NASCAR Driver Press Conference Schedule - Texas

Press Conference Schedule, Texas Motor Speedway, April 12-14

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. The press conferences will last approximately 15 minutes each and may be viewed at NASCAR.com.

April 12:

2:45 p.m. – Sam Hornish Jr. (No. 12 Wurth Dodge in the NASCAR Nationwide Series) – Media Center

3 p.m. – AJ Allmendinger (No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge) – Media Center

3:15 p.m. – Matt Kenseth (No. 17 BEST BUY Ford) – Media Center

3:30 p.m. – Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet) – Media Center

3:45 p.m. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet) – Media Center

4 p.m. – Danica Patrick (No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet in the NASCAR Nationwide Series) – Media Center

April 13:

12:15 p.m. – Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge) – Media Center

12:30 p.m. – Greg Biffle (No. 16 Filtrete Ford) – Media Center

12:45 p.m. – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Office/March of Dimes Toyota) – Media Center

1 p.m. – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet) – Media Center

3:30 p.m. – Tony Stewart (No. 14 Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy/Office Depot Chevrolet) - #14 hauler

3:35 p.m. – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Fastenal Ford) – Media Center

3:50 p.m. – Martin Truex Jr. (No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota) – Media Center

4:15 p.m. – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet) – Media Center

April 14:

2 p.m. – Ryan Newman (No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet) – Media Center

 - NASCAR 

NASCAR Inanimate Object Texas Preview

@TheMini_Jimmie is new to the preview this week for Texas. Just be advised in advanced, I'll be monitoring your every move along with that sneaky crew chief of yours, Maxi Chad. I am pulling for you guys tho, to get #200 for my pal Rick this weekend.

@Pit_Road is also a new comer this week. Asked how he felt about going to Texas, Pit said he knows he'll be hotter than the Cope Twins on a tanning bed and is praying for a little cloud cover during the weekend. Pretty sure Amber and Angela are hot enough to keep the rain and clouds away tho, Roadie!

@TheNascarGarage has asked everyone in attendance this weekend to refrain from making comments about Amanda Beard. But of course, @CarlEdwrdsteeth has already stated he's still disgusted that he allowed her tongue to slide around his pearly whites.


@TheOrangeCone During his trip to Texas, Cone was asked if he would be participating in the Nascar Unites program at Charlotte and Daytona, and although he his highly patriotic he answered he will be required to don his traditional orange. Cone says he's trying to work a deal with Scott Riggs sponsor this week, Embassy Suites, to get a room with a hot tub. Cone will be extremely busy this weekend with an appearance at Rockingham on Sunday as well.


@In_CarCamera will be in attendance once again at Texas after a long, grueling week trying to negotiate a deal with Instagram. Unfortunately, Cam was out bid by Facebook for the app by $1 billion dollars. Cam argued he wanted to download the app free like everyone else.


@TheCatchFence Best thing about NASCAR being back this weekend,Trucks at Rockingham!,,unless you're a fence and know Trucks are going to get air borne. Fence says he's not worried, he'll be painted a nice shade of Masters green for good luck which has been applied by Bubba Watson. Bubba initially wanted to paint it General Lee orange,Gah!


@TheMiniChad After an unsuccesful attempt to caddy for Bubba Watson at the Masters, MC will be on hand at Texas in support of Maxi Chad, and his pet, @48Horseshoe. It sounds like "the Shoe" wasnt much luck in getting Mini in to the top-35 in caddy points to even contend for the position. At least Mini is happy his pal the cardboard egg crate had a succesful Easter season.


@TheNASCARHauler received an anonymous note probably from the Smoke Mafia that read, "remember that 1 time at that 1 race with that one car that you and the boys said something about an X thing or whatever, well dont even think about it". Hauler will have additional security as well as Nascar officials on hand this week, watching for any thing ssupicious, you know like determining the placement of the car's decklid in relation to the centerline of the chassis.


