Posted on by Holly Cain
CLE ELUM, Wash. — A vast backdrop of majestic Evergreens and bristling Aspen trees intersected a mostly cloudless blue sky detailed by towering mountains in the distance.

The pause-and-breathe-it-in scenery made it wonderfully easy to forget the daily hubbub of life. Just getting to the Suncadia Lodge in rural Cle Elum, Washington — about an hour-and-a-half drive inland from Seattle — felt like a great escape.

So much good — hearts and intentions — awaited.

It is a spectacularly scenic trip to NASCAR star Kasey Kahne’s annual summer charity event, fittingly called “The Drive” in his rustic and picturesque home state. The great work done by Kahne and his philanthropic partner, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, in this fund-raising effort is as awe-inspiring as the location it is set in.

The local landscape, the massive effort behind the scenes and life-changing results of this annual benefit for Seattle Children’s Hospital are spectacular in every sense.

“When I first decided to do a golf tournament I wanted it to be there because I know it’s a big deal out there and a lot of work would go into it,” said Kahne, who stayed an extra day to enjoy the perfect weather.

“I thought that would be a good place for it since I don’t get to spend as much time out there anymore and try to raise money for the hospital and kids in need in that area.”

The socializing, the auction and the golf tournament are certainly the marquee moments of the event, but just getting to the location is a drive to remember.

Kasey Kahne is a big Seahawks fan, and teaming up with Russell Wilson gives him added incentive to root for his home team.

Signs on the winding, elevation-rich Interstate 90 mark the national forest borders, designating them by Native American names such as Wenatchee and Snoqualmie.

There are few, if any, billboards along the highway, and unlike most of the rest of the nation, fast food drive-thrus don’t line each exit. Instead, the roadway features inviting log cabin restaurants with understated signage, attracting you to places such as the Woodman Lodge for a steak dinner and some Washington wine.

Barren ski resorts and their empty lifts sit on the mountainside along the highway, awaiting a robust wintertime snow.

Visitors understandably take some pause at the unusual signage along the roadways, which includes an eclectic mix of “Volcano Evacuation Route” directions and “Please Don’t Drug and Drive” reminders, the latter a nod to the state’s 2012 legalization of marijuana.

Even way out of Seattle-proper, on the highways cutting through bustling new-money towns, the traffic is disproportionately more Subaru Outback than Mercedes-Benz coupe. There are plenty of 1990s-era pick-up trucks — often with canoes in the tailgate — driving alongside the long lines of logging big rigs.

This is, undeniably, a place far from NASCAR’s norm.

The closest Sprint Cup Series race is nearly 800 miles south in Sonoma, California, where Kahne secured a hard-fought, ninth-place finish a day before this event in the first road-course race of the season.

The Pacific Northwest is Kahne’s home, and while the Enumclaw native has had to travel East for career’s sake, he has always made the Northwest a priority in his heart. And this huge annual fundraising effort by two of the area’s favorite athletes has made more than a $1 million difference for children fighting cancer at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

More specifically, their work has facilitated the beginnings of a major breakthrough in cancer treatment, and the feeling this weekend was of resounding hope.

“I remember being a kid and you go to do something and get the opportunity to meet someone, at a race or a football game,” Kahne said. “You have a blast and it’s one of the best days of your whole year.

“I try to give kids that opportunity at different levels throughout the year. That’s why I started what I did. And to meet Russell and get to know him and work with him, that opportunity has been a really, really good thing for me.”

***

The first night of The Drive is a laid-back affair — an outside gathering with drinks and appetizers and good music. The cool, Pacific Northwest temperatures and late-night sunset are a perfect cap for any day. And the massive crowd attending the auction event — nearly 500 people — sported lots of smiles and handshakes.

And generous hearts.

