Richard Petty and financial partners take control of RPM

Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR (2009 photo)

Concord, N.C. (November 29, 2010) — Racing legend and all time NASCAR win leader Richard Petty is back in the driver’s seat.

Richard Petty Motorsports signed and closed a sale of its racing assets to an investment group comprised of Richard Petty, Medallion Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:TAXI) and DGB Investments.

Richard Petty, a seven-time NASCAR champion has won 200 races, including 10 Daytona races. Known in the NASCAR world as The King, Petty will serve as chairman and will be actively involved in overseeing day-to-day operations of the company. As previously announced, the team will operate the legendary No. 43 car driven by AJ Allmendinger and the No. 9 car driven by Marcos Ambrose.

“Today is a great day for me, my family, our fans and our wonderful sponsors. Ford, Stanley, Best Buy, Valvoline, Reynolds, Air Force, Super 8, Paralyzed Veterans of America, WIX Filters and Menards have supported me through thick and thin and I thank them from the bottom of my heart,” said Petty.

Andrew Murstein, President of Medallion Financial, commented: “We could not be happier to be able to acquire these assets together. Richard is one of the greatest names, not only in NASCAR, but in all sports. His name and image are a world recognized brand with unlimited potential to grow and expand in racing. Ample working capital has been invested in the company to insure this great team and legend will not only continue to perform, but will thrive and be back in the winner’s circle.”

“George and Foster Gillett deserve a great deal of credit for running a successful race team,” commented Petty. “They made a significant investment into the business and helped get back into Victory Lane. Going forward, we have put together an all-star ownership team consisting of myself, Medallion, and VeriFone CEO Doug Bergeron.”

Medallion Financial, a publicly traded investment company, has invested over $3 billion in companies since its IPO in 1996 and its board members include such notables as former New York Governor Mario Cuomo, former Connecticut Governor and Senator Lowell Weicker, and another King of his sport, Hank Aaron. The Murstein family is the largest shareholder in Medallion, owning approximately 20 percent.

DGB Investments is an investment vehicle of Canadian-born investor Douglas G. Bergeron, CEO of VeriFone Systems, Inc. (NYSE: PAY), San Jose, Calif. In 2001, Bergeron and DGB participated in the acquisition of VeriFone Systems from Hewlett-Packard in a transaction valued at $50 million. Today, VeriFone’s market value exceeds $3 billion dollars and Bergeron remains CEO and one of the largest individual shareholders.

Douglas Bergeron commented, “With Richard Petty’s unmatched name and reputation in the motorsports industry, I know this investment is well-timed to succeed. We are going to help put Richard Petty Motorsports back in victory lane.”

Petty concluded, “Our partnership with Andy Murstein and Doug Bergeron will help take us to a whole new level and I could not be more excited about our future.”

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Champion's Week kicks off in Vegas

Jimmie Johnson does a burnout on the Las Vegas Strip during last year's
Victory Lap in Las Vegas. (Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Johnson to be honored; schedule of events to start Wednesday

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The champion is crowned, the celebration awaits.

What a party it promises to be.

The 2010 edition of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week in Las Vegas will fete Hendrick Motorsports’ Jimmie Johnson, who earned an unprecedented fifth consecutive series title following the Nov. 21 season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

With events starting Wednesday, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week is full of fan-friendly activities that showcase the nation’s No. 1 form of motorsports while honoring its top driver and its loyal fan base.

Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

After a 28-year run in New York, the annual postseason celebration made its Las Vegas debut last year, capped, as always, by the champion’s Friday-night coronation. This year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony returns to one of the city’s premier resorts, Wynn Las Vegas, on Friday, Dec. 3.
SPEED will once again broadcast the event, live at 9 p.m. ET.

Comedian Frank Caliendo and country rockers Rascal Flatts will entertain during the awards ceremony. Joining them will be “Viva ELVIS by Cirque du Soleil,” a special performance of dance, acrobatics and music celebrating the King of Rock ‘n Roll, Elvis Presley.

The ceremony culminates several days of whirlwind activity involving not only the series champion, but also the other 11 drivers in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – NASCAR’s “playoffs.” Those drivers, together with Johnson, comprise the top 12 in the series’ final standings.

“It's just been an amazing experience, amazing for myself and the team,” Johnson said of his five-title run. “I think it's been great for our sport to see the comparisons drawn to other sports that have been able to link together multiple championships. It's been awesome, a ton of fun.”

For the second consecutive year, some of the thousands of fans who flock to catch a glimpse of stock car racing’s biggest stars will join drivers, team owners and industry leaders in celebrating Johnson at the awards ceremony. Approximately 300 tickets are available to fans, which are being distributed by tracks, NASCAR partners and teams through various promotions. Fan tickets offer the following experiences:

• NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon seats
• Access to “NASCAR After The Lap, Made Possible By Coca-Cola and Ford”
• Fan reception & Red Carpet walk prior to the awards ceremony
• Awards ceremony seats

Following is a complete rundown of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week activities.

Wednesday, Dec. 1:

• NASCAR Street Tour: Two tricked-out NASCAR interactive Ford vehicles are scheduled to appear all week throughout Las Vegas with dynamic street teams, interactive video games and free giveaways.
• NASCAR Pit Stop Tour: The Pit Stop Tour program will run from Dec. 1-3, consisting of Official Partner show cars placed in iconic locations throughout the Las Vegas Strip. Brand ambassadors at each location (locations TBD) will be on site from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. for all three days, engaging the fans.
• Chasers for Charity Event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: Gates open at 10 a.m. The Richard Petty Driving Experience will offer rides with a percentage of the proceeds being donated to charity. The speedway will offer tours of the facility. There will be interactive displays throughout the track’s “Neon Garage” and live music on the main stage from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. In addition, all 12 Chase drivers will participate in a Family Feud-style game show hosted by comedian Kevin Burke between 2 to 3:30 p.m. Admission to the Fanfest is free, and mass transportation will be available from the strip and downtown.

 Thursday, Dec. 2:

• NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon: This annual industry/media event begins at 11 a.m. in the Bellagio Ballroom at the Bellagio and includes presentations to the Champion Crew Chief, Champion Sponsor, Raybestos Rookie of the Year and Most Popular Driver. Fans have the opportunity to attend for the first time. It is co-hosted by NASCAR and the National Motor Sports Press Association.
• Victory Lap: Set for 3:30 p.m., the top 12 drivers will motor down the famed Las Vegas Strip in their respective race cars. Expect an authentic pit stop along the route and two burn-out sections for drivers. Victory Lap begins in front of Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino and ends at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Prior to Victory Lap at 3 p.m., Johnson will receive the Key to the City of Las Vegas from Mayor Oscar Goodman and Commissioner Tom Collins. Commissioner Collins also will present a Proclamation recognizing Champion’s Week and Johnson’s accomplishments.
• NASCAR After The Lap: This free fan event starts at 4:30 p.m., at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and features a question-and-answer session with drivers and an interactive Coca-Cola Fan Zone experience. Select fans will win NASCAR-themed prizes, including a 2011 Ford Taurus SHO. The Coca-Cola Fan Zone opens at noon, with doors to NASCAR After The Lap opening at 3 p.m. General admission seats are free, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Register for tickets at nascarafterthelap.com.

Friday, Dec. 3:

• 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony: The big show starts at 6 p.m., crowning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion driver and owner and honoring the other drivers who finished in the top 10 in the final series standings.

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Daytona vs. Michigan in holiday food drive competition

BROOKLYN, Mich. and DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — In the spirit of competition off the racetrack, Michigan International Speedway and Daytona International Speedway are having a friendly contest to see which track can collect the most food items for people who need it the most this holiday season.

