from the state of Maryland in which all fans entering the speedway from Maryland will be admitted FREE to the grandstands by showing proper photo identification and filling out an information card at the ticket booth. Before the races begin, the drivers from Maryland will have the bring their cars to the frontstretch to meet the fans just before the National Anthem at 6:00 p.m.
On Saturday night, racing action begins at 6:00 p.m. Pit gates will open at 3:30 p.m. and the grandstand gates will open at 4:00 p.m. Warmups begin at 5:30 p.m. with qualifying races at 6:00 p.m. followed by consolation races and feature events.
General Admission Grandstand ticket prices for Saturday night are Adults (ages 18-59) $14.00; Young Adults (ages 11-17) & Senior Adults (60 & Older) $12.00; Children (10 & under) are free. Pit pass prices are $25.00 with a reduced price of $22.00 for all pit competitor license holders. The minimum age requirement to purchase a pit pass is 12 years of age with a copy of a birth certificate is required for all ages 12 to 17.
The popular “Repeat Fan Discount” program will continue at SSP in 2009 for the sixth straight season. This is a $2.00 repeat fan discount for each person with a ticket stub from races during the previous week’s events completed only. Returning fans are encouraged to write their name, address and phone number on the back of the stub to be entered into special drawings during and at the end of the season for great prizes. The Repeat Fan Discount is not valid for pit pass purchases.
Last Saturday night’s racing action had Dover’s Justin Ehrhart wiring the field from the start to finish to win the 32-lap Late Model feature event at the 9th Annual York County Nationals. Craig Morgan of Halifax came from a tenth place starting position to win the 25-lap Street Stock feature event. Andrew Frye of Etters won the 25-lap Xtreme Stock Car feature with a last lap pass of Tommy Slanker. Bill Diehl of Wrightsville won the 15-lap non-stop Legends Cars feature event after battling Scott Houdeshell for the win over the entire event. Matt Sowers won the XSC Rookie Rumble race.
Racing action returns to the SSP Outback Track on Saturday night, September 26 at 6:00 p.m. featuring quarter midget, kart and Speedcar racing action.
The Susquehanna Speedway Park is located midway between Harrisburg and York off I-83 to exit 32, then 1.4 miles NW on SR382 to York Road, then 1.3 miles south. For more information, contact the speedway offices at (717) 292-1696 or visit online at sspracing.net. On race day, use the track phone at (717) 938-9170 for up-to-date information at the “Big Track” and (717) 932-1608 for the “Outback Track.”
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Sprint Car Invasion & A.R.C.H. Night Time Schedule
(Subject to Change)
3:30 p.m. Pit Gates Open: Pit Passes: Members - $22.00; Non members - $25.00
4:00 p.m. Grandstands Gates Open: General admission: Adults (18 & older) – $14.00; Seniors (60 &
older) & Young Adults (11–17) - $12.00; Children (10 & under) – Free
5:15 p.m. Driver’s Meeting (Turn 1 Pit Grandstands)
5:30 p.m. - 5:55 p.m. Practice Begins (all divisions in the following order)
Rotation: Street Stocks
Late Models
Sprint Cars
Xtreme Stock Cars
Road Warriors
6:00 p.m. Welcome, Invocation and National Anthem
Street Stocks Qualifying Heat Races (8 laps)
Late Models Qualifying Heat Races (8 laps)
Sprint Cars Qualifying Heat Races (8 laps)
Xtreme Stock Cars Qualifying Heat Races (6 laps)
Road Warriors Qualifying Heat Races (4 laps)
Street Stocks Consolation Race (8/10 laps) – if necessary
Sprint Cars Consolation Race (8/10 laps) – if necessary
Late Models Consolation Race (8/10 laps) – if necessary
Xtreme Stock Cars Consolation Race (6/8 laps) – if necessary
Street Stocks Feature (20 laps)
Sprint Cars Feature (20 laps)
Road Warriors Feature (10 laps)
Late Models Feature (20 laps)
Xtreme Stock Cars Feature (20 laps)
· Top Three Finishers are Required to be in Victory Lane after Every Feature - $200.00 Fine for Failure to Report.
- 2009 SSP Schedule of Upcoming Events –
(Schedule as of September 4, 2009 - Subject to Change)
Pit Gates Open 2 1/2 hours before the start time posted; Grandstand Gates Open 2 hours before the start time posted.
September 16 (Wed.) Wednesday Night Test & Tune Session at Big Track (Gates open at 5:00 p.m.; Practice 6:00 p.m. - 9:00
p.m.) and the Outback Track (Gates open at 5:30 p.m.; Practice 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.)
September 19 (Sat.) SSP Track Championship Night - Late Models (25 laps), Street Stocks, Xtreme Stock Cars & Legends
Cars - (6:00 p.m.)
September 26 (Sat.) Smashfest ‘09 & Newberry Community Fair – CANCELLED
September 30 (Wed.) Wednesday Night Test & Tune Session at Big Track (Gates open at 5:00 p.m.; Practice 6:00 p.m. - 9:00
p.m.) and the Outback Track (Gates open at 5:30 p.m.; Practice 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.)
October 2 (Fri.) 4th Annual Cumberland Trucking Susquehanna Showdown Qualifying Night for Late Models & Legends
Cars & Mini Van World Championship (7:00 p.m.) – Rain date: Saturday, October 3 (Championship
Night will move to Sunday, October 4).
October 3 (Sat.) 4th Annual Cumberland Trucking Susquehanna Showdown for Late Models (50 laps), Legends Cars
Regional Qualifier & Road Warrior World Championship (6:00 p.m.) – Rain date: Sunday, October 4.
October 14 (Wed.) Wednesday Night Test & Tune Session at Big Track (Gates open at 5:00 p.m.; Practice 6:00 p.m. - 9:00
p.m.) and the Outback Track (Gates open at 5:30 p.m.; Practice 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.)