The No. 5 Great Clips-sponsored Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet that Kahne would drive a week later in Daytona Beach sat outside — the paint scheme designed by 8-year-old Noelia Gutierrez, a leukemia patient at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

RELATED: The young artist behind Kahne’s Daytona paint scheme

Kahne and Wilson mingled with everyone and took turns on stage encouraging high, higher and higher-yet bids on the items being auctioned. Kahne’s Daytona 500 ticket package was a huge fan favorite.

Through all the interactions on stage, in the crowd, alongside family and amidst plenty of enthusiastic friends and fans, it was apparent that Wilson and Kahne’s friendship is genuine. Their commitment to raising money for the children’s hospital is obvious and infectious. It is also a true difference-maker.

Wilson, the 2012 NFL Rookie of the Year, led the Seattle Seahawks to their first Super Bowl win in 2013 and then guided the team to a second consecutive Super Bowl appearance a year later. At only 27 years old, the three-time NFL Pro Bowler is Seattle’s bona fide sports leader — beloved and admired in an area that appreciates the idea of doing good.

It was an easy decision for Wilson to work with Kahne, Seattle’s favorite NASCAR star, in this highly motivated mission to help kids.

Kasey Kahne and Russell Wilson — and Ciara, too — have become friends while doing charitable work. (Photo via @Seahawks)

“We became friends right away,” Wilson said. “I respect Kasey’s professionalism, the way he goes about life. I thought, ‘Let’s see if we can do something fun together.’ I love charity work and he does, too, so it was an organic fit from the get-go. 

“We started off our first event, I remember we went to [Seahawks venue] CenturyLink Field and had a huge kind of bash, and tons of kids were out there behind the Hawks’ Nest. We had a good day with that. Had this huge event.

“So we came out here and raised a ton of money, and from there just built our relationship.”

Wilson was no stranger to NASCAR.

“My dad used to take me to the races,” Wilson explained. “It was probably one of the first real big events I went to. My dad knew Joe Gibbs really well. Joe Gibbs coached my dad at one point (for the San Diego Chargers) and had him come out to a race. So that’s how I kinda met Kasey. And I was able to watch him as an athlete do so well. I love great athletes and I love what he’s about.”

While the Monday night auction provided a wonderful opportunity to socialize and bid on rare opportunities — autographed Kasey Kahne memorabilia or dinner with Wilson after a Seahawks home game — the golf tournament on Tuesday featured the chance for The Drive’s most ambitious participants to tee it up alongside celebrities.

Kahne’s good friend and his race day spotter, Kevin Hamlin, a former popular and successful late-model driver in the Seattle area, drove around on a golf cart taking photos on the course. 

Sports stars such as Seahawks receiver Jermaine Kearse, comedian George Lopez and movie star Chris Pratt, who grew up in nearby Lake Stevens, Washington, were among a long list of The Drive’s generous golfers. 

“Both my wife and I are from the Pacific Northwest so this is home for us,” Pratt said. “We’ve been involved with Seattle Children’s Hospital for the past couple years. And we’re huge fans of Kasey. 

“Any time you get a chance to do something like this, it’s really a no-brainer, you know. Good people, good cause, a lot of fun.”

This was the second year Lopez has participated in The Drive, and he also spoke of the can’t-miss combination of spending time with one of his favorite NASCAR drivers and raising money for children.

“Absolutely, I want to help out Russell and Kasey,” Lopez said. “You get asked to do a lot of these, but you know which ones are really the better ones.

“You get a guy like Russell and Kasey and they get together, it’s a good thing.”

***

On that opening night, as the auction bidding increased with frenzied excitement, a very happy gentleman stood near the stage, off to the side — his jaw often dropping in amazement and gratitude.

Dr. Jeff Sperring had a smile on his face and warmth in his heart.

The CEO of Seattle Children’s Hospital knows first-hand what Kahne and Wilson’s efforts can produce — not only hope, but healing.

In fact the hospital’s “Strong Against Cancer” work has already made a potentially life-saving difference for a set of leukemia patients at the facility who had not responded to chemotherapy or even bone marrow transplants and really didn’t have many options remaining.

