The Significance of Seven

TONY STEWART   DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., (Feb. 18, 2013) – By definition, a number is a mathematical object used to count, label and measure. Through the years, individual numbers have come to carry values significant in ways other than just math.   Take the number seven, for example. Often times referred to as being lucky, the number carries with it a greater value than just being a unit of measurement. In fact, a 13th century Jewish scholar named Nachmanides believed the number seven to be the number of the natural world given that there are seven days in a week, seven notes on a musical scale and seven directions.

 

Tony Stewart plans to add to the number seven's significance in the DRIVE4COPD 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race Saturday at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.   Before attempting to earn his first career Daytona 500 victory on Sunday, Stewart will look to score his seventh win in the annual season opener for the Nationwide Series on Saturday. The victory would place Stewart in a tie with the legendary Dale Earnhardt for the most wins in the Nationwide Series at Daytona. If there is any sort of validity to the notion of lucky numbers or charms, then Stewart may have a lock on scoring that seventh win come Saturday.   Riding shotgun with Stewart will be Nabisco's Ritz Crackers brand. It marks the second time the buttery-tasting snack has been the primary sponsor for Stewart in the 300-mile race at Daytona, the last time being the 2010 event which Stewart won after starting 32nd. Stewart's relationship with Nabisco stretches back to 2010 when the company became a partner of Stewart and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team he co-owns with Haas Automation founder Gene Haas – Stewart-Haas Racing. The Oreo Cookie and Ritz Cracker brands are Stewart-Haas Racing's official cookie and cracker.    What makes this sponsorship ironic for this year's event is the fact that there are seven holes in a Ritz Cracker. Combining this karmic sponsorship fact along with Stewart's Nationwide Series record at Daytona may just seal the deal for Stewart to nab that seventh Nationwide Series win at Daytona.   Stewart earned the first of his six Nationwide Series wins at Daytona in 2005, which also happened to be his first career win in the Nationwide Series. He has gone on to score an additional nine victories to bring his career totals in the series to 10 wins, 29 top-five and 40 top-10s in 93 starts. Much of that success has come at Daytona, despite only 13 Nationwide Series starts at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.   In those 13 starts, Stewart has led 206 laps while scoring six wins, seven top-five and nine top-10 finishes in addition to earning a lap completion rate of 99.1 percent. He has an average starting position of 15.8 and average finish of 7.9. Stewart's six wins in 13 starts is good enough for a win rate of 46.2 percent.   The good news doesn't stop there.   Stewart won four straight DRIVE4COPD 300s between 2008 and 2011 – a feat he accomplished driving for three different car owners, winning with Joe Gibbs in 2008, Rick Hendrick in 2009 and Kevin Harvick in 2010 and 2011. He hopes to add another win with yet another car owner via Richard Childress and the No. 33 Ritz Cracker/Oreo team on Saturday. It will mark just the third time Stewart has driven for Childress, as Stewart drove for the veteran team owner in last year's DRIVE4COPD 300 where Stewart led 22 laps before finishing seventh, and in the May 2004 Nationwide Series race in Fontana, Calif., where Stewart finished second.   Nachmanides belief that seven is the number of the natural world seems perfectly natural to Stewart, who is intent on earning his seventh Nationwide Series win at Daytona with the ubiquitous seven-holed Ritz Cracker emblazoned on the hood of his No. 33 Chevrolet Camaro.   Tony Stewart, Driver of the No. 33 Ritz Crackers/Oreo NASCAR Nationwide Series Chevrolet Camaro at Daytona     You have the opportunity to tie Dale Earnhardt for the most wins in the Nationwide Series at Daytona with seven. How special would that be for you?   "It's cool just to be even close to him. Whether we ever get another win and catch his mark or even surpass him, that's still a record that's pretty remarkable here at Daytona. That's a pretty cool feeling to know we've closed in on something he's done here. To me, this was his playground. You just watched him play with the guys here. He was the best at this place. To even be remotely close to him in the record books, in anything here at Daytona, is very humbling."   