margarita92m

margarita92m

Filed under: Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Jamie McMurray, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Chase for the Sprint Cup, Sprint Cup, NASCAR

Twenty years ago, when I started covering NASCAR stock car racing, the sanctioning body's public relations staff consisted almost exclusively of one man who ran 'his' media centers in the same dictatorial manner that his boss, the late Bill France Jr., ran NASCAR.

That PR guy is now doing hard time in prison, but that's another story. Today, the many-tentacled NASCAR public relations operation is a media bureaucracy -- an endlessly churning mill of facts, figures, videos, press conferences, photos and other information and content.

In their efficiency and zeal, bless their hearts, the PR folks at NASCAR have informed us exactly which five of the season's 36 Sprint Cup races were the best of the year. Although I don't agree with all the choices -- I think the race in Texas last month was one of the best races I've seen in years -- NASCAR says these five were selected "from discussions with the national series director, competition department and NASCAR PR managers."

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/12/10/tell-us-the-best-nascar-race-of-2010/

Paul Goldsmith Jose Froilán González Oscar González Aldo Gordini Horace Gould

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Filed under: Jamie McMurray, Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, Daytona Int'l Speedway, Sprint Cup, NASCAR

The fresh asphalt laid at NASCAR's Mecca -- all 50,000 tons of it -- will get its first big workout next week.

At least 18 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers are scheduled to test the new surface of the high banks of the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway Dec. 15 and 16 as part of a Goodyear tire test, the track said Wednesday.

It will mark the first time NASCAR drivers will have driven on a new surface at the Florida superspeedway since the last time it was repaved in 1978.

"This place is going to have a totally new look to the drivers and the teams," two-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart said in October. "We're going to fill every square inch of the race track because the surface is so even now."

Goodyear will utilize the test to develop appropriate tire compounds for the preseason Sprint Cup Series test to be held in the middle of January.

The track was faced with repaving after a pot hole opened up in turn two during this year's Daytona 500, forcing substantial, hours-long delays to the race. Essentially, the force of the cars began to tear an ever-widening gouge into the typically smooth surface.

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/12/08/eighteen-sprint-cup-teams-set-for-tire-test-at-repaved-daytona/

Bruce Johnstone Alan Jones Tom Jones Juan Jover Oswald Karch

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There were 87 lead changes at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, but the three leaders in the Chase remained close -- separated by only 38 points.

Source: http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/01/sprint-cup-remains-tight-after-talladega/?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Johnny Herbert Al Herman Hans Herrmann Francois Hesnault Hans Heyer

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Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/22/876893/bodines-bobsled-event-canceled.html

Dave Charlton Pedro Matos Chaves Bill Cheesbourg Eddie Cheever Andrea Chiesa

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Filed under: Jamie McMurray, Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, Daytona Int'l Speedway, Sprint Cup, NASCAR

The fresh asphalt laid at NASCAR's Mecca -- all 50,000 tons of it -- will get its first big workout next week.

At least 18 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers are scheduled to test the new surface of the high banks of the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway Dec. 15 and 16 as part of a Goodyear tire test, the track said Wednesday.

It will mark the first time NASCAR drivers will have driven on a new surface at the Florida superspeedway since the last time it was repaved in 1978.

"This place is going to have a totally new look to the drivers and the teams," two-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart said in October. "We're going to fill every square inch of the race track because the surface is so even now."

Goodyear will utilize the test to develop appropriate tire compounds for the preseason Sprint Cup Series test to be held in the middle of January.

The track was faced with repaving after a pot hole opened up in turn two during this year's Daytona 500, forcing substantial, hours-long delays to the race. Essentially, the force of the cars began to tear an ever-widening gouge into the typically smooth surface.

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/12/08/eighteen-sprint-cup-teams-set-for-tire-test-at-repaved-daytona/

Cesare Perdisa Luis PerezSala Larry Perkins Henri Pescarolo Alessandro PesentiRossi

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Brad Keselowski clinched the Nationwide season title by finishing third in Fort Worth, giving the owner Roger Penske his first championship in a Nascar national series.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/sports/autoracing/07sportsbriefs-Penske.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Chuck Stevenson Ian Stewart Jackie Stewart Jimmy Stewart Siegfried Stohr

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Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/25/881717/nascar-hall-brings-benefits-despite.html

Carlos Menditeguy Harry Merkel Arturo Merzario Roberto Mieres Francois Migault

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Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/22/877253/the-china-auto-show.html

Brausch Niemann Gunnar Nilsson Hideki Noda Rodney Nuckey Robert OBrien

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Filed under: Carl Edwards, Chase for the Sprint Cup, Sprint Cup, NASCAR

He may have won the two races that dole out the least amount of recognition of the entire season, but Carl Edwards doesn't much care.