October 23 (Fri.) 6th Annual Miller’s Racing Parts Fall Classic Qualifying Night - Street Stocks, Xtreme Stock Cars and
Four Cylinder Stock Cars (7:00 p.m.) – Rain date: Saturday, October 24 (Championship Night will
move to Sunday, October 25).
October 24 (Sat.) 6th Annual Miller’s Racing Parts Fall Classic Championship Night - Street Stocks, Xtreme Stock Cars
and Four Cylinder Stock Cars (6:00 p.m.) – Rain date: Sunday, October 25.
October 31 (Sat.) Candy Bowl V presented by J&K Salvage - ARDC Wingless Midgets, 600cc Micro Sprints, Legends
Cars, Byers Tires Thundercars Championship & Mini Vans (3:00 p.m.) - Rain date: Sunday,
November 1.
November 7 (Sat.) 6th Annual Turkey 200 Enduro – Big Car Enduro (125 laps) & Small Car Enduro (75 laps) plus Classic
Cars & Mini Vans (1:00 p.m.); Rain date: Sunday, November 8
The Next Wednesday Night Test & Tune is on September 16
The next Wednesday Night Test & Tune session will be held on Wednesday, September 16 at the Susquehanna Speedway Park. It is open to any type of racecars capable of competing on the 4/10 mile oval. The cost is $12.00 per person for pit passes and a $20.00 fee for each racecar entering the pit area ($32.00 per car & driver combination). Gates will open at 5:00 p.m. with open track time from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. by class. Each session will be 6 – 8 laps per session. The grandstands are open free to the public. Each class will receive 4 to 5 rounds of 6/8 laps each or more if time permits. The fuel pumps from Miller’s Racing Parts will not be open. Anyone needing fuel should contact Miller’s Racing Parts directly at 717-766-0181. The main concession stand will be open throughout the night.
Also on Wednesday night, there will an open practice session for quarter midgets and karts at the Outback Track from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. under the lights. The gates will open at 5:30 p.m. with open practice from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The cost will be $20.00 per driver with no charge for anyone else entering the grandstand and “cold pit” areas. All Outback Track participants should enter the pits from the Kise Mill Road entrance behind turn 2 of the “Big Track.”
The Susquehanna Speedway Park is located midway between Harrisburg and York off I-83 to exit 32, then 1.4 miles NW on SR382 to York Road, then 1.3 miles south. For more information, contact the speedway offices at (717) 292-1696 or visit online at sspracing.net. On race day, use the track phone at (717) 938-9170 for up-to-date information at the “Big Track” and (717) 932-1608 for the “Outback Track.”
2009 Wednesday Night Open Test & Tune Sessions
(Any full size divisions of racing welcome along with smaller cars scheduled for SSP except 270cc Micro Sprints and smaller )
September 16, September 30, October 14
Big Track - Gates open 5:00 p.m.; Practice 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Outback Track on Wednesdays - Gates open 5:30 p.m.; Practice 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
SSP News & Notes Section
- Track Championships Ending Nights - All races prior to the dates listed below will be point races for the SSP Track Championships for their respective divisions. Any races after the dates listed will be non-point races for that particular class.
Late Models – Saturday, September 19, 2009
Street Stocks - Saturday, September 19, 2009
Xtreme Stock Cars - Saturday, September 19, 2009
Legends Cars – Sunday, November 1, 2009
Mini Vans – Sunday, November 8, 2009
Road Warriors – Sunday, October 4, 2009
Classic Cars – Sunday, November 8, 2009
Women on Wheels Mini Vans – FINAL for 2009
PENNMAR Vintage Cars – FINAL for 2009
Current and final point standings for all SSP divisions may be found at sspracing.net.
- Candy Bowl Survey – On the homepage of www.sspracing.net, there is a survey concerning what main class of racing you would like to see at the Candy Bowl on Saturday, October 31. Please take the time to take the quick online survey as this information will also be used to evaluate the special planned for the 2010 season.
- Comcast Cable Survey – Also on the homepage of www.sspracing.net, there is a survey about the channel that you watch regularly on television. Each person filling out the survey will receive $2.00 off a general admission ticket when it is returned to SSP. The coupon will be sent via email.
- Smashfest ’09 and Newberry Community Fair Cancelled - Speedway officials have also made the difficult decision to cancel the Smashfest ’09 event scheduled for Saturday, September 26, 2009. The Newberry Community Fair has also been cancelled and any vendors may contact the Newberrytown Peddler’s Market at (717) 932-4264 if interested in setting up a stand at their annual Kid’s Day also held on September 26. 2009. The Newberrytown Peddler’s Market is located next to the Susquehanna Speedway Park at 700 York Road. Their website is www.newberrytownpeddlersmarket.com.
- RainedOut.com Provides SSP Fans and Competitors with Timely Information – By providing a cell phone number, or e-mail address if just as active on-line, messages will be transmitted immediately to wherever you are. No more calling the cancellation line or guessing on track conditions from miles away, you will be automatically alerted with the status of weather whenever the forecast is questionable.
For first time users, just log into www.rainedout.com. Once on the homepage type “Susquehanna Speedway Park” or “SSP Outback Track” (each track requires a separate signup although the same user name/password can be designated) in the box provided at the top. When redirected, select the link below to the chosen track then click "Sign Up Now" to begin.
A registration form will appear, fill out the appropriate information and hit enter to submit. A cell phone text message will be received momentarily, offering a validation code that needs to be typed in to complete the registration.
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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This report was provided by an outside PR source and posted by Beth Lunkenheimer.
©2000 - 2008 Beth Lunkenheimer and Frontstetch.com. Thanks for visiting the Frontstretch!