You've won the season-opening Nationwide Series race six times. How nice is it to start the year with a win, and how much confidence does it give you going into the Daytona 500?   "The good thing is I'm probably the happiest guy going into the Daytona 500 if we get a win on Saturday. It shows that we can win, and it's just a matter of whether the cards play out for you on Sunday. It's always a bonus when you can win on Saturday before going into the biggest race of the year on Sunday. Getting a Nationwide win there, that's how you like to go to bed the night before the Daytona 500, knowing that you've got that trophy sitting out there on your desk from what you did Saturday afternoon."     It's difficult to win one race at Daytona, let alone six, and four in a row for that matter. How have you done it?   "Restrictor-plate races at Daytona are always a wild-card race. You never know who's going to win. We were fortunate enough to win one and then back it up the next year. To do it back-to-back-to-back-to-back is something we're really proud of. We've won six out of the last eight here, and none of them have been the same. It's been different cars, different teams, different pavement. There wasn't one of the six in that scenario that have been even remotely close to the same. To me, that's the part that's ironic. You think, 'Man, the scenario has to double up, eventually.' Six wins here and none of them have been alike. It really shows that you can't predict what's going to happen. It's impossible to even try to do that."     What makes you so successful at Daytona, particularly in the season-opening Nationwide Series race?   "I don't know. I've had a lot of luck there. A lot of it has just been being at the right place at the right time, and making calls that were a little edgy on pit strategy to put ourselves in position at the end. I've had great cars to drive every time there, and great partners like Ritz and Oreo that have supported our effort. We've just been one of those guys everybody knows that when we're out there, we're a threat in that division. So when it comes to the end of it, we've had some pretty good help."     In order to win a restrictor-plate race, you've got to have drafting help. How do you get that help?    "I think it's more a situation of guys finding the fast cars, and you finding the guys you know are going to go with you because they know you're quick. If they go with you, they're going to get you to the front, which is going to get them to the front. It's kind of 'help me, help you.'"     Are there certain guys you've worked with at restrictor-plate races in the past who you know you're going to draft with?   "You have a list of guys you know you're drafting with, and then there's another list of guys you're alright with, and there's another list of guys you don't want to be around. So you always know who the guys are you want to be with and who you'd rather not see anywhere near you."     You're used to racing in the Sprint Cup Series. How does the style of racing in the Nationwide Series differ from the Sprint Cup Series?   "You're definitely more selective about who you draft with. Part of the Nationwide race last year, we didn't even pick a partner. We ran the first half of the race by ourselves and there were enough groups in front of us that we could stay in the draft. Later in the race, as it started sorting out, we found people who either lost a partner at some point or whatever, but it seemed like at the end of the race, there was no trouble in finding a partner to run with. Guys partner up early in the race, but it always seems like you get one or two crashes and guys lose their drafting partner, so it seems there's always someone to go with. But if you can find somebody early that you like and stay hooked up with them throughout the race, that's the most advantageous position to be in. It's been hairy enough the last couple of years that you can run by yourself and still be caught up in a good enough pack to get where you need to be."     As the Nationwide Series cars evolve, are there nuances you learn each year you run the season-opening race?   "Yes. Guys get smarter about what to do with them and they get smarter about how to draft with them. That side of it gets better and better each year and it's a matter of learning what you can and can't do. Last year, I never dreamed I could run the first half of the race by myself, but that's what we did. We never even had a drafting partner. We just would run in the middle of a group of paired-up cars and every time they switched we would just drive back by them because we didn't have to check up and switch partners. As much as they learn new things, we learn new things too about what we have to do."     