Kurt Says Consistency Key To Chase Hopes

Kurt Busch said that while he is pleased with the recent performance of his Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet team, he knows they must continue to achieve at a high level to have any chance of making the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

“It’s been a nice combination of really working hard and then testing a lot,” said Busch of his recent success, which includes a season-high third-place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway last weekend. “We tested every other week in the month of May, so in the month of June, (it) will be nice to not have to go to other tracks during the week. That way, we can get caught up with things and really review and get more intense with the debriefs.

It was great month of May, with a couple of Top-5s, and now we jump into the summer stretch. I read that it’s only 14 races until the Chase cutoff, which is hard to believe. I’m like, `wait a minute the season was just getting started!’ But at the same time, here we are. It’s June 1 and away we go.

“The next few races will be tough for us,” admitted Busch. “Where we struggled was the tracks with fresh asphalt like Kansas and Vegas, and that’s what we have with Pocono and Michigan. We’ll see how that shakes out. If we can capitalize on the tougher tracks for us, that’s when we’ll fall into the groove where we need to be.

We just need to get our points with consistent finishes. We just have to be consistent.”

He said that in order to crack Victory Lane, he may have to modify his propensity to race hard from green flag to checkers.

“(I need to focus on) those last 50 laps,” he said. “It’s like football in the fourth quarter (and) baseball after the seventh inning stretch. Everybody changes the way they run. I’m a guy that runs intense every lap, and I was trying to carry that banner of racing hard every lap and giving it my all, 100 percent every lap.”

Busch also pointed to Furniture Rw’s close relationship with Richard Childress Racing as  key to their future success.

“(Kevin) Harvick, (Paul) Menard and (Jeff) Burton; having that teammate situation (is important),” he said. “We are legitimately the fourth RCR car, and it has been good to work with them and have the information running both ways. It was great to see them win (at Charlotte). We’ve had two really good runs at Richmond and Charlotte, (but) we didn’t capitalize and they did. It’s great to see a teammate capitalize at the end of the day and bring home the trophy to Richard Childress Racing.”

Despite ranking 18^th in the Sprint Cup Series championship standings, Busch said he has not given up hope of making the Chase as a Top-10 point finisher.

“The Wild Card thing could get sticky with guys like Kyle, where they have two wins and need to fall back on that,” he said. “If you go for wins, then you’re going to run well and finish consistent. If you try to go for a win and gamble and get an 18^th place finish, then you’re going to wish you went more for the consistent side of it.

“The way I look at the garage right now, consistency is what pays. That’s the way it’s always been. Raw speed is going to be the best way to make the Chase and that is what we have right now.

“We have to lean on that.”

O'Connell To Drive For JR Motorsports At Road America

Sports car racer Johnny O’Connell will drive for JR Motorsports in the June 22 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Road America, general manager Kelley Earnhardt Miller announced today. O’Connell will make up a two-team contingent for JR Motorsports at Road America that includes Nationwide Series point leader Regan Smith.  

O’Connell, a longtime GM factory driver and recent inductee into the Sebring Hall of Fame, will drive the No. 5 CorvetteParts.net Chevrolet at Road America, the first of three road-course venues the Nationwide Series will visit in 2013. This will mark O’Connell’s first-ever race in a NASCAR stock car.

CorvetteParts.net is a subset of Keen Parts Inc., a leading supplier of Corvette restoration parts. It specializes in Corvette restoration parts ranging from vintage 1953 models to customized accessories for today’s Corvettes. The company’s current inventory boasts more than 18,000 parts and accessories.

“Needless to say, I’m extremely excited about the opportunity Dale Jr. and Kelley have presented me,” O’Connell said. “Over the years, competing in NASCAR is something I’ve always wanted to do, but I never thought I’d get the opportunity. To be given that shot with JR Motorsports is something that I fully expect to dedicate 100% of my effort to, and I truly appreciate CorvetteParts.net for stepping up to support our team. I plan to give them all I have.”

A native of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., but longtime resident of Flowery Branch, Ga., O’Connell is considered one of the most successful GM factory racecar drivers from the United States. He is a three-time American Le Mans Series champion for Corvette Racing and current World Challenge champion for Cadillac. He won the 2001 24 Hours of Daytona for Corvette Racing. He has eight total wins in the 12 Hours of Sebring – more than any other driver – and an overall title in 1994.

Most recently O’Connell won the fourth round of the Pirelli World Challenge GT Cadillac Sports Car Challenge at Circuit of the Americas on May 18. He is the defending series champion with Andy Pilgrim.

O’Connell tested with JR Motorsports at Virginia International Raceway on Mon., May 27, and is scheduled for another test session prior to the June 22 race at Road America.

Fortune 500's NASCAR Involvement Increases

A total of 117 FORTUNE 500 companies – nearly one out of four -- use NASCAR as part of their marketing mix, according to FORTUNE Magazine’s annual list, released this month. For the second consecutive year, the number of FORTUNE 500 companies involved in NASCAR increased; with an eight-percent improvement over 2008. The analysis encompassed companies currently involved as a sponsor of NASCAR’s sanctioning body, teams, tracks and/or as media partners.

