2012-12-11

Chris Buescher Crowned 30th ARCA Racing Series Champion at Annual Championship Awards Banquet

For Immediate Release:

Saturday, December 8, 2012

 

 (INDIANAPOLIS) - The celebration of ARCA's 60th Anniversary Season created a clear theme for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Championship Awards Banquet at the Indiana Convention Center. The end of the night, though, centered on the accomplishments of Chris Buescher and Roulo Brothers Racing, both champions for the first time.

 

Buescher and his No. 17 Ford team were officially crowned ARCA champions at the series' annual celebration, taking place in downtown Indianapolis for the first time after a long stretch in Covington, Ky. The 20-year-old from Prosper, Texas was among 18 drivers from the top 20 in the final point standings to be honored on stage. He and his team left with a significant amount of point fund and special award earnings, as awarded by a parade of series partners at the ceremony.

 

To honor Buescher as the 30th ARCA Racing Series champion in 60 seasons, ARCA president Ron Drager presented the team its series championship rings. Jim Johnson of Menards was the last guest on stage, congratulating Buescher on behalf of the series' presenting sponsor.

 

"It's pretty awesome," Buescher said of his title coronation. "We've been looking forward to it for a while now. I'm not a big dress-up-and-get-fancy guy but for an occasion like this I'll certainly do it. I'm happy to have my parents here and have everyone up on stage."

 

Delivering a championship for the Roulos was important to the young driver.

 

"I know that was important to them," said the driver, who finished the year with four wins, 12 top-fives, and 16 top-10 finishes. "They've been around this a long time and had never had the right opportunity to run a full season. Getting to do the full ARCA schedule the last two years has been nice. Being Rookie of the Year and second in points last year, we knew what we had to do better. We finished every lap and had more wins than any other season. I know they're excited and I'm happy for them."

 

A video tribute featuring photographs from Buescher's youth, the Roulo Brothers' history, and their collective rise to the 2012 championship was the feature presentation at the night's end.

 

Key images included a picture of a young Buescher at his first test with Gary and Russell Roulo over four years ago. Several photos of much younger Roulos helped to highlight their long ARCA history dating back to the mid-1980s, a period in which the team has won 31 races and finished second (2011) and first in its only two full seasons.

 

Among the top awards Buescher and his team received were: $6,000 from Sunoco Race Fuel; $5,000 from Hoosier for most wins by a car owner; $5,000 from Ford Racing Technology; the $3,000 Bill France Four Crown Award for performance on a diverse slate of race tracks; the $3,000 Cometic Crew Chief of the Year Award, for Gary Roulo; and the $2,500 Klotz Engine Mechanic of the Year Award, for Russell Roulo.

 

Buescher also accepted the $2,500 R.E. Lightning Challenge Award, as well as prizes from VR-12, CGS Imaging, Accel, Holley Carb, JRI Shocks, Herr Foods, Summit Racing Equipment, Hawk Brakes, Intercomp, Fast Track High Performance Driving School, G-Force Racing Gear, CV Products, and Roush Yates Racing.

 

Buescher was not the only champion honored at the banquet. ARCA Truck Series champion Levi Mansfield, ARCA CRA Super Series champion Johnny VanDoorn, and ARCA Midwest Tour champion Jonathan Eilen all received recognition.

 

SPEED television analyst Phil Parsons hosted the banquet for the fourth consecutive year. Driver and car owner champions from ARCA's past served as Guests of Honor. Appearing were Mike Allgaier, Bill Baird and Ken Schrader, Bob and Shelly Brevak, Jim Coyle, Andy Hillenburg, Frank Kimmel and Larry Clement, Scott Stovall, and Bill and Cathy Venturini.

 

To complete the celebration of ARCA's 60th Anniversary Season, historical vignettes that earlier in the year played on SPEED's ARCA race broadcasts were shown to the audience, adding to the night some important classic imagery and past perspective.

 

Kimmel also accepted recognition for finishing second in the final 2012 point standings; he walked on stage with ThorSport Racing's David Pepper. Kimmel broke a winless streak of nearly four years this summer with his 75th victory at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. He later sealed his 76th win and stands just three victories short of Iggy Katona's all-time record.

 

Brennan Poole accepted the $10,000 Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge Award on behalf of Venturini Motorsports. Poole also received a $2,500 bonus from the University of Northwestern Ohio and the trophy for third place. Joining Poole were team owner Cathy Venturini and general manager Billy Venturini.

