Posted on by Reid Spencer

RELATED: Complete qualifying results

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Brad Keselowski‘s pole-winning run on Friday at Kansas Speedway was an early Christmas present to second-place qualifier Carl Edwards.


Keselowski saved his best lap for the third and final round of knockout qualifying at the 1.5-mile track, touring the distance in 27.621 seconds (195.503 mph) to edge Edwards (195.454 mph) for the top starting spot by .007 seconds.



But in claiming his second Coors Light Pole Award of the season, his first at Kansas and the 10th of his career, Keselowski didn’t cash in on one of the primary perks that typically accrues to the pole winner.



Because his No. 2 Team Penske Ford had accumulated four written warnings for minor infractions discovered during the at-track technical inspection process, Keselowski forfeits the traditional right of first pit selection, and the choice goes to Edwards for Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 (2 p.m. ET on NBC), the fifth race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.



“It’s like getting a nice piece of cheesecake without the toppings,” Keselowski said. “It’s nice to be fast this week. We weren’t anywhere near as fast as we wanted to be at Charlotte (last Sunday), which was frustrating.



“And I’m not sure I could answer why we’re faster this week, but sometimes that stuff just comes and goes, and you don’t really understand why. But when you have speed, you’ve got to make the most of it.”



Getting the last pick of pit stalls won’t help Keselowski’s cause, but Edwards didn’t seem to mind the unexpected bonus.



“So we’ll get that first pit stall (closest to the exit from pit road),” a delighted Edwards said after time trials. “That’ll be huge. That’s a gift — and we’ll take it.”



Both Keselowski and Edwards are among 12 Chase drivers vying for eight spots in the Eliminator 8 Round of NASCAR’s 10-race playoff, with the cutoff looming Oct. 25 at Talladega Superspeedway.



Only 14th-place qualifier Joey Logano, who with Dale Earnhardt Jr. (15th) was one of two Chase drivers who didn’t make the top 12 on Friday, has already advanced to the Eliminator 8 Round, by virtue of last Sunday’s victory at Charlotte.



In addition to Keselowski, Edwards, Logano and Earnhardt, other Chase drivers will line up as follows: Kyle Busch, third; Kevin Harvick, fourth; Denny Hamlin, fifth; Jeff Gordon, sixth; Martin Truex Jr., seventh; Kurt Busch, ninth; and Matt Kenseth, 10th.



Ryan Blaney (eighth), running a limited schedule for Wood Brothers Racing, was the only non-Chase driver to crack the top 10. Blaney posted the fastest lap in the second round of qualifying at 195.164 mph.



Harvick had difficulty getting up to speed during Friday’s opening practice session, but the reigning series champion was relieved by his fourth-place qualifying effort.



“That’s a win for us,” Harvick said. “We thought we were going to have to race our way from 25th, so to be fourth is a big improvement.”


Notes: Timmy Hill failed to make the 43-car field… Casey Mears‘ No. 13 Chevrolet broke loose and slammed into the Turn 4 wall seven minutes into the first round of qualifying, forcing him to a backup car for Sunday’s race.

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Editor’s note: During each week of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, The Joey Logano Foundation will provide grants to a non-profit in each of the race markets in a program called “Chasing Second Chances.” Each week, Logano will detail those plans for NASCAR.com.

 

We did it! It feels so great to win at Charlotte and share it with family and friends. My 22 team is awesome. Thank you for all of your support each week. We are all thankful to have it.

 

This Week’s Cause: Domestic Violence

 

We are continuing our support in October of non-profits working to raise awareness about domestic violence. The last blog post discussed how we define what domestic violence is and listed resources available to help someone experiencing abuse. For this post, I would like to focus on ways to prevent domestic violence — mainly through education.

 

According to Violence Against Women (VAWnet.org), research shows if you are in an abusive or unhealthy relationship in middle or high school, those relationship habits carry on into adulthood. Prevention programs in the early years can help stop these habits from being normal in adult years. It makes sense — if you are young and don’t understand what an abusive relationship is, you may think what you are experiencing is the norm and how relationship work.