“There’s a reason the number of FORTUNE 500 companies invested in NASCAR remains higher than any other sport,” said Steve Phelps, NASCAR’s chief marketing officer. “Our fans are among the most brand loyal in all of sports. Some of the world’s biggest, most recognizable and profitable brands utilize NASCAR as a critical and powerful part of their marketing mix because it works for their business.”

Findings from a study commissioned by NASCAR and conducted by Toluna prior to the start of the 2013 season show that approximately one out of four NASCAR fans “strongly agree” that they support NASCAR sponsors more than sponsors of other sports.

“The current sponsorship landscape is as competitive as it has ever been,” said Michael Waltrip, founder and co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing. “Our partners continue to choose to use our team to drive their brands because we have had success demonstrating value in their investment, proven by our recent partnership renewals with NAPA Auto Parts and other major corporations.”

“Regardless of a company’s entry point into the sport, the demand for a quantifiable return on investment expands across all levels of sponsorship,” said Joie Chitwood III, president of Daytona International Speedway. “We take pride in delivering a best-in-class experience and valuable branding opportunities to a number of powerful companies on an annual basis.”

To be eligible for the FORTUNE 500, a company must be based in the U.S. and publicly traded. Though many companies on the FORTUNE 500 utilize NASCAR as part of their business-building strategy to develop their customer base, strengthen market share, and increase value for their shareholders, only industry partners, media partners, and licensees involved in the sport were counted in the analysis. Companies invested in the sport solely as advertisers were not counted.

Although being a FORTUNE 500 company is the gold standard of success for publicly-traded companies in the United States, there are several global corporations currently involved in NASCAR that were not included in the analysis because they do not meet FORTUNE’s criteria. A number of those blue-chip brands not qualifying, but are involved significantly in the sport, include MillerCoors, Mars, Toyota and McLaren.

Whitt Returns With TriStar Motorsports

Cole Whitt will return to the wheel of a stock car Saturday in the 5-Hour Energy 200 at Dover International Speedway, as part of the four-car TriStar Motorsports NASCAR Nationwide Series team. Whitt, a former Red Bull Racing development driver who most recently drove for JR Motorsports in 2012, I scheduled to drive a TriStar Motorsports Toyota in a number of races this year.

“I’m really excited to hop back in the seat of a race car,” said Whitt. “It feels like forever since last season. I’ve had success in my four starts at Dover and look forward to taking on ‘Miles the Monster’. I am grateful for the opportunity Mark Smith and TriStar have lined up for me and I hope to have success with the No. 44 crew.”

Whitt and TriStar Motorsports, owned by veteran team owner and engine builder, Mark Smith, already have a head start working together in 2013. The 21-year-old native of Alpine, CA has been working in the shop daily as a mechanic in TriStar’s research and development department.

“We are really excited to add Cole to our driver lineup,” Smith said. “We have been watching Cole since he made his debut in the NASCAR K&N Series and he has already shown that he has the talent to win at many different levels.”

Whitt joins TriStar after earning four top-five and 14 top-10’s while driving for JR Motorsports last year. As a rookie, Whitt ended his 2012 campaign sitting seventh in the Driver Points Standings. Without sponsorship, the third-generation driver from the outskirts of San Diego was left sidelined and looking for a ride.

Arguably one of the brightest young talents in racing, Whitt will drive the No. 44 Toyota at “The Monster Mile” with sponsorship from Lockton. The 2008 USAC National Midget Series champion has competed at the one-mile oval in four previous events with his best overall finish coming from the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. Whitt battled door-to-door with Kyle Busch in the closing laps before settling for second after leading 23 laps.

Whitt hopes to top that performance on Saturday as the NASCAR Nationwide Series descends on Dover International Speedway. Watch for Whitt and his No. 44 Lockton Toyota when the field takes the green flag at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Camera System Failure Leads To Bizarre Night At CMS

Author John Steinbeck said it best, “The best made plans of mice and men often go awry.”

Such was the case last night at Charlotte Motor Speedway, when the nylon drive rope used to propel FOX Sports’ overhead CamCat camera system snapped during the running of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600.

The nylon rope fell onto the race track and into the grandstands, causing minor injuries to 10 spectators and damaging the race cars of leader Kyle Busch, Marcos Ambrose, Denny Hamlin and Mark Martin. NASCAR threw the red flag to remove the rope from the race track, before announcing an unprecedented, 15-minute repair period for teams to fix what they called “relevant damage” from the incident.

“It was like getting attacked by a giant squid,’’ said Ambrose, who had a rear brake line torn loose by the rope. “It was flapping and I didn’t know what was going on. Then it got caught up in the rear end and I lost my brakes.”

Not since a sudden downpour caused a multi-car crash on the opening lap of the 2001 All Star Race has the sanctioning body suspended protocol and allowed teams to repair their cars under the red flag. NASCAR went a step further Sunday, ruling that each machine would return to the racetrack in the same place it had been running prior to the stoppage.