"For our team, to finish like this and to be on the upswing that we are, this is as good as it gets," Edwards said after winning Sunday at Homestead, his second in a row.

Of course, Edwards was overshadowed by an incredibly dramatic championship fight that he watched from the outside looking in Sunday, largely in his rear-view mirror.

Jimmie Johnson overcame Denny Hamlin and held off Kevin Harvick to win the 2010 title, and proceeded to spin through a burnout as Edwards celebrated with his traditional backflip.

"I tell you, it's a lot more frustrating to not be in victory lane and watching somebody out there doing their donuts and all that stuff," Edwards said.

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/11/23/spotters-stand-carl-edwards-has-offseason-momentum-in-his-back/

Al Herman Hans Herrmann Francois Hesnault Hans Heyer Damon Hill

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Dario Franchitti took one stop closer to catching Will Power in the IZOD IndyCar Series championship battle by winning the pole for Saturday's season-ending Cafes do Brasil Indy 300 at Homestead- Miami Speedway. Franchitti, the defending series champion, posted a two-lap average of 213.187 m.p.h. in qualifying at the 1.5-mile South Florida track on Friday to pull within 11 points of leader Power. It was Franchitti's second pole of the

Source: http://www.mysportsbook.com/news/sports_betting/780300.html

HeinzHarald Frentzen Paul Frere Patrick Friesacher Joe Fry Hiroshi Fushida

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Harvick, who was fastest in both practice sessions and inherited the pole position after a Friday qualifying rainout, made it four wins in the last four Camping World Truck Series races by winning in Martinsville. He led 187 of the 250 laps, including the final 61.
“That’s pretty cool. Don’t know that I’ve ever won four [...]

Source: http://autoracingsport.com/harvick-wins-truck-race-in-martinsville/

Timo Glock Todd Bodine Tony Ave Tony Raines Tony Stewart

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Kasey Kahne has agreed to a contract with Hendrick Motorsports beginning in 2011, sources told SceneDaily.com.
Richard Petty Motorsports, which has Kahne under contract for this season, confirmed that Kahne is leaving the organization.
Exactly whether Kahne will drive for a Hendrick team or for Hendrick affiliate Stewart-Haas Racing is still to be determined. Stewart-Haas, which features [...]

Source: http://autoracingsport.com/report-kasey-kahne-to-leave-richard-petty-motorsports-for-hendrick-in-2010/

Oswald Karch Narain Karthikeyan Ukyo Katayama Ken Kavanagh Rupert Keegan

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Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/22/877253/the-china-auto-show.html

Chad McCumbee Clint Bowyer Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dave Blaney David Gilliland

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The IndyCar Series -- with new title sponsor IZOD -- enjoyed another thrilling season this year, as far as the championship race was concerned. Dario Franchitti and Will Power took their points battle all the way to last Saturday's season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, with Franchitti claiming his third title. Other headlines in IndyCar this season included the first race in a South American country, a revision to the championship format and th

Source: http://www.mysportsbook.com/news/sports_betting/781916.html

Geoff Crossley Chuck Daigh Yannick Dalmas Derek Daly Christian Danner

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Dario Franchitti took one stop closer to catching Will Power in the IZOD IndyCar Series championship battle by winning the pole for Saturday's season-ending Cafes do Brasil Indy 300 at Homestead- Miami Speedway. Franchitti, the defending series champion, posted a two-lap average of 213.187 m.p.h. in qualifying at the 1.5-mile South Florida track on Friday to pull within 11 points of leader Power. It was Franchitti's second pole of the

Source: http://www.mysportsbook.com/news/sports_betting/780300.html

Lloyd Ruby JeanClaude Rudaz Eddie Russo Paul Russo Troy Ruttman

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Johnny Sauter got in the face of Ron Hornaday after the Truck Series? Kroger 250, but with two NASCAR officials nearby, it didn?t escalate into anything more Saturday afternoon at Martinsville Speedway.
Sauter was angry because Hornaday had turned him with 27 laps remaining. After the race, Sauter did not return to his pit stall as [...]

Source: http://autoracingsport.com/sauter-gets-in-hornadays-face-after-truck-race/

Graham McRae Jim McWithey Carlos Menditeguy Harry Merkel Arturo Merzario

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Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/23/879152/f1-could-be-getting-a-new-look.html

Luca Badoer Lucas di Grassi Marcos Ambrose Mark Martin Mark Webber

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A Nascar spokesman said the cars for Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick were inspected in the North Carolina research and development center this week.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/12/sports/autoracing/12sportsbriefs-nascar.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Jan Magnussen Guy Mairesse Willy Mairesse Nigel Mansell Sergio Mantovani

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Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announced Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Toyota in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, had successful surgery to repair the ACL in his left knee this morning. The surgery was performed by Dr. Patrick Connor with OrthoCarolina. Hamlin injured the knee in January prior to the start of the 2010 [...]

