U.S. Marine Honored As Brickyard Sprint Cup Series Race Namesake

Gunnery Sgt. Samuel deeds

While deployed in Iraq, Gunnery Sgt. Samuel Deeds, a diehard NASCAR fan, dreamed of working in the sport after completing his service. In 2005, those dreams took a back seat when Deeds placed himself in harm’s way to save the lives of his fellow Marines.

This summer Deeds will travel to one of the country’s most historic tracks, Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), not as a fan or employee, but as the race namesake.

On June 27 in his hometown of Erlanger, Ky., Deeds was recognized as the winner of Crown Royal’s “Your Hero’s Name Here” program, which awards one deserving individual naming rights to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race Sunday, July 28 at IMS. Surrounded by friends, family and Marines, Deeds cemented his place in the NASCAR record books by laying the final brick, engraved with the official race logo, in a ceremonial “Yard of Bricks” at Flagship Park in Erlanger.

While deployed in Iraq, Deeds came across an improvised explosive device (IED) while setting up a vehicle checkpoint. Upon seeing fellow Marines approaching, he exposed himself to the device, risking his life to save others. He was severely injured and underwent more than 30 surgeries and procedures following the blast. Three years later, while still recovering, Deeds’ heroic instincts took charge once again when he saved the lives of three individuals caught in a rip tide off the coast of North Carolina.

In addition to Deeds’ friends and family, special representatives from Crown Royal, Big Machine Label Group (BMLG), and IMS attended the ceremony and spoke of Deeds’ many accomplishments. NASCAR driver Kurt Busch surprised Deeds during the ceremony, appearing on behalf of the Armed Forces Foundation (AFF), and country music star Justin Moore debuted a special song titled “Heroes,” which was penned specifically for the “Your Hero’s Name Here” program.

This will mark the seventh time Crown Royal has awarded race naming rights to an adult fan. After receiving thousands of entries during the nomination period, five heroes were chosen as finalists, and adult fans had the opportunity to cast their votes for the person they felt was most deserving of the honor. As the winner of the program, Deeds will participate in a VIP race weekend experience, riding in the pre-race pace car, delivering the trophy bearing his name to the race winner in Victory Lane and participating in the “kissing the bricks” ceremony following the race.

Deeds, now retired from his service in the Marines, is a husband and father of two boys. His wife, April, nominated him for the program for his unwavering commitment to his country.

The official race title, Crown Royal Presents the Samuel Deeds 400 at the Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com, will be incorporated into race memorabilia as well as the winner’s trophy. Various events and celebrations will take place leading up to and throughout race weekend to honor Deeds, during which Crown Royal would like to remind adult consumers to please drink responsibly.

Through a partnership with Crown Royal and IMS, country music artists from Big Machine Label Group including Justin Moore, The Cadillac Three, Cassadee Pope and Dustin Lynch, will perform special concerts throughout the race weekend.

NASCAR Chassis Selections - Quaker State 400 at Kentucky

Not all teams announce their weekly race chassis'. Here is a list of those teams that do reveal the chassis in the teams race preview: 

#2- Brad Keselowski - The No. 2 Miller Lite primary chassis for Kentucky is PRS-852 which last raced at Richmond and finished 33rd. The backup chassis is PRS-847 and has been a backup at several races but has not raced.

#5- Kasey Kahne - Quaker State will adorn the hood of Kahne’s No. 5 Chevrolet SS this weekend at Kentucky Speedway. Crew chief Kenny Francis has selected Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 5-739 for the Kentucky race. Most recently, Kahne drove this chassis at Darlington Raceway in May, when he ran inside the top five for the majority of the race before being collected in an incident and finishing 17th.

#9- Marcos Ambrose - Red and white colors return to the No. 9 Mac Tools car at Kentucky. The team will bring the same chassis, No. 840, that they raced at Las Vegas and Kansas earlier this year. The best finish for the car is 20th.

#10-Danica Patrick - This weekend's GoDaddy primary chassis No. 10-794 was tested in the wind tunnel May 1st before being used by Patrick in the Coca-Cola 600 later that month at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Patrick started 24th and finished 29th after being involved in a multicar accident on lap 320 of 400. After repairs, she managed to finish the race, but completed only 385 laps.

#14-Tony Stewart - Chassis No. 14-736: This week's Bass Pro Shops Chevy debuted in 2012 in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup opener at Chicagoland Speedway, where Stewart qualified 29th and rallied to lead three laps before finishing sixth. Chassis No. 14-736 made its second career start in October at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and it had to rally again. After starting 32nd, a lap-16 run-in with Brad Keselowski necessitated numerous pit stops that dropped Stewart all the way to 36th in the 43-car field. But Stewart used Chassis No. 14-736 to claw his way back to a respectable 13th-place finish. The car made its third career start last November at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth where it rallied yet again, overcoming its 21st place starting spot to finish fifth. With a 2013 Chevrolet SS body honed in the wind tunnel, Chassis No. 14-736 visited Kansas Speedway in Kansas City in April for its fourth career start. It was a quiet outing, with Stewart qualifying 18th and finishing 21st.

#15- Clint Bowyer - The No. 15 Camry 30th Anniversary primary chassis for Kentucky is No. 738, raced at Las Vegas and Darlington. Backup chassis No. 724 has not raced. 