Although it is a competition, both tracks aren’t looking at it as a win-lose situation. All the food donated at MIS and DIS will go to families in need. MIS’ donations will benefit the CCIS Food Pantry in Brooklyn, while Daytona’s will benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

The overall weight of all donations collected for each track will determine the winner. The winner of the competition will receive lunch courtesy of the other track.

MIS has already collected some 2,100 items, thanks to a sizable donation from Brooklyn Elementary School. The students collected food throughout the Thanksgiving week.

“This is not only a fun contest, but one that really can make a difference in the lives of the givers and the receivers this holiday,” MIS President Roger Curtis said. “We hope our friendly rivalry with Daytona will inspire others to participate and donate something.”

“We hope the heightened excitement around our contest with MIS will benefit area families who rely on Second Harvest during the holiday season,” said Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III. “We encourage all our employees and local fans to stop by and help make this a wonderful holiday for our community.”

All MIS fans can get involved with this competition. Non-perishable food donations will be accepted at the speedway’s Administration Building from Monday, Nov. 29, to Friday, Dec. 3.

Donations of a non-perishable food item or unwrapped toy may also be made at the speedway’s Track Drive for Charity, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4. With every donation, fans will receive a lap around the two-mile oval at a controlled speed. Longtime MIS sponsor GFS Marketplace will provide cider and donuts for all fans who attend the track drive.

All DIS fans that bring at least three (3) cans of food to the DIS ticket office counter on Friday, Dec. 3 and Saturday, Dec. 4 will receive a free admission for the new Daytona International Speedway All-Access Tour.

Daytona International Speedway will also host the WESH-TV “Share Your Christmas” food drive, which also benefits the Salvation Army, on Monday Dec. 6.  Later that day, Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson’s “Caravan that Cares” will begin its route from the main Daytona International Speedway parking lot on International Speedway Boulevard. Fans are encouraged to drop off their non-perishable donations at the Daytona ticket office lobby through Monday, Dec. 6.

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2010: Most competitive year in Sprint Cup Series history

The April race at Talladega set a record
for the highest amount of lead changes
- 88 among 29 drivers - at any track in Cup
Series history. (Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)

Records set in lead changes and leaders per race

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 23, 2010) – The recently completed 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season goes down as the most competitive in the 62-year history of the sport’s premier series.

Two major competition records were broken this past season in the series: average lead changes and leaders per race.

There was an average of 25.4 lead changes per event in 2010, the most in the history of NASCAR Sprint Cup competition. 

Additionally, there was an average of 11.4 leaders per event, also the highest average since the series’ inaugural year of 1949.

The previous highs in both statistics were 24.9 lead changes in 1981 and 11.0 leaders in 2006.
In all, 55 different drivers led at least one lap this season – another record. The previous most was 51, in both 2005 and 2007.

Passing numbers, too, were at their statistical peak this season. NASCAR began recording passing numbers in 2005, with the inception of Loop Data. This season, those numbers were higher than any of the past six years.

There were a total of 1,299 green flag passes for the lead (Note: Those are lead changes all around the track, not just at the start-finish line). The previous high was 994 in 2006.

There were also 116,327 total green flag passes. The previous high was 110,226 in 2009.

The tight on-track competition led to a closer-than-ever points battle. The 15 points separating the top-two drivers going into the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway were the fewest in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup’s seven-year history. Five-time champion Jimmie Johnson became the first driver since 1992 to overcome a deficit with one-to-go to capture the title.

Five races broke or matched track records in either most leaders or lead changes this season:

Talladega: Both Talladega races were exceptionally competitive, but the spring event made history. There were 88 lead changes among 29 drivers during the April 25 event, both all-time series records – at any track, ever.

Daytona: There were 21 different leaders in the season-opening Daytona 500, the most ever at a track whose history dates back to 1959.

Infineon Raceway: The first road course race of the season, the June 20 event featured 12 lead changes, the most ever at Infineon. The last lead change belonged to 2010 series champion Jimmie Johnson, who won the first road course race of his career.

Phoenix: There were 13 different leaders in the spring Phoenix event, tying a track record.
Texas: The autumn event at Texas had 33 lead changes, setting a track record.

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Four series champions honored at NNS/NCWTS banquet in Miami

NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Brad Keselowski,
center, with crew chief Paul Wolfe and team owner Roger Penske.

·   Brad Keselowski, No. 18 JGR Toyota Are NASCAR Nationwide Series Driver, Owner Champions
 
·   Todd Bodine, No. 18 KBM Toyota Win Driver, Owner Titles in NASCAR Camping World Trucks

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 22, 2010) – For the first time in NASCAR national series history, four championships in two different series were awarded simultaneously.

NASCAR Nationwide Series team owner champions Joe Gibbs Racing
with (from left) Jason Ratcliff, Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs and J.D. Gibbs.

Brad Keselowski and Todd Bodine officially were crowned the 2010 driver champions of the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, respectively, on the Americana Ballroom stage at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel on Monday evening.

Keselowski was honored with his first NASCAR national series title as champion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Bodine received his second championship ring in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, joining Ron Hornaday Jr. (four) and Jack Sprague (two) as the only drivers in the series with multiple titles.

Also, the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota captured a record-tying third consecutive NASCAR Nationwide Series owner championship, while the No. 18 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota won the owner crown in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series as a first-year team.

The champions were joined on stage by the drivers who finished in positions 2-5 in the final standings, along with each series’ Raybestos Rookie of the Year.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Todd Bodine.

After a fan vote on NASCAR.com, each series’ Most Popular Driver also was revealed. Keselowski and Narain Karthikeyan were chosen by the fans in the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, respectively. Keselowski took home the award for the third consecutive year, tying him with Kenny Wallace for the most awards in that category.

Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Justin Allgaier and Paul Menard finished second through fifth and were honored along with Keselowski in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team champions
Eric Phillips, Kyle Busch and Rick Ren.

Aric Almirola, Johnny Sauter, Matt Crafton and Austin Dillon were second through fifth in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standings, and joined Bodine on stage.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. earned the Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Dillon claimed the honor in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Stenhouse is the fifth rookie winner for Jack Roush.

SPEED personalities Rick Allen and Krista Voda served as hosts of the event. The NASCAR Nationwide Series/NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Awards Banquet will air on Dec. 3 from 7 to 9 p.m. ET on SPEED, prior to the live telecast of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony from Las Vegas.

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Johanna Long off to Homestead!

Long Hopeful for 2011 NASCAR Season; Brings a Little "Snowball" to Sunny Homestead-Miami Speedway at the Ford 200

18-year old makes first run at 1.5-mile oval; No.20 truck paintout to feature historic Snowball Derby

Mooresville, NC (November 15, 2010) - NASCAR driver Johanna Long, 18, is setting her sights on competing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series' season finale - the Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway "under the lights" on Friday, Nov. 19. Driving the No.20 Panhandle Motorsports Toyota Tundra, she'll be bringing a little "snowball" to sunny Miami by featuring a decal of the historic late model weekend - the 43^rd Annual Snowball Derby. Held at Five Flags Speedway from Dec. 1-5, Long, the defending Blizzard Series champion, will be driving her late model in the weekend's races. After Miami-Homestead (her seventh NCWTS attempt in 2010), Long is also hopeful for a rookie year in 2011 if the right marketing partner can come along.