 

Team Messina Rookie Challenge Award winner Alex Bowman accepted that $10,000 award from Messina Wildlife Management's James Messina. Later, he appeared on stage to accept his fourth-place recognition and also received the $10,000 Menards Pole Award presented by Ansell and the $2,500 Aaron's Lap Leader Award. Steve York of Ansell presented the pole prize to Bowman, who led the ARCA Racing Series with six poles in 19 races. Kerry Scherer, Cunningham Motorsports co-owner, appeared with Bowman.

 

Fifth-place driver Chad Hackenbracht and team owner Greg Hackenbracht received an on-stage recognition, the second of the night for the driver's father. Greg Hackenbracht received ARCA's H.G. Adcox Sportsman of the Year Award.

 

Matt Lofton and team owner Joe Coulter (sixth) were honored, as were fellow pairs from the top 10 in the final point standings: Spencer Gallagher and Ron Booth of the team's ownership group (seventh); Nelson Canache and team owner Bill Venturini (eighth); Josh Williams and team co-owner Kevin Williams (ninth); and Tom Hessert and team owner Ken Schrader (10th). Nate Thiesse, the 10th-place team owner, also spoke.

 

Bill Kimmel received the ARCA Spirit Award, given to a person for dedication and support of ARCA, uplifting spirit by way of example, perseverance, and positive attitude.

 

Drager presented the prestigious Marcum Award to Darrell Basham. The award is annually presented to an individual or entity whose positive efforts have elevated ARCA's motorsports stature to the benefit of all associated. Basham continued to race even after a tornado tore through his hometown of Henryville, Ind. in March. Though his racing shop was demolished, he pressed on, displayed a true racer's spirit throughout 2012. In the end, the ARCA veteran finished 11th in the year's final point standings.

 

Along with Basham, the following drivers from the top 20 in points were introduced: Will Kimmel (12th), James Hylton (13th), Tommy O'Leary IV (15th), Jared Marks (16th), Milka Duno (19th); and Brandon Davis (20th).

 

Jeff Kettman accepted the Manufacturer Championship on behalf of Chevrolet.

 

Andy O'Neal, dean of the College of Technology of the University of Northwestern Ohio - ARCA's Official High Performance Education University - awarded a group of ARCA scholarships on behalf of the university.

 

Likewise, Parsons announced the winners of the Bob Loga Memorial ARCA Scholarships. David Roulo, son of championship car owner Gary Roulo, won the $1,500 first prize. Roulo, of Blue Island, Ill., recently received an acceptance letter from Purdue University. Phillip Bell of Charlotte, N.C., a graduate of Central Piedmont Community College, earned $500. He will pursue a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

 

Memorial tributes paid respect to ARCA co-founder Mildred Marcum, Hoosier Racing Tire co-founder Bob Newton, and Pocono Raceway co-founder Dr. Joseph Mattioli.

 

The 2013 ARCA Racing Series schedule is currently available at ARCARacing.com. Testing for ARCA's 61st season will begin Friday, December 14 at Daytona International Speedway. The season's first race is scheduled for Saturday, February 16 at Daytona.

 

The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards has crowned 30 ARCA national champions in 60 seasons since 1953, and has toured over 200 race tracks in 26 states since its inception. The series has tested the abilities of drivers and race teams over the most diverse schedule of stock car racing events in the world, visiting tracks ranging from 0.375 mile to 2.66 miles in length on both paved and dirt surfaces as well as a left- and right-turn road course in its most recent season.

 

Founded by John and Mildred Marcum in 1953 in Toledo, Ohio, the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is recognized among the leading sanctioning bodies in the country. Having completed its sixth decade after hundreds of thousands of miles of racing, ARCA administers over 100 race events each season in four professional touring series - the ARCA Racing Series, the ARCA CRA Super Series, the ARCA Truck Series, and new in 2013, the ARCA Midwest Tour - in addition to local weekly events at Ohio's Toledo Speedway and Michigan's Flat Rock Speedway.

 

CONTACT:

Griffin Hickman, ARCA

 

Don Radebaugh, ARCA

 


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Road to Daytona: ARCA Touring Series Champions to Participate in Open Test

For Immediate Release:

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

 

 

(TOLEDO, Ohio) - Four drivers who achieved success in the three ARCA touring series in the 2012 season will have the opportunity of a lifetime this weekend at Daytona International Speedway.

