Posted on by Zack Albert

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Drivers on hand for NASCAR testing this week at Phoenix International Raceway were greeted not only with searing desert heat, but newly installed SAFER barrier.



The energy-absorbing barrier system now completely encircles the outside wall, providing an extra layer of safety protection at the 1-mile track ahead of its Nov. 15 race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs. The longest stretch of new barrier completes the outside retaining wall on the frontstretch, which still had portions of brick wall from when the track opened in 1964.



The raceway, which coordinated with NASCAR officials before taking the safety measures, also added SAFER (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction) barrier along sections of the inside wall — at pit entry near Turn 4 and at pit exit near Turn 1. It’s already blended in with the surroundings, painted in the track’s familiar Southwestern light blue hue.



“I think the plan is to have that around every single race track, everywhere that a car can get, before next year,” said Jamie McMurray, participating in the test for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. “So I think some of the tracks are just getting ahead of the curve.”



Since the system sticks out roughly 30 inches from the existing wall at most tracks, the SAFER barrier sometimes alters the racing line. McMurray said after logging plenty of laps at Phoenix during testing, he hadn’t observed a difference.



“I hadn’t even noticed it,” McMurray said. “Honestly, I knew that they were going to put that and until you said it just now, I didn’t even notice it when I got out there. It didn’t bother me at all.”

Posted on by Zack Albert

AVONDALE, Ariz. — The commemorations of Jeff Gordon‘s final race last weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway were unavoidable, his No. 24 splashed on the infield grass and on the exterior of the 1.5-mile track. When Gordon returns next month to Phoenix International Raceway for his final race here, the track will bear not only his number, but also his name.

Should Gordon’s Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoff hopes remain alive once the Quicken Loans 500 rolls around on Nov. 15, he’ll be vying for his place in Homestead-Miami’s championship quartet at a track with the name of Jeff Gordon Raceway. Even though that abbreviates to JGR (Gordon chuckled), the re-christening for one race serves as the latest in a series of one-upmanship tributes from tracks, sponsors and fans.

Though Gordon admitted Wednesday during a break in open testing at the Phoenix track that the recognitions have sometimes posed a distraction during his final full season of NASCAR competition, he’s been overcome by the outpouring of support as he closes out his Hall of Fame career.

“One of things that has been so rewarding this season has been what the fans and tracks have done when I’ve gotten to the track,” said Gordon, who has two wins at the Arizona mile. “They’re respecting the fact that we’re still trying to win a championship and win races, but they’re still doing things that are engaging the fans and honoring me in ways that I’ve been extremely grateful. This track kind of set the standard for that when they named the speedway after me on race day. I’ve been coming here for such a long time, going back before NASCAR and I’ve got very fond memories.”

Gordon’s torrent of gifts became an intriguing topic during Tony Stewart‘s announcement Sept. 30 that 2016 would be his final full season in NASCAR. When asked if he would welcome a similar victory tour with media center appearances and commemorations each week, Stewart was adamant that track owners should save their gifts, saying that Gordon was more worthy of a yearlong tribute.

Though Gordon said he has appreciated all of the appreciation, he was candid Wednesday in detailing how his farewell plans have sometimes snared the focus from his on-track goals, saying that his team has had to decline certain activities in an effort to raise its performance.

“We all have our reasons for announcing at the stages that we do or whether you just walk away and hang it up that day, I knew that it was going to a part of this season and have embraced it,” Gordon said. “We’ve tried to get on the front end of it and try to have conversations with the tracks and NASCAR about how we could handle it and get everyone involved and engaged. There were times earlier in the year where it was a distraction and I had to take a step back and we weren’t performing on the track as well as we wanted to and I needed to focus my attention more on the team. I’ve always wanted to enjoy this year as much as I possibly can, but I’m not going to enjoy it if I’m not being competitive out there.

“I can certainly relate to what Tony (Stewart) wants to do, and how he wants to go out. I’m very proud that we were able to make it into the Chase and make it to Round 2, and if we can make it to the next round or even to Homestead, that would be amazing.”

Wednesday’s prelude to Gordon’s final ride at Phoenix was well-attended, with track officials estimating 1,000 fans entering the track’s gates in exchange for a $5 donation to the speedway’s charitable foundation. Those that came mostly baked in the sunshine and near-100-degree heat for what’s scheduled to be Gordon’s final test session in a Sprint Cup car.

