2013

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PreseasonThunder2013ThumbNASCAR Preseason Thunder Rolls Into Daytona

Sixth-Generation NASCAR Sprint Cup Car To Make Debut At The World Center of Racing

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 8, 2013) – NASCAR fans will get their first glimpse of the new sixth-generation NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars on the storied Daytona International Speedway for three days this week at Preseason Thunder, the unofficial on-track start of the 2013 NASCAR season.

This week’s sessions will be the only test for the new car at Daytona prior to Speedweeks, which begins with The Sprint Unlimited on Feb. 16 (SPEED, MRN Radio, SiriusXM Satellite Radio) and culminates with the 55th running of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 24 (FOX, MRN Radio, SiriusXM Satellite Radio).

 “This test is an opportunity for the teams to prepare their cars for Speedweeks and the 55th running of the Daytona 500,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “This is the teams’ test and provides an excellent lead in to the upcoming 2013 season. There has been a lot of work put into the development of the Gen-6 car by the manufacturers, teams and NASCAR. It will be exciting to see the new cars on the track for Daytona Preseason Thunder.”

After several tests for the new car, including one restrictor plate test at Talladega Superspeedway, the rules package has been set heading into Preseason Thunder.

The rules package for Daytona includes:

  • Plate size                      29/32″ (same plate size as 2012)
  • Spoiler size                   4″ high x 53″ wide
  • Spoiler angle                 70 degrees
  • Front Grille size             1-3/4″ high x 23″ wide
  • Radiator Relief valve     32 psi

 

In addition to the year’s first on-track testing, the track will also host Preseason Thunder Fan Fest on Thursday night, January 10.

Fan Fest will include autograph sessions, driver fan forums, show cars and displays, music and a photo opportunity with the 2013 Harley J. Earl Daytona 500 trophy.

Tickets for Daytona Preseason Thunder Fan Fest are $20 on Thursday and $10 for Friday and Saturday and are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com. Children 12 and under will receive free admission.

Among the drivers scheduled to appear on Thursday, Jan. 10 during the 5:30–7:30 p.m. session are Greg Biffle, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Jamie McMurray, Tony Stewart, Martin Truex Jr., Jeff Burton, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kurt Busch and Mark Martin.

In the 7:30–9:30 p.m. session, 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski, 2012 Daytona 500 champion Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman, Danica Patrick, Aric Almirola, Carl Edwards, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Clint Bowyer, Marcos Ambrose, Joey Logano, David Ragan, David Gilliland, Paul Menard, Kyle Busch, Bobby Labonte, Austin Dillon, Trevor Bayne and Casey Mears are scheduled to appear.

Daytona International Speedway will also host special driver chat sessions on the speedway’s social media channels following the end of testing Thursday evening from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Fans can submit questions for Twitter chats by including #DaytonaTesting and the driver’s official Twitter handle. NASCAR’s official Twitter feed @NASCAR will also provide updates throughout the three-day session. Fans can also participate in live driver chats hosted on Facebook by visitingwww.facebook.com/DaytonaInternationalSpeedway.

SPEED will broadcast live coverage of testing on all three days from 1-5 p.m. ET. Additionally, SPEEDTV.com will stream testing live from 9 a.m.-noon ET each day.

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NASCARcomDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 3, 2013) — Calendars officially turned to 2013 just a few days ago, signifying for many a point of resolution – a fresh start in determining a new course of action. Like millions of its loyal fans, NASCAR® took a bold step by officially flipping the switch on a brand new digital experience, highlighted by a revamped NASCAR.com®.

“As people wake up and log on to the new NASCAR.com today and every day moving forward, they will see that it was designed with one thing in mind: the fans,” said Marc Jenkins, vice president of digital media for NASCAR. “This digital experience is meant to constantly evolve based on user feedback, with the goal of a creating a better digital experience for our fans.”

On the new NASCAR.com, the excitement of NASCAR will be captured through dynamic video, big, bold imagery, interactive graphics and the latest news and in-depth analysis from a choice group of NASCAR insiders and writers. Much of the content being produced by NASCAR.com’s editorial team will be focused on the upcoming races, giving fans the opportunity to consume rich, comprehensive event information on a week-to-week basis.

“The simplified NASCAR digital platform makes for easier user navigation and maximized interaction,” said Jenkins. “And most importantly, fans will have the same digital experience no matter what type of device is being used – be it a PC, a tablet or a mobile phone.”