With the Sprint Cup car being so different from the Nationwide Series car, do you have to remind yourself what car you're in before you hit the track?   "You do, but we're used to that. In my whole career I've gone from car to car and they all felt different."     On that note, as you worked your way up the racing ladder in USAC, you'd drive different cars on different nights, sometimes on asphalt and sometimes on dirt, and you'd only have a handful of laps to figure it out. Have you carried that experience with you to NASCAR, as you seem to adapt very quickly, very successfully?   "You'd have three practice laps, maybe, and then it was time to go qualify. You'd do all of practice and then you'd jump from car to car in qualifying and you just had to put down a lap. A lot of times you had to go right away. We still run a wide variety of cars throughout the year, and that keeps you fresh."     This is the second year you're running the No. 33 Chevrolet for Richard Childress. What's it like driving for Childress?   "Richard is an icon in our sport and someone I've always admired, so I'm always excited to have the opportunity to work with him. I don't think anyone can think about Daytona and not think about Richard Childress and Dale Earnhardt and all they accomplished there together, so it's definitely an honor to be part of his team at Daytona. Hopefully, I can add to his list of accomplishments there."     Is it difficult to run just one race with a team that you don't work with on a regular basis?   "It's a one-off deal, but I've worked with this group in the past, so I already have a comfort level and a relationship with the guys. Ernie (Cope, crew chief) and I have worked together in the past, too, so that's a plus because we're already familiar with each other. When you look at the team that I'm working with this year, it's basically the exact same group as last year, so that's helpful."     Meet the No. 33 Ritz Crackers/Oreo Team of Richard Childress Racing   Primary Team Members:   Driver: Tony Stewart Crew Chief: Ernie Cope   Car Chief: Paul Balmer     Engine Builder: ECR   Engine Tuner: Ron Jones   Spotter: Bob Jeffrey   Engineer: Jon Leonard     Over-The-Wall Crew Members:   Front Tire Changer: JD Holcomb   Gas Man: Cruz Gonzalez     Front Tire Carrier: Tim Sheets   Jack Man: Adam Lewis       Rear Tire Changer: Zach Price   Rear Tire Carrier: Brad Robinson     Road Crew Members:   Mechanics: Eddie O'Hayre, Loren Kern and Blake Zobrist   Tire Specialist: Brian Carrigan       Transporter Driver: Dennis Ritchie   Shock Specialist: Ron Drake       The Car   Chassis No. 123: This is a brand new racecar that has only been tested in the wind tunnel. The DRIVE4COPD 300 will mark its first race of any kind.     Tony Stewart's NASCAR Nationwide Series Daytona Box Score   Year Event Start Finish Status/Laps Laps Led Earnings 2012 DRIVE4COPD 300 7 8 Running, 120/120 22 $49,695 2011 DRIVE4COPD 300 14 1 Running, 120/120 13 $103,695 2011 Subway Jalapeno 250 2 13 Running, 100/100 4 $18,050 2010 †DRIVE4COPD 300 32 1 Running, 120/120 38 $117,295 2009 Camping World 300 5 1 Running, 120/120 23 $99,895 2008 Camping World 300 1 1 Running, 120/120 46 $109,720 2007 Orbitz 300 38 8 Running, 120/120 0 $50,300 2007 ×Winn-Dixie 250 2 4 Running, 102/102 1 $36,125 2006 Hershey's Kissables 300 16 1 Running, 120/120 13 $112,650 2006 ×Winn-Dixie 250 31 12 Running, 103/103 0 $23,625 2005 Hershey's "Take 5" 300 14 1 Running, 120/120 46 $102,476 1998 NAPA Auto Parts 300 9 31 Accident, 109/120 0 $17,200 1996 Goody's Headache Powder 300 34 21 Running, 118/120 0 $8,850 † Qualifying canceled due to weather, starting position set via car owner points.                                                                    × Race length extended due to green-white-checkered finish.                         Tony Stewart's NASCAR Nationwide Series Career Profile At-A-Glance   Stewart will make his first and only NASCAR Nationwide Series start of the season driving the No. 33 Ritz Crackers/Oreo Chevrolet Camaro for Richard Childress Racing in the Feb. 23 DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona. Stewart is a six-time winner of the season-opening NASCAR Nationwide Series race (2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011). This year's race will mark his 14th career Nationwide Series start at Daytona. Stewart has a total of 10 wins, six poles, 29 top-fives and 39 top-10s in 92 career Nationwide Series starts.   –SHR–

 

"Krazy" Kevin Powell Teams With Woodman Racing For 7 PASS South Races in 2013

Today representatives from Kevin Powell Motorsports announced that “Krazy” Kevin Powell will pilot the Foothill Ford/kpmoto.com/New Country Q104 machine for Dicky Woodman Racing in 7 Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Model races in 2013.  Powell and Woodman Racing’s first race together this season will be the 8th Annual South Carolina Clash on March 9th at Dillon Motor Speedway.

 

“I’m really pumped up to have this opportunity to race with Dicky [Woodman] in 2013 and I think we can go out there and be competitive right off the bat at Dillon,” said Powell.  “Last year was my first year being involved with PASS and I enjoyed it a lot.  Tom Mayberry does a great job with the series and we’re excited to race for wins with Dicky and challenge again for the PASS South championship with New Day Motorsports and Brandon Ward.” Following the South Carolina Clash at Dillon, Powell will pilot the potent Woodman Racing machine in six more PASS South events including all three races at South Boston Speedway (May 11, June 8, August 17), both races at Caraway (NC) Speedway (May 24, November 9) and in the Over The Mountain 150 at Hickory (NC) Motor Speedway on September 21. Powell began his racing career at the young age of 10 winning State and National Championships with the World Karting Association.  He moved to the powerful dirt Super Late Models in 1984, winning track championships at Beckley Motor Speedway and Princeton Motor Speedway in his home state of West Virginia.  After moving to North Carolina, Powell switched to asphalt in 2000 racing in the Late Model Stock division at Friendship Moto r Speedway.  In 2002, Powell progressed to the ground pounders of racing, the Open Wheel Modifieds.  He raced for a number of years in the Southern Modified Tour and has raced and won at the legendary Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC. “Krazy” Kevin Powell has become well known to race fans around the country in recent years for his extreme promotions and advertisements for Kevin Powell Motorsports, kpmoto.com, and Foothill Ford.  And, that is how his involvement with PASS first began.  With his sponsorship of New Day Motorsports and driver Brandon Ward in 2010, the #62 has been a perennial front runner on the PASS South tour.  In 2012, the team scored wins at Wake County (NC) Speedway and Anderson (SC) Motor Speedway and equaled a career best fourth in the final points standings. Meanwhile, Dicky Woodman has built a Super Late Model team that is one of the best in the business.  The Woodman Racing team has joined with a variety of talented drivers over the years to consistently race at the front wherever they go.  Drivers such as Cassius Clark, Logan Ruffin, George Brunnhoelzl III, and Jay Fogleman have raced for Dicky Woodman in recent years on the tough PASS South circuit.   The union between Powell and Woodman in PASS actually began last year.  The duo raced together three times in 2012, finishing no worse than 11th.  Results that have both excited for this year’s prospects. “Racing in PASS is as tough as it gets.  Unlike a Modified, you can go out and slam doors a little and not have to worry about instantly wrecking,” said Powell.  “It might be Kraaazy to say, but Dicky thinks we can go out and win several races this year.  I hope to prove him right.” Thank you to our marketing partners at New Country Q104, Foothill Ford in Pilot Mountain, NC and Kevin Powell Motorsports with locations in Winston-Salem, NC and Greensboro, NC.  For more marketing information or for more details on Kevin Powell Motorsports, please check out kpmoto.com. -30-

 

Danica Patrick Becomes First Female Pole Winner In NASCAR Sprint Cup History

Rookie Wins The Coors Light Pole For The Daytona 500   DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 17, 2013) – Danica Patrick made NASCAR history today during Coors Light Pole qualifying for the Daytona 500, becoming the first female driver to win a pole at NASCAR’s top level – the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

