Ray Hackett Racing is pleased to announce the addition of the 2009 ARCA West Series Champion Brian Johnson Jr. to its driver lineup. Johnson Jr. will make his NASCAR debut piloting the team’s #76 Ford F-Series truck in the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway on March 27th.

Brian Johnson Jr’s sponsor, SUPERSEAL Construction Products, is a Canadian based company that has previously sponsored him in the ARCA West Series. SUPERSEAL manufactures, markets and distributes dimpled membranes that are used for foundations, drainage and subfloors. When it comes to dimpled membranes for waterproofing or dampproofing, the SUPERSEAL brand is the market leader throughout North America.

Johnson Jr., a native of Machesney Park, Illinois won his 2009 ARCA West Championship in dominating fashion. In a total of eight races he scored 3 wins, 6 top tens and 5 poles.

Johnson Jr. will most likely run more races in 2010 with Hackett Racing, either in its #76 or #75 Truck. President of SUPERSEAL Ted Hubert is very pleased with the opportunity to further develop Brian’s talents and promote the SUPERSEAL brand with Ray Hackett Racing’s great program and NASCAR.

For more information on Brian Johnson Jr. fans can visit www.brianjohnsonjr.com or for more information on SUPERSEAL please go to www.superseal.ca.

- Ray Hackett Racing Press Release

An Insider’s Guide to 5 of the Hottest Tracks on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Circuit

The Ultimate NASCAR Insider’s Track Guide: Everything You Need to Plan Your Race Weekend by Liz Allison

That’s why we’ve created an application for 5 of the hottest tracks on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Circuit: Daytona, California, Las Vegas, Bristol, and Atlanta. The applications are based on the book The Ultimate NASCAR Insider’s Track Guide: Everything You Need to Plan Your Race Weekend by Liz Allison (Jan 2010, Center Street/Hachette Book Group).

From dining and shopping, to lodging, and tips for getting driver autographs, this is the app that every NASCAR fan needs. One-click instantly gives you access to listings of restaurants, hotels, and area attractions. Other features include a how-to for ticket purchasing, tips on what you can [and can’t] bring in to the grandstands, instructions for using a garage area access pass, and much more.

The app also includes a section on what to do in case of an emergency, whether it’s you or your four-legged friend. All phone numbers will automatically dial when clicked for any establishment listed [iPhone only].

You can even e-mail friends to recommend it and buy other circuits right through the app. Each app includes an overview of the track experience, an area map link, and plenty of helpful advice that will make your weekend at the race a memorable experience.

Link to the apps here:

Las Vegas – http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/las-vegas-the-ultimate-nascar/id353949062?mt=8

Fontana – http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fontana-the-ultimate-nascar/id353948224?mt=8

Atlanta – http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/atlanta-the-ultimate-nascar/id353948408?mt=8

Bristol – http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bristol-the-ultimate-nascar/id353947975?mt=8

Daytona – http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/daytona-the-ultimate-nascar/id353734351?mt=8

Liz Allison has been a veteran of the speedway as a reporter, fan, girlfriend, wife of late NASCAR driver Davey Allison, and mother. A former television correspondent for NASCAR Sprint Cup events, she has written five books on racing and a NASCAR romance series with Harlequin, and she is a contributing author to numerous race publications.

Toyota Motorsports Logo

• Camry Drivers’ Off-Weekend Plans
• Drivers Optimistic After Strong Start to Season
• J.D. Discusses Taylor’s Finish Line Festival
• Scott Gives Update on Injured Wrist
• Skinner’s Round-Up Preview

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS)

NEWS, NOTES & NUMBERS: Toyota drivers have combined for two top-five results and six top-10 finishes through four of 36 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) races … Scott Speed leads the Camry contingent sitting 12th in the NSCS point standings, trailing leader Kevin Harvick by 162 points … Toyota drivers Joey Logano (14th), Kyle Busch (15th) and David Reutimann (18th) are also in the top-20 in points … The NSCS will have a weekend off before returning to action at Bristol Motor Speedway, March 21.

SCOTT SPEED, No. 82 Red Bull Toyota Camry, Red Bull Racing Team

What does it mean to start the season so strong? “This is awesome. It’s fantastic. I’m so happy with all of the progress we’ve all made, and I still know how much I have to learn. So, I’m really optimistic for the future.” What are your plans for the off-weekend? “We’re going to Gainesville, Florida to the Gatornationals (NHRA event). There’s a bunch of us and I’m actually taking my motor home there. Amanda’s (wife) brother Matt Smith and his wife Angie Smith are racing motorcycles down there so we’re going to go and check that out.”

JOEY LOGANO, No. 20 Home Depot Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

What are your plans for the off-weekend? “A week off seems like it’s a lot of time off for me. I’m not used to that. I know I’m going to California to do a thing for Home Depot out there, so I’ll be running around a little bit. I’m sure I’ll go to the shop a few days and try to go over some short track stuff and see if we can get ready for Bristol and Martinsville. There might be a test in there somewhere, too. I’m sure we’ll be plugging along and trying to get ready to get back to short track racing.”

