Speedway News (7938)
Keep up on racing and speedway news from around the US
Larson, Stenhouse Jr. Doling Out $10,000 For Kids Dash For Cash
09 Oct 2018 Written by Steven B. WilsonThe event coincides with the ongoing kids' initiative by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., the parent company of Texas Motor Speedway, of offering a 12-and-under children's ticket to a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race in any seating price range for just $10.
Grand Marshal anmd Honorary Starter Named Ford Kansas Lottery 300
09 Oct 2018 Written by Steven B. WilsonKansas Governor Dr. Jeff Colyer has been named the Grand Marshal for the Kansas Lottery 300 on Oct. 20, and Jamie Young, representing the Kansas Lottery’s #1 retail outlet, Lonestar in Salina, Kan., has been named the Honorary Starter for the race.
In addition to Governor Colyer and Young taking part in pre-race activities, Toyota and the University of Kansas Health System, along with Kansas Speedway, will recognize five breast cancer survivors as part of the ceremonies.
Darrell Stuckey, who is a retired NFL Pro Bowler and Kansas City, Kan., native will provide the invocation, and The Band Sayler will sing the National Anthem, while the Overland Park Police Honor Guard will present the colors.
All Kansas Speedway tickets are currently on sale by calling 866.460.RACE (7223) or by logging onto www.kansasspeedway.com.
Kansas Speedway, a premier motorsports facility in the Midwest, hosts two NASCAR race weekends a year, in addition to hosting approximately 200 other events throughout the year. In the fall, the NASCAR playoffs return Oct. 20-21 with the NASCAR XFINITY Series Kansas Lottery 300 and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400. Also in the fall is the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards series finale. To purchase season or single day tickets, call 866.460.RACE (7223) or log onto www.kansaspeedway.com. A limited number of camping spots are available by calling Kansas Speedway’s Ticket Office.
General parking is always free at Kansas Speedway and fans can bring in one 14x14x14-inch soft-sided cooler with their favorite food and beverages.
Fans can follow Kansas Speedway on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kansasspeedway, follow us on Twitter (@kansasspeedway), on Instagram (kansasspeedway) and Snapchat (kansasspeedway).
Kansas Speedway PR
Three Decades Later, the Legend of Lyn St. James Lives On at Talladega Superspeedway
09 Oct 2018 Written by Steven B. WilsonThis NASCAR Playoff doubleheader weekend at Talladega Superspeedway marks 30 years since former IMSA GTP driver Lyn St. James earned a special place among drivers who have shattered records at the mammoth venue.
The longtime sports car racer stamped her name into the history books at 2.66-mile tri-oval in 1985 by driving a Ford Mustang Probe GTP Prototype to set the record as the first woman to surpass 200 mph on a closed course with a speed of 204.233 mph. But little did anyone know that the performance would be just an appetizer for what she would accomplish three years later in one of Talladega’s most illustrious moments in motorsports history.
The story begins in 1987 when St. James drove on the same team with two-time Talladega winner Bill Elliott en route to them winning that year’s 24 Hours of Daytona in the GTO team class. Later that year, Elliott would set NASCAR’s all-time qualifying mark at Talladega with a speed of 212.809 mph. Since St. James was looking for a way to give herself a chance at earning a NASCAR ride, she contacted Ford, Goodyear, Elliott and his race team, and convinced them to build a race car specifically to set speed records at Talladega.
The project involved a 1989 Thunderbird on a NASCAR chassis built by Ernie Elliott, Bill’s brother. Instead of using a NASCAR 5.7 liter engine, the car was given a 377 CID V8 engine and an ultra-low ride height. Any changes to the rest of the vehicle, which included to its rear roof, rear spoiler and frontal area, were made to “only look stock” and achieve aerodynamics that would minimize drag and maximize speed.
Because of the 200-mph speeds the Thunderbird was expected to go, the car had to be tested in a “proper moving-ground wind tunnel” and the results were mind-blowing. The car was ready for Talladega’s 33-degree banking and its speed records attempt in October 1988, but it was not until then that St. James sat in the car for the first time.
“The car was so heavy, and the tires were so small! I didn’t have a lot of feel,” said St. James, a Phoenix, AZ native who will be at Talladega this weekend to celebrate her accomplishment with media Friday and be introduced to the crowd during pre-race ceremonies Sunday. “As a race driver, you have to be able to adapt to different kinds of cars, that’s your job. But it had this great big steering wheel, and it was so heavy – I couldn’t feel a dorn thing!”
Once all of the necessary permits were finished, there was a total of over 40 international and national records that St. James could either set or break.