“I must say I was shocked to see how many people came out here for testing,” Gordon said. “We haven’t seen that in a long time, and I didn’t know that you guys promoted the test as being my last test, but I know how happy I am to know that this is my last test. I think as a driver, one of the things you look forward to least is testing, although you realize how important and necessary it is. It is pretty boring and not the most fun part of the job, but I’m certainly willing to celebrate that this will be my last day testing and I’m glad that the fans came out and enjoyed it as well. The fact that they came out here in this ridiculously hot weather shows their dedication and commitment and avidness and that made me feel good.”

Posted on by Zack Albert

RELATED: See what low downforce looks like

 

AVONDALE, Ariz. — The grand unveil of NASCAR’s 2016 rules package came as welcome news around stock-car racing circles, establishing a reduced-downforce baseline for the Sprint Cup Series. For the handful of teams busy this week with a three-day test at Phoenix International Raceway, the package had already received its initiation with a dry run in the desert.

 

The news received an overwhelming thumbs-up from those in the garage area Wednesday, moments after NASCAR competition officials released the 2016 rules configuration. A similar rules setup was met with approval during trial races this summer at intermediate-sized tracks Kentucky and Darlington.

 

RELATED: Low downforce prevelant in 2016 rules package

 

Teams put a similar reduced-downforce setup to the test on the 1-mile track during portions of the two-day Goodyear tire test Monday and Tuesday with positive results, then during some of Wednesday’s open test.

 

“We’ve tested a little bit here what we felt it was going to be, and looks like we were pretty spot-on for that,” said Brad Keselowski, the Coors Light Pole Award winner at Darlington with the package. “In general, I think from the technical side, I think it probably makes the race cars more in the drivers’ hands, so I’m a fan of that. I feel like that suits my style.”

 

NASCAR officials chopped the rear spoiler back from 6 inches to 3.5 for next season, and decreased the aerodynamic effect of the front splitter (2 inches to .25) and the radiator pan (38 inches to 33) for next year. The 2015 rules for superspeedways at Daytona and Talladega largely will remain intact; the reduced-downforce package will be the basis for the remaining 21 tracks where NASCAR’s top series competes.

 

RELATED: Get fast facts on the 2016 rules package

 

In making the anticipated changes, competition officials hoped to make the cars far less dependent on aerodynamics when racing in larger groups.

 

“The two times that we raced it, it seemed like it was better as far as being able to get close to another car and have less negative aero effects being behind other cars,” Matt Kenseth said. “I think it gives us more opportunities to get side-by-side and pass. I think it’s certainly what I think all the drivers think probably is the right direction as far as passing and putting on better racing.”

 

The primary focus for the eight teams here centered on tuning in this year’s package for when the series returns Nov. 15 for the next-to-last race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs. Six of the eight drivers here — Kurt Busch, Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, Martin Truex Jr., and Kenseth and Keselowski — remain title-eligible, all hoping to find speed to upend Kevin Harvick‘s stellar streak of four consecutive Phoenix wins.

 

That focal point didn’t keep teams from getting a taste of the 2016 rules a few months early.

 

“I thought yesterday, really when we first went to it, the car overall was a little bit freer, but all in all it wasn’t drastically different,” said Jason Ratcliff, Kenseth’s crew chief on the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Toyota. “Goodyear brought a lot of different tire combinations and they found a couple sets that seemed like they provide more grip and lap times were up a little bit from there, but all in all, Matt was fairly happy with it. I think if we’d had more time to just work on that, we could’ve made it better, but for our first stab at it here at Phoenix, I thought it went pretty good.

 

“I think we’ve raced it a couple times this year and the racing’s a little bit better directionally. I thought at Kentucky, there were a couple of situations where there was some passing going on that maybe we don’t see this year. I thought directionally it’s definitely the way to go. It’s hard to tell at a test like this what that’s going to do in a group because we were never in that situation, but from what we’ve seen at Kentucky and Darlington, I think it’s going to be a plus.”

 

Goodyear collected data this week to confirm its tire compound for the Sprint Cup race here next month, but teams also gathered valuable information in their dalliances with the 2016 rules. More tests for next year’s package are scheduled in the weeks and months ahead, next Tuesday at Michigan, Oct. 27-28 at Atlanta, and Dec. 14-15 at Homestead-Miami.