MARCOS AMBROSE, No. 47 Little Debbie Toyota Camry, JTG-Daugherty Racing

Do you think it’s the right time to have an off-weekend? “It’s the right time because I’ve got my family coming back from Australia so we’re going to hang out for the week. But, NASCAR seems to fill the off-weekends pretty quick now. I’ve got six days of testing in the next 15 days. We’re sure to be busy as a race team getting everything ready. We’re excited. We’ve got a good package running and I’m going to see my kids again, which will be fun and exciting. Who knows how our season is going to unfold, so when you get a weekend off it makes it a bit nicer.”

Are you able to relax during the off-weekend? “Not really. I’m gearing up to run the season now so I wouldn’t mind to just keep going. I’m here in America for one reason and that’s to race and try to win and off-weekends don’t mean much to me. Apart from my family being back, which I’m excited about, I’d prefer to be racing somewhere.”

J.D. GIBBS, president, Joe Gibbs Racing

How are plans coming together for Taylor’s Finish Line Festival in May? “Everything is coming together and the festival is going to be a tremendous family friendly event. There is already so much excitement that weekend with the Sprint All-Star Race the night before and the NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony earlier that day. We hope to really build off of that excitement to raise a lot of support for ‘Make-A-Wish Foundation’ and ‘Levine Children’s Hospital.’ These two organizations have really blessed our family and it has been amazing to witness how the local community, as well as our partners and so many others in the NASCAR family, are rallying to support the festival and these great charities.”

NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS)

NEWS, NOTES & NUMBERS: Toyota Camry drivers have combined for one win, four top-five results and 13 top-10 finishes after three of 35 NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) races … Brian Vickers and Steve Wallace are two of only four total NNS drivers to open the season with three straight top-10 finishes … Vickers (third), Kyle Busch (fifth) and Wallace (sixth) are currently in the top-10 in the NNS point standings … The Nationwide Series will have one more weekend off before returning to action at Bristol Motor Speedway, March 20.

STEVE WALLACE, No. 66 5-Hour Energy Toyota Camry, Rusty Wallace Racing

Are you happy with the way your team has performed to start the season? “Three top-10s is a great way for us to start the season. It always seems like the guys who can have a good start to the year and build some momentum tend to stay towards the front of the point standings for most of the year. We’ll build on this and head to Bristol — it’s one of my favorite tracks and our hot rods should really be strong there.”

BRIAN SCOTT, No. 11 AccuDoc Solutions Toyota Camry, Braun Racing

Has your wrist fully healed after breaking it last June during the Michigan NCWTS race? “Last Monday (March 1), my wrist was evaluated by a highly regarded specialist in New York. A high-resolution CT scan shows that it has healed to 85 percent. I will need to keep it braced and work on range of motion. However, there is nothing to hinder my commitment to my sponsors AccuDoc Solutions, StopRepairBills.com, BigSpot.com and the No. 11 Braun Racing Toyota team. I want to thank everyone for their prayers and support.”

TREVOR BAYNE, No. 99 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Diamond-Waltrip Racing

What are your thoughts on the start of the 2010 season? “We had the best finish for Diamond-Waltrip Racing at Las Vegas — actually my best career finish in the Nationwide Series — so we’re pumped up for Bristol. We’ve got some momentum going and I can’t wait to get to my home track (Bristol). We’re getting better and better each week. If we can continue to keep running like we are, I think we will be strong by the end of the year.”

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS)

NEWS, NOTES & NUMBERS: Tundra drivers have combined for one win, six top-five results and nine top-10 finishes in the first two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) races … Aric Almirola has recorded 11 top-10 finishes in 19 NCWTS starts since joining Billy Ballew Motorsports in 2009 … Steve Wallace, driving the No. 15 Billy Ballew Motorsports Tundra, earned a fourth-place finish in his first career Truck Series start at Atlanta last week … Todd Bodine currently leads the NCWTS point standings with a four-point advantage over fellow Tundra driver Timothy Peters … Almirola (fourth), Kyle Busch (fifth), Stacy Compton (sixth) and Tayler Malsam (ninth) are also in the top-10 in points … Tundra driver Mike Skinner will host the fourthannual ‘Toyota Skinner Round-Up for Charity’ on March 11 and 12 at Daytona International Speedway and Spruce Creek Country Club in Daytona Beach, Fla., to raise funds to benefit charities in Volusia County (Fla.) … The NCWTS will have a two-week break before returning to action at Martinsville Speedway, March 28.