To help prepare her for her mission, Elliott utilized a stock Thunderbird to take St. James around Talladega and discussed where she should be (and where she should not be) on the track. He even made adjustments to the suspension and aerodynamics of the real Thunderbird race car. They also communicated frequently in the pits because the fuel cell only held 10 gallons.
“I’d come in and ask Bill what to do,” St. James said. “He’d say, ‘you just have to drive it deep into the turn until it takes a set.’ I’d say, ‘it doesn’t feel like it’s going to turn,’ and he’d say, ‘you just have to wait – it’ll turn all right.’
“Bill is not only an extremely talented race car driver, but he’s also known to be able to set up a car and make the adjustments when needed, which was invaluable.”
To make the task tougher, the mid-afternoon heat was not complimentary for breaking new speed records, and St. James says that if she lost speed from a little mistake, it would take her an entire lap just to get it back.
“It was so frustrating!” exclaimed St. James. “I felt like I never really figured it out.”
But despite these setbacks and her brief experience inside the car, St. James owned the moment on the first day, putting down the fastest lap ever by a woman on an oval track at 212.435 mph and setting 21 other international and national speed records.
St. James could have stopped with those achievements in hand, but she chose to strap in again the next morning (October 11, 1988) when it was cool and surpassed her own closed-course women’s speed record with 212.577 mph and a recorded top speed of 232.400 mph before the Thunderbird’s motor gave out. All told, St. James and her team set or broke 21 FIA international and national speed records, including 16 that could be held either by men or women.
In many ways, the record-breaking driving by St. James was a major milestone in the auto racing world, but it would end up being the catalyst for raising the bar in the sport. St. James held the title of the world’s fastest woman for only a matter of months until Patty Moise set a new closed-course women’s speed record in a specially-prepared Buick at 216.607 mph. Moise then broke the record again in 1990 at Talladega, clocking in at 217.498 mph.
For St. James, she continued chasing her passion for speed, but there was a catch. “The irony in this story is that my goal of convincing Ford that I could race stock cars didn’t happen,” St. James explained.
A few weeks after making history at Talladega, she accepted an opportunity from team owner Dick Simon to drive an Indycar in a private rookie test. Four years later, she was Rookie of the Year at the Indianapolis 500.
The incredible feats St. James accomplished during her brief stock car experience 30 years ago changed motorsports and sealed her place in Talladega’s storied legacy. She would go on to win another 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring, both in the GTO team class, in 1990. But while records have been broken and her career turned a different direction than she initially planned, her achievements at Alabama’s acclaimed superspeedway will always hold a distinguished place in her heart.
“I found my home driving open-wheel race cars on high-speed ovals,” St. James said. “I think those laps at Talladega, in first the Ford Probe and then the Ford Thunderbird, helped me to learn and like high-speed ovals. I have so much to be thankful for and grateful for the opportunities. Yes, I worked hard to earn those opportunities, but hard work doesn’t always get results. I love driving fast race cars fast!”
Who will write their legacy during the Fr8Auctions 250 and 1000Bulbs.com 500 at Talladega this weekend? Find out…….
TSS PR
AMS Opening Camping Facilities to Hurricane Michael Evacuees
09 Oct 2018 Written by Steven B. WilsonAtlanta Motor Speedway is once again opening its camping facilities to evacuees seeking refuge from Hurricane Michael.
The facilities available to Michael evacuees at Atlanta Motor Speedway will be the same as they were for evacuees of Hurricane Florence last month. The campgrounds, which are equipped to handle thousands of campers during the track’s annual NASCAR weekend, will again be made available free of charge for dry RV and tent campers in the Legends Campground.
A limited number of camping spaces with water, power and sewer are also available for a nominal fee of $20 per night in the Premier Campground.
Located adjacent to the campgrounds, AMS will also open The Rinnai Shower Station camper bath house, allowing evacuees free access to hot showers and restroom facilities during their stay.
Over the last few years Atlanta Motor Speedway has opened its grounds to hundreds of people seeking refuge from powerful storms. During Hurricane Irma in 2017, the Speedway hosted more than 100 campers, and just last month dozens more stayed in the Speedway’s camping areas during Hurricane Florence.
Those interested in RV or tent camping in the free Legends campground at Atlanta Motor Speedway should enter the facility at Entrance "E" off GA Highway 19/41. The Legends Campground is on the right. From I-75 and GA Highway 20, campers should see signs to AMS and follow Lower Woolsey road to Entrance "H" and the Speedway Credential Building. Make a right into Speedway property and then another immediate right onto Richard Petty Boulevard. Follow Richard Petty Boulevard and turn left into Entrance "G". The Legends campground will be on the right.
