2012-12-17

The Sixth Annual Loopies: Now With Even More Loop

No Championship, No Biggie For Loopie Winners Johnson, Busch

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 17, 2012) – Kyle Busch has frequently called this the worst year of his motorsports career.

 

 

 

We’ve got news for him: He’s wrong. So, so wrong. His tune will change by the time he reads the next 1,271 or so words. There’s some hardware in his future. And not just any hardware … Loopie hardware. And not just any Loopie hardware … the granddaddy of them all.

 

So paraphrasing Ralph Wiggum, who once succinctly said “Me fail English? That’s unpossible,” we say: “Congratulations Kyle, you’ve won the Stefan Kretschmann Lifetime Achievement Award. Worst year ever? That’s unpossible.”

 

A quick primer for those just tuning in: For the sixth consecutive season, the NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications team has pored over a season’s worth of Loop Data and filtered out the top statistical performances of the 2012 season. After a painstaking review, a select committee created awards to recognize those drivers who numerically excelled this season. Those awards have evolved into arguably the most coveted prize in all of NASCAR. They are – and this is – The Loopies.

 

The envelopes please…

 

Loop Top Dogg: This award yearly goes to the driver who led the most Loop Data categories. Every week, NASCAR releases a season-to-date Loop Data stats packet that charts 15 different statistical categories. This year’s winner of the “Loop Top Dogg” led an astounding 13 of them.

 

Congratulations, Jimmie Johnson. Johnson’s ranked first in the most important of all Loop Data stats, Driver Rating, with a gaudy 109.5. That was eight points higher than second-best Kyle Busch.

 

In all, Johnson led Average Running Position, Driver Rating, Fastest Early in a Run, Fastest Late in a Run, Fastest Laps Run, Fastest on Restarts, Green Flag Speed, Laps in top 15, Laps Led, Miles Led, Percentage of Laps Run on the Lead Lap, Speed by Quarter (by the way, he also led each quarter overall) and Speed in Traffic.

 

Quantity of Quality Award: This award goes to the driver who led the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in Quality Passes, which are passes of cars in the top 15 while under green flag conditions.

 

The winner, who will have to clear up even more mantle space, is Brad Keselowski. Keselowski, who led the series by more than 200 quality passes, tallied 2,201 quality passes overall.

 

This is significant. These are the toughest cars – with the most talented drivers – to pass, and Keselowski did it more often than any other driver.

 

And considering his average starting position of 16.2, he had to do it often. Did You Know: Keselowski is the first champion to fail to win a pole in his championship season since Matt Kenseth in 2003.

 

Most Improved Driver: Awards like these are usually given after taking into account a number of different success barometers. But this is the Loopies. And our nominating committee needs only one measure: Driver Rating.

 

The driver with the biggest improvement in Driver Rating from 2011 to 2012, and winner of the coveted Loopie: Greg Biffle. Biffle, who finished fifth in 2012 after missing the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in 2011, ballooned his Driver Rating by 13.6 points over last season. Last year, he had an 85.9. This year: 99.5.

 

In all, six drivers enjoyed a double-digit improvement in Driver Rating from last season: Biffle, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Brad Keselowski and Jimmie Johnson.

 

Least Improved Driver: Not all Loopies are coveted. That’s what makes these awards so unique, and dare we say, unrivaled.

 

Here’s one of them. The driver with the biggest drop in Driver Rating wins this Loopie, and it goes to Carl Edwards – with an asterisk. Edwards actually only had the third-biggest drop – 16.8, from 101.0 in 2011 to 84.2 this season. But it was the biggest drop among drivers who didn’t switch teams, and therefore the committee made an executive decision to allow Edwards to take home this award.

 

In actuality, David Ragan suffered the biggest drop in Driver Rating. In 2011, Ragan had a Driver Rating of 78.3 for Roush Fenway Racing. For Front Row Motorsports this season, it dropped to 49.2. Kurt Busch, who went from Penske Racing to Phoenix Racing and Furniture Row Racing, dropped 22.7 points.