An astounding 93 percent of 42 children treated at the hospital with a groundbreaking immunotherapy — re-programming the body’s T-cells — responded with complete remission.

Sperring called it “just staggering results” and points to the specific work of Kahne and Wilson for raising money to help fund the clinical trial.

“This is huge for us,” Sperring said. “We have amazing programs and we’re so proud of the work we do. There are ways we can raise awareness for it, but honestly, nothing does it the same way as having two incredible people like Russell and Kasey be a part of it. Because of who they are and what they do, it gives so much more exposure to our kids and the great work that’s going on here.

“When you get people that are interested, both of them are all about doing this the right way, not about promoting themselves. There’s just a genuine passion from both of them and they want to do to the right thing for the kids. You know that because they take the time to learn. They want to know about the clinical trials. They want to meet the kids. So that’s what I so appreciate about both of them — they are absolutely so genuinely committed to this and doing it the right way. And that makes them even better spokespeople for what’s going on because they are so educated about it and taken the time to meet the kids and know what’s going on here.”

Sperring has some background specifically in the way NASCAR drivers’ great work can produce great results. He previously led the efforts at Riley Hospital for Children in Indiana and is fondly familiar with the sport’s ability to make a difference.

Flex those muscles! (Photo via @GREATracing)

“For Kasey, what an incredible level of dedication,” Sperring said. “He’s in the middle of the race schedule and all over the country, and we don’t have a race here, so again, you see he’s doing this because it’s in his heart, he feels like it’s the right thing for the kids and he’s helping kids in an area where he grew up.

“Like all of us, there’s that connection. He wants to make a difference in an area he grew up. We all love that he’s still part of our community here. It’s an amazing thing he does. You can’t overestimate the difference, the impact he has in doing that.

“Both Wilson and Kahne have made visiting patients at Seattle Children’s Hospital a priority, not a photo-op. And their time there feels as important as the money they raise.”

Both Kahne and Wilson agree.

“It’s definitely a lasting memory,” Wilson said. “I think the cool part, and Kasey can attest to this too, the cool part is knowing that you can affect somebody’s life, and give back.

“Kasey’s one of the best professional NASCAR drivers in the world and I get to play football for a living. The cool part is, people look up to you for whatever reason — whether it’s they like to win, or your personality, whatever it may be.

“But the truth is we look up to those kids. They’re the real fighters — their ability to stay so strong and overcome a situation. You go to children’s hospitals and see these smiles on their faces even though they are going through the worst time they could imagine physically.

“So, that’s what’s inspiring for us. In terms of giving back, to whom much is given much is required. That’s what this life is about: Serving, giving back and loving on people and putting smiles on their faces and trying to be encouraging for people to overcome situations.”

And Kahne couldn’t agree more. Now a father to Tanner, born in October, he is even more adamant about wanting to make a difference in kids’ lives.

“I’ve had a lot of strong feeling to help kids, not just cancer, but kids maybe not as fortunate as others,” Kahne said. “It stuck with me, to try to give them an opportunity they aren’t used to or put a smile on their face. Plus, having (my son) Tanner, now there are times I see different things and I think of Tanner.

“Sometimes, for whatever reason I meet these kids and it gives me those feelings and makes me more emotional; I sit there and think about it and really want to do something to help that kid or help him enjoy that day.

“When it does happen, it’s a great feeling and it’s hard to really leave.”

Posted on by Staff Report



RELATED: Current series standings

 

NASCAR handed down penalties Wednesday to the Brandonbilt Motorsports team in the Camping World Truck Series for a lug-nut infraction incurred during last weekend’s race at Kentucky Speedway.

 

NASCAR assessed a P3-grade penalty to the No. 86 Chevrolet operation for improper lug nut installation. NASCAR officials suspended crew chief Adam Brenner through July 27, which makes him ineligible for the series’ next race, July 20 at Eldora Speedway. Brenner was also fined $5,000 and placed on probation through the end of the year.

