Turner Motorsports announced today that its NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) drivers will be teaming up with paintball star Greg Hastings in Las Vegas for a head-to-head battle prior to the September 29th race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS). Miguel Paludo, Nelson Piquet Jr., James Buescher and wife Kris Buescher will join forces with SPEED on-air talent Ray Dunlap and Rick Allen to take on some of paintball's most prestigious professional players including Hastings, Bea Youngs, Kat Secor and Sonny Lopez.

The event, which will be held at Las Vegas Premier Paintball in Las Vegas Sports Park, is open to spectators and will feature a 30-minute autograph session with the Turner Motorsports drivers and paintball players. The autograph session will be followed by four to six combat-style games between the drivers, media and pros.
 
The Turner Motorsports drivers will hit the track for the NCWTS race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 29th at 8:00 p.m. ET. Paludo will carry the latest release in Hastings' video game franchise, Greg Hastings Paintball 2, on the truck bed of the No. 32 Duroline Brakes and Components Chevrolet in the race. Greg Hastings Paintball 2 is available worldwide for PS3 on PSN, and will soon be launching a version for iOS. The paintball game will air on SPEED's NCWTS Setup prior to the race at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday, October 6th at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Turner Motorsports PR

With Kansas Speedway’s track reconfiguration project this summer, NASCAR has added extra practice time to the schedule for teams and Kansas Speedway will open its gates to fans free of charge on Oct. 17 and Oct. 18, but is requesting a donation of $5 to March of Dimes' Bikers for Babies campaign. Volunteers will be at the gates to collect donations.

“Kansas Speedway hosts one of the largest Biker’s for Babies events in the country and since NASCAR decided to add extra practice days to the schedule for teams, I felt this was a great opportunity to continue to support this worthwhile cause,” said Kansas Speedway President Patrick Warren. “I know we have extremely generous fans and I hope we are able to raise a lot of money for Bikers for Babies during these two days.”

On Wed., Oct. 17, parking lots will open at Noon and gates will open at 12:30 PM with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars scheduled to be on track from 1 PM – 5 PM. On Thur., Oct. 18, parking lots will open at 7:30 AM and gates will open at 8 AM with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars scheduled to be on track from 8:30 AM -12:30 PM and then NASCAR Nationwide Series cars will be on track from 1 PM – 5 PM.

Kansas Speedway PR

Telestream®, a leading provider of video transcoding and workflow solutions, and Quantum, a global expert in data protection and big data management, today announced that the NASCAR video capture and replay project incorporating technology from both companies won the prestigious IBC2012 Innovation Award in the Content Management category. Telestream developed the video capture and replay system for NASCAR’s high-speed sports officiating. The award recognized NASCAR and its project partners, including Quantum for its StorNext data management software and CineSys for its disk storage.

"It is an honor for the NASCAR project to be recognized by the IBC," said Barbara DeHart, vice president of marketing at Telestream. "The new race control system would not have been possible without the collective efforts of NASCAR Productions, along with the Telestream, Quantum and CineSys teams. Together, we were able to bring high-quality capture and replay into the race-day operations of one of the most exciting sports around."

In the fast-paced world of NASCAR racing, where broadcasts reach more than 150 countries, video also plays a key role in controlling NASCAR races. The new race control system is based on Telestream’s Pipeline HD hardware encoder and a new, high-performance, multi-clip Pipeline Replay application. The scalable, file-based system provides instant capture and synchronous display of 18 high definition (HD) camera feeds, enabling instant access, search, and analysis of an entire race event.

"The instant replay system that Telestream has provided NASCAR this season has enabled our officials to perform their jobs in an even more efficient and time-sensitive manner," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR Vice President of Competition. "Having instant access to that many camera angles featuring such high-quality video has been a terrific addition to our race weekends."

The race control system utilizes high-speed StorNext File System software from Quantum to provide simultaneous access of video content, including the ability to rewind and read while continuing to write from 18 HD cameras. CineSys provided on-site infrastructure, architecture, installation, and technical assistance.