The Premier Campground is located adjacent to the Legends campground and campers should enter the facility at the main entrance off GA Highway 19/41. The Premier Campground is on the left at the AMS security command post. From I-75 and GA Highway 20, campers should see signs to AMS and follow Lower Woolsey road to Entrance "H" and the Speedway Credential Building. Make a right into Speedway property and then another immediate right onto Richard Petty Boulevard. Follow Richard Petty Boulevard and turn left into Entrance "G". The Premier campground will be on the right.
For on-site assistance or directions, visit the ticket office/gift store building. Atlanta Motor Speedway is located approximately 25 miles south of Atlanta on GA Highway 19/41 and approximately eight miles west of I-75 off of GA Highway 20.
For more information, contact Atlanta Motor Speedway at (770) 946-4211 or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.
AMS PR
With his win at Dover on Sunday, Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Elliott not only secured his second victory of the season, but he also punched his ticket to the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Playoffs. Even though Elliott doesn’t have to worry about the unpredictability of Talladega Superspeedway’s 1000Bulbs.com 500 Sunday affecting his immediate postseason advancement, the Dawsonville, GA, native plans to go all-out in his return to NASCAR’s largest track this weekend because he knows his performance can certainly have long-term championship implications.
“I think it's nice to be able to know you're going to move on, but you can't get complacent in the fact that you are moving on,” Elliott said after his win this past weekend. “You can't let those points just sit out there and not try to go get them because those bonus points you get for winning or winning a stage or winning a race or whatever, that's huge, and you need as many as you can get.”
If the race at Charlotte to close out the Round of 16 was any indication, points are at a premium and even one position (worth one point) in any race can be the difference between a driver moving on to the next round and seeing his hopes to hoist the Cup dashed until next year. Seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson was eliminated from playoff contention after he lost a three-way tiebreaker for 11th and 12th place with Aric Almirola and Kyle Larson, who earned the final two positions after posting better finishes in the three first-round races. At the same time, Johnson would have been in and Larson would have been eliminated by one point if it had not been for Larson making a last-lap pass near the finish line to gain the additional spot to force a tiebreaker. And the outcome could have been different had any of those drivers won one more playoff point throughout the year or stage/race point during the Round of 16.
This is why Elliott is going to play the long game at Talladega and give it everything he’s got to grab stage wins and even a race victory. Elliott’s race and stage wins have pocketed him 13 playoff points, but he knows, barring a win in the Round of 8, that number might not help him reach the Championship 4 given that drivers like Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Brad Keselowski have banked far more playoff points.
For Talladega’s 1000Bulbs.com 500, its stage segments will be divided at Lap 55, Lap 110 and Lap 188. Under NASCAR’s three-stages-racing format, there is an incentive for drivers to run hard every race in the playoffs even when championship contenders like Elliott clinch a berth in the next round via a win. Drivers can earn points by performing well throughout a race and finishing in the top 10 at the conclusion of each of the first two stages (10 points for first, nine for second, etc.). Additionally, stage winners receive a coveted playoff point.
At the drop of the checkered flag, the winning driver receives 40 points, five playoff points and an automatic berth in the next round (if the driver is championship-eligible). For the rest of the field, second place receives 35 points, third place earns 34 points and so on. Drivers carry through their season-long accumulation of playoff points when points are reset each round of the postseason.
“You know, I'm sure when we're at Talladega and the race is going on, I'll feel a lot better,” said Elliott’s crew chief Alan Gustafson, who has five poles and a best finish of second in the 2012 fall event with Jeff Gordon as a crew chief at Talladega. “But we're going to have to be right in the middle of it, too. We can't just write those races (coming up, Kansas also) off. We've got to use that as an opportunity to go try to gain some more stage points and bonus points to put us in a better position for the Round of 8.
“I'm looking forward to Talladega,” Gustafson said. “We always have super-fast superspeedway cars … I've been doing this for 14 years and not won one of those races, which is something that bothers me. I'd love to win at Talladega.”
A win for Elliott this weekend would also have special meaning since his father, Bill Elliott, holds a special legacy at the 2.66-mile complex with the NASCAR official qualifying record of 212.809 mph as well as two victories, including one in 1985 in which he came back from two laps down during green flag conditions to capture the win. Chase has shown signs that he has inherited the superspeedway driving talents of his father, considering he won the pole and placed fifth in his first Cup start at the facility in 2016, as well as finished third in GEICO 500 earlier this year.
When the field takes the green flag at Talladega for the 1000Bulbs.com 500, Elliott will be the lone competitor with a spot clinched for the Round of 8. At the same time, he will have the chance to bolster his championship aspirations and create some historic moments for his team. Fans should expect Elliott to aggressively put the pedal to the metal this weekend because looking back and realizing a major opportunity was missed is not an option when he has both nothing to lose and everything at stake.
“One or two points could be the difference in you making the Round of 4 or not,” the younger Elliott said. “Just knowing that and not being complacent with the win and trying to go get another one or two before it starts I think is important.”
