Monday, July 28, 2014

Gordon Kisses The Bricks Again

Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 at the Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com Winner Jeff Gordon With His Escort To Victory Lane
Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 at the Brickyard
Powered by BigMachineRecords.com Winner Jeff Gordon With His Escort To Victory Lane

Jeff Gordon became the first five-time NASCAR winner at Indy, snatching the lead from Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kasey Kahne on a restart with seventeen laps remaining and holding on for his second Sprint Cup victory this season and the 90th of his career.

"I'm not very good on restarts and wasn't very good today," Gordon said. "I finally made the restart of my life when it counted most. Once we got down into (turns) 1 and 2, I could hear (Kahne) getting loose. I've got to thank him for racing me clean. He's such a good guy.”


Jeff Gordon gives the iconic bricks a few extra "kisses"

"I cannot believe this just happened.” Jeff Gordon announced. “I was trying so hard with 10 to go not (to) focus on the crowd, trying not to let it get to me. It's such a big race, such an important victory. You can't help it, your emotions take over."

Gordon won the original NASCAR Race at the Brickyard in 1994, a couple of days after his twenty-third birthday. He also won this prominent race in 1998, 2001, and 2004.

Gordon received his trophy from race namesake.   John Wayne Walding, a native of Little Elm, Texas, is an Army veteran. During his twelve years of active service, he completed tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. He lost part of his right leg while involved in a firefight in 2008. He has been awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Infantry Badge. John is also the founder of Five Toes Custom, which produces handcrafted precision rifles and provides support and direction for wounded veterans.

Crown Royal is dedicated to honoring and supporting our nation’s heroes. #jww400 #crownheroes #nascar #reignon

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Jeff Gordon Wins The Crown Royal Presents the 'John Wayne Walding 400' at The Brickyard Powered By BigMachineRecords.com."

Jeff Gordon became the first five-time NASCAR winner at Indy, snatching the lead from Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kasey Kahne on a restart with 17 laps remaining and holding on for his second Sprint Cup victory this season and the 90th of his career .


Brickfest: The Band Perry, Justin Moore, Thousand Horses

The crowd raises their hands to the music as A Thousand Horses performs during the Brickfest Music Festival at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, July 26, 2014.

Unfortunately the rest of Brickfest was cancelled due to weather after A Thousand Horses performed. IMS will be issuing refunds to those who purchased Brickfest Music Festival VIP wristband's.




Photos from Indianapolis Motor Speedway
(#nascar #jww400 #crownheroes #reignon)

Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 at the Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com



Born on the Fourth of July, Sam Walding knew his son needed a special name. So John Wayne Walding it was, named for the late actor who often played the hero in Westerns and war movies. Now that name is part of one of the Sprint Cup Series' biggest races, the Brickyard 400. Officially, the event is known as Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 at the Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com.


In 1939, Crown Royal was masterfully crafted as a gift to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at their inaugural royal visit to North America. (Please Drink Responsibly.)


The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400.



The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, located five miles northwest of downtown Indianapolis on the grounds of the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is recognized as one of the most highly visible museums in the world devoted to automobiles and auto racing. In 1987, the museum and Speedway grounds were honored with the designation of National Historic Landmark.


Winning is a 1969 American motion picture starring Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. A number of racecar drivers and people associated with racing appear in the film, including Bobby Unser, Tony Hulman, Bobby Grim, Dan Gurney, Roger McCluskey, and Bruce Walkup.






The Pagoda towers in its magnificence centered on the start-finish line. It has nine tiers or viewing levels and reaches a height of 153 feet, equal to a 13-story building. The flagpole on top extends to 199 feet. The glass panels facing the main straightaway were specially built in England.




Crown Royal and Justin Moore Team Up To Honor Heroes. When raising a glass to your hero, Crown Royal reminds you to please drink responsibly.


Crown Royal has made it their mission to show their support to the everyday heroes who do so much for others and ask nothing in return. The Crown Royal Heroes Project is an on-going commitment to provide these heroes with the recognition and support they deserve. Crown Royal has supporters across the nation filling purple CAMO Crown Royal bags for the Troops.


View from the hotel. “Considered the crown jewel of Marriott Place Indianapolis, the JW Marriott Indianapolis Downtown is a landmark amid the five Marriott hotels connected to the Indiana Convention Center.”


John Wayne Walding and NASCAR Race Mom


‘Capture the Crown’ Blogger Group Photo


Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 at the Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com Press Conference.


Justin Cole Moore is an American country music singer and songwriter signed to Big Machine Records imprint Valory Music Group. He is also a super nice guy!



Curtiss Shaver is a firefighter from Troy, Ala. And the namesake of the 2012 Crown Royal presents the Curtiss Shaver 400 at The Brickyard Powered by Big Machine Records.


This year’s Crown Royal Your Hero’s Name Here finalists: James Bailey, 33, of Pamplin, Va., Bryce Boyer, 49, from Wanship, Utah, Tara Hulett, 32, of Albany, N.Y., Tyler Whisenhunt, 28, of Gentry, Ark.




Scott Borchetta founder of Big Machine Records. He started the label in 2005 with 13 employees, and is its president and CEO.

Happy #NASCAR Birthday To Drivers
Matt DiBenedetto and Jack Sellers

Matt DiBenedetto
Age 23 (07/27/1991) 



Jack Sellers
Age 70 (07/27/1944)

Saturday, July 26, 2014

#NASCAR K&N Pro Series West
Colorado National Speedway

www.coloradospeedway.com

Race Day - Race 8 of 14 (2014 Season)


Track Facts

SHAPE: Oval

SURFACE: Paved

LENGTH: 3/8 Mile

NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Colorado National Speedway
NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Colorado National Speedway


Track Address

4281 Wld County Road 10

Dacono, CO, 80514

303.665-4173



Mailing Address

4281 Weld County Road 10

Dacono, CO, 80514

And the Winner is?

NASCAR Sprint Cup Rookie Rookie Kyle Larson
Rookie Kyle Larson
Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 at the Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com promises to be a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series “wild-card” track. Anyone who manages to avoid trouble can nab that win to cinch an all-but-guaranteed spot in Chase for the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup.

The recent Brickyard winner’s list includes names like Jamie McMurray, Paul Menard and Ryan Newman. These drivers are winless in 2014. Tony Stewart, and Kasey Kahne are also all currently on the outside-looking-in of the Chase Grid Outlook. As the regular season draws to a close, a win could become their only route to the Chase.

Paul Menard, Ryan Newman, and Matt Kenseth are also among the favorites for a ‘surprise win’ at Indy. However, NASCAR Race Mom’s preferred winner for the “Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 at the Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com” has to be rookie Kyle Larson.

With eleven different NASCAR Sprint Cup winners, there are currently five Chase wildcard spots up for grabs.

Wild Card Hopefuls


Matt Kenseth – 4th place

Ryan Newman - 7th place

Clint Bowyer - 10th place

Paul Menard - 11th place

Kyle Larson - 14th place

Kenseth has never won at the Brickyard. However, what a great NASCAR narrative if rookie Larson could survive his recent run of bad luck* and capture his first series win at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He was fifth fastest in yesterday’s practice so the opportunity is tangible.

No rookie has qualified for the Sprint Cup Chase the since 2006, when Denny Hamlin accomplished the feat. The “Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 at the Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com” trophy would be the perfect birthday present for Larson, who turns 22 on July 31.

Kyle Larson’s signature burnout without his steering wheel attached to the car would be a thrill for the fans! NASCAR Race Mom was present at Larson first NASCAR Nationwide Series victory at Auto Club Speedway. The burnout was both a surprise and exciting. 




* Larson lost power steering at Sonoma, blew a right-front tire at Kentucky, and then was caught up in a typical Daytona crash. These three substandard finishes dropped the team from tied for seventh place to eighteen in the points in just a three week period.

#ReignOn #CrownHeroes #JWW400 #nascar

Happy #NASCAR Birthday To Driver
Miguel Paludo

Miguel Paludo
Age 31 (07/26/1983)

Friday, July 25, 2014

ChaseGrid™ Live Sponsored By Toyota and Sprint to Debut in Chicago; Build Anticipation for Launch of Historic Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup


Free Two-Day Fan Fest Culminates with Live Show Featuring All 2014 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Drivers; Fans Can Enter Sweepstakes to Win VIP Experience

As the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ picture comes further into focus, NASCAR® announced today that Chase Grid™ Live Sponsored by Toyota and Sprint will make its debut in downtown Chicago on September 10-11. The free outdoor fan fest located on North Michigan Avenue, will culminate with a two-hour live show featuring all 16 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers, just days before the momentous Challenger Round debuts at Chicagoland Speedway.

“There’s no better way to introduce our new Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup format than by inviting our fans – the most loyal in sports – to be a part of the celebration,” said Steve Phelps, NASCAR chief marketing officer. “We are fortunate to have partnered with two world-class brands in Toyota and Sprint to provide an unforgettable fan experience as we embark on this significant moment for our sport.”

In conjunction with today’s announcement, fans can now click here to enter the Chase Grid™ Live Sweepstakes. The Grand Prize package includes an all-inclusive trip to Chicago for a VIP experience at Chase Grid Live, two VIP access passes to all three national series races at Chicagoland Speedway, a ride in the Toyota Camry Grand Marshal car before the NASCAR Sprint Cup race, and $1,000 spending money. Fans can enter the Chase Grid Live sweepstakes through August 29.

“Toyota is proud to once again partner with NASCAR and Sprint in Chicago for this annual celebration of the Sprint Cup Series championship contenders,” said Ed Laukes, vice president of marketing, performance and guest experience, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. “With this season’s new Chase format and 16 worthy competitors vying for the championship trophy, this is an event Chicagoans and NASCAR fans will certainly want to attend. Being from Chicago, I know it’s a great venue and knowing NASCAR it will definitely be a must-see event.” 

Throughout the two-day fan fest, ESPN will feature live segments with many of the 16 drivers competing in the Challenger Round and various other NASCAR personalities making appearances on-site. Fans in attendance will be treated to custom content that will be featured on Sprint Vision, a high definition 18 x 32.4 foot screen; Toyota Camry NASCAR Sprint Cup show cars; and a special in-show tribute by NASCAR and Toyota to the nation’s servicemen and women.

For the fourth-consecutive year the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup begins at Chicagoland Speedway. For tickets to the September 12-14 race weekend, visit www.ChicagolandSpeedway.com or call 1-888-629-RACE [Call: 1-888-629-RACE] (7223). Single-day tickets are available.

The first race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup from Chicagoland Speedway will air live on ESPN at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 14. The race will also be broadcast on the WatchESPN app, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, with additional coverage on NASCAR.com. 

Click Here to enter the Chase Grid™ Live Sweepstakes.


#KNWEST Statistical Advance:
Colorado (#nascar)

Analyzing The Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts 150 At CNS

Greg Pursley has one victory and five top-five finishes in his five career
starts at Colorado National Speedway. (Getty Images for NASCAR)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West begins the second half of its season with a visit to Colorado National Speedway in Dacono, Colo., on Saturday, July 26. Below is a statistical look at the recent performance of the series and selected drivers at Colorado, as well as some other statistical trends:

Colorado Race Setup


  • Four series races took place at Colorado National Speedway between 1995 and 2004, but has visited the track every year since 2007. This will be the 11th series event at Colorado National Speedway.
  • Through the series’ first seven events, there have been seven different pole winners. Four drivers have won races from the pole and excluding the combination event with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East at Iowa Speedway, the worst starting position for a race winner has been sixth.
  • Points leader Greg Pursley will be making his sixth career start at Colorado National Speedway. Through his first five starts at the track, he has one win, five top fives and five top 10s.

At Colorado National Speedway:


History


  • This race will be the 12th series visit to Colorado National Speedway.
  • The 11 series races at CNS produced nine different winners. With two victories each, Eric Holmes and Mike Duncan are the only drivers with multiple wins.
  • There have been nine different pole winners. Holmes and Dylan Kwasniewski, with two poles each, are the only drivers with more than one pole award.
  • Greg Pursley has the most top-five finishes, with five.
  • Eric Holmes has the most top-10s, with six.
  • Jack Sellers has the most series starts at Colorado, with 10.
  • The race distance for a series event at CNS has been extended on three occasions for a green-white-checkered finish.
  • Chevrolet and Ford have been been in Victory Lane in series action at CNS four times each. Toyota has three wins at CNS.
  • The races in 2008, 2011 and 2013 were both won from the pole. Steve Portenga came from deepest in the field to win, charging from 14th to take the victory in 2001.
  • CNS has featured 126 different drivers in series competition in the 11 races.