"We are pleased to have been selected by Telestream to participate in this important project, and it is especially gratifying to be recognized in this prestigious award. StorNext’s robust file sharing software is fine-tuned to address the high-performance streaming needs that accompany higher resolution video. Because of our collaboration, these combined technologies are greatly improving the accuracy of race monitoring and enhancing the experience for millions of NASCAR fans," said Janae Stow Lee, senior vice president, File System and Archive Product Group at Quantum.

The award was presented at the IBC2012 Awards Ceremony on Sunday evening, September 9 at the RAI in Amsterdam. IBC is the premier annual event for professionals engaged in the creation, management and delivery of entertainment and news content worldwide. The Innovation Awards recognize collaboration and those who push the boundaries. Telestream is exhibiting at IBC in stand 7.D16, and Quantum is exhibiting in stand 7.G30.

TeleStream PR

The National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel today heard and considered the appeal of the No. 27 Richard Childress NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team.

Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) announced today it has made changes to its crew lineup in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Mike Ford will now lead Marcos Ambrose and the No. 9 Ford while Todd Parrott has been assigned as the crew chief for Aric Almirola and the No. 43 Ford. In addition, team members from both teams will also make the switch with their respective crew chief. Several pit crew members were also recently changed. The move is made to strengthen the entire RPM organization and improve the performance level now and into the future. The change is effective immediately.

Richard Petty Motorsports currently has one win, three poles, 10 top-10 and three top-five finishes this season in the Sprint Cup Series. The team was also in position to make the Chase for the second consecutive season with driver Marcos Ambrose.

"We're continuing to make improvements at Richard Petty Motorsports and we've added talented people to our organization this season," said Sammy Johns, director of competition. "This move is to make sure that we are using that talent to the fullest to get the best results for our teams each weekend. We feel this adjustment will strengthen the organization, allow us to continue to compete for wins and ultimately challenge for championships."

Ford and Parrott are both veteran, winning crew chiefs. Parrott has one Sprint Cup championship, a Daytona 500 championship and 31 Sprint Cup wins to his credit. Ford has six Chase births and 25 Sprint Cup race wins on his resume. Both are looking at the change as an opportunity to better Richard Petty Motorsports.

"Aric has really shown the desire and dedication to get his first Sprint Cup Series win," Parrott said. "It was great our team helped lead Marcos to his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win and poles. We are now ready to help direct Almirola and the No. 43 team to the same results and better."

Ford is also ready to work with Ambrose and the No. 9 race team.

"Marcos is a racer who has proven to win poles and races," Ford said. "Our goal is to take my experiences and make sure we can consistently run up front and continue to win races."

Ford, Parrott and their teams will be working with their new respective drivers this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway.

RPM PR

BK Racing's No. 83 and 93 teams ran a special decal aboard their cars at Richmond International Raceway during Saturday night's Federated Auto Parts 400 in remembrance of 9/11. The decal had an image of the American flag accompanied by the words "Never Forget." For Harry McMullen, GM of BK Racing, the decal carries a deeply personal and special meaning. McMullen, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., had three cousins in the World Trade Center on the morning of 9/11. Two of them were fortunate enough to escape without injuries. His cousin Joe, however, was killed when the first plane struck the tower. Even after 11 years, McMullen can vividly remember the events as they unfolded on that fateful day.

"I have a ton of cousins in the New York area," McMullen said. "A group of them lived in New Jersey and they carpooled into work in Manhattan. I have five cousins that worked in the World Trade Center. When they arrived on the day of 9/11, two had to leave for meetings outside the city. The other three remained in the Trade Center. When the first plane hit, my cousin Joe was killed instantly. My cousins Charlie and Richie met in the second tower and asked what was going on. They figured out there had been a plane wreck and Charlie decided to leave the building. Richie felt he needed to stay and help his office, so he stayed inside. When the second plane hit, Charlie made it out of the building, but Richie was trapped in there. Richie ended up sliding down an elevator cable and running down a flight of stairs. He helped a bunch of people find their way out. We didn't hear from him for a while, but luckily he made it out OK."

McMullen hopes that the team's decal serves as a reminder of how many were affected by 9/11 and the price they paid.