@DebriInTurn4 hopes to repeat last Aprils Texas performance when he appeared twice after @FlagofCaution was displayed. Flag reminded him it could have been 3 of the 5 caution periods for Debris, had it not been for Nascar giving credit to FluidOnTrack. Deb's only comment was, "what a show off that guy is all the time,,I'm just sayin". Flag cautioned Deb not to get over worked on Sunday,because he doesnt feel like working as often as the 12 times he had to fly back in November of 2006.


@NASCAR_EFI admitted he had a great Easter, found a few tiny eggs and swallowed em right down the left venturi, made the catalytic converter's exhaust smell worse than it already does. Effy says he expects no problems with the high speeds at Texas as long as his partner @TheTimingBelt doesnt act up. The Belt says that was all Reutti's doing and he's impartial to who is in the top-35.


Did you know @The_GreenFlag flew 13 times in a Cup race at Texas back in November of 2006, once to start the race and 12 times after cautions. Well, hate to remind you GF but this week has Friday the 13th coming up. You better tweet the other inanimates to try not to work too hard, especially Debris, or you're gonna need to a lot of spray starch this weekend. Oh, by the way, how about that nice Masters Jacket, huh!


Compiled from Twitter

Texas Motor Speedway History and Notes

At Texas Motor Speedway:
History

· Construction began in 1995.

· The first NASCAR race was a NASCAR Nationwide Series event on April 5, 1997.

· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was on April 6, 1997.

Notebook
· There have been 22 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway, one per season from 1997 through 2004 and two races per year since 2005.

· Four drivers have competed in all 22 Texas races: Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte and Mark Martin.

· Jeremy Mayfield was the first pole winner, in 1998. Qualifying for the inaugural race in 1997 was canceled.

· Jeff Burton won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

· 16 drivers have scored poles, led by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Bobby Labonte, Ryan Newman and Jeff Gordon with two.

· 16 drivers have won races, led by Carl Edwards, with three. Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart and Jeff Burton each have two wins.

· 16 of 22 races have been won from a top 10 starting position. Only one has been won from the pole - Kasey Kahne in 2006.

· Matt Kenseth started 31st en route to his victory at Texas in 2002, the deepest in the field that a race winner has started.

· Both Jeff Burton (1999) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2000) scored their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win at Texas, and 2011 Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne made his first series start at Texas (11/07/10).

· Martin Truex Jr. (11/04/07) and David Ragan (04/09/11) scored their first series poles at Texas.

· Matt Kenseth (8.7) is the only active driver to average a top-10 finish at Texas.

· Jimmie Johnson (9.2) is the only active driver to average a top-10 starting position at Texas.

· Roush Fenway Racing leads all owners in victories, with eight. Joe Gibbs Racing and Hendrick Motorsports have three wins each.

· There has been two season sweeps, by Carl Edwards in 2008 and Denny Hamlin in 2010.

· Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Texas Motor Speedway winner: Ryan Newman (03/30/2003 – 25 years, 3 months, 22 days).

· Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Texas Motor Speedway winner: Dale Jarrett (04/01/2001 – 44 years, 4 months, 6 days).

Texas Motor Speedway Data:
Race #: 7 of 36 (04-09-12)
Track Size: 1.5 miles
Race Length: 501 miles
· Banking/corners: 24 degrees
· Banking/straights: 5 degrees
· Frontstretch: 2,250 feet
· Backstretch: 1,330 feet

Top 12 Driver Rating at Texas:
Matt Kenseth............................. 106.5
Tony Stewart............................. 105.8
Greg Biffle................................ 100.8
Carl Edwards............................ 100.0
Jimmie Johnson.......................... 98.4
Kyle Busch................................. 97.5
Denny Hamlin............................. 95.2
Dale Earnhardt Jr........................ 92.7
Clint Bowyer............................... 92.1
Jeff Gordon................................ 90.3
Kurt Busch.................................. 89.6
Mark Martin................................. 87.1

Note: Driver Rating compiled from 2005-2011 races (14 total) at Texas.