 

Coffee’s For Closers Award: Stealing a line from one of the most famous scenes in cinematic history, this “Glengarry Glen Ross”-themed award goes to the top “Closer” in the series. The “Closer” statistic measures the positions gained or lost in the last 10 percent of races. The top Closer this season: Ryan Newman, who improved 68 total positions in the last 10 percent of races this season.

 

“He’s Partially Sponsored By An Energy Drink, So Doesn’t Need Coffee, Thankfully” Award: (If by now you haven’t realized that these awards are all in good fun – and, well, ridiculous – hopefully this award’s name has sealed the deal.) This one goes to one of the worst Closers (again, not all of these awards are coveted). And the winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Earnhardt lost 41 spots in the last 10 percent of races this year, among the worst of any driver. But, with a sponsor like AMP Energy, he doesn’t need coffee to keep him caffeinated, anyway. Nor does Kurt and Kyle Busch (Monster Energy) or Clint Bowyer (5-hour Energy), all of whom also were in the red in the Closer category.

 

Serenity Now Award: A happy driver is a successful driver, and that’s certainly true with the winner of this award, Kurt Busch. When Busch announced his move to Furniture Row Racing during the Chase, he exuded calm and joyfulness. The results were immediate.   A tale of the tape breakdown of Busch in his new No. 78 Furniture Row ride compared to his stats in No. 51 Phoenix Racing car:

 

-          In only 6 races, he had more top 10s in the No. 78 (three) than he did in in 29 races in the 51 (two)

-          Driver Rating: 86.6 vs. 67.8

-          Average start: 17.7 vs. 22.7

-          Average finish: 14.3 vs. 25.0

-          Average Running Position: 14.6 vs. 22.2

-          Pass Differential: +13 vs. 0

-          Laps in the top 15 percentage: 47.8% vs. 21.5%

Stefan Kretschmann Lifetime Achievement Award: It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for. A brief setup of this one: Stefan Kretschmann works for our partners at Stats, LLC in Chicago, and is considered the godfather of Loop Data. His brain created the formula for Driver Rating, and many of the other formulas that make Loop Data so interesting and invaluable. We started this award last season to honor a driver who has been statistically strong throughout the Loop Data Era (2005-Present). Jimmie Johnson took home the inaugural Lifetime Achievement trophy.

 

This year’s recipient is a man whose talent has landed him an unparalleled 20 perfect Driver Ratings of 150.0 throughout NASCAR’s three national series. Congratulations to one of the all-time stat kings: Kyle Busch.

 

Here’s a back-of-the-baseball-card view of an amazing career that shows little sign of teetering:

 

-          Among drivers with a minimum of 50 races, Kyle ranks third in NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver Rating (97.6); first in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (113.8) and first in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (119.3).

-          More perfect driver rating than any other driver.

o    15 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and five in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

-          Best career Average Running Position in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (6.683)

-          Most Fastest Laps Run in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (5,031)

-          NASCAR Sprint Cup numbers: 4,328 Fastest Laps Run (third-best); 59,961 Laps in Top 15 (third); Average Running Position of 12.8 (fourth)

-          More top fives in this year’s Chase (seven) than any Chase driver. 

-          Cracked the 100-point Driver Rating threshold in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for the third time. That’s second only to Jimmie Johnson, who did it six times.

 

Contact:                                                                                              

Mike Forde

NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications

 


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LES SPORTSMAN ASE/ANCA : UN CHAMPIONNAT DE 10 COURSES EN 2013.

Grand soulagement pour plusieurs

 

C' est avec enthousiasme et un grand soulagement clairement exprimé pour plusieurs que les pilotes Sportsman ASE réunis à l'Autodrome St-Eustache ont accueilli la décision de la direction de présenter un championnat de 10 courses sous sanction ANCA, donc sans changement au niveau de la réglementation.

