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Drivers find dirt backgrounds pay dividends in NASCAR

The last time NASCAR’s national division held a race on a dirt track, Richard Petty was an in-his-prime 33-year-old, and the Gordon up near the front was Cecil, not Jeff. That 200-lap event at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh went green in the fall of 1970, and before approximately 6,000 onlookers, the King dusted the field to win by more than two laps.

Much has changed since then, to say the least. The fairgrounds dirt track shut down after that race, and — although part of the old frontstretch remains intact — it’s now used for things like tractor pulls and demolition derbies. Petty would go on to rewrite the record book through seven championships and 200 victories. Crowds at NASCAR events have swelled from thousands to tens of thousands, and margins of victory have shrunk from laps to car lengths. And at its highest levels, the sport moved exclusively to pavement after that September afternoon in the capital of the Old North State.

That nearly 43-years-long void of racing on dirt comes to an end next week, when the Camping World Truck Series competes Wednesday night at Eldora Speedway, a half-mile layout that in dirt-track circles is spoken of with the same reverent tones in which golfers mention Augusta. And yet, over that long interim, the sport’s dirt-track roots have been kept alive not by facilities but by competitors, many of whom put into practice each weekend the lessons they learned on the rutted, dusty ovals of their youth.

Dirt races may have been absent from NASCAR’s national level for over four decades, but that hasn’t stopped dirt racers from making their mark. There’s something about the kind of car control it takes to hustle a vehicle that’s sliding out from underneath you — a “controlled drift,” Tony Stewart calls it — that translates into NASCAR, even though the surfaces involved are asphalt or concrete. From veterans like Stewart, Gordon, Kasey Kahne and Clint Bowyer to newcomers like Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson, they all honed their craft on dirt. Even Jimmie Johnson came from off-road racing, slinging through the desert in trucks outfitted with knobby tires.

"The track is changing. You’re having to change with it, and that’s what makes the guys able to adapt to different tracks very good."

— Tony Stewart

Clearly, there’s a connection here that transcends the change in surface. Former dirt-track racers say they have a finely-tuned sense of feel cultivated from driving off a right-rear tire that’s always trying to slide out from underneath them, forcing them to develop a great deal of control. “You learn a set of skills driving a (dirt) car that you don’t necessarily get on pavement,” Stewart said. “… It just gives you a different feel, and gives you a different sensation that can help you when you run on pavement as well.”

That’s one reason Stewart believes he’s always thrived in warm weather, when tracks get slippery and stock cars on asphalt perform a little more like vehicles on dirt. Of his 48 career Sprint Cup victories, only six have come earlier than June. “You can tell guys who aren’t comfortable doing that in the middle of summer when the tracks get hot (and) slippery,” Stewart added. “And when the tracks lose grip, they’re not as comfortable as guys who have run a lot like that. I think that’s always what’s helped us through the summer months.”

It’s more than a coincidence. The top three drivers in the current Sprint Cup Series standings — Johnson, Bowyer and Carl Edwards — all come from dirt racing, as do Stewart, Gordon, Kahne, Ryan Newman and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Nationwide Series standouts Larson and Justin Allgaier hail from that same background. Brothers Austin and Ty Dillon, competing for championships in the Nationwide and Truck circuits respectively, started in dirt late models.

“I think (it’s) being able to transition and change driving styles throughout a race, being able to follow the track’s changes and keep up to date with them,” said Austin, who will drive in four national series races in eight days: Sunday’s Nationwide contest at Chicagoland, then Eldora, and both NASCAR races at Indianapolis. “You have to change your driving style throughout a race on a dirt track probably 10, 11 times, depending on what transition it goes through. So it’s always changing. The track is changing. You’re having to change with it, and that’s what makes the guys able to adapt to different tracks very good.”

Three-time NASCAR champion Darrell Waltrip came up racing go-karts, and liked the predictability afforded by asphalt. “Precise,” he said of the surface. “In the corner, in the gas. In the corner, in the gas, off the brake.” Dirt doesn’t offer that kind of dependable repetition, which perhaps forces dirt racers to get the most out of less-than-ideal vehicles. “It helps you overcome a bad-handling car,” added Waltrip, now a Hall of Famer and television analyst. “Some of these guys, they have to have it perfect. There are several guys who can’t drive if it’s not perfect. You’re not going to have it perfect all the time.”

Dillon agrees. “Once you get out there, you can’t make adjustments,” he said of dirt racing. “You’re in a 35‑, 45‑lap race, and that’s a good amount of laps that it doesn’t matter what your car is doing. You’ve got to figure out a way to make it go fast while you’re out there racing. You’ve got to be determined, and figure out if your car is tight — well, maybe I need to change my line around to figure out how to make it turn. You use different parts of the track to manipulate the car throughout the race, depending on how it’s handling.”

That trait, Stewart said, translates to stock cars on asphalt. “It teaches you how to make up time for what you’re lacking,” said the three-time champion, who owns Eldora but will not compere in the Truck Series race there next week. “I think there are a lot of things that transfer from running on the dirt to what we do on the pavement.”