MIKE SKINNER, No. 5 International Trucks/Monaco RV Toyota Tundra, Randy Moss Motorsports

Are you excited to host your fourth-annual ‘Toyota Skinner Round-up for Charity’ event? “It’s really, really great to have a bunch of friends come down and some musicians and athletes from different places around the country and race fans and have a heck of a lot of fun raising money for good causes and local charities right there in Volusia County. The only thing I can do is say thanks. A lot of our competitors are coming and that just tells you what a family this sport really is. We all want to beat the heck out of each other on the race track, but when it comes to doing charity work everybody pulls together. Guys that drive different manufacturer’s vehicles and the people that want to beat us are going to come and support us and I think that’s pretty cool.”

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 Toyota Tundra, Kyle Busch Motorsports

Are you pleased with the performance of Kyle Busch Motorsports so far in 2010? “For a young team, this is good to come out of the box and run strong and do well. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us, though. We’re excited about what happens next and getting to Martinsville and then of course on to place likes Dover, Kansas and Charlotte. We’ve got a long year ahead of us and this is a testament to how well this team is going to run and we’re looking forward to it.”

ARIC ALMIROLA, No. 51 Graceway Pharmaceuticals Toyota Tundra, Billy Ballew Motorsports

Are you happy with your start to the season? “We performed well last year and we’re showing once again we can do it again this year. We continue to put ourselves in position to win races and we run strong every week. For the amount of work and everything that the guys have went through over the winter, I’m really proud of Richie Wauters (crew chief) and all of the guys at our race shop. They’ve been working really hard and putting in a lot of hours to make our race team better and we’re gaining on it. We’re not all the way there, but we’re gaining on it and it makes me proud to see their hard work pay off. We’re just as strong of a team as we were last year.”

- Toyota Motorsports, Press Release

Annual Celebration Highlights Five Community Service Projects Across The Country
Aimed At Education And Helping Children Live Happier, Healthier Lives

The NASCAR Foundation

NASCAR Day is an annual charitable celebration of the NASCAR spirit that enables fans and corporate partners to join together to make a difference in the lives of children. Since it began in 2004, NASCAR Day has raised nearly $8 million for charity.

This year marks the first time that the Foundation has taken on multiple national service projects of this magnitude to celebrate and create awareness for children’s causes through the NASCAR Day platform.

“We are very proud of this program and what it has been able to accomplish over the past several years,” said NASCAR president and NASCAR Foundation Board Member Mike Helton. “The contributions from our fans and partners to NASCAR Day make it possible for the Foundation to take on these multiple community service projects across the country. We hope that our fans will come out to support these efforts or find a way to volunteer in their own community to help celebrate NASCAR Day.”

Fans can help support these initiatives by making a $5 donation for the 2010 NASCAR Day collectible lapel pin or by registering to volunteer at one of the service projects. For more information visit WWW.NASCAR.COM/NASCARDay.

Details of “The Big Five” projects:

* Atlanta, Ga. – Aflac, NASCAR’s official partner, and The NASCAR Foundation have partnered on the project which will involve a room renovation at the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to help give it a fresh new face-lift with a racing theme. Recognized as one of the top childhood cancer centers in the country by U.S. News & World Report, the Aflac Cancer Center treats more than 370 new cancer patients each year and follows more than 2,500 patients with sickle cell disease, hemophilia and other blood disorders.

* Daytona Beach, Fla. – Bank of America, the Official Bank of NASCAR, and The NASCAR Foundation will work together in Daytona to raise awareness for the critical role math and science play in the sport of NASCAR by bringing more than 100 middle school students to Daytona International Speedway. The NASCAR Day event is part of the “Students at the Speedway” program, the bank’s signature program designed to showcase NASCAR as a strong career path for students who are eager to learn in the areas of math, science and technology.

* Fontana, Calif. – The NASCAR Foundation has partnered with Auto Club Speedway to host a youth initiative at the track on NASCAR Day.

* Kansas City, Mo. – With the help of Sprint, an official partner of NASCAR, and hundreds of volunteers, The NASCAR Foundation will build a brand new playground at the Ronald McDonald House of Kansas City. The playground will be dedicated in memory of Tom Murphy, a former Sprint Executive and NASCAR Foundation Board Member who passed away last year. The Ronald McDonald House serves more than 6,000 families per year and is desperately in need of a playground facility.

* Charlotte, N.C. / Rock Hill, S.C. – A community service project at A Place for Hope. A Place for Hope (APFH) is committed to providing material resources, hands-on educational training and job development programs, and psychological hope for the residents of Blackmon Road. The Blackmon Road Community is one of the poorest communities in South Carolina. The residents of Blackmon Road live without indoor plumbing, bathrooms or showers, without trash pick-up, without paved roads, and without street lights.

In addition to the five service projects, the contributions raised through NASCAR Day will help a variety of other organizations with an emphasis on children’s health and education. Last year, NASCAR Day funds also supported charitable organizations and non-profit programming including gifts to Kyle and Pattie Petty’s Victory Junction camp in Randleman, N.C., the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, the Speediatrics racing-themed pediatric units and others.

