Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway

Amongst the tell-tale signs of accidents from the last race, crews from Southern Bleachers have installed nearly one-half of the SAFER barriers along the inside wall of the back stretch at Rockingham Speedway. While the track won’t be any less difficult for drivers to navigate when the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series makes its inaugural trip to Rockingham on April 15, 2012 for the Good Sam Club Roadside Assistance Carolina 200, the hits will not be quite as bone-jarring as the speedway has begun the installation of Steel and Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) barriers along the inside back stretch wall.

Installation of the SAFER barriers in the turns will begin at Rockingham after the running of the American 200 doubleheader (Nov. 5, 2011) and the Polar Bear 150 (Nov. 26, 2011). In all, a mile’s worth of the soft walls will be installed around the facility.

Commonly referred to as “soft walls,” SAFER barriers are designed to absorb a portion of the energy in a crash, lessening the impact on the driver.

The project, when complete, represents a nearly one million-dollar investment. But to speedway president Andy Hillenburg, it’s a worthwhile expense.

“As a racer, safety is always my number one concern,” said Hillenburg, who made his first NASCAR Sprint Cup start at the track in 1991. “Regardless of NASCAR’s decision to come back to Rockingham, SAFER barriers were a need for us and I’m glad we are able to get that process underway. As we’ve seen over the years, there are some hard hits along that inside wall coming off of (turn) two and when things go bad getting into (turn) one, they go very bad.”

NASCAR requires the technology at any facility at which it sanctions an event in its top-three National Touring Series.

“NASCAR is looking forward to returning to Rockingham Speedway with a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event in 2012,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR senior vice-president for Racing Operations. “The fans and community have shown strong support and the track is making significant improvements to its facility. We appreciate all the hard work by Andy Hillenburg and his staff to get to this point. It should be a fun event.”

Can’t wait for April?

Racing action returns to Rockingham Speedway next month with the annual running of the American 200 CARS Pro Cup and UARA-Stars Late Model Series doubleheader on November 5. Chase Elliott, son of 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Champion Bill Elliott, won the Pro Cup portion of the Carolina 200 in May. Brennan Poole took the checkered flag in the UARA race (PDF).

On November 26, the Frank Kimmel Street Stock Nationals take to The Rock for the fourth Polar Bear 150. Up to 99 street stocks will take the green flag.

For more information, or to order tickets for any event at Rockingham Speedway, please contact the ticket office at 910.205.8800 or visit us online at www.rockinghamspeedway.com. Great seats and suite packages are still available.

- Rockingham Speedway Press Release

Randy Hill Racing (RHR)

Randy Hill Racing, a newly formed team with plans to compete in select NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) events this season before stepping up their involvement in 2012, has paired with the Mooresville, North Carolina-based team for the event on the 2011 calendar after RHR elected to forgo utilizing its own equipment to concentrate on their upcoming efforts.

“Randy Hill Racing is a professional organization and if we feel like we cannot come out to the track and give 100 percent on and off the track, we will stay put,” said Nationwide car owner Randy Hill. “However, I made a promise to Casey (Roderick), NASCAR and a lot of folks in Texas that we would be racing at Watkins Glen and I am a man of my word.”

RHR heads to Watkins Glen International (WGI) on the heels of three consecutive outings in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards in the No. 08 Randy Hill Racing entry led by Jeff Spraker and his Spraker Racing Enterprises (SRE) trio. In those three races, Roderick and his posse showed incredible speed which included leading the lone practice session this past weekend at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway. While circumstances beyond its control halted a good finish, the team is excited about moving up the Motorsports ladder.

“The pairing with Archie (St. Hilaire) and Go Green Racing (GGR) for Watkins Glen is fitting,” added Hill. “We are committed to running under the Ford banner this year and the team (Go Green Racing) has a strong fleet of racecars. Undoubtedly, we’re appreciative to have formed this partnership with them and look forward to having a respectable run on Saturday.”

Casey Roderick

Later in the year, the Bill Elliott Racing team tackled New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) where again the team suffered misfortune. With just a handful of laps under his belt in practice, the engine expired in his No. 51 Dodge Charger forcing the team to make an overnight trip back to Georgia to obtain a new motor and return to NJMP in time for Roderick to start the event. Starting shotgun on the field, Roderick soared his way to the front and ultimately took the victory.