Now, that’s not to say drivers raised on asphalt are in any way lacking, a notion the exploits of Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch this season would certainly contradict. But stock cars, particularly those at the Sprint Cup level, can be notoriously skittish to drive. Grip is often at a premium. The Generation-6 vehicle introduced this season is 150 pounds lighter than its predecessor, and pavement always heats up in the sun.

“The hotter the tracks get, eventually the cars are going to lose grip,” Stewart said. “I think it plays into the hands of guys that are used to cars sliding around a lot more.”

There will certainly be some sliding around next week at Eldora, a welcome sight to dirt-track veterans like Larson, Blaney and the Dillon brothers. Then, there are the majority of drivers better accustomed to another kind of surface, and who know an adjustment will be at hand.

“Everything you thought you knew about setting these things up for the asphalt — you just throw it out the window,” said Truck Series points leader Matt Crafton. “It’s going to be very different.”

To some, though, it will all feel very familiar — just like it did to the King and all his contemporaries, back at the Raleigh fairgrounds track all those years ago.

 

 

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Six-time winner of The Dream at Eldora among five dirt specialists

RELATED: Eldora entry list

Scott Bloomquist has won almost everything there is to win on dirt, including an array of titles at Eldora Speedway. Next week, one of the great dirt-track racers of his time will make his national-series NASCAR debut in a vehicle fielded by another famous wheel man — Kyle Busch.

Bloomquist leads a group of dirt specialists who will compete in Wednesday night’s sold-out Camping World Truck Series event at Eldora, the first dirt race at NASCAR’s national level in more than 42 years. The Tennessee resident will make his first start on the circuit in a No. 51 truck owned by Busch and overseen by crew chief Ryan “Rudy” Fugle, who has won twice in the series already this year.

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Joining Bloomquist on the entry list for the inaugural Mudsummer Classic are dirt specialists Tracy Hines, Jared Landers, J.R. Heffner and Jeff Babcock. That group doesn’t include established NASCAR names returning to their dirt-track roots — a list that comprises local legend Dave Blaney, veteran Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace, 16-time Sprint Cup Series race winner Ryan Newman, and Nationwide Series standouts Austin Dillon and Kyle Larson.

On dirt, few drivers carry quite the reputation of Bloomquist, a 49-year-old Iowa native who has more than 500 career feature victories to his credit. Bloomquist has won 14 titles at the track or series level, most recently the Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model crown in 2010. He also has extensive experience at Eldora, six times winning The Dream — a $100,000-to-win race that stands among the facility’s marquee events — most recently earlier this year.

Bloomquist has also twice won the World 100 at Eldora and has claimed three major-event victories at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s dirt track. His more limited stock-car experience includes a trio of starts in the ARCA Series in 1991. A member of the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame, Bloomquist was Busch’s car owner last year at the Prelude to the Dream, when the Joe Gibbs Racing driver won the charity event at Eldora.

But Bloomquist won’t be the only driver at Eldora next week with extensive dirt-track experience — or even ties to an established NASCAR star. Eddie Sharp Racing is fielding its No. 6 truck for Landers, a 31-year-old dirt late model driver from Batesville, Ark., who has over 100 feature wins to his credit. While Landers is making his first Truck Series start, his dirt car is owned by Clint Bowyer, and counts Mark Martin Automotive among its sponsors. Landers hails from the same hometown as Martin.

Also preparing for his first Truck Series start is Heffner, a 41-year-old native of Stephentown, N.Y., who will drive for owner Robert Colarusso. Heffner is a two-time dirt big-block modified champion at Lebanon Valley Speedway — like Eldora, a high-banked, half-mile clay oval — in West Lebanon, N.Y. Heffner has eight ARCA starts to his name, most recently at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis in 2011.

Babcock is a veteran dirt late model and modified driver from Wayne, Ohio. The 33-year-old won at Eldora in May of this year, claiming an American Late Model Series event at the track. Babcock, who will be driving a No. 84 truck owned by veteran NASCAR racer Chris Fontaine, has won over 140 feature events in his career.

Neither Eldora nor the Truck Series will be new to Hines, a 41-year-old native of New Castle, Ind., who has long been a standout on both asphalt and dirt. Hines has 69 NASCAR national-series starts to his credit, most recently on the Nationwide tour in 2006. His 52 starts on the Truck Series include a pair of fifth-place finishes at Mansfield in 2004 and at Richmond the next year.

Hines, who will pilot the No. 13 truck of ThorSport Racing, counts among his 85 career victories a half-dozen at Eldora, most recently last September in a sprint car. Hines drove for Tony Stewart in the U.S. Auto Club ranks until fracturing his pelvis and left femur in an off-road motorcycle crash in 2007 — an injury that led Stewart to bring aboard another promising young racer, Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Those specialists will take on the usual roster of Truck Series regulars, some of whom will be competing on dirt for the first time, as well as a handful of other NASCAR drivers who came up as dirt racers. Larson and Newman will both drive for Turner Scott Motorsports while Schrader will field his own car. Wallace will pilot a truck owned by Bobby Dotter. Dave Blaney will compete for Brad Keselowski Racing, the same organization that fields the truck of his son Ryan.