Source: http://autoracingsport.com/hamlin-has-successful-knee-surgery/

John Barber Skip Barber Paolo Barilla Rubens Barrichello Michael Bartels

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Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/23/879126/nascar-hall-of-fame-facing-major.html

Doug Serrurier Johnny ServozGavin Tony Settember Hap Sharp Brian ShaweTaylor

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Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/23/879126/nascar-hall-of-fame-facing-major.html

David Walker Peter Walker Lee Wallard Heini Walter Rodger Ward

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Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/22/877253/the-china-auto-show.html

Chico Landi Hermann Lang Claudio Langes Nicola Larini Oscar Larrauri

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Ryan Newman took the lead after a late caution at Phoenix International Raceway and held off Jeff Gordon (FSY) in a two-lap shootout Saturday night to get his first victory since the 2008 Daytona 500, and first since joining Stewart’s new team last season.
Kyle Busch (FSY) was cruising to what would have given him a [...]

Source: http://autoracingsport.com/ryan-newman-grabs-first-win-in-2-years-at-phoenix/

Lewis Hamilton David Hampshire Sam Hanks Walt Hansgen Mike Harris

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Filed under: Crew Chiefs, Sprint Cup, NASCAR

No driver competing in NASCAR's two top series showed greater disparity in results in 2010 than Brad Keselowski, who won the Nationwide series championship with six victories while eking out a couple of top-10 finishes in a forgettable Sprint Cup campaign.

Both cars came from Penske Racing, and when Roger Penske is involved, nonperformance won't stand.

Thus, the organization announced Tuesday that Paul Wolfe, Keselowski's championship-winning crew chief in Nationwide, has been promoted to become his Sprint Cup crew chief, replacing Jay Guy.

In addition to the six victories and the championship, Keselowski and Wolfe scored 29 top-10 finishes in 35 races. Twenty six of those were top fives -- a series single-season record. He also won five poles, led 1,147 laps and had an average finish of 5.2.

By contrast, in his Sprint Cup car, Keselowski had no victories, one pole position, no top fives and just two top 10s -- 10th-place finishes at Martinsville and Talladega late in the season. He led 41 laps and had an average finish of 22.4.

Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/11/30/brad-keselowski-gets-nationwide-crew-chief-paul-wolfe-for-cup-te/

Mike Hawthorn Boy Hayje Willi Heeks Nick Heidfeld Theo Helfrich

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Red Bull Racing clinched its first ever Formula One constructors' championship at the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday -- and other motorsports news from around the Web.

Source: http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/08/red-bull-wins-formula-one-constructors-championship/?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Louis Chiron Joie Chitwood Bob Christie Johnny Claes David Clapham

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Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/23/879163/robby-gordons-lawyers-gain-ground.html

Emilio Zapico Ricardo Zonta Renzo Zorzi Ricardo Zunino Arena Racing USA

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Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/23/879150/nasa-eyes-nascar-safety-work.html

Leo Kinnunen Danny Kladis Hans Klenk Peter de Klerk Christian Klien

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Filed under: IRL, Indianapolis 500

Reigning IZOD IndyCar Series championship owner Chip Ganassi will be doubling his efforts in the series in 2011, adding two additional cars to his trophy stable.

The team, which would not confirm or comment on the long-rumored news, has scheduled a press conference Thursday in Indianapolis where Ganassi will introduce the newest additions to a driver lineup that already features two-time defending series champ Dario Franchitti and former two-time champ Scott Dixon.

Second-generation driver Graham Rahal -- son of 1986 Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal -- and Charlie Kimball, 25, a young talent moving up from the feeder Indy Lights Series, will campaign for Ganassi next year, working out of a "satellite" team shop rented from drag racing legend Don Prudhomme.

Rahal, 21, is the youngest IndyCar Series winner in history, scoring his only victory in the 2008 season-opener at St. Petersburg, Fla. However, he did not race full time last season. Kimball will be making his debut in the series.

Thursday's announcement will also confirm full-time sponsorship for both Rahal and Kimball -- significant for the series, which had several high-profile teams struggling to find primary corporate backing in 2010. In a unusual twist, Rahal actually announced a two-year sponsorship deal with TBC Corporation -- which owns several automobile tire retailers -- at this season's finale in Homestead, Fla. before having a contract in place with a team.