Notebook


• Mike Chase won the inaugural K&N Pro Series West race at Colorado on May 20, 1995.

• Among active series competitors, only Greg Pursley has a win at this track, earned in 2011.

• Dylan Kwasniewski was the youngest Colorado race winner at 16 years, two months, seven days, set in 2011.

• In 2007, Christopher became the oldest Colorado winner at 45 years, four months, 12 days.

• Colorado has been won from the pole position three times, most recently by Derek Thorn last year.

Colorado National Speedway Data

Race: #8 of 14 (7/26/14)

Track Layout: .375-mile paved oval

Race Length: 150 laps (56.25 miles)

Qualifying/Race Records

2013 Pole Winner: Derek Thorn

2013 Winner: Derek Thorn

1-lap Qualifying: Brian Ickler, 16.452 seconds, 82.057 mph, June 2, 2007

150-lap Race: Derek Thorn, 50 minutes 32 seconds, 66.788 mph, July 27, 2013


Researching the Brickyard 400 (#nascar)

Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis Motor Speedway  (Getty Images for NASCAR)



Today is NASCAR Race Mom's travel day.  She is using this time to research the Brickyard and the "The Crown Royal Presents the 'John Wayne Walding 400' at The Brickyard Powered By BigMachineRecords.com."  This track is rich in tradition and history.


The Track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway


Season Race #: 20 of 36 (07-27-14)

Track Size: 2.5-miles

Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 9 degrees

Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 9 degrees

Banking/Straights: 0 degrees

Frontstretch Length: 3,330 feet

Backstretch Length: 3,300 feet

The Race: The Crown Royal Presents the
John Wayne Walding 400 at The Brickyard Powered By BigMachineRecords.com


Race Length: 160 laps / 400 miles

Defending Champion: Ryan Newman, 153.485 MPH

Most recent winner: Ryan Newman, 153.485 MPH

Track Record: Bobby Labonte, August 2000, 155.912 MPH

Race Record: Bobby Labonte, August 2000, 155.912 MPH

Qualifying record: Ryan Newman, August 2013, 187.531 MPH

2013 Purse: $9,265,009

TV: ESPN, 1:00PM EST 7/27/2014

Radio: IMS Racing Network, Sirius XM 90

 The History


Indianapolis Motor Speedway has existed since 1909, and is the original "Speedway," the first racing facility to incorporate the word into its name.

With a permanent seating capacity for more than 250,000-plus people and infield seating that raises capacity to an approximate 400,000, it is the largest and highest-capacity sporting facility in history.

August 6, 1994- Jeff Gordon, then aged twenty-three, wins the first Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis. This win set Gordon as the youngest race winner at the track.

August 3, 1997-Closest Margin Of Victory: Ricky Rudd over Bobby Labonte by 0.183 seconds.

August 4th, 2002- Bill Elliott becomes the oldest winner at Indy, 46 years, 9 months, 27 days.

The Contenders:


Top 10 Driver Ratings at Indianapolis

Jimmie Johnson........................ 109.8

Tony Stewart............................. 104.1

Jeff Gordon.............................. 102.0

Juan Pablo Montoya................... 96.7

Kyle Busch................................. 96.5

Kasey Kahne.............................. 96.4

Matt Kenseth.............................. 95.8

Greg Biffle.................................. 94.6

Kevin Harvick.............................. 90.2

Denny Hamlin............................. 88.3

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Off to the Brickyard (#nascar)

For the “The Crown Royal Presents
‘The John Wayne Walding 400’
Powered By BigMachineRecords.com.” 

NASCAR Race Mom at the Brickyard 2013 (#nascar)
NRM at the Brickyard 2013
 NASCAR Race Mom is doing the laundry with a huge smile on her face; really smiling while doing the laundry . . . . Why?