One lucky fan will also win the trip of a lifetime to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony in Las Vegas that includes airfare, hotel and two tickets to the Awards Ceremony in December 2010 through the NASCAR Day Sweepstakes. To learn more visit WWW.NASCAR.COM/NASCARDay.

About The NASCAR Foundation
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc., (NASCAR) launched The NASCAR Foundation in January 2006. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity that embodies the compassion of the NASCAR Family and its commitment to serving communities. The Foundation seeks to raise funds and increase volunteerism to support non-profit charities and charitable causes throughout the nation with an emphasis placed on initiatives that affect the ability of children to live, learn and play. For more information on The NASCAR Foundation, please visit the website: WWW.NASCAR.COM/foundation.

About NASCAR Day
Annually celebrated on the third Friday in May, NASCAR Day is a charitable celebration of the NASCAR spirit that enables fans and partners to join together to make a difference in the lives of children. NASCAR Day encourages fans to make a $5 donation for a collectible lapel pin which in turn will support programs that help children live happier, healthier lives. Since it began in 2004, NASCAR Day has raised nearly $8 million for charity. Bring your family and friends to a NASCAR Day service project and experience how together you can improve the lives of those we care about the most. Visit WWW.NASCAR.COM/NASCARDay to register as a NASCAR Day team member, to find out about volunteer opportunities or to learn more about how The NASCAR Foundation is helping children in need.

- The NASCAR Foundation, Press Release

Kyle Petty - Kyle Petty Charity Ride

The camp is an amazing facility which offers a much needed and medically-sound year round camping experience to children with chronic and terminal illnesses. This is a place where these children can, as much as possible, forget what illnesses plague their daily lives, and can just have fun. Laughter is, after all, an amazing medicine, and these kids need to and do laugh, laugh, laugh.

During the charity ride, the participates will greet fans and supporters at stops in North Las Vegas, Nevada, Richfield, Utah, Durango, Colorado, Amarillo, Texas, Texarkana, Texas, Choctaw, Mississippi, Chattanooga, Tennessee and Asheville, N.C. where fans and supporters who have held various charity events to raise fund for Victory Junction will have the opportunity to meet and present the Pettys with their donations.

Operating solely on donations, Victory Junction Camp has now brought laughter and fun to the lives of more than 7000 chronically ill children ages 6 to 16 free of charge. Last year ground was broken for a new facility in Kansas City, Kansas. This year’s success in raising funds is particularly important, because the economy has affected everyone and more and more children are deserving of the Camp’s services now more than ever!

I spoke with Kyle last week about the upcoming ride. The excitement in his voice was so evident. “It’s time to ride again,” he began laughingly. Speaking about, hopefully better weather than the last month nationwide, “We’ll probably get a springtime that’s 200 degrees since the winter has been snowy and icy and rainy for the last 15 or 20 days of winter. Then we’ll probably get a springtime that goes straight in to summer.”

“This is our 16th year. That is the most amazing part to me, that this ride has lasted for 16 years. I think that’s a tribute to the people who go on this ride. There’s a core group of about 35 to 40 people that go every single year and they invite different friends. There’s about 150 to 200 people every year, but, it’s that core group that keeps this going.”

“This is (like) extended family and obviously by being on this thing and having this thing go for this long of a period of time, like in any family you experience really high highs and really low lows. We have lost people during the course of the year through illness, accidents and other ways…family members from the ride have passed away. It’s truly amazing to go to Charlotte or to have to fly to Texas for a funeral or some illness in somebody’s family and you get there and everybody from the motorcycle ride is there. You understand why people ride bikes and have that brotherhood because it truly is an extended family. Everybody pulls together. When we lost Adam, looking back, you think how your close and good friends respond to that. And it’s funny because everybody handles grief in a different way and everybody looks at things in a different way and just knowing somebody who cares is there is important. That’s the way the people on the ride are. You know they are always there.”

“We all live in different parts of the country. We’ve got guys who go on the ride, the Bartels, who live in San Francisco. We’ve got people who live in Durango, Colorado, we’re going through there this year, and people everywhere. And it’s funny how you’ll get back together on the ride each year and somebody has gone on vacation and called up somebody (from the ride) and stayed at their house. It’s like yeah we were passing through Durango so we stayed with the Cables and some of those people, so, it’s pretty amazing how we’re such a tight group. We all are pretty much family.”

I asked what they do for overnight stays…do different people do different things? Do they camp out or stay in motels? How is that handled?

“Well,” Kyle continued,”it really depends. It depends on where we are and what we’re doing. Like when we get to Durango this year, the Cables, Dee Dee and that crowd are going to have a dinner for us. They have a place there and the night after that we are going to be in Amarillo. We’ve been through there before and done some stuff with the Quarter Horse Industry and we’re just going to have an open night where everybody can go out on the town and do whatever they want to. And when we get to Philadelphia, Mississippi we’re staying at a casino and we’re going to have a poker night to help raise money for the camp and some local charities. So, it really depends on where we’re at and what we’re doing.