 

 

«De ces 10 courses,  8 courses seront présentées à l'Autodrome St-Eustache, une à Airborne Park Speedway à Plattsburgh NY et une au Grand Prix de Trois Rivières... » de mentionner Jason Labrosse, directeur général de l'ASE. Seule la course du GP3R comportera quelques changements techniques sur les voitures. Les Sportsman de Québec participeront également à cette course, mais les résultats seront compilés séparément.

 

Pour les 9 autres courses, elles seront exclusivement courues avec des voitures règlementées ANCA . Seules les voitures de Plattsburgh seront les autres voitures acceptées.

 

Au niveau des bourses et du fond de points, le directeur des opérations courses, Yves Ladouceur a annoncé un fond de points de 22 000 $ pour une campagne de 10 courses. « J'ai participé à une réunion assez intense hier après midi avec le président Alan Labrosse qui s'est soldé par ce résultat très satisfaisant.... » Les 20 premières positions au championnat auront droit au fond de points qui permettra au champion de se mériter un chèque de 4 000$.

 

Des bourses intéressantes seront aussi distribuées pour chacune des courses. La bourse de base pour une course de 50 tours garantira 200$ à toute voiture qui aura pris le départ et le gagnant empochera 800$.

 

Inutile de mentionner que cette annonce a été saluée par de chauds applaudissements des pilotes présents. Parmi eux, un André Coursol très attentif qui a démontré beaucoup de satisfaction en apprenant le maintien le la réglementation originale et qui a mentionné penser sérieusement à un retour de l'équipe #94 à St-Eustache en 2013.

 

Parmi les autres annonces, un horaire de sessions de pratiques les mardis de mai, juin et juillet, incluant deux journées complètes et gratuite d'essais sur le circuit routier réservées exclusivement aux Sportsman ASE en vue du Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières.

 

Howard Romanado sera celui qui assurera le lien entre les pilotes Sportsman et la direction, tandis que Yves Ladouceur continuera d'agir comme directeur des opérations courses.

 

C'est le 18 mai que la première manche du championnat Sportsman sera disputée, lors de l'ouverture officielle de la saison 2013 de l'ASE. Les Sportsman seront également en action lors d'épreuves importantes de la saison, dont la course ACT 100 le 1er juin, la course de 250 tours NASCAR Canadian Tire le 27 juillet, et tel qu'annoncé, au GP3R.

-30-

 

Source : Yves Ladouceur, ASE.

 

 



--

Yves Ladouceur

Directeur des opérations courses

AUTODROME ST-EUSTACHE

Prés. ANCA

COURSE XTRÊME NON-VOYANTS

Bur: (450) 472-6222

Rés:(450) 735-4444

 

 


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30 000$ pour les non-voyants

Dans le cadre de la Course Xtrême non-voyants du 25 août 2012

30 000$ pour les non-voyants

 

Mardi le 11 décembre dernier, au restaurant Jardins St-Laurent de St-Eustache, a eu lieu la remise officielle des montants d'argents recueillis dans le cadre de la Course Xtrême non-voyants qui a eu lieu le 25 août dernier à l'Autodrome St-Eustache en présence de plusieurs personnalités du monde politique et des affaires de la région.

 

C'est un montant de 30 000$ qui été remis à diverses organisations de charité dont la Fondation des Aveugles du Québec, Le Conseil 1813 des Chevaliers de Colomb, le Club de Hockey de non-voyants Les Hiboux de Montréal et l'ARLPH Laurentides, un organisme dédié aux personnes handicapées de notre région.

 

Les organisateurs, bénéficiaires et commanditaires se sont dit satisfaits de cette première édition de la Course Xtrême non-voyants et ont remercié tous les bénévoles qui ont participé à cette campagne. Les Commanditaires présents ont reçu des plaques honorifiques, un DVD de la course, ainsi qu'un dépliant de photos-souvenirs des événements qui ont eu lieu dans le cadre de cette campagne de financement.

