Tag: NASCAR

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General Tire To Serve As Exclusive Tire Supplier For NASCAR’s K&N Pro Series, Pinty’s Series And PEAK Mexico Series


General Tire and NASCAR have announced a multi-year partnership naming the tire company the “Official Racing Tire” and “Exclusive Tire Supplier” of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, NASCAR Pinty’s Series and NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series.

A separate six-year deal was announced last month with the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series making this the first exclusive supplier partnership encompassing NASCAR’s three international series.

“General Tire is committed to promoting the NASCAR regional and international series across two continents and more than 11 countries with substantial investments across the NASCAR industry,” said Travis Roffler, director of marketing for General Tire. “Our team works hard to provide competitive, action-packed racing each week for the fans and we’re thrilled to be expanding that across several more series. We look forward to working with the NASCAR industry to grow not only recognition of the General Tire name, but the various series as well.”

The tires will be manufactured in Lakeville, Indiana, where they have been building stock car tires for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards since 1995.

“The demand for NASCAR racing globally has never been stronger,” said Brandon Thompson, managing director of NASCAR touring series. “General Tire’s investment across the NASCAR regional and international series will authentically drive brand awareness of not only the respective series but that of the drivers, teams and tracks. Our unique racing style will be highlighted and that’s exciting.”

The K&N Pro Series East kicked off the season for the NASCAR regional and international series on Sunday, Feb. 10 at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway.

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NASCAR’s Bubba Wallace Teams Up With NABC To Put The Brakes On Distracted Driving

NASCAR star Bubba Wallace, who drives the legendary no. 43 for Richard Petty Motorsports in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, is teaming up with the National Auto Body Council (NABC) to put the brakes on distracted driving.

Distracted driving, particularly related to cell phone use, has become one of the most significant factors in vehicle accidents in the U.S. Many states are enacting tough laws banning phone use in the car with stiff fines attached.

Working with Petty Motorsports partners BASF, the official paint of the team, and 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division, Wallace is sharing his tips and advice for reducing distractions on the road, especially for younger drivers.

“I love being on my phone and sharing what I’m doing with my friends, family and followers,” said Wallace. “But as a NASCAR driver, I know that even the slightest distraction that takes your focus off what is in front of you can put you in the wall. When I get in my race car, I take the time to focus my attention and make sure everything is set before I fire up the engine. And it’s the same when I get in my daily drive – I check my directions and set my GPS, line up my music and make sure my phone is put up where I can’t see it and am not tempted to answer it. Your car covers 45 feet in one second at 30 mph – that’s one quick look at your cell phone. We all need to make the effort to put down our phones and put the brakes on distracted driving!”

Wallace, who has spent more than a decade competing in a variety of racing series, offers these tips for staying safe and focused on the road:

  • Don’t answer your phone or check messages while driving. Better yet, turn these devices off when you get into your car or put them in the console.
  • Hands-free technology doesn’t mean accident free – talking on the phone is still a distraction from the road.
  • Never text and drive! Texting takes your eyes and mind off the road and your hands off the wheel.
  • Deal with distractions such as eating, putting on make-up, reading, combing your hair and checking messages before you hit the road.
  • Be well rested before getting behind the wheel. If you are out late and too tired to drive home, sleep over or call a taxi.
  • Ensure you have clear directions to your destination and check them before you leave. Listen to your GPS device; don’t look at it.
  • Adjust the seat, headrest, seatbelt, rearview mirror, climate control, radio, etc., to your liking before you drive – and if you’re driving a rental car, make sure you’re familiar with all the controls in advance.
  • Pull over if you need to make a call, check a message, deal with passengers, eat or drink.
  • Tell everyone that for safety reasons, you no longer answer calls or respond to messages while driving.
  • Ask passengers to keep chatter to a minimum and help you navigate.
  • For young drivers, remind friends that safety comes first – no selfies in the car, seatbelts always in use and no distracting the driver.
  • Install an app on their phone that block texts and phone calls when you are behind the wheel.

“We’re proud to work with our NABC members BASF and 3M and partner with Bubba Wallace on this program,” said Bill Garoutte, president and CEO of the NABC. “When you look at the dangers on the road today, distracted driving has become a critical issue. On-board technology and cell phones take drivers’ attention away from the road in front of them. And advanced safety systems provide a false sense of security. We want to help educate drivers of all ages about the dangers of distracted driving and how to eliminate these distractions behind the wheel.”