“We always stay at hotels. Sometimes we have to stay at 4 or 5 because there are so many of us, but, we always stay at pretty nice places. We eat breakfast and lunch together but at night sometimes we scatter and each do something different. But, it’s pretty cool to see this many people and this many motorcycles come to a town all at one time. And we have our support vehicles which is another staff of 50 to 100 people with us in trucks and trailers and a medical unit who travel along, so, for insurance purposes, hotel purposes, we know who is going before we leave. Diane Huff and those guys have checked everything out and have narrowed it down to a science from police escorts to hotels to lunch stops and to gas stops. Everybody knows months in advance when we’re coming so they are prepared for us.”

“We start planning for next year almost immediately. Diane Huff and Morgan Castano kind of run everything over there. They work on it all year and make sure everything works. It’s the people on the journey that make ride. It’s not the destination. It’s the camaraderie that makes it all so enjoyable.”

It sounds amazing…these great people coming together for such a great cause. It is just what we have all come to expect from this amazing Petty family. We at www.catchfence.com wish them a safe, enjoyable and successful journey. I laughing as I say I may take you up on the invitation some time, Kyle, but I will have to ride in the van and thanks for that suggestion!

For more information about Victory Junction, please visit www.victoryjunction.org. And for more information about the Charity Ride, please visit www.kylepettycharityride.com.

Again, good luck and God Bless!

NASCAR has suspended two crewmen for violating its substance abuse policy, including the former brother-in-law of Jeremy Mayfield.

William David Keith, a spotter for David Gilliland in the Sprint Cup Series, is one of the two crewmen and was suspended Tuesday. Keith is also a former winner in the ARCA Racing Series.

Keith gave a deposition in Mayfield’s legal battle with NASCAR, claiming he witnessed Mayfield using methamphetamines several times. Mayfield became the first driver last May to be suspended under NASCAR’s toughened drug policy.

Matthew Huffstetler was the other crewman suspended. He works for Daisy Ramirez Motorsports in the Camping World Truck series.

- SI.com

Toyota Motorsports Logo

• Red Bull Rally in Atlanta
• Tundras Tally Top-Fives in Georgia
• Racing Will Resume at Short Tracks

ATLANTA RACE REWIND: Red Bull Racing teammates Brian Vickers (seventh) and Scott Speed (10th) earned top-10 finishes for Toyota in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Camry driver Marcos Ambrose (11th) also collected a top-15 finish at the 1.5-mile Georgia oval. Other Camry drivers in the 341-lap, 524-mile race included Denny Hamlin (21st), Kyle Busch (25th), Martin Truex Jr. (27th), Max Papis (34th), Joey Logano (35th), Joe Nemechek (38th), David Reutimann (40th), Dave Blaney (41st), Michael McDowell (42nd) and Robby Gordon (43rd).

POINTS PACE: After four of 36 NSCS races this season, Speed (12th) is the top Toyota driver in the unofficial 2010 NSCS point standings. In addition to his 10th-place result at Atlanta, Speed finished in the top-20 at both Daytona International Speedway and Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. He trails points-leader Kevin Harvick by 162 points. Other Camry drivers in the top-20 in points following Atlanta include Logano (14th), Busch (15th), Vickers (16th) and Reutimann (18th).

TUNDRA TALLY: Busch (second) was the highest-finishing Tundra driver in Saturday’s 200-mile NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) race at Atlanta. Tundra drivers Aric Almirola (third), Steve Wallace (fourth) and Todd Bodine (fifth) also posted top-five finishes. Timothy Peters (seventh), Brad Sweet (12th), Tayler Malsam (13th), Mike Skinner (14th), David Starr (15th), Stacy Compton (19th) and Justin Lofton (20th) were other Tundra racers in the field. Bodine leads Peters by four points (340-336) in the unofficial 2010 NCWTS point standings after two of 25 races. Almirola (fourth), Busch (fifth) and Malsam (ninth) are also in the top-10 in the NCWTS point standings.

RETURN TO ACTION: All three of NASCAR’s national touring series are off this weekend, but the NSCS and NNS will return to action March 19-21 for the first short track race of the season at the half-mile Bristol Motor Speedway. The NCWTS will take two weeks off before taking on its first short track race of 2010 at Virginia’s half-mile Martinsville Speedway on March 27.

