The NASCAR Foundation Hosts Rusty’s Roast Of Richard Childress Presented By Musco Lighting At Iowa Speedway On July 29

NEWTON, Iowa (July 22, 2010) – Iowa Speedway will be the site of a very special night that will honor and celebrate the career of one of NASCAR’s most successful team owners, Richard Childress.

NASCAR Foundation Board Member Rusty Wallace, the 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, will team with his brother, NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Kenny Wallace, to host Rusty’s Roast of Richard Childress presented by Musco Lighting on July 29 at the Newton Club. Money raised from the Roast will benefit The NASCAR Foundation, an organization created to raise funds and increase volunteerism to support non-profit charities and causes throughout the nation that help children lead happier, healthier lives.

Attendees will hear from some of Childress’ closest friends, including Featherlite Trailers CEO Conrad Clement, Richard Childress Racing driver Clint Bowyer, NASCAR President Mike Helton and former RCR team member and SIRIUS NASCAR Radio host Chocolate Myers. In addition to telling their favorite Childress stories, the roasters will celebrate key moments from Childress’ illustrious career, including the record 11 car-owner championships and six championships he won with legendary driver Dale Earnhardt.

 Rusty’s Roast of Richard Childress is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.

“I’ve known Richard Childress for a long time and he’s been a huge part of bringing NASCAR racing to where it is today,” Wallace said. “With that said, having been friends with him for so long just gives me that many more embarrassing stories to tell about him! This event is going to be a blast and benefits a great cause in The NASCAR Foundation. I’m really honored to be hosting it.”

Tables and individual seats for Rusty’s Roast are available for purchase by the general public. Fans interested in learning more should go to www.nascarfoundation.com.

In addition to Rusty’s Roast, NASCAR fans and community members will get the opportunity to take to the track on Saturday, July 31 with Rusty for Rusty’s Walk presented by Iowa Pork Producers Association. The Track Walk also will raise funds for The NASCAR Foundation and will give fans the unique opportunity to walk a lap around the 7/8-mile track alongside the 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion as well as several NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers including Steve Arpin, Brian Scott, Steve Wallace and Josh Wise before the start of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race (7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN2). The event kicks off at 11 a.m. and is $30 in advance or $35 at the track. To register online for Rusty’s Walk visit WWW.NASCAR.COM/foundation and click “Track Walks.”

About The NASCAR Foundation
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc., (NASCAR) launched The NASCAR Foundation in January 2006. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity that embodies the compassion of the NASCAR Family and its commitment to serving communities. The Foundation seeks to raise funds and increase volunteerism to support non-profit charities and charitable causes throughout the nation with an emphasis placed on initiatives that affect the ability of children to live, learn and play. For more information on The NASCAR Foundation, please visit the website: WWW.NASCAR.COM/foundation.

- The NASCAR Foundation, Press Release

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Johanna Long Makes Truck Series Debut at ORP

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (July 19, 2010) – The AAA Insurance 200 will mark Johanna Long’s debut in one of NASCAR’s top-three series.  The Pensacola, Fla., native will drive the No. 15 Billy Ballew Motorsports (BBM) Toyota Tundra at the famed O’Reilly Raceway Park in her first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series outing.

Long has already collected an impressive list of racing accomplishments.  At only 18 years old, she touts Late Model championships in the Blizzard Series and Gulf Coast Series from the 2009 season. Long won five of the 36 events she ran en route to her championships and captured the pole for the esteemed Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in 2009. Long also competed in two ARCA events last season.

Long has tested with BBM twice.  She worked with the No. 15 team at Caraway (N.C.) Speedway and Gresham (Ga.) Motorsports Park (GMP) in preparation for her inaugural NASCAR race. While at GMP, Long clicked off the fastest lap time at the half-mile asphalt oval. Her time of 17.218 seconds was the quickest among NASCAR’s top-three series since the facility was repaved last season.

