RADIO ANSWER: Most All-Star victories among active drivers: Jeff Gordon, three (1995, ’97, 2001)

Brad Keselowski (No. 09 Miccosukee Indian Gaming & Resort Dodge) was clearly enjoying the moment several weeks ago after getting his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win at one of the series’ most historic tracks, Talladega Superspeedway. During the post-race press conference his enthusiasm was evident. Then he was reminded of some more good news: the victory earned him a berth in Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

“I didn’t know that,” Keselowski said.

Keselowski is the only all-star rookie to have qualified for the event, although that could well change before the green flag drops. In addition to the current list of 16 2008 and ‘09 race winners, 2007 all-star champion Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Pennzoil Chevrolet) and 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Bobby Labonte (No. 96 Ask.com Ford), the all-star field also will have the top-two finishers in Saturday night’s Sprint Showdown, a 40-lap event for series drivers who haven’t qualified for the all-star race.

There also will be one more driver: Whoever wins the Sprint Fan Vote, a nationwide balloting that affords one final all-star entry. Last year, Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge) won the fan vote then went on to win the all-star race.

Burton’s No. 31 crew wins pit crew challenge with record time

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Avoiding mistakes on pit road has been a key to victory in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition this season.

The same can be said of the fifth NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge, which the No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet team of driver Jeff Burton won in record fashion Thursday night at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Continue reading “Burton's #31 Pit Crew are Challenge Champs”

10 To Go: Short-But-Sweet Final Segment Makes All-Star Return

A note to fans watching Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race: Settle back — and hold on.

Come to think of it, same thing goes for the drivers.

The inherent and inevitable drama of the event is getting a shot of adrenaline. Make that 10 shots — in the form of 10 laps, the short-but-sweet segment that will end the 25th running of the all-star race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

“From a fan standpoint, it really drives the race,” said Mark Martin (No. 5 CARQUEST/Kellogg’s Chevrolet). “A 10-lap shootout is a huge, huge deal. It puts a lot of excitement in it, a sense of urgency. I think it’s a good move. Sparks will fly once again at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.”

Continue reading “All Star Race Comes down to 10 laps”

Marcos Ambrose Gears Up For Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Aug. 30

In 2007 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve as shown above, NASCAR driver Marcos Ambrose qualified fifth and finished seventh place overall. The following year in 2008, he made his way to third. This year, Ambrose will join Carl Edwards and Patrick Carpentier in the Aug. 30 NAPA Auto Parts 200 Presented by Dodge in Montreal.

Montreal, May 13, 2009 – Australian Marcos Ambrose, one of only three NASCAR drivers to finish in the top 10 in the first two editions of the NAPA Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge, announced today that he will take part in the Nationwide race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on August 29-30, 2009.

He joins Patrick Carpentier and Carl Edwards who posted their entries earlier last month.

Ambrose, who is running his first full Sprint Cup schedule this year, will make one of his rare appearances in a Nationwide car in Montreal. Back in 2007 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, where he qualified fifth, the Australian motorsports superstar was fighting for the lead late in the race before an incident with Robbie Gordon sent him back to seventh place overall. Last year, he qualified and finished third in a rain-soaked race won by Ron Fellows.

Continue reading “Marcos Ambrose Gears Up For Montreal”

NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race memories: 1998, Martin gets a gift

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

Until the final lap of the 1998 race, 1997 winner Jeff Gordon appeared all but certain to extend his domination of the all-star race, but Mark Martin was the beneficiary of some unexpected good fortune at Gordon’s expense. Gordon had the lead when the field took the green flag for the final 10-lap segment, but NASCAR ruled Gordon jumped the restart, and the field circled the 1.5-mile track under caution while the running order was reset.

NASCAR’s decision on the restart proved costly to Gordon, who was leading on the final lap of the segment but suddenly slowed as he approached the first corner. Gordon’s Chevrolet had run out of fuel because of the extra laps at the start of the segment, and Martin shot past him for the win.

Continue reading “All-Star Race memories: 1998, Martin gets a gift”