SKINNER’S ROUND UP FOR CHARITY: Skinner, driver of the No. 5 Tundra for Randy Moss Motorsports in the NCWTS will host the fourth annual ‘Toyota Skinner Round-Up for Charity’ on March 11 and 12 at Daytona International Speedway and Spruce Creek Country Club in Daytona Beach, Fla. Celebrities that will attend to help raise funds to benefit Volusia County (Fla.) charities include Nashville recording artist Stacy Mitchhart, ‘America Idol’s’ Bo Bice, and NASCAR personalities Michael Waltrip, Ron Hornaday Jr., Tommy Baldwin, Rick Crawford and Steve Park. Over the last three years, the ‘Round-Up’ has raised over a half million dollars for area charities. The two-day event kicks off to the public on Thursday evening at the Fan Zone and the Daytona 500 Club at Daytona International Speedway at 7:00

PM. SUIT SWEEPSTAKES: As part of a promotion for its upcoming NSCS and NNS weekend (May 7-8), South Carolina’s Darlington Raceway is giving away a fire suit worn by Vickers — the 2003 NNS champion. Vickers has one win at the 1.366-mile speedway in NNS competition (2003). Fans can enter to win the fire suit at DarlingtonRaceway.com.

TOYOTA SPONSAFIER: Ever want to design your own race car? Now fans can with Toyota’s ‘Sponsafier’ available at ToyotaRacing.com. Between now and March 15, fans can log on to the ToyotaRacing.com site, click the ‘Sponsafier’ link, create an account and design a race car for their favorite Toyota driver. Once designed, fans submit their race car paint scheme online for voting and a chance for their design to lead the field prior to the start of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race in Charlotte.

- Toyota Motorsports, Press Release

NASCAR Logo

On March 5, both were found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 19 (violation of the NASCAR substance abuse policy) of the 2010 NASCAR rule book.

- NASCAR, Press Release

Martinsville Speedway

The bargain package from SPEED includes a ticket for the Kroger 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on March 27, a ticket for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 on March 28 and admission to a breakfast that will include appearances by NASCAR Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck series drivers along with SPEED personalities.

“Grub-N-Rub is an awesome deal SPEED has put together for fans,” said Martinsville Speedway president W. Clay Campbell. “You get tons of action, lots of good food and some up close time with drivers. It’s a pretty amazing deal.”

The $99 price tag, $69 for children 12 and under, includes a two-day reserved ticket in the Blue Ridge Tower on the front stretch for the Kroger 250 and the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500. It also includes breakfast at 9 a.m. on Saturday with question and answer sessions with Sprint Cup driver Kevin Harvick, truck series drivers Timothy Peters and Ricky Carmichael, track president Campbell and personalities from SPEED.

Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 on Sunday, March 28, the Kroger 250 on Saturday, March 27 and the Duracell Battery Kroger Pole Day on Friday, March 26 are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RACE.TIX. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.

Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 start at just $25.

- Martinsville Speedway, Press Release

No. 7 visitPIT.com Toyota Tundra (Justin Lofton) - Photo Credit: Getty Images for NASCAR

“We were en route to a solid top-10 with a top five in sight. On that restart, I went to the high side of another truck. He started chasing his truck up the racetrack, squeezing me into the wall. It damaged the right side and the nose of the truck. The crew did an awesome job keeping us on the lead lap with all of the crash damage they had to repair,” Lofton said. “It’s disappointing to have such a great run taken away from us.”

Though the team did not get the finish they showed they deserved, Lofton earned respect and proved he’ll be a contender as the season rolls on.

Initially, Lofton took the green flag from the 22nd position. Knowing pre-race that their machine was set up for longer runs, Lofton settled in, maneuvering his Toyota into 18th after just five laps.

An early caution flag with just over 20 laps on the board allowed the 24-year-old to relay to crew chief Mark Rette that his visitPIT.com-backed Tundra was handling a bit loose in traffic. The team took advantage of the yellow, swapped out Goodyear tires, made a slight track bar adjustment, and got their driver back on track with a good stop, lining him up in the 12th position for the restart.

With the truck dialed in, Lofton wheeled his machine into the top 10 by lap 45, with Rette telling him, “Welcome to the top 10. Be cautiously aggressive, go get them.”

Lap after lap around the 1.54-mile track, the California native put his driving skills on display, muscling his entry into sixth, eyeing a top five effort by the time the caution waved on lap 69.

“You’re doing a great job out there bud. You’re impressing the heck out of me. Just take care of it here, there are a lot of laps left,” Rette said. “When we get a long run, we’re going to eat these boys up.”

Following cleanup for the caution, the field took the restart on lap 74. Lofton maintained the sixth position, mixing things up with the race leaders which included past and reigning NASCAR Nationwide Series champions Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch.

On lap 77 however, Lofton’s climb ended abruptly when another competitor drifted high on the backstretch, pushing Lofton, who was running in the outside lane, into the retaining wall. A victim of track position, Lofton’s truck suffered damage to both sides, forcing him to the pits for repairs.

The crew got to work and fixed as much of the damage as they could under yellow in order to keep their Toyota on track. Lofton stayed up on the wheel, finishing out the race, bringing home a 20th place finish.

Justin Lofton

After the first two events, Lofton shows 18th in the point standings.

Next up, Lofton and the No. 7 crew will head to the paperclip shaped Martinsville Speedway short track on March 27th.