“Another reason I was so adamant about running Watkins Glen was because I know of Casey’s success there,” offered Hill, a Texas Rancher, inventor and entrepreneur. “I believe he has all the right ingredients to spread the word about Randy Hill Racing but also find himself in position to give Go Green Racing a strong finish.”

The former Legend Car Series driver remains humbled about the opportunity placed in front of him. “I have to thank Randy (Hill) for this opportunity,” Roderick said. “I am grateful to Archie and the Go Green Racing team for allowing us to form this partnership and go to Watkins Glen and try and turn some heads. I just hope we can stay on the track and be around for the end.”

It was also announced today that the team’s No. 39 Ford Mustang will be decked out in the colors of Texas’s Abilene Christian University. Hill, a former graduate from ACU, is utilizing Saturday’s event to bring awareness to one of the most prominent Universities in the state.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with ACU for this one event,” sounded Hill. “The university’s passion for bringing mobile learning to the next generation of student leaders parallels our desire to become a recognized leader in NASCAR for its newest generation of fans.”

Future plans for the Randy Hill Racing’s remaining 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Zippo 200 at the Glen (82 laps / 200.9 miles) is the 23rd of 35 races on the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series tour. Practice beings Friday, August 12 with a two-hour session planned from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Qualifying is set for race day on Saturday, August 13th set to launch at 9:45 a.m. The field will take the green flag shortly after 2:00 p.m. with live coverage on ESPN, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR (Satellite) Radio (Channel 90). Pre-race coverage of the contest lifts off at 1:00 p.m. also on ESPN.

For more on Randy Hill Racing, please visit randyhillracing.com.

Join the team on Facebook by clicking here (Randy Hill Racing).

Tweet with us through Twitter at @RandyHillRacing.

Additional input on Go Green Racing is available by logging on to gogreenracing.net or gogreenracing.org.

- Randy Hill Racing / Go Green Racing Press Release

Dodge Motorsports

THE NUMBERS for the Good Sam RV Insurance 500

1 – fewest cautions (7/30/78)

2 – fewest on lead lap at finish (twice, most recent 6/6/82)

3 – fewest caution laps (7/30/78)

4 – races won from outside a top-20 starting position

4 – fewest leaders (twice, most recent 6/9/85)

4 – fewest laps led by race winner (Bobby Labonte, 7/29/01)

5 – most wins (Jeff Gordon, Bill Elliott)

5 – most poles (Bill Elliott, Ken Schrader)

10 – number of jet dryers available for track drying this weekend at Pocono Raceway

10 – fewest lead changes (7/26/98)

12 – wins by car owner (Rick Hendrick)

13 – most cautions (twice, most recent 7/24/05)

16 – drivers with more than one pole at “The Tricky Triangle”

16 – most leaders (three times, most recent 6/13/04)

18 – fewest cars running at finish (7/25/82)

22 – wins from the front row; 13 from the pole

29 – worst starting position for race winner (Carl Edwards, 6/12/05)

29 – different race winners

36 – most cars on lead lap at finish (6/10/07)

37 – different pole winners

(42 – most cars running at finish (6/10/07)

56 – most lead changes (7/30/79)

57 – most caution laps (6/13/04)

120 minutes – approximate amount of time it takes to dry the 2.5-mile track

175 – laps led by race winner (Kurt Busch, 8/5/07)

2011 Caution Update

4 – number of races extended beyond scheduled distance in 2011

4 – fewest cautions this season (Fontana, Pocono)

16 – most cautions this season (Daytona)

152 – number of cautions in the first 20 races of 2011 (includes 70 for accidents, 37 for debris and 22 for spins)

718 of 5,756 – number of laps under caution in 2011

1,014.811 of 8,034.858 – miles under caution in the first 20 races

- Darnell Communications for Dodge Motorsports, Press Release

“Earnhardt loved that race because of the fact he could go out there and be aggressive and not worry about the points,” said Richard Childress, team owner of Earnhardt’s famed No. 3 Chevrolet. “We both really looked forward to that race because it was short, paid a huge purse to win it and we didn’t have to worry about getting in trouble or be worried about the championship. He loved that kind of racing and would always get excited when it was time to go to Charlotte for that race.”

Earnhardt collected 76 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories and won the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race three times – in 1987, 1990 and 1993.

With seven laps remaining in the 1987 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, Dale Earnhardt and Bill Elliott made contact coming off of Turn 4 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, sending Earnