FYI WIRZ: NASCAR’s top drivers talk fast Charlotte and Chase

The top five Chase drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this week–Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart–talk about the
1.5-mile quad-shaped oval with 24 degree banking at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina.

The Bank of America 500, race 5 in the 10-race Chase to the Sprint Cup, commences this Saturday at 7:00 p.m. on ABC.

This fast series includes comments by two of NASCAR’s most popular drivers—Kasey Kahne and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

FYI WIRZ is the swift presentation of pertinent motorsports topics compiled, condensed and often written by Dwight Drum @ Racetake.com. Quotes provided by NASCAR and Sprint Cup team media.

Driver’s thoughts about Charlotte and the Chase:

Jimmie Johnson (No.48 Chevrolet)

“I’m looking forward to Charlotte,” Johnson. “I always like racing there. We looked at the balance of the car and the directions we were working on; there was enough that went wrong that we knew not to go down that road any longer.

“I’m optimistic and I feel that we’ve come to a good conclusion with things. But we’ve got to get on the track and really prove it and be in the hunt. There are only six races left, but that’s a lot of racing.”

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Toyota)

“We do have some great race tracks coming up for us,” Hamlin said. “We’re putting those guys in a position where if they make one mistake, we’re going to be right there. At California our car was definitely better than what the finishing position was. I go to Charlotte thinking I can win the race and lead the most laps. I feel pretty good about that.”

Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Chevrolet)

That’s our goal for the weekend is to run in the top 10 and have a solid day,” Harvick said. “Obviously you want to win every weekend, but our history at Charlotte has not been good, so I think a goal of finishing in the top 10 is more realistic.

“We’ve started the Chase better than we’ve ever started before. You never know how it’s all going to shake out, but I feel really good about the situation that we’re in as a team and we just go race every week as hard as we can.”

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Chevrolet)

“We leave the track each weekend knowing that we did everything we possibly could, but we’re not going to be satisfied until we win,” Gordon said. “We need those extra points so we don’t keep losing ground to those guys ahead of us who have wins either earlier in the season or now in the Chase.

“We’ve been strong on the intermediate tracks this year, but Charlotte is one where I felt we needed to improve to make a run at the title. Hopefully, we can run up near the front and have a shot at the win. I love Charlotte and I love coming here.”

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Chevrolet)

“It always seems like (at Charlotte), it’s a battle of trying to get your car to cut through the center of the corner and keep the forward drive in it; it seems like it’s a sacrifice of one or the other but the two ends are different,” Stewart said.

“It seems like you can carry a lot more speed through (Turns) 1 and 2 and (Turns) 3 and 4 are a little more like ‘thread the needle’ type corners.”

Kasey Kahne (No.9 Ford)

“I always like Charlotte,” Kahne said. “It’s a good track for us. Then just being close to home and being able to do some things whether it’s with the fan club, sponsor stuff or with our foundation.

“The cars have changed a lot with the setups as far as what we do and what other teams do, so we just need to keep working hard at that. If we hit on it, we’ll be up front this week.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Chevrolet)

“You really don’t know what your car is going to do,” Earnhardt said. “You get it setup for the daytime, and it’s going to handle differently at night but a fast car is a fast car usually. So if you unload good, then you don’t try to mess it up too much.”

FYI WIRZ is the swift presentation of pertinent motorsports topics compiled and condensed by Dwight Drum @ Racetake.com. Quotes provided by NASCAR and Sprint Cup team media.

ABOUT DWIGHT
Dwight Drum, a member of the National Motorsports Press Association, began in motorsports as a photojournalist and writer with Stripbike.com in 1998 and as editor created Zoomster.com (1999) and Racetake.com (2007). He has interviewed almost every big name in NASCAR, NHRA and IndyCar. He also has experience covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and has two stories in the 2010 book “Chicken Soup for the Soul: NASCAR.”

Photo credit: Dwight Drum @ Racetake.com.

The opinions expressed in this articles are solely those of the author and not this website.

Photo credit: Dwight Drum @ Racetake.com

The 2011 Class was announced for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and they are….