Continuing the Girl Scouts partnership this year, Long will also take on two of the local Girl Scouts - from Girl Scouts Council of Tropical Florida - as "honorary pit crew" members for the team at the Ford 200. Long partnered at each track this year with a local council, speaking about her journey in motorsports, hard work and determination in whatever they choose to do in life. She will also have her "honorary pit crew" members cross the stage with her at driver introductions.

"I'm excited to have the Snowball Derby decal on the truck this weekend," said Long. "Late models are my roots, my comfort zone and my first love, so it's nice to be able to showcase the Derby where I'm racing now - the Truck Series. The Snowball Derby is a tough week of racing, and I look forward to it every year. A lot of people know me from the Derby and the Blizzard Series - so it's nice to show where I came from in the sport. I'm looking forward to shedding some light on these races, as well as my home track of Five Flags Speedway. Plus, it might give me a little luck going into the weekend!"

Long will make her seventh career NCWTS start at Homestead-Miami Speedway, while juggling the preparations for the upcoming legendary Snowball Derby. A native of Pensacola, Fla., she began her racing career in go-karts at eight years old and then moved on to Legends cars. She then made the big jump to the Pro Late Model division as a 15-year-old at her home track of Five Flags Speedway. She posted three wins and became the youngest track champion - in the long history of Five Flags Speedway. She won at other tracks as well enhancing her racing reputation and move up another level to the Super Late Model division where she competed against and often beat her father Donald, an accomplished racer in the now-defunct All-Pro Series.

This season she made another major jump in the racing ranks, moving to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with Panhandle Motorsport - running a limited schedule this year to gain track knowledge and experience on the Speedways. Her season-best finish of 17^th came at Indianapolis Raceway Park. She also has qualified among the top 20 in all six of her previous starts, with a top qualification of 9^th at Texas Motor Speedway in November.

"I have such great people around me this year, teaching me so much about the tracks. Plus, it has been really awesome to get support from so many of the veteran drivers, all of whom don't hesitate to get me in a car to do track walks. I'm really hopeful for a Rookie season in 2011 - it's time to show what I can do with a full year. We're looking for marketing partners now, and it's critical for that to happen. If anyone out there wants to help support our efforts, please be in touch - let's keep this momentum going!"

ABOUT DRIVER JOHANNA LONG & PANHANDLE MOTORSPORTS:
Johanna Long, 18, is the youngest driver in the elite NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Her career to date has included racing in NCWTS in 2010 with family race team Panhandle Motorsports in Las Vegas, Martinsville & Texas Motor Speedway; as well as three starts with Billy Ballew Motorsports in the NCWTS; and two starts in 2009 in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Former Blizzard Series Champion on the Gulf Coast & driver since the age of five, Long has caught the eyes of many top teams over the years as an "up-and-coming" teen driver. For more information, please visit www.JohannaLong.com, Facebook: http://bit.ly/bglf8H or Twitter: http://twitter.com/JOHANNALONG.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SNOWBAL DERBY:
The Snowball Derby draws the best and brightest Super Late Model teams from all across the land to Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida. For more information about the week's events from December 1-5, 2010, visit http://5flagsspeedway.com/ or www.speed51.com.

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KHI signs Ron Hornaday to multi-year deal

Ron Hornaday confers with DeLana and Kevin Harvick
at Talladega. (Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

KERNERSVILLE, N.C. (November 12, 2010) — Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) announced Friday that four-time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday has signed a multi-year agreement to compete for the team’s Truck Series program in 2011. Hornaday will return to pilot the No. 33 Chevrolet Silverado and compete for his fifth-career Truck Series championship.

“We are very excited and proud to have Ron Hornaday back behind the wheel of the No. 33 truck,” said KHI co-owner Kevin Harvick. “Ron has been an integral part of our Truck Series program since he joined KHI in 2005. He has driven our organization to two Truck Series championships, and I firmly believe that we will continue to compete for Truck Series championships with Hornaday as our driver.”

The 2011 season will mark the 52-year-old Palmdale, Calif., native’s seventh full-time season competing in the Truck Series for KHI. To date, Hornaday has made 273 starts in the Truck Series, and is the series’ winningest driver with 47 victories. Hornaday has earned four Truck Series championship titles (2009, 2007, 1998 and 1996), the two most recent of which were achieved with KHI in the No. 33 truck.

“I couldn’t be happier to be back driving for KHI in 2011,” said Hornaday. “I can’t thank Kevin and DeLana enough for the opportunities that they have given me over the past six years. We’ve had a lot of success together in the Truck Series. This season hasn’t been exactly what we wanted, but that just gives me more drive than ever to go after a fifth Truck Series championship with the No. 33 team in 2011.”

Program details regarding sponsorship of the No. 33 Chevrolet Silverado will be announced at a later date.

Courtesy of KHI press release

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Rascal Flatts, Frank Caliendo to headline NASCAR Sprint Cup Series banquet at Vegas

Awards ceremony will be broadcast Dec. 3 at 9 p.m. ET on SPEED

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 10, 2010) – Country music band Rascal Flatts will join comedian Frank Caliendo at the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony on Friday, Dec. 3, at Wynn Las Vegas.

Broadcast live on SPEED at 9 p.m. ET, Rascal Flatts will entertain fans with a performance of songs from their multi-platinum selling records, as well as their upcoming album, “Nothing Like This,” due to release Nov. 16. Caliendo, impressionist extraordinaire, will host for a second-consecutive year.

“We have a supportive and loyal fan base among NASCAR nation, including the teams and drivers, and we plan to put on a special show for them as we all celebrate the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion,” said Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts. “It will be a thrill to perform in a room with drivers we follow and also call friends, and we look forward to performing for the fans tuning in live to the show.”

The Nashville trio has recorded 11 No. 1 singles and holds nearly 40 music award trophies since their career began in 2000. In the past decade, Rascal Flatts has sold more than 20 million albums and 25 million digital downloads. As part of the album launch of “Nothing Like This,” Rascal Flatts will be kicking off the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony with a special performance.  

Caliendo has become a Las Vegas staple, starring in his own show at Monte Carlo Resort and Casino. The MADtv alumnus is no stranger to NASCAR, having appeared at postseason events for the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, along with last year’s hosting gig.

“I am happy to be back as the host of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony, which is sure to be a fun-filled night with lots of laughs, amazing live performances and highlights from the action on the track this season,” Caliendo said. “Fans watching from home are in for a treat this year as I show off a few surprises I’ve been working on – so get ready!”   

The 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony is the culmination of NASCAR Champion’s Week, a week-long postseason celebration consisting of several days of high-energy and fan-friendly activities involving the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion and drivers who finished in the top 12 of the series’ final standings and competed in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – NASCAR’s “playoffs.” In addition to Rascal Flatts and Caliendo, other talent announcements will be made soon.

For more information on the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony and NASCAR’s Champions Week, visit www.nascar.com/championsweek. 

- Courtesy of NASCAR press release

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NCWTS Youngest Driver--

Meet Johanna Long

Photo credit: NASCAR Media Group

Eyes Forward for Panhandle Motorsports Team & Johanna Long - NCWTS Texas Race Recap

18-year old Shows Talent by Qualifying 9th; Accident Ends Race Early

Mooresville, NC (November 7, 2010) - Young NASCAR driver Johanna Long, 18, was all smiles for her first race at Texas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Winstar World Casinos 250k (NCWTS) under the lights Friday night. Her strong qualifying run in the No. 20 Panhandle Motorsports Toyota Tundra of 30.185 seconds at top speed 178.897 placed her 9^th on the starting grid on her first appearance at the tough 1.5-mile oval. Plus, after a strong lead-lap finish in Martinsville just two weeks prior, she was in positive spirits and ready to log the miles with trusted crew chief Kevin "Cowboy" Starland. Posting solid practice runs the day prior while working through tough wind conditions and cool temps to try to gain speed, the former Blizzard Series Champion and Pensacola, Fla. native was ready for the night's challenging 147 lap race.