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/12/15/chip-ganassi-set-to-double-up-indycar-champion-team/

Nelson Piquet† Nelson Piquet Jr Renato Pirocchi Didier Pironi Emanuele Pirro

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Ryan Newman took the lead after a late caution at Phoenix International Raceway and held off Jeff Gordon (FSY) in a two-lap shootout Saturday night to get his first victory since the 2008 Daytona 500, and first since joining Stewart’s new team last season.
Kyle Busch (FSY) was cruising to what would have given him a [...]

Source: http://autoracingsport.com/ryan-newman-grabs-first-win-in-2-years-at-phoenix/

Bernard Collomb Alberto Colombo Erik Comas Franco Comotti George Connor

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Filed under: Crew Chiefs, Sprint Cup, NASCAR

No driver competing in NASCAR's two top series showed greater disparity in results in 2010 than Brad Keselowski, who won the Nationwide series championship with six victories while eking out a couple of top-10 finishes in a forgettable Sprint Cup campaign.

Both cars came from Penske Racing, and when Roger Penske is involved, nonperformance won't stand.

Thus, the organization announced Tuesday that Paul Wolfe, Keselowski's championship-winning crew chief in Nationwide, has been promoted to become his Sprint Cup crew chief, replacing Jay Guy.

In addition to the six victories and the championship, Keselowski and Wolfe scored 29 top-10 finishes in 35 races. Twenty six of those were top fives -- a series single-season record. He also won five poles, led 1,147 laps and had an average finish of 5.2.

By contrast, in his Sprint Cup car, Keselowski had no victories, one pole position, no top fives and just two top 10s -- 10th-place finishes at Martinsville and Talladega late in the season. He led 41 laps and had an average finish of 22.4.

Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/11/30/brad-keselowski-gets-nationwide-crew-chief-paul-wolfe-for-cup-te/

Michele Alboreto Jean Alesi Jaime Alguersuari Philippe Alliot Cliff Allison

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Juan Pablo Montoya, who is not in the Chase for the Sprint Cup playoffs, grabbed a sliver of the spotlight by winning the pole for Sunday?s race at Talladega.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/31/sports/autoracing/31sportsbriefs-nascar.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Mike Wilds Jonathan Williams Roger Williamson Dempsey Wilson Desire Wilson

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Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/20/873486/state-oks-tax-incentives-for-kentucky.html

Kurt Busch Kyle Busch Landon Cassill Lewis Hamilton Luca Badoer

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Filed under: IRL, Indianapolis 500

Reigning IZOD IndyCar Series championship owner Chip Ganassi will be doubling his efforts in the series in 2011, adding two additional cars to his trophy stable.

The team, which would not confirm or comment on the long-rumored news, has scheduled a press conference Thursday in Indianapolis where Ganassi will introduce the newest additions to a driver lineup that already features two-time defending series champ Dario Franchitti and former two-time champ Scott Dixon.

Second-generation driver Graham Rahal -- son of 1986 Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal -- and Charlie Kimball, 25, a young talent moving up from the feeder Indy Lights Series, will campaign for Ganassi next year, working out of a "satellite" team shop rented from drag racing legend Don Prudhomme.

Rahal, 21, is the youngest IndyCar Series winner in history, scoring his only victory in the 2008 season-opener at St. Petersburg, Fla. However, he did not race full time last season. Kimball will be making his debut in the series.

Thursday's announcement will also confirm full-time sponsorship for both Rahal and Kimball -- significant for the series, which had several high-profile teams struggling to find primary corporate backing in 2010. In a unusual twist, Rahal actually announced a two-year sponsorship deal with TBC Corporation -- which owns several automobile tire retailers -- at this season's finale in Homestead, Fla. before having a contract in place with a team.

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/12/15/chip-ganassi-set-to-double-up-indycar-champion-team/

Ken Downing Bob Drake Paddy Driver Piero Drogo Bernard de Dryver

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Surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Denny Hamlin’s left knee will not limit the Sprint Cup driver behind the wheel for the next race, according to one of the doctors that will perform the operation on Wednesday. “I anticipate by the time he gets to Phoenix [April 8-10] he’ll have a pretty [...]