#16- Greg Biffle - The No. 16 3M / National Firefighters Foundation Ford Fusion primary
chassis RK-844 is the same car that Biffle drove a second-place finish at Pocono a few weeks ago. Backup Chassis: RK-822  Last ran Martinsville – finished 9th.

#17- Ricky Stenhouse Jr - The No. 17 Fifth Third Ford Fusion primary chassis RK-791 is the same chassis that Stenhouse raced his way into the All-Star race by finishing second in the Sprint Showdown. After getting some damage to his Best Buy Ford, Stenhouse battled back to a 16th-place finish in his first All-Star race. Backup Chassis: RK- 811, raced numerous times by the No. 99 team in 2012.

#22- Joey Logano - This week's Shell Penzoil No. 22 primary chassis at Kentucky is PRS-858 which is a new chassis. The backup chassis is PRS-844 which has been a backup at several races but has not raced.

#24- Jeff Gordon - This week at Kentucky Jeff Gordon will race No. 24 Drive to End Hunger primary chassis 24-807. This is a brand new car that has never been on track.

#27- Paul Menard - This Week's SYLVANIA/Menards Chevrolet ... Paul Menard will pilot chassis No. 414 at Kentucky Speedway this weekend. This No. 27 Chevrolet SS previously ran at Darlington Raceway in May and was tested earlier this month at Kentucky Speedway. 

#29- Kevin Harvick - This Week's Budweiser Chevrolet SS at Kentucky Speedway ... Kevin Harvick will pilot chassis No. 425 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable in the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday night. This is the same Chevrolet the California native drove to Victory Lane after the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. 

#31- Jeff Burton - This Weekend's No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet at Kentucky Speedway ... Jeff Burton will race chassis No. 372 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable this weekend at Kentucky Speedway. This No. 31 Chevrolet was utilized earlier this season at Bristol Motor Speedway in March. Featured Cat Dealer, Whayne Supply Company Inc. will be featured on the deck lid of the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet this weekend at Kentucky Speedway.

#39- Ryan Newman - This week's Quicken Loans Chevy primary chassis, No. 39-733, debuted at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July 2012, when Newman recorded a seventh-place finish. The crew turned the car around in just a couple of days and took it to Pocono Raceway, where it finished sixth. Two weeks later, the chassis was back on track at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, where it finished eighth. The chassis earned its first top-five finish at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. The chassis next raced three weeks later at Dover International Speedway. The chassis made its last start of the 2012 season at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City in October, when Newman was involved in an incident that forced him to retire from the event prematurely. Chassis No. 39-733 was outfitted with a new front clip and a Chevrolet SS body, and saw its first laps of the 2013 season at Kansas in April, when Newman finished 14th. Newman then raced this Chevrolet SS to a 10th-place finish at Darlington in May. Most recently, Newman raced Chassis 39-733 to a fifth-place finish at Pocono earlier this month.

#43- Aric Almirola - The No. 43 team will again be carrying the logos of Eckrich and Operation Homefront on the hood and sides of the Petty Blue Ford. The No. 43 team will race the same chassis, No. 837, that they raced at Dover earlier this year.

#48- Jimmie Johnson - Johnson will drive the No. 48 Lowe’s “Dover White” Chevrolet SS at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta. This week the team will unload HMS chassis No. 799 at Kentucky, this chassis last ran at Charlotte in May finishing 22nd. Chassis No. 720 once again serves as the backup and won two races in 2012.

#55- Brian Vickers - This week's Aaron's/Louisville National Champ primary chassis is No. 722. Mark Martin drove this car in the All-Star race. Back-up car 720 has not raced in 2013.   

#88- Dale Earnhardt Jr - The National Guard Youth Foundation will adorn the hood of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s blue-and-white Chevrolet SS this weekend in Kentucky. Crew chief Steve Letarte will unload Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 88-726 for this weekend’s Cup event at Kentucky. Earnhardt last ran this chassis in the 600-mile race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

#99- Carl Edwards - The No. 99 UPS Ford Fusion team will unload primary chassis RK – 831 this week, it is a new chassis. Backup Chassis: RK – 826 backup last ran in Texas

- Reported in Team News/Press Releases

GoBowling.com Launches Partnership With Richard Petty Motorsports

The number one recognized car in NASCAR will now feature the number one participatory sports activity - bowling! Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) and Strike Ten Entertainment announced today at the International Bowl Expo (IBE) the launch of a new partnership that will feature GoBowling.com as a primary sponsor of the No. 43 Ford   Fusion driven by Aric Almirola.

Also at IBE was the official unveiling of the No. 43 GoBowling.com Ford Fusion. Richard Petty appeared on the Expo floor and helped give attendees a first look at the historic car as well as posed for photos and signed autographs. Later this summer the car will make its on-track debut at the GoBowling.com 400 on August 4 at the Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania. The GoBowling.com Ford will also be the primary partner for the No. 43 team at the same event in 2014.

Richard Petty, co-owner of Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM), and Almirola both grew up with a steering wheel in their hands, but they know that bowling is one of America's favorite activities.

"There is no better way to add to the excitement of International Bowl Expo than to celebrate the launch of our partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports and the No. 43 race team," said Frank DeSocio, President, Strike Ten Entertainment. "There are very few athletes in the world who have the iconic stature as "The King" Richard Petty. He, like bowling, is known in every corner of the world. Richard and Aric will be great ambassadors for the sport and all our bowling centers across the country."