 

Brandon Brown finished 20th in the No. 86 Chevy during last Thursday’s Buckle Up in Your Truck 225.

 

Brown — who has competed in all but one event this season — ranks 20th in the drivers’ standings ahead of the series’ lone race on a dirt track, next Wednesday’s Aspen Dental Eldora Dirt Derby (9 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM).


Posted on by Staff Report



Kenny Humpe (The TEAM) kept his hot streak going at Kentucky Speedway by winning his third NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series race of the 2016 season. The defending series champion led 50 of 167 laps, the most of any driver, in what turned out to be one of the most competitive events of the season thus far.


Humpe closed the deal on a three-lap shootout that was punctuated by a caution on the penultimate lap with Humpe well in the clear. Michael Conti (Team Conti) finished second for his first top-five finish of the season. Conti was strong from the drop of the green and led 10 laps, flashing some of the speed that made him NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series champion in 2014.


Dylan Duval followed Conti across the line in third, just in front of point leaders Ray Alfalla (Slip Angle Motorsports) and PJ Stergios (ineX Racing). Duval looked to have a car capable of winning the race the last 50 laps, but cautions held him back from challenging for the win; he started 34th. 


Alfalla looked poised to battle Humpe for the win but contact with Conti under caution with a handful of laps to go damaged the rear of Alfalla’s car and dashed any chance he had of keeping up with Humpe on the last restart.


The race was one of the more unpredictable of the season, as several drivers looked like they had a legitimate shot to win. Alfalla started on pole and led until pitting under green on Lap 35, where he lost the lead to Conti after the cycle of stops due to Conti pitting a lap earlier for tires. Alfalla methodically reeled him in, using his superior speed on the long run to take the lead back on Lap 55.


Alfalla pitted for the second time on Lap 68 and again lost the lead on the exchange — this time to Justin Bolton and Humpe, along with Conti for a second time. Humpe went to the point on Lap 81 with Alfalla looking to keep pace, but Conti held Alfalla at bay, using the outside lane to keep his momentum off the corners. Alfalla was persistent though, and after four laps of working the bottom lane he cleared Conti, but could not run down Humpe before the leaders hit pit road for a third time.


Humpe maintained his lead after stops but a caution shortly after the round of stops changed the outlook of the race. While most of the leaders pitted for fresh tires, nine drivers decided to stay out with their slightly worn tires in hopes that track position would make a difference.


Tyler Hudson (One Up Motorsports) inherited the race lead as the field took the green flag on Lap 109. Hudson held the lead for the next eight laps before another caution bunched the field and drew everyone to pit road for fresh rubber. Humpe went from 12th to seventh on the run, but now did not have a tire advantage. After a crash on the restart, the race restarted on Lap 126 and Humpe started to make his move back to the front.


In 10 laps, Humpe was in third and had his sights set on Hudson in the lead. On Lap 140, Humpe drew alongside Hudson and completed the pass on the outside off Turn 4. Another caution with 17 laps to go could have derailed Humpe’s chances, but a solid final pit stop and two stellar restarts let him hold the lead uncontested to the checkered flag.


Alfalla’s fourth-place result combined with Stergios’ fifth-place effort saw Alfalla build his championship lead slightly. His margin over Stergios is 13 points, with Humpe a distant third, 78 points back. Teammates Jake Stergios and Chris Overland hold fourth and fifth, 91 and 96 points adrift, respectively.


After four-straight races on 1.5 mile tracks, the NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series shifts gears for Week 11 as the SIM racing series visits the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Overtaking at the one-groove IMS is notoriously difficult; thus, qualifying is more important than usual. Alfalla’s average start of seventh makes him the clear favorite, but a dark horse could be Cody Byus, whose eighth-place average starting position is second-best in the series.


Can Humpe or Stergios topple Alfalla, or will the two-time champ cross the yard of bricks for his second victory of 2016? Find out in two weeks on iRacingLive!