 

In-school educational programs seem to be a great way to reach a large amount of kids.

 

Programs like “The Outrage” developed by SAFEHOME KS (our non-profit partner you will learn about later in the blog) have created an effective approach with teens. They take a group of young high school age actors and tour schools preforming skits that teach about teen dating violence. After the performance, the group takes questions to make sure the audience understands what they have learned about. You can check out clips from performances here.

 

We know a lot of what any child learns happens at school. If the statistic that 1 in 5 teenagers will experience physical or sexual abused by a dating partner is accurate, more programs like this are clearly needed.

 

This Week’s Joey Logano Foundation Chasing Second Chances Partner

 

This week’s charity partner is SAFEHOME. SAFEHOME’s mission is to break the cycle of domestic violence and partner abuse for victims and the children by providing shelter, advocacy, counseling, and prevention education in our community.

 

This organization provides a healing atmosphere where survivors of domestic violence can gain inner strength, build self-esteem, explore options, and establish a life free of violence. Through SAFEHOME’s shelter and community services, approximately 7,500 individuals each year receive the support they need to lead healthy, independent lives. Watch more here.

 

Education and prevention are critical to changing the public’s understanding of this issue. SAFEHOME has multiple national award-winning educational programs we are proud to support through the Chasing Second Chances platform.

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Four Chase races in the books, four different winners and who knows what excitement, absurdity, chicanery, etc., will unfold when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series moves to Kansas Speedway this weekend.



Another 1.5-mile track, and one of the few located next to a casino. It’s not the first, but it is the newest in that regard.



Denny Hamlin didn’t stomp the field at Chicagoland Speedway, home of the opening race in this year’s Chase for the Sprint Cup. In fact, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver led only nine laps. But he raced with a torn ACL, and any injury that includes the word “torn” tells you all you want to know.



Hamlin also found himself at the back of the field almost before the green flag had quit waving when his No. 11 Toyota spun barely two laps into the race.



But he won, the Chase was on and the series moved to New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where defending series champion Kevin Harvick ran out of gas after nearly whipping the field into submission.



Matt Kenseth, the last driver to win NASCAR’s premier series title that didn’t have a “Chase” stamped all over it, is a teammate of Hamlin. He had full use of both ACLs and more fuel in his tank and all of a sudden JGR had two of its four drivers guaranteed to move on to the next round.



At Dover, the least likely person to have an issue that might prevent him from advancing to the next round had just that. A torn (there’s that word again) rear axle seal doomed Jimmie Johnson, the 10-time Dover winner, and all of a sudden this year’s Chase had a very different look to it.



Fans have long complained that the grouping of Chase tracks favored Johnson and his Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 team. Given his series-leading 25 “playoff” victories, it’s an easy assumption to make. But perhaps this new elimination format does not.



Johnson’s mechanical issues set the course for his eventual demise, but likely didn’t alter the outcome of the Dover race. Harvick, his tank full of fuel, ripped through the field so impressively that folks began dissecting his winning burnout in hopes of finding clues for his performance.



That’s when you know you’ve got ’em whipped.



A field of 12 advanced to open the Contender Round last week at Charlotte, where it rained hard enough and long enough to force officials to delay the race by a day.



Joey Logano, never a winner at Charlotte but finding Victory Lane on a regular basis since moving over to Team Penske, did the destruction this time, leading 227 of 334 laps.



Four Chase races, each with its own set of oddities, and four different winners. Almost before the checkered flag has unfurled, each winner has been described as “the team to beat.”



Logano, the winner of last year’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas, said his team pays no mind to what others are doing or how they are performing.



“You’ve got to look at yourself,” the 25-year-old said. “We just stay focused on doing what we know how to do. Don’t go and reinvent the wheel and stay focused. 



“There are going to be cars that are dominant each week, and we’ve just got to be that car more times than not.”