 

Johnny VanDoorn, Travis Braden, Jonathan Eilen, and Dakota Carlson will all participate in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards open test at the superspeedway between Friday and Sunday, having earned their spots in the new "Road to Daytona" program.

 

The test session will give competitors from nearly all divisions of ARCA competition the opportunity for seat time as ARCA Racing Series teams prepare for the 50th consecutive annual event at Daytona, a tradition dating back to 1964.

 

VanDoorn, 24 and of Coopersville, Mich., is now a three-time ARCA CRA Super Series champion and won the 2012 title for Kaos Motorsports.

 

Braden, 18 and of Wheeling, W.V., is the 2012 Super Series Rookie of the Year.

 

Eilen, 27 and of Hampton, Minn., won the 2012 Midwest Tour championship five years after becoming the series' first race winner. The Midwest Tour connection to ARCA is new this fall, and the 2013 season will be the first in competition for the ARCA Midwest Tour.

 

Carlson, 25 and of Cedar Springs, Mich., won the ARCA Gold Cup Series championship, contested at ARCA-owned Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways, as well as Spartan (Mich.) Speedway.

 

Andy Hillenburg, a two-time Daytona winner and the 1995 ARCA champion, will assist each Road to Daytona driver in the test session. His Fast Track High Performance Driving School, ARCA's Official Driving School, will provide the cars and support for the test.

 

New relationships with the Super Series and Midwest Tour in the last 18 months have created a unique opportunity to celebrate the best from each of ARCA's divisions. Last season, Super Series champion Derrick Griffin and Gold Cup champion Dennis Strickland participated in the first year of the Road to Daytona program.

 

Testing will take place from 9-12 and 1-5 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. ARCARacing.com will feature live timing and scoring of each session.

 

The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards has crowned 30 ARCA national champions in 60 seasons since 1953, and has toured over 200 race tracks in 26 states since its inception. The series has tested the abilities of drivers and race teams over the most diverse schedule of stock car racing events in the world, visiting tracks ranging from 0.375 mile to 2.66 miles in length on both paved and dirt surfaces as well as a left- and right-turn road course in its most recent season.

 

Founded by John and Mildred Marcum in 1953 in Toledo, Ohio, the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is recognized among the leading sanctioning bodies in the country. Having completed its sixth decade after hundreds of thousands of miles of racing, ARCA administers over 100 race events each season in four professional touring series - the ARCA Racing Series, the ARCA CRA Super Series, the ARCA Truck Series, and new in 2013, the ARCA Midwest Tour - in addition to local weekly events at Ohio's Toledo Speedway and Michigan's Flat Rock Speedway.

 

CONTACT:

Griffin Hickman, ARCA

 

Don Radebaugh, ARCA

 


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All Eyes On New Sixth-Generation NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Car

“Off Season” Ends At Charlotte Motor Speedway

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (December 11, 2012)Dale Earnhardt Jr., the sport’s 10-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Most Popular Driver, ran his first laps in the new sixth-generation race car. His review of the 2013 Chevrolet SS? It’s a must see.

 

“The car has really awesome potential,” Earnhardt said during testing Tuesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The cars that you see in the garage; you’ll stand there and see Fords and Toyotas and Chevrolets driving by. It’s great because everything looks different, everything is instantly recognizable.”

 

At Charlotte Motor Speedway today, 16 cars participated in the last open test session of the year. Fans and media were treated to all three manufacturers on the race track at once, including the fully unveiled Chevrolet SS which was debuted in Las Vegas during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week. There was an air of excitement from the drivers and teams in the garage surrounding the looks and performance of the sixth generation car.

 

“All in all the feedback in the garage area has been very positive,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “It looks to me that all the hard work from the teams, manufacturers and our engineers at the R&D Center is going to pay off. Like I said last month when we hand this car off to the teams, it will be in the best shape that we have ever handed a car off to the teams to start a new season.”

 

While fans were seeing the Chevrolet fully unwrapped without camouflage, several drivers were getting used to new fire suits, car manufacturers and teammates. For the first time in his career, former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Matt Kenseth was sporting a new number (20), team (Joe Gibbs Racing) and manufacturer (Toyota). Kenseth was happy with the car; however, his team was forced to make an engine change during today’s morning session.

