NASCAR Driver Press Conference Schedule - Las Vegas

Press Conference Schedule, Las Vegas

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. Times listed are local time.

Thursday, March 7:

12:10 p.m. – Aric Almirola (No. 43 Farmland Ford), 10^th in points (60) – Media Center

12:35 p.m. – Robin Pemberton, NASCAR Vice-President, Competition – Media Center

3:40 p.m. – Clint Bowyer (No. 15 5-Hour Energy Toyota), 5^th in points (72) – Media Center

3:55 p.m. – Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet) – Media Center

Friday, March 8:

8:30 a.m. – Austin Dillon (No. 3 AdvoCare Chevrolet in the Nationwide Series) & Ty Dillon (No. 33 WESCO Chevrolet in the Nationwide Series) – Media Center

10:15 a.m. – Danica Patrick (No. 10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet) – Media Center

10:30 a.m. – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet), 8^th in points (60), Announcement followed by media availability – Media Center

2:45 p.m. – Tony Stewart (No. 14 Mobil 1 Racing/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) – Media Center

5 p.m. approx. – Post Qualifying – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy Orange Chevrolet), 2^nd in points (82) – Media Center (will come into the media center at the conclusion of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying)

Saturday, March 9:

3:45 p.m. approx. –  NASCAR Nationwide Series Post Race – Media Center

Sunday, March 10:

3:15 p.m. approx. –  NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Post Race – Media Center

- NASCAR 

Goodyear Tire Fast Facts - Las Vegas

Tire: Goodyear Eagle Speedway Radials

Number of Tires:
Sprint Cup: Left-side -- 1,600, Right-side -- 1,650;
Nationwide: Left-side -- 650, Right-side -- 650

Set limits:
Sprint Cup: Up to 6 sets for Thursday open practice, 5 sets for remaining practice/qualifying, and 9 sets for the race;
Nationwide: 3 sets for first practice, and 6 sets for final practice/qualifying/race

Tire Codes:
Left-side -- D-4524; Right-side -- D-4528

Tire Circumference:
Left-side -- 87.4 in. (2,220 mm);
Right-side -- 88.6 in. (2,250 mm)

Technical Inspection Inflation:
Left Front -- 34 psi; Left Rear -- 34 psi;
Right Front -- 62 psi; Right Rear -- 58 psi

Minimum Recommended Inflation:
Left Front -- 30 psi; Left Rear -- 30 psi;
Right Front -- 58 psi; Right Rear -- 54 psi

Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will run the same Goodyear tire codes at Las Vegas this weekend. This is the same combination of left and right-side tires that these teams ran at Las Vegas last season. This is the only track at which these two tire codes are scheduled to be run in 2013. As on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Las Vegas. Air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.

- Goodyear Racing News

Kwikset to Sponsor RCR Driver Jeff Burton's Number 31 Chevy

As the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season begins, Kwikset is announcing a partnership agreement with Richard Childress Racing and driver Jeff Burton. Kwikset will have its logo on the No. 31 Chevrolet for every race this season, and will also be the primary paint scheme for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 6. Throughout the 2013 season, Kwikset will be announcing opportunities to engage fans and customers in unique ways. 
            
Kwikset will activate this partnership with a VIP infield hospitality presence at five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekends beginning with Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 10. There will also be significant activation at Dover International Speedway on June 2, Chicagoland Speedway on September 15, Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 12 and Texas Motor Speedway on November 3. 
            
"Richard Childress Racing's focus on elite innovation strategies falls right in line with Kwikset's brand promise to deliver smart, innovative security options to our customers," said Greg Gluchowski, president, Hardware & Home Improvement Group at Spectrum Brands. "We are proud to align ourselves with excellence for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season." 

The company sees value in working with NASCAR teams, which it has done in the past, and spreading the message of safety and innovation for families to race fans nationwide. Having a presence at the track provides an opportunity to fuel the passions of Kwikset consumers, employees and NASCAR fans.

"Safety and innovation are very important to Kwikset's business, and as a driver, two areas that I'm very passionate about myself," said Burton. "I am proud to have Kwikset as a partner this season." 

Burton has experienced tremendous success throughout his career in NASCAR's premier division, which spans more than 20 years. The veteran driver has won 21 Sprint Cup Series races, and earned 132 top-five finishes, as well as 248 top-10 finishes with six pole awards.

- Richard Childress Racing Press Release

Las Vegas Speedway History and Notes

At Las Vegas Motor Speedway:

History
· The construction to build the superspeedway known today as Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) began in 1995. Speedway Motorsports Inc. acquired the property in 1998.