Added BASF Director of Marketing Daniel Bihlmeyer, “As a partner with the National Auto Body Council and their Distracted Driving initiative, we are proud to support this program to help educate drivers about being safer on the road. And, as a partner with Richard Petty Motorsports, we couldn’t have a better representative for this program than the driver of the no. 43 Petty Ford – Bubba Wallace.”

“It is so important for everyone, but in particular our younger people, to realize how seconds of distraction can affect your life or someone else’s forever,” said Dale Ross, U.S. marketing operations manager for 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division. “It’s definitely an important message, and we are happy to partner with BASF, NABC and Richard Petty Motorsports and support this initiative.”

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Snap-on And Penske Give Students VIP Racing Experience

Team Penske VIP racing experience winners Zachary Gamble, Logan Reder, Kevin Solt and Carson Blackburn. Photo courtesy Snap-on.

Students and Snap-on Student Excellent Program members Carson Blackburn, Zachary Gamble, Logan Reder and Kevin Solt enjoyed the Team Penske VIP racing experience in Michigan as the winners of Snap-on’s Join the Race Promotion.

Their day at the track included exclusive tours of the garage areas; pit row; and meeting Team Penske driver Joey Logano. When the green flag dropped, the four winners and their guests watched the high-octane action from behind Logano’s pit box. heir VIP experience also included lunch and refreshments in the Acceleration Club in turn four, along with great seats in the club and grandstands.

“When my Snap-on rep, Kelly Smith, called me, he said he had some really good news,” said Carson Blackburn, 18, of Mexico, Missouri. “He asked me if I knew of the racing trip promotion. Told him I did, and he gave me the great news that I won! I was really surprised because I never win anything.”

“When I found out that Carson had won, I called him right away, he was so excited,” added Smith, education account manager, Snap-on Industrial. “He was anxious to get all the information on the trip and the race because he was jumping out of his skin about it! It was a good night for Carson.”

Blackburn traveled to Michigan for the race with his father, and he will attend the State Technical College of Missouri in the fall to train as a heavy equipment technician.

Snap-on’s Join the Race Promotion was open to any student enrolled in Snap-on’s Student Excellence Program who purchased one of three qualifying 54” Classic Series Roll Cab tool boxes between April 1 and June 30, 2018. The Student Excellence Program offers students the opportunity to purchase Snap-on tools at special student pricing.

Snap-on also awarded prizes to other participating students, including Snap-on starter tool sets and Snap-on hats.

Four more students will have the opportunity to win a Team Penske VIP racing experience at a race in Texas this November. To enter, students must sign up for the Student Excellent Program and opt-in to receive email alerts on pro tips, special offers and student contests by Sept. 30, 2018. Snap-on will also give away tool prizes and hats to randomly chosen winners.

For more information, visit SnaponSEP.com.

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Career

7 Hot Rodders Of Tomorrow Engine Challenge Teams Advance At UTI/NASCAR Technical Institute

Photo by Hot Rodders of Tomorrow.
Photo by Hot Rodders of Tomorrow.

The fifth Hot Rodders of Tomorrow (HROT) Engine Challenge of the season was hosted at the NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, North Carolina, on March 31.

Eleven teams from four schools in Georgia and Virginia competed at the event, with seven teams advancing to the 2018 Dual National Championship Playoffs later this year at SEMA Show and PRI.

To qualify for the Dual National Championship, a team must finish disassembling and reassembling a small-block Chevrolet engine in less than 33 minutes, including penalties.

First place winner Team Vibrant Performance. Photo by Hot Rodders of Tomorrow.

Team Vibrant Performance from Burton Center for Arts & Tech in Salem, Virginia took home first place with the time of 19:17. (Team Vibrant had already qualified at the Summit AutoRama with a 18:12 time). Burton Center for Arts & Tech’s third team Magnaflow also qualified with a 26:04 time.

Forsyth Central High School students. Photo courtesy of Hot Rodders of Tomorrow.

Forsyth Central High School from Cumming, Georgia, had five if its six teams qualify, with the sixth team missing out by just 50 seconds. Team RHS Heads placed second with the time of 21:18, Team Allstar Performance placed third with 24:57. Teams Moroso, Scat and McLeod Racing all qualified with times of 26:31, 31:20 and 32:42 respectively.

Forsyth Central High School’s Team RHS Heads took home second place. Photo by Hot Rodders of Tomorrow.

The Forsyth Central automotive program is headed up by Marlo Miranda. Who said that he has “300 students in the program and of those he has 45 on the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow engine team.” According to Miranda, 26 of his past engine team students go on to a tech college, and about 90 to 95% of the students take advantage of the scholarships they’ve won.