Unfortunately, she wasn't able to show her true talent under the lights, as an early shift caused an unavoidable brush with competitor Ricky Carmichael in turn four of the first lap. The No. 4 truck cut the rear left tire of the No. 20 Panhandle Motorsports truck as Carmichael tried to go below Long to avoid a crash, sending Long into the wall as the tire went down. After attempts on pit road to fix the truck, crew chief Starland made the call to bring it to the garage - where excessive damage to key truck components made it impossible to return to the track for laps. Long finished in 36^th place.

Texas Motor Speedway was the continuation of Johanna's "learning year" in one of NASCAR's toughest Series with her new team - driving the No. 20 Panhandle Motorsports Toyota Tundra. Long had a great practice and qualifying day with a veteran crew, to include crew chief Starland - whose critical coaching relationship has been successful in Long's progress. Showing a quick study to the 1.5-mile oval, she qualified in an impressive 9^th position that night in a good simulation of race night conditions - cool and dark on the track. Her busy race day showed that she could handle the pressure of the on-track learning curve and off-track fan signings early on - spending most of the day at the track signing autographs for Toyota Racing and Texas Motor Speedway fans in an effort to build more awareness. Long hoped to finish with her first top-15 of the season, but those hopes were dashed as turn four beckoned on the backstretch.

Long, ever the racer, keeps her chin up and eyes forward - focusing now on the upcoming Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19^th. The Blizzard Series Champion will also return to late model competition on December 4^th at the Allen Turner Snowflake 100, then December 5^th at the prestigious 43^rd Annual Snowball Derby, both at Five Flags Speedway - days of grueling competition heralded in the stock car community. Competing at some of the NCWTS schedule's toughest speedways earlier in the season, Long has completed six starts, with two top-20 finishes and top 20 qualifying grid starts at all races started.

"I'm really disappointed that we couldn't get back out on the track Friday after we worked so hard this week at Texas," Long said. "We made so many great strides during the practice runs, and I was really comfortable at qualifying time. It must have showed in the qualifying run - even I was surprised we hit that high on the board! I'm really trying to get a handle on the speedways this year. It was heartbreaking for me to be out so early, but I have to stay positive and just focus on Homestead. Every time I get a chance to drive, I have to make the most of it. We learned a lot this week - now we're going to take that to Florida and see how we can gain ground for a great finish."

ABOUT DRIVER JOHANNA LONG & PANHANDLE MOTORSPORTS:
Johanna Long, 18, is the youngest driver in the elite NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Her career to

date has included racing in NCWTS in 2010 with family race team Panhandle Motorsports; as well as three starts with Billy Ballew Motorsports in the NCWTS; and two starts in 2009 in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Former Blizzard Series Champion on the Gulf Coast & driver since the age of five, Long has caught the eyes of many top teams over the years as an "up-and-coming" teen driver. For more information, please visit www.JohannaLong.com, Facebook: http://bit.ly/bglf8H or Twitter: http://twitter.com/JOHANNALONG.

Photo credit: NASCAR Media Group

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Kevin Harvick Inc. and Elliott Sadler team up for 2011 Nationwide Series

KERNERSVILLE, N.C. (November 5, 2010) - Kevin Harvick Inc. announced today an expansion of its NASCAR Nationwide Series program with partner CitiFinancial and driver Elliott Sadler. CitiFinancial and Kevin Harvick Inc. have solidified a multi-year deal to compete full time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and run select events in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The partnership will begin on the track during Championship Week at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where Sadler will run the No. 2 CitiFinancial Chevrolet in the Truck Series event. In 2011, CitiFinancial will be the primary sponsor for 29 Nationwide Series races with Sadler, and one Nationwide race with Kevin Harvick.

This partnership marks both a new beginning for each of the three parties involved, as well as an opportunity to build on past experiences. CitiFinancial, which has maintained a strong presence in the sport since 2004, announced earlier this year that it will be changing its name and will use this sponsorship as a key platform to launch that new brand. KHI is excited to build on its successes in the Nationwide Series and run for a championship in 2011. Sadler will start the next chapter of his 15-year career by reuniting with a former sponsor as he looks to add to his career win total of nine in the top three NASCAR series.

Mary McDowell, President and CEO of CitiFinancial North America stated, “We are thrilled to expand and enhance our incredibly successful presence in NASCAR. Our customers and employees are huge supporters of this great sport, and we could not be happier teaming up with Kevin Harvick Inc. and Elliott Sadler. We have worked with Elliott in the past, so this is somewhat of a reunion for NASCAR fans and for us. By partnering with KHI and Elliott, we have a powerful platform from which we can support our new brand and our business overall. We look forward to a great 2011 season on and off the track.”

Sadler comes to KHI as an experienced NASCAR veteran. The 35 year old made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut in 1995 at South Boston (Va.) Speedway accumulating 130 starts, five wins, 19 top-five and 38 top-10 finishes. Sadler will compete full time in the Nationwide Series in 2011 and vie for his first series title. During 2010, Sadler will compete in one Nationwide and eight Truck Series races for KHI. He won his first Truck race of his career in KHI equipment at Pocono (Pa.) International Raceway in July. Sadler also qualified on the pole and finished third while representing KHI at Bristol in the August Nationwide Series race.

“Kevin and DeLana and everyone at KHI have really rejuvenated my career,” stated Sadler. “I’ve been in some very fortunate situations throughout my career and I feel like running the races for KHI this year is a perfect example. It opened a lot of doors for me and obviously helped get us to this point. We’re committing to race for the Nationwide Championship in 2011. That’s a very achievable goal and one that I’m very hungry for. CitiFinancial is a partner I worked with when I drove for Robert Yates. We had a lot of fun during those days and I feel like this time around is going to be even better. We’re going to kick this partnership off in Homestead and spend all winter getting ready to run for a championship.”

For 2011, KHI also takes a big step as an organization as they continue to expand. The team ran two full-time Nationwide Series entries in 2006 and 2007, scaling back the program in 2008. Since 2008, the team has earned six wins, 46 top-five and 67 top-10 finishes, including 10 pole awards. KHI co-owner Kevin Harvick felt 2011 was the right time to grow KHI back into a two-car Nationwide Series team.

“DeLana and I couldn’t be happier to bring Elliott Sadler on board at KHI,” said KHI co-owner Kevin Harvick. “I think when you can bring somebody with that kind of experience to a team; it brings a very credible element to the program because he’s a proven winner in the Cup, Nationwide and Truck Series. For us, it’s the first time that we’ve had a legitimate shot to make a run at the Nationwide Series championship and that’s really exciting as team owners. We’ve been able to win two championships in the Truck Series, and I feel like the next step as a company is to pursue the Nationwide Series championship and I think Elliott Sadler is the right guy for the job.

"We are also very pleased to be joined by a new partner at KHI,” Harvick continued. “CitiFinancial has been involved in NASCAR for many years, and we are proud they decided to join KHI. Next season we look forward to taking them to victory lane and racing for a championship."

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Infineon’s 10th Annual Food Drive

Donate to Infineon Raceway's 10th Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive

Infineon Raceway will again join forces with the public this holiday season for its 10^th annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, Nov. 1-19.

These are incredibly difficult times, making this year’s drive extremely important — all of the non-perishable food items collected will be given to Friends in Sonoma Helping (FISH) in Sonoma and the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano.