- NASCAR

NASCAR This Week on ESPN at Texas

NASCAR Nationwide Series in Texas
After a two-week schedule break, the NASCAR Nationwide Series returns to action Friday night, April 13, at the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. ESPN2 will have a live telecast of the 300-mile race starting with NASCAR Countdown at 8 p.m. ET with the race’s green flag at 8:30 p.m. Also, ESPN2 will air NASCAR Nationwide Series qualifying earlier in the day at 5 p.m. All NASCAR programming on ESPN and ESPN2 is also available on computers, smartphones and tablets with the WatchESPN app and WatchESPN.com.

Announcers:Booth: Lap-by-Lap announcer Allen Bestwick; analysts Dale Jarrett, Andy Petree.

Pit reporters: Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Mike Massaro, Vince Welch.

NASCAR Countdown: Nicole Briscoe (host); Jarrett, Brad Daugherty (analysts). 

NASCAR Now Schedule:

The one-hour weekend edition of ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information programNASCAR Now will air on Saturday, April 14, at 11 a.m. ET with a preview of that night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. Marty Reid will host, with analyst Andy Petree and reporters Marty Smith and Mike Massaro at the track in Texas. NASCAR Now will review the Texas race at 3 p.m. on Monday, April 16, with host Shannon Spake.

Date Time Show Host Network 

Tue., April 10 3 p.m.    NASCAR Now Marty Reid        ESPN2
Thu., April 12 3 p.m.    NASCAR Now Marty Reid        ESPN2
Fri., April 13 2:30 p.m. NASCAR Now Marty Reid        ESPN2
Sat., April 14 11 a.m.    NASCAR Now Marty Reid        ESPN2

Mon., April 16 3 p.m.   NASCAR Now Shannon Spake ESPN2

- ESPN MediaZone

NASCAR To Launch Summer Celebration: “NASCAR Unites – An American Salute”

NASCAR announced today the launch of “NASCAR Unites – An American Salute,” a patriotic initiative uniting the NASCAR industry and fans this summer to celebrate America and support U.S. military families.

NASCAR Nation will be covered from head to toe – and from splitter to spoiler – in red, white and blue to highlight the summer season, starting and ending at two traditionally patriotic summer NASCAR events held at Charlotte Motor Speedway (Memorial Day Weekend, May 26-27) and Daytona International Speedway (Independence Day Weekend, July 5-7). Additional activities related to the six-week initiative will take place between these “tent-pole” events, including retail programs and other sponsor promotions.

To launch the initiative, the “NASCAR Unites – An American Salute” paint scheme for Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 88 National Guard Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet was revealed today in the nation’s capital for more than 30,000 children and their guests attending the 134th Annual Easter Egg Roll event at the White House.

“The entire NASCAR community has a long history of recognizing the efforts of the men and women who serve in our country’s military,” said NASCAR President Mike Helton. “With this effort, we continue to rally the NASCAR industry to collectively express our gratitude to those who serve our country and their families. This program will reinforce our sport’s commitment to honoring the United States Military while also raising funds to help support military families.”

Teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, along with their partners and sponsors, will showcase support for the program in their own individual ways, from displaying the customized logo on their cars and trucks to developing red, white and blue paint schemes. In addition, NASCAR has provided teams with the option of running a specially designed, patriotic-themed package that would incorporate the spoiler as well as other areas of the car. Additional activities related to the platform will include retail programs and other sponsor promotions to be announced in the weeks leading into the Charlotte event weekend. 

Among those NASCAR drivers already committed to “NASCAR Unites – An American Salute” paint schemes are Earnhardt, 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart, NASCAR Sprint Cup points leader Greg Biffle, Danica Patrick, Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards.

“I’m thrilled to be part of a sport that does so much to support the military and their families,” said Edwards. “It’s an honor to support “NASCAR Unites – An American Salute,” and display the red, white and blue on the Fastenal car. I know all my partners and team look forward to showing appreciation for those who serve our country.”