Source: http://autoracingsport.com/hamlin-to-have-knee-surgery-wednesday/

David Ragan David Reutimann David Stremme Denny Hamlin Derrike Cope

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Brad Keselowski clinched the Nationwide season title by finishing third in Fort Worth, giving the owner Roger Penske his first championship in a Nascar national series.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/sports/autoracing/07sportsbriefs-Penske.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Mark Webber Martin Truex Jr. Matt Kenseth Max Papis Michael McDowell

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Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/23/879161/help-set-smithsonians-field.html

Heinz Schiller Bill Schindler JeanLouis Schlesser Jo Schlesser Bernd Schneider

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Kyle Busch was fined $25,000 by Nascar on Tuesday for his obscene gesture during Sunday?s Sprint Cup race, and Busch again apologized for losing his temper.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/sports/autoracing/10sportsbriefs-KYLEBUSCHFIN_BRF.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

David Hobbs Gary Hocking Ingo Hoffmann Bill Holland Jackie Holmes

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Filed under: Jimmie Johnson, Chase for the Sprint Cup, NASCAR

LAS VEGAS -- In a luxury suite in the Bellagio Hotel high above the Las Vegas strip, Jimmie Johnson was all smiles and "aw shucks" on the eve of collecting an unprecedented fifth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship trophy. He was at the hotel to meet with a small group of reporters and to unveil the true benchmark of an athlete's success.

Forget the historic five NASCAR titles, Johnson now has a video game named after him: "Jimmie Johnson's Anything With an Engine."

The game doesn't go on sale until 2011, but the concept launch this week meant the vivid collision between two of America's favorite pastimes, video gaming and NASCAR. And it was interesting to observe the hip, young gaming reporters, dressed in black adorned with lots of zippers and skull designs and colorful tattoos, sizing up the NASCAR All-American good guy's entry into their eclectic world.

"So how does it feel to be a legend?'' asked Jon Carnage, a former professional wrestler who is now a reporter from the video game blog Destructoid. He clearly caught the humble Johnson off guard.

"It's still strange to me that I hear that,'' Johnson replied.

Perhaps he should get used to it.

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/12/03/jimmie-johnson-taking-time-to-savor-fifth-championship-in-las-ve/

Michele Alboreto Jean Alesi Jaime Alguersuari Philippe Alliot Cliff Allison

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Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports, NASCAR

LAS VEGAS -- The only suspense in Thursday's announcement of NASCAR's 2010 Most Popular Driver Award rested with the winner. For the eighth consecutive year, Dale Earnhardt Jr. claimed the honor -- tops among the 1.5 million fan votes -- once again proving his popularity is soaring even if his on-track efforts have fallen flat.

"Oh yeah, I was surprised,'' Earnhardt claimed moments after accepting the award during NASCAR Champion's Week. "You just never know. There's the performance factor we've suffered from on the race track, there's the new guys coming into the sport all the time. You never take it for granted.''

The same could be said for winning.

Earnhardt hasn't won a race in nearly three seasons and hasn't even been consistently competitive in the No. 88 National Guard-Amp Energy Chevrolet, while his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson will be crowned champion for the fifth consecutive year in Friday night's lavish NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Banquet at the Wynn Las Vegas.

The juxtaposition isn't lost on the third-generation driver, son of the late seven-time champion, Dale Earnhardt. The 2004 Daytona 500 champ and 18-race winner is hoping a three-way crew chief swap at Hendrick will infuse new life into his career. And it can't happen soon enough.

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/12/02/dale-earnhardt-jr-opens-up-about-team-shake-up-and-his-populari/

Grand Am IndyCar Series Le Mans Series NASCAR SCCA World Challenge

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The IndyCar Series -- with new title sponsor IZOD -- enjoyed another thrilling season this year, as far as the championship race was concerned. Dario Franchitti and Will Power took their points battle all the way to last Saturday's season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, with Franchitti claiming his third title. Other headlines in IndyCar this season included the first race in a South American country, a revision to the championship format and th

Source: http://www.mysportsbook.com/news/sports_betting/781916.html

Giancarlo Fisichella Greg Biffle Heikki Kovalainen J.J. Yeley Jacques Villeneuve

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Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/22/877253/the-china-auto-show.html

Carl Scarborough Ludovico Scarfiotti Giorgio Scarlatti Ian Scheckter Jody Scheckter

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Filed under: Bobby Labonte, Jamie McMurray, Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Daytona Int'l Speedway, NASCAR Testing, Sprint Cup, NASCAR

As defending Daytona 500 champion Jamie McMurray made his first laps on the repaved Daytona International Speedway Wednesday, the newness of it all was mildly overwhelming at first.

"Honestly, from my first 15-lap run in the draft, it took awhile to take it all in and kinda understand what was happening," McMurray said of the first of two days of Goodyear tire tests on the 2.5-mile speedway's new pavement. "When we unloaded, the cars seemed really wide and the track seemed narrow. But, really, after running 20 or 30 laps, it was not scary and was not that big of a deal.

"Today (Thursday), when I got out there, it felt way more comfortable and you kinda learn little tricks and stuff."

