Old signs find new home at TMS March 27, 2009
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First it was Winston leaving as title sponsor of NASCAR’s cup series in 2003, replaced by NEXTEL, and then Sprint in 2008. At the same time, Unocal left as fuel sponsor, and Sunoco came in with its unleaded race fuel. Busch left the number two series in 2007 and was replaced by Nationwide. Last year marked the end of Craftsman’s 14-year reign as title sponsor of the truck series, and this year brought race fans the Camping World Truck Series era.
With every major sponsor change comes a major overhaul of signage at NASCAR tracks across the country. From the garage to the grandstands, flags, banners and billboards have to be updated to keep up with what lately seems like a never-ending game of sponsorship musical chairs.
But what happens to the old signs when they’re taken down? After all, many of those items are made to last a long time and aren’t cheap. (more…)
Busch overcomes Nationwide troubles to win Bristol Cup race March 25, 2009
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At Saturday’s Nationwide race at Bristol, Kyle Busch’s pit crew fumbled on the team’s final pit stop. A tire got loose in his pit, and Busch was penalized for leaving too soon. He drove through the field and finished sixth, but after dominating the race, that wasn’t enough.
In his anger, Busch parked his car in turn three of the track and stormed off to his motor home. According to the ESPN broadcast, Busch was heard over the team radio telling the team “Y’all suck.”
One day later, Busch was back on the high banks of Bristol, this time behind the wheel of his Sprint Cup car. Like one day earlier, he dominated the race, leading 378 of 500 laps.
Three of the seven-man pit crew on Saturday were going over the wall for the No. 18 Sunday, and on the last pit stop of the race, the crew got Busch out in front of eventually second and third place finishers, teammate Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson, a crucial step to Busch winning the race. (more…)
Johnson improving at Bristol March 25, 2009
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Jimmie Johnson tied his career best finish at Bristol, finishing third.
For Jimmie Johnson, finishing third a Bristol could almost feel like a win.
The defending three-time series champion tied his career-best finish at the track, a feat he accomplished in 2004.
Despite his three consecutive championship runs, Bristol has been the Achilles Heel for the No. 48 team. Johnson has repeatedly said his resume won’t be complete without a win at the short track.
Last year, he made a rare appearance in the truck series, driving for Randy Moss Motorsports to get more track time during the August race. Even that didn’t help, as he wrecked out early in the race.
Johnson said he and crew chief Chad Knaus came into Bristol this weekend more prepared.
“What a day for us. I wish we had 500 more laps to go,” he said. “I have to thank Chad and the engineering staff for sitting me down a couple weeks ago to look at this race track and what I need here. I made my wish list and they gave me what I needed.”
Wrestler Cena promotes film at TMS March 18, 2009
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Wrestler-turned-actor John Cena was at the Texas Motor Speedway Wednesday to promote his new film “12 Rounds.”
In the film, Cena plays a New Orleans cop that puts a master criminal in jail but has to go head-to-head with the thief after he escapes and seeks revenge.
At the media-only event, Cena went head-to-head against two drivers from the TMS Team Texas Driving School.
Driving a Dodge Charger police car from the local Roanoke Police Department, Cena “chased” the two drivers in their Car of Tomorrow model stock cars around the track, lights flashing and siren blaring. (more…)
TMS Pres. Gossage: Wrestling and racing similar until green flag drops March 18, 2009
Posted by admin in : Uncategorized , add a commentTexas Motor Speedway is regularly used as a backdrop for a variety of promotional events, including movie premieres. TMS general manager and President Eddie Gossage said the events help keep the track in the public eye and play off the popularity of NASCAR and the track.
“I think [film publicists are] realizing the benefit in the popularity of our sport and they also realize we’re pretty good promoters,” Gossage said. “It’s a good synergy for both of us.”
Wednesday, the track was used to promote the film “12 Rounds,” which stars professional wrestler John Cena. While the promotion was for the movie, the event was yet another time that a personality from the world of professional wrestling was involved with the racetrack.
“Stone Cold” Steven Austin and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson have both made appearances at TMS race weekends. Sister track Lowe’s Motor Speedway recently announced former wrestler Ric Flair would serve as honorary “race director” for this year’s All Star Race in May. (more…)
Labonte, Smith to be inducted in TMS Hall of Fame March 17, 2009
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Bobby Labonte and Bruton Smith will be inducted into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame at a charity gala at Texas Motor Speedway April 1.