 Long will carry the colors of John Andretti’s Race 4 Riley event on the hood of her truck. Thanks to people like John Andretti and Dave Wilson, and their support of Riley Hospital for Children, we’re one step closer to every child having an equal chance of growing to adulthood. The three-day Race 4 Riley event begins on Wednesday, July 21 with donations going to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Long Comments on the AAA Insurance 200:

“I’m really excited to go racing trucks.  I’ve been racing Late Models my whole life and this is the next step.  I’m ready to take it.

“After a few test sessions, I’ve learned that Late Models are a lot different than trucks. Late Models are a lot lighter, and when you go in the corners, you can slam on the brakes and turn the car wherever it needs to go. You have to be a little easier in the trucks. They’re a little lazy.  You have to let off the gas and then start turning it. It’s a lot different to get used to.

“I’ve been to ORP before in Late Model competition.  It’s an awesome race track. It’s definitely a racer’s track. The turns are really wide, so you’re all over the place. I did pretty well with my Late Model, so I’m excited to go back.”

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NASCAR may have finally drawn line in the sand

It looks like NASCAR may have figured out where the proverbial "line" is with a little help from Carl Edwards after Saturday night's Nationwide Series race at Gateway International Raceway.

Following the incident between Edwards and Brad Keselowski in the Sprint Cup event at Atlanta Motor Speedway back in March, NASCAR placed Edwards on probation for three races, with no fine and no suspension -- seemingly to the dismay of some of his fellow competitors. The move, or lack thereof, prompted Kevin Harvick to tweet that he maybe should ask NASCAR for refunds for some of his fines from over the years.

According to NASCAR President Mike Helton, the issue in the Atlanta incident was the fact that Keselowski's car got airborne, something that Edwards didn't intend to happen. Helton also said in a statement following the Atlanta incident that NASCAR hadn't yet determined where the line actually was that drivers would have to cross before NASCAR stepped in to help settle matters between drivers despite NASCAR "new" policy allowing drivers to police themselves....

To read more, visit Auto Racing Daily

Photo courtesy of NASCAR Media

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TV Schedule July 23-25

Sunday marks one of the most important races on NASCAR's calendar: the Brickyard 400. Indianapolis is a mecca of auto racing, also hosting the prestigious Indianapolis 500 in the Izod IndyCar Series. But this weekend, it's all about NASCAR. Who will continue the victor's tradition of kissing the bricks?

The 2.5-mile oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway has a unique surface of brick and asphalt. The track is considered flat, with 9-degree banking in the turns and none in the straightaways. The corners, nearly perfect right angles, coupled with the long straightaways present a challenge for drivers. The driver with the best handling car, best pit crew and best luck will be the one left standing in Victory Lane.

Since 2005, Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson have dominated at the Brickyard. Stewart has racked up two wins in that time ('05 and '07) while Johnson has three ('06, '08 and '09). Expect them to be major players in Sunday's race -- as well as four-time race winner Jeff Gordon. Also keep an eye on Juan Pablo Montoya, who was the class of the field in last year's event before a speeding penalty took him out of contention for the win.

While the Sprint Cup takes on Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series head up the road to O'Reilly Raceway Park. The 0.686-mile oval has 7.5-degree banking in the turns and 2 degrees on the straightaways. Carl Edwards is defending winner in Nationwide. The Edwards-Brad Keselowski run-in at Gateway continues to be a talker, so expect this to follow Edwards as he tries to defend his win Saturday. In the Truck Series, Ron Hornaday won last year's event. Will the series' defending champion finally score his first win of the season Friday?

The following is a handy schedule of track events and media coverage this weekend in Indianapolis (all times Eastern Standard Time. Events without a channel listed will not be televised. Note the changes in networks this weekend: Nationwide race will be broadcast live on ESPN, not ESPN2. The Sprint Cup race will be live on ESPN):

Friday, July 23:
11:00 a.m. Truck Series practice
12:45 p.m. Truck Series final practice
2:00 p.m. Sprint Cup practice, ESPN2
3:30 p.m. Sprint Cup practice, SPEED
4:30 p.m. NASCAR Live, SPEED
5:00 p.m. Truck Series qualifying, SPEED
6:30 p.m. NASCAR Now, ESPN2 (reruns at midnight)
6:30 p.m. Trackside at Indianapolis, SPEED. Guest: Chip Ganassi. (reruns at 10:30 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday)
7:30 p.m. Truck Series SetUp, SPEED (reruns at 12:30 a.m.)
8:00 p.m. Truck Series race: AAA Insurance 200 presented by J.D. Byrider, SPEED. Green flag: 8:18 p.m. (reruns at 1 a.m.)