TSS PR
All Eyes on Talladega Superspeedway as Title Hopes on the Line & Uncertainty Ahead for This Weekend’s Doubleheader Playoff Events
08 Oct 2018 Written by Steven B. WilsonWith the intensity of the NASCAR Playoffs in high gear, the stage is set for an epic weekend of expected exquisite weather conditions and high-speed, three- and four-wide, inches-apart pack-racing action at Talladega Superspeedway. Highlighting the weekend’s slate is a double dose of postseason showdowns featuring the 1000Bulbs.com 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) event on Sunday, Oct. 14, and the Fr8Auctions (Freight Auctions) 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) race on Saturday, Oct. 13.
For the 1000Bulbs.com 500, can young gun Chase Elliott, who won Sunday at Dover, finally score a victory at Talladega where his father Bill Elliott is iconic? Can Team Penske driver Joey Logano complete the season sweep at Talladega and punch his ticket to the Round of 8 of NASCAR’s Playoffs? Can Logano’s teammate Brad Keselowski defend his 1000Bulbs.com 500 title and give Team Penske its seventh victory at the 2.66 mile venue in the last nine races in NASCAR’s premier series?
Will defending Fr8Auctions 250 winner and non-playoff driver Parker Kligerman play spoiler in that event and become the first NCWTS driver ever to drive to Talladega’s Gatorade Victory Lane three times in the series? Or, can Alabama’s own Grant Enfinger, who already has advanced to the Round of 6 in the NCWTS by virtue of his win at Las Vegas a few weeks back, take his second Talladega Checkered flag?
With meteorologists forecasting sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 70s this weekend at NASCAR’s Most Competitive track, these questions and more will be answered for packed schedule of happenings and many opportunities of which fans can take advantage. The 1000Bulbs.com 500 is the second race (of three) in the Round of 12 and will kick off at 1 p.m. CDT on Sunday. Saturday’s Fr8Auctions 250 will take the green flag at noon CDT. When the race concludes, the field of NCWTS championship-eligible drivers will be cut from eight to six.
Here’s what’s on tap for the week:
Elliott Diggin’ for the Title: He posted his second career win in Sunday’s race at Dover in NASCAR’s premier series, securing his spot in the Round of 8 to keep his championship hopes alive. He and crew chief Alan Gustafson will come into this weekend’s “wildcard” 1000Bulbs.com 500 on a mission for back-to-back victories to give the Elliott family its third Talladega victory (two by Bill in 1985, 1987).
1000Bulbs.com 500 Defending Champion: Team Penske’s Keselowski scored his fifth victory at the 2.66-mile venue in last fall’s 1000Bulbs.com 500. He leads active drivers on the all-time win list in the MENCS at TSS, winning his first career MENCS triumph at ‘Dega in 2009. A Keselowski repeat win would make him the fifth driver (Dale Earnhardt Sr. did it on three different occasions) in history to go back-to-back in the 1000Bulbs.com 500. The last to do it? His Penske teammate Logano in 2015-16.
Ford Going for Seven Straight: Ford has won the past six MENCS races at TSS. Those wins include Logano (spring 2018, fall 2016, fall 2015), Keselowski (fall 2017, spring 2016) and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (spring 2017). With Keselowski’s win in fall of 2014, Ford has won seven of the last eight races (Dale Earnhardt Jr. spring of 2015 in a Chevrolet). Chevrolet holds the overall record with 13 in-a-row from 1999-2005.
Penske Dominance: Team Penske drivers have won six of the last eight events at Talladega, dating back to the fall of 2014. Included in that span was a Team Penske sweep in 2016 with Keselowski winning in the spring and Logano in the fall. Could Team Penske pull out the broom again?
Young Guns Shooting for Win: A host of NASCAR’s Young Guns have yet to go to victory lane in their career, and that first triumph could come at TSS. Some include Ty Dillon, Daniel Suarez, Bubba Wallace, William Byron and Alex Bowman.
First Time Winners/Last Win of Career: Speaking of first-time winners, 11 times a driver has won his initial career race at Talladega. Stenhouse became the last driver to etch his name in the record book as a first-time Cup winner in the 2017 GEICO 500. Names like Keselowski, Davey Allison and Ken Schrader grabbed their initial win at TSS. Unbelievably, on the other end of the spectrum, 13 drivers have captured the final race victory of their career at the 2.66-mile venue, including Earnhardt Sr. in 2000 and Dale Jarrett in 2005.
