CONCORD, N.C. (March 12, 2009) – Lowe’s Motor Speedway’s frontstretch grandstands will be open Tuesday and Wednesday allowing fans to watch Goodyear’s tire test featuring four NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers. Kasey Kahne, Jimmie Johnson, Marcos Ambrose and Paul Menard will be preparing for the speedway’s May races, including the 25th NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 16, and the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24.

As an added bonus, ticket holders for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and Coca-Cola 600, will be allowed them to watch testing from a pit road grandstand near Victory Lane on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kahne, Johnson, Ambrose and Menard will all take turns participating in a fan forum held in front of the infield grandstand during the test’s Wednesday lunch break from 12 – 1 p.m. The forum will be moderated by Performance Radio Network’s Doug Rice and will allow fans to ask the drivers questions.

Continue reading “Lowes to host Goodyear Test, Fan Event”

Up Next: Back-To-Back Short Tracks: Bristol Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway

Following a rare off weekend, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series hits stride with back-to-back short track events.

The series makes it’s 97th appearance at the .533-mile Bristol Motor Speedway for the Food City 500 March 22, followed by the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 at the .526-mile Martinsville (Va.) Speedway March 29.

Bristol looms large in setting the tenor for the first half of the season. The Food City 500 is the fifth race of 2009, and the last where the top-35 owner points of 2008 are assured of starting positions this year. After the Food City 500, the top 35 in current owner points are eligible for making it into events moving forward as long as they remain in the top 35.

Continue reading “After Off Weekend, Two Short Tracks”

Top 35 Owner Points Countdown: Four Down, One to Go

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 10, 2009) – The developing picture of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will become clearer at the conclusion of the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 22.

That’s when the use of last year’s final car owner points to determine the top 35 weekly guaranteed starting spots ends. Starting at Martinsville Speedway March 29, the current owner points determine the top 35 guarantees.

And so, during this off-week for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the “bubble” is big news looking ahead to Bristol.

The reason for that, is this: Some major NASCAR names are hovering way-too-close to the cut-off, starting with the out-of-retirement Mark Martin (No. 5 Kellogg’s/Carquest Chevrolet) whose Hendrick Motorsports team sits in 35th this week, merely nine points ahead of the 36th-place team owned by Chip Ganassi, the No. 8 Cub Cadet Chevrolet driven by Aric Almirola.

Continue reading “Big Teams in Top 35 Danger Zone”

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 10, 2009) – Jimmy Watts, a crew member for the No. 47 team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has been suspended from the next four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events (until April 22) for rule violations during last Sunday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

VIDEO LINK: http://www.nascar.com/video/cup/2009/03/08/cup.atl.pitmove.a.nascar/index.html

Watts was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 9-15-U (crew members must not go on the race track for any reason while the cars are racing or while the cars are running under the yellow flag or the red flag, unless otherwise directed to do so by a NASCAR official). Watts has also been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.

Continue reading “Four Race Suspension for stroll on Frontstretch Lawn”

Back-To-Back Busch: Brothers Take Act To Bristol’s Short-Track Theatre
Kyle Busch and Kurt Busch have won the last two NASCAR Sprint Cup races and after this off-week it’ll be on to Bristol Motor Speedway, there the Busch Brothers have excelled in the past.

Consider:

Kurt – the 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion – has five NASCAR Sprint Cup wins there, while Kyle has one.

Overall all, the brothers have combined for 32 victories in NASCAR’s premier series – Kurt with 19, Kyle with 13. That’s the sixth-best sibling total of all-time. Bobby and Donnie Allison lead with a combined 94 during their storied careers.

Continue reading “Busch Bros Go Back to Back”