Well after the laundry, NRM gets to pack for this year’s adventure at the “The Crown Royal Presents ‘The John Wayne Walding 400’ Powered By BigMachineRecords.com.” NASCAR Race.

As most of you know, this will be the third time NASCAR Race Mom has been invited to attend the Crown Royal “Your Hero’s Name Here” Sprint Cup Race.

Pace Car Ride at RIR (#nascar)
Pace Car Ride at RIR
NRM enjoy the event held at Richmond International Raceway in April of 2011 (Crown Royal Presents the Matthew and Daniel Hansen 400.)  and last year’s race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Crown Royal Presents the Samuel Deeds 400 at The Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com.)

The Crown Royal people are really dedicated to honoring our heroes. Heroes, the men and women who go above and beyond, set an example for us all to follow. Crown Royal’s commitment is not new however. Did you know that during WWII Crown Royal shut down their distilleries to produce supplies and medicines for the war effort?

Each Crown Royal “Your Hero’s Name Here” opportunity fills this NASCAR Nut with glee. The Crown Royal “Capture the Crown” race activities allow NASCAR Race Mom unbelievable ‘at-the-track’ access!

This year’s agenda includes:

  • Pace Car Rides
  • A Press Conference W/ John Wayne Walding & County Western Star Justin Moore
  • VIP Event At IMS
  • ‘Capture The Crown’ Garage Tour
  • Watching The Race From The Pagoda Suite!

NASCAR Race Mom will be keeping her readers updated by blogging, Facebook posts, and tweets. Please leave a comment if you have any questions or would like to see a topic covered.


Happy #NASCAR Birthday To Driver
Nelson Piquet Jr.

Nelson Piquet Jr.
Age 29 (07/24/1962)

Happy #NASCAR Birthday To Driver
Johnny O'Connell

Johnny O'Connell
Age 52 (07/24/1962)

Saturday, July 19, 2014

The Gillilands Impress at Irwindale Speedway
#nascar

Butch Gilliland, grandson Todd, and son David at Irwindale Speedway in California
Butch Gilliland, grandson Todd, and son David at Irwindale Speedway in California
(July 19, 2014 -Keith Birmingham Pasadena Star-News)

While local driver Jason Patison, was able to rocket away from runner-up Jack Madrid of San Clemente, Calif., following a restart with 17 laps remaining on the half-mile track of Irwindale Speedway to finish 2.1 seconds in front, the Gilliland family remained the packed crowd pleaser.

The three generations of Gilliland NASCAR Drivers, Grandfather Butch, Son David, and fourteen-year-old Grandson Todd, were competing against each other for the first time.

Of the Gilliland clan, Todd fared the best with a third-place podium finish in his noteworthy debut in a Super Late Model. The youngest Gilliland has raced Late Models in North Carolina; however Irwindale was a step up in horsepower and the competition level of the drivers.

“It was really cool,” he said. “I didn’t have high expectations because I was against a bunch of really experienced drivers. I’m super happy.”

NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver and delighted father, David Gilliland added “My son does a great job. We’re really proud of him.”

Butch Gilliland came out of a ten-year retirement to finish the race in a respectable fifth. The grandfather, who is fifty-seven years young, was a top driver in his NASCAR Winston West years starting in the 1980s and a former champion of the series.

“It was really nice,” the elder Gilliland stated, “We tested a couple of days. I didn’t put a whole bunch of laps on it, we have enough laps. The car was decent. It was good we three got to race against each other. It really was fun to race against my grandson. I really wish I’d had a whole better car, but it was still a lot of fun.”

What happened to the middle Gilliland? NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver David Gilliland, who grew up in southern California was running second when contact sent him into retirement after completing 30 laps.

“We had him (Partridge) cleared and I don’t know, somehow I got turned there at the start-finish line,” David Gilliland said. “Bummer, kind of an unfortunate way to end our night, but the car was real fast and we had a good time coming back here. It’s still my favorite racetrack to race on in the country. It was an honor to be a part of it and watch my son finish third and my dad go out and finish fifth. It’s just a lot of fun and good to be back home.

The three Gillilands impressed the race fans with their dedication to both family and the sport of racing.