 

Michigan was the host to what was likely the final event of a two-race trial for the widely panned increased-downforce package, which raised the spoiler height and other aerodynamic devices. Next week, the 2-mile track will get its first taste of the 2016 baseline setup.

 

“I think that’s been the general consensus of all the drivers is that we liked that direction, and I think that those are two of the better races that we had this year,” said Jamie McMurray, driver of Chip Ganassi Racing‘s No. 1 Chevrolet. “I don’t really like when people use the term ‘having to drive the car,’ because no matter what the package is, you still have to drive the car and it’s still a lot of work, but the less downforce is just a little more fun to drive. The acceleration is better, the (tire) fall-off is a little more, and the corner speeds are less, so hopefully it creates more passing.”

Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

RELATED: Low downforce prevalent | Photos: Low downforce cars | Fast facts


DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 14, 2015) – NASCAR announced today the base NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rules package to be used during the 2016 season. The package was delivered to teams after an extensive collaborative process between NASCAR and industry stakeholders.

The base package will include a 3.5-inch spoiler, a 0.25-inch front leading splitter edge and a 33-inch wide radiator pan. These components will provide lower downforce on the cars, and Goodyear will develop tires to complement them. Earlier this season, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kentucky Speedway and Darlington Raceway featured a similar aero package.

“NASCAR has worked tirelessly with our teams, drivers, manufacturers and Goodyear to develop a rules package that provides fans with the best racing possible,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “The success of the races at Kentucky and Darlington in similar trim proved extremely valuable in accelerating rules development for 2016. Now, as teams have even more time to prepare and a strong baseline of data, we anticipate the racing to be even better.”

Characteristics of the lower downforce rules package includes more off-throttle time for drivers and decreasing corner speeds. This generates more passing zones over the entire track, and allows for multiple tire combinations to be levered.

In addition to the base package, each track will continue to feature specific rules, including tire combinations and drive train configurations, to create the best racing for each track length, layout and surface. Rear gear ratios will be adjusted to maintain a maximum engine speed of 9,000 RPM and a 1.38 third gear ratio will be used at all tracks smaller than 1.25 miles. The digital dashboard, which was optional for teams during the second half of this season, will be mandatory in all vehicles.

“Our team at the NASCAR R&D Center is constantly looking at the racing, and evaluating ways to continue to improve it,” O’Donnell said. “Using science and technology and qualitative data compiled from world-class engineers throughout the industry as our guideposts, we will always look to make the racing better for our fans.”

Several safety updates have been instituted, including a double NACA duct where a right-hand side window is used, a fire suppression system activation cable routed to the dash or right-hand side leg board and a seat belt restraint system that meets SFI 16.6 specification.

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RELATED: Charlotte race results | Updated series standings

 

CONCORD, N.C. — At the end of the NASCAR XFINITY Series Drive for the Cure 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Daniel Suarez climbed out of his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota like a seasoned pro. With his feet planted on the concrete and his helmet off, he immediately found himself in the midst of a media frenzy, everyone wanting a quote or two from the Mexican-born driver.

No, Suarez did not win the Charlotte race, but his fourth-place finish (best among XFINITY Series regulars) was in many ways, the equivalent of a trip to Victory Lane. Yet, Suarez remains hungry for that elusive victory.

“We are getting closer,” Suarez said, coated thickly in his signature accent.

In his first full-time season in a NASCAR national series, Suarez has seen plenty of progress in himself. His 2015 stats are on the caliber of the veterans with a total of seven top fives, 14 top 10s and three poles. He is also leading Darrell Wallace Jr. in the race for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in the series. The only thing missing from his resume is that coveted win.

“I have great teammates with a lot of experience and they have been super helpful to me,” Suarez explained. “I think that has been all the difference.”

In addition to Suarez, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Erik Jones, Matt Kenseth, Boris Said and Kenny Habul are among the notable drivers to spend significant seat time in JGR cars in the XFINITY Series. The 23-year-old not only credits JGR for the recipe for his success, but puts hard work into the equation as well.

“I never had to work that hard to be running in the top 10, top five,” Suarez said, referencing his past racing career in Mexico with great success in the NASCAR Mexico Series. “The competition is so much more difficult here. You have to work hard. A good car is not enough. You have to make the car as perfect as possible.”