“I’ve turned a million laps there,” the elder Blaney said of Eldora, where the former World of Outlaws champion has claimed major events such as the Historical Big One — another $100,000-to-win race — and the King’s Royal, in which the victor is outfitted with a crown, robe, and scepter. Dave Blaney rarely competes in the same race as Ryan, a 19-year-old who last season became the youngest winner in Truck Series history.

Not all of these dirt specialists are guaranteed berths in the 30-truck main event. The top 20 in owners’ points after last Saturday night’s race at Iowa were locked in, a group that includes Dave Blaney (his No. 19 truck is 10th), Bloomquist (whose No. 51 is second), Dillon (whose No. 39 is 18th), Hines (whose No. 13 is 19th) and Wallace (whose No. 81 is 20th). The rest will all have to race their way in through a series of six qualifying heats that will set the lineup for the 150-lap, three-segment race.

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Burton in the mix

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Newman wreck

READ: Complete coverage
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Drive for Diversity product set to drive RCR entry in August

Ryan Gifford, a member of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity initiative who won for the first time on the K&N Pro Series earlier this season, will step up in class and make his national debut when he competes in next month’s Nationwide Series race at Iowa Speedway for Richard Childress Racing.

The 23-year-old native of Winchester, Tenn., will pilot the No. 33 car backed by Menards and Rheem in the Aug. 3 event. In his fourth full season in the K&N Pro Series East, Gifford scored his first victory in April at Richmond. He also works in the shop and drives for Team Dillon Racing, the dirt late model program that spawned Austin and Ty Dillon and is located at the RCR complex in Welcome, N.C.

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“I’m thrilled that Menards and RCR are giving me the chance to race in my first Nationwide Series event,” Gifford said. “Menards has done so much for young racers over the years, and I’m proud to be able to represent them and their employees at Iowa Speedway. I can’t thank them enough for believing in me and giving me an opportunity to showcase my racing skills.”

Gifford became the first African-American driver in Pro Series East history to earn a pole position when he competed in the circuit’s inaugural race at Martinsville Speedway in 2010. Last month at Iowa Speedway, the current Rev Racing driver was announced as a member of the 2013 NASCAR Next class, an industry initiative to help spotlight NASCAR’s rising stars.

Gifford started racing go-karts at age 8, and competed in the World Karting Association from 2000-2004 before moving to dirt late models in 2005. It didn’t take long for Gifford to find success on dirt, earning three poles and four top-five finishes in his first season. Gifford made his debut for RCR in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in 2009 competing in four events. Since then, he has earned one win, one pole award, 15 top-five and 19 top-10 finishes in just 48 starts.

“I have watched how hard Ryan has worked at the Team Dillon Racing shop and what he’s been doing on the track the past few years,” Childress said. “He had some good finishes racing in the K&N Series races for RCR a few years ago. I watched him race and win dirt track races with TDR, and I’ve always been impressed with a driver’s ability to race on dirt.”

Gifford will become the eighth different driver this season to pilot RCR’s No. 33 Nationwide car, which is overseen by crew chief Ernie Cope. Tony Stewart drove it to victory in the season opener at Daytona, and since then Kevin Harvick, Ty Dillon, Max Papis, Paul Menard, Dakoda Armstrong and Matt Crafton have taken turns behind the wheel. Crafton, who finished third at Kentucky, is driving the vehicle Sunday at Chicagoland.

But next month at Iowa, it will belong to Gifford. “This is a great opportunity for him to get in one of our Nationwide cars and be very competitive at Iowa,” Childress said.

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READ: Danica, Ricky
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Top 10 list as voted on by NASCAR.com editorial staff

Through the first half of the NASCAR season, we’ve seen feuds and fights, history and heartache and, unfortunately, even terrible tragedy.

What does it all mean?

NASCAR.com attempted to make sense of a season that stands out as uniquely different from years past, from a new car, to new rivalries to moments that will be remembered long after 2013 is over.

Below is our list of the most memorable moments through the first half of the season, as voted on by six members of our editorial staff. The list is in descending order, culminating in what we collectively think is the biggest story from the first half.

Agree? Disagree? Leave your comments below.

10. 700th consecutive start for Gordon

The final race of the 1992 season was a farewell to Richard Petty. The King was set to retire, and he soaked up the adulation at Atlanta Motor Speedway from fans and drivers alike. Fans didn’t realize until years later, of course, that the 1992 finale was also a passing of the torch.

Out went Petty, in came a young hotshot named Jeff Gordon. Gordon had secured a ride with Rick Hendrick in the 1992 finale, and he hasn’t left the track since.

A mainstay in the No. 24 Chevrolet, Gordon recorded his 700th consecutive start in May. Fittingly, it came at Darlington Raceway, a track steeped in history. Gordon finished third in that race, and has since run his streak up to 708. With Ricky Rudd’s all-time record of 788 consecutive starts in sight, Gordon shows no signs of slowing down.

9. Jason Leffler killed in sprint car race accident

Over the past few years, drivers couldn’t talk about Jason Leffler without immediately mentioning his son, Charlie Dean. Charlie transformed his dad’s life. The two were inseparable in the garage and at home.

Although Leffler didn’t have a full-time ride in one of  NASCAR’s three national series this year, he couldn’t stay away from the track. Racing was in his blood. Leffler died in a sprint car race accident on June 12 in New Jersey. He was 37.