For more on Justin Lofton, visit LoftonRacing.com

Follow Justin on Twitter at twitter.com/jlracing

- Justin Lofton Racing Press Release

No .17 K&N Toyota Tundra (Timothy Peters) - Photo Credit: Getty Images for NASCAR

The #17 Red Horse Racing team used two practice sessions on Friday to get their Toyota Tundra ready for the race. Peters reported that his truck was driving great but the team was surprised the lap times were not faster. After finishing practice 21st quick, Peters qualified his Tundra in the 30th spot on Saturday morning. Despite having his work cut out for him, Peters wasn’t concerned at all. He knew his #17 K&N machine would drive straight to the front.

When the green flag dropped, Peters wasted no time moving forward. He jumped to the 22nd spot after just one lap and was running in the 11th position after just 23 laps. Picking up 19 spots in such a short time, Peters told his team his truck was handling really well on the bottom groove in turns three and four but just a little snug off.

The caution came out on lap 23 and crew chief Jeff Hensley called his driver to pit road. Picking up four fresh tires and fuel, the team also gave Peters air pressure and wedge adjustments. Quick work on pit road put Peters in the eighth spot for the restart.

Timothy Peters - Photo Credit: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images for NASCAR

With only one set of tires remaining in the pits, Hensley told his driver to be conservative until after the final stop. Peters slipped back to the 10th spot before another caution flew just two laps into the run for an accident that happened right in front of Peters. He was able to avoid any damage but reported that he might have a tire going flat. Hensley called him to pit road just to be safe and the team put the last set of tires on the truck. With only two laps on the set of tires they just took off, the team got that set ready to put back on the truck for the final stop. The unscheduled stop cost Peters some track position and he restarted 15th.

Shortly after the restart another quick caution on lap 67 slowed the field again. Peters stayed out and restarted 14th on lap 74. He quickly reported that the truck felt really good on the bottom of turns three and four. Moving his way back into the top-10 on lap 81, Peters reached the sixth spot by lap 90. Vying for each position, Peters was racing hard with the fifth place truck but every time the #17 would get a run and attempt to complete the pass the truck in front of him would take Peters’ line away. The caution came out on lap 111 and Peters reported his truck was just a little tight off of turn 2 but perfect everywhere else. The #17 hit pit road for the last stop of the day on lap 112. Taking four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment, Peters restarted eighth for the final 14 laps of the race.

Peters got jammed up on the restart and slipped back to the 10th spot. Unwilling to give up, he clawed his way back through the field, reaching the seventh spot before the checkered flag fell. Happy and relieved to have another top-10 finish under his belt, Peters is looking forward to returning to his home track, Martinsville Speedway, in two weeks.

- Red Horse Racing Press Release

No. 6 EZ-Slider Chevrolet Silverado (Donnie Neuenberger) - Photo Credit: Getty Images for NASCAR

Grabbing the wheel of the #6 Chevy, the Maryland native made his debut with RWR at Daytona and finished 9th, tying his career high in the series. This past weekend, Neuenberger had full support once again from EZ-Slider Cylinder Liners and company CEO Joe Korff for the running of the EZ-Go 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

“We really looked forward to the race here in Atlanta, but we realized how new we are to this series. The veterans tons of laps here and have great pieces specified for this track and it is hard to match that type of technology and experience so quickly,” stated Neuenberger.

Neuenberger and the RWR team struggled with getting comfortable with the setup and the speed needed at such a fast track and qualified 33rd on the grid.

“Our goal is to log laps, take notes, stay out of trouble and come home in the Top 10 in points and we accomplished that,” stated Rick Ware.

Donnie is tied for 10th with his team mate and Rookie of the Year contender Brett Butler in the #47 Fuel Doctor Chevy.

Donnie Neuenberger - Photo Credit: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images for NASCAR

Neuenberger is slated for several select races in the NASCAR Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series with Rick Ware Racing for 2010 and is excited about the direction the organization is heading in.

“The team struggled at times in 2009, but they have turned the corner in the off season and look solid now. They have made every event they have entered in both the Nationwide and Camping World Trucks and have hit career highs for all the drivers in their stable in the past 6 months.”

Donnie and EZ-Slider Cylinder Liners now prepare for their next race with RWR at Dover look forward to their climb back into the driver’s standings in May.

“I want to thank Rick Ware, Joe Korff, EZ-Slider Cylinders and the entire RWR team for a great couple races and I can’t wait to get a hold of the wheel of the 6 once again.”

ABOUT EZ-Slider Cylinders

EZ-Slider Cylinder Liners manufacture cylinder sleeves for automotive, truck, and racing applications, and produces custom liners to any specification. EZ-Slider Cylinder Liners are centrifugally cast, CNC machined, and ground in our ISO 9001:2000 quality registered foundry in Salem Ohio. Gray Iron, Ductile Iron, Compacted Graphite Iron and other materials to suit customer needs are offered. We strive for the best quality, customer service, and turn-around time in the business, with custom sleeve orders often shipped the same week.