FOX anchorman Chris Myers quickly apologized for the delay, and the network issued an additional written statement, saying, “At this time, we do not have a cause for the failure of the camera drive line that interrupted tonight’s Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and our immediate concern is with the injured fans.

“The camera system consists of three ropes -- a drive rope which moves the camera back and forth, and two guide ropes on either side. The drive rope failed near the Turn 1 connection and fell to the track. The camera itself did not come down because guide ropes acted as designed. A full investigation is planned, and use of the camera is suspended indefinitely.

“This camera system had been used successfully at this year’s Daytona 500, last week’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and other major events around the world. We certainly regret that the system failure affected tonight’s event, we apologize to the racers whose cars were damaged, and our immediate concern is for the race fans. We also offer a sincere ‘thank you’ to the staff at CMS for attending to the injuries and keeping us informed on this developing situation.

“When we have more information on the cause of the equipment failure, we will share it with you immediately.’’

Speedway officials confirmed that of the 10 injured fans, seven were treated and released at track Care Centers for minor cuts and abrasions. Three others were transported to a local hospital for observation and later released.

Friends Continue To Struggle With Trickle’s Passing

Friends and competitors continue to mourn the passing of Dick Trickle, after the Wisconsin native died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a North Carolina cemetery on May 16 at age 71.

The former NASCAR Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year took his own life at Forest Lawn Cemetery on Highway 150 in Boger City, NC, moments after placing a 911 call to the Lincoln County Communications Center to report “there will be a dead body and it will be mine.” Communications Center workers tried to place a return call, but did not get an answer. EMTs arrived on the scene to find Trickle’s body lying next to his pickup truck.

“I’m still in shock,” said NASCAR Nationwide Series veteran and longtime friend Kenny Wallace. “Dick taught me a lot about racing and even more about life. I’m a pretty outgoing guy – a little loud sometimes – and that rubs some people the wrong way. I have a loud laugh, and my brother Rusty used to give me grief saying, `Kenny, quiet down. Why do you have to laugh like that?’”

Dick always stuck up for me, saying, “Rusty, leave him alone. Kenny’s just being Kenny.”

He always told me, “Be yourself and never apologize for who you are.”

Mark Martin also spoke of his friend and rival, after battling Trickle as a youngster on the ASA and ARTGO circuits, before moving south to a NASCAR career that now includes 40 Sprint Cup Series wins.

“Dick made himself a mentor to many,” said Martin. “Rusty, myself, Alan Kulwicki -- we wouldn’t have been the racers we were when we got (to NASCAR) had we not come under his influence.”

Despite more than 1,000 career wins, Trickle didn’t always lead by example. He was a chain smoker for most of his life, and built cigarette lighters into the dashboard of his race cars in order to grab a quick smoke under caution. He was rarely seen without a beverage of some kind – hot coffee until the races were finished, then a lengthy series of cold beers afterward – and he was famous for espousing one hour of sleep for each 100 laps of racing the following day.

But Wallace, Martin and others learned plenty from the Wisconsin veteran, both on and off the race track.

“I was proud of the influence that he had on us,”said Martin. “The etiquette and the way he raced. He raced us real hard on the race track, but off the race track, he was very free with parts or advice. He gave freely.

“He was the first to tell me that, `in order to finish first, first you must finish.’ It’s kind of corny, but it isn't when you're 18 or 19 years old. That always stuck with me.”

While they rarely crossed paths in recent years, Martin called Trickle “part of the influence that helped mold the people and racers that we were.”

Wallace, meanwhile, recalled the Wisconsin native visiting him in his North Carolina shop just a week prior to his death, giving no indication of the tragedy to come.

“He was his usual self,” said Wallace, “laughing, cracking jokes and telling me what I should be doing with my dirt cars. I knew he’d been in pain, and the doctors couldn’t seem to figure out why. But I never thought it would come to this.”

Trickle’s younger brother told ESPN.com last week that it was the pain that drove Trickle to suicide. The day before his death, Trickle had undergone the latest in a lengthy series of tests at Duke University Medical Center, hoping to determine the cause of the severe chest pain he had battled for months.

"He told me, 'I don't know how much longer I can put up with this,'" said Chuck Trickle. “They were going to put something in him to help with the pain. It was a five-step process (but) I don't know how far along he was. He must have just decided the pain was too high, because he would have never done it for any other reason."

Trickle ran his final NASCAR race in 2002 and returned to his short-track roots for a time, before cardiac issues and hip replacement surgery forced him from the cockpit for good. He mourned the loss of his granddaughter, Nicole Ann Bowman, in a highway crash in 2001, burying her in the same cemetery where he would ultimately take his own life.

"I'm confused and broken-hearted about what happened," said Martin, recalling the times hebattled Trickle night after night on tracks around the Midwest. One evening – Martin believes it to be 1977-- the promoter of Golden Sands Speedway in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., offered a $100 bonus to anyone who could break the existing track record. The 18-year old Arkansas hot shot smashed the mark en route to the provisional pole, and as qualifying wound down, began planning ways to spend the extra cash.