And Suarez looks forward to take his almost “perfect” Toyota to Kansas for the second time this year for Saturday’s Kansas Lottery 300 (4 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM). Suarez raced at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series back in May and earned a sixth-place result after starting 10th.

“I am happy to go back to Kansas. I am happy to go back to these race tracks for the second time. (I’m) learning information, that is … helpful. The second time is always better.”

 

The second time proved to be better at Charlotte where Suarez improved on a sixth-place result in the spring XFINITY race to last weekend’s fourth-place finish. And that “better” at Kansas could possibly come in the form of a win for the rookie, who is now ranked seventh in the NASCAR XFINITY Series standings.

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After the fourth race of the 2015 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, PitTalks.com ranks the 12 remaining Chase teams’ pit crews. For more pit crew news provided by PitTalks.com come back throughout the Chase.

No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota pit crew for Carl Edwards

Rank: 1

Wins: 2 — Charlotte and Darlington

Notes: This team was strong again in the pits, and we see no reason to move them from the top spot. They weren’t the fastest crew of the race, but they were good enough to help their team to a top-six finish. 

No. 22 Team Penske Ford pit crew for Joey Logano

Rank: 2

Wins: 4 — Daytona, Watkins Glen, Bristol, Charlotte

Notes: This is the second week in a row where the No. 22 was very strong on pit road. On four separate pit sequences they kept the No. 22 out front and helped bring the Penske Ford to Victory Lane.

No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota pit crew for Denny Hamlin

Rank: 3 

Wins: 2 — Martinsville, (Sprint All-Star Race), Chicago

Notes: This was the a great day on pit road for the No. 11 crew. They were fast all day and, from what we can tell, averaged stops in the low 11-second range for the race. Without a strong day by the Nos. 19 and 22 crews, this team would be back in first. 

No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet pit crew for Kevin Harvick

Rank: 4 

Wins: 2 — Las Vegas and Phoenix 

Notes: Not a bad day at all by this group. They almost pulled off back-to-back wins. The team was solid all day on pit road, particularly giving a great effort on the last green-flag pit stop to close the gap on the No. 22. None of their stops were longer than the 11-second range.

No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet pit crew for Kurt Busch

Rank: 5

Wins: 2 — Richmond and Michigan

Notes: The No. 41 finished fifth Sunday, and that’s exactly where they end up on the power rankings. With consistently fast stops, we don’t see them dropping out of the top five.







No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota pit crew for Kyle Busch

Rank: 6

Wins: 4 — Sonoma, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Indianapolis

Notes: This team moves up another spot after a strong performance Sunday. New changer; same results. This group was really fast during stops and ended up 20th after contact with the No. 42 car entering pit road. 

No. 2 Team Penske Ford pit crew for Brad Keselowski

Rank: 7

Wins: 1 — Fontana

Notes: This was one of the best races for this group so far this year. In their third week with a new rear changer, the team seems to be coming together fast. They left Charlotte as one of the fastest crews of the race and that’s why they jumped up one spot. 

No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota pit crew for Matt Kenseth

Rank: 8

Wins: 5 — Bristol, Pocono, Michigan, Richmond, New Hampshire

Notes: The few stops they got to do were good! Finishing 42nd hurt their efforts in moving up the rankings, but we try not to hold that against the crew. This team pitted well; it just didn’t get the opportunity to finish the race strong.   

No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet pit crew for Martin Truex Jr.

Rank: 9

Wins: 1 – Pocono 

Notes: The car couldn’t have finished third without good stops, and that’s exactly what the crew provided. It was a solid day on pit road, but it will take another week of stops like this to move up any farther. Still, it’s a good jump from 11th to ninth for this crew.  

No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet pit crew for Ryan Newman

Rank: 10

Wins: 0

Notes: This team is a mystery to us. The crew has tons of talent and has produced fast stops, but they haven’t put up the races we thought we would see … yet. We still think they’re a better crew than 10th, but so far nine other crews have been better. 

No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet pit crew for Jeff Gordon

Rank: 11

Wins: 0

Notes: This team needs a few more weeks to get a real feel for how their changes are going to pay off. It’s unfair to say they’re an 11th-place crew, but right now that’s where they are. Expect them to move up quickly after these crew members get more reps together.  