Among the many thoughts from his friends and former teammates, perhaps former team owner Todd Braun said it best at Leffler’s funeral: “Charlie came along, and I watched the transformation of Jason. Jason the racer became Jason the dad. I’ve never seen a transformation of a person like I saw with Jason Leffler. He cared more about Charlie than anything there was. It was one of the best things I ever saw.”

8. Johnson’s sweep success

Jimmie Johnson is defined by success. Whether it’s 64 wins since 2002, or five consecutive championships from 2006-2010, the No. 48 team is the envy of the garage.

Five-Time is still making new marks, too. Months after winning the season-opening Daytona 500, Johnson won the Coke Zero 400 summer event at the historic 2.5-mile track.

Winning twice in one season at Daytona International Speedway is nearly impossible. The very nature of restrictor-plate racing, not to mention how the track changes over the months, makes it so difficult. In fact, Johnson’s sweep was the first of its kind since Bobby Allison accomplished it in 1982 and is just the fourth such occurrence in NASCAR history.

7. The KB show

Love him or hate him, Kyle Busch is one of the most talented drivers in NASCAR.

And that tends to rub people the wrong way when they see ol’ KB on the entry list for a number of NASCAR Nationwide Series races. Given the fact that Busch is driving the No. 54 for Joe Gibbs Racing, it’s a surprise when Busch isn’t in Victory Lane. He has seven wins and 12 top-fives in 14 starts.

That’s led to some fans clamoring for a maximum number of events Sprint Cup regulars can race at lower levels. As long as that edict is not around, though, Busch will keep racing — and winning.

6. Penske penalties

We knew something was up at Texas when the Nos. 2 and 22 weren’t immediately on the starting grid with the other 41 drivers. That’s because the Penske Racing Fords, driven by Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano, respectively, failed pre-race inspection for being too low.

Although both drivers eventually took the track and recovered to finish in the top 10, they were penalized 25 driver points and handed heavy suspensions to personnel. The suspensions were later reduced, but the points penalties stood; as a result, both drivers are fighting to make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

5. Wrecked opening

The NASCAR Nationwide Series’ debut featured two “Big Ones” in the final three laps of the 120-lap event.

In the second incident, on the final lap, 12 cars were collected in a brutal scene that included the lasting image of Kyle Larson climbing out from his No. 32 Chevrolet that had almost been cut in half. A total of 28 fans were treated for injuries as a result of the accident.

4. Powerful penalty for Kenseth

Matt Kenseth picked up his second win of the year in April at Kansas. He didn’t have time to celebrate. One of the connecting rods on the engine of his No. 20 Toyota came in too light, and the punishment was powerful.

In addition to a $200,000 fine and six-week suspension to crew chief Jason Ratcliff, Kenseth was docked a whopping 50 points. The penalty led the news cycle for more than a week before the appeal hearing was heard — a procedure in which Kenseth and his team saw most of the penalties reduced significantly.

3. New model, new future

The result of a comprehensive overhaul on the machines NASCAR competitors drive, a car that took more than two years to develop took center stage this year. And the result were rave reviews.

Teams, drivers and owners alike have gushed about the new Generation-6 car, which combines new technology to provide competitive upgrades and a way to re-establish brand identity among auto manufacturers.

As teams continue to explore what these vehicles can do, expect even more changes — and even better racing — over the next few years.

2. Wonder woman

Patrick on the pole. Danica at Daytona. Whichever alliterative phrase you prefer, there’s no questioning that this year’s most historic moment came early — in February, to be precise.

Danica Patrick, entering her first full-time year at the Cup Series level, won the pole for the biggest race of the year. She became the first woman to win a pole for the historic season-opener, and simultaneously answered the question of whether she has the talent to compete at NASCAR’s highest level.

1. Birth of a rivalry

First, Denny Hamlin tapped Joey Logano at Bristol, spinning out the No. 22. Then an angry Logano confronted Hamlin on pit road after the race — before Hamlin had even gotten out of the car.

Then there were the verbal jabs.

From Logano: “We’ve got a freaking genius behind the wheel of the 11. Probably the worst teammate I ever had.”

From Hamlin: "He said he was coming for me. I usually don’t see him, so it’s usually not a factor."

After a week’s worth of words, the feud hit a new level the next week at Fontana. While racing for the win on the last lap, Hamlin and Logano — running 1-2 — bumped and banged their way down the stretch, eventually wrecking each other.

Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota took the brunt of that crash, and the result was a fractured vertebra in Hamlin’s back, which caused him to miss four races and essentially ended his Chase chances.

The former teammates are no longer on speaking terms.

Note: This order was determined by a poll that included staff members Zack Albert, Kristen Boghosian, Pat DeCola, Stu Hothem, Brad Norman and George Winkler.

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READ: Danica, Ricky
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Burton in the mix

WATCH: Kurt Busch,
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READ: Complete coverage
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Actress talks about her Daytona experience and NASCAR clothing line with NASCAR.com

Actress Alyssa Milano, who’s currently starring on the ABC Series “Mistresses” and guest hosting on “Project Runway — All-Stars” attended her first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race July 6 at Daytona International Speedway to launch her “Touch” brand of NASCAR-themed women’s clothing. NASCAR.com caught up with her on race morning amidst her day-long media blitz for a Six Pack of Pop:

You got to meet some of the drivers’ wives and girlfriends race morning, what was their reaction to your “Touch” clothing line?