The annual food drive has generated more than 15,000 pounds of food since its inception in 2001, including 5,500 pounds in 2009.

“We feed 250 families every month, and with costs going up it makes it difficult,” said Leona Shipley, FISH central manager and food room volunteer. “So far we’ve been able to do it with the help of the people in the valley, including Infineon Raceway, and with the holidays coming, we want to be able to give as much as we always have.”


Those who would like to donate to the food drive can drop off non-perishable food items to the following locations:

• Sonoma Market, 500 West Napa St., Sonoma, (707) 996-3411 (707) 996-3411
• Glen Ellen Village Market, 13751 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, (707) 996-6728 (707) 996-6728
• Top That Frozen Yogurt, 531 Broadway, Sonoma, (707) 933-8455 (707) 933-
• Mike Larbre Automotive, 19080 Arnold Dr., Sonoma, (707) 996-3365 (707)
• Destination RKA, 930 Shiloh Rd, Bldg 41-C, Windsor, (707) 836-7659 (707) 836-7659 . www.rka-luggage.com.
• Infineon Raceway Front Office, 29355 Arnold Dr., Sonoma, CA 95476. 800-870-RACE 800-870-RACE or www.infineonraceway.com.
• Food items can also mailed to: Jennifer Imbimbo, Infineon Raceway, Highways 37 and 121, Sonoma, CA, 95476.

“In this time of need, community-minded businesses such as Infineon Raceway are stepping forward to help fill the cupboards of our hungry neighbors and I would like to express our gratitude for their assistance,” says Larry Sly, Executive Director of the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano.

FISH has been helping Sonoma Valley residents in times of need since 1970. For more information, call (707) 996-0111 (707) 996-0111 The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano has been serving the community for 35 years providing food to more than 132,000 hungry people in need every month directly at community sites and through a network of 180 charitable agencies. For more information, visit www.foodbankccs.org or call (925) 676-7543 (925) 676-7543

For more information on the food drive, please contact Jennifer Imbimbo at (707) 933-3981 (707) 933-3981 or jennifer@infineonraceway.com.

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Crown Royal to honor military service with race name

Nominations for 'Your Name Here' 400 contest for April Richmond race will be accepted through Nov. 30

Crown Royal takes pride in showcasing our country’s finest heroes, and once again, the tradition will live on. The makers of Crown Royal Canadian whisky, a subsidiary of Diageo plc (NYSE: DEO), will award naming rights to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway on April 30, 2011 to a serviceman or servicewoman.

This marks the second time throughout the five-year history of the Crown Royal “Your Name Here” 400 contest that only individuals serving our country can be nominated. Nominations will be accepted until Nov. 30 and can be submitted to www.nascar.com/crownroyal.

"Crown Royal truly takes pride in ensuring that our race entitlement shines light on all the everyday heroes who serve our country,” said Heather Boyd, senior brand manager of Crown Royal. “We believe that the experience provided to the winner is unprecedented and really transforms one deserving individual into a superstar the entire race weekend. We look forward to reading all the nominations and announcing our finalists and grand prize winner in February, at the Daytona race.”

Once nominations are received, Crown Royal will provide fans the opportunity to cast their votes for whose name they think should be incorporated into the annual spring NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Richmond International Raceway. The grand prize winner will then be announced from Daytona in a patriotic ceremony among all the finalists, NASCAR’s Roush Fenway Racing driver Matt Kenseth and representatives from Crown Royal and Richmond International Raceway.
"There are no words to describe how special this is for one serviceman or servicewoman," Kenseth said.  "Crown Royal goes the extra step to ensure the individual who wins is treated like royalty throughout race weekend. I encourage all adult race fans to think about their friends and family serving our country and nominate them for this honor."

This past May the race was titled “Crown Royal Presents the Heath Calhoun 400” in honor of retired serviceman Heath Calhoun.  Calhoun was awarded the honor for his determination and ability to inspire others to live their lives to the fullest despite their injuries. Prior to his race in Richmond, Calhoun also competed on the US Paralympics Team at the 2010 Paralympics Winter Games, where he scored an 8th-place finish in the Super-G and a 10th-place finish in the Men’s Super Combined alpine skiing events.

“It is great to have a dedicated partner like Crown Royal continue to make the spring NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway something special and like no other race on the circuit,” said track President Doug Fritz. “We are honored to be involved again in 2011 in showcasing one inspirational serviceman or servicewoman’s story of incredible courage and patriotism.”

Those wishing to nominate one of their fellow soldiers (21 or older) to be the next Heath Calhoun, must write a brief essay, 50 words or less, on how that individual demonstrated the core values of the military in performing a selfless act that made them a hero.

Leading up to the big day in Richmond, Crown Royal will continue to remind fans to "Please Drink Responsibly.” through its “Safe Rides Home” designated driver initiatives and other programming designed to reinforce the importance of drinking responsibly.

NASCAR returns to Richmond International Raceway April 29-30, 2011 for an action-packed doubleheader weekend. The April 30 Crown Royal Presents The Your Name Here 400 showcases the stars of the NASCAR Sprint Cup series beating and banging around Richmond's 3/4-mile short track. Friday, April 29, features a full day of on-track activity, including the BUBBA burger 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race "under the lights," as well as practice and pole qualifying for the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series. Tickets go on sale to the general public January 15, 2011.

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Jeff Gordon to 'Drive to End Hunger' beginning in 2011

Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

AARP Foundation's Drive To End Hunger will serve as the No. 24's primary sponsor for 22 races annually from 2011 to 2013
 
CONCORD, N.C. (Oct. 27, 2010) – Hendrick Motorsports and four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon have teamed with AARP and AARP Foundation on the Drive To End Hunger, an unprecedented three-year initiative to address the growing problem of hunger among older Americans, including 6 million over the age of 60.

Drive to End Hunger will be the majority sponsor of Gordon's No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team in 2011, 2012 and 2013, with primary paint schemes in 22 Sprint Cup races annually. The No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet, which will be unveiled at a later date, will race in the next three Daytona 500 events.

Since 1992 DuPont has served as the main sponsor of the No. 24, but the company is planning to cut back its investment in 2011. DuPont and Pepsi will return as primary sponsors for select races.

The deal marks the first time a nonprofit has signed on for a primary sponsorship in NASCAR. AARP Foundation President Jo Ann Jenkins said the foundation is planning to find corporate co-sponsors to share the car for all its races.

"This is a truly unique opportunity to help people, and it's a completely new, cause-driven approach to sponsorship," said Gordon, 39, winner of 82 career Sprint Cup races. "Every single day, millions of older Americans are forced to make a choice between food, medicine and utilities. It's going to be a team effort, and it's not going to be easy, but we can solve this problem."

With Gordon as its spokesperson, Drive to End Hunger will help the millions of older Americans who are facing hunger across the United States. The effort will engage the NASCAR fan base, corporations and charitable organizations via a text-to-donate program; activation at racetracks across the country; further research on the causes and consequences of hunger in older Americans; and an innovative national grant program that will provide resources to address the problem at a local level.

Donations from Drive to End Hunger will benefit the hunger programs of AARP Foundation.

"Hunger is a hidden problem that millions of older Americans are battling silently. In fact, between 2006 and 2008, the percentage of seniors struggling with hunger more than doubled," said Jenkins. "NASCAR fans are among the most charitable, community-minded sports fans in the country, and they have a track record of commitment. With the help of Jeff and the Hendrick team, we will make the most of this unprecedented opportunity to end the struggle that so many older Americans have with hunger."