Suddenly, an open trailer rolled into the pit area, with a racecar idling on the back. A crewman leapt from the trailer and dropped the ramps, allowing Trickle to drive the car directly onto the race track, without benefit of a single practice lap.

Trickle knocked Martin off the pole with a new track record of his own that night, then schooled the youngster again with a bit of vintage short-track advice.

"He got on to me for breaking the record by too much,” laughed Martin. “He said we were only supposed to break it a little at a time, so we could collect the $100 every week!

“Dick lived on his terms, and he died on his terms” said former championship-winning crew chief Ray Evernham. “That's the only sense I can make of what happened."

“I wish I had known he was in pain,” echoed Wallace. “Maybe I could have talked to him and reminded him how much he meant to all of us. Maybe it would have helped. Maybe it would have made a difference.

“I just never knew. I guess none of us did.”

 

Caraway Curse Bites Godfather Again

Caraway Speedway has never been kind to the Godfather Motorsports Super Late Model team, and Friday night, the trend continued. After destroying the front end of their No. 30 Chevrolet at the Sophia, NC, oval in a practice crash one year ago, the team suffered through a case of “déjà vu all over again” Friday, getting punted into the Turn Four wall in the early going of the “Krazy Kevin Powell 150” and suffering heavy front-end damage en route to a disappointing, 19^th-place finish. 

“It was pretty unbelievable,” said driver Jerick Johnson of the crash, which left his KOMA Unwind-sponsored entry with severe damage to the front chassis, radiator and body. “We were just riding, waiting for the first caution to pit and make a minor adjustment. I didn’t plan on being the first caution, but apparently, Jake Cole had another idea.” 

Contact from behind by Cole sent Johnson hard into the inside wall and ended the team’s night, just 51 laps into the 150-lap main event. “I’m not real sure what he was thinking,” said Johnson afterward. “We were racing for 15^th place, less than a third of the way into the race. It was way too early to jack someone up in the corner and put them in the fence.” 

The team will now attempt to regroup in time for their next outing on Saturday night, June 8 at South Boston Speedway in South Boston, Va. “I’ll take a closer look at things tomorrow, but I’m pretty sure the front clip is toast,” said KOMA Unwind crew chief Jim Gallison, Jr. “I’m guessing we’ll cut it off at the firewall and start over.” 

Official Results: “Krazy Kevin Powell 150” – 1. 31 – Kyle Grissom - 150 Laps 2. 2 – Jay Fogleman - 150 3. 28 – Jared Irvan - 150 4. 48 – John Batten - 150 5. 1 – Justin Allison - 150 6. 104 – Kevin Powell - 149 7. 51 – Bobby Measmer, Jr. - 149 8. 97 – Brandon Lynn - 149 9. 29 – Kyle Moon - 149 10. 09 – Randy Gentry - 149

Caraway (NC) Speedway 11. 8f – Tate Fogleman - 145 12. 129 – Spencer Davis - 126 13. 8 – Joseph Mursuli - 119 14. 19 – Zak Hausler - 103 15. 62 – Brandon Ward - 91 16. 50 – Karl Weber - 77 17. 57 – Cole Timm - 57 18. 36 – Jake Cole - 53 19. 30 – Jerick Johnson - 51 20. 18 – Bill Catania - 26

About Godfather Motorsports – Godfather Motorsports is owned by Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio personality Dave Moody and enjoys major sponsorship from Bebida Beverage Company’s KOMA Unwind "Liquid Relaxation" drink. The team also boasts a comprehensive list of technological and marketing partners that includes Eibach Springs, ASM Graphics, Race 101, CV Products, ARBodies and Phantom Racing Gear. For additional information on the team and marketing opportunities with Godfather Motorsports, contact Dave Moody -- mrnturn1@hotmail.com. Visit the Godfather Motorsports website at www.GodfatherMotorsports.com.

About KOMA Unwind -- Developed by BeBevCo., KOMA Unwind relaxes those who drink it; improving the duration and quality of their sleep with both flair and favor. KOMA Unwind is formulated to relax the body, mind and soul. It is the perfect lifestyle beverage for those who want to reduce stress and anxiety, and get a great night's sleep. The relaxation or "anti-energy" drink category is fairly new to the beverage industry. KOMA Unwind is dedicated to helping consumers achieve a level of relaxation without the use of pills or alcohol, fueling a "relaxation revolution" of consumers determined to chill without a pill. Unite with KOMA Unwind for its "relaxation revolution" by joining us on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/KOMAUnwind) and following us on Twitter @KOMAUnwindNews.

About POW*MIA Awareness – Godfather Motorsports is proud to support the POW*MIA Awareness Campaign. Driver Jerick Johnson has long been an advocate for veterans’ rights and the United States military. He is a five-time Distinguished Guest of the American Legion National Convention and has earned numerous awards from other veterans’ organizations. Promoting and increasing public awareness of the POW*MIA issue has become his main goal. `Prisoner Of War: Missing in Action’ refers to any soldier taken prisoner by the opposing side during an action of war. It is not always known whether that solider is alive or dead, only that they are missing. Our goal is to remind our fellow Americans that the greatest tragedy of all is to be forgotten, and honor those who have given so much. Jerick thanks Godfather Motorsports for the opportunity to help increase awareness of this issue by carrying the POW*MIA logo on the No. 30 KOMA Unwind Chevrolet.