The 12 drivers in the MENCS Playoffs: Entering Talladega, only Elliott has secured his spot in the Round of 8 while others like Kevin Harvick (+68), Kyle Busch (+63), Martin Truex Jr. (+36) and Logano (+31) seem somewhat safe looking forward to the next round. For the rest, it will be a little uneasy coming to ‘Dega. They include Kurt Busch (+21), Keselowski (+21), Ryan Blaney (+10), Aric Almirola (-10), Clint Bowyer (-10), Kyle Larson (-12) and Bowman (-34).
Defending Fr8Auctions 250 Champ Pulling Double Duty: Kligerman will come to Talladega this fall for the Fr8Auctions 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS), wearing two different hats. On Saturday, he will try to defend his title in the Fr8Auctions 250 and win a record third TSS NCWTS event, while on Sunday, he will be calling the action for the 1000Bulbs.com 500 for NBC.
The NCWTS Playoff Field Hoping to Advance After the Fr8Auctions 250: Johnny Sauter (+40), Noah Gragson (+23), Brett Moffitt (+18), Matt Crafton (+7), Ben Rhodes (-7) and Stewart Friesen (-10). With wins in the current round, Enfinger and Justin Haley have advanced to the Round of 6. At the conclusion of the Fr8Auctions 250, two drivers will be eliminated from the playoff hunt.
Featured Off-Track Events
“Big One on the Blvd.”: One of Alabama’s most spectacular parties returns on Friday with the popular driver parade and crazy fan competitions overseen by some of NASCAR’s biggest names. The line-up of outrageous events include:
- Miso Hangry – Contestants will compete in a three-course meal challenge featuring a tasty menu – pickled eggs, beef dumplins, and by popular demand, ramen noodles.
- Hungry Hippos – It’s every hippo for him or herself in this elimination game as players slide across our slip-n-slide to fetch their “dinner.” One person will leave feeling hungry in seven rounds of fun.
- Rubber Pull – This ‘DEGA style tug-o-war competition is all about pulling a tire.
- Dirty Girl Deluxe – Four ladies will relay through the ‘DEGA car wash collecting as much water and soap as possible to clean their dirty window.
Some of the drivers scheduled to appear include: Playoff competitors Harvick, Larson, Blaney, as well as Stenhouse, Suarez, Dillon, Erik Jones, Wallace and Brendan Gaughan along with NASCAR personalities Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Rick Allen. The event is for infield camping guests, renewal guest ticket holders and fans with infield wristband admissions.
Saturday Night Infield Concert Presented by Wind Creek Casino and Hotel: Singer/songwriter Chris Janson will headline the traditional show beginning at 9 p.m. CDT. Chris Shrader will get everybody rocking as the opening act at 7:30 p.m. CDT, while music by DJ Mark A.D. from Birmingham, AL will welcome guests starting at 6 p.m. CDT as they settle in for the evening’s epic performances. Admission to the SNIC is FREE with a Sunday 1000Bulbs.com 500 ticket, and the concert will take place at the intersection of Eastaboga and Talladega Blvds.
Kids Movie Night: Kids Movie Night will take place after the running of the Fr8Auctions 250 NCWTS event and Foodland/Food Giant Qualifying for the 1000Bulbs.com 500. The Lego Batman Movie will be shown on a giant screen in the FOX Sports 1 Dome (located behind the International Motorsports Hall of Fame). A Saturday or Sunday kids ticket is required for entry. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. CDT.
Talladega “Drive Days”: On Tuesday (Oct. 9) and Thursday (Oct. 11), "Drive Days" will offer participants to take their street-legal vehicles for three thrilling laps at highway speed behind a Talladega Safety/Pace truck on Talladega’s 2.66-mile, 33-degree high banks for just $50. Times are:
- Tuesday, Oct. 9: 9 a.m.– noon CDT (Staging begins outside Gate 9 at 8:30 a.m. CDT)
- Thursday, Oct. 11: 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. CDT (Staging begins outside Gate 9 at noon CDT)
Those interested in participating will need to stage at the outside entrance to Gate 9 which is located at the Turn 3 crossover entrance. Look for directional signage upon arriving on the property. * Drives may be canceled due to track preparations or weather issues
NCWTS Fan Autograph Session: Fans will have the chance to have their racing gear signed by approximately 15 to 20 NCWTS drivers during an autograph session on Friday from 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. CDT at the Camping World Display in the Fan Zone. Those interested in participating will need to pick up wristbands before the session beginning at 11 a.m. CDT at the Camping World Display. Each fan who has a wristband will be guaranteed a spot in the autograph line. Fans must have a wristband for access to the session.
Quick Facts on Special Offers & Experiences
NEW Saturday Pre-Race Pass for $25 (must have Fr8Auctions 250 ticket or 5-day infield camping wristband): With the Saturday Pre-Race Pass, fans can witness a host of morning activities from “pit alley,” which stretches from in front of Gatorade Victory Lane all the way to the entrance of the MENCS garage. It provides fans an up-close view of the vast preparations by the race teams from down in the trenches for both the Fr8Auctions 250 as well as the 1000Bulbs.com 500.