Drive to End Hunger will build on the hunger initiative launched earlier this year by AARP Foundation, including volunteer-led food drives, individual and corporate fundraising campaigns, and online hunger resources at www.aarp.org/hunger.

"It's exciting to see a new organization engage with our sport and our fans through such an innovative approach," said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "Having seen firsthand what the NASCAR community is capable of accomplishing, I know the program will help a lot of people in our country who desperately need it. Success ultimately will be measured by how many lives we can impact, and that's a truly unique and special opportunity for everyone involved."

For more information, please visit www.DriveToEndHunger.org.

To see what Jeff Gordon has to say about the new initiative, read his blog here.


- Release courtesy of Hendrick Motorsports

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Jail and Bail event raises $150,000 for Brienne Davis Scholarship Fund

Judge John Darby, right, NASCAR Managing Director of Competition, requests bail for two-time
Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart during the third annual NASCAR Jail & Bail held
at Brickhouse Tavern in Davidson, N.C. (Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Oct. 26, 2010) – Twenty NASCAR drivers and celebrities joined more than 1,000 fans to help collect $150,000 in donations and pledges at the Third Official Jail and Bail charity event benefitting the Brienne Davis Scholarship Fund on Oct. 12 at Brickhouse Tavern in Davidson, N.C. Over the three years of the event, more than $300,000 has been raised to provide 30 scholarships for qualified female students.

The Brienne Davis Scholarship Fund is intended to provide an opportunity for qualified female students who wish to attend any one of Universal Technical Institute’s 11 campuses across the U.S., including the NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, N.C.

Alabama Gang members, left to right, Donnie Allison, Bobby Allison and Red Farmer
look for someone to bail them out of jail. (Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

The evening included NASCAR drivers and other celebrities being “sentenced” and put behind bars with all of the “bail money” going to support the scholarship fund. Inmates included NASCAR drivers Landon Cassill; Kevin Conway; Denny Hamlin; Brad Keselowski; Travis Kvapil; Joey Logano; Casey Mears; Michael McDowell; Joe Nemechek; Max Papis; Tony Raines; Brian Scott; Reed Sorenson; Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Tony Stewart. Others locked up were the No. 11 FedEx Pit Crew, NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee Jerry Cook and NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison and Red Farmer of “The Alabama Gang.”

Joining “Judge John Darby” were “prosecutors” Jimmy Spencer of SPEED, NASCAR’s Mike Phillips and ESPN’s Marty Smith as NASCAR crew chiefs Kevin “Bono” Manion, Slugger Labbe and Tommy Baldwin Jr. served as the “dream team” defense attorneys. The event was hosted by NASCAR media personalities Matt Yocum and Ray Dunlap.

NASCAR Nationwide Series points leader and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
driver Brad Keselowski signs autographs. (Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Legendary country music artists The Charlie Daniels Band was joined by recording artist and hit songwriter Bridgette Tatum to provide memorable entertainment for the event.

Davis, a Universal Technical Institute (UTI) graduate and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series official, died in 2008 at age 28, and is honored by this scholarship created to encourage women to seek careers in the automotive industry.

About the Brienne Davis Scholarship Fund
The Brienne Davis Scholarship Fund is intended to provide an opportunity for qualified female students who wish to attend any one of Universal Technical Institute’s eleven campuses across the U.S., including the NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, N.C. Each year, $10,000 scholarships are presented to three female students who wish to further their education at a UTI campus. Criteria and application information for this scholarship is available on the UTI Foundation website at www.utifoundation.net.

About UTI Foundation:
The UTI Foundation, a 501(c)(3) Arizona nonprofit, is the umbrella organization for all Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) not-for-profit initiatives and is dedicated to raising funds to further its mission and strategic goals. The UTI Foundation supports technical education for the automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle, marine and NASCAR industries through scholarships, grants, career development and other special programs. For more information, visit www.utifoundation.net.

Martha Nemechek attempts to bail out her son, double-duty NASCAR
driver Joe Nemechek. (Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

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Nashville Superspeedway Announces New Season Ticket Pricing for 2011

LEBANON, Tenn. – Always looking for new ways to make a trip to see a NASCAR race more fan-friendly and affordable, Nashville Superspeedway has introduced new season ticket pricing for its two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series-NASCAR Nationwide Series tandem race weekends in 2011.

Season tickets are now available and fans can purchase a season ticket package for adults for $129, while junior season tickets will be just $40 for the 2011 NASCAR season. The age limit for junior tickets has also been extended to include fans 14 years old and younger. Nashville’s 2011 season will include two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series-NASCAR Nationwide Series doubleheaders on April 22-23 and July 22-23, 2011.

A season ticket package includes a reserved seat for all four NASCAR events. To order a season ticket package call 1-866-RACE-TIX or visit NashvilleSuperspeedway.com. Single race tickets for all 2011 NASCAR events at Nashville Superspeedway will go on sale to the public on Jan. 5, 2011.

“Combining our 2011 race dates into two race weekends was the first step towards giving race fans a more efficient way to come see a race,” said Cliff Hawks, vice president and general manager of Nashville Superspeedway. “Now with our revised season ticket pricing, fans can take advantage of one of the most affordable season ticket packages available in the sport.”

ALL ACCESS passes will continue to be included in all season ticket packages. ALL ACCESS allows fans unprecedented access at the track prior to the race. Fans can attend the pre-race driver’s meeting, walk the grid near the cars and trucks, visit Victory Lane and experience the Fan Walk prior to the start of the race.

As an additional benefit to those who purchase season tickets, the track will host Nashville Season Ticket Holder Day on Saturday, March 19, 2011. Season ticket holders will be able to drive their vehicle around the 1.33-mile track behind a pace vehicle on the day that they can receive their printed season tickets.

NASCAR returns to Nashville Superspeedway in 2011 with two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series-NASCAR Nationwide Series doubleheaders on April 22-23 and July 22-23. For more information, call 1-866-RACE-TIX or visitNashvilleSuperspeedway.com.

About Nashville Superspeedway:

Nashville Superspeedway is owned by Dover Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE: DVD), a leading promoter of motorsports events in the United States. DVD subsidiaries operate three tracks in three states, and present several hundred motorsports events each year. This includes 14 major, national events which include races sanctioned by NASCAR and the NHRA. Dover Motorsports, Inc. also owns and operates Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del., and Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis, Mo. For further information log on to www.DoverMotorsports.com.

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Mobil 1 Joins Stewart-Haas Racing in 2011

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – ExxonMobil signed a multi-year sponsorship agreement with two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart and Stewart-Haas Racing beginning in 2011. The new agreement allows ExxonMobil to build on Mobil 1’s “Official Motor Oil of NASCAR” designation and demonstrate its ongoing commitment to NASCAR.

“With Mobil 1’s long tradition of partnering with world-class race teams around the globe, we are proud of our new association with one of NASCAR’s top drivers,” said Nigel Searl, vice president marketing, ExxonMobil Lubricants & Petroleum Specialties Company. “We look forward to helping Stewart-Haas Racing secure a Sprint Cup Series championship and add to the list of successful teams that Mobil 1 has supported for more than 30 years.”

Stewart has been one of the most successful Sprint Cup drivers since joining the elite series in 1999. He has 39 career wins, including championships in 2002 and 2005. He also has a streak of 12 consecutive seasons with at least one victory, the longest active stretch in Sprint Cup.  Stewart qualified for the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup, marking the sixth time he has accomplished the feat since the inception of the Chase in 2004.