1. David Pearson

2. Bobby Allison

3. Lee Petty

4. Ned Jarrett

5. Bud Moore

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Oct. 13, 2010) – The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) announced today the second class of inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. That class consists of: David Pearson –
94%; Bobby Allison – 62%; Lee Petty – 62%; Ned Jarrett – 58%; Bud Moore – 45%.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel, consisting of members of the Nominating Committee along with 31 others representing all facets of the NASCAR industry, met in a closed session in Charlotte, N.C., to vote on the induction class of 2011. The announcement was made in the Great Hall inside the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
The class was determined by 53 votes cast by the panel and the nationwide fan vote conducted through NASCAR.COM. The accounting firm of Ernst & Young presided over the tabulation of the votes.
The Class of 2011 will be officially inducted in a ceremony in May 2011 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte.

The results of the voting for the five chosen in this class proved quite competitive. Also receiving votes were Dale Inman, Cale Yarborough and Darrell Waltrip.
As part of the inclusive voting process, hundreds of thousands of NASCAR fans submitted votes online at NASCAR.COM. That remarkable feedback once again demonstrated fans’ passion and knowledge of the sport and its heritage. The fans’ top five: Bobby Allison, David Pearson, Lee Petty, Darrell Waltrip and Cale Yarborough.

Here were the 25 nominees for induction into the 2011 NASCAR Hall of Fame class:
Bobby Allison, Buck Baker, Red Byron, Richard Childress, Jerry Cook, Richie Evans, Tim Flock, Rick Hendrick, Jack Ingram, Dale Inman, Ned Jarrett, Fred Lorenzen, Bud Moore, Raymond Parks, Benny Parsons, David Pearson, Lee Petty, Fireball Roberts, T. Wayne Robertson, Herb Thomas, Curtis Turner, Darrell Waltrip, Joe Weatherly, Glen Wood and Cale Yarborough.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame broke ground in Charlotte on Jan. 25, 2007 and opened to the public on May 11, 2010. The facility honors the history and heritage of NASCAR and the many who have contributed to the success of the sport.

Highlighting the Class of 2011:

Bobby Allison
Allison, winner of the 1983 NASCAR premier series championship, ended his career with 84 victories, tied for third on the all-time list. In 1972, he won 10 races, had 12 second-place finishes and was the NASCAR premier series runner-up (to Richard Petty). Allison captured the NASCAR Modified Special Division championship in 1962 and ‘63 and then went on to win the Modified Division the following two years. In 1998, Allison was named one of NASCAR’s “50 Greatest Drivers.”

Ned Jarrett
Jarrett was a two-time NASCAR champion (1961 and 1965) and two-time Sportsman Division champion (1957 and ‘58). Through his career he totaled 50 premier series wins, tied for 11th all-time. In 1998 he was named one of NASCAR’s “50 Greatest Drivers.” After retiring in 1966, Jarrett helped grow the sport through his second career as a broadcaster.

Bud Moore
A decorated World War II infantryman, Bud Moore became a successful NASCAR Sprint Cup owner almost immediately upon fielding a team in 1961. Moore won back-to-back championships in 1962-63 with Joe Weatherly. Earlier, in 1957, Moore – who referred to himself as “a country mechanic” – was crew chief for champion Buck Baker.

David Pearson
Pearson is a three-time NASCAR champion whose career total of 105 victories is second on the all-time list. Pearson won his titles in 1966, ’68 and ’69. He also won the sport’s biggest event, the Daytona 500 in 1976. In 1998 he was named one of NASCAR’s “50 Greatest Drivers.”

Lee Petty
Petty became the sports first three-time series champion after winning titles in 1954, ’58 and ’59. He was also the winner of the first Daytona 500 in 1959. His 54 career victories stands ninth on the all-time list and he never finished lower than fourth in points from 1949-1959. In 1998, he was named one of NASCAR’s “50 Greatest Drivers.” Petty is the founder of Petty Enterprises and as an owner had more than 2,000 starts and 268 wins.

Mobil 1 to Sponsor Tony Stewart and Stewart-Haas Racing
Photo Credit: Image.net

The world’s leading synthetic motor oil brand will power two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart and No. 14 Chevrolet Impala

Mobil 1 will sponsor Tony Stewart’s No. 14 Chevrolet and serve as an associate sponsor of Ryan Newman’s No. 39 Chevrolet
ExxonMobil will provide Mobil 1 lubricant technology and engineering support to Stewart-Haas Racing
The 2011 season will mark the ninth consecutive year in which Mobil 1 is the “Official Motor Oil of NASCAR”

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – ExxonMobil signed a multi-year sponsorship agreement with two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart and Stewart-Haas Racing beginning in 2011. The new agreement allows ExxonMobil to build on Mobil 1’s “Official Motor Oil of NASCAR” designation and demonstrate its ongoing commitment to NASCAR.