Friday Infielders Garage Opportunity: Infield guests are invited to walk around the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series garage on Friday from noon to 2 p.m. CDT. Guests can enter the garage via Gate I-20C, which is located between the NCWTS Garage and ARCA Pad, and is available to the first 200 fans on a first-come, first-served basis. All guests must sign a waiver to obtain a wristband. Minors are allowed, but a guardian will need to complete a NASCAR Minor Waiver to obtain a wristband. No alcohol or coolers are allowed, and the track reminds fans to please not interfere with team workspaces or impede moving vehicles.
Kids FREE on Saturday/As low as $15 Sunday: Kids 12 and younger can enjoy the 1000Bulbs.com 500 MENCS race for as low as $15 on Sunday while kids are admitted FREE in all grandstand and tower seats for Saturday’s Fr8Auctions 250 (as well as Friday).
Kids VIP Experience Presented by Children’s of Alabama: Provides behind-the-scenes access for kids at NASCAR’s biggest track for kids 12 and younger prior to the 1000Bulbs.com 500.
Pre-Race Pit Pass Upgrade: Fans who purchase a Pre-Race Pit Pass Upgrade for only $80 can get an exclusive look at pre-race festivities prior to the 1000Bulbs.com 500. Fans receive a chance to stand stage side at Driver Introductions, a special area near the red carpet at the entrance to the Drivers Meeting and a first-hand look at the cars lined up on pit road. Additionally, fans will be able to participate in a special Pre-Race Fan Q&A Session (9:20 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. CDT) on the start-finish line. Scheduled to appear are: Almirola, Bowyer, Harvick, Truex, Rusty Wallace, Donnie Allison and Lyn St. James (subject to change).
Military & First Responders Appreciation: Talladega Superspeedway has special ticket offers for military and first responders (Police Officers, Firemen and EMT’s) and their families, for the 1000Bulbs.com 500 and Fr8Auctions 250.
Teachers & Educators Appreciation: Talladega recognizes and thanks educators and faculty members who work within our school districts to shape our youth into outstanding citizens. Those who work in the school system and qualify can save up to 30% off on various ticket options.
College Student Program: College students can purchase a $24 college ticket to attend the entire weekend full of festivities and racing, including the 1000Bulbs.com 500.
The VIP Tailgate Experience in The Compound: The brand-new space for the ultimate tailgating experience. Located just outside of the grandstands behind the start-finish line behind the gated Legends Village hospitality area.
Fanatics Mobile Trailers and Fan Zone: Fans looking to “gear-up” to showcase the support of their favorite driver and track can do so by visiting the more than a dozen Fanatics mobile trailers that will be in Talladega Superspeedway’s Fan Zone (located outside the frontstretch near Turn 4), which will be open from 9:00 a.m. CDT to the start of NCWTS qualifying on Friday; 8 a.m. CDT until Foodland/Food Giant Qualifying on Saturday; and 8 a.m. CDT till the drop of the green flag for the 1000Bulbs.com 500 on Sunday.
In addition to the Fanatics mobile trailers, there are many ways for families to engage with the NASCAR community in the Fan Zone with a host of music, as well as a dozen activities and interactive exhibits that showcase a multitude of companies involved in the sport. Additionally, 2013 GEICO 500 winner David Ragan will make an appearance on Saturday at the 1000Bulbs.com display at 1 p.m. CDT.
PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION
Preferred Regular Parking: Pay a little to save a lot (of steps) by parking behind the frontstretch grandstands.
FREE Parking: In addition to paid parking options, Talladega Superspeedway also offers free parking in several lots outside speedway property.
For more information on everything listed above, plus all things Talladega Superspeedway and how to purchase tickets for the upcoming race weekend, visit www.
TSS PR
- 7-Eleven, Inc. is off to the races! The world's largest convenience retailer announces its first location at a professional sports venue. The store will open at Texas Motor Speedway in time for the AAA Texas 500 NASCAR Playoff weekend beginning Oct. 27 until Nov. 5. The tripleheader features the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series. The 7-Eleven® store will operate 24 hours a day during race weeks beginning at 8 a.m. on the Saturday before the race and ending the following Monday at 4 p.m.
The on-site convenience store will be the centerpiece of the partnership between 7-Eleven and Texas Motor Speedway.
7-Eleven will become the "Official Convenience Store of Texas Motor Speedway" and the two entities will collectively develop on-site and in-market promotions.