 

During qualifying for the sport’s marquee event, Patrick turned a lap of 196.434 mph (45.817 seconds), giving her the first starting position for next Sunday’s Daytona 500 (1 p.m. on FOX, FOX Deportes, Motor Racing Network Radio and SiriusXM Satellite Radio). It was the fastest Daytona 500 pole-winning speed since 1990.   Patrick shattered the previous record for top starting spot by a female NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver. Janet Guthrie previously held the mark, twice starting ninth in 1977. She started ninth at Talladega Superspeedway on Aug. 7, 1977 and at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 28, 1977.   The previous best starting position for a female in the Daytona 500 was 18th by Janet Guthrie in 1980.   This is Patrick’s second NASCAR pole, also winning the Coors Light Pole for the season-opening NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona last season. The only other female to win a NASCAR national series pole was Shawna Robinson in a NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1994.   Already a NASCAR record holder, Patrick set the mark of best finish by a female driver in NASCAR national series history when she finished fourth in a NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2011. She finished 10th in the final 2012 NASCAR Nationwide points standings, the top finish by a female in NASCAR national series history.   Patrick, who is running for the 2013 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award, is the first rookie to win the Daytona 500 pole since Jimmie Johnson in 2002.   Contact:                                                                                               Mike Forde NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications

 

Rapport de la deuxième journée d'activités au Grand Prix de Valcourt

Communiqué pour diffusion immédiate   Tim Tremblay et Malcolm Chartier inscrivent un deuxième gain en deux jours au Grand Prix Ski-Doo de Valcourt présenté par FOX   Valcourt, QC, 16 février 2013 - Le pilote québécois Tim Tremblay et l'Américain Malcolm Chartier ont poursuivi leur domination lors de la deuxième journée de la 31e édition du Grand Prix Ski-Doo de Valcourt présenté par FOX. Lors de la finale snocross de la division Pro, Tremblay a effectué toute une remontée pour inscrire un deuxième triomphe consécutif sur le tracé snocross du circuit Yvon Duhamel. Le pilote de Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc occupait le septième rang au premier passage, à près de 10 secondes du meneur Darrin Mees de Stanchfield au Minnesota. Un à un, il a remonté le peloton pour finalement doubler l'Américain à deux tours de l'arrivée pour inscrire une sixième victoire à Valcourt à ses sept derniers départs. Corin Todd d'Otego, NY a pris le troisième rang devant le Suédois Emil Ohman.

 