· The first NASCAR race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was a NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race won by Ken Schrader on Nov. 2, 1996.

· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was held on March 1, 1998, won by Mark Martin.

· In 2006, the track was reconfigured to include progressive banking.

Notebook
· There have been 15 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

· 125 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Las Vegas; 96 in more than one.

· Four drivers have participated in all 15 races: Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte and Mark Martin.

· Dale Jarrett won the inaugural pole with a speed of 168.224 mph (32.773 secs.)

· 10 drivers have poles at LVMS, led by Kasey Kahne, who posted his third last season.

· Kyle Busch is the only driver to win consecutive poles at LVMS from (2008-09).

· Youngest LVMS pole winner: Kyle Busch (3/2/2008 – 22 years, 10 months, 0 days).

· Oldest LVMS pole winner: Dale Jarrett (3/4/2001 – 44 years, 3 months, 6 days).

· Nine different drivers have won at LVMS, led by Jimmie Johnson (four). Three other drivers have multiple wins at Las Vegas: Jeff Burton, Carl Edwards and two-time Daytona 500 champion Matt Kenseth each have two.

· Roush Fenway Racing leads the series in wins at Las Vegas with seven, followed by Hendrick Motorsports with five.

· Only seven of the 15 races have been won from a top-10 starting position.

· Las Vegas-native Kyle Busch became the first and thus far only driver to win from the pole, in 2009.

· Only two LVMS races have been won from the front row: Kyle Busch, 2009 (pole); and Carl Edwards, 2008 (second-place).

· Four of the 15 races have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.

· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started was 25th, by Matt Kenseth in 2004.

· Youngest LVMS winner: Kyle Busch (03/01/2009 – 23 years, 9 months, 27 days).

· Oldest LVMS winner: Sterling Marlin (03/03/2002 – 44 years, 7 months, 32 days).

· Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart lead the series in runner-up finishes at Las Vegas with two each.

· Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart lead the series in top-five finishes at Las Vegas with six each.

· Mark Martin has 10 top-10 finishes, more than any other driver. His average finish is 13.4.

· Jimmie Johnson leads the series in average finish at LVMS with a 9.818; he is the only active driver with an average finish in the top 10.

· There has been one green-white-checkered finish at Las Vegas: 2006 (270/267).

· Kyle Busch made his first start and Kasey Kahne won his first pole at Las Vegas, in the same event (2004).

· Aric Almirola made his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2007.

· Three drivers have won consecutive races at Las Vegas: Jeff Burton (1999, 2000); Matt Kenseth (2003, 2004) and Jimmie Johnson the only one of the three to win three consecutive races (2005, 2006 and 2007).

· Eight of the nine NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers who have won at Las Vegas participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Mark Martin (1998) is the only driver to win at Las Vegas in his first appearance.

· Tony Stewart competed at Las Vegas Motor Speedway 13 times before winning (2012); the longest span of any the nine winners. Stewart is the only driver to have made 10 or more attempts before his first win at LVMS.

· Bobby Labonte leads the series (active drivers) with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Las Vegas without visiting Victory Lane with 15.

· Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup at Las Vegas was the (3/12/2006) race won by Jimmie Johnson with a MOV of 0.045 seconds.

· Three reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions have gone on to win at Las Vegas in their championship-defending season: Matt Kenseth (2004), Jimmie Johnson is the only one to do it multiple times (2007, 2010) and Tony Stewart (2012).

· Three drivers have won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship and at Las Vegas in the same season: Jeff Gordon (2001), Matt Kenseth (2003) and Jimmie Johnson (2006, 2007 and 2010).

· This weekend will be Danica Patrick’s first attempt at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Shawna Robinson is the only female driver to have made a NASCAR Sprint Cup start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to date. She did so on March 3, 2002 starting 36th and finishing 42nd.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Data
Season Race #: 3 of 36 (03-10-13)Track Size: 1.5-miles
Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 20 degrees
Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 20 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 9 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 9 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 2,275 feet
Backstretch Length: 1,572 feet
Race Length: 267 laps / 400 Kilometers

Top 12 Driver Rating at Las VegasJimmie Johnson.................. 110.9Jeff Gordon........................ 107.9
Tony Stewart....................... 106.4
Greg Biffle.......................... 106.3
Kyle Busch......................... 100.9
Carl Edwards........................ 98.2
Matt Kenseth........................ 95.9
Kevin Harvick........................ 94.1Jeff Burton........................... 90.8
Mark Martin........................... 90.1
Dale Earnhardt Jr.................. 86.2
Kurt Busch............................ 84.6

Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2012 races (8 total) among active drivers at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
- NASCAR 

NRA Secures Title Sponsorship For April’s Sprint Cup Race At Texas

Texas Motor Speedway and the National Rifle Association have signed a one-year agreement with a renewal option for America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen’s group to serve as the title sponsor for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on April 13, speedway president Eddie Gossage announced Monday.
The annual spring NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway will be retitled the “NRA 500″ and serve as the first prime-time Saturday evening race of this season. The NRA replaces Samsung Mobile, which had served as the title sponsor of this race since 2002. Gossage made the announcement and unveiled the race logo during Texas Motor Speedway’s annual Media Day held in the Grand Ballroom of The Speedway Club.