It was really special. I find I’m on the right track with the clothing line and designs when the wives of the athletes like it. And that’s always a very scary thing for me because I know they are probably sent everything as far as the other brands and what else is out there. So if the wives like it, I know I’m on the right track. It’s  a real ‘whew’ moment.

I always said that “pink it and shrink it” mentality was always the man’s answer to women’s sports apparel. With Touch it’s the female perspective because I’m a huge sports fan. It’s just a different aesthetic when a woman is designing for a woman.

What were the challenges of designing for NASCAR versus your NFL and MLB apparel?

My other licensing is league license so you just have all the teams and their logos. With NASCAR, it’s such a specialty because of the sponsors and logos so we created all that in-house and really worked with the teams. And we had to get approval. It was really a feat.

That’s the good thing we do. That’s why the company is called Touch, I want everything to have a personal touch. I feel like since we’re not a large corporation like Nike or Adidas we can run the business like a mom and pop organization and be real hands on.

I’m very proud of it and take a lot of pride in what we do. I want the line to stand on its own, not be just another celebrity line, so I’m very aware of the appearances I make and how it’s publicized because I want it to outlast me. I have people tell me they bought a blouse and didn’t even realize it until they saw me on (Late Night with Jimmy) Fallon. It’s important to me this has legs beyond my career.
 
How was your pace car ride?

I did the pace car twice – once in a Toyota and once in a Chevy. That was the craziest thing I’ve ever experienced in my life. I could feel my head going like this (sideways motion) because it’s going so fast and I actually had a little headache. It was amazing.
I took my best friend with me and he was screaming like such a little girl.
 
NASCAR races are more like day-long events, what were your initial impressions driving into the track?

You can really feel the sense of community when you walk around just seeing everybody and all the families. It’s so lovely to see that. And I think that’s an extension of how NASCAR is run.
 
Do you have a favorite driver yet?

I’m going to meet Danica today and I’m really looking forward to that. What I like is that she has not lost her feminity and that’s the whole thing behind the line. We can be tomboys, but we still want to feel pretty. And we still want to look good in our clothes. I think she is a great example of everything the clothing line tries to do.’’
 
What was the biggest takeaway from coming to the race track?

You don’t have an appreciation when you watch it on TV of how steep the banking is. It was crazy. When I was in the car with Brett (Bodine), he stopped in the corner and it was crazy, like we were just hanging there. I don’t think you can truly appreciate the skill of the drivers until you feel the speed on the track.

This is my first race I ever went to except that (her former "Who’s The Boss" co-star) Tony Danza used to always do the Celebrity Pro Race in Long Beach. I used to watch him all the time when I was little. So I already appreciate these drivers as athletes. I mean I have a hard time driving my Mercedes in Studio City, California so I appreciate them and what they do even more. They have to be so strong.

What’s been the reaction from your friends and co-stars about your involvement in a NASCAR apparel line?

We wrapped (shooting) in December for “Mistresses” and I’m shooting “Project Runway All-Stars” right now. (Designer) Issak Misrahi and I were talking just the other day about this opportunity and they (show co-stars) love it (NASCAR).

You can’t deny one of the perks of having this (clothing) line is I get such amazing treatment at all the best sporting events in the world. Once my son is old enough to really appreciate it (he’s 22 months), he’s going to think I’m the coolest mom ever.’

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Veteran anticipating return to his dirt roots

Ryan Newman will return to his dirt roots next week by competing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at Eldora Speedway in a vehicle fielded by Turner Scott Motorsports.

The 16-time winner in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will drive a No. 34 truck backed by Oral-B, Aggressive Hydraulics and WIX Filters. Newman is the second veteran driver from NASCAR’s premier series to commit to the Mudsummer Classic, joining another former dirt tracker, Dave Blaney.

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A native of South Bend, Ind., Newman got his start racing on dirt. Next Wednesday night’s event at Eldora will be the first national series NASCAR race on dirt since a 1970 premier series event at the North Carolina Fairgrounds track in Raleigh, won by Richard Petty.

Eldora will also mark Newman’s first Truck Series start in almost two years. He has four previous starts on the circuit, the most recent at Atlanta in September of 2011, also for Turner Scott. He’s never finished outside the top five in any of those starts, the best being a victory at Atlanta with Kevin Harvick Inc. in 2008.

Turner Scott Nationwide Series crew chief Chris Carrier will call the shots for Newman. Newman tested for the team July 8 at 311 Motor Speedway, a half-mile dirt track in Pine Hall, N.C. Since only the top 20 trucks in owner’s points are guaranteed berths in the 30-vehicle starting field, Newman will have to drive his way into the main event through one of the qualifying races.

“This race is going to be something really special in NASCAR’s history,” Newman said. “I’ve always enjoyed racing in the Truck Series, and to be able to get back and race on dirt with a truck, I think everyone will be in for a special treat. We were able to test at 311 and I thought everything went as planned and I know Chris and the rest of the Oral-B team will have a great truck prepared for the race at Eldora.”