Logano’s No. 22 team hasn’t been the most dominant, but it has been the most recent to show what it is capable of.



Next comes Kansas and yet another opportunity. The Chase hasn’t seen five different winners in the opening five races since 2010.



Given the way this year’s events have played out, five for five isn’t only possible, it’s also entirely likely.

Posted on by Staff Report

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

October 15, 2015 


First-Ever Dega Jam Music Festival Coming to Talladega, July 1-3, 2016

Biggest Stars in Country Music to Appear at World-Famous Superspeedway


Complete Artist Lineup to be Announced and Tickets on Sale October 25 



Sign up to be on the mailing list and get all the festival info as soon as it becomes available at 

DegaJam.com; Dega Jam on Facebook; @DegaJam on Twitter



(Talladega, Ala.) – October 15, 2015 – Talladega Superspeedway, one of the most storied motorsports venues in America, is set to host a huge rockin’ country music festival over the most American of holidays, Fourth of July Weekend, July 1-3, 2016.



Dega Jam, which will take place in the infield of the biggest and baddest race track on the planet, will feature the most popular stars in country music.  Spread over three days and nights and programmed on three specially designed performance stages, the mega-music festival will offer fans a thrilling new way to celebrate the entire holiday weekend.  The complete artist lineup will be announced on October 25 with tickets and VIP packages on sale to the public the same day.


Just as it is for the great races at the Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR’s Most Competitive track, Dega Jam will allow fans to camp in the infield, literally inside the festival.  A full-range of camping opportunities is available for virtually any budget, from pitching a tent to deluxe RV locations adjacent to the stages. 


Special VIP packages – the “Crew Chief VIP Experience” and “VIP Pit Pass” – will allow for a variety of special privileges, depending upon which package is selected:  an exclusive upfront, golden-circle viewing area at the main stage and with VIP viewing at the other performances areas; access to the White Lightning VIP Club offering a comfortable hospitality tent and private cash bar; and other comforts and amenities.   VIP packages will be available in limited quantities.  Visit DegaJam.com to sign up for the mailing list to receive information on tickets, camping, VIP opportunities and all the Jam details, including a list of participating area hotels and travel packages.


Fans at the festival will also have the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of their favorite country stars at artist meet-and-greets located throughout pit road and inside NASCAR garages, two places where races have been won and lost at the historic track.  Numerous other features—a select festival menu sold from food booths and food trucks; carnival rides; arcade games; country-and-western merchandise; cool zone water elements; and more—will all be a part of the festival, as Dega Jam transforms Talladega Superspeedway into a festival-goer’s paradise.


Be part of the Dega Jam community at any of the following:     

DegaJam.com

Dega Jam on Facebook

@DegaJam on Twitter

AEG Live along with Festival Productions, Inc. – New Orleans are partnering with the International Speedway Corporation (ISC) to produce the Dega Jam.



ABOUT AEG & AEG Live

AEG is one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world. AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Anschutz Company, owns or is affiliated with a collection of companies including over 100 of the world’s preeminent facilities.   AEG Live, the company’s live-entertainment division, is the world’s second largest concert promotion and touring companies and is comprised of touring, festival, exhibition, broadcast and special event divisions with 15 regional offices. For additional information, visit: www.aegworldwide.com.



ABOUT Festival Productions, Inc. – New Orleans

Festival Productions, Inc. – New Orleans (FPI-NO) is a Louisiana company that works in partnership with AEG Live.  FPI-NO is the founder and the producer of the world-famous New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which draws almost 500,000 patrons from around the world for the 10-day event.   The company has also produced myriad other events over the last four decades, from the Essence Music Festival to two Presidential Inaugural public events on the National Mall, as well as special events for both the NBA and the NFL.  Since 2010, FPI-NO has created and produced several major country music festivals, including Bayou Country Superfest at LSU Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge and Buckeye Country Superfest at the Ohio State University’s legendary “Horseshoe” in Columbus. 