La finale Pro Champ 440 disputée sur l'ovale de glace a de nouveau été l'affaire de Malcolm Chartier. Dans une course écourtée à neuf tours, le pilote de Marine City au Michigan a été impérial tout au long de la journée, dominant ses adversaires en course tout comme en qualification. Dustin Wahl de Greenbush au Minnesota a terminé deuxième devant le Québécois Felipe Roy-Lalonde de Saint-Jude. Dans les autres finales de la journée sur l'anneau de glace, l'Américain Michael Soucy a triomphé en Semi-Pro Formule 500 devant l'Ontarien Cole McMichael et Sabrina Blanchet de Québec. Reléguée sur la deuxième ligne pour avoir causé un mauvais départ, la jeune dame de 17 ans (et non 15 ans comme mentionné vendredi) est partie le couteau entre les dents en doublant quelques adversaires, mais l'avance de ses adversaires était insurmontable. La finale moto a été remportée par Maxime Sylvestre de Berthierville qui a devancé Samuel Desbiens de l'Ange-Gardien et Shawn Ford de Repentigny. Disputée à la brunante foncée, la course de stock-cars Revstar STR a été remportée par Éric Boisvert de Nicolet devant Mitchel Lacombe de Saint-Hilaire. Réjean Plante de Saint-Hyacinthe a terminé troisième. Andrew Ranger a été contraint à l'abandon suite à un bris mécanique, Tout comme la veille, les Américains ont dominé en snocross division Pro Lite devant les Ontariens avec la victoire de Kevin Wallenstein de Cadillac, Michigan. Jesse James Bonaduce du New Jersey a pris le troisième rang devant l'Ontarien Chris Robertson. L'action au Grand Prix de Valcourt se poursuivra dimanche dès 9 h 30 avec la présentation des premières rondes de qualifications de la journée. Les grandes finales du Grand Prix Ski-Doo de Valcourt présenté par FOX débuteront à 15 heures. Les billets d'admission générale pour le Grand Prix Ski-Doo de Valcourt présenté par FOX pour le dimanche 17 février sont disponibles au service de la billetterie du circuit Yvon-Duhamel située au 917, route 222 à Maricourt (J0L 2L2). L'entrée est 30 $. Les enfants de 12 ans et moins accompagnés d'un adulte sont admis gratuitement sur le site du Grand Prix. Cette dernière offre n'est cependant pas valable pour les loges chauffées.   - 30 -   Source :        Max d'Orsonnens Agent de communications 450-532-3087 Salle de presse 514-246-8909 RÉPONDRE À : maxdo2@videotron.ca Contact média pour le Grand Prix de Valcourt : Marie-Pier Lemay Directrice générale À la piste -  450-532-3069 marie@grandprixvalcourt.com IMAGES Photo - Tim Tremblay Le pilote québécois Tim Tremblay a poursuivi sa domination lors de la deuxième journée de la 31e édition du Grand Prix Ski-Doo de Valcourt présenté par FOX. Photo gracieuseté du Grand Prix de Valcourt

 

ARCA, HOOSIER EXTEND OFFICIAL TIRE PROGRAM

For Immediate Release: Saturday, February 16, 2013    (DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.) - Officials from ARCA and Hoosier Racing Tire Corporation jointly announced today in a media conference at Daytona Int'l Speedway that they have executed a contract extension that will position Hoosier as the Official Tire of the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards through the 2015 season.

 