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READ: Danica, Ricky
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WATCH: Kurt Busch,
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READ: Complete coverage
from New Hampshire, Iowa

 

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Check out the new looks hitting the track in this weekend’s Nationwide Series race

Related: STP 300 entry list

The NASCAR Nationwide Series will have the spotlight all to itself this weekend. With the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series not on track, teams heading to Chicagoland Speedway travel to the Prairie State knowing all eyes are on them.

The STP 300 is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday on ESPN and comes on the heels of an exciting race at New Hampshire.

Here is a preview of some of the paint schemes you’ll see on the cars this weekend.

RELATED: Purchase die-casts of your favorite drivers | Classic die-casts

Brian Scott will drive the No. 2 Fast Fixin’ Chevrolet.

SHOP: Brian Scott die-casts

Regan Smith will drive the No. 7 Speedco Chevrolet.

SHOP: Regan Smith die-casts

Dakoda Armstrong will drive the No. 21 WinField Chevrolet.

SHOP: NASCAR die-casts

Blake Koch will drive the No. 24 Compassion International Toyota.

Kyle Larson will drive the No. 32 International Chevrolet.

Matt DiBenedetto will drive the No. 37 NationalCashLenders.com Dodge.

Michael Annett will drive the No. 43 STP Ford.

SHOP: Michael Annett die-casts

Travis Pastrana will drive the No. 60 Valvoline NextGen Ford.

SHOP: Travis Pastrana die-casts

Parker Kligerman will drive the No. 77 Toyota Toyota.

SHOP: NASCAR die-casts

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Burton in the mix

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READ: Complete coverage
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NASCAR’s president turns into teacher during valuable back-and-forth session

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Mike Helton played a professorial role this week. He had a willing classroom of students. Two classrooms, actually.

Picture this: 19 bright, young minds — half in Daytona Beach, the other half in Charlotte, involved via video conferencing from Charlotte — zoning in on a NASCAR president-turned-teacher. Helton’s subject of choice was history, complemented by well-timed displays of old-school business acumen.

The occasion was one of a series of “lunch and learn” events NASCAR is hosting this year for current participants in the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program. The gatherings are designed to provide interns with inside, high-level viewpoints on various aspects of the sport’s business.

“We are excited at this level of quantity and quality, in terms of talent, involved in this program,” Helton told his audience Monday afternoon at NASCAR’s Daytona Beach headquarters. “We need fresh ideas. We need to keep making our sport exciting for our younger fans.”

In addition to Helton, interns have lunched with several NASCAR vice presidents including Marcus Jadotte, NASCAR’s vice president of public affairs and multi-cultural development.

Jadotte’s department oversees the diversity internship program, launched in 2000 to introduce professional opportunities available within the industry to college students from diverse backgrounds. The program has clearly established itself as a top professional development platform for college students across various disciplines within the motorsports industry — while also preparing students who choose to go in a different professional direction. Which makes sense.

More than ever, NASCAR is about far more than turning left.

“We believe that fostering a truly diverse and collaborative working environment will make us a stronger organization,” Jadotte said. “We hope to continue diversifying our sport internally by offering multicultural students the opportunity to take a peek under the hood of our league.”

Nearly 300 students have come through the diversity internship program. And they have come from everywhere. A young man who identified his school as THE University of Texas. Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia State and Central Florida were represented along with Embry-Riddle University, located just a mile or so from Daytona International Speedway.

They are working everywhere within NASCAR. The company’s legal department. Marketing and licensing. Digital and communications.

The words they heard came from a man who came up through the ranks of motorsports. A native of the Bristol, Va., area, Helton grew up influenced by the increasing popularity of Bristol Motor Speedway. His personal track included years as the public relations director and general manager at Atlanta Motor Speedway. In 1994 he joined NASCAR as vice president of competition; in 1999 he was named senior vice president and chief operating officer. In November 2000, with the creation of NASCAR’s board of directors, then-president Bill France Jr. became chairman and chief executive officer with Helton moving into the role of NASCAR’s president.

“I just like going to work every day,” Helton said, explaining his attraction to his longtime motorsports career. “And I’ve always tried to keep the fans first and foremost in my mind.”

After 45-minutes or so of providing the interns with a condensed history of NASCAR — spiced by his personal experiences with NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. and his son, Bill Jr. — Helton fielded  a series of astute questions from the crowd.

Some highlights:

Asked about the atmosphere of running a race as an official in the tower, Helton said “it can be as docile up there as the conversation we are having right now, at lunch. But it can change in an instant and get pretty active pretty quickly.”

Regarding the state of the current NASCAR Euro Series, Helton pointed out that Bill Sr. had international aspirations starting with NASCAR’s founding in 1947. ‘What’s happening today is the modern-day version of that,” he said.

Will last year’s prime-time Daytona 500 lead to other such scheduling? Helton was non-committal, but did emphasize “that we proved we could hold our own in that area on TV, next to sports like football and baseball.”

Asked for his greatest piece of advice — either given or received, Helton’s response was immediate.

“Be patient.”

Nineteen heads nodded.