 

KOMA Unwind Team Set For Caraway

Jerick Johnson, Godfather Motorsports and the KOMA Unwind Chevrolet return to action Friday night at the Caraway Speedway in Sophia, NC in the Pro All Stars Series “Krazy Kevin Powell 150;” their fourth start of the 2013 season.

One of the most historic tracks in the Carolinas, Caraway was originally constructed as a dirt oval in 1966. The high-banked, .455-mile track was paved in 1972, and now hosts a summer long schedule of weekly events, as well  as multiple special events for the PASS and NASCAR  Whelen Southern Modified Series each year, culminating with the legendary North-South Shootout each fall.

“Caraway has always been one of our favorite tracks, despite the fact that we essentially destroyed a race car there a year ago,” said Godfather Motorsports owner Dave Moody. “You never want to tear up a car, but if you’re in the game long enough, it’s going to happen. Hopefully, Caraway owes us one after last year, and we’ll be happy to collect Friday night.”

Time trail qualifying for the PASS Super Late Model and Pro Late Model divisions is scheduled to begin at 6 PM, with a special Fan Autograph session on the frontstretch at 7:15. Jerick Johnson and the Godfather Motorsports team will be available for autographs and photos, as well as handing out free samples of KOMA Unwind Liquid Relaxation Drink.

Feature racing begins at 8 PM.

About Godfather Motorsports – Godfather Motorsports is owned by Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio personality Dave Moody and enjoys major sponsorship from Bebida Beverage Company’s KOMA Unwind "Liquid Relaxation" drink. The team also boasts a comprehensive list of technological and marketing partners that includes Eibach Springs, ASM Graphics, Race 101, CV Products, ARBodies and Phantom Racing Gear. For additional information on the team and marketing opportunities with Godfather Motorsports, contact Dave Moody -- mrnturn1@hotmail.com. Visit the Godfather Motorsports website at www.GodfatherMotorsports.com.

About KOMA Unwind -- Developed by BeBevCo., KOMA Unwind relaxes those who drink it; improving the duration and quality of their sleep with both flair and favor. KOMA Unwind is formulated to relax the body, mind and soul. It is the perfect lifestyle beverage for those who want to reduce stress and anxiety, and get a great night's sleep. The relaxation or "anti-energy" drink category is fairly new to the beverage industry. KOMA Unwind is dedicated to helping consumers achieve a level of relaxation without the use of pills or alcohol, fueling a "relaxation revolution" of consumers determined to chill without a pill. Unite with KOMA Unwind for its "relaxation revolution" by joining us on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/KOMAUnwind) and following us on Twitter @KOMAUnwindNews.

About POW*MIA Awareness – Godfather Motorsports is proud to support the POW*MIA Awareness Campaign. Driver Jerick Johnson has long been an advocate for veterans’ rights and the United States military. He is a five-time Distinguished Guest of the American Legion National Convention and has earned numerous awards from other veterans’ organizations. Promoting and increasing public awareness of the POW*MIA issue has become his main goal. `Prisoner Of War: Missing in Action’ refers to any soldier taken prisoner by the opposing side during an action of war. It is not always known whether that solider is alive or dead, only that they are missing. Our goal is to remind our fellow Americans that the greatest tragedy of all is to be forgotten, and honor those who have given so much. Jerick thanks Godfather Motorsports for the opportunity to help increase awareness of this issue by carrying the POW*MIA logo on the No. 30 KOMA Unwind Chevrolet.

Appeals Panel Upholds RCR Crew Penalties

A National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel upheld the suspensions and fines assessed to two Richard Childress Racing crewmen by NASCAR last month, following the alleged assault of driver Nelson Piquet Jr. and another man in the aftermath of a NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway.

RCR crewmen Michael Scearce and Thomas Costello were suspended by NASCAR for four races and fined $15,000 after the altercation, which resulted in them being arrested by Henrico County Sherriff’s deputies and charged with misdemeanor assault. The three-member appeals panel heard their appeal today at the NASCAR R&D Center in Concord, N.C., three members of the National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel -- Atlanta Motor Speedway president Ed Clark, longtime motorsports journalist Dr. Dick Berggren and Iowa Speedway President Doug Fritz ruled to uphold the penalties, as assessed.

Their suspensions will begin at Dover International Speedway next weekend, with Scearce and Costello eligible to return at Kentucky Speedway in late June.

RCR has not said whether it will exercise its right for a final appeal, to Chief Appellate Officer John Middlebrook.

KOMA Unwind, Fowler Team For Charlotte NNS Run

In an 11^th-hour agreement, Bebida Beverage Company announced today that investors of the KOMA Unwind® Liquid Relaxation brand will team up to enhance the company’s social media presence in Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series contest at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

KOMA Unwind driver Kyle Fowler in the No. 79 Town & Country Ford Mustang will kick off this summer’s social media campaign by asking consumers to “Get Social And Relax” by “liking” the KOMA Unwind brand on Facebook (Facebook.com/KOMAUnwind).