"Just like racing, bowling is pure Americana - it's our nation at its best, a sport that brings people together and creates memories. Not to mention bowling is a lot of fun," said Petty. "I couldn't be more proud to partner with GoBowling.com - and there's no better stage than International Bowl Expo."

GoBowling.com is the website to visit to learn more about the 2,100+ bowling centers around the country. Fans can learn about their local bowling centers, promotional offers, bowling tips and more. Currently, GoBowling.com is running a national promotion for one lucky race fan to wave the green flag to start their NASCAR Sprint Cup event (GoBowling.com 400) on Sunday, August 4. This partnership with RPM is their first with a team and driver.

Added Petty, "Bowling is enjoying a huge resurgence and this partnership will further increase the awareness of bowling centers within their local communities and everything they offer to all our fans. Today's centers are really more than just bowling."

- RPM News

NASCAR Driver Statistics - Quaker State 400 at Kentucky

Not all teams announce their weekly race previews'. Here is a list of those teams that do reveal the information in the teams race preview: 

#1- Jamie McMurray - McMurray has 2 races under his belt at Kentucky. he suffered a DNF in 2011 and finished 15th last year at the track. He has an average start and finish of 25.500 at the track with no laps led.

#2- Brad Keselowski - In two starts at Kentucky in the Cup Series Keselowski has 1 win, 1 top 5 and 2 top 10's. Brad won last years race and has an average start of 7.00 and an average finish of 4.00, with 147 laps led.

#5- Kasey Kahne -  Kahne has one top-five finish in two Cup starts at Kentucky. The 33-year-old driver finished second in last year’s event at the 1.5-mile tri-oval. His average start there is 11.5, and his average finish is 7.5, which ranks him seventh among active Sprint Cup Series drivers at Kentucky.

#9- Marcos Ambrose - Ambrose comes into Kentucky with two previous NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at the track. He has an average start of 11.5 and an average finish of 16.5 in his races with Richard Petty Motorsports. His best finish is 13th at the track and has finished on the lead lap in both events. He also won his first NASCAR pole at the track, in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, in 2006.

#14-Tony Stewart - The Kentucky 400 will mark Stewart’s 517th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start and his third Sprint Cup start at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta. Stewart has a best finish of 12th in two career Sprint Cup starts at Kentucky. His average start at the 1.5 mile oval is 15.5, his average finish is 22.0 and he has a lap completion rate of 93.3 percent. In last year’s Kentucky 400, Stewart had one of the fastest race cars. It didn’t matter, however, as ignition problems just 25 laps into the 267-lap race kept Stewart idle for 36 laps as his team replaced the throttle body. Stewart avoided a dreaded DNF (Did Not Finish) by returning to the race and using it as a test session. He turned laps as fast as the leaders, but it went unnoticed because Stewart was so many laps down. He finished 32nd.

#15- Clint Bowyer - In the 2 previous Kentucky Cup races Bowyer suffered a DNF in 2011 and finished 16th in 2012. His average start at the track is 13.000, and average finish of  25.500.

#16- Greg Biffle -  Biffle has finished 21st in both Sprint Cup races at Kentucky. In six career Nationwide starts at Kentucky Biffle has three top-five and five top-10 finishes.

#17- Ricky Stenhouse Jr - Stenhouse has four Nationwide career starts at Kentucky Speedway earning three top-10 finishes. He will make his first Cup start at the track this weekend.

#18- Kyle Busch - The Quaker State 400 will mark Kyle Busch’s 310th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start and his third Sprint Cup start at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta. Busch has one win, one top-five and two top-10s, and has led a total of 243 laps in two career Sprint Cup starts at Kentucky. His average Kentucky finish is 5.5.

#20- Matt Kenseth - Kenseth has made only two Sprint Cup Series career starts at Kentucky Speedway and has completed all 534 laps he’s raced.  Kenseth has an average starting position of 16.5 and an average finish of 6.5 at the 1.5-mile track in Sparta, Kentucky. 

#22- Joey Logano - Logano's best finish at Kentucky was 14th place in July 2011. In 2 Cup races at the track, he has an average start of 16.50 and an average finish of 18.00.

#24- Jeff Gordon - In two starts at Kentucky, Gordon has a 10th-place finish in the inaugural event and a fifth-place finish last year. While he would not have considered it one of his “better” tracks, Gordon is buoyed by last year’s effort.

#27- Paul Menard -  Menard has two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at the 1.5-mile oval. His best start of 10th came in 2011 and best finish of 12th came in 2012. The Wisconsin native has completed 533 of 534 laps attempted (99 percent) at the Sparta, Ky., track. 

#29- Kevin Harvick - Harvick has two starts to his credit at the 1.5-mile D-shaped oval dating back to 2011. The RCR veteran earned his best start of fourth and finish of 11th in 2011 and completed 100 percent (534 of 534) of the laps contested. 

#31- Jeff Burton - Burton has two starts at the Sparta, Ky.-based facility with his best start of 22nd and best finish of 19th both coming in the 2011 event. The South Boston, Va., native has also completed 533 of 534 laps attempted (99 percent) at the 1.5-mile oval.

#39- Ryan Newman - In two Sprint Cup starts at Kentucky, Newman has one top-five finish and one top-10. Newman, a 35-year-old from South Bend, Ind., has an average starting position of 11.5 and an average finish of 19th at the 1.5-mile oval.

#42- Juan Pablo Montoya - In his two previous races at Kentucky, Montoya started 2nd and finished 15th in 2011 and started 31st and finished 14th in 2012. Both races he finished on the lead lap.