Posted on by Nascar

SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Paul Menard won the Brickyard 400 in 2011, but the Richard Childress Racing driver says he doesn’t dwell much on his lone victory in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series.

 

“I’ll reminisce about it more when I’m retired I guess,” the 35-year-old said Tuesday during an organizational test for Sprint Cup teams at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “I was actually thinking about it this morning. I’ve got to get a picture of the yard of bricks (on the start/finish line) because I’m going to build a house here in the next few years and I want to put a yard of bricks in my driveway, so I’ve got to get the specs of it right, how many bricks specifically, and make it right.”

 

Menard was one of a dozen drivers testing with their teams Tuesday at the legendary 2.5-mile track. A second day of testing is scheduled for Wednesday as teams prepare for the July 24th running of the Crown Royal Presents The Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at the Brickyard (3 p.m. ET, NBCSN, SiriusXM NASCAR).

 

RELATED: Inside Menard’s Empire

 

Unlike 2015 when NASCAR officials brought out a high drag rules package for Indy and one of two stops at Michigan International Speedway, teams will compete this year with a low downforce aerodynamic package.

 

Last year’s package “definitely changed the handling of the car,” Menard said, noting increased temperatures in the driver’s compartment as well.

 

“I always enjoy racing at Indianapolis but the rules package we had last year … ot was a little bit of a shot in the dark,” Menard said. “… Internal cockpit temperatures were at least 10, maybe 15 degrees hotter so we were getting cooked for one (thing) and the cars were just really unstable in traffic so it was really hard to make passes.”

 

Menard is 23rd in points, 86 behind 16th-place Trevor Bayne . Although he made the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup last season, he said his team’s current mindset is that a win will be necessary to return to the 10-race, championship determining playoff.

 

“What better place than Indianapolis?,” he said. “It’s a special place for a lot of people, myself even more so than some because of all the time I spent here as a kid watching Indy Car races and I was here for the inaugural Brickyard 400. …

 

“We’ve got a couple of more opportunities before the Chase starts and Indy is definitely circled.”

Menard is in his sixth season with RCR, and said conversations concerning 2017 and beyond will likely take place next month.

 

“Nothing ironed out (for next year),” he said. “It’s the same schedule we’ve been on the last few years with RCR; August 1 is when our renewal is up and we’ll talk about it.”

 

Others taking part in the test are four-time Brickyard winner Jimmie Johnson (Hendrick Motorsports), 2014 series champ Kevin Harvick (Stewart-Haas Racing), Joey Logano (Team Penske), Brian Scott (Richard Petty Motorsports), Chris Buescher (Front Row Motorsports), Trevor Bayne (Roush Fenway Racing), Ryan Blaney (Wood Brothers Racing), Kyle Larson (Chip Ganassi Racing), Matt Kenseth (Joe Gibbs Racing) and Martin Truex Jr. (Furniture Row Racing).

 

Johnson had the top lap, unofficially, in the morning session, dipping into the 48-second range (183.70 mph), followed by Kenseth and Larson.

 

Larson had the fastest lap in the afternoon session at 182.70 mph, with Harvick and Truex close behind. The test was extended 30 minutes, ending at 5:30 p.m. ET because of a brief shower that halted testing shortly after lunch.

 

On-track activities are scheduled to resume Wednesday at 9 a.m.

 

This week’s test is the second of five organizational tests for Sprint Cup teams in 2016. Remaining tests are slated for Watkins Glen International (July 26-27), Chicagoland Speedway (Aug. 23-24) and Homestead-Miami Speedway (Oct. 18-19).

 

Only one team from each organization is allowed to take part in each test.

Posted on by Nascar

SPEEDWAY, Ind. — When Martin Truex Jr. was penalized for a pit-road infraction during Saturday night’s Quaker State 400 Presented by Advance Auto Parts at Kentucky Speedway, the penalty cost him a shot at the lead and a possible victory.