“As a team owner, I’m absolutely thrilled to add such a respected technology partner to our race team,” said Tony Stewart, co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing. “And as a driver, it’s exciting to partner with a brand that has such an incredible racing pedigree. ExxonMobil is committed to producing the highest-quality racing motor oil and shares the same winning attitude that champions must have to succeed at this level.”

Mobil 1 will serve as the co-primary sponsor of the No. 14 Chevrolet Impala with Office Depot, the “Official Office Products Partner of NASCAR.”  Mobil 1 will be prominently featured on the hood of Stewart’s car for 11 races, while taking a high-profile associate role in the remaining 25 races, as well as the two non-point races.

In addition, ExxonMobil will provide Mobil 1 lubricant technology and engineering support to Stewart-Haas Racing and Mobil 1 will be an associate sponsor of Ryan Newman’s No. 39 Chevrolet Impala, which is also fielded by Stewart-Haas Racing.

Mobil 1 has been the Official Motor Oil of NASCAR since 2003 and is used by more than 50 percent of the teams in NASCAR’s top-three series.

# # #

About Mobil 1 in Motorsports

Mobil 1 has long been the lubricant of choice for race teams competing in the most demanding and popular motorsports series across the globe. Mobil 1’s history in motorsports officially began in 1978 with a sponsorship of Williams Formula One Racing Team. From that time, Mobil 1′s presence on race tracks and circuits has grown by global proportions. Today, Mobil 1 synthetic oil is relied on for its ability to deliver exceptional engine performance and protection even under some of the most extreme conditions by automotive technicians, race car drivers, team owners and the world’s leading automotive manufacturers.

Along with its status as the Official Motor Oil of NASCAR and previous 19 year relationship with Penske Racing, Mobil 1 enjoys a long association with many of world’s most popular and successful race teams, including Vodafone McLaren Mercedes’ Formula One team, Corvette Racing’s American LeMans Series team, the official AMG-Mercedes factory teams in the European-based DTM championship, Alex Job Racing Le Mans GT2 team, as well as the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup—the world’s fastest international one-make series.

About Mobil 1

The world’s leading synthetic motor oil brand, Mobil 1 features anti-wear technology that provides performance beyond conventional motor oils. This technology allows Mobil 1 to meet or exceed the toughest standards of car builders and to provide exceptional protection against engine wear, under normal or even some of the most extreme conditions.  Mobil 1 flows quickly in extreme temperatures to protect critical engine parts and is designed to maximize engine performance and help extend engine life.

About Stewart-Haas Racing

Stewart-Haas Racing is the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team co-owned by two-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation, the largest CNC machine tool builder in the western world. The team fields two entries in the elite Sprint Cup Series – the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet Impala for Stewart, and the No. 39 U.S. Army/Tornados/Haas Automation Chevrolet Impala for 2008 Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman. Based in Kannapolis, N.C., Stewart-Haas Racing operates out of a 140,000-square-foot facility with more than 150 employees. For more information, visit www.StewartHaasRacing.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/StewartHaasRacing and on Twitter at @StewartHaasRcng.

Mobil and Mobil 1 are registered trademarks of Exxon Mobil Corporation or one of its subsidiaries.

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Kyle Busch Motorsports to hold grand opening Oct. 14

Fan appreciation activities include autograph session with Busch, Brian Ickler

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 6, 2010) – Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM), which recently moved into its newly completed corporate headquarters and race shop in Mooresville, invites race fans to its KBM Grand Opening and Fan Appreciation Day festivities on Thursday, Oct. 14.

Among the events and fan attractions on tap for the event, which begins at 9 a.m. and lasts until 6 p.m., is a morning autograph session featuring KBM driver-owner Kyle Busch and his fellow driver of the No. 18 KBM Toyota Tundra in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Brian Ickler. The autograph session is slated for a 9:30 a.m. start and will be limited to the first 200 fans who purchase a wristband for $2, proceeds from which benefit the Kyle Busch Foundation. Wristbands will be available on-site beginning at 8:30 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. A maximum of two items per wristband purchase will be autographed.

Fans attending the Grand Opening and Fan Appreciation Day festivities can tour the high-tech and environmentally friendly 77,000-square-foot KBM facility, where the team builds and prepares its stable of Toyota Tundra racetrucks.

Racetrucks and showcars will be on display in the KBM showroom, and fans can try their hands at a tire-changing display and take a turn at racing Traxxas radio-controlled cars. Fans can also find a variety of KBM merchandise and memorabilia in the brand new Rowdy Store at the facility.

“We are extremely happy with how our facility has turned out, and we’re excited about the opportunity to open our doors to our fans and let them inside for an up-close-and-personal look at the world of Kyle Busch Motorsports,” said Busch, the 25-year-old driving phenom whose Truck Series team has positioned itself to challenge for the 2010 owner’s championship in its very first season.

“We’re proud of our team, we’re thankful for our sponsors and supporters, and we’re so glad to invite everyone to our race shop,” Busch continued. “Actually, I think ‘corporate headquarters’ is a more appropriate description of what we have here. Not only do we build and prepare our racetrucks, we also are equipped to conduct executive meetings and gatherings for our partners and prospective partners on a daily basis. And we’re also proud of the fact that our facility has become a cornerstone for a number of ‘green’ initiatives. There are enough cutting-edge technologies involved in the construction of our building to put it on a path to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, which would be something that’s unprecedented in motorsports facilities, whether it’s in NASCAR, IndyCar or Formula 1. That’s something in itself to be proud of. We welcome our fans to come out, see what we have going on here, and have a great time.”

Drinks and cookies will be sampled from NOS Energy Drink and Otis Spunkmeyer cookies, as well as items for purchase, which include Mars, Inc., brands of candies and snack foods, Moose Juice slurpee products, as well as hamburgers and hot dogs sold by the truck drivers association.

Raffle tickets will also be available for a chance to win the grand prize in this year’s “Win Kyle’s Tundra” promotion, in which the winner receives a 2010 Toyota Tundra pickup, as well as round-trip airfare and accommodations for two to the Nov. 12-14 NASCAR race weekend at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Ariz. Details about the promotion, which benefits the Kyle Busch Foundation, can be found at www.WinKylesTundra.com.
 
Kyle Busch Motorsports is located at 351 Mazeppa Road in Mooresville. There will be free parking across the street from the facility on the day of the Grand Opening and Fan Appreciation Day.

Late updates and more information can be found at www.kylebuschmotorsports.com

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Toyota Takes Third Nationwide Series Title (Manufacturers Championship)

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (October 2, 2010) — When Joey Logano’s Camry crossed the finish line first in Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) race at Kansas Speedway, it enabled Toyota to clinch its third consecutive NNS manufacturer’s championship in just its fourth year of series competition.

This marks the seventh time that Toyota has earned a NASCAR manufacturer’s title since its NASCAR debut in 2004. Last year, Toyota captured its second straight NNS title, and in each of the past four years (2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009) Toyota has won the manufacturer’s championship in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS).

The performance of five full-time teams fielding 10 Camrys — Braun Racing, Diamond- Waltrip Racing, Germain Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) and Rusty Wallace Racing — all contributed to the 2010 title earning Toyota the Bill France Performance Cup. Camry Nationwide Series drivers have combined to produce 15 victories, 62 top-five finishes, 123 top- 10 results and 15 pole positions in the first 29 events of the 2010 season.

“Toyota’s accomplishments in the NASCAR Nationwide Series are the result of countless hours of hard work and dedication by all of our race teams and engine builders working in conjunction with TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development),” said Lee White, TRD’s president and general manager. “All the race team members and everyone at TRD spent countless hours in producing the new Nationwide Series car for this year along with maintaining the superior performance of our existing cars. To earn a third consecutive manufacturer’s championship in this competitive series is a testament to the teams, sponsors, drivers and team members that are a part of the Toyota Nationwide program.”