#43- Aric Almirola - Almirola has made six starts at Kentucky Speedway in all three national series. His lone Sprint Cup start came last season when he started 13th and finished 26th after battling a tight condition. In his two Nationwide starts, Almirola posted his best finish (sixth) in 2007 and has an average finish of 13th. He finished in the top-five in two of his three truck series starts, including a best finish of third (2010), and has an average finish of 10th.

#47- AJ Allmendinger - AJ Allmendinger returns to the No. 47 entry fielded by JTG Daugherty Racing for his second of five races with the team this season. He has two starts at Kentucky Speedway and one top-10 finish, ninth on 6/30/12. His best start is 16th, 6/30/12. His average start is 19.500 and his average finish is 18.500.

#48- Jimmie Johnson - Kentucky Speedway in Sparta is one of five of the 23 tracks on the Sprint Cup schedule where Johnson has yet to win. Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International and Homestead-Miami Speedway are the others. At the track he has earned one top-five finish (50 percent) and two top-10s (100 percent) in two starts.,one pole (2012), an average start of 3.0 and average finish of 4.5. He has completed 534 of 534 laps and led 21.

#55- Brian Vickers - Vickers raced only once at Kentucky, he started and finished 27th in July 2011. 

#88- Dale Earnhardt Jr -  Earnhardt will make his third career Sprint Cup start this Saturday at Kentucky Speedway, a 1.5-mile tri-oval added to the schedule in 2011. Earnhardt averaged a 6.599 running position (ranked fifth among his peers) during the 2012 content and finished fourth to record his first top-10 result at the track.

#99- Carl Edwards - Edwards will make his third NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at Kentucky Speedway Saturday, but he has seven Nationwide and three Camping World Truck starts there. In his previous 12 starts, Edwards has two wins, four top-five and five top-10 finishes.

- Reported in Team News/Press Release

Four Medal of Honor Recipients to be Honored During Coke Zero 400 Weekend at Daytona

For the fifth consecutive year, Daytona International Speedway will honor four Congressional Medal of Honor recipients during the 55th annual Coke Zero 400 Weekend Powered By Coca-Cola on July 4-6.

The Medal of Honor recipients, all from the Vietnam War, are:
Walter J. Marm, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army
Gary Littrell, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army
Robert Patterson, Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army
Bruce Crandall, Major, U.S. Army

While it’s the fifth straight year that Daytona International Speedway has honored Medal of Honor recipients during the Coke Zero 400 Weekend Powered By Coca-Cola, the program was actually first started back in the 1970s by the Bill France Sr.

All four Medal of Honor recipients will be recognized during a special luncheon on Friday at the Bill France Room, will attend driver’s meetings and participate in pre-race ceremonies for both the Subway Firecracker 250 Powered By Coca-Cola NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Friday night, July 5 and the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Saturday night, July 6.

During Saturday’s 55th annual Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola, a special salute will take place for the four Medal of Honor recipients during pre-race ceremonies.

In addition, the four Medal of Honor recipients will take part in an autograph session with race fans in the Sprint FANZONE on Saturday prior to the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola.

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It’s bestowed on a member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States.

Richard Childress Racing to Participate in England’s Goodwood Festival of Speed

Richard Childress Racing will have a presence in England’s Goodwood Festival of Speed for the fourth year by providing a pair of stock cars to be driven in this year’s annual Hillclimb. Kerry Earnhardt will pilot the 2000 No. 3 GM Goodwrench Monte Carlo and Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III will drive the 2013 No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Camaro in July’s historic event.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed, July 11-14, is one of the world’s premier historic auto racing events. The festival has been held annually since 1993 on the grounds of Goodwood House, West Sussex, England. Race cars from the past and present participate in both demonstration and competition runs up the nine-turn, 1.16-mile Hillclimb circuit.
The No. 3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo the legendary Dale Earnhardt drove to victory in March 2000 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and tallied 10 top-five finishes that year, will be driven by his eldest son, Kerry Earnhardt.

“I had the honor of attending the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2010 for RCR and drove the car that my dad won the 1995 Brickyard 400 with,” Earnhardt said. “The fans ‘over the pond’ are so enthusiastic about NASCAR and to have the opportunity to attend such a prestigious event not once, but twice, is awesome.

“This time I will be driving RCR’s 2000 No. 3 GM Goodwrench Monte Carlo that my dad won the spring Atlanta race in. Words can’t express what I feel when I sit in dad’s car, and I can’t thank Richard Childress enough for asking me to participate again.”

Joie Chitwood III will be behind the wheel of the 2013 No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Camaro in this year’s Festival of Speed. This Chevrolet is driven in regular NASCAR Nationwide Series competition by Childress’ grandson Austin Dillon, the 2012 Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year and 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion.

“My dad, Joie Chitwood Jr., had the distinction of racing against Richard Childress back in the 1960s, so it’s great to come full circle and drive one of his cars at Goodwood,” Chitwood said. “It’s a privilege to be behind the wheel of the No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro and part of this diverse celebration of motorsports.”

Both cars participating in Goodwood festivities were prepared by and will be cared for at the Festival of Speed by Danny Lawrence, former No. 3 team crew member. Lawrence is an award-winning engine builder and longtime member of the RCR management team.