 

Tour à tour, les représentants des organismes bénéficiaires ainsi que le conseiller municipal de la Ville de St-Eustache, Raymond Tessier qui a participé à la course, ont adressé la parole aux personnes présentes.

 

L'organisateur de la course Yves Ladouceur, et le propriétaire de l'Autodrome St-Eustache, M. Alan Labrosse ont finalement conclu les allocutions en invitant tous les participants à la 2e édition de la Course Xtrême non-voyants qui se tiendra le 3 août 2013 à l'Autodrome St-Eustache.

 

-30-


 

(Photo : Gérard Major) De gauche à droite : Sarah Rouleau de la Fondation des Aveugles du Québec, Mme Nicole Steben, attachée de presse de Benoît Charette, Mélissa Comtois et Véronique Bélanger de la Fondation des Aveugles du Québec, Guillaume Laforest, porte parole non-voyant de la Course Xtrême, debout : Dave Charest directeur des vente Autodrome St-Eustache, Richard Gaboriault pour Autobus GD, Richard Langlois de l'ARLPH Laurentides, Joanne Ledoux, co-pilote de la voiture #33 Lettrage JM / Pétroles Goyer, Yves Ladouceur, organisateur de la Course Xtrême, Roland Quenneville, Président honoraire de la Course, Denis Fillion et Gilles A. Perron des Chevaliers de Colomb St-Eustache, Nathalie Laverdière, chanteuse et bénévole, Hugue Leduc et Guy Laforest du Club de Hockey non-voyants Les Hiboux et Richard Dulude instructeur responsable de la sécurité pour la Course Xtrême.
--

Yves Ladouceur

Directeur des opérations courses

AUTODROME ST-EUSTACHE

Prés. ANCA

COURSE XTRÊME NON-VOYANTS

Bur: (450) 472-6222

Rés:(450) 735-4444

 

 


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Toute une saison en vue pour les Sportsmans Québec LUCAS OIL

C’est avec 29 équipes représentés, en ce beau dimanche de décembre, chez Méchoui International, que s’est déroulé la réunion Sportsman Québec.

 

En ouverture, M. André Poulin a annoncé l’annulation de la fusion entre les pilotes ASE et ceux de la Série Sportsman Québec. Une proposition finale avait été faite par les représentants de l’APSQ aux propriétaires de l’Autodrome St-Eustache. Les propriétaires de l’ASE ont décidé de poursuivre leur activité Sportsman en classe  locale seulement.

Il a aussi été question des règlements techniques. Les représentants des pilotes ont expliqué le peu  de changements pour 2013. Le livre sera fourni aux équipes d’ici le 22 décembre par courriel.

M. Poulin a par la suite mentionné que la Série participerait à un projet avec Historia. Celui-ci  impliquera 5 pilotes durant toute la saison dans le but de réaliser une mini série télé sur la course automobile au Québec. Il a aussi l’intention de mettre l’emphase sur la publicité dans le magazine  Pole Position.

Tout un calendrier attend les pilotes!

C’est avec un calendrier de 10 courses, sur six autodromes différentes au Québec, que se déroulera le championnat Sportsman Québec Lucas Oil 2013. L’Autodrome St-Eustache sera la première piste visité par les nombreux pilotes. Le Riverside Speedway Ste-Croix et l’Autodrome Montmagny recevront à deux reprises les coureurs. En août, deux courses d’envergure auront lieu. Une première, le 3 août au Sanair Super Speedway et la semaine suivante, les pilotes visiterons le Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières pour une deuxième saison.  L’Autodrome Chaudière sera visitée à trois reprises et aura l’honneur de couronner le champion, le 6 septembre 2013. Il est important de souligner que nos pilotes auront la chance de courir avec plusieurs Série prestigieuses du Québec et des États-Unis. Ils partageront la bitume avec les séries PASS, ISMA, Nascar Canadian Tire et à 6 reprises avec la Série ACT/LMS.