This year, JGR drivers Kyle Busch (11 wins) in the No. 18 Toyota Camry, and Denny Hamlin (one win) and Joey Logano (two wins) in the No. 20 Toyota Camry, have combined to win 14 NNS races.

Along with JGR’s 14 NNS wins this season, JTG-Daugherty Racing earned a triumph in August with Marcos Ambrose behind the steering wheel at New York’s Watkins Glen International road course.

“It is an honor to be such a big part of Toyota’s third manufacturer’s title in the Nationwide Series,” said Busch. “Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota have formed a great relationship and it shows through the success of our Nationwide Series program in this record-breaking season.”

A total of 33 different drivers have participated in the Nationwide Series in a Camry this year, including Jason Leffler — who has started every Nationwide Series race since Toyota entered the series in 2007 (134 races). Since joining the Nationwide Series in 2007, Camry drivers have won 52 races and captured 46 pole positions.

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion. Established in 1957, TMS markets products and services through a network of more than 1,400 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers. Toyota directly employs more than 34,000 people in the U.S. and sold more than 1.77 million vehicles in 2009. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com, www.lexus.com, www.scion.com or www.toyotanewsroom.com.

TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development) Powering all of Toyota’s American racing programs is TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development) in Costa Mesa, Calif., and Salisbury, N.C. A subsidiary of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., TRD serves as the North American racing arm for design, development and assembly of Toyota’s factory racing engines.

2010 TOYOTA ‘FAST FACTS’ NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES

This is Toyota’s fourth season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS).

Toyota clinched its third consecutive NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) manufacturer’s championship Saturday at Kansas Speedway when Joey Logano’s Camry crossed the finish line first.

In 2010, five teams fielded 10 full-time Camrys in NNS competition. Camry NNS teams included Braun Racing (Nos. 10, 11, 32 and 38), Diamond-Waltrip Racing (No. 99), Germain Racing (No. 15), Joe Gibbs Racing (Nos. 18 and 20) and Rusty Wallace Racing (Nos. 62 and 66).

2010 SEASON

Since the start of this season, Camry drivers have earned 62 top-five results and 123 top-10 finishes.

Four Camry drivers – Michael Annett, Brendan Gaughan, Jason Leffler and Steve Wallace — have participated in all 29 NNS races in Toyotas this season. Drivers Trevor Bayne and Brian Scott have competed in 28 NNS races driving Camrys.

Wins (15) Kyle Busch (11): California, Phoenix, Texas, Dover, Charlotte, Loudon, Chicagoland, ORP, Iowa, Bristol-2 and Dover-2 Joey Logano (2): Kentucky and Kansas Marcos Ambrose (1): Watkins Glen Denny Hamlin (1): Darlington

Poles (15) Joey Logano (6): California, Nashville, Texas, Kentucky, Dover-2 and Kansas Trevor Bayne (3): St. Louis, ORP and Iowa Marcos Ambrose (2): Watkins Glen and Montreal Kyle Busch (2): Richmond and Dover Denny Hamlin (1): Darlington Kasey Kahne (1): Atlanta

HISTORY SINCE 2007

Wins (52) Kyle Busch (30) Joey Logano (8) Denny Hamlin (5) Tony Stewart (5) Marcos Ambrose (2) Jason Leffler (1) David Reutimann (1)

Poles (46) Joey Logano (13) Kyle Busch (9) Trevor Bayne (4) Denny Hamlin (4) Marcos Ambrose (3) Brian Vickers (3) Jason Leffler (2) David Reutimann (2) Tony Stewart (2) Dave Blaney (1) James Buescher (1) Kasey Kahne (1) Scott Speed (1)

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#18 Crew Wins Pit Road Award at AAA 400

At Dover International Speedway

Photo courtesy of @SamSarcinella

Kyle Busch's Crew Captures NASCAR Sprint Cup Pit Road Award At Dover

Kyle Busch's pit crew claimed the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Sunday's AAA 400 Sprint Cup race (Sept. 26) at Dover International Speedway.

It was the third Tissot win of the season for the No. 18 crew, which moved into a three-way tie for second place in the Tissot standings. Jeff Gordon's No. 24 crew continues to lead with four wins.

The weekly-winning crew receives $5,000 from Tissot plus a Tissot V8 Quartz Chronograph watch. The team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver.

The Joe Gibbs Racing team finished 1-2-3 in the Tissot pit road competition in Dover with Busch's No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota spending the least amount of time on pit road - 254.478 seconds. Denny Hamlin's No. 11 FedEx Toyota was second (255.463) and coming in third was Joey Logano's No. 20 Home Depot Toyota (257.578).

The No. 18 over-the-wall crew consists of: Nick Odell (front-tire changer), Brad Donaghy (front-tire carrier), Jake Seminara (rear-tire changer), Kenny Barber (rear-tire carrier), Jeff Fender (jackman), Tom Lampe (gasman), Jason Hinson (catch can). The team's pit crew coach is Mike Lepp and the crew chief is Dave Rogers.

"I'm real proud of this Interstate Batteries / M&M's over-the-wall gang," said Rogers. "They've been extremely fast and reliable all year. The Tissot Pit Road Precision Award is a testament to their speed, but their talent goes far beyond that. They are a fun group of guys to work with, they keep their egos in check, and they thrive on pressure. These guys are the real deal and are instrumental in the success of this race team."

Post credited to PaddockTalk NASCAR News

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Charlotte area hotels reduce rates for Bank of America weekend

Charlotte Motor Speedway will partner with regional tourism bureaus and area hotel operators to secure lower room rates for fans attending races during Bank of America 500 Week, Oct. 13 - 16.
More than 50 hotels within approximately one hour of the 1.5-mile superspeedway have agreed to reduce their race week room rates by 15 percent and waive the minimum stay requirements.

“We strive to make the fan experience at Charlotte Motor Speedway second to none,” said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. “We understand that lodging can be a significant expense and we are very thankful to these area hotels who have taken the initiative to help fans alleviate some of those costs.”

A full list of participating hotels is available here or fans can call the speedway’s ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267). In order to obtain the discounted rate, those interested must call the hotels directly and request the Speedway Special when making reservations.


In addition to the lower hotel rates, cost savings extend to the speedway as well. The Bank of America Fan 4 Pack, which includes four race tickets to the Bank of America 500, four hot dogs and four Coca-Cola-brand soft drinks, is available for just $39.75 a person. The Super Ticket is also available, giving fans the opportunity to see four nights of action-packed racing, including Bojangles’ Pole Night qualifying, the World of Outlaws Late Model Showdown at The Dirt Track, the Dollar General 300 Nationwide Series race and the Bank of America 500, starting at just $99.

Charlotte Motor Speedway offers 164 acres of free parking and coolers, limited to 14 inches in any direction, are also permitted in the grandstands.

For fans who are interested in camping instead of a hotel stay, Charlotte Motor Speedway also offers numerous affordable camping options, including Pre-Packaged Campsites – all fans need to bring is clothes! Speedway officials will set-up the campsite, which includes a tent, one lantern, a bottle of propane, sleeping bags and chairs for two, three, five or eight people. There are eight pre-packaged sites located in the infield or outside of the track from which fans can choose. 

Connect with Charlotte Motor Speedway by following on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CLTMotorSpdwy or by becoming a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/charlottemotorspeedway.

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