The agreement provides for the continued exclusive use of Hoosier Racing Tires in the ARCA Racing Series for the 2013, 2014 and 2015 racing seasons and continues an established awards program and cost containment initiative for series teams. Hoosier has recently developed and introduced a short track radial tire and a road course wet radial tire to complement its long established superspeedway radial tire and dirt track bias tire programs in the series.   "Hoosier's exclusive business is building quality tires for racers, and we have great confidence in extending the ARCA-Hoosier relationship through the 2015 season," said ARCA President Ron Drager. "Hoosier's commitment to engineering, development and production of tires constructed specifically for the demanding and diverse ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards venues-including paved short tracks, dirt tracks, road courses and superspeedways-continues to be proven each race weekend."   The agreement extends Hoosier's status as among the longest-standing participating manufacturer-sponsor relationships in the 61-year history of the sanctioning body. Hoosier has participated as a supplier for ARCA sanctioned racing events since 1985 and first became the Official Tire of the ARCA Racing Series in 1995. Hoosier co-founder Bob Newton began his association with ARCA founder John Marcum in 1953 when he competed as a racer in ARCA-sanctioned short track racing at Flat Rock Speedway.   "ARCA has played a key role in our strategic vision here at Hoosier," said Hoosier Vice President of Sales & Marketing Dennis Sherman. "Our participation with ARCA has facilitated the expansion and development of our tires and service for the race teams over the years, and we look forward to more racing accomplishments as the Official Tire of ARCA in the future."   Hoosier is a major series point fund contributor and the exclusive sponsor of the Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge point fund, in addition to posting other prize money bonuses including a per-race and year-end winner's bonus. Hoosier has also worked with ARCA to develop a maximum tire consumption rule for all venues and races on the tour as a cost containment measure.   The Hoosier extension has received considerable support from the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards competitor base.   "It's great to see Hoosier coming back to provide our race tire through 2015," said 9-time ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards champion Frank Kimmel, who has 74 career series victories. "We know how hard those guys in the purple shirts work, race in and race out, to consistently provide us with the best product they can put on the track. There's a comfort level knowing that Hoosier and ARCA have made such a commitment to one another over the years, and that the common goal is a good, safe, fast race tire for all of us in the series to race on."   Kimmel's sentiments were echoed by ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards team owner Bill Venturini, whose Venturini Motorsports team fields as many as six cars for a given race and placed four full-time teams in the series top-10 in final 2012 point standings.   "As competitors, we utilize everything we have at our disposal to run faster than the other teams, including working the tire aggressively, and that presents challenges for Hoosier," said Venturini, the ARCA Racing Series 1983 Rookie of the Year and 1987 & 1992 champion whose Venturini Motorsports team celebrated its 30thanniversary in the series in '12. "With the fast pace of advancement in technology and race car speeds, plus track surface changes like the repaving we saw last season at Pocono, Kansas and Michigan, we think Hoosier works hard and does a good job of providing us with a safe product over the long haul."   Veteran crew chief Paul Andrews has 12 victories and 30 pole qualifying awards to his credit in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with drivers Alan Kulwicki, Geoff Bodine, Steve Park, Jeremy Mayfield, Kenny Wallace, Jeff Burton, Bobby Labonte, Michael Waltrip and Kyle Petty. He currently serves as crew chief for team owner Kerry Scherer's Cunningham Motorsports Dodge team.   "Across the board, Hoosier has been very solid in the tire they provide, especially when you consider everything we throw at them as far as different race track sizes and surfaces over the course of a season," said Andrews, who has 8 ARCA Racing Series wins since 2010 and was the 1992 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion crew chief for driver/owner Kulwicki. "My experience with Hoosier, both when they were in NASCAR and here in the ARCA Racing Series, has been that they are great to work with and that they put out a good product. Hoosier and ARCA work with the teams to limit tire usage in the race, and the lesser funded teams aren't required to purchase sticker tires, so that's helpful to each respective team's budget. I can see why this has been a good long term relationship between ARCA and Hoosier."   The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is among the leading and most diverse auto racing sanctioning bodies in the country. Founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum, the organization administers more than 150 events each year in multiple racing series, including the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, the ARCA CRA Super Series, the ARCA Truck Series and the ARCA Midwest Tour, plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways.   CONTACTS: ARCA PR/Media (734) 847-6726 Hoosier (574) 784-3152   For more information on Wallace or the ARCA Racing Series, contact ARCA Communications Director Doug Donnelly at (419) 574-2685 or ARCA Communications Manager Don Radebaugh at (419) 450-0611.

 

PASS South Ready To Kick Off Season With Busy March Schedule

-       For Immediate Release   CHARLOTTE, NC (February 15) – The start of the 2013 Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Model season is quickly approaching.  Not only for the high horsepowered Super Late Models though, but also for one of the most anticipated new divisions in the country, the PASS Pro Late Models.

 

