Kerry Earnhardt To Co-Host TV Show “Family Traditions With Haley Heath”

Family Traditions announced today that beginning in the second half of 2012, a member of a well known NASCAR family will be joining its show as Co-Host. Kerry Earnhardt will be joining Family Traditions with Haley Heath in the 3rd and 4th quarter of the year. Family Traditions has established itself over the past 5 years as a show that is entertaining to a wide group of hunters of all ages, from the novice hunter to the experts. It should be no surprise to the legion of Earnhardt fans Kerry’s passion for the great outdoors and dedication to his family, make Family Traditions a perfect match. Now the race fan can tune in and share with Kerry, just like the adrenaline rush felt on the high speed tracks of NASCAR, the thrill of the hunt and family tradition that has been passed down.

“I’ve been a guest on a lot of hunting shows and have always had a burning desire to do more within outdoor entertainment. I’m excited about turning the page to a new chapter of my career. Aside from being behind the wheel of a race car, I can’t think of any other place I’d rather be than in the wide open spaces of the outdoors,” says Earnhardt. “I’m good friends with Haley and her husband G.O. and have always enjoyed watching their show. We share the same family values and that was important to me coming on board.”

The Heaths’ feel that, “in 2012 you will get to see a glimpse of what Family Traditions has in-store for the 2013 season. Kerry is an intense hunter and true outdoorsman. We are looking forward to bringing Kerry in as a Co-Host and know that the viewers will enjoy spending time with him as well.”

- Earnhardt Outdoors Press Release

NASCAR Day 1 PM Practice Session

NSCS Day 1 PM Practice Session

Daytona Intl Speedway 

1/12/2012

Pos No Name Sponsor Make Best Time Best Speed:

1 18 Kyle Busch Tyt 44.466   202.402

2 20 Joey Logano Tyt 44.469   202.388

3 2 Brad Keselowski Dge 44.505   202.224

4 22 AJ Allmendinger Dge 44.506   202.220

5 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr Chv 44.794   200.920

6 48 Jimmie Johnson Chv 44.795   200.915

7 11 Denny Hamlin Tyt 44.965   200.156

8 5 Kasey Kahne Chv 45.047   199.791

9 55 Mark Martin Tyt 45.782   196.584

10 15 Clint Bowyer Tyt 45.782   196.584

11 6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr Frd 46.164   194.957

12 24 Jeff Gordon Chv 46.482   193.623

13 27 Paul Menard Chv 46.726   192.612

14 51 Kurt Busch Chv 46.835   192.164

15 14 Tony Stewart Chv 46.887   191.951

16 10 Danica Patrick Chv 46.893  191.926

17 16 Greg Biffle Frd 46.941  191.730

18 31 Jeff Burton Chv 46.945  191.714

19 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Chv 46.969  191.616

20 17 Matt Kenseth Frd 46.997  191.502

21 9 Marcos Ambrose Frd 47.007   191.461

22 39 Ryan Newman Chv 47.010   191.449

23 29 Kevin Harvick Chv 47.052   191.278

24 21 Trevor Bayne Frd 47.061   191.241

25 56 Martin Truex Jr Tyt 47.095   191.103

26 1 Jamie McMurray Chv 47.102   191.075

27 78 Regan Smith Chv 47.266   190.412

28 99 Carl Edwards Frd 47.285   190.335

29 43 Aric Almirola Frd 47.296   190.291

30 36 Dave Blaney Chv 47.453   189.661

31 13 Casey Mears Frd 47.671   188.794

32 87 Joe Nemechek Tyt 48.038   187.352

- NASCAR

Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Richard Petty Motorsports announce Partnership

Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Richard Petty Motorsports announced today that the consumer packaged foods company headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia has entered into a multiyear, integrated partnership with the legendary Richard Petty Motorsports NASCAR team starting in 2012.

As part of its agreement with Richard Petty Motorsports, Smithfield will be utilizing a number of its core brands as well as unique and engaging promotional initiatives throughout this racing season to communicate with existing customers and introduce others to the company’s many fine products. In addition, NASCAR fans will see a variety of Smithfield brands adorning the legendary No. 43 Ford Fusion as primary sponsor in fifteen NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events in 2012, including the first event of the season, February’s Daytona 500. Smithfield brands include Farmland®, Eckrich® and Curly’s®, among others, as well as Helping Hungry Homes™, one of Smithfield’s premier community-outreach brands.

Smithfield® and Helping Hungry Homes™ will be Smithfield’s featured brands for the Daytona 500. Helping Hungry Homes™ is Smithfield’s initiative focused on alleviating hunger across America. The initiative provided more than eight million servings of protein last year through food banks, school nutrition programs, disaster relief, and community outreach programs. “Making a positive impact on our communities is one of our core values at Smithfield,” said C. Larry Pope, Smithfield’s president and chief executive officer.

