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Paul Menard rumbled across the yard of bricks at full speed for the final time, signaling the crunching of a few couple key numbers: 14 different winners in 20 races, most since 2003; four different first-time winners, most since 2007; and the big one – five winners residing outside the top 10 in points.

“Wild Card Fever” has overtaken the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage, adding new faces to the championship discussion. Only six races remain before NASCAR’s “playoffs” – the 12-driver Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – meaning fewer chances for Wild Card wins, and potential Chase bonus points.

After race No. 26 at Richmond, the top-10 drivers will earn berths into the 12-driver Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup field. Spots 11 and 12 will go to those drivers outside the top 10 with the most wins, provided they are in the top 20. Ties will go to the drivers with the best points position.

Continue reading “NASCAR Playoff Push Heats Up”

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Hendrick Motorsports Lands Three Indy Contingency Awards

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Aug. 2, 2011) – Despite coming up one position shy in his bid for a fifth win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Jeff Gordon’s strong run in Sunday’s Brickyard 400 presented by BigMachineRecords.com sent a message that he is a serious challenger for a fifth championship, and earned the veteran driver two of Hendrick Motorsports’ three post-race contingency awards.

Gordon, who started the event in eighth, led four times for a total of 36 laps around the famed 2.5-mile track. Charging from 16th position to second in the final 20 laps, Gordon wheeled his No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet to a solid second-place finish. He has scored top-10 finishes in 14 of the 18 races held at Indianapolis, the most by any driver.

Continue reading “Hendrick Motorsports Lands Three Indy Contingency Awards”

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Regan Smith to Throw Out First Pitch
Wednesday at Colorado Rockies Game

DENVER (Aug. 1, 2011) — Regan Smith, driver for the Denver-based Furniture Row Racing team on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Wednesday afternoon’s (Aug. 3) Major League Baseball game between the Colorado Rockies and Philadelphia Phillies at Coors Field.

Smith, who is coming off an impressive third-place finish in Sunday’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is looking forward to the 60-feet, 6-inch throw.

“I’ve been fortunate to participate in many neat things throughout my career and throwing out the first pitch at a Rockies game is going to rank right up there,” said Smith. “I am really excited about this opportunity and hope I can throw a strike.”

Continue reading “Regan Smith Throwing Out First Pitch at Rockies Vs. Phillies Game”

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Paul Menard stretches fuel to win Brickyard 400

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(July 31, 2011)

INDIANAPOLIS — Years ago, as a garage rat at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Paul Menard dreamed of winning a race at the vaunted Brickyard.

On Sunday, the dream came true. In a season full of improbable first-time winners in NASCAR’s foremost races, Menard, 30, stretched his fuel mileage and held off charging Jeff Gordon to win the Brickyard 400 at the 2.5-mile track.

The victory was Menard’s first as a Sprint Cup driver, and it catapulted him into the conversation for a wild-card berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Gordon, who closed rapidly over the final five laps, crossed the finish line .725 seconds behind the season’s fourth first-time winner.

“My first year here was 1989, that I can remember anyway—I think I was here when I was 3 or 4 years old, too,” said Menard, whose father, John Menard, has fielded IndyCars for a variety of drivers. “I just spent a lot of time in the garage area. I didn’t miss an Indy 500 from 1989 to 2003.

Continue reading “Paul Menard Gets First Career Cup Win, At Indy”