No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet pit crew for Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Rank: 12

Wins: 2 — Talladega and Daytona

Notes: The No. 88 hit the wall and wrecked. Pit stops were OK up until that point, but not enough to move out of 12th. This group needs a good day with no mistakes and things can turn around quickly.

 

For more pit crew news, visit PitTalks.com

Posted on by Holly Cain

Thank goodness Jimmie Johnson‘s sense of humor is as keen as his racing skills and that his life perspective balances his competitive zeal.

After experiencing rare back-to-back poor finishes (41st at Dover and 39th at Charlotte) and being eliminated from the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup after just the first round, Johnson took the time to engage and indulge his critics on social media this week.

The exchanges are both amusing and telling. And typically head-shaking.

This week on Twitter, someone accused him of “only helping the 88 (teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr.)”, which the person felt was shameful “after all the 24 (teammate Jeff Gordon) has done for you.” And then the person told the six-time champ and 74-time race winner, “you suck.”

Others jumped into the Twitter conversation to defend Johnson, who said — tongue-in-cheek — “I thought I’d get a little slack with the back to back parts failures. Guess not.”

In fact, it is an extremely rare thing for Johnson’s No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet to suffer such mechanical problems and particularly in back-to-back weeks. It is not, however, the first time.

Way back in 2004, he had three consecutive engine failures with finishes of 36th (Indianapolis), 40th (Watkins Glen) and 40th (Michigan). In 2007, he crashed two straight weeks, earning 37th and 39th-place results at Chicago and Indianapolis, respectively, prior to earning his second Cup championship title. Last year, he scored back-to-back 42nd-place finishes because of crashes in July races at Daytona and New Hampshire.

 

Those are the only other instances in 14 seasons (501 starts) that Johnson has posted back-to-back finishes comparable to the forgettable two-week run he’s currently on. Two weeks ago at Dover he called the faulty axle seal — which eliminated him from the championship Chase —  a “freak accident.” And on Sunday, his Chevy was sidelined again, this time for an oil pump problem.

Johnson is the modern era standard of excellence — his five consecutive titles from 2006-2010 unprecedented. Not having him competing for the Sprint Cup Series championship should feel like a trophy-gimme for those more accustomed to having to overtake him.

“Seeing Jimmie get eliminated by a mechanical part failure is really kind of disheartening as a competitor,” Brad Keselowski told FOX Sports 1. “You want to beat him on the track as a driver and a team.”

Johnson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate Earnhardt agreed that the absence of Johnson as a title contender “feels weird.”

While a record-tying seventh Sprint Cup trophy will have to wait another year, expect Johnson to drive like a guy with nothing to lose on a path of redemption that has largely ended in Victory Lane.

At a time when a win is so vital for the other Chase contenders, there’s no one more likely to crash the party.

Johnson’s 22 combined wins at the next six Chase venues is tops in the series. He won at this week’s stop, Kansas Speedway already this season, finished runner-up at next week’s venue, Talladega Superspeedway, in the spring and has won the previous two races at the Texas Motor Speedway, where the Chase heads on Nov. 8.

If you think it’s a rough week on Twitter when when Johnson isn’t competitive, imagine what will happen when the team gets back into the groove.

Fortunately, he can handle it. A little victory champagne and some confetti makes for a fantastic rebuttal.

Posted on by Holly Cain

Hendrick Motorsports driver Kasey Kahne added “proud father” to his list of accomplishments Tuesday as longtime girlfriend Sam Sheets gave birth to the couple’s first child at 1:11 a.m., a son named Tanner Lee Kahne.


Kahne, 35, of Enumclaw, Washington, announced his big news via social media Tuesday morning.

The 2004 Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year revealed that Sheets was expecting back in June, and described being a father as a “lifelong dream” of his.

In one of his first interviews since acknowledging Sheets’ pregnancy, Kahne told ESPN.com, “It’s something that’s been on my mind for a long time. I’m really excited to have this type of life-changing experience, and I can’t wait to be the best dad I can possibly be.”

Kahne is the latest driver to contribute to a NASCAR version of the “baby boom.” In just over the last year, drivers Kyle Busch, Landon Cassill, Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski and Clint Bowyer have had their first children. Trevor Bayne‘s wife is expecting their first child later this year.