La Série a annoncé un montant garanti de 200$ pour chaque pilote prenant le départ en finale A ou B lors de toute la saison 2013. Les pilotes verront une majoration de leurs bourses de 12,5% versus 2012. Un fonds de point d’environ  22 000$ sera distribué parmi les 20 premiers au championnat ayant fait au moins 80% des épreuves.

Une deuxième réunion aura lieu en début mars 2013. Pour de plus amples informations sur la saison 2013 de la Série Sportsman Québec Lucas Oil vous pouvez communiquer avec M. André Poulin à l’adresse courriel suivante :   andre.poulin@seriesportsman.ca

Nous vous souhaitons de très joyeuses fêtes et une très belle année 2013.

 

André Poulin

Président

 


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ARCA Concludes Successful Three Day Test at Daytona; 61 Drivers Test

For Immediate Release:

Sunday, December 16, 2012

  

(DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - December 16, 2012) - Three days of open testing for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards at Daytona Int'l Speedway came to a conclusion Sunday afternoon with nary an on-track incident among 61 drivers who posted time and speed.

 

While several veteran teams and drivers utilized the open test in preparation for the 2013 season opener, several rookies circled the 2.5-mile superspeedway in search of seat-time with the intention to gain approval to compete in ARCA competition. Given the success of the test, ARCA's newest rookie crop is off to a very good and safe start.

Venturini Motorsports, in all Toyotas, led the leader board in six separate sessions during which New Castle, Indiana rookie Caleb Armstrong posted the fastest speed overall at 184.192 mph. He was followed by rookie Justin Boston, veteran John Wes Townley and rookie Taylor Ferns.

"As a driver there is no doubt Daytona is the place to be," Armstrong said. "I'm grateful for the opportunity and excited to see my progress in making the transition from open wheel to stock cars. The team has been totally supportive and given me really good equipment."

Venturini Motorsports also provided some 'really good equipment' for Boston, who was second quickest overall at 184.158 mph.

"Obviously there are a lot of variables here but we've been able to quickly create a strong baseline and develop a lot of synergy," said Boston.

"This is new territory for everyone, but the Venturinis prove year after year they can quickly adapt and make it real comfortable to fit in and find speed."

Boston, with title sponsorship from Zloop, announced recently a full season in the No. 25 Venturini Motorsports flagship machine. Daytona will mark his ARCA Racing Series debut.

"It's an honor and privilege to drive at Daytona. This place is the real deal. No other place I'd rather make my series debut than here at Daytona. It's true what they say - all roads do lead to Daytona."

Rookie Matt Kurzejewski, with an assist from former ARCA champion Bob Keselowski, was the fastest Dodge in the line-up, fifth on the leader board overall at 184.121 mph.

Martinsville Speedway track president Clay Campbell, 52, was impressive, earning the sixth fastest speed in a Ford.

"I grew up in the business and I love this sport," Campbell said. "I'm a race fan. I love the business. It's my life. But who in their right mind would not come to Daytona and run a race? This is racing; this is what it's all about. This place has so much history and tradition. This is big for me."

Rookie Bo Lemastus, in a Dodge, was seventh overall with rookie Thomas Praytor earning the eighth fastest speed in a Ford.

"Two of our goals for the test were to earn the respect of the ARCA garage and prove our Mobile team could compete at this level," Praytor said. "Hopefully our performance on and off the track this weekend shows were serious about what we're doing."

Cunningham Motorsports teammates Michel Disdier, of Nice France, and series veteran Tom Hessert completed the top-10 respectively. Both were driving Dodges.

Eight-time winner Bobby Gerhart was 23rd fastest.