Forsyth Central High School’s Team Allstar Performance took home third place. Photo by Hot Rodders of Tomorrow.

Americus Sumter High School from Americus, Georgia, had one of its two teams qualify for the playoffs. Team Aeromotive qualified with a 32:35 time.

For more information on Hot Rodders of Tomorrow and how to start a team, visit HotRoddersofTomorrow.com.

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GoDaddy And Danica Patrick Announce Daytona 500 Race Team


GoDaddy Inc. and Danica Patrick are teaming with Premium Motorsports for next month’s Daytona 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race. The one-race deal will put Danica in the No. 7 GoDaddy Chevrolet Camaro, the same car number she competed with in her first foray into stock car racing at Daytona in 2010.

When Danica gets to Daytona, not only will she have a familiar car number, but she’ll also have a familiar face atop the pit box as crew chief Tony Eury Jr. will return to the NASCAR Cup Series garage to take the helm of the No. 7 GoDaddy Chevrolet team. Eury Jr. previously served as her crew chief when she raced in the NASCAR Xfinity Series from 2010 to 2012.

“I keep saying, I couldn’t have written a better story about how this would all fall into place – going with the flow is working out beautifully,” said Patrick. “I’ll be back in GoDaddy green, driving the No. 7 Chevrolet with Tony Jr. in my ear again. It all makes my last NASCAR race just that much sweeter.”

Eury agrees. “It wouldn’t be just any opportunity that could coax me back to the pit box, working with Danica and GoDaddy again at Daytona is going to be fun – when you can do what you love and be in your element … well, I can tell you, it doesn’t get any better. Danica and I have shared success before in Daytona, and she has a lot more experience under her belt now, so I look forward to seeing what we can achieve during Speedweeks.”

Premium Motorsports recently purchased the assets of Tommy Baldwin Racing. The NASCAR Cup Series organization will utilize the charter held by the No. 15 entry to field the No. 7 GoDaddy Chevrolet at Daytona. As a result, Danica will be guaranteed a starting spot in the 60th running of the “Great American Race.” The No. 7 GoDaddy Chevrolet will be powered by ECR Engines, which have earned more than 250 wins, including two Daytona 500 victories. In addition, the team will receive engineering support from Richard Childress Racing.

With less than a month to go before the Daytona 500, the race team, based in Mooresville, NC is working to put the finishing touches on the No. 7 GoDaddy Chevrolet.

“We’ve been working on this behind-the-scenes for a while,” said Premium Motorsports team owner Jay Robinson. “Now that we’ve finalized the deal, we’re 100 percent focused on getting the No. 7 GoDaddy Chevrolet ready for Daytona. Our team finished eighth in Daytona 500 last year and I know everyone here at Premium Motorsports is prepared to give Danica the best opportunity we can to get another great result as she runs her final NASCAR race.”

Just last week, GoDaddy and Danica announced their plan to work together again with primary sponsorships in both the Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500. Her final two races, being dubbed the “Danica Double,” mark an end to what is considered the most successful career of any woman in racing history – and the beginning of Danica’s next chapter as an entrepreneur and business owner. In addition to the high-profile race sponsorships, GoDaddy is supporting Danica’s life-after-racing by powering the online presence for her business endeavors related to health, apparel and wine – all of which are enriched with her brand and GoDaddy’s savvy in helping people turn their business dreams into reality.

Article courtesy Speedville.

 

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. Named Grand Marshal For 60th Daytona 500


Dale Earnhardt Jr. is indeed returning to the Daytona 500, although in a different role than the previous 20 Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway. Earnhardt, who has retired from Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series competition, will serve as the Grand Marshal for the 60th running of “The Great American Race” on Feb. 18, 2018.

Earnhardt, who will deliver the famous “Drivers, start your engines” command, won a total of 17 races at the “World Center of Racing” during his career from 1998-2017. The only drivers to equal or surpass in DIS victories are his father Dale Earnhardt (34), Tony Stewart (19) and Bobby Allison (17).

In addition to his DAYTONA 500 victories in 2004 and 2014, in other Monster Energy Series competition at DIS Earnhardt won both the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola and the Advance Auto Parts Clash twice and captured Can-Am Duel victories five times. He also won the PowerShares QQQ 300 and the Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 – both NASCAR XFINITY Series events – three times apiece.

Earnhardt capped his career at Daytona in style this season, qualifying second for the Daytona 500 and winning the pole for the Coke Zero 400.