Across the entire digital platform, there are also plenty of options for fans to further engage in on-track action on race day. The interactive live leaderboard will provide fans with in-depth information in real-time on each driver, while the popular RaceView® and RaceBuddy™ applications will be improved for an enhanced broadcast complement on race day. Fans will also be able to engage in NASCAR FANTASY LIVE™, the official NASCAR fantasy game, which will have a brand new look and feel.

For fans heading to the racetrack, the new NASCAR.com will continue to serve as a great destination for in-depth information on NASCAR-sanctioned race tracks. From information on local attractions, track history, and most importantly, ordering race tickets, fans need to look no further than the digital home of NASCAR: NASCAR.com.

Finally, in addition to an entirely new website, NASCAR will release a pair of mobile apps before the start of the Shootout at Daytona (Feb. 16, FOX) and the Daytona 500 (Feb. 24, FOX), giving fans an unprecedented second screen experience on their tablets and mobile devices.

· NASCAR Mobile ’13 – This app is highlighted with content such as latest news, race leaderboard, video, social media updates, in-car audio, live data and more.
· NASCAR RaceView Mobile ’13 – In addition to the aforementioned features, this premium app will render a virtual live race environment, giving fans the ultimate tool to follow their favorite driver in real time throughout the entire race.

NASCAR selected SapientNitro last summer to help design and build the platform for NASCAR’s new digital experience. NASCAR has also worked very closely with technology services firm Omnigon, which has acted as an advisor throughout the build.

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travis-pastrana-nascar-september-2012Action Sports Legend Travis Pastrana to Drive Roush Fenway’s No. 60 NNS Ford Full-Time in 2013

CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 3, 2013) – Action sports legend Travis Pastrana will make the move to full-time NASCAR racing in 2013, driving Roush Fenway’s historic No. 60 Ford Mustang in all 33 events on the NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule.

“I am extremely excited about making the move into full-time NASCAR competition in 2013 and equally thrilled to have the opportunity to make that move with Jack Roush and the team at Roush Fenway Racing,” said Pastrana, a four-time rally champion, motocross champion and multiple X Games gold medal winner.

“I am very serious about making this move, running competitively and ultimately winning races in NASCAR,” added Pastrana. “No team can claim the success in the Nationwide Series that Roush Fenway has, and I know driving an RFR Ford will provide me with the maximum opportunity to develop my skills behind the wheel of a stock car.”

Pastrana has made nine career Nationwide Series starts, including one for Roush Fenway last September at Richmond, where he qualified a career-high fifth and ran top-10 for much of the race en route to a 17th-place finish.

Pastrana will team up with veteran NASCAR crew chief Chad Norris and will be partnered with a variety of sponsors during the season.

“Travis is a champion,” said Roush Fenway co-owner Jack Roush. “It takes a great deal of drive and determination to reach that level of greatness in any field. He is serious about this move to NASCAR and we are committed to doing everything we can to see his career develop in NASCAR. We would certainly expect to see a great level of excitement brought to the table as he progresses within our sport.”

The No. 60 will be one of two full-time RFR Nationwide Series entries in 2013, with Pastrana being paired with Roush Fenway teammate and 2010 Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne in the No. 6 Ford Mustang.

Coming off of back-to-back Nationwide Series Championships in 2011 and 2012, RFR’s 131 wins are the most in NNS history. In addition, the No. 60 captured the NNS owners’ championship in 2011.

Roush Fenway’s No. 60 entry boasts the most wins in NNS history, having been driven to victory lane a grand total of 90 times by celebrated drivers Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and Mark Martin.

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Turner Motorsports LogoTurner Motorsports and Great Clips to Part Ways in 2013

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (January 2, 2013) – Turner Motorsports announced today that their successful two-year-long primary marketing partnership with Great Clips, Inc. will not continue into the 2013 NASCAR season. The parting of ways is an amicable one, with both companies mutually coming to the decision in order to enhance their growing marketing platforms. Though Great Clips, the longest-running sponsor in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, will no longer serve as a primary sponsor of the organization’s No. 38 entry, there remain opportunities for joint partnerships in the future. This past season marked Great Clips’ 12th year in the series as primary sponsor. The company spent five years as a partner of Braun Racing, before it was acquired by Turner Motorsports two years ago. An announcement with Great Clips’ future plans will be made within the hour. Turner Motorsports will also soon be announcing their plans for the 2013 season.

“We want to thank Great Clips for two great years as an outstanding marketing partner,” said Steve Turner, owner of Turner Motorsports. “They have been a big supporter of this race team since the beginning and we just can’t thank them enough for that. Though we have mutually decided to end our business partnership, the friendships we have made over the years will endure well into the future.”