ABOUT Talladega Superspeedway

Talladega Superspeedway is NASCAR’s Most Competitive Track (record 88 lead changes in 188 laps), most banked (33 degrees), and longest (2.66 miles), as well as the most fun and fan-friendly, offering up hundreds of acres of free camping, amazing kids ticket prices and special offers for military members and college students. The historic venue, built in 1969, is NASCAR’s “Party Capital” thanks to the track’s infamous infield, which features the traditional Saturday Night Concert and the world renowned Talladega Blvd, home of the “Big One on the Blvd” party. It is the site of the most comfortable seats in motorsports, large video viewing boards (a new initiative planned for future implementation at all ISC tracks) lining the frontstretch and endless activities for fans throughout its event weekends. Log on to www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 877-Go2-DEGA for more information.


Festival Contact: Matthew Goldman, 504-410-4100, [email protected]

Talladega Contact: Russell Branham, 256-315-4556, [email protected]


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Posted on by Staff Report

Joey Logano, Sunday’s winner at Charlotte Motor Speedway, took in a much more sobering view in South Carolina just days after winning the Bank of America 500.



The Team Penske driver, along with Darlington Raceway president Chip Wile and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Jordan Anderson, were in Columbia, South Carolina, on Thursday to pitch-in on relief efforts in an area that has undergone massive flooding.



Torrential rains — which hit the area the weekend of the Dover race — produced the worst flooding the state had seen in 1,000 years, according to state governor Nikki Haley.



Logano, Anderson and Wile served meals to first responders and surveyed the damage. The Joey Logano Foundation also donated $50,000, to be divided amongst three local charities: Red Cross South Carolina Flood Relief, United Way of the Midlands and Harvest Hope Food Bank.

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Longtime ThorSport Racing driver Johnny Sauter has decided to leave the organization at the conclusion of the 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season, the veteran confirmed Thursday evening on FS1’s NASCAR Race Hub.

 

Sauter, who picked up 10 series wins since taking reins of the No. 13 ThorSport truck full-time in 2009, will join GMS Racing to drive a Chevrolet Silverado starting next season at Daytona.   

 

“Very excited about the move and I’ve had a great time with ThorSport in the past, but looking forward to 2016,” Sauter said on Race Hub.

 

The 37-year-old driver is currently fourth in the Truck Series standings.

 

GMS picked up its first team win two weeks ago with Austin Dillon behind the wheel of the No. 33. The team currently fields two full-time trucks — the No. 23 for team owner Maury Gallagher’s son, Spencer Gallagher, and also the No. 33 in which Austin Dillon, Ty Dillon and Brandon Jones split seat time.

Posted on by Staff Report

You’ve heard of the Daytona 500 — now there’s the Country 500. Both events even take place at the same venue.


Daytona International Speedway announced Thursday that it will host the inaugural Country 500 music festival May 27-29, 2016. The Memorial Day weekend festival will feature performances by Luke Bryan, Florida George Line, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Willie Nelson and more.



“We’re proud to develop this new partnership … and bring the Country 500 music festival to Daytona International Speedway,” track president Joie Chitwood III said. “Signature events such as the Daytona 500 and the Rolex 24 At Daytona have made DIS the ‘World Center of Racing’ but by securing this marquee music festival with an amazing lineup of artists, we will also be known as the ‘World Center of Entertainment.’ “



The complete lineup, including the Friday night headliner, will be unveiled Nov. 3 — the same day tickets go on sale.



The acts will perform on three massive performance stages throughout the infield of Daytona, which is hosting its first mega-music festival in this event. Like a NASCAR weekend, fans can camp out in the infield, either in tents or RVs.


For more information on the lineup and to buy tickets, visit Country500.com.