Earnhardt joins a star-studded alumni of Daytona 500 Grand Marshals. That list includes luminaries from the entertainment field such as actors Matthew McConaughey and Owen Wilson; politicians such as President George W. Bush; and, of course, past Daytona 500 champions Junior Johnson and Richard Petty.

“Talk about a perfect fit – on the historic 60th running of the DAYTONA 500, we will have a man responsible for so much of our history serving as the Grand Marshal,” said Daytona International Speedway President Chip Wile. “He has meant so much to our facility, to NASCAR and all race fans through the years. It’s an honor to have him back in this capacity for the 2018 Daytona 500.”

“I was humbled when asked to be the Grand Marshal of next season’s Daytona 500,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “The race has so much history and being a two-time winner of the event is something I am extremely proud of. The list of names who have Grand Marshaled the race is one I’m honored to add my name to. Speedweeks is an exciting time for our sport, and this assures me an opportunity to witness the thrills of it all.”

Tickets for the 60th annual Daytona 500 and other Daytona International Speedway events can be purchased online at daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

Article courtesy Speedville.

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Goodyear And NASCAR Extend Historic Relationship


NASCAR and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has announced a renewed, multi-year sponsorship agreement that ensures Goodyear is the exclusive tire of NASCAR’s top three national series.

The newly signed agreement continues Goodyear’s designation as the “Official Tire of NASCAR” and extends an uninterrupted relationship that started in 1954. Goodyear and NASCAR’s six decade-long relationship is one of the longest-running sponsor programs in any major sport.

“We proudly join Goodyear in celebrating our renewed and longstanding partnership,” said Brent Dewar, NASCAR president. “For more than half a century, NASCAR and our teams have trusted Goodyear tires. Our partners’ commitment to innovation and excellence plays a key role in our unyielding pursuit to deliver the best racing product in the world.”

From the introduction of the racing slick in 1972 to the radial tire in 1989 to multi-zone tread design in 2013, Goodyear and NASCAR say they have consistently innovated to deliver compelling racing. NASCAR has served as a proving ground for Goodyear, preparing and supplying tires that meet the most grueling and demanding conditions. The technology that goes into a tire to withstand and perform in those conditions helps inform and differentiate Goodyear’s consumer tires.

“We are tremendously proud of the pivotal role Goodyear plays in the best racing competition in the world and excited that NASCAR drivers will be crossing the finish line on Goodyear tires in the years ahead,” said Richard Kramer, chairman, CEO and president of Goodyear. “With this new agreement in place, we celebrate our enduring relationship with NASCAR and the continuing value of NASCAR to the Goodyear brand.”

Goodyear produces more than 100,000 tires for NASCAR’s top three series every year and each tire is custom-built by the hands of passionate Goodyear associates in Akron, Ohio – Goodyear’s global headquarters – and donned with the name of the employee who helped produce it. The depth of the relationship has been built on competition, shared passion and brand growth for the two organizations.

Goodyear’s brand has been amplified through the duration of the relationship generating awareness for the tiremaker with NASCAR’s passionate fan base. For five consecutive years, Goodyear has been the most-recognized sponsor in NASCAR, according to the 2016 NASCAR sponsor loyalty survey conducted for SportsBusiness Journal/Daily by Turnkey Sports & Entertainment.

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MOOG Launches New ‘Leader Of The Pack’ Competition For NASCAR Fans


MOOG, the “Official Steering and Suspension Partner of NASCAR” and leading brand from Federal-Mogul Motorparts, has kicked off an exciting competition for NASCAR enthusiasts. Fans now have a chance to register for the new “Leader of the Pack” competition. Participants will have the opportunity to select their favorite Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver that they feel will win that week’s race, and depending upon where that driver finishes, will earn points for that driver’s performance. Point totals are cumulative, and at the end of the competition, the fan with the most points out of 400 will be eligible to win a trip to the race of their choice during the 2018 NASCAR season.

The company says that registration is easy – visit bit.ly/MOOGLeader and follow the instructions. Starting today, registrants will be able to make their first driver selection, and may continue to do so every week through Nov. 19. The first 100 registrants will win an exclusive MOOG hat, 51st Championship poster and MOOG decals. Other sweepstakes prizes also will be available for weekly participation.

“In keeping with our longstanding NASCAR partnership, MOOG is excited to bring this new competition to all racing fans and fans of the MOOG brand,” said Tim Nelson, director, Motorsports, Federal-Mogul Motorparts. “Not only will participants get to follow their favorite drivers through the NASCAR Playoffs, but will also have a chance to win great prizes and maybe even get to see a race in person.”