"It was such a surreal experience," continued McMullen. "Not just that day, but the whole experience. I went back for Joe's service in December. The reason the service was so delayed was because there wasn't a church or funeral home available in the city for such an extended time. There were so many deaths. Having this decal on our car was a reminder of what a big event it was and how many people's lives were affected. We can never forget what it means to them and what they gave up. It's too easy to let things like that slip into the past. That should be remembered every minute."

BK Racing PR

3M Company, headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, has agreed to sponsor the ASA Midwest Tour race at Iowa Speedway, now titled ‘3M 150’.  The 150-lap super late model stock car contest, scheduled for Friday evening, September 14, features qualifying at 4:30 pm and a green flag for the ‘3M 150’ at 8 pm. 

Practice for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams and a post-race concert by Iowa rockers ‘Wikid Likir’ are also on the docket during the first of two ‘Fan Appreciation Weekend’ events at the Newton track.

“We are delighted that 3M Company has come aboard with us to present one of the most exciting stock car races of the year with the ASA Midwest Tour,” said Chuck Spicer, Iowa Speedway Vice President of Sales & Marketing.  “The drivers always put on a really great show for the fans, and since many 3M employees from the Knoxville plant will be here, some even on ASA pit crews, we know it’s going to be a lot of fun for everyone”

Up to twenty 3M employees will be participating as additional pit crew members on five top-flight super late model teams, including those of former Iowa Speedway winners Tim Schendel, Jeff Choquette and Chris Wimmer, former ASA Midwest Tour champion Nathan Haseleu and rookie sensation Matt Tifft.

“3M is proud to partner with the Iowa Speedway for the ‘3M 150’,” Knoxville 3M Plant Manager Greg Couves said.  “A night of exciting racing is something all race fans and 3M-ers enjoy, and reflects the high-speed pace of both our organizations.  We are especially excited to have some of our folks in the pits, seeing and experiencing the precision and speed of the ASA race teams.”

Iowa Speedway PR

Jason Bowles brought home his 18^th top-25 finish of the season thus far Friday night in the Virginia 529 College Savings Plan 250.  Driving the Random Acts/Energize Ministries No. 81 Dodge Challenger presented by ITEX, Bowles kept his nose clean and was able to record a lead lap finish for his team at Richmond.

“Jason drove really hard all day,” explained crew chief John Monsam.  “In the end we lost a few spots when our tires went away but Jason did a nice job of keeping the car underneath him and bringing it home in one piece.”

After practicing in the 30^th position, Monsam and the crew made some changes to the car for qualifying.  The changes worked as Jason was able to grid the Random Acts/Energize Ministries No. 81 into 21^st position for the race.

Bowles ran as high as 17^th during the 250 lap race Friday night at Richmond.  The tires started to go away on the MacDonald Motorsports No. 81 Dodge in the late stages, dropping Bowles back to a 23^rd place result.

“We’ll move on the Chicagoland now looking to bounce back from this race,” says Monsam.  “The crew on this team just keeps digging and I really appreciate all of their hard work.”

MMPR

Brad Keselowski, driver of the Penske Racing No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS), finished seventh in the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway (RIR) on Saturday night. With this serving as the final race of the regular season, Keselowski will enter the 2012 Chase for the Championship tied for second-place in the point standings.

Rain showers moved through the Richmond area in the early evening, delaying the start of the event by an hour and a half. Intermittent showers would plague the remainder of the event.

Keselowski began the scheduled 400-lap race from the 10th position after his time of 21.336 seconds, or 126.547 miles per hour, around the .75-mile, D-shaped oval during the Friday qualifying session. The race began with the high lane not getting quickly up to speed and, as a result, Keselowski and other competitors lost several spots on the start. He was able to settle in to the 18th position at lap 12 before he began to make up ground on the leaders. Keselowski radioed to crew chief Paul Wolfe that his car was loose on entry and tight in the center of the RIR corners. A NASCAR-mandated competition caution at lap 45 gave Wolfe an opportunity to call his driver down pit road for a four-tire stop that included air pressure and track bar adjustments. Keselowski restarted the race from the 26th position at lap 51 following mishap on the stop.