"7-Eleven customers are in a hurry and on the go. What better place to locate a store than at a major auto race track with fast cars and enthusiastic fans," said Charles Bantos, 7-Eleven director of corporate development. "Opening a new store at Texas Motor Speedway allows us to meet them where they are and offer them the convenience they know and love during race weekends."
The 5,000-square-foot store will be located on the Lone Star Circle inner ring road outside of the infield's North Tunnel exit. Tram service will be offered to and from the store and will give customers access to all other tram stops located throughout the Texas Motor Speedway's property. The store will carry 7-Eleven fan favorites, such as Big Gulp® and Slurpee® drinks, coffee, 7-Select® private brand products and other popular items.
"We are proud to become the first-ever professional sports venue to have a permanent, full-service 7-Eleven convenience store on our property that will have the ability to provide multiple benefits to our fans throughout our major race weeks," Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage said. "The store will be an outstanding source for our thousands of race-week campers that may be in need of any items, many of which will be specifically stocked to help fit their needs. It also will provide all of our fans and race teams with the opportunity to enjoy some of the iconic 7-Eleven products such as the Slurpee and Big Gulp or find a variety of items in which they will never have to leave the property."
Race action begins with Camping World Truck Series practice Thursday, Nov. 1, followed by a full schedule of events from Friday, Nov. 2, through Sunday, Nov. 4, culminating with the AAA Texas 500 Monster Energy Series NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race. Texas Motor Speedway offers more than 8,500 camping spots available throughout each race weekend. Visit http://www.texasmotorspeedway.com/tickets/aaa-texas-500-nascar-race-weekend/ to purchase tickets and access the full schedule of events.
The new 7-Eleven location will be available to fans during the speedway's major race weeks throughout the year, including the O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 NASCAR tripleheader in March, DXC Technology 600 INDYCAR/NASCAR doubleheader in June and the AAA Texas 500 NASCAR Playoff doubleheader and Texas Sprint Car Nationals in November 2019.
Customers can take advantage of the retailer's 7Rewards® mobile loyalty program when shopping for race-day treats. Shoppers can earn and redeem rewards points toward hundreds of 7-Eleven products. The app is available in the App Store and Google Play.
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Ross Chastain gave the attempt his very best effort, but he fell short Saturday of advancing in the Xfinity Series playoffs.
After a tough late-race battle with Matt Tifft with a second-round playoff spot on the line, Chastain finished 13th in the Bar Harbor 200 at Dover International Speedway and missed moving along in the playoffs by one position. He is ninth in points, three points away from qualifying for the next playoff round.
In the closing laps, Chastain raced Tifft hard for position. Their cars touched, Tifft’s moved up the track, and the contact resulted in Chase Briscoe being pushed into the outside wall.
After the race, Chastain, who drove the Delaware Office of Highway Safety “Use Your Melon, Drive Sober Arrive Alive DE” campaign Chevrolet, refused to apologize for his aggressive driving in the final miles.
“I’m not sorry at all,” he said. “This is awesome. I don’t apologize for what I do on the racetrack. It was racing, and we were in the heart of it.”
Chastain drove for JD Motorsports with Gary Keller and praised his team after the race.
“This 4 car and what we’ve done with JD Motorsports and Chip Ganassi Racing has been great,” he said.
Point leader Christopher Bell won the race.
The series rolls on to Kansas Speedway for an Oct. 20 race, the opener of the next round of the playoffs.
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IMS Museum Pursuing $30K Dyson Foundation Matching Grant; Donate by Nov. 30 for More Interactive Technology!
08 Oct 2018 Written by Steven B. Wilson
Flipping the Switch: Martinsville’s Lights Made Big Impression in Final Hour of 2017 First Data 500
08 Oct 2018 Written by Steven B. WilsonAlthough Martinsville Speedway is yet to host a true Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series night race, the 2017 edition of the First Data 500 saw the final, dramatic hour take place under the historic half-mile’s state of the art LED lighting system.
For veteran drivers and Speedway staff alike, the lights coming on during a Cup race – even if just for 100 laps – was a seminal moment.
“I think the combination of the drama of the NASCAR Playoffs, the wild ending to the 2017 First Data 500 and the lights turning on was an incredible moment in Martinsville Speedway history,” Speedway President Clay Campbell said. “I’ve seen a lot of history in my time on staff here and that moment’s really near the top. It was the culmination of a lot of work by a lot of people.”
The 2018 edition of the First Data 500 will again see the lights turn on for the final portion of the race. With a 2:30 pm start time and a 6:30 pm sunset, Victory Lane will once again take place under the bright lights on the frontstretch.
Kurt Busch, one of the most experienced drivers on the Cup Series circuit, noted that the moment the sun set in October of 2017 marked a “huge” moment for all of the drivers who came from an asphalt Saturday night short-track background.