Saturday, July 24:
10:00 a.m. Sprint Cup qualifying, ESPN2
10:00 a.m. Nationwide practice
12:30 p.m. Nationwide final practice, ESPN2 (tape-delayed, starts at 11:45 a.m.)
2:00 p.m. Sprint Cup practice
3:30 p.m. Sprint Cup final practice, ESPN2
5:00 p.m. Nationwide qualifying, ESPN2
7:30 p.m. Nationwide Countdown, ESPN
8:00 p.m. Nationwide race: Kroger 200 benefiting Riley Hospital for Children, ESPN. Green flag: 8:15 p.m. (reruns at 4 a.m. on ESPN2)
11:00 p.m. NASCAR Smarts, SPEED (reruns at 9:00 a.m. Sunday)
11:30 p.m. NASCAR Performance, SPEED (reruns at 8:30 a.m. Sunday)

Sunday, July 25:
9:00 a.m. NASCAR Now, ESPN2
9:30 a.m. NASCAR in a Hurry, SPEED
10:00 a.m. NASCAR RaceDay, SPEED
12:00 noon Sprint Cup Countdown, ESPN
1:00 p.m. Sprint Cup race: Brickyard 400. Green flag: 1:19 p.m. (reruns at 2:30 a.m. on ESPN2)
8:00 p.m. NASCAR Victory Lane, SPEED (reruns at 2 a.m. and 9 a.m. Monday)
10:00 p.m. NASCAR Now, ESPN2

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Photo: 2009 Brickyard 400 race start (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

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NASCAR Draws A Line in the Sand: Keselowski and Edwards Penalties Announced

From the second Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards made contact Saturday night in the NASCAR Nationwide event at Gateway International Raceway we have been debating what NASCAR would do. Some people speculated that NASCAR would continue with their “have at it boys” stance while others were demanding Edwards be held accountable for his actions. Fans screamed that Edwards should be suspended while others took the stance that Edwards was just doing his job and that Keselowski deserved what he got.

Regardless of what side of the debate you fall on, this is perhaps the most talked about rivalry we have seen in years and it’s one that will continue to unfold as Edwards and Keselowski battle for the Nationwide Series Championship.

But, both drivers are going to have to keep their tempers in check and their cars under control if they want to make it through the rest of the season without further action being taken against them.


It was announced on Wednesday that both Keselowski and Edwards would be held accountable for their roles in Saturday’s accident that left Keselwoski’s car in pieces while Edwards headed to victory lane.

According to NASCAR the actions of both drivers fall under section 12-1 of the rule book. Section 12-1 is defined as “actions detrimental to stock car racing/aggressive driving. The penalties are as follows:

• Brad Keselowski, driver of the #22 for Penske Racing, has been place on probation until December 31, 2010 – This probation applies to all of NASCAR’s divisions
• Carl Edwards, driver of the #60 for Roush Fenway Racing, has been placed on probation until December 31, 2010. Like Keselowski's probation Edwards’ also applies in all of NASCAR’s series. Additionally Edwards was docked 60 championship points, and was fined $25,000.
• Car owner Jack Roush was penalized 60 owner points.

After the official word was announced NASCAR, via their Twitter account, had this to say in a series of Tweets explaining their ruling:

• Since putting the driving back in the hands of the drivers we’ve seen very exciting, side by side racing…
• …However, we also said that there is a line that a driver can cross and when that happens we will stop in and maintain law and order/
• Following Atlanta, we met with Brad and Carl to make it clear that racing hard doesn’t mean ruing other competitors’ days
• In our review of this most recent incident, Carl and Brad crossed the line.
• It is important to remember that this is not the first time these two have gotten into one another on the track – there is a history there.