“The NRA has been involved in the sport for several years and a partner of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. for many years in various aspects, and this race entitlement is just another extension of that business relationship,” Gossage said.  ”We look forward to another successful partnership with the NRA for our April race week of activities.”

The NRA has had a relationship with the NASCAR industry for more than a decade on a variety of platforms. The organization continues to be a generous supporter of SMI’s Speedway Children’s Charities and its fund-raising events since 2000. The NRA has contributed more than $500,000 to the Texas Chapter of SCC at Texas Motor Speedway alone.

NRA’s most recent race entitlement in the sport came last season when the organization was the title sponsor for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race known as the “NRA American Warrior 300″ that was held Sept. 1 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. NASCAR owner Richard Childress is a current NRA board member and team owners and drivers have donated sponsor space on their cars to support the NRA in the past.

NRA Executive Vice President and CEO Wayne LaPierre was unable to attend the event in person, but did provide a video message for the Media Day audience.

“The NRA 500 is the latest announcement in the long history of a growing partnership between the NRA, Speedway Motorsports and the NASCAR community,” LaPierre said. ”NRA members and NASCAR fans love their country and everything that is good and right about America. We salute our flag … volunteer in our churches and communities … cherish our families … and WE LOVE RACING! On April 13, we’ll all come together at Texas Motor Speedway.”

- Texas Motor Speedway Release

NASCAR This Week on ESPN

The NASCAR Nationwide Series moves to Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend for a 300-mile race and ESPN2 will have a live telecast on Saturday, March 9. NASCAR Countdown begins at 4 p.m. ET with the green flag at 4:31 p.m. All NASCAR programming on ESPN and ESPN2 is also available on computers, smartphones, tablets and Xbox via WatchESPN, accessible to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.

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

Pit reporters:
Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch, Vince Welch. 

NASCAR Now Schedule

ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program NASCAR Now will preview the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the one-hour edition airing Sunday, March 10, at 11 a.m. ET. Host Nicole Briscoe will be joined in the studio by ESPN NASCAR analyst Ricky Craven with reporters Ryan McGee and Shannon Spake at the track. The week’s schedule:

Date Time Show Host Network
Tue.,  March 5 12:30 a.m.      NASCAR Now Mike Massaro ESPN2
Wed., March 6 1 a.m.              NASCAR Now Mike Massaro ESPN2
Thu.,  March 7 2 a.m.              NASCAR Now Mike Massaro ESPN2
Fri.,    March 8 1:30 a.m.        NASCAR Now Mike Massaro ESPN2
Sun.,  March 10 11 a.m.          NASCAR Now Nicole Briscoe ESPN2

-ESPN MediaZone Press Release

NASCAR Driver Press Conference Schedule - Phoenix

Press Conference Schedule,

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. Times listed are local time.

Friday, March 1:

8:30 a.m. – Travis Pastrana (No. 60 Roush Fenway Racing Ford in the NASCAR Nationwide Series) – Media Center/Deadline Room

9:15 a.m. – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet), 1^st in points (47) - #48 hauler

 

10:30 a.m. – Danica Patrick (No. 10 GoDaddy Chevrolet), 7^th in points (37) – Media Center/Deadline Room

11:15 a.m. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet), 2^nd in points (42) - Media Center/Deadline Room

1:25 p.m. – Tony Stewart (No. 14 Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Racing) - #14 hauler

2:25 p.m. – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Pepsi MAX Chevrolet) - #24 hauler

2:40 p.m. – Jeff Burton (No. 31 Cheerios Chevrolet) - #31 hauler

5:30 pm MT approx./7:30 pm ET approx. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying Post

8:00 pm MT/10:00 pm NASCAR Mexico Series Post Race

Saturday, March 2:

4:45 pm MT/6:45 pm ET approx. NASCAR Nationwide Series Post Race

6:30 pm MT/8:30 pm ET approx NASCAR K&N Series Post Race

Sunday, March 3:

4:15 pm MT approx./6:15 pm approx. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Post Race

- NASCAR