What they also learned, McMurray and other drivers said Thursday at a press conference at the speedway, is that because the new surface is so smooth and fast and so much easier to drive, big packs of cars will stay together longer, and that means the chances of big crashes are greater.

"It's gonna be different racing than what we've had in the past," McMurray said. "The cars are going to stay bunched up more. When you're really close together, it increases those chances" of a big crash, McMurray said. "You just gotta hope that you can make it to the end, because the odds [of a crash] are going to be really good, I'd say."

Barring a huge mistake or problem, "you're not going to the lose the draft," said Jeff Burton. "It's going to be big packs all the time. Three-wide is work. Four-wide is a wreck. Because of the mentality of superspeedway racing. there's going to be efforts to go four-wide to pick up positions, and when that starts happening, it's going to be get hairy."

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/12/16/new-daytona-will-have-tighter-action-more-chance-for-mayhem-dr/

Alessandro Nannini Emanuele Naspetti Massimo Natili Brian Naylor Mike Nazaruk

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Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/18/869884/stock-cars-take-the-field-as-paschal.html

Boris Said Brad Keselowski Brandon Ash Brian Simo Brian Vickers

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Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/20/872973/kanaan-finds-new-ride-with-de.html

Sam Hanks Walt Hansgen Mike Harris Cuth Harrison Brian Hart

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Filed under: Sprint Cup, Scott Speed, Red Bull Racing, NASCAR

A NASCAR driver usually don't sue his car owner after parting ways, since taking legal action could dissuade potential future car owners from getting involved with the driver.

But after more than seven years with Red Bull in both Formula One and NASCAR, Scott Speed has made that move, suing his former team for alleged breach of contract in a complaint asking the court to award him $6.5 million, SceneDaily.com reported late Friday.

Red Bull "significantly reduced its financial commitment to Speed's race team and was unable and/or unwilling to provide [Speed] with 'supporting equipment' satisfactory for a driver of [his] skill to [be] effective [to] compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series," Speed's complaint states, according to SceneDaily.

Speed's complaint also provides a rare, inside look at the money being paid in the Sprint Cup series for a driver at his level.

According to SceneDaily, the lawsuit says Speed signed a three-year deal in September 2007 for a salary of $300,000 in 2008, $500,000 in 2009 and $1 million in 2010. He was to receive 50 percent of his purse winnings for each top-10 finish, 45 percent for finishing 11th through 20th and 40 percent for finishes of 21st or worse.

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/12/11/scott-speed-sues-red-bull-after-team-releases-him/

Henry Banks Fabrizio Barbazza John Barber Skip Barber Paolo Barilla

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Juan Pablo Montoya, who is not in the Chase for the Sprint Cup playoffs, grabbed a sliver of the spotlight by winning the pole for Sunday?s race at Talladega.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/31/sports/autoracing/31sportsbriefs-nascar.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Juan Jover Oswald Karch Narain Karthikeyan Ukyo Katayama Ken Kavanagh

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Johnny Sauter got in the face of Ron Hornaday after the Truck Series? Kroger 250, but with two NASCAR officials nearby, it didn?t escalate into anything more Saturday afternoon at Martinsville Speedway.
Sauter was angry because Hornaday had turned him with 27 laps remaining. After the race, Sauter did not return to his pit stall as [...]

Source: http://autoracingsport.com/sauter-gets-in-hornadays-face-after-truck-race/

Jackie Pretorius Ernesto Prinoth David Prophet Alain Prost Tom Pryce

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A Nascar spokesman said the cars for Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick were inspected in the North Carolina research and development center this week.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/12/sports/autoracing/12sportsbriefs-nascar.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Johnny Sauter Jose Maria Lopez Juan Montoya Kamui Kobayashi Karun Chandhok

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Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/23/879163/robby-gordons-lawyers-gain-ground.html

Louis Chiron Joie Chitwood Bob Christie Johnny Claes David Clapham

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Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/20/872505/china-caps-boom-year-for-autos.html

Ralph Firman Ludwig Fischer Rudi Fischer Mike Fisher Giancarlo Fisichella

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UPDATE:
The Cup race at Martinsville has been postponed due to rain and will be run tomorrow at 12:00PM EDT.
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There is a rain delay at Martinsville and the forecast does not look good for the rest of the day as more rain is expected. Stay tuned…

Source: http://autoracingsport.com/rain-delay-at-martinsville/

Gilles Villeneuve Jacques Villeneuve Jacques Villeneuve Sr Luigi Villoresi Emilio de Villota

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A $100,000 offer from Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage to a radio personality to change his name to promote the track was a hoax, Gossage said Wednesday.
Gossage and TMS officials sent out an official release Wednesday on speedway letterhead saying Dallas DJ Terry Dorsey had accepted Gossage’s offer of $100,000 to legally change his [...]