Posted on by Staff Report

In a special video featuring select Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans, the Hendrick Motorsports driver revealed the No. 88 Nationwide paint scheme for races in the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Watch the video below to see how fans helped unveil the new look.

Nationwide will be a primary sponsor for 21 races on the No. 88 in 2016.

 

Here is a look at what the primary scheme looked like in 2015.

Posted on by Staff Report

NASCAR RETURNS TO AMS FEB. 26-28; SPEEDWAY INTRODUCES

‘PERFECT RACE WEATHER GUARANTEE’



Buy Tickets for 2016 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500.


HAMPTON, Ga. (Oct. 13, 2015) – NASCAR racing will make its thunderous return to Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2016 with the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Weekend Feb. 26-28. The Speedway today announced several great new benefits for fans attending the weekend event.


The 2016 NASCAR Weekend has become more affordable and fan-friendly than ever. The majority of grandstand seat prices have been reduced, and no ticket to the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 is priced at more than $99, with seats starting as low as $39. The new ticket prices represent an overall average reduction of 15 percent from previous levels.


Along with reduced ticket prices, Atlanta Motor Speedway has introduced a “Perfect Race Weather Guarantee.” The all-new policy offers fans options in the event that inclement weather prevents them from attending the race. If the daytime high temperature in Hampton, Georgia on Saturday or Sunday of race weekend fails to reach at least 50 degrees as observed by the National Weather Service, or if weather issues postpone the day’s activities to a different day and fans are unable to attend on the rescheduled date, fans who do not enter the admission gates on the day the event is held will receive an account credit for the full price of their tickets. Credits can be applied to any future AMS event or events in 2016 or the 2017 NASCAR Weekend.


Also new in 2016, Atlanta Motor Speedway is rolling out the ultra-affordable “Good,” “Better” and “Best” ticket packages that offer unbeatable weekend deals.


•The “Good” ticket package, priced at $79, includes upper Petty Grandstand seating for Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, plus general admission seating to Friday’s Sprint Cup Series qualifying day and Saturday’s doubleheader, a savings of $40 off the regular prices.


•The “Better” ticket package is priced at $139 and offers seating in the Winners, Earnhardt or Petty Grandstand for Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, general admission seating to Friday’s Sprint Cup Series qualifying day and  Saturday’s doubleheader, a weekend FanVision rental and a Sunday pre-race pit pass, for a total savings of $125 off regular prices 


•The “Best” package, which offers the best value of all three deals, is priced at $179 and boasts an ultimate NASCAR weekend combination, including a seat in the Upper Champions Grandstand or the Upper Winners Grandstand chairback seats for Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, general admission seating to Friday’s Sprint Cup Series qualifying day and Saturday’s doubleheader, a weekend FanVision scanner rental, a weekend pre-race pit pass, and $25 off a purchase of $50 or more in the AMS souvenir shop. In total, the “Best” package shaves a whopping $165 off normal pricing.


The Good, Better and Best packages are available for purchase now in addition to other traditional, price-friendly ticket packages. Those include the Two-for-$99 deal, the $159 Start/Finish Line Package, which includes both Saturday and Sunday tickets plus a Sunday pre-race pit pass, and the Jimmie Johnson package, which grants access to a pre-race Q&A session with the defending Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 winner for just $48 and half the price for kids.


Another fan-favorite experience available now is the Champions Suite, which offers an indoor, climate-controlled atmosphere, a pre-race pit pass, individual reserved seating, TVs, dedicated restrooms, a delicious food and beverage buffet and much more.


For the second consecutive year, AMS will host all three NASCAR national series on the same weekend. Saturday, Feb. 27 features a Camping World Truck Series and XFINITY Series same-day doubleheader unique to Atlanta, for a combined 450 miles of racing, while the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race headlines the weekend on Sunday, Feb. 28. Sprint Cup Series qualifying will open the weekend’s events on Friday, Feb. 26.


Fans are encouraged to secure their tickets early and take advantage of these 2016 NASCAR Weekend specials, as many are available for a limited time and only while supplies last.


For event information and to purchase tickets today, fans are encouraged to contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211, (877) 9-AMS-TIX or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com. 

-AMS-



Buy Tickets for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Now!