NASCAR Driver Press Conference Schedule - Quaker State 400 at Kentucky

Press Conference Schedule, Kentucky

NASCAR schedules driver press conferences at every race weekend event. These normally include the Top 12 drivers in championship points in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, along with other drivers of note. NOTE: The press conferences in the media center will last approximately 15 minutes each and may be viewed at NASCAR.com. Times listed are local time.

Thursday, June 27:

4 p.m. – Michael Waltrip Racing/Brian Vickers, driver of the No. 55 Aaron’s/University of Louisville National Champions Toyota - Media Center/Bluegrass Hall (team/track availability)

                                                                                                       

4:30 p.m. – Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Ford), 9^th in points (454), defending race champion/defending series champion – Media Center/Bluegrass Hall (team availability)

4:45 p.m. – Kyle Busch (No. 18 Doublemint Toyota), 8^th in points (461)/2 wins – Media Center/Bluegrass Hall

Friday, June 28:

10:30 a.m. – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s/Dover White Chevrolet), 1^st in points (573)/3 wins – Media Center/Bluegrass Hall

10:45 a.m. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 National Guard Youth Foundation Chevrolet), 7^th in points (479) – Media Center/Bluegrass Hall (team availability)

11 a.m. – Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet), 4^th in points (510)/2 wins - #29 hauler (team availability)

12:45 p.m. – Martin Truex Jr. (No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota), 10^th in points (453)/1 win – Media Center/Bluegrass Hall

1:15 p.m. – NASCAR Nationwide Series "Dash 4 Cash" Announcement with driver Justin Allgaier (No. 31 Brandt Chevrolet) – Media Center/Bluegrass Hall

3:30 p.m. – Danica Patrick (No. 10 GoDaddy Chevrolet) – #10 hauler (team availability)

3:45 p.m. – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet), 13^th in points (441) – Media Center/Bluegrass Hall

4 p.m. – AJ Allmendinger (No. 47 Charter Toyota) - #47 hauler (team availability

Goodyear Tire Fast Facts - Kentucky

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series -- Race No. 17 – Quaker State 400 
NASCAR Nationwide Series -- Race No. 15 – Feed the Children 300 
Kentucky Motor Speedway (1.5-mile oval) – Sparta, Ky.
Fast Facts for June 28-29, 2013

Tire: Goodyear Eagle Speedway Radials 
Set limits: Sprint Cup: 5 sets for practice/qualifying and 10 sets for the race;
Nationwide: 6 sets for the event

Number of Tires: Sprint Cup: Left-side -- 1,375; Right-side -- 1,375;
Nationwide: Left-side – 475; Right-side -- 475

Tire Codes: Left-side -- D-4556; Right-side -- D-4440

Tire Circumference: Left-side -- 87.4 in. (2,220 mm); Right-side -- 88.4 in. (2,246 mm)

Technical Inspection Inflation: Left Front -- 30 psi; Left Rear -- 30 psi;
Right Front -- 48 psi; Right Rear -- 45 psi

Minimum Recommended Inflation: Left Front -- 22 psi; Left Rear -- 20 psi;
Right Front -- 46 psi; Right Rear -- 42 psi

Notes: While teams in all three NASCAR series in action at Kentucky this week will run the same right side tire code (D-4440), teams in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will run a slightly different left side code (D-4556) than those in the Camping World Truck Series. This is the same right side tire that Sprint Cup and Nationwide teams ran at Kentucky the last two seasons. This left side tire is new to Kentucky and features a construction change compared to what was run at this track last year. Teams in these two series ran this same tire set-up at Dover earlier this month. As on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Kentucky. Air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.


NASCAR Camping World Truck Series -- Race No. 8 – UNOH 225 
Kentucky Motor Speedway (1.5-mile oval) – Sparta, Ky.
Fast Facts for June 27, 2013

Tire: Goodyear Wrangler Speedway Radials 
Set limits: 5 sets for the event

Number of Tires: Left-side – 350; Right-side -- 350

Tire Codes: Left-side -- D-4394; Right-side -- D-4440

Tire Circumference: Left-side -- 87.1 in. (2,212 mm); Right-side -- 88.4 in. (2,246 mm)

Technical Inspection Inflation: Left Front -- 30 psi; Left Rear -- 30 psi;
Right Front -- 48 psi; Right Rear -- 45 psi

Minimum Recommended Inflation: Left Front -- 22 psi; Left Rear -- 20 psi;
Right Front -- 46 psi; Right Rear -- 42 psi

Notes: While teams in all three NASCAR series in action at Kentucky this week will run the same right side tire code (D-4440), teams in the Camping World Truck Series will run a slightly different left side code (D-4394) than those in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series. This is the same combination of left and right side tires that Camping World Truck teams ran at Kentucky in June 2012 and twice in 2011. Truck teams also ran this same tire set-up at Dover last month. As on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Kentucky. Air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.

NASCAR Contenders Live to be Held at Chicago's Navy Pier

NASCAR Contenders Live Sweepstakes Launches

Grand Prize Winner To Take Home 2014 Toyota Tundra CrewMax Limited

Back by popular demand, NASCAR Contenders Live Sponsored by Toyota will make its return to Chicago on September 12 for the second-consecutive year, just days before the first race of the 2013 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ at Chicagoland Speedway.

 

Signaling the start of the most intense and competitive stretch of the NASCAR season, NASCAR Contenders Live features all 12 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers interacting on stage, providing fans an insider’s look at how the competitors plan to claim the ultimate prize: a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. 