Source: http://autoracingsport.com/tms-gossage-admits-name-change-offer-an-april-fools-gag/

Henry Taylor John Taylor Mike Taylor Trevor Taylor Marshall Teague

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Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Petty Enterprises, Sprint Cup, FanHouse Exclusive, NASCAR

EDITORS NOTE: When you start talking about Richard Petty's rightful place in NASCAR history vs. Dale Earnhardt vs. Jeff Gordon, you're going to get in an argument.

In his first book, Trading Paint: 101 Great NASCAR Debates, recently published by John Wiley & Sons Inc., motorsports writer Jerry Bonkowski tackles these questions and provides his unique viewpoint. Prior to joining FanHouse over a year ago as an editor, Jerry Bonkowski was National NASCAR Columnist for Yahoo! Sports and ESPN.com and wrote for USA Today.

Here are several excerpts from Bonkowski's book, which is available at Barnes & Noble, Borders and other book stores, as well as online at Amazon.com.

WHO'S THE GREATEST NASCAR DRIVER EVER?

This debate always gets passionate fans going, with typically mild-mannered individuals turning into raving, obsessed fanatics if someone dares to challenge the superiority of the guy they so proudly call "their" driver. Think of a 140-pound, Woody Allen-looking dweeb who lives and breathes Kasey Kahne suddenly getting a surge of testosterone, puffing out his chest while forgetting common sense, and stupidly trying to take on a hulking, 300-pound redneck who takes great offense if you say anything bad about Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Then watch the punched-out Woody Allen-esque fan suddenly wind up doing a frightening, almost cartoonlike barrel roll through the air like the great Rusty Wallace did more than a few times during his career at places like Talladega Superspeedway.

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/12/06/new-book-tackles-nascars-greatest-debates/

Tomáš Enge Paul England Harald Ertl Nasif Estefano Philippe Etancelin

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Kyle Busch was fined $25,000 by Nascar on Tuesday for his obscene gesture during Sunday?s Sprint Cup race, and Busch again apologized for losing his temper.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/sports/autoracing/10sportsbriefs-KYLEBUSCHFIN_BRF.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Steve Park Ted Musgrave Terry Cook Timo Glock Todd Bodine

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Dario Franchitti took one stop closer to catching Will Power in the IZOD IndyCar Series championship battle by winning the pole for Saturday's season-ending Cafes do Brasil Indy 300 at Homestead- Miami Speedway. Franchitti, the defending series champion, posted a two-lap average of 213.187 m.p.h. in qualifying at the 1.5-mile South Florida track on Friday to pull within 11 points of leader Power. It was Franchitti's second pole of the

Source: http://www.mysportsbook.com/news/sports_betting/780300.html

IndyCar Series Le Mans Series NASCAR SCCA World Challenge Super GT

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Officials from the IZOD IndyCar Series and General Motors announced on Friday that Chevrolet will compete in the series in 2012, with a new twin-turbocharged, direct-injected V-6 racing engine, powered by renewable E85 ethanol fuel. Chevrolet will join current IndyCar engine manufacturer, Honda, which revealed earlier this year that it would build a new V-6 power plant. Honda, which entered IndyCar in 2003, has been the sole engine supplier

Source: http://www.mysportsbook.com/news/sports_betting/797090.html

David Hampshire Sam Hanks Walt Hansgen Mike Harris Cuth Harrison

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Brad Keselowski clinched the Nationwide season title by finishing third in Fort Worth, giving the owner Roger Penske his first championship in a Nascar national series.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/sports/autoracing/07sportsbriefs-Penske.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Joe Kelly Dave Kennedy Loris Kessel Bruce Kessler Nicolas Kiesa

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Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/16/865899/ganassi-adds-rahal-kimball-to.html

Yuji Ide Jesús Iglesias Taki Inoue Innes Ireland Eddie Irvine

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Filed under: Bobby Labonte, Jamie McMurray, Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Daytona Int'l Speedway, NASCAR Testing, Sprint Cup, NASCAR

As defending Daytona 500 champion Jamie McMurray made his first laps on the repaved Daytona International Speedway Wednesday, the newness of it all was mildly overwhelming at first.

"Honestly, from my first 15-lap run in the draft, it took awhile to take it all in and kinda understand what was happening," McMurray said of the first of two days of Goodyear tire tests on the 2.5-mile speedway's new pavement. "When we unloaded, the cars seemed really wide and the track seemed narrow. But, really, after running 20 or 30 laps, it was not scary and was not that big of a deal.