 

The penalty, for passing a car or cars on the left when on pit road, is often referred to as “pulling up to pit” and is made by NASCAR officials in the control tower. According to the post-race infraction report, the infraction on Truex was called a “safety violation” for passing on entry to pit road.

 

It’s not one of the more common infractions among NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers. According to pit road statistics, Truex was the third driver in the series flagged for the infraction this season. Records show it was called only three times in the series in 2015.

 

“I understand that it’s always been a rule, you can’t pass to the left coming into the pits,” 2003 series champion Matt Kenseth said Tuesday during a break in testing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “You can (pass) leaving them … (that) has always been my understanding of it. I think it’s always tough. Personally, I haven’t seen it. … but it’s just something that they haven’t really called, either very much or not at all, in years and years and years.

 

“I think it’s one of those things that, probably the letter of the law … again I haven’t seen it, but if you pass to the left, it’s technically against the rules; it’s just one that they haven’t called in a long time.”

 

Truex was running second to race leader Harvick when the field pitted under the final caution flag of the race at Lap 195 of the 267-lap race. As the field made its way down pit road, Truex pulled to the inside of Harvick’s Stewart-Haas Racing entry and shot forward into his pit box. After taking right-side tires and fuel, Truex was first off pit road in his No. 78 Toyota.

 

After returning to pit road to serve the penalty, Truex restarted 22nd and made it back to 10th by the end of the race.

 

“I think everyone knows, or think they know, the rules there,” Kenseth said. “It’s just that there’s something not being called and you’re trying to get every advantage you can and the cars are all so incredibly close to the same speed right now and the rules are so tight. Pit road is as competitive as the race track; you’re always trying to get any advantage you can with speed lines or what have you.”

 

Kenseth said the size of the track likely often plays a role in the maneuver as well, with shorter venues being where drivers are more likely to try and gain an advantage.

 

“There are some places where there have been some pretty questionable situations … like a Martinsville or somewhere like that,” he said. “You’ve got a speed line, people pull left and pass five cars coming to their pit stall. Places like that, they probably need to get it calmed down.

 

“Now when you have places like Kentucky … typically when you’re pulling into your pit stall you just gas it up, pull in there and stop. You really don’t think much of it. I didn’t really think that’s a track where typically you see that.”

 

Earlier this week, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O’Donnell told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that in addition to the rulebook stating it is illegal to pass to the left when pitting, the matter is “brought up in every drivers’ meeting.

 

“Has there been some driver pulling off just as they pull into their pits that kind of pull up alongside a car? Sure that’s happened,” he said.

 

O’Donnell said officials saw a “trend that’s getting bigger and bigger.”

 

Richard Childress Racing driver Paul Menard said the location of the pit box allowed Truex to accelerate once he passed the first of two timing lines in his section.

 

“He had a really good pit box where he could really accelerate hard,” Menard, who was also among the 12 drivers testing at Indy, said. “At some of these tracks you can’t be as aggressive as that. I was surprised at the penalty for sure. I always thought you couldn’t pull up … on the access road before you get to the commitment line, that’s kind of what we’re always told every week. But as far as on pit road, if you’re within your timing lines and you’re not speeding, I always thought that was fair game so I guess we need some clarification on that.”

Posted on by Nascar

RELATED: Buy tickets for New Hampshire

If you happen to be a track promoter or a race fan, there is a pretty good chance you believe there is no such thing as too much racing.

 

At least that’s the case for New Hampshire Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager David McGrath and the fan base that fills the grandstands two weekends a year at the 1-mile track located in Loudon, New Hampshire.

 

“The crowds tell you no,” McGrath told NASCAR.com. “Those stands don’t empty.

 

“They get it twice a year (at our facility) and they live for it. Like any other part of the country, the Northeast race fan is a rabid fan of our sport. They love it; they can’t wait to get up to New Hampshire. They plan their summers and early fall around those races.”