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:

Don Radebaugh, ARCA

(419) 450-0611 (mobile)
dradebaugh@arcaracing.com

  

Daytona Int'l Speedway Open Testing

ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards

December 14-16, 2012 (Overall Results)

NO

DRIVER

MFG

TIME

SPEED

1

55

Caleb Armstrong

Toyota

48.862

184.192

2

25a

Justin Boston

Toyota

48.871

184.158

3

15

John Wes Townley

Toyota

48.876

184.139

4

55a

Taylor Ferns

Toyota

48.876

184.139

5

54

Matt Kurzejewski

Dodge

48.881

184.121

6

08

Clay Campbell

Ford

49.092

183.329

7

42

Bo Lemastus

Dodge

49.113

183.251

8

2

Thomas Praytor

Ford

49.305

182.537

9

77

Michel Disdier

Dodge

49.323

182.471

10

22

Tom Hessert

Dodge

49.382

182.253

11

92

Brennan Newberry

Chevy

49.394

182.208

12

04a

Galen Hassler

Dodge

49.447

182.013

13

68

Will Kimmel

Ford

49.465

181.947

14

3

Drew Charleson

Chevy

49.527

181.719

15

16

Ricky Ehrgott

Chevy

49.527

181.719

16

5b

Brandon Hanks

Chevy

49.618

181.386

17

99

John Ferrier

Ford

49.643

181.294

18

6

Julien Jousse

Chevy

49.658

181.240

19

32

Mason Mingus

Toyota

49.661

181.229

20

99a

Chris Buescher

Ford

49.665

181.214

21

30

Terry Jones

Dodge

49.772

180.825

22

11e

Trevor Edwards

Ford

49.782

180.788

23

5

Bobby Gerhart

Chevy

49.820

180.650

24

23

Spencer Gallagher

Chevy

49.835

180.596

25

75

Benny Chastain

Chevy

49.845

180.560

26

94

Milka Duno

Toyota

49.941

180.213

27

58

Chad Hackenbracht

Chevy

49.958

180.151

28

04b

Jeremy Morales

Dodge

49.985

180.054

29

04

Dominick Casola

Dodge

50.018

179.935

30

40e

Michelle Theriault

Dodge

50.025

179.910

31

54a

Garrett Smithley

Dodge

50.032

179.885

32

17

Chris Buescher

Ford

50.060

179.784

33

69

Steve Kemp

Ford

50.071

179.745

34

58a

Mason Mitchell

Chevy

50.075

179.730

35

75a

Scott Green

Toyota

50.103

179.630

36

40b

Jimmy Wills

Dodge

50.148

179.469

37

09

Grant Enfinger

Ford

50.160

179.426

38

40

Joel Willman

Dodge

50.310

178.891

39

19a

Nur Ali

Chevy

50.322

178.848

40

09a

Charles Evans, Jr.

Ford

50.397

178.582

41

11b

Jonathan Eilen

Ford

50.409

178.540

42

19c

Donnie Neuenberger

Chevy

50.504

178.204

43

38

Andrew Gresel

Ford

50.512

178.175

44

40a

Richard Altman

Dodge

50.531

178.108

45

10a

Rick Clifton

Chevy

50.608

177.837

46

5a

Brian Smith

Chevy

50.644

177.711

47

02

Josh Williams

Ford

50.782

177.228

48

40c

Garrett Farmer

Dodge

50.874

176.908

49

11f

Casey Hillenburg

Ford

51.010

176.436

50

40d

Michael Bockler

Dodge

51.166

175.898

51

11c

Johnny VanDoorn

Ford

51.195

175.798

52

11d

Tyler Speer

Ford

51.195

175.798

53

10

Richard Doheny

Chevy

51.244

175.630

54

7a

George Cushman

Dodge

51.319

175.374

55

19

Cody Ware

Chevy

51.342

175.295

56

11

Dakota Carlson

Ford

51.381

175.162

57

19e

James Swanson

Chevy

51.558

174.561

58

11a

Travis Braden

Ford

51.575

174.503

59

19b

Noel Dowler

Chevy

51.657

174.226

60

19d

Dexter Stacey

Chevy

51.731

173.977

61

7

Brent Cross

Chevy

51.769

173.849

 


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