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“With Mobil 1’s long tradition of partnering with world-class race teams around the globe, we are proud of our new association with one of NASCAR’s top drivers,” said Nigel Searl, vice president marketing, ExxonMobil Lubricants & Petroleum Specialties Company. “We look forward to helping Stewart-Haas Racing secure a Sprint Cup Series championship and add to the list of successful teams that Mobil 1 has supported for more than 30 years.”

Stewart has been one of the most successful Sprint Cup drivers since joining the elite series in 1999. He has 39 career wins, including championships in 2002 and 2005. He also has a streak of 12 consecutive seasons with at least one victory, the longest active stretch in Sprint Cup. Stewart qualified for the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup, marking the sixth time he has accomplished the feat since the inception of the Chase in 2004.

“As a team owner, I’m absolutely thrilled to add such a respected technology partner to our race team,” said Tony Stewart, co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing. “And as a driver, it’s exciting to partner with a brand that has such an incredible racing pedigree. ExxonMobil is committed to producing the highest-quality racing motor oil and shares the same winning attitude that champions must have to succeed at this level.”

Mobil 1 will serve as the co-primary sponsor of the No. 14 Chevrolet Impala with Office Depot, the “Official Office Products Partner of NASCAR.” Mobil 1 will be prominently featured on the hood of Stewart’s car for 11 races, while taking a high-profile associate role in the remaining 25 races, as well as the two non-point races.

In addition, ExxonMobil will provide Mobil 1 lubricant technology and engineering support to Stewart-Haas Racing and Mobil 1 will be an associate sponsor of Ryan Newman’s No. 39 Chevrolet Impala, which is also fielded by Stewart-Haas Racing.

Mobil 1 has been the Official Motor Oil of NASCAR since 2003 and is used by more than 50 percent of the teams in NASCAR’s top-three series.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 9, 2010) – Daytona International Speedway’s new racing surface will receive its NASCAR christening next January, during a three-day NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test.
The session, known as NASCAR Preseason Thunder, is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 20 through Saturday, Jan. 22. Sunday, Jan. 23 is the rain date.
The 2011 edition of NASCAR Preseason Thunder will help teams acclimate to the new pavement, plus speed their preparation for the 53rd Daytona 500 on Feb. 20 – the series’ traditional season-opener.
The repaving project – only the second in track history and first since 1978 – began immediately after the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event on July 3.
“This allows everyone an equal opportunity to work on their setups and get everything in order leading up to Speedweeks and the running of the Daytona 500,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “Additionally, it gives the teams the chance to get accustomed to the new pit road and the added run-off areas on the backstretch. We’re excited about the new surface and believe it will only enhance the racing experience at Daytona.”
All NASCAR Preseason Thunder sessions begin at 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m., weather permitting. Each includes a lunch break from noon until 1 p.m.
Attending media will have daily interview opportunities in the media center.
Fans seeking to rev up their new year can do so at the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest at Daytona – the companion event to the January test. Along with watching NASCAR Preseason Thunder track activity from Daytona’s Sprint FANZONE, fans can enjoy two Fan Fest sessions – from 5-9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 21 and from 5-7 p.m., on Saturday, Jan. 22.
Driver question-and-answer and autograph sessions are planned. Tickets for the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest are $20. Fans also can watch each day’s testing at no cost from a section of the Oldfield Grandstands.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming the stars of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to our new racing surface in January,” said Joie Chitwood, Daytona International Speedway president. “NASCAR Preseason Thunder will be an important test session for all teams as they acquire data from their first laps on the new asphalt at Daytona.
“The test is also going to serve as a great opportunity for fans to interact with their favorite drivers in advance of Speedweeks 2011 and the 53rd annual Daytona 500.”
Teams from the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series are expected to receive extra practice time during Speedweeks to get acclimated to the track’s new surface.

Tony Stewart wins his first career race in 19 starts at California, 2nd win this season, 39th career Cup Series win, and rockets to 5th in the points.