 

McGrath, a native New Englander, understands the region’s race fans, the bulk of whom arrive from in-state, with nearby Massachusetts and those making the trek from across the Canadian border making up a sizable chunk as well.

 

Named to oversee the Speedway Motorsports Inc. track in October of ’15, McGrath has quickly become acquainted with the intricacies and aspects of running such a facility.

 

“Yeah, jack of all trades, master of none,” he said. “You have to work at state level, local level, know your governor, senators, representatives and local selectmen. … We care a great deal about our municipalities and our towns we work with, because we are all in the same boat together. We are the largest driver of economic revenue (in the state), but we don’t do that with a swagger.

 

“You are always trying to be understanding, tolerable and work together to figure out solutions. But make no mistake, the vision of the speedway is to be able to utilize that 1,100 acres with the team we’ve got and find new, cool events, create things for fans to come and experience.”

 

The typical race weekend at New Hampshire will see anywhere from three to four series competing during the course of three days. A Sprint Cup/XFINITY Series doubleheader in the summer and a Sprint Cup/Camping World Truck Series doubleheader in the fall headline programs that also include events from the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, Whelen Modified Tour and American Canadian Tour.

 

It’s rare to wander into the facility during a race weekend and not hear cars of one sort or another on the track, either practicing, qualifying or racing.

 

Competing at New Hampshire is a big, big deal, especially for the grassroots circuits.

 

“Certainly in the case of the Modifieds it is, no question,” McGrath said. “They are a touring series that travels all over the Northeast and they look at New Hampshire as their big, big event. Their Daytona, if you will.”

 

The track has played host to the Whelen Modified Series since 1990, three years before Sprint Cup came calling, and the list of previous winners includes such standouts as Mike McLaughlin, Steve Park, Reggie Ruggiero, Mike Stefanik, Tony Hirschman and Ted Christopher.

 

“Saturday on either race weekend at our track, whether it’s July or September, I think is one of the best deals in all of motorsports as far as for the race fans,” McGrath said. “Absolutely. You get three great races. In July you’ve got the K&N race to end the day, you’ve got XFINITY and then you’ve got Modifieds. And then in September, you’ve got Modifieds, Trucks, and the ACT. That’s just a great day.”

 

In addition to hosting two Sprint Cup Series races, including one that falls in the Round of 16 of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the fall Truck Series race will serve as that series’ opener for its inaugural seven-race Chase.

 

Off the track, McGrath said his vision is to continue to develop those things that track ownership — the facility is one of eight operated by Speedway Motorsports Inc. — has already undertaken.

 

“We work for the fans,” he said. “One of my visions is to continually improve the facility to make it more fan friendly than it already is. Our company has invested a lot of money since we purchased the track back in 2007 going into 2008. We’re going to continue to do those things as it makes sense.

 

“We will continue to evaluate areas where we can improve the fan experience. We’ve built bath/shower houses, increased and improved site drainage … and have new paving areas all over the campgrounds and the facility.

 

“But the vision would really be to evolve and improve the track and think about new ways to increase the fan experience.”

Posted on by Staff Report

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 12, 2016) – NASCAR announced today that Elton Sawyer has been promoted to the role of Vice President, Officiating and Technical Inspection and John Probst has joined the organization as Managing Director, Competition and Innovation.

 

Additionally, NASCAR made the following promotions within its competition team:

 

• Brad Moran will transition to Managing Director, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

• Brandon Thompson will become the Senior Director, Touring Series

• George Grippo will join the competition team as Managing Director, Competition Technology and Timing & Scoring

• Jusan Hamilton will become Manager, Racing Operations & Event Management

 

“With today’s announcement, NASCAR has aligned the Competition department to meet the ever changing and challenging needs of a highly competitive sports landscape,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “We’re delighted to see the growth of a number of our colleagues throughout the company, as well as welcoming a new one with a long history in the industry.”