The Miller Lite Dodge showed great long-run speed, which Keselowski used to his advantage as he maneuvered his way back through the field. Despite a chassis condition that remained the same as the previous run, the Penske Racing driver was able to race his way back to the 15th position before the first caution of the day for rain fell over the field at lap 138. Wolfe again prescribed track bar and air pressure adjustments when Keselowski made his way into his pit stall. However, at lap 150, the race was red-flagged due to weather for 51 minutes and 45 seconds as the track drying process took place.

As the racing resumed on the freshly-washed racetrack, it seemed as though Keselowski was driving a different Miller Lite Dodge. He restarted the race from the 16th position at lap 156, but he quickly made his way inside the top 10 by lap 183. He remained there as the race moved past the halfway point. However, he was still dealing with the loose- in and tight-center handling condition that plagued him since the start of the race. Wolfe and the team continued to make adjustments to the air pressure and track bar, along with wedge changes, to give their driver the feel he was looking for around the RIR oval.

Within the last 100 laps, Keselowski was able to make his way up as high as fifth in the running order. However, he was never able to find the feel he was looking for to challenge the leaders for the win. The seventh-place finish marked the team’s 15th top-10 finish of the season. It also continued their strong push at the end of the regular season as they prepare for the playoffs.

Penske Racing teammate, Sam Hornish, Jr., finished 11th in Saturday night’s Federated Auto Parts 400.

Following Saturday’s result, Keselowski and the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge team move into the Chase for the Championship tied for second-place, based on their three wins this season.

“It's a great feeling to make the Chase with this Miller Lite Dodge,” said Keselowski. “Everyone at Penske Racing has done a great job. I'm just excited to get going next weekend at Chicago and proud of where we're at this season.”

Penske Racing PR

With the race to the Chase culminating at Richmond International Raceway Saturday night, several drivers needed to have strong performances in order to keep their Chase hopes alive. Thankfully, Matt Kenseth and his No. 17 Best Buy team had clinched their berth into the Chase before heading into the weekend at Richmond which allowed them to focus on having a good race without the added pressure to qualify in. A soggy night in Richmond found NASCAR’s top series patiently wait out several passing showers, but eventually the race completed all of its 400 laps, and Kenseth earned a top-five finish in the process.

Kenseth began the 400-lap race from the 17th starting position as the field had to start under green and yellow conditions. After the first six laps, NASCAR brought out the green flag on lap seven once the track was dried and ready to go. Kenseth quickly jumped from 17th up to 11th within the opening run, but he radioed in to crew chief Jimmy Fennig that he needed more front grip in the Best Buy Ford. Kenseth also said that the No. 17 started out good, but that the middle got too tight and the front tires were sliding.

NASCAR called a competition caution after lap 45, and Fennig called his driver down pit road on lap 48 for four tires, fuel, and air pressure adjustments on the first pit stop of the evening. Kenseth restarted eighth which meant that he was on the high line for the start which put him at a disadvantage on the restart. By lap 60, Kenseth was back in 16th still stuck up top trying to fight his way back onto the bottom line.

The Best Buy Ford continued to have loose-handling conditions and Kenseth told his team that he was also losing speed due to the looseness. A caution for rain came on lap 139 and Kenseth pitted for four tires, fuel, air pressure and wedge adjustments. NASCAR officials then brought out the red flag for 52 minutes while rain passed over the area.

Once the track was dry and ready to return to racing, Kenseth restarted 11th and still continued to fight the looseness in his Ford. Fennig and the Best Buy crew made adjustments over the middle portion of the race aimed at helping their driver with handling in the turns and trying to provide Kenseth with more front grip.

Kenseth was able to break his way into the top ten and maintained that position, and even drove his way back onto the lead lap after being lapped, ultimately finishing fifth Saturday night.

“I think the team is good in shape,” commented Kenseth after the race. “We have been having great days on pit road, made pretty good adjustments, and really made something out of I don't want to say nothing, but we didn't have a great car and Jimmie and them guys did a great job on pit road, strategy and adjustments and got us a top five. So we've had a couple decent weeks. I can't wait to go to Chicago and race there. We definitely know we need to win some races to have a shot at this thing so hopefully we can have a shot next week.”

Roush Fenway PR