“That was huge. For us (drivers), short track racing was our start at a Saturday night bullring,” Kurt Busch said. “A flat track like Martinsville with heavy braking under the lights, it was really cool to see all of that come together.”
Brad Keselowski echoed Busch’s sentiment, noting the history of the track, the desire for every great driver to own a grandfather clock trophy and the importance of short-track racing to NASCAR’s fan base all came together when the lights came on.
“It’s a great track to race at under the lights,” Keselowski said.
Kyle Busch, who was the first Cup driver to celebrate in Victory Lane under the lights after his win last fall, said that it was “kind of weird” to race at Martinsville at night after so many Sunday afternoon events in the Speedway’s history.
“It was different, usually that race starts a bit earlier and ends at dusk,” Kyle Busch said. “The lights were certainly different, it was a different game. The track changed a lot and guys were all over one another.”
With fans clamoring for a night race in the future, Kurt Busch gave voice to their argument saying “tracks can trade different dates around as our series moves forward and when you position yourself like Martinsville Speedway has with lights, there’s no reason they can’t have a race there in the future where they turn the lights on.”
With 2019 dates set and Sunday afternoon races slated at Martinsville Speedway, fans, drivers and Campbell must look down the road for any potential night races.
“I know what it was like for me when the lights came on last year, I can only imagine what the drivers and fans felt,” Campbell said. “We certainly hope to use our lights more in the future, but everyone will get a taste of them again this fall.”
The First Data 500 weekend is October 26-28.
Advance ticket prices for the First Data 500 begin at just $48 with youth tickets for fans 17-and-under costing just $25 regardless of location. Youth 17-and-under will be admitted free to the Texas Roadhouse 200 presented by Alpha Energy Solutions NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race as well as Friday’s practice day.
The weekend starts with a practice day for the truck series on Friday, followed by the Hauler Parade.
On Saturday, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is in action with the Texas Roadhouse 200 presented by Alpha Energy Solutions. Following the race the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will qualify for Sunday’s First Data 500.
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Soon to be Renamed AdventHealth – Will Be The Official Sponsor of DAYTONA Speedweeks
08 Oct 2018 Written by Steven B. WilsonDaytona International Speedway and Florida Hospital, which will soon be renamed AdventHealth, announced today an expansion of their relationship, making the health system the official presenting sponsor of DAYTONA Speedweeks at the “World Center of Racing.”
With this expanded multi-year partnership, DAYTONA Speedweeks will now be referred to as DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth, which is highlighted by the 61st annual DAYTONA 500, “The Great American Race.”
In 2014, Florida Hospital was named a Founding Partner and the Official Healthcare Partner of Daytona International Speedway. In addition, Florida Hospital provides the medical services at the facility. The new expansion of the partnership will further enable Florida Hospital to share its guiding philosophy of delivering whole-person care for the mind, body and spirit on the DAYTONA Speedweeks’ international platform.
In August, Florida Hospital’s parent company, Adventist Health System, announced that it will change its name to AdventHealth on Jan. 2, 2019. As one of the nation’s largest health systems with more than 80,000 employees, nearly 50 hospital campuses and hundreds of care sites, the change to the AdventHealth name will unite the healthcare system under one connected and identifiable national system of care.
DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth includes the following events:
- The Lucas Oil 200 Driven By General Tire, the ARCA Racing Series season opener: Saturday, Feb. 9
- DAYTONA 500 Qualifying Presented By Kroger and the Advance Auto Parts Clash doubleheader: Sunday, Feb. 10
- The Duel At DAYTONA 150-mile qualifying races: Thursday, Feb. 14
- The NextEra Energy Resources 250, the season-opening event to the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series: Friday, Feb. 15
- The DAYTONA 300, the season-opening event to the NASCAR Xfinity Series: Saturday, Feb. 16.
- The DAYTONA 500, NASCAR’s biggest and most prestigious event that marks the start of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season: Sunday, Feb. 17.
“Florida Hospital has been an ideal partner for Daytona International Speedway,” track president Chip Wile said. “To be able to expand our partnership to now include the DAYTONA Speedweeks brand will provide another platform for Florida Hospital to amplify their new name.”
“The DAYTONA 500 and the associated races of Speedweeks are the nation’s premier racing events and present an amazing opportunity to introduce AdventHealth to race fans across the globe,” said David Ottati, president and chief executive officer of Adventist Health System’s Central Florida Division - North Region, which includes the Florida Hospitals located in Volusia, Flagler and Lake counties. “Since announcing our Founding Partnership with Daytona International Speedway four years ago, we have had the opportunity to share our message of health and wellness, focused on improving lifestyles and offering high-quality healthcare services. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to further expand upon our relationship with the Daytona International Speedway and are already looking forward to the upcoming Speedweeks.”
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