"Today (Thursday), when I got out there, it felt way more comfortable and you kinda learn little tricks and stuff."

What they also learned, McMurray and other drivers said Thursday at a press conference at the speedway, is that because the new surface is so smooth and fast and so much easier to drive, big packs of cars will stay together longer, and that means the chances of big crashes are greater.

"It's gonna be different racing than what we've had in the past," McMurray said. "The cars are going to stay bunched up more. When you're really close together, it increases those chances" of a big crash, McMurray said. "You just gotta hope that you can make it to the end, because the odds [of a crash] are going to be really good, I'd say."

Barring a huge mistake or problem, "you're not going to the lose the draft," said Jeff Burton. "It's going to be big packs all the time. Three-wide is work. Four-wide is a wreck. Because of the mentality of superspeedway racing. there's going to be efforts to go four-wide to pick up positions, and when that starts happening, it's going to be get hairy."

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/12/16/new-daytona-will-have-tighter-action-more-chance-for-mayhem-dr/

Gino Bianco Hans Binder Clemente Biondetti Pablo Birger Art Bisch

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Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin, Crew Chiefs, Pit Crews, Sprint Cup, Hendrick Motorsports, NASCAR

Although Dale Earnhardt Jr., winner of 18 career Sprint Cup races, has now stretched his winless streak at Hendrick Motorsports to 101 races, that's only part of the reason for the massive shakeup announced Tuesday, team owner Rick Hendrick said Wednesday.

"This was not a Dale Earnhardt ... this was not a move that we made -- this major a move -- because of Dale or his situation," Hendrick said Wednesday in a teleconference. "I'm excited about making all four teams better. We need to be better across the board. It was a move to make all four better."

It's hard to think that a racing juggernaut like Hendrick Motorsports, with five straight Sprint Cup championships in the history books and gunning for six in a row next year, might be going downhill.

But Hendrick said as much Wednesday in describing why he shuffled the drivers and crew chiefs among three of his teams and switched driver partners in the twin pairing arrangement he has for the four teams at the organization's sprawling Concord, N.C. complex.

"I think we just kind of got complacent and other teams were getting stronger and stronger, and we were just not where we needed to be," Hendrick said. "We just were off this year. The 48 was off. And we needed to make a lot of things better.

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/11/24/dale-earnhardt-jr-not-the-only-reason-for-shakeup-rick-hendric/

Ernie Pieterse Paul Pietsch Andre Pilette Teddy Pilette Luigi Piotti

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Filed under: Carl Edwards, Chase for the Sprint Cup, Sprint Cup, NASCAR

He may have won the two races that dole out the least amount of recognition of the entire season, but Carl Edwards doesn't much care.

"For our team, to finish like this and to be on the upswing that we are, this is as good as it gets," Edwards said after winning Sunday at Homestead, his second in a row.

Of course, Edwards was overshadowed by an incredibly dramatic championship fight that he watched from the outside looking in Sunday, largely in his rear-view mirror.

Jimmie Johnson overcame Denny Hamlin and held off Kevin Harvick to win the 2010 title, and proceeded to spin through a burnout as Edwards celebrated with his traditional backflip.

"I tell you, it's a lot more frustrating to not be in victory lane and watching somebody out there doing their donuts and all that stuff," Edwards said.

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/11/23/spotters-stand-carl-edwards-has-offseason-momentum-in-his-back/

Tony Brooks Alan Brown Walt Brown Warwick Brown Adolf Brudes

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Jimmie Johnson also gave team owner Rick Hendrick his 10th Cup championship, including four with Jeff Gordon and one with Terry Labonte. No team has won as many titles.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/22/sports/autoracing/22nascar.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Ryan Newman Sakon Yamamoto Sam Hornish Jr. Scott Riggs Scott Speed

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Nascar driver Robby Gordon is suing his former sponsor, ExtenZe, for $690,000.

Source: http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/10/extenze-leaves-nascar-driver-wanting-more/?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Raymond Sommer Vincenzo Sospiri Stephen South Mike Sparken Scott Speed

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Throughout its history, the NASCAR series now known as Sprint Cup has parked its cars on Easter Sunday. But back in the day they did run at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Mondays, including the day after Easter, and it was on one of those post-Easter Monday races that Glen Wood scored his [...]

Source: http://autoracingsport.com/remembering-glen-woods-first-win/

Robin MontgomerieCharrington Juan Pablo Montoya Gianni Morbidelli Roberto Moreno Dave Morgan

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Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/15/863860/nascars-johnson-wins-driver-of.html

Frank Armi Chuck Arnold Rene Arnoux Peter Arundell Alberto Ascari

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