 

“I've been kind of nervous but (about) coming into this morning and walking to a different truck and a different team and all of that stuff,” Kenseth said. “My last run I proceeded to go from second gear to first gear and over-revved the engine so they're back there changing it. So, I think the guys are in love with me right now. Like, 'Where did we find this clown? Give us the other one back.' Other than that it's been good."

 

While Kenseth got to know his new team, current NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski learned to work with new Penske Racing teammate Joey Logano.

 

“I feel like there are a lot of areas that I can improve and be better,” said Keselowski. “I think there are things Joey does right out of the gate that are better than what I do. I think he has the ability to unload at a place like this and just instantly be fast and that’s not my style.”

 

In addition to the off season testing sessions scheduled next month for Daytona and Charlotte, plans call for an extra day of testing before the events at Las Vegas and Texas to provide teams with an opportunity to learn more about the sixth-generation race car early in the season. Extra practice time will also be added to the schedule at Auto Club Speedway in March.

 

The test continues Wednesday at 9 a.m. at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

 

Contact:

Trent Bailey

NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications

 


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Keselowski, Penske Championships Voted Best Moments of 2012

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Winless Streak Tallies Close Second In Media Poll

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 10, 2012) – Score one more for the underdog.

 

Brad Keselowski, no one’s pre-season choice to win the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship, stumped the experts. Media members, in turn, have voted Keselowski’s title run for owner Roger Penske as NASCAR’s top story of the past season.

 

Keselowski’s first championship prevailed in the voting over Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s drought-busting victory in June at Michigan International Speedway.

 

Now that media members have had their say, it’s the fans’ turn. Beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET this evening, fans can vote for their favorite competition stories of 2012 on the NASCAR Facebook page, www.facebook.com/NASCAR.  

 

1.-Brad Keselowski’s First Championship

 

Three races into the season and two finishes worse than 30th, Keselowski appeared a dark horse even to qualify for the postseason. But a second consecutive victory at Bristol Motor Speedway helped turn around the fortunes of the No. 2 Penske Racing Dodge team and by mid-September Keselowski was the No. 3 seed when the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup got underway. With two wins in the first three races, Keselowski went from underdog to favorite. He lost the points lead when five-time champion Jimmie Johnson won at Martinsville but refused to fade under pressure. A top-10 finish in the penultimate race at Phoenix coupled with Johnson’s accident and mechanical failure in the finale clinched the title for Keselowski, Penske and crew chief Paul Wolfe.

 

2.-Dale Earnhardt Breaks 143-Race Winless Streak

 

Entering the 2012 season it had been nearly four years and more than 125 races since Earnhardt had won a NASCAR Sprint Cup race. Even some among his legions of fans openly wondered if Junior would ever grab another checkered flag. But this season the Hendrick Motorsports driver brought his “A” game, posting two seconds and a pair of thirds over the schedule’s first nine races. The breakthrough victory came at Michigan International Speedway virtually to the day and at the site of Earnhardt’s last win in June 2008. The 143-race drought was cleansed June 17 in a race on a brand-new track surface over which Junior led 95 laps and beat reigning champion Tony Stewart by more than five seconds.

 

3.-Matt Kenseth Wins Explosive Daytona 500

 

No Daytona 500 is ever quite like any other and this year’s Great American Race was no exception. Rain postponed the race for the first time in history dating to the inaugural race in 1959. And – again a first – the Daytona 500 became a Monday night affair. Matt Kenseth proved to have the winning hand as his No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford led the most laps and held off Earnhardt in a green-white-checker finish to record his second Daytona 500 victory in four years. What many will most remember about 54th annual event was the Turn 3 fireball resulting from Juan Pablo Montoya’s Chevrolet, which suffered a mechanical failure, slamming into a jet dryer.

 

4.-Michael Waltrip Racing Makes Chase In Style

 

Since becoming a fulltime NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team in 2007, Michael Waltrip Racing had experienced the joys of winning but never the fruits of a post-season run. David Reutimann had come closest to qualifying for the Chase – 16th in 2009. Five seasons of frustration ended in 2012 as not one but two of MWR’s drivers – Clint Bowyer and Martin Truex Jr. – made the Chase. Bowyer, the organization’s first-year driver, made the most of his opportunity winning twice including Charlotte’s Chase race. Bowyer finished a career-high second in final standings. Truex ranked 11th.