 

The event, which was sold out last year, will take place at the Grand Ballroom at Chicago’s famed Navy Pier from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. CT. Fans can buy tickets beginning July 19 by visiting www.nascar.com/contenderslive

 NASCAR President Mike Helton will also be making his return to NASCAR Contenders Live, offering fans the rare opportunity to ask questions of him in an open forum, prior to the drivers taking the stage.

 

Additionally, Official NASCAR Partner Sprint will be supporting NASCAR Contenders Live by having Miss Sprint Cup at the event interacting with NASCAR fans and drivers.

 

“In collaboration with Toyota, a long standing Official NASCAR Partner, NASCAR Contenders Live was a rousing success with our fans last year,” said Norris Scott, NASCAR vice president of partnership marketing. “The event is unique because it showcases the competitive nature of the top stars in our sport and their passion to be a champion.”

 

In addition to attending the event, fans can enter the NASCAR Contenders Live Sweepstakes for the chance to win a number of compelling prizes at www.NASCAR.com/contenderslive. One grand prize winner will take home a 2014 Toyota Tundra CrewMax Limited, which is newly redesigned for 2014; two tickets to NASCAR Contenders Live; two tickets and VIP passes to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway on September 15; and $500 travel cash. 

 

Other prizes include: a 2013 NASCAR Contenders Live full-size helmet autographed by the 12 2013 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers; five Sprint Samsung Galaxy Tab 2’s; four Sirius XM Satellite Radios; and four $50 Sirius XM Satellite Radio gift cards.

 

Kentucky Speedway History and Notes

At Kentucky Speedway:

History
· In 1998, the track broke ground in Sparta, Kentucky, and opened as a 1.5-mile speedway in 2000.

· The original owners, Jerry Carroll and four other investors owned the track until 2008, when current owners, Speedway Motorsports Inc. purchased the facility.

· Since 2000, the track has hosted 13 NASCAR Nationwide Series (2001-2012) and 15 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races (2000-2012).

· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held there in 2011 – won by Kyle Busch.

Notebook
· There have been two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kentucky Speedway since the first race in 2011 – one race per season.

· Fifty drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kentucky Speedway; 36 in more than one.

· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying at Kentucky was cancelled due to weather. The starting line-up was set per the rule book.

· Jimmie Johnson has the only Coors Light pole at Kentucky – 181.818 mph, 29.700 secs.

· Youngest and oldest Kentucky pole winner: Jimmie Johnson (6/30/2012 – 36 years, nine months, 13 days).

· Two different NSCS drivers have won at Kentucky Speedway: Kyle Busch (7/09/2011) and Brad Keselowski (6/30/2012).

· Youngest Kentucky winner: Kyle Busch (6/30/2011 – 26 years, two months, seven days).

· Oldest Kentucky winner: Brad Keselowski (6/30/2012 – 28 years, four months, 18 days).

· Joe Gibbs Racing (2011) and Penske Racing (2012) each have one victory at Kentucky Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

· Two different manufacturers have won in the NSCS at Kentucky: Toyota (2011) and Dodge (2012).

· Kyle Busch won the inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kentucky from the first starting position (qualifying was canceled; starting lineup set by rule book).

· One of the two (50%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Kentucky have been won from the front row.

· Both of the NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Kentucky have been won from a top-five starting position.

· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Kentucky was fourth, by Brad Keselowski last season.

· Two different drivers have posted NSCS runner-up finishes at Kentucky: David Reutimann (2011) and Kasey Kahne (2012).

· In the two NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Kentucky, 10 different drivers have posted top-five finishes.

· In the two NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Kentucky 15 different drivers have posted top-10 finishes; five have posted two: Brad Keselowski, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth.

· Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Kentucky with a 1.500.

· Brad Keselowski leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Kentucky with a 4.0. Jimmie Johnson (4.5), Kyle Busch (5.5), Matt Kenseth (6.5), Denny Hamlin (7.0), Jeff Gordon (7.5), Kasey Kahne (7.5), are the other active drivers with an average finish in the top 10.

· The closest margin of victory (MOV) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kentucky Speedway was the June 30, 2012 race won by Kyle Busch over David Reutimann with a MOV of 0.179 second.

· Neither of the two NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Kentucky Speedway have resulted with a green-white-checkered finish.

· Neither of the two NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Kentucky Speedway have been shortened due to weather conditions.

· Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kentucky Speedway once; the 2011 race.

· Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Kentucky with 243 laps led in two starts. Brad Keselowski has led the second-most with 147.

· Danica Patrick will attempt to become the first female driver to compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kentucky Speedway.

Kentucky Speedway DataSeason Race #: 17 of 36 (06-29-13)Track Size: 1.5-miles
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 14 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 14 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 8 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 8 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 1,662 feet
Backstretch Length: 1,600 feet
Race Length: 200 laps / 300 miles
Top 12 Driver Rating at Kentucky
Kyle Busch............................... 133.0
Brad Keselowski....................... 128.2
Jimmie Johnson....................... 119.5
Denny Hamlin........................... 105.0
Matt Kenseth.............................. 98.2
Kasey Kahne.............................. 96.7
Carl Edwards............................. 94.3
Kurt Busch................................. 92.6
Jeff Gordon................................ 89.8
Martin Truex Jr.......................... 88.8
Dale Earnhardt Jr....................... 88.3
Kevin Harvick............................. 88.2
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2012 races (two total) among active drivers at Kentucky Speedway.