Here at Skirts and Scuffs we have had wide range of views expressed on this issue and now we want to hear from you regarding the ruling. Is it fair? Should Keselowski have been put on probation? Is probation just a slap on the wrist? You tell us what you think.

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When "Have At It Boys" Goes Too Far

Rubbin' is racin', we're taking the gloves off, have at it boys. These expressions seem to completely define the 2010 season thus far, but what happens when the shaded gray area is crossed into and just flat out wrong?

Being a Brad Keselowski fan, it's very easy for me to say Carl was wrong, Carl wrecked him and any other negative thing I could come up with. It wasn't until I heard Reed Sorenson's comments on Sirius 128 when I decided I how I really felt about this issue. Reed said he "saw the 60 drive into the 22." After hearing Reed's comments, the anger I felt after witnessing this on Saturday was back in full force. Instead of yelling at my radio like I had my TV and tweeting some probably not very nice things about Carl, I started to think about some stuff.

There are three very clear issues coming out of Saturday night's melee at Gateway. The first issue is Brad Keselowski and his sometimes popular and sometimes very unpopular racing style, next is Carl Edwards and his temper, and the last a father's involvement in his son's racing career.

We all know Brad is well known for his belief in standing his ground and not being pushed around. This belief has led him to be compared to some of NASCAR's greatest, from Kyle Busch to Dale Earnhardt. I think it's safe to say thus far Brad has definitely left his mark in NASCAR. To me it goes a little further; these two drivers Brad has been compared to are champions. We don't see Jimmie Johnson on the track backing down to just anyone, so why aren't we criticizing him as much as we are Brad? Jeff Gordon has taken a similar approach to racing these days as well and he too is a champion. Point being, you can't go out there on the track and race like everyone out there is your best friend and expect to win. Brad has said it, Kyle has said it, even Dale Earnhardt said it; the main objective when they strap into that seat is to win. Brad made a comment earlier in the 2010 season that, "your competitors are only happy with you when they're beating you," and he's right.

Since Brad has made his move to Penske, I think we have seen a new side to him. He races with more patience and seems to carry a mature approach to incidents like these. I was very proud of Brad after his interview on Saturday night. How easy it would have been to trash Carl on TV. The better man will always win out in my book, and I believe the better man Saturday night was Brad Keselowski.

"Have at it boys" and how it's supposed to be done was center stage when Kurt Busch bumped Jimmie Johnson and Jimmie, deciding he wasn't OK with it, bumped him back. Jimmie could have easily put him in the wall like Carl did to Brad, but he didn't. He reacted as he should have to a minor incident.

Everyone has been talking about Atlanta and I have even heard Talladega being brought up ... again! The fact of the matter is Carl's anger issues run deeper than just Carl and Brad. Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, even Dale Earnhardt Jr. have had altercations with Edwards. I, like Brad, don't understand how this guy can go around and proclaim to be the "good guy'" when clearly the common denominator is Carl himself. If you want to settle something with another driver, going 200 mph on a racetrack on the straightaway is not the time or the place. I can respect the fact Carl can drive a racecar, but lately it seems his true colors are starting to seep through.

Finally, Bob Keselowski had some interesting words at the end of it all on Saturday night. At first I was bracing myself for another Tom Logano-ish type of interview, especially after the backlash Tom received after Pocono. I have to say by the time Bob had finished expressing his thoughts, I was ready to suit up and head out there with him! Like I said about Brad, Bob was in a position to completely trash talk Carl and he didn't do it. Saying Carl "flipped out" is not trash-talking; it's merely stating a fact. I agree with Bob. This has happened two times too many between Brad and Carl and it scares me to think what it's going to take to put an end to it. As a Brad K fan, I can honestly say I was proud of the way Bob expressed his emotions. It's obvious his respect for the sport was passed on to his son.