Pick Your Part Super Late Models -75 laps
Race Results:


  1. Jason Patison (Corona),
  2. Jack Madrid (San Clemente),
  3. Todd Gilliland (Sherrills Ford, N.C.),
  4. Barry Karr (Redlands),
  5. Butch Gilliland (Thailand),
  6. Linny White (Highland),
  7. Toni McCray (Highland),
  8. Jeff Eschleman (Corona),
  9. Kenny Smith (Bakersfield),
  10. Josh Soto (Oceanside),
  11. Jeff Williams (Newbury Park),
  12. Greg Hanneman (Toluca Lake),
  13. Ryan Partridge (Rancho Cucamonga),
  14. David Gilliland (Sherrills Ford, N.C.),
  15. Juan Garcia (Colombia),
  16. Rodney Peacher (North Hills).

Pena Back In Victory Lane
#nascar #kneast

Sergio Pena found his way back to Victory Lane. 

Sergio Pena celebrates in Victory Lane after getting the NASCAR
K&N Pro Series East win in the JEGS 150 at Columbus (Ohio)
Motor Speedway.  (Kirk Irwin/Getty Images for NASCAR)

The 21-year-old from Winchester, Va., held off the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East field following a late caution at Columbus Motor Speedway to win the JEGS 150 presented by Germain Toyota.

It is the third win of the season for Rev Racing and the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program. It is also the third win in four years for Rev Racing at Columbus, following wins by Darrell Wallace Jr. (2011) and Daniel Suarez (2013).

It is Pena's fourth career NASCAR K&N Pro Series East win and first since 2011, when he won three times. Pena took the lead from Cameron Hayley on Lap 120 and then held off Hayley's challenges over the closing laps. A caution with 10 to go gave Hayley one more shot, but Pena was able to power his way to the victory.

Hayley settled for second, followed by championship points leader Ben Rhodes. Jesse Little and Pena's Rev Racing teammate Ryan Gifford were fourth and fifth, respectively.

Rookies Ross Chastain, Nick Drake and Kaz Grala were sixth through eighth, and Brennan Newberry was ninth. Scott Heckert, who won the 21 Means 21 Pole Award earlier in the day, finished 10th.

The JEGS 150 presented by Germain Toyota will air on FOX Sports 1 on Sunday, July 27 at 10 a.m.

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East will return to action at Iowa Speedway on Aug. 1 for the second showdown of the season with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West.


source

#NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
Columbus Motor Speedway

The 2014 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season has been one of mixed results for Daniel Suárez.

Daniel Suárez has one win, two top fives and three top 10s in three career starts
at Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway.  (Getty Images for NASCAR)


The Monterrey, Mexico, native began the season the same way he ended 2013, hot. His wins in the first two events of 2014 marked his sixth and seventh top-three finishes in nine NASCAR K&N Pro Series East races dating back to last year. In Suárez’s subsequent eight events, the driver has recorded two top fives and four top 10s, but has also registered four DNFs. He hopes a trip to Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway is what he needs to get back on the right track for the remainder of the season.

He entered this event weekend in 2013 in a similar state, a first half with mixed results. Through his first seven races, Suárez had one top five and three top 10s, and two races outside of the top 20. Once the race started, however, all his early season struggles seemed to disappear. Suárez took the lead on lap 66 and led the final 88 laps for his first career K&N Pro Series East victory.

Over his next six events, Suárez scored four top-three finishes and five top 10s, propelling him to third in the final championship points standings, the highest finish for a Mexican-born driver and Drive for Diversity program participant.

Suárez is looking for the same kind of post-Columbus turn around this season. In three career starts at the .333-mile oval, the 22-year-old has a win and two top fives, with an average finish of 3.7. He and teammate Ryan Gifford are the only drivers currently entered for the event with more than three starts at the track.    www.columbusspeedway.com

Race Day - Race 11 of 16 (2014 Season)


Track Facts

SHAPE: Semi-banked oval

SURFACE: Asphalt

LENGTH: .333 Mile 

NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Columbus Motor Speedway
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Columbus Motor Speedway



TRACK ADDRESS

1841 Williams Road

Columbus, OH, 43207

(614) 491-1047



MAILING ADDRESS

1841 Williams Road

Columbus, OH, 43207

Friday, July 18, 2014

Jeff Gordon Talking 20th Anniversary
of Inaugural Brickyard 400 Win


Next week the NASCAR Sprint Cup series is heading to Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Jeff Gordon will be there celebrating the 20th anniversary of his win in the inaugural Brickyard race.