As part of the program, NASCAR and The NASCAR Foundation will work with charities to fund initiatives that support military families. A social media promotion utilizing a#NASCARUnites hashtag will highlight track activations as well as patriotic activities from teams, broadcast partners and sponsors.

- NASCAR Press Release

Austin Dillon, Legendary No. 3, Featured in New ESPN NASCAR Spot

Rising young NASCAR star Austin Dillon and the legendary black No. 3 made famous by the late Dale Earnhardt are featured in a new ESPN promotional spot entitled “The Next Generation” that will begin airing next week. The 21-year-old Dillon is the leading rookie in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

All 33 races in the series will air on ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC this season and Dillon is the second Nationwide Series driver this year to be featured by ESPN in its promotional campaign for the series, joining 2011 series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

The 30-second spot, which continues ESPN’s “Names Are Made Here” marketing campaign for the NASCAR Nationwide Series, traces Dillon’s career through go karts, dirt tracks and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, where he was series champion last year. At the end of the spot, a team member opens a garage door to reveal the No. 3 car that Dillon is driving this season. “Here you go, Austin,” the man says. “She’s ready when you are.”

The No. 3, owned by Dillon’s grandfather, longtime NASCAR team owner Richard Childress, has returned to regular use on a car this year for the first time since Earnhardt’s death in the 2001 Daytona 500 and the new ESPN spot reflects the magnitude of the return of the number. Dillon won the Truck Series championship last year driving a Childress-owned No. 3 truck.

-ESPN Mediazone

JR Motorsports Makes Crew Chief Change for its Nos. 5 and 88 Teams

JR Motorsports has implemented a crew chief swap to its No. 88 and No. 5 NASCAR Nationwide Series teams, general manager and co-owner Kelley Earnhardt Miller announced today.

Crew chief Bruce Cook has taken over responsibilities for the No. 88 Chevrolets driven by Cole Whitt. Until now Cook has spearheaded the organization’s third team – a part-time entry primarily driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. – while lending assistance to the company’s two full-schedule teams. That role will now fall to Tony Eury Sr., who takes charge of the No. 5 team while continuing his role as JR Motorsports’ competition director. Tony Eury Jr.’s role as crew chief for Danica Patrick and the No. 7 GoDaddy.com team remains unchanged.

“Our teams have a tremendous responsibility not only to perform at the standards we set for ourselves but reflect the commitment to excellence of our sponsors,” said Earnhardt Miller. “Our on-track performance isn’t meeting those standards, and we felt a change was necessary.”

The No. 5 car will race at Texas next weekend with Earnhardt Jr. and sponsor Degree Men. The crew chief change reunites Earnhardt Jr. with Eury Sr. The pair won 15 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races between 2000 and 2004 as well as Nationwide Series championships in 1998 and 1999.

The grouping of Cook and Whitt gives one of the series’ hottest young drivers a crew chief that just last year won six NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races, one Nationwide Series race, and a truck series owners championship. Through five races this season, the No. 88 Taxslayer.com team has one top-five and two top-10s. Whitt, a rookie driver from Alpine, Calif., is currently sixth in the series point standings. His best finish, to date, is a fourth at Daytona. JR Motorsports’ last win came with Jamie McMurray on Sept. 4, 2010.

“Both crew chiefs are very important to this process, and they are completely capable of elevating our teams back to where they are consistently competing for wins,” said Earnhardt Miller. “Bruce’s demeanor is probably more suitable in the developmental process of young drivers, and Tony Sr. has the experience and familiarity with Dale Jr. that can help get our 5 car to Victory Lane.”

Earnhardt Jr. has two races remaining on his 2012 Nationwide Series slate -- Texas on April 13 and Talladega on May 5. The No. 5 car could possibly compete in three to five more races with with another driver.

- JR Motorsports PR