- Richard Petty Motorsports Press Release

NASCAR Day 1 AM Practice Session Speeds

NSCS Day 1 AM Practice Session
Daytona Intl Speedway - 

Pos No Name Sponsor Make Best Time Best Speed

1 24 Jeff Gordon Chv 46.687 192.773

2 27 Paul Menard Chv 46.785 192.369

3 51 Kurt Busch Chv 46.787 192.361

4 6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr Frd 46.885 191.959

5 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Chv 46.911 191.853

6 48 Jimmie Johnson Chv 46.933 191.763

7 16 Greg Biffle Frd 46.987 191.542

8 10 Danica Patrick Chv 47.004 191.473

9 31 Jeff Burton Chv 47.019 191.412

10 21 Trevor Bayne Frd 47.022 191.400

11 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr Chv 47.025 191.388

12 14 Tony Stewart Chv 47.032 191.359

13 18 Kyle Busch Tyt 47.037 191.339

14 20 Joey Logano Tyt 47.059 191.249

15 39 Ryan Newman Chv 47.110 191.042

16 11 Denny Hamlin Tyt 47.122 190.994

17 17 Matt Kenseth Frd 47.134 190.945

18 5 Kasey Kahne Chv 47.160 190.840

19 29 Kevin Harvick Chv 47.176 190.775

20 15 Clint Bowyer Tyt 47.199 190.682

21 55 Mark Martin Tyt 47.225 190.577

22 9 Marcos Ambrose Frd 47.238 190.525

23 43 Aric Almirola Frd 47.255 190.456

24 1 Jamie McMurray Chv 47.269 190.400

25 78 Regan Smith Chv 47.374 189.978

26 22 AJ Allmendinger Dge 47.419 189.797

27 99 Carl Edwards Frd 47.435 189.733

28 2 Brad Keselowski Dge 47.504 189.458

29 13 Casey Mears Frd 47.508 189.442

30 56 Martin Truex Jr Tyt 47.633 188.945

31 87 Joe Nemechek Tyt 48.304 186.320

- NASCAR

TAG Heuer Eyewear Enters Sponsorship Agreement with Busch and Phoenix Racing

EYE WEAR

TAG Heuer Eyewear announced today that it has entered into a multi-race sponsorship agreement with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kurt Busch and Phoenix Racing.

Busch, who will drive the No. 51 Chevrolet for Phoenix Racing in the entire 2012 Sprint Cup season, has a personal services agreement with the eyewear company.

TAG Heuer Eyewear will be featured as the primary sponsor on the No. 51 Chevrolet for the Feb. 18 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, where Busch is the defending winner. Additionally, TAG Heuer Eyewear will serve as an associate sponsor on the No. 51 Chevrolet during the 54th running of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 26 and again on March 11 for the Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Busch’s hometown track.

“TAG Heuer Eyewear has been a great partner of mine and this is a big deal for them to step up and sponsor Phoenix Racing and me for a few races this year,” Busch said. “I consider myself very fortunate to be affiliated with such a great brand and to have their strong support. I’m proud to carry the colors of TAG Heuer Eyewear on the No. 51 Chevrolet starting with Budweiser Shootout. As the defending race winner, we’re going to give it all we have to get back to victory lane.”

The Budweiser Shootout, the Daytona 500 and the Kobalt Tools 400 will each air live on FOX.

-  TAG Heuer, Press Release

Michigan International Speedway, MEDC announce Pure Michigan 400 Deal

With the success of 2011, two of Michigan’s best-known brands – Michigan International Speedway and Pure Michigan – are again teaming up to host the Pure Michigan 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at MIS on Sunday, August 19.

The three-year partnership was announced today at the North American International Auto Show with two of NASCAR’s most popular and successful drivers, Ryan Newman and Sam Hornish Jr.

The three-year partnership between MIS and Pure Michigan is a continuation of what started in 2011, and the first time a state’s branding agency sponsored NASCAR’s premier stock car series. The inaugural Pure Michigan 400 in 2011 received overwhelmingly positive feedback from fans and tourists alike.

“As we began expanding the Pure Michigan brand beyond travel in 2011, our public and private partners quickly found the power of Pure Michigan to help all of us market Michigan and grow our economy,’’ said MEDC President and CEO Michael A. Finney. “Pure Michigan tells the story of the people, places and treasures that are uniquely Michigan and MIS is part of that story.’’

Another example of a new Pure Michigan partnership announced earlier today: a collaboration with the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Holland, Mich.-based Hudsonville Creamery & Ice Cream Co. to develop a Pure Michigan ice cream flavor and take it across Michigan this summer in a Pure Michigan RV that will share the flavor and help DNR promote its parks and recreation programs including its Recreation 101 program and the Recreation Passport.

“The Pure Michigan 400 has proven to be an effective way to bring the Pure Michigan message to 75 million NASCAR fans nationwide,’’ said George Zimmermann, Vice President for Travel Michigan at MEDC. “We encourage NASCAR fans from all over the U.S. to join us in Michigan for great racing at an outstanding track this summer.’’

One of Pure Michigan’s main goals is to attract visitors and investments to Michigan. The title sponsorship of the Pure Michigan 400 in 2011 introduced the Pure Michigan branding message to 75 million NASCAR fans nationwide. This followed the $11.5 million Pure Michigan national cable television advertising buy on the air from March 14, 2011, through early July.

Travel Michigan, part of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, is the State of Michigan’s official agency for the promotion of tourism. Travel Michigan markets the state’s tourism industry and provides valuable visitor information services. For Michigan travel news and updates, go to michigan.org.

- Michigan International Speedway Press Release

Odds to win the 2012 Sprint Cup Championship

The odds makers at Bovada.lv have installed Jimmie Johnson as the favorite to win the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship at 9-2.

Odds to win the 2012 Sprint Cup Championship:
Jimmie Johnson - 9/2

Carl Edwards - 6/1

Denny Hamlin - 8/1

Kevin Harvick - 8/1

Kyle Busch - 8/1

Tony Stewart -8/1

Jeff Gordon - 10/1

Clint Bowyer -12/1

Kasey Kahne - 12/1

Matt Kenseth - 12/1

Brad Keselowski - 14/1

Dale Earnhardt Jr. - 18/1

Greg Biffle - 25/1

Kurt Busch - 25/1

Ryan Newman - 40/1

Jeff Burton - 50/1

Juan Pablo Montoya - 50/1 

- Sports.bovada.lv