Jeff Gordon is the driver of the No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He has one win and currently leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points standings.

However, twenty years ago, Jeff was just a youngster. Yet he scored a victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the inaugural Brickyard 400, by passing Ernie Irvan for the lead late in the race when Irvan cut down a tire. Gordon won his second Brickyard in 1998 and his third one in 2001!

“Every time it’s something special when you go to Indianapolis. It’s just such a cool place, so much history, and obviously a lot of great memories for me and confidence.” Gordon articulated about going back to Indianapolis twenty years after winning the inaugural Brickyard 400. “As a driver when I go there, of course it takes a great car and a great team to win that race, but it seems like most years that we’ve been there, we’ve had a car that’s capable of winning. With the type of season that we’re having, I’m extremely excited about going to Indianapolis. I think that the way that our cars are performing, the way our engines are performing, Indianapolis is a track that we certainly can win at.

Jeff Gordon has already clinched a top 30 spot, but with a single win has yet to clinch the "wins" portion of the Chase criteria. A win at Indy would clinch him a spot. To clinch a top 30 spot, the clinching driver must be 289 points ahead of 31st place after Indianapolis.

Trivia fact: The night after winning the first-ever Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis in 1994, Jeff Gordon called a pizza delivery place from his hotel room and was told it would be an hour or two before he got his food because of the race.  His reply to the pizza delivery worker was, "Well, will it help any if I'm the *winner* of that race?" He got his delivery within minutes. 


Solar Farm and LED display Scoring Pylon
debuts at the Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 at the Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com

Indianapolis Motor Speedway will feature a number of significant changes when the NASCAR  Sprint Cup Series returns to racing next weekend. One is the replacement of an iconic fixture; the other is the debut of a sustainable energy source that will provide power at the historic track for years to come.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Solar Farm is built on 68 acres near the 2.5-mile speedway's backstretch and features 39,314 solar panels that can power the equivalent of 2,700 homes.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Solar Farm is built on 68 acres near the 2.5-mile speedway's
backstretch and features 39,314 solar panels that can power the equivalent of 2,700 homes.

The latter, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Solar Farm, officially opened last month with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The facility, billed as the largest solar power farm at any sporting venue in the world, is built on 68 acres near the 2.5-mile speedway's backstretch and features 39,314 solar panels that can power the equivalent of 2,700 homes.

The development dovetails with the NASCAR Green initiative for reducing the sport's environmental footprint, offsetting 10,288 tons of carbon annually. With its debut, the Indy facility joins similar solar farms at Pocono Raceway and Sonoma Raceway, which also host the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

The other enhancement scheduled to be in place for the 21st annual Crown Royal Presents the John Wayne Walding 400 at the Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com is the addition of a new scoring pylon on the frontstretch. The iconic, 97-foot-tall tower -- which had stood since 1994 -- was removed Monday, leaving a concrete stump where the speedway's historic marker is located.

The new scoring pylon will feature an LED display on all four sides. Track president J. Douglas Boles said that the new tower will be "just a tick taller" and will improve the visibility of caution lights for drivers.

In just under four years, NASCAR and its stakeholders have made substantial environmental improvements and technological advancements and continue to set new benchmarks. NASCAR has not only become a leader in green initiatives across all sports, but a leader within the business community.

NASCAR has the largest recycling and environmental sustainability programs among all U.S. sports. NASCAR has the world’s largest solar-powered sports facility, a tree planting program capturing 100% of the emissions produced by on-track racing, and the largest recycling program in sports with Coca-Cola Recycling, Coors Light, Safety-Kleen and Creative Recycling.

As NASCAR Green enters its fifth year, it continues to educate NASCAR fans and reduce the sport’s environmental impact through strategic partnerships with the teams, tracks, and Official Partners while validating green technologies.