 

Sawyer, who will continue reporting to Senior Vice President of Competition Scott Miller, transitions to his new role after serving the last two seasons as Managing Director of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He will oversee multiple functions to ensure NASCAR events are the best in motorsports, including inspection/officiating; officials training and development; and the events and transportation groups. Sawyer joined NASCAR in 2015 after serving as Director of Team Operations for Action Express Racing in the IMSA Series. Prior to that role, he held competition positions at Red Bull Racing and Evernham Motorsports. Sawyer also spent a portion of his racing career competing in the NASCAR national series as a driver.

 

Probst joins NASCAR after serving as Technical Director for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. He also held the same role at Red Bull Racing, and spent more than 11 years as Engineering Supervisor at Ford Motor Company. Probst holds engineering degrees from Penn State University and Bloomsburg (Pa.) University. His work at NASCAR will include oversight of several competition and innovation projects developed out of NASCAR’s expansive Research & Development Center in Concord, N.C.

 

Moran will oversee the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series after serving in a similar capacity over the NASCAR Touring Series. The Canada native brings more than 25 years of motorsports experience into the role, including serving as owner of Barrie (Ontario) Speedway.

 

Thompson, who will transition into Moran’s role, has more than 10 years of experience at NASCAR. He also served a two-year role as operations manager at Revolution Racing. After rejoining NASCAR in 2012, Thompson has held a number of responsibilities in the company’s Racing Operations team, including the coordination and administration of weekly race activities.

 

Grippo, who has provided oversight of NASCAR Productions’ Technology Field and Media Operations department as its managing director since September 2013, moves to the Competition team to lead the constantly evolving technology and timing and scoring realm, while retaining many of his at-track technology field responsibilities. Prior to joining NASCAR, Grippo held executive level positions at a number of tech companies, including SoleraTec LLC and Constellation Solutions Group.

 

Hamilton first joined NASCAR in 2012 as a member of the company’s Diversity Internship Program in both the Racing Operations and Integrated Marketing Communications departments. In 2013, he joined the sanctioning body fulltime as a member of its IMC team, later transitioning to the Industry Operations department. Hamilton, whose entry into racing began as a driver, will assume many of Thompson’s prior responsibilities, as well as event management assignments under Managing Event Director David Hoots.

 

Each executive will undergo a transition into their new assignments over the balance of the 2016 season.

Posted on by Team Release

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (July 12, 2016) — Biagi-DenBeste Racing announced a partnership with Jeb Burton and Estes Express Lines, a full-service freight transportation provider, for two NASCAR XFINITY Series races in the 2016 season. Burton will pilot the No. 98 Estes Ford at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 23 and Richmond International Raceway September 9.


This partnership will mark the second time Burton has driven the No. 98 Ford. He piloted the No. 98 Ford to a 15th-place finish at Charlotte in 2014. Most recently, Burton competed in 11 NASCAR XFINITY Series races with Richard Petty Motorsports where he scored one Top-10 and four Top-15 finishes. Burton will make his track debut at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and compete for the fourth time at Richmond International Raceway.


“I’m really excited to get back on the track in the XFINITY Series with Biagi-DenBeste Racing,” said Burton. “They’ve shown they have fast cars and just scored a big win at Daytona,” said Burton. “I’m thrilled to again partner with Estes. They are a great company and have been big supporters of my career.”


Estes Express Lines is a full-service freight transportation provider, headquartered in Burton’s home state of Virginia. The Richmond-based company has previously partnered with Burton in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Camping World Truck Series.


Estes President and CEO Rob Estes weighed in on the sponsorship. “We’re proud of our association with this Virginia native who has gone on to gain national recognition. It’s exciting to once again support him as he takes to the track in the No. 98 Estes Ford in Indianapolis and Richmond. We want to thank our vendors who helped make sponsoring these two races a reality. The Estes team is very excited to be part of the 2016 season, and our 16,000 employees nationwide will definitely be rooting for him.”


Burton will hit the track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Lilly Diabetes 250 July 23 live on NBCSN.