Qualifying/Race Data2012 pole winner: Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet; 181.818 mph, 29.700 secs. 6-28-122012 race winner: Brad Keselowski, Dodge, 145.607 mph, (02:45:02), 6-30-12
Track qualifying record: Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 181.818 mph, 29.700 secs. 6-28-12
Track race record: Brad Keselowski., Dodge, 145.607 mph, (02:45:02), 6-30-12

NASCAR This Week on ESPN

NASCAR Nationwide Series in Prime Time Friday Night

The NASCAR Nationwide Series races in prime time on Friday night, June 28, at Kentucky Speedway near Cincinnati and ESPN will have a live telecast. NASCAR Countdown airs at 7 p.m. ET with the race’s green flag at 7:46 p.m. All NASCAR programming on ESPN networks is also available on computers, smartphones and tablets through WatchESPN and the WatchESPN app.

 Announcers:
Booth: Lap-by-Lap announcer Allen Bestwick; analysts Dale Jarrett, Andy Petree.
Pit reporters: Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Mike Massaro, Shannon Spake
NASCAR Countdown: Nicole Briscoe (host); Rusty Wallace; Brad Daugherty (analysts).

NASCAR Now Schedule
ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program NASCAR Now will preview the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway in the one-hour edition airing Saturday, June 29, at noon ET. Studio host Marty Reid will be joined from the track by ESPN NASCAR analyst Andy Petree with reporters Ryan McGee and Jim Noble at the track. All NASCAR programming on ESPN networks is also available on computers, smartphones and tablets through WatchESPN and the WatchESPN app. The week’s schedule:

Date              Time         Show                 Host               Network
Tue., June 25 1:30 a.m.  NASCAR Now   Nicole Briscoe ESPN2

Wed., June 26 1 a.m.       NASCAR Now   Marty Reid     ESPN2

Thurs., June 27 1 a.m.    NASCAR Now   Marty Reid      ESPN2

Fri., June 28 1 a.m.         NASCAR Now   Marty Reid      ESPN2

Sun., June 29 Noon         NASCAR Now   Marty Reid      ESPN2

Statement from New Jersey State Police on Cause of Jason Leffler's Crash

Here is full statement from New Jersey State Police on cause of Jason Leffler's fatal crash: 

West Trenton, N.J. – Because of the media attention and high volume of calls regarding the results of the investigation into the crash that claimed the life of race car driver Jason Leffler, we are supplying an early summary of the findings. These facts have been substantially vetted even though the full investigative report remains open for some minor additions. The facts we have established to this point are outlined below.

Bridgeport Speedway, Jason Leffler Crash: June 12, 2013, 2025 hours

On June 12, 2013, Jason Leffler was operating a 2013 Maxim chassis, 410 Spring Car in a heat race at Bridgeport Speedway. Leffler was in the second position completing his fifth lap when his vehicle sustained a mechanical failure in turn four. Race vehicles were averaging 135 mph and reaching speeds of up to 150 mph in the straight-aways at this event.

Evidence discovered on the track in turn 4 indicated a tortion stop located on the left side of the vehicle came off and allowed the tortion bar and arm to slide out of its housing. As the tortion bar slid out, the tortion arm became lodged between the inboard flange of the right front wheel and the right steering arm. As a result of this mechanical failure, Leffler’s front suspension failed and his steering became locked. Leffler lost directional control of his vehicle as he exited turn 4. His vehicle rotated clockwise approximately 180 degrees and struck the outside concrete hub rail with the left side of the vehicle. Leffler’s vehicle sustained a lateral impact with the wall then overturned and continued in a south east direction before coming to final uncontrolled rest upright facing north. Leffler remained in his vehicle and sustained fatal blunt force injuries as a result of the crash. Post Mortem examination confirmed that Jason Leffler died as a result of blunt force neck injuries.

Kevin Harvick Inc. Extends Expertise To Professional Athlete Management

A perennial powerhouse in NASCAR in its 10 years of competition, Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) has reached outside auto racing and into the world of professional athlete management, inking a deal to represent UFC fighter Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone.

KHI, co-owned by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick and his wife, DeLana, is renowned in the motor sports world not only for its on-track success, but also for its efficacious and innovative sponsorship relationships. In its NASCAR operations, the company has demonstrated expertise in marketing through sponsor activation, sales and promotion, event management, advertising and public relations. More recently, KHI transferred its primary concentration to athletes and sponsors in and out of the auto racing industry, including Harvick, Cerrone, Jeff Burton (NASCAR) and Jason Gore (PGA).

Under Harvick and the KHI management team’s direction, KHI earned two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championships and 53 wins in the NASCAR Nationwide and Truck Series in its decade of competition. Along for the lengthy and prosperous ride were numerous and critical KHI sponsor partners, despite the fact that a weakening U.S. economy forced several corporations out of NASCAR altogether.

“One of KHI’s strongest qualities always has been our ability to sell and maintain sponsorship in NASCAR despite the economic challenges,” Kevin Harvick said. “With that solid foundation and the template we’ve created over the last 10 years, I think we are ready to take the next step to represent other athletes in other arenas. Donald is our first client in the UFC, and I’m excited about all the possibilities that lie ahead.”