Top teams from across the Southeast are busy in race shops and with on track testing in preparation for the March 9th running of the 8th Annual South Carolina Clash at Dillon Motor Speedway.  And being prepared is the key, as teams will start the season with three races in four weekends.  Following the South Carolina Clash at Dillon, PASS South and PASS Pro Late Model competitors will head an hour east the next week to Myrtle Beach Speedway and will then wind the month of March down with one of the season’s biggest races, the 8th Annual Easter Bunny 150 at Hickory Motor Speedway. The South Carolina Clash is one of PASS South’s most traditional races and has been held at Dillon Motor Speedway since 2008.  This year’s race will be the fourth time in the last five years that the South Carolina Clash will begin the season for PASS South competitors.  Dillon Motor Speedway is no easy track to conquer either with a unique egg shape to the 4/10 mile oval.  In addition to the PASS South regulars, 2009 Clash winner Ben Rowe and Florida Winter Meltdown runner-up Joe Boyd have made their intentions known to compete in the Palmetto State.  Dillon Motor Speedway promoter Ron Barfield has also announced that he will leave the speedway open on Sunday and Monday for any teams traveling from out of town that might need to make repairs to their cars prior to the next week’s race at Myrtle Beach. Since announcing the race last year, the PASS date at Myrtle Beach Speedway on March 16th has been circled on many fans and race team’s calendars.  Myrtle Beach Speedway was known as Super Late Model-type track for nearly 50 years. From the time the legendary facility opened back in 1958 to the mid-1990’s, the .538 mile, D-shaped oval featured Late Model Sportsman cars, very similar to today’s PASS South Super Late Models. Local heroes like Sam Ard, Jimmy Hatchell, Eddie Goodson, Robert Powell, and even the late Dale Earnhardt raced in the division regularly at Myrtle Beach Speedway. Even Dillon promoter Ron Barfield graduated from being a champion Late Model Stock driver to a top contender in the Late Model Sportsman division at Myrtle Beach.  From 1993 through 1995, legendary promoter Bob Harmon promoted 400-lap All Pro Series epics at Myrtle Beach won by short track legends such as Jody Ridley and Gary St. Amant.  In 2012, Myrtle Beach Speedway saw a resurgence under its new ownership group headed by Bob Lutz.  PASS returns Super Late Model racing to the beach for the first time since 2004, paying $5,000 to the winner and $600 to start.  The race will be 150 green flag laps with a break at lap 100 for teams to refuel and change two tires.   While along South Carolina’s Grand Strand for the Dillon and Myrtle Beach events, fans are encouraged to check out the Run To The Sun XXV car show held in Myrtle Beach on March 14-16 by the Pee Dee Street Rodders.  Vendors and fans who attend the car show will have the opportunity to pick up discount coupons for the PASS race at Myrtle Beach Speedway that weekend. Following two weeks of tough competition in South Carolina, PASS South Super Late Model and PASS Pro Late Model teams will have a week off prior to heading to Hickory Motor Speedway on March 30th for the 8th Annual Easter Bunny 150.  The Easter Bunny has a storied history dating back to 2006.  That race was the first PASS South event ever held and was won by Maine racing legend Mike Rowe.  Since then names like Ryan Lawler, Ben Rowe, and Preston Peltier have all won on the .363 mile speedway.  Kyle Grissom took his first career PASS South win in the Easter Bunny 150 last year.  An interesting fact, Grissom became the fifth Easter Bunny 150 winner in seven races there to go on and win the PASS South Super Late Model championship. In addition to being a PASS South points event, the Easter Bunny 150 will be the second race of the PASS National Championship series.  Florida Winter Meltdown winner Joey Doiron hopes to pad his PASS National points lead over a field of hungry racers from all over the country. PASS South Super Late Model entry forms for the Dillon, Myrtle Beach and Hickory events as well as the 2013 PASS license forms for all divisions can be found at ProAllStarsSeries.com. The Pro All Stars Series is recognized as North America’s premier sanctioning body for asphalt Super Late Models and boasts such marquee events as the PASS Northwest Triple Crown at Wenatchee Valley Super Oval, PASS South’s Easter Bunny 150 at the historic Hickory Motor Speedway, the Autobus La Qubecoise Triple Crown at Autodrome Chaudiere, and the legendary TD Bank 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway.  For technical information concerning  all PASS divisions please contact Scott Reed at 207-625-3230 or scottreedpass@yahoo.com.  For media or marketing questions, please contact Alan Dietz at 704-231-2039 or alandietzpass@live.com.  Please visit ProAllStarsSeries.com for more information and don’t forget to “Like” the Pro All Stars Series on Facebook to keep up with breaking news as it happens.   -30-