 

5.-Hendrick Motorsports Records Milestone 200th Victory

 

Leave it to Jimmie Johnson to register Hendrick Motorsports’ milestone 200th victory. The organization’s driver with the most championships – five – ended a 16-race, two-season count-down for win No. 200 on May 12 at Darlington Raceway. Johnson had won No. 199 at Kansas Speedway in October 2011, drew blanks ever since. Reaching the milestone seemingly ignited the fuse for HMS, which won three consecutive races including Kasey Kahne’s Coca-Cola 600 victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Each of Hendrick’s drivers – Johnson, Kahne, Earnhardt and Gordon – won in 2012 as well as qualified for the Chase.

 

6.-Classic Rockingham Raceway Returns To NASCAR In 2012

 

Rockingham Raceway, in North Carolina’s sand hills, has provided many thrills during its five decades as a part of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track’s run ended after the 2004 season. Rockingham, under ownership of Andy Hillenburg, roared back to life in 2012 when the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debuted under sunny skies and before full grandstands on April 15. Kasey Kahne, who finished second to Matt Kenseth in the track’s final NASCAR Sprint Cup race, drove his Chevrolet Silverado to Victory Circle posting the first series victory for Turner Motorsports.

 

7.-Stenhouse Goes Back To Back In The NASCAR Nationwide Series

 

Since the NASCAR Nationwide Series was created in 1982 only five drivers had won consecutive championships. In 2012, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. became the sixth member of the series elite. Stenhouse battled Elliott Sadler – his chief rival in 2011 as well – throughout the season. The points lead changed hands five times with Stenhouse and his No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford forging ahead for the final time after a fourth-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway in November. Stenhouse moves to RFR’s No. 17 Ford for a NASCAR Sprint Cup rookie campaign in 2013.

 

8.-Patrick Makes History With Top-10 Championship Finish

 

Danica Patrick became a full-time NASCAR driver for the first time in 2012 and she made the most of her opportunity with JR Motorsports. Patrick, who would become the highest-finishing female driver (fourth) in a NASCAR national series a year ago, made history again. Her 10th-place NASCAR Nationwide Series championship finish set a new standard for female competitors erasing Sara Christian’s previous record of 13th in 1949 NASCAR Sprint Cup standings. Patrick finished four times in the top 10 and won the Coors Light Pole for the season opening race at Daytona. She’ll move to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series fulltime in 2013 with Stewart-Haas Racing.

 

9.-Ambrose Wins Second At The Glen In Wild Finish

 

You couldn’t have scripted a wilder finish than that of August’s Finger Lakes 366 at the Glen. Take three hungry hounds – Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski and Marcos Ambrose – mix in the drama of a final lap and stir with the possibility of making or missing the Chase and you’ve got a recipe for one of the year’s wildest conclusions. The final laps saw leader Busch and Keselowski collide and Keselowski on and off the track and running side-by-side with Ambrose, who finally pulled out a half-second victory off the final turn. Busch’s loss was the difference between making the Chase as a Wild Card and being a spectator in the postseason.

 

10.-Jeff Gordon Claims Final Wild Card Spot At Richmond  

 

Nail-biting intrigue sits atop the menu whenever the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rolls to race No. 26 – the Chase cut-off race at Richmond International Raceway. And the 2012 edition ranks among the best versions since its inception in 2004. For the first time since 2009, a driver outside the Chase bubble raced his way in after the 400-lapper. That driver – four-time series champion Jeff Gordon, who leap-frogged past Kyle Busch to earn the second Wild Card spot by three points. Gordon finished second in the race. Busch, thanks in part to a lug nut problem on pit road, finished 16th, missing the Chase for the first time since 2009.

 

Contact:                                                                                              

Owen A. Kearns

NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications

 


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NASCAR Honors Proctor, Quenneville at National Awards Ceremony

ATTACHED PHOTO (credit Jim Dupont): Devil's Bowl Speedway drivers Ron Proctor (left) of Charlton, NY and Vince Quenneville, Jr. (right) of Brandon, VT were honored at the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series 2012 Awards in Charlotte, NC.

 

Local drivers recognized during NASCAR Whelen All-American Series banquet in Charlotte

 For Immediate Release                                                      DBS-121012-1

 CHARLOTTE, NC – Local stock car drivers Ron Proctor and Vince Quenneville, Jr., were celebrated among the champions and top drivers of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series during NASCAR Champions Week in Charlotte, NC.  Proctor and Quenneville were honored at the Crown Ballroom at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Friday, December 7.