BeBevCo. CEO Brian Weber said, “Social Media is very important to us and we have a great following on Facebook, but we’re always eager for more “likes” to let everyone know what we’re doing and more importantly, where they can find us. Through our Facebook page, you learn about our marketing endeavors, view stories and testimonials from other KOMA Unwind fans, plus much more.

“We’re happy to be partnered with Go Green Racing and Kyle Fowler for the History 300 and we wish them the best of luck in Saturday afternoon’s race.”

Developed by BeBevCo., KOMA Unwind relaxes those who drink it. It also helps them improve both the duration and quality of their sleep with flair and favor. KOMA Unwind is formulated to relax the body, mind and soul. It is the perfect lifestyle beverage for those who can appreciate extreme relaxation.

The relaxation or “anti-energy” drink category is a new category to the beverage industry. This type of drink is dedicated to helping consumers achieve a level of relaxation without the use of pills or alcohol.

The History 300 is the 10^thrace on the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule. The green flag is scheduled to wave shortly after 2:30 p.m. with live coverage on ABC, affiliated PRN radio stations and SiriusXM Satellite Radio Channel 90.

Unite with KOMA Unwind for its “relaxation revolution” by joining us on Facebook (Facebook.com/KOMAUnwind) and following us on Twitter @KOMAUnwindNews.

Gordon Says Johnson, Team Are Hall Of Fame Caliber

Gordon: "that's unbelievable."

One day after the announcement of the 2014 Class of the NASCAR Hall Of Fame, four-time Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon offered a glowing endorsement for teammate Jimmie Johnson as a future Hall Of Famer.

“Every time he wins a race, I shake my head and go, `that’s unbelievable.’ Those guys are just so good. (If) you give Jimmie the sight of the victory, he takes it to a whole other level.

“I remember parts of my career when it was like that for me,” he said, “where we were that good as a team. That in sync and that confident that we had the competition beat before the race even started. They’re in that position right now.

“Everybody is sitting there watching them, (saying), `we got ‘em, we got ‘em.’ And then, all of a sudden, they’re gone and they win. That puts another notch in the belt of the No. 48 team, but it also takes a notch out of the rest of the competition. And that’s a great asset to have as a team.”

Gordon pointed out that Johnson’s NASCAR career was not a case of instant success.

“I think a lot can be said about what he did prior to getting into Cup (and)  about how hard he had to work,” said Gordon. “The talent was there, but maybe the results weren’t always there. I think some people kind of overlooked him, when in reality, he had a tremendous amount of talent, work ethic, desire and passion. When you put that combination with Chad Knaus, Hendrick Motorsports and that team they have assembled… the rest is history.

"This guy has the ability."

“The numbers that he has put up I think speak for themselves.”

Gordon -- who recommended the then-unheralded Nationwide Series driver to team owner Rick Hendrick -- commented on what he saw in Johnson all those years ago.

“I think that my expectations were, ‘This guy has the ability. If you put a team together like we have done for the No. 24 team, I think he’s going to do some spectacular things.’ But even then, I don’t think any of us expected the thing to come together quite the way that it did."

Asked specifically about Johnson’s Hall Of Fame qualifications, Gordon said, “throughout the history of NASCAR, there have always been tremendous individuals and talents that played their role in history and were spectacular in their own way. Sometimes they came along -- maybe when somebody else was moving out -- or sometimes they were head-to-head.

“To me, I’ve always (felt) that you can’t dominate if somebody else is there, beating you every other weekend. Usually, dominance comes because you have an edge on the competition. We saw that with Richard Petty. We saw that with Dale Earnhardt, Sr. We saw that with me. And we see that now with Jimmie Johnson. I think that’s always going to hold true throughout history of this sport.”

NHRA Champion Antron Brown Set For NASCAR Test

Rev Racing will partner with Toyota to put  2012 NHRA Mello Yellow Drag Racing Series Top Fuel Champion Antron Brown behind the wheel of a NASCAR K&N Series Toyota Camry Tuesday at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va.

Brown, the first African-American to win a major auto racing championship, will test alongside NASCAR Drive for Diversity drivers Bryan Ortiz, Daniel Suarez, Mackena Bell and Ryan Gifford.

Brown said he has been interested in stock car racing for many years, but has never been offered the opportunity to test a quality car.

“I know I can go straight,” said Brown. “Now I’ve got to see if I can throw a left-hand turn in there. You know, I drive for four seconds at a time right now. So this is a lot different. I know there is a big learning curve. We are just trying to take that step to see if I can do it.”

Brown would not admit to a desire to run NASCAR full-time, or much of anything else beyond Tuesday’s test session. But he acknowledged that he wouldn’t be doing the test if it weren’t with a top team that he felt had the ability to take him to the next level.

“Rev Racing helps train drivers, not just go out there in great race cars,” Brown said. “They involve them in all aspects. That’s what really intrigued me. That if I want to get the chance to go oval-track racing, I was going to have a good shot at going out there and learning from this experience. I have positioned myself with a great team.”