- Rick Ware Racing Press Release

No. 47 Fuel-Doctor.com Chevrolet Silverado (Brett Butler) - Photo Credit: Getty Images for NASCAR

Sounds crazy but the youngster has never had the opportunity to race at the ultra fast Atlanta Motor Speedway until he grabbed the wheel of the #47 Fuel Doctor USA Chevy in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series this past weekend.

“I have always been fond of Atlanta Motor Speedway and have been here several times but never to race. It is very fast and tests drivers every second of every lap and that is exactly what happened Saturday,” stated Butler.

Butler struggled to get comfortable with the “edge of the seat” feeling often experienced at the 1.5 mile tri-oval but overcame and qualified 32nd for the running of the EZ-Go 200.

“It is not the best qualifying effort of my career but honestly that has never been my strong suit. There are so many guys with tons of laps here and top notch equipment built for Atlanta and we knew it was going to take an extraordinary day for us to finish near the front.”

Brett Butler - Photo Credit: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images for NASCAR

“The RWR (Rick Ware Racing) team was really conservative this weekend knowing the odds we were up against and it worked in our favor, having a truck in one piece, logging laps and finishing in the Top 10 in points,” claimed Butler.

Butler is currently tied with team mate Donnie Neuenberger for the 10th position in the Championship Standings after two races and 2nd in Rookie of the Year Championship as well.

Butler now looks forward to a track that he is familiar with, Martinsville Speedway. “I’ve actually got some laps in a truck somewhere.” Brett chuckled.

The Georgia native finished 26th and 20th in the two races at the half mile track in 2009 and knows he has a great opportunity to showcase his talents once again.

“I am really looking forward to running at Martinsville. The guys brought a really great truck there last year with Tim Brown and I know they will give me exactly what I need to get the job done.”

- Rick Ware Racing Press Release

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #2 E-Z-GO Chevrolet, crosses the finish line to win the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series E-Z-GO 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 6, 2010 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by HHP/Brian Lawdermilk - Pool/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Harvick started the E-Z-GO 200 from the fourth position with a brand-new chassis out of the Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) stable. In four previous Truck Series starts in 2009 with a new chassis (Martinsville, Loudon, Phoenix and Homestead), Harvick has scored three wins and one third-place finish.

As the race got under way, Harvick reported the No. 2 ShopEZGO.com Chevrolet was a little too loose for his liking. Harvick’s teammate, Ron Hornaday, had a left-rear tire go flat from contact on lap one and spun on lap 23 making hard contact with the wall. Hornaday’s misfortune gave the No. 2 team the opportunity to make their first scheduled pit stop of the day on lap 24. With a small air-pressure adjustment, Harvick restarted the race from the number one spot and never fell out of the top four the remainder of the 130-lap event.

The second caution of the afternoon fell on lap 52 with Harvick nearly seven seconds ahead of second position. Seizing another opportunity to put on fresh tires and top off with fuel, Ernie Cope brought Harvick down pit road on lap 54. Having another solid stop, Harvick entered the pits first and returned to competition in the top spot.

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #2 E-Z-GO Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series E-Z-GO 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 6, 2010 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Once again, Harvick came down pit road as the leader and restarted the race in the first position.

With less than 15 laps remaining, Harvick pulled out to over a one-second lead on the field to score his seventh Truck Series victory (in 102 starts) of his career. Harvick was followed by Kyle Busch, Aric Almirola, Steve Wallace and Todd Bodine.

Atlanta becomes the second track where Harvick has scored the “trifecta,” winning in all three of NASCAR’s top divisions (Cup, Nationwide and Truck), with Phoenix International Raceway being the first.

- Kevin Harvick Inc. Press Release

“Flat Tire Leads to Four-Time Champions’ first DNF of 2010″

HAMPTON, Ga. (March 7, 2010) — After a disappointing start to the 2010 season four-time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday and the No. 33 Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) Longhorn Moist Snuff Chevrolet Silverado team came to Atlanta Motor Speedway looking to rally back.

A pole-winning run in qualifying gave confidence to the team heading into Saturday’s E-Z-GO 200. Hornaday led the field to the green flag, however on lap one, Kyle Busch and Matt Crafton pushed their trucks to the edge leaving Hornaday three wide in the middle groove. Hornaday tried to hold his line, but cold tires loosened up his truck. He and Busch touched slightly bending in his left-rear fender resulting in a tire rub. The team debated on making an unscheduled pit stop but after a few laps the tire smoke dissipated.

Ron Hornaday Jr – Photo Credit: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images for NASCAR

Harvick, Hornaday’s KHI teammate, went on to win the E-Z-GO 200 for his seventh career Truck Series victory. Busch finished second followed by Aric Almirola, Steve Wallace and Todd Bodine.

The Truck Series returns to action March 27th at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway for the Kroger 250.

- Kevin Harvick Inc. Press Release