 

The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series sanctions weekly stock car racing at over 50 tracks in North America under a common point structure; each driver’s best 18 results in “Division I” events are counted toward their state, provincial, and national point totals.  Proctor and Quenneville compete in the Bond Auto Parts Modified division – the designated Division I class at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven, VT.  Proctor, of Charlton, NY, was the Devil’s Bowl Speedway and NASCAR Vermont State Champion for the second straight year, while Quenneville, of Brandon, VT, collected the Rookie of the Year award for Vermont and finished second in national rookie standings.

In addition to total winnings of more than $5,000 for his State and Track titles, Proctor received a Vermont State Champion racing suit from CV Products, a new Bell helmet, and Sparco driving shoes, and both drivers were given trophies from Jostens.  Devil’s Bowl Speedway promoters Mike and Alayne Bruno also took part in NASCAR Champions Week, including addressing a conference group of NASCAR Home Tracks promoters on the benefits of using social media to promote events.

Lee Pulliam of Semora, NC was honored as the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Champion and was presented a championship ring and trophy by NASCAR President Mike Helton; Pulliam competes in Late Models at several tracks including Motor Mile and South Boston speedways in Virginia.  Modified driver Keith Rocco of Wallingford, CT – who made an appearance at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in May – was the national runner-up.  Oklahoma’s Brian Parker narrowly defeated Quenneville for the National Rookie of the Year award.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway will honor Proctor, Quenneville, and the rest of its champions and top drivers from all of its four weekly NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions at the Banquet of Champions on Saturday, February 2, 2013 at the Holiday Inn Rutland-Killington in Rutland, VT.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, VT, four miles north of Exit 2 on US Route 4.  For more information, call (802) 265-3112 or click www.devilsbowlspeedwayvt.com.  Devil’s Bowl Speedway is on Facebook at facebook.com/devilsbowlspeedway and Twitter at @DevilsBowlSpeed.

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More Than 50 Drivers Headline 2013 NASCAR Acceleration Weekend

Fan Festival To Feature Sixth- Generation NASCAR Sprint Cup Cars, Interactive Displays

 

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (December 10, 2012) — For NASCAR fans who have been eagerly counting the days to the opening of the 2013 season, their wait is almost over. Almost.

 

For the second-consecutive year, reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski, five-time premier series winner Jimmie Johnson and NASCAR’s most popular driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. will help race fans celebrate the past, present and future of NASCAR. The return of NASCAR Acceleration Weekend – a fan-friendly, interactive experience – is scheduled for Feb. 8-10, 2013, at the Charlotte (N.C.) Convention Center and includes the 2013 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and NASCAR Preview 2013.

 

NASCAR Acceleration Weekend tickets are on sale now and available at www.nascaracceleration.com and the NASCAR Hall of Fame box office. Tickets for Friday night’s Induction Ceremony start at $45. In addition, a $20 ticket will gain fans all-day access into NASCAR Preview 2013 and the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Saturday, February 9.

 

More than 50 drivers across NASCAR’s three national series – NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series – are scheduled to participate in the all-day NASCAR Preview 2013 event. Fans will have the opportunity to interact with drivers and secure autographs, participate in driver Q&A sessions, get a first-look at the new sixth-generation NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race cars and paint schemes and check out various interactive displays, among other activities.

 

“We are excited about bringing NASCAR Acceleration Weekend back to Charlotte this year,” said Kim Brink, NASCAR managing director of brand, consumer and series marketing. “It is one of our biggest fan events to kick off the season and provides unprecedented access to our best drivers, new cars and the NASCAR Hall of Fame.”

 

The weekend’s activities begin Friday, February 8, with the 2013 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. The five inductees are Buck Baker, Cotton Owens, Herb Thomas, Rusty Wallace and Leonard Wood. Legendary broadcasters Ken Squier and Barney Hall will also be honored with the inaugural Squier-Hall Award for Media Excellence for their significant contributions to the success of NASCAR during their distinguished careers as media members covering the sport.

 

The following day, Saturday, February 9, NASCAR Preview 2013 begins at 7 a.m. in the Charlotte Convention Center. Similar to last year’s event, the all-day fan festival will feature autograph and on-stage Q&A sessions by top drivers from all three national series, the new sixth-generation NASCAR Sprint Cup cars and paint schemes, giveaways and activities for fans of all ages.