Rev Racing CEO Max Siegel was excited to have Brown on board with his team, which is well known for its diversity efforts.

“We have the opportunity to work with one of the great talents in motorsports,” said Siegel. “We have worked for three years now with Antron, and now is the right time for this. We have been part of NASCAR for the last five years with the Drive for Diversity program. We are very proud of what we have built. We have a pretty robust driver development program. We have the opportunity to work with a great ambassador to motorsports, and we have the opportunity to help him with his pursuit of NASCAR.”

“I have never been one of those people who just want to jump to (the top level),” said Brown. “I just want to get through the test session, take it one step at a time, be really focused on it and get everything I can get out of it. It would be great to actually race in a race one time.

 “We are going to test a K&N car and then eventually do some Late Model stuff down the road.

"King's Cup" Raises Over $82,000

With the Coke 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway looming, and NASCAR activities in and around the Charlotte-area ramping up, Richard Petty kicked off Charlotte race week Tuesday night by hosting the fifth-annual "King's Cup - Karting for a Cause" presented by D&B Motors and Xtreme Motorsports at Victory Lane Karting in Charlotte, NC.

Through this premier charity event, "The King" Richard Petty, NASCAR personalities and loyal sponsors have helped raise over half a million dollars to support Paralyzed Veterans of America ("PVA") and the veterans and families it serves. This year's event alone raised over $82,000. This event is critical in helping advance Paralyzed Veterans' mission to provide veterans services, and advocate for quality healthcare and civil rights for veterans living with spinal cord injury or disease.

"We are so fortunate to work with so many loyal partners and fans through the NASCAR community. This event is a time for honoring those who have sacrificed so much for this nation, and we're grateful to have so many folks come out and help raise funds and awareness for our mission" said Bill Lawson, President of Paralyzed Veterans. "A big thanks for everyone for making this event possible."

SPEED personality Bob Dillner emceed the evening festivities which included an autograph session with Petty, Aric Almirola, Marcos Ambrose, Austin Dyne, Max Gresham, Sam Hornish Jr, Joey Logano, Ryan Reed, a silent auction and competitive racing. The 18-team go-karting event was made up of NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers, teams, sponsors, others involved in the racing community, and this year, a professional football player, Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams.

Three-time King's Cup champions Stanley Racing had nothing for this year's King's Cup trophy honorees; Quicken Loans Racing. The six-person team lead most of the evening's final, one-hour "Shoot Out." Drivers Corey Lajoie, Ryan Flores, Dillon Silverman, Cliff Daniels, Evan York and Andrew Von Fange celebrated in Victory Lane with the coveted "King's Cup."

"I would like to thank all the sponsors, teams and fans that participated in support of Paralyzed Veterans, it's a great cause and Quicken Loans was proud to be part of a fun evening," said Todd Carte, Quicken Loans Director of Business Development.

In addition to the Petty and Penske family of drivers, David Gilliland, David Ragan and Matt Crafton all came out to participate and join in the fun, as well as upcoming racers Ross Chastain, Corey Lajoie, Coleman Pressley and Darrell Wallace Jr.

5th Annual "King's Cup - Karting for a Cause"
Finishing Order

1. Quicken Loans

2. Carlisle

3. Checkered Flag Foundation

4. Joey Logano Foundation

5. Pennzoil

6. David Ragan Foundation

7. Spire

8. Xtreme Motorsports

9. The NASCAR Foundation

10. D&B Motors

11. Stanley

Fastenal To Field Tribute Cars

Held each year on Memorial Day weekend, the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway presents an opportunity for the NASCAR community to express appreciation for our country’s military forces. This year, Fastenal will honor military service men and women -- both active and retired -- with a three-car tribute on the No. 16, 17 and 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Fusions.

The Fastenal Tribute Cars will feature the names of current Fastenal employees who served in the military. David MacFadden (First Sergeant, U.S. Army) will be displayed on the hood of the No. 99, and Brian Ashbee (Chief Quartermaster, U.S. Navy) and Anthony Phillips (Private First Class, U.S. Army) will see their names on the hood of the No. 17.

The displays are part of Fastenal’s “Heroes Hired Here” campaign honoring employees who are active or retired military members. MacFadden, Ashbee and Phillips were the Top-3 finishers in a Fastenal employee essay contest. As the contest winner, MacFadden will also receive a trip for two to the Bank of America 500 in Charlotte on October 12^th. Fastenal will be posting the winners’ stories on the Fastenal Racing Facebook page this week.

“We’re extremely proud of the hundreds of former and current military personnel who are part of the Fastenal Blue Team,” said Fastenal President Lee Hein. “The Tribute Cars are a small way of expressing our gratitude to them and all of the men and women who have served our country.”

This is Fastenal’s second season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as the primary sponsor for Carl Edwards in the No. 99 Ford Fusion and second year sponsoring three Cup cars in the Roush Fenway Racing family for the Coca-Cola 600.