In the end, do I honestly believe Carl is out to "kill" Brad? No. At the same time I am well aware that accidents do happen, and when things like this take place on the track it's always a possibility. Atlanta should have been a lesson to Carl that you can't control how bad you wreck someone and wrecking someone at the front of the field is even more careless. In the end, I think it's fair to say Carl's reputation seems to have taken the biggest hit and rightfully so.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

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To Do In Indy: Chevy Day at the Brickyard (Friday July 23, 2010)

If you get into town early don’t forget to check out the events leading up to Sunday’s Brickyard 400. On Thursday enjoy the hauler parade and on Friday head over to the track for Chevy Day at the Brickyard. Here are the details for Chevy Day at the Brickyard:

Brickyard 400 fans can enjoy a wide variety of fun activities Friday, July 23 during Chevy Day at the Brickyard at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, including Sprint Cup driver Q&A and autograph sessions, test drives in Chevy vehicles and much more.

All Chevy Day functions are included in the Friday general admission price: $10 for adults, with any number of children 12 and under admitted free with at least one adult holding a general admission ticket.

Many Chevy drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will participate in question-and-answer sessions with fans Friday at the Team Chevy Stage next to the IMS Hall of Fame Museum. The schedule (all times Eastern):

•11 a.m.: Jamie McMurray
•11:15 a.m.: Clint Bowyer
•11:30 a.m.: Jeff Burton
•11:45 a.m.: Ryan Newman
•Noon: Juan Pablo Montoya
•12:15 p.m.: Jeff Gordon
•12:30 p.m.: Tony Stewart

Newman also will sign autographs from noon-1 p.m. Wristbands are required, with distribution starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Team Chevy Display and limited to the first 150 fans, one wristband per person.

Also signing autographs Friday at the Team Chevy Display will be Miss Sprint Cup from 10-10:30 a.m. and Tony Stewart Racing USAC driver Bryan Clauson from 10:30-11 a.m.

A concert by Nashville recording artist Bridgette Tatum of Root 49 Records will follow the driver appearances, at approximately 1 p.m. Friday. Root 49 Records is co-owned by Ryan and Krissie Newman.

The Team Chevy Racing Display will be located adjacent to the IMS Hall of Fame Museum and open from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday.

At the display, fans can learn about several of Chevrolet’s 2010 models from product specialists, receive a Team Chevy T-shirt, and have a Winner’s Circle “green-screen” photo taken at the Team Chevy Winner’s Circle Photo Trailer. These also will be a Kid Zone, featuring games and prizes.

Fans also can drive 2010 Chevrolet vehicles – Malibu, Equinox, Traverse, Silverado, Tahoe, Camaro and Corvette – and receive a Camaro T-shirt at the Team Chevy Test Drive, located next to the Team Chevy Racing Display. Test drives will take place from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. Fans can pre-register at www.teamchevytestdrive.com.

On Sunday, Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray will participate in a question-and-answer session with fans at the Team Chevy Display at 9:45 a.m., followed by Daytona 500 winner and fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. at 10 a.m. and four-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson will conduct a Q&A at 10:30 a.m. The pit crews for McMurray’s No. 1 Chevrolet and Jeff Burton’s No. 31 Chevrolet will sign autographs at the display at 9 a.m.

Chevrolet also is supporting Cell Phones for Soldiers by providing drop-box locations within the display where fans can drop off their gently used phones. The first 100 fans donating gently used cell phones will receive a hat, courtesy of the GM Military Discount program. Cell Phones for Soldiers raises money through the collection of gently used cell phones, and has provided since 2004 more than 1 million pre-paid calling cards and 60 million minutes of calling time to soldiers overseas.

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Tickets: Tickets are on sale now for the Brickyard 400. Tickets can be purchased online at www.imstix.com at any time.

General admission tickets will be available for Brickyard 400 Race Day – at a value price of just $40 each – for the first time at this year’s event. Any number of children 12 and under accompanied by at least one adult holding a general admission ticket will be admitted free.

Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.

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