NASCAR Chassis Selections - Save Mart 350 at Sonoma

Not all teams announce their weekly race chassis'. Here is a list of those teams that do reveal the chassis in the teams race preview: 

#1- Jamie McMurray - Cessna Aircraft Company will be the primary sponsor once again this weekend on the No. 1 Chevrolet SS for Jamie McMurray.  This marks just the second of seven races that the Cessna colors will adorn the race car. 

#2- Brad Keselowski - The No. 2 Miller Lite Ford Fusion Primary Chassis: PRS-837, last raced: Martinsville (finished sixth). Backup Chassis: PRS-834, last raced: Backup at several races (not raced)

#5- Kasey Kahne - Crew chief Kenny Francis has selected Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 5-802 for the Sonoma race. This is a new chassis, but Kahne tested it at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, S.C., earlier this month. 

#9- Marcos Ambrose - The No. 9 Stanley Ford Fusion team prepared chassis No. 761 for Sonoma. The team tested this chassis at Sonoma in May.

#10-Danica Patrick - The No. 10 GoDaddy team will race primary chassis No. 10-759 this week at Sonoma. It is a brand new car that has not been used previously.

#14-Tony Stewart - Chassis No. 14-731: This car debuted in impressive fashion last June at Sonoma as Stewart took Chassis No. 14-731 from its 24th -place starting spot and rallied it to a strong second-place finish. Its second and final start of 2012 came at Watkins Glen in August. It qualified ninth and Stewart wheeled it up to second, but on lap 71, he spun off the final corner of the 2.45-mile, 11-turn road course and backed into the Armco barrier lining the inside of pit road, sustaining heavy damage. Several trips to the pits allowed the crew the opportunity to repair the car enough to finish the race, and that’s just what Stewart did, rallying from 29th on lap 74 to finish 19th when the checkered flag dropped after lap 90. With 2013 Chevrolet SS bodywork covering it, Chassis No. 14-731 returns to site of its debut race when it competes in this weekend’s Toyota SaveMart 350k.

#16- Greg Biffle - The No. 16 3M Ford Fusion primary chassis RK-764 is the same car that Biffle drove a seventh-place finish a year ago at Sonoma. It last ran Watkins Glen – finished 6th.

#17- Ricky Stenhouse Jr - The No. 17 Ford Ecoboost Fusion primary chassis No. RK-816 is the same chassis that the No. 99 team ran last year at Watkins Glen finishing 14th. Backup Chassis RK- 758 served as a  back-up chassis for road course races in 2012.

#22- Joey Logano - The No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Fusion Primary Chassis: PRS-835, last raced: Backup at several races (not raced). Backup Chassis: PRS-836, last raced: Backup at several races (not raced)

#24- Jeff Gordon - Jeff Gordon will race Hendrick Motorsports chassis No. 24-803 this weekend in Sonoma. This is a brand new chassis for the #24 team.

#27- Paul Menard - This Week's Moen/Menards Chevrolet ... Paul Menard will pilot chassis No. 358 at Sonoma Raceway. This No. 27 Chevrolet SS was previously raced by Menard at Sonoma in 2011 and 2012.

#29- Kevin Harvick - This Week's Rheem Chevrolet SS at Sonoma Raceway ... Kevin Harvick will pilot chassis No. 395 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable in the Save Mart 350. Most recently, the California native raced this Chevrolet to a 15th-place result at Watkins Glen International in August 2012. 

#31- Jeff Burton - This Weekend's No. 31 Utility Trailers Chevrolet at Sonoma Raceway ... Jeff Burton will race chassis No. 357 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable this weekend at Sonoma Raceway. This No. 31 Chevrolet, built during the 2011 season specifically for road course racing, was driven by Burton last season at Sonoma and Watkins Glen International where he piloted the machine to 11th and 30th-place finishes, respectively. RCR teammate Kevin Harvick also drove this chassis in 2011 at Sonoma where he finished ninth. 

#39- Ryan Newman - Chassis No. 39-545: This chassis first saw action for the No. 39 team at both road course races in 2009. At Sonoma that season, Newman qualified seventh and was marching toward a top-10 finish before getting spun in the latter stages of the event. He finished 17th. At Watkins Glen International, Newman qualified sixth. However, Newman’s No. 39 Chevrolet was plagued with alternator issues, which caused the car to run at only about 75 percent throughout most of the race, leading to a 21st place finish.  The car also ran both road course events in 2010. At Sonoma, it qualified 13th and finished 16th after picking up 10 laps in the final 15 laps of the event. At Watkins Glen, the team used pit strategy during the race to earn a 12th place finish. Its most recent track activity came when the No. 39 team tested June 13 at Virginia International Raceway in Alton.

#43- Aric Almirola - The No. 43 Farmland Ford Fusion team has prepared chassis No. 760 for Sonoma.

#48- Jimmie Johnson -  Johnson will drive a brand new Lowe's chassis, No. 801, at Sonoma. Chassis No. 543 serves as the backup. Chassis No. 543 has raced 7 times since 2009, winning at Sonoma in 2010.

#88- Dale Earnhardt Jr - This weekend, crew chief Steve Letarte and the No. 88 National Guard team will unload Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 88-747. Earnhardt most recently raced this chassis at Watkins Glen International in August last year.

#99- Carl Edwards - The No. 99 Aflac Ford team will be bringing chassis RK-853 this weekend to Sonoma.  This is a brand new chassis that the team tested at VIR in May. Backup Chassis: RK – 771 last ran at Watkins Glen.

- Reported in Team News/Press Releases