NASCAR Announces 2014 Hall Of Fame Class

NASCAR announced today the inductees who will comprise the 2014 class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The five-person group – the fifth in NASCAR Hall of Fame history – consists of Tim Flock, Jack Ingram, Dale Jarrett, Maurice Petty and Fireball Roberts. Next year’s Induction Day is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, broadcast on Fox Sports 1 from Charlotte, N.C. 

The 54-member NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel met today in a closed session in Charlotte, N.C., to vote on the induction class of 2014. NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France made the announcement this evening in the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s “Great Hall.” 

Next year’s class was determined by votes cast by the Voting Panel, which included representatives from NASCAR, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, track owners from major facilities and historic short tracks, media members, manufacturer representatives, retired competitors (drivers, owners, crew chiefs), recognized industry leaders and a nationwide fan vote conducted through NASCAR.com – which counted for the 55th and final vote. The accounting firm of Ernst & Young presided over the tabulation of the votes. 

Voting for next year’s class was as follows: Tim Flock (76%), Maurice Petty (67%), Dale Jarrett (56%), Jack Ingram (53%) and Fireball Roberts (51%). 

The next top vote getters were Jerry Cook, Joe Weatherly and Wendell Scott. 

Results for the NASCAR.com Fan Vote, in alphabetical order, were Richard Childress, Rick Hendrick, Dale Jarrett, Benny Parsons and Fireball Roberts. 

The group of 25 nominees also included Red Byron, Richard Childress, H. Clay Earles, Ray Fox, Anne Bledsoe France, Rick Hendrick, Bobby Isaac, Fred Lorenzen, Raymond Parks, Benny Parsons, Larry Phillips, Les Richter, T. Wayne Robertson, Ralph Seagraves, O. Bruton Smith, Curtis Turner and Rex White.

Class of 2014 Inductees:

Tim Flock
A two-time NASCAR premier series champion, Flock was one of the sport’s first dominant drivers. In 187 starts, Flock collected 39 victories, a total that still ranks 18th on the all-time wins list. Flock won his first series title in 1952 while driving Ted Chester’s Hudson Hornet, and his second championship in 1955 driving Carl Kiekhaefer’s Chrysler. He dominated that 1955 season, posting an astounding 18 wins and 32 Top-5 finishes in 39 starts, along with 18 poles. Flock’s 18 wins stood as a single-season victory record until Richard Petty surpassed it with 27 wins in 1967. Flock regular drove with his pet monkey, "Jocko Flocko" alongside him, until Jocko escaped from his harness during a race and necessitated a late pit stop, costing Flock a second-place finish.

Jack Ingram
The NASCAR Nationwide Series has had a variety of incarnations through the years but when considered collectively, an argument can be made that Jack Ingram is the series’ all-time greatest driver. Before the formation of the series, Ingram won three consecutive championships, from 1972-74, in its precursor – the Late Model Sportsman Division. When the NASCAR Busch Series was formed, he won the inaugural title in 1982 and again in ’85. In his 10 years of competition in what was called the NASCAR Busch Series, Ingram had 31 wins, a record that stood until Mark Martin broke it in 1997. All but two of Ingram’s 31 wins came on short tracks.

Dale Jarrett
Dale Jarrett personified big-stage performances. A three-time Daytona 500 winner and two-time winner of the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Jarrett excelled under NASCAR’s brightest spotlights. His 32 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories – 21st all-time – also include the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Jarrett won the 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship, and recorded six additional top-five championship finishes. With father Ned, the Jarretts are only the second father-son combination with NASCAR premier series championships after NASCAR Hall of Famers Lee and Richard Petty. Ned Jarrett was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in May 2011. Ned and Dale Jarrett become the third father-son duo selected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, following Bill France Sr. and Bill France Jr., and Lee and Richard Petty.

Maurice Petty
Chief engine builder for the legendary Petty Enterprises team, Maurice Petty becomes the fourth member of the dynasty to be chosen for membership in the NASCAR Hall of Fame – following his older brother Richard, father Lee and cousin Dale Inman. The man known simply as “Chief” overcame a childhood bout with polio that left him with a lifelong limp, and supplied the horsepower that propelled Richard Petty to a majority of his record 200 NASCAR victories, seven NASCAR premier series championships and seven Daytona 500 victories. Lee Petty, Buddy Baker, Jim Paschal and Pete Hamilton were also among those who won with his engines. Maurice Petty had a brief driving career of his own – 26 premier series races with seven top-five and 16 top-10 finishes between 1960 and 1964 – but was satisfied to work behind the scenes as one of the top engine builders ever seen in the sport.

 

Fireball Roberts Glenn Roberts, who got his legendary nickname from his days as a hard-throwing pitcher in high school, is perhaps the greatest driver never to win a NASCAR title. He was arguably stock car racing’s first superstar, an immensely popular prototype for some of today’s competitors who are stars on and off the track. During his career he often came up big in the biggest events, winning the Daytona 500 in 1962 and the Southern 500 in 1958 and ’63. Overall, he won seven races at Daytona International Speedway, starting with the Firecracker 250 in the summer of 1959 – the year the speedway opened.