To learn more about MOOG products, contact a MOOG Steering and Suspension supplier or visit moogparts.com.

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Bosch Announces August Giving Track Contributions


Bosch Giving Track contributed $1,000 to the Kyle Busch Foundation in August, in recognition of Kyle Busch’s victory at Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Busch drove through victory lane in his Bosch-equipped No. 18 Toyota Camry, completing his second career sweep at Bristol Motor Speedway. The Kyle Busch Foundation is committed to empowering children, families and communities to overcome hardship by providing essential tools to allow them to live their best lives possible.

This season, Bosch Giving Track has contributed a total of $3,000 in donations following Joe Gibbs Racing-sponsored driver wins. Through Giving Track, Bosch contributes $1,000 to a team-specified charity each time one of its sponsored drivers secures a 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory.

“Through Giving Track, Bosch continues to drive change for a variety of deserving organizations every month, including the Kyle Busch Foundation,” said Tony Pauly, director of advertising and brand management for Robert Bosch LLC, Automotive Aftermarket NA. “Each victory for our sponsored teams allows Bosch to support the causes that are important to the drivers, and therefore the NASCAR community.”

Bosch involvement in motorsports dates back to the early 1900s, and it has been equipping NASCAR teams with parts and technical advice since 1991. In 2012, when NASCAR made the move from carbureted engines to more efficient fuel injected engines, Bosch became the sport’s exclusive oxygen sensor supplier. Bosch is now the technical partner for gasoline components including oxygen sensors, fuel injectors and fuel pumps.

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Chevrolet Unveils 2018 Camaro ZL1 NASCAR Cup Race Car


A new era in Chevrolet motorsports has started with the introduction of the Camaro ZL1, the new race car for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

Seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson — driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports — joined Mark Reuss, executive vice president of GM Global Product Development, to reveal the new race car at Chevrolet’s headquarters in Detroit.

“Chevrolet, Camaro and ZL1 are all synonymous with winning, both on and off the track,” said Reuss. “We are thrilled to run Camaro in NASCAR next year, with the time-honored and track-tested ZL1 badge, and we’re just as excited for our drivers, teams, fans and customers.”

The Camaro ZL1 will make its competition debut next February during Daytona Speedweeks, which kicks off the 2018 NASCAR season. It will join the Camaro SS, which has been Chevrolet’s entry in the NASCAR XFINITY Series since 2013.


“The new Camaro ZL1 is a great-looking race car with a lot of heritage behind it, which will make it a big hit with fans,” said Johnson. “And as someone who’s enjoyed the ZL1 on the street, I’m really looking forward to getting this new race car on the track.”

Chevrolet engineers employed an array of tools, including computational fluid dynamics analysis and reduced-scale and full-scale wind-tunnel testing, to optimize aerodynamic performance while maintaining the ZL1’s design character.

“Racers have long relied on Camaro to win races and championships in amateur and professional sports car and drag racing, as well as the NASCAR XFINITY Series,” said Jim Campbell, vice president, Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “We look forward to racing the Camaro ZL1 in the premier Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

Joining Chevrolet today for the Camaro ZL1 race car’s debut were representatives from Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing, Germain Racing, JTG Daugherty Racing and Leavine Family Racing.

The Camaro ZL1 brings a unique, track-focused legacy to NASCAR. The ZL1 name was originally bestowed in the 1960s on a Chevrolet-developed all-aluminum racing engine that became a dominating force in road racing. In 1969, a few enterprising dealers used Chevrolet’s special-order system to get the ZL1 engine installed in 69 regular-production Camaros. The cars became instant legends on the street and dragstrip.


More than 40 years later, Chevrolet reintroduced the ZL1 as the ultimate performance Camaro, developed to offer track-capable performance straight off the showroom floor. The 2018 Camaro ZL1 is powered by a 650-horsepower supercharged engine featuring a similar 90-degree V-8 configuration as the Cup racing engines.

The new Camaro ZL1 race car builds on a winning legacy carried by the previous Chevrolet SS, which has scored 70 Cup Series wins to date and contributed to Chevrolet earning a record 39 NASCAR manufacturer titles — including 13 consecutive titles from 2003-2015.

Chevrolet drivers have also achieved a record 30 Cup championships, including Jimmie Johnson in 2016.

FAST FACT: The Camaro ZL1 race car shown wore #8, which was Louis Chevrolet’s racing number.

Article courtesy Speedville.