Posted on by Staff Report

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COUNTRY 500

“The Great American Music Fest at Daytona”



Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Willie Nelson and 40 More Stars 

To Rock Daytona International Speedway Memorial Day Weekend, May 27-29, 2016


Tickets on Sale and Complete Music Lineup to Be Released

November 3


Sign up to be on the mailing list and get all the festival info as soon as it becomes available at 

Country500.com; Country 500 on Facebook; @Country500 on Twitter

(Daytona Beach, Fla.) – October 15, 2015 – Daytona International Speedway, the “World Center of Racing,” will host the inaugural Country 500 music festival featuring Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Kid Rock, TBA, Lady Antebellum, Willie Nelson and dozens more over Memorial Day Weekend—May 27, 28 & 29, 2016.  The complete Country 500 lineup, including the Friday night headliner, will be released on November 3 and tickets, camping and VIP packages will go on sale to the public the same day.  Fans should plan to take advantage of the special early bird pricing ($199) for weekend general admission passes beginning on November 3.

Also called “The Great American Music Fest at Daytona,” the Country 500 festival will feature the biggest stars in country music spread over three days and nights, programmed on three huge performance stages—all specially designed and built for the festival.  Country 500 will take place on the infield of the world-famous Daytona International Speedway, a historic first mega-music festival inside the hallowed grounds of one of the most iconic motorsports venues in America.

Just as it is for the great races at the Speedway, Country 500 will allow fans to actually camp out in the infield, literally inside the festival.  A full-range of camping opportunities is available for virtually any budget, from pitching a tent to deluxe RV locations.  

Special VIP packages called “Crew Chief VIP Experience” and “VIP Pit Pass” (see attached) allow for an exclusive upfront, golden-circle viewing area at the main stage with side stage access at the other performances areas plus access to comfortable hospitality areas, private cash bars and many other comforts and amenities. Visit Country500.com or call 1-844-500-FEST for VIP benefits, camping information and all the Country 500 details.

Fans at the festival will also have the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of their favorite country stars at artist meet-and-greets located throughout pit road and the garages. Numerous other features—a select festival menu sold from food booths and food trucks; carnival rides; arcade games; cooling water elements; country-and-western merchandise; fireworks; and more—will all be a part of the festival, as Country 500 transforms racing’s greatest venue into a festival-goer’s dream.

Visit Country500.com or call 1-844-500-FEST for tickets, camping, parking, and other festival information.  Make sure to sign up on the Country 500 mailing list and get all the festival info including travel packages and hotel accommodations as soon as it becomes available.

“Luke Bryan closing out the Festival Sunday night; Kid Rock, Willie Nelson, and a homecoming celebration with Florida Georgia Line all on Saturday night; another superstar still to be announced to close Friday night; plus 40 more stars will be featured on the three stages over three days,” said Festival Producer Quint Davis. “The Country 500, like its older brother on the race track, will positively rock the one and only Daytona International Speedway. Be the first to get your favorite camping spot on the infield inside the Festival.  Look for the full lineup and tickets on sale November 3.”

“We’re proud to develop this new partnership with AEG Live and Festival Productions, Inc. – New Orleans and bring the Country 500 music festival to Daytona International Speedway,” Track President Joie Chitwood III said. “Signature events such as the DAYTONA 500 and the Rolex 24 At Daytona have made DIS the ‘World Center of Racing’ but by securing this marquee music festival with an amazing lineup of artists, we will also be known as the ‘World Center of Entertainment.”

Stay connected with Country 500 on Facebook, Country500.com on the web and #Country500 on Twitter.

AEG Live and Festival Productions, Inc. – New Orleans are partnering with Daytona International Speedway to produce the Country 500.

Festival Contact: Matthew Goldman, 504-410-4100, [email protected]

Daytona International Speedway Contact: Andrew Booth, 386-681-6714, [email protected]

PLEASE NOTE: Artist images and the official Country 500 logo can be downloaded at http://bit.ly/country500-pr and artist b-roll video is available at http://bit.ly/country500-video. 

ABOUT AEG & AEG LIVE

AEG is one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world. AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Anschutz Company, owns or is affiliated with a collection of companies including over 100 of the world’s preeminent facilities.   AEG Live, the company’s live-entertainment division, is the world’s second largest concert promotion and touring companies and is comprised of touring, festival, exhibition, broadcasts and special event divisions with 15 regional offices. For additional information, visit: www.aegworldwide.com.

