Denny Hamlin is once again racing for charity at Southside Speedway this spring — and he’s bringing his friends.

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.

Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet) scored his first Bristol win in the 2008 Food City 500. Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet) finished second followed by Clint Bowyer (No. 33 BB&T Chevrolet), Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Two drivers, Kurt Busch and Jeff Gordon (No 24 DuPont Chevrolet) lead active drivers with five Bristol wins each.

Continue reading “Back to Back Short Tracks, Bristol and Martinsville”

JR Motorsports Announces Plans For No. 5 Nationwide Program
Newman, Stewart, and Wimmer to join strong driver line-up in 2009

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (March 16, 2009) – JR Motorsports today announced additional plans for its No. 5 NASCAR Nationwide Series team for 2009, with veteran drivers Ryan Newman, Scott Wimmer and Tony Stewart joining team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and all-time series wins leader Mark Martin for the 21-race schedule. Together the five drivers account for 91 Nationwide Series victories in 636 starts.

Wimmer will compete in six events in the No. 5 Chevrolet and Newman in four, with America’s largest fastener distributor, Fastenal, as the primary sponsor. Stewart’s one race for JR Motorsports will be in a Delphi-sponsored Chevrolet at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Oct. 16. He is already a race-winner in 2009, driving a Hendrick Motorsports entry to victory in the season-opening Camping World 300 at Daytona International Speedway. He has eight overall victories in 87 starts.

Continue reading “JR Motorsports Inks All-Star Driver Lineup”

TALLADEGA, Ala. – Talladega Superspeedway is encouraging race fans traveling to Alabama for the Aaron’s Dream Weekend to bring their golf clubs and hit the links on the legendary Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail (RTJ). The new Fairway to Speedway offer gets race fans two tickets to the Aaron’s 499 and two rounds of golf playable at 9 of the 11 RTJ championship golf courses for only $200, a savings up to 25% off peak prices.

“Talladega Superspeedway and the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail are nationally recognized venues in the great state of Alabama,” said Talladega Superspeedway President Rick Humphrey. “It’s only natural that we combine the strength of our two great brands to welcome visitors from around the country with the Fairway to Speedway offer. Free overnight parks open on Tuesday of race week, leaving race fans Wednesday and Thursday to play golf and enjoy some of the wonderful attractions our state offers. Friday through Sunday can be all about enjoying the thrill of Talladega Superspeedway.”

Continue reading “Talladega Links to Golf Package Deal”

WHAT:         NASCAR Driver Jeff Burton on ABC Daytime’s “General Hospital”

WHEN:         Airs Wed., March 18 on ABC at 3 p.m. ET, 2 p.m. PT and on SoapNet at 10 p.m. ET/PT

STORYLINE: Burton visits neighborhood tavern Jake’s where he has a conversation with bartender Coleman (Blake Gibbons) when Dr. Patrick Drake (Jason Thompson) arrives and despite being a race car enthusiast, the neurosurgeon does not recognize the driver of Richard Childress Racing’s No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet Impala SS and a comedic beat ensues.