 

Among other marquee names scheduled to participate are four-time series champion Jeff Gordon, three-time series champion Tony Stewart, two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr., reigning NASCAR Nationwide Series most popular driver Danica Patrick, and 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion James Buescher.

 

Also on Saturday, February 9, the newly inducted NASCAR Hall of Fame members and/or their family representatives will be on hand for the unveiling of their Hall of Honor exhibits commemorating their NASCAR careers. On Sunday, February 10, each inductee’s granite marker will be unveiled in the Ceremonial Plaza as well as other exclusive member-only events.

 

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for one of North America's premier sports. NASCAR races are broadcast in more than 175 countries and in 25 languages. In the U.S., races are broadcast on FOX, TNT, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2, SPEED, Motor Racing Network, Performance Racing Network and Sirius XM Radio. NASCAR fans are among the most brand-loyal in all of sports, and as a result more Fortune 500 companies participate in NASCAR than any other sport. NASCAR consists of three national series (the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series), four regional series, and one local grassroots series, as well as three international series. Also part of NASCAR is GRAND-AM Road Racing, known for its competition on road courses with multiple classes of cars. NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races at 100 tracks in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., NASCAR has offices in eight cities across North America. The next NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race will be the Shootout at Daytona on Feb. 16 on FOX. For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.nascar.com. Follow NASCAR on www.facebook.com/NASCAR or on Twitter: @NASCAR.

 

About NASCAR Hall of Fame

Conveniently located in uptown Charlotte, N.C., the 150,000-square-foot NASCAR Hall of Fame is an interactive, entertainment attraction honoring the history and heritage of NASCAR. The high-tech venue, designed to educate and entertain race fans and non-fans alike, opened May 11, 2010 and includes artifacts, hands-on exhibits, 278-person state-of-the-art theater, Hall of Honor, Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant, NASCAR Hall of Fame Gear Shop and NASCAR Media Group-operated broadcast studio. The venue is opened 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. seven days a week and has an attached parking garage on Brevard Street. The five-acre site also includes a privately developed 19-story office tower and 102,000-square-foot expansion to the Charlotte Convention Center, highlighted by a 40,000 square-foot ballroom. The NASCAR Hall of Fame is owned by the City of Charlotte, licensed by NASCAR and operated by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. www.NASCARHall.com.

 

­­Contact:

Jacklyne Ramos

NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications

 


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Swan Racing Hires Tony Eury Jr - Eury to be Crew Chief for No. 30 Toyota

 

For Immediate Release:

December 10, 2012

 

Tony Eury Jr. will be the crew chief for Swan Racing's No. 30 Toyota driven by David Stremme for the 2013 season.  The move comes just days after the new team, owned by Brandon Davis, was formally announced. 

 

"We have a long-term vision for Swan Racing and the addition of Tony Jr. is another step in that process. Tony brings a world of experience to Swan Racing and will be part of our long-term success," said Davis. 

 

"I am really impressed with the team Swan Racing is building and I am proud to be part of it," said Eury.  "I am looking forward to working with David Stremme behind the wheel and with competition director Steve Hmiel." 

 

Eury began his NASCAR career in 1991 when he was hired to work for Dale Earnhardt, Inc.  He has been a part of 19 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories with Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr. including twice winning the Budweiser Shootout in 2003 and 2008.   In 2006, Earnhardt qualified for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and finished 5th in points with Eury making the calls on race day.   Most recently, Eury was Danica Patrick's crew chief/co-owner JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.  The team won the Coors Light Pole in Daytona for the 2012 Drive 4COPD 300. 

 

"Tony Jr. has pretty much done it all from tire changer to crew chief.  His experience and knowledge will be pivotal to the success of Swan Racing," said competition director Steve Hmiel. 

 

Driver of the No. 30 Toyota, David Stremme said, "The team has transformed itself virtually overnight. It's hard to believe just how different this team is in such a short period of time.  This is how you build success from the ground up; you hire quality people, put their experience to work and execute on race day.  Lets go racing." 

 

Swan Racing is located in Mooresville, N.C., and will get its horsepower from Triad Racing Technologies, a top engine builder. 

 

For more information about Swan Racing go to www.SwanRacingCo.com, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SwanRacingCompany and follow on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SwanRacingCo.

 

 

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