ABOUT FESTIVAL PRODUCTIONS, INC. – NEW ORLEANS

Festival Productions, Inc. – New Orleans (FPI-NO) is a Louisiana company that works in partnership with AEG Live.  FPI-NO is the founder and the producer of the world-famous New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which draws almost 500,000 patrons from around the world for the 10-day event.   The company has also produced myriad other events over the last four decades, from the Essence Music Festival to two Presidential Inaugural public events on the National Mall, as well as special events for both the NBA and the NFL.  Since 2010, FPI-NO has created and produced several major country music festivals, including Bayou Country Superfest at LSU Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge and Buckeye Country Superfest at the Ohio State University’s legendary “Horseshoe” in Columbus.  

ABOUT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

Known as the “World Center of Racing,” Daytona International Speedway has activity nearly every day of the year hosting stock cars, sports cars, motorcycles and karts.  Daytona International Speedway has at least eight major race weekends a year with premier events such as the DAYTONA 500, the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola on Independence Day holiday weekend, the Rolex 24 At Daytona sports car event, the Daytona Supercross By Honda and the Daytona 200 motorcycle classic. In addition, Daytona International Speedway showcases daily track tours and is home to the winning Daytona 500 car.

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Country 500 Weekend Festival Passes

3-DAY GENERAL ADMISSION WEEKEND PASS – ($199 early bird all-in pricing)

-3-day general admission; passes are non-transferable

-Includes access to over 40 bands on three festival stages, a select menu of food and beverage offerings sold from food booths and food trucks, carnival rides, arcade games, country and western merchandise, official festival merchandise, a myriad of shade and water elements and much more


VIP PIT PASS – ($599 all-in pricing)

-3-day admission; passes are non-transferable

-Access to the Pit, an exclusive upfront, golden circle viewing area at the Country 500 Stage and VIP viewing at the Daytona Stage and Bluebird Theater

-Access to the VIP Pit Stop, a private hospitality tent where guests can cool of in the shade with access to exclusive beverage for purchase, private merchandise stand, cell phone charging stations and more. 

-Private air-conditioned flushable restrooms

-Exclusive festival merchandise item 

-Express VIP entrance with re-entry all weekend

-Exclusive opportunity to purchase a VIP parking space

-On-site experience concierge

CREW CHIEF VIP EXPERIENCE – ($999 all-in pricing)

-3-day admission; passes are non-transferable

-Access to the Pit, an exclusive upfront, golden circle viewing area at the Country 500 Stage and VIP viewing at the Daytona Stage and Bluebird Theater

-Exclusive access to the Crew Chief Super VIP Deck at the Country 500 Stage featuring a covered viewing platform with premium views of the main stage, private cash bar and air-conditioned restrooms

-Exclusive access to the Country 500 VIP Club, a private indoor air-conditioned hospitality lounge featuring cash bar, comfortable furnishings, private merchandise stand, complimentary light snacks and refreshments, massages, Wi-Fi, charging stations and more

-Crew Chief VIP-only exclusive festival merchandise item 

-Express VIP entrance with re-entry all weekend

-Exclusive opportunity to purchase a VIP parking space

-On-site experience concierge

-Plus a few surprises! 

Buy tickets now!

Posted on by Staff Report

Thursday, October 15, 2015 marks 15 years since Dale Earnhardt scored his final victory in NASCAR’s premier series. The win stands not only as a bookend to a NASCAR Hall of Fame career, but a triumph of larger magnitude because of the stunning manner in which he prevailed.
 
On Wednesday, NASCAR.com will explore the story behind Earnhardt’s amazing victory at Talladega Superspeedway with a special commemoration, just days before current-day racers return to the Alabama track for a pivotal event in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs.
 
Stay tuned for more as we retell the story of an inspiring piece of NASCAR’s history.