Car owner Rick Hendrick, NASCAR driver Carl Edwards, and reigning IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon will also be honored at the event. (more…)
Test ban puts little guys in big places March 16, 2009
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David Reutimann is currently sitting 12th in points heading into Bristol.
The testing ban NASCAR has implemented on teams has made the beginning of the season one of the most exciting we’ve seen in a while.
If the Chase started this weekend, drivers from nine different organizations would be represented – including drivers from the Toyota teams of Red Bull Racing [Brian Vickers] and Michael Waltrip Racing [David Reutimann].
Sure, the big organizations are still on top. Hendrick Motorsport’s Jeff Gordon currently holds a 43-point lead over Clint Bowyer. Roush Fenway teammates Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth are fourth and fifth, respectively. But Bowyer’s racing with a brand new team at Richard Childress Racing. And don’t forget about Tony Stewart, who left Joe Gibbs Racing to start his own team. He’s sitting in sixth.
Then there’s Reutimann. After finishing 12th at Daytona, he followed that with a career-best finish of fourth at Las Vegas. The difference in the performance of his, and all of the Michael Waltrip Racing teams, are like night and day. (more…)
Busch – Kurt, not Kyle – wins at Atlanta March 13, 2009
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Kurt Busch drives his car in reverse during his victory lap at Atlanta Motor Speedway
It wouldn’t surprise race fans that a driver with the last name Busch won at Atlanta Motor Speedway – unless they knew it was Kurt, and not younger Kyle, that was the one in victory lane.
Ever since Kyle Busch was let go from Hendrick Motorsports and joined Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008, the young driver has been the talk of the NASCAR town. Kyle’s still been the talk so far this season, after an impressive run at the Auto Club Speedway, where he won both the Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series races at the track on the same day, and then followed that with a win at his home track in Las Vegas.
But his older brother, 2004 Cup Series champion Kurt Busch, has still got some drive in him and was making headlines Sunday, leading 234 of 330 to take the checkered flag at the Kobalt Tools 500 Sunday.
Busch was the fastest car throughout the race, but in the waning laps, Brian Vickers was making a charge for the lead. But a late race caution would take the race into an overtime green-white-checker finish. Carl Edwards took two tires and got out in front, while Busch and Vickers took four tires. (more…)
Fox Sports NASCAR Promo March 6, 2009
Posted by admin in : Uncategorized , add a commentThis year’s promos for Fox’s NASCAR coverage are pretty slick. Digital animation of a transparent track with the camera angle beneath the track, and then they add in some footage of previous races at the upcoming track with a voice over about the upcoming race. [Sorry there's not a link, couldn't find a copy of the video online.]
Only problem with the race footage from Atlanta, “one of the fastest tracks on the circuit,” according to the commercial, is the footage is from Texas Motor Speedway. There is a couple of seconds of Jimmie Johnson from another car’s rear camera, and thanks to the magic of my DVR, you can clearly see Texas painted on the wall. The second live action shot is of Michael McDowell’s horrific qualifying wreck before last year’s Samsung 500.
What gives Fox? No footage of good racing at Atlanta? We know that’s not true, it’s one of the best cookie cutter tracks on the circuit. Especially with the footage of McDowell, do they not think fans will remember it happened at Texas?
Kyle Busch Wins At Home Track March 5, 2009
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Kyle Busch celebrates his win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas native Kyle Busch took home the checkered flag at his home track Sunday, bringing his win total to 13 races at as many racetracks in the Sprint Cup Series.
Busch qualified on the pole for the Shelby 427, with his brother Kurt Busch starting in second, but an engine change forced him to the back of the field before the drop of the green flag.
Winning at your home track is a badge of honor for any driver, including Busch.
“You never really know how special they can be until you actually get it done,” Busch said.
Busch has now won a race in each of NASCAR’s three national touring series in 2009, and is looking to continue his dominance from last year, where he won a combined 21 races in the truck, Nationwide and Sprint Cup series. He has now won a race in each division for five consecutive years. (more…)