Class dismissed.

 

READ MORE:

READ: Danica, Ricky
tangle at Loudon

READ: Standings Shuffle:
Burton in the mix

WATCH: Kurt Busch,
Newman wreck

READ: Complete coverage
from New Hampshire, Iowa

 

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Penske drivers to make appearances on ‘Lab Rats’, ‘Sullivan and Son’

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski and Penske teammate Joey Logano are set to showcase their acting skills on the small screen. Keselowski will appear in the comedy series “Sullivan & Son” (Thursday, July 18, 10 p.m. ET/PT, TBS) while Logano plays a role in an all-new episode of the hit comedy “Lab Rats” (Monday, July 22, 9 p.m. ET/PT, Disney XD).

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On Thursday, July 18, Keselowski joins the cast of “Sullivan & Son,” appearing as the defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion himself. In the episode “Rumspringa,” Keselowski gets into a minor fender bender with Ok Cha (Jodi Long) when he’s unable to successfully parallel park his car. The incident occurs right outside Sullivan & Son (the family bar for which the show is named), so the comical skirmish is briefly brought inside.

“I never dreamed of being able to film a television show like ‘Sullivan & Son,’ ” said Keselowski. “The cast was great to work with and they made me feel very comfortable on camera. Everyone on the show is hilarious and I think the fans will love the episode. It was fun to step out of the fire suit and make fun of my driving skills for a little bit.”

Then on Monday, July 22, Logano will be a part of Disney XD’s sports-themed “Monday Night Overdrive” when he guest stars on the hit comedy series “Lab Rats.” In the episode, which is entitled “The Bionic 500,” Logano will appear as himself and do what he does best: drive a race car. When Donald Davenport (Hal Sparks) and his new obnoxious neighbor Pierce agree to settle their differences with a stock car race, Davenport is shocked to learn that Pierce has enlisted Logano to race for him.

“I grew up watching Disney when I was younger, so it was really cool to get the chance to work with Disney XD and be a part the show, especially since it’s geared towards younger audiences,” said Logano. “I’m not sure how well my acting skills will play out on the screen, but it was fun to do either way. I’ll be interested to see how it all comes out.”

NASCAR drivers’ exposure in Hollywood pop culture projects, including film and television, continue to be on the rise. Other recent integrations include Tony Stewart on ABC’s “Last Man Standing,” Danica Patrick at Nickelodeon’s “Kids Choice Awards” and Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart on “The Cleveland Show” on FOX.

READ MORE:

READ: Danica, Ricky
tangle at Loudon

READ: Standings Shuffle:
Burton in the mix

WATCH: Kurt Busch,
Newman wreck

READ: Complete coverage
from New Hampshire, Iowa

 

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Pair of heavyweights gain some ground after New Hampshire Motor Speedway showings

                                   

1. Jimmie Johnson       

Outlook: Alright, if Johnson had any doubters out there (which, by all means, he really shouldn’t) they have to be believers now. Rallying from dead last — the only time he’s ever had to do so — to a sixth-place finish is nothing short of impressive on its own. The fact that it wouldn’t have surprised us if he’d won — now that’s the stuff of legends.
Standings: 1st, 696 points

2. Matt Kenseth        

Outlook: Kenseth managed to sneak out of the wreckage of the Kurt Busch/Ryan Newman mess, and finished ninth after leading 33 laps. He’s still mired in the middle of the top 10 in points, but is in great shape for the Chase season with his impressive win total.
Standings: 6th, 576 points

3. Kevin Harvick           

Outlook: It was an eventful (but positive) week for Harvick that resulted in a solid seventh-place finish at New Hampshire.  However, he did make a potential enemy in Marcos Ambrose, but at least Danica Patrick will be there to protect him next year.
Standings: 4th, 622 points

4. Clint Bowyer         

Outlook: Another race, another non-victory for Bowyer. Though he really, really could have used the win (especially considering New Hampshire is one of his strongest tracks) he does still stand second in points with a reasonable lead over Carl Edwards.
Standings: 2nd, 640 points

5. Carl Edwards       

Outlook: Was Carl Edwards even in the race on Sunday? The Roush Fenway Racing driver was almost a non-factor from a drama standpoint, not getting involved in any incidents and notching perhaps the quietest eighth-place finish in history. Sometimes that’s a good thing, but not when the driver one spot below you in the standings (Harvick) finishes one spot ahead of you.
Standings: 3rd, 623 points

6. Kyle Busch          

Outlook: Despite just two victories on the season, Busch has led the most laps — even 17 more than Johnson — so it’s hard not to classify him in the elite class with Johnson and Kenseth. If it weren’t for the five races in which he didn’t complete every lap, he could very well be closer to the top of the standings
Standings: 7th, 576 points

7. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Outlook: Earnhardt’s 14th-place finish didn’t cost him any spots in the standings, but there’s enough distance between himself (578 points) and fourth-place Harvick (622) to be concerned. Throw in the fact that Junior is still seeking his crucial first win of the season and the fact that Kenseth and Busch are each just two points behind him and there’s plenty of reason to worry.
Standings: 5th, 578 points

8. Kasey Kahne         

Outlook: Kahne reeled himself back in with his 11th-place finish after being on the brink of a non-Chase spot, but he’s still got plenty of work to do. As one of five drivers in contention with a single victory, he’ll likely need another one to feel any sort of stability.
Standings: 10th, 523 points

9. Greg Biffle         

Outlook: Sitting 31 points behind Kyle Busch and 16 ahead of a winless Brad Keselowski, eighth place sounds like it could be a comfortable spot for Biffle to wind up in by the time the Chase starts, assuming he doesn’t add to his win total. Indianapolis should be a good spot for him to pick up some points to stay there, as he has six top-10 finishes in his 10 career starts at the track.
Standings: 8th, 545 points

10. Brad Keselowski  

Outlook: With an average finish of 21.25 in his first four New Hampshire Motor Speedway starts, it’s clear that Keselowski has since figured out Loudon, as he’s averaged a finish of 4.25 in his last four races there. Could his fourth-place finish be the spark the reigning champ needed? We’ll see.
Standings: 9th, 529 points

11. Martin Truex Jr.       

Outlook: Would you believe Martin Truex Jr. is one heck of a fisherman? Would you believe Martin Truex Jr. has also led the sixth-most laps of the season? Both are true.
Standings: 11th, 521 points

12. Kurt Busch       

Outlook: Busch was well on his way to extending his laps led count (which currently has him at fifth in the series behind heavyweights Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth and Kasey Kahne) when he and Ryan Newman were wrecked after contact from Kenseth. Every week, it seems like Busch’s Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet is right up there with the fastest cars on the track and then something catastrophic happens.
Standings: 14th, 516 points

13. Tony Stewart       

Outlook: This one had to hurt. The win appeared to be Stewart’s before the realization set in that he might run out of gas. He let off a bit, let Brian Vickers pass, then ran out on the final restart only to finish 26th and fall to 13th in the standings. He’s one win  away from being out of the Chase.
Standings: 13th, 518 points

14. Jeff Gordon       

Outlook: At one point, for some reason Paul Menard seemed to take exception to the fact that Jeff Gordon was in front of him, so he just nudged him and Gordon went flying. Somehow, Gordon recovered to finish 10th to Menard’s 17th and sits 12th in the standings to Menard’s 20th. Who won this dispute?
Standings: 12th, 521 points

15. Jamie McMurray       

Outlook: Frankly, it needs to be addressed. Jamie McMurray has a legitimate Chase shot. With his mini-hot streak that saw a second-place Kentucky finish, seventh at Daytona, and 12th at Loudon, the McDonald’s Chevrolet driver is just 16 points out of a non-Wild Card Chase spot, with a track coming up that saw one of his six wins. Things are going well for McMurray, but why wouldn’t they? Monopoly season starts today.
Standings: 15th, 507 points

16. Aric Almirola       

Outlook:A fifth-place finish for Aric Almirola (23rd, 18th, 29th, 28th, 23rd in five previous races) at New Hampshire was about as likely to happen as a 21st-place finish for Denny Hamlin (average finish of 7.93 in 14 starts before Sunday) but both happened, leaving one driver (Almirola) in contention, while furthering the likelihood that the perennial Chase participant Hamlin will be left out after Richmond.
Standings: 16th, 502 points

17. Ryan Newman       

Outlook: Newman clearly wasn’t happy with his dismissal from Stewart-Haas Racing, but he didn’t do himself any favors under the spotlight of potential suitors at New Hampshire. His day was ended after his run-in with Kurt Busch and the five points he earned do next to nothing to help his Chase hopes.
Standings: 19th, 487 points

18. Joey Logano       

Outlook: At least Logano recovered from his early (and I mean early) exit from Sunday’s race to finish ahead of Morgan Shepherd, Michael McDowell and Mike Bliss, but the Penske Racing driver certainly could’ve used a better showing at a track he’s won on before. He’s running out of time to make a push.
Standings: 18th, 487 points

19. Jeff Burton       

Outlook: Burton almost always has a strong race at New Hampshire (and he should, he pretty much owns stock in the place with the amount of races he’s run there) but few expected him to do as well as he did, this late in his career. Needless to say, his third-place finish puts him in position for a legitimate (albeit distant) shot at a Chase spot.
Standings: 17th, 498 points

20. Paul Menard        

Outlook: Time to address Menard’s side of the aforementioned Menard/Gordon incident. It’s quite possible that Menard, who was firmly in the running for a Chase spot the first half of the non-Chase season, is overly frustrated with his performance of late. He hasn’t sniffed a top-10 finish since Kansas and looks likely to fall out of the top 20 soon.
Standings: 20th, 487 points

In the rearview

Note: These rankings have been determined by a poll that included writers Kenny Bruce, Holly Cain, David Caraviello and Zack Albert, and video host Alan Cavanna.

Join in on the conversation in our Power Rankings Fan Forum. NASCAR.com’s David Caraviello will stop by from noon-1 p.m. ET on July 16 to answer your questions about the power rankings, and more.

READ MORE:

READ: Danica, Ricky
tangle at Loudon

READ: Standings Shuffle:
Burton in the mix

WATCH: Kurt Busch,
Newman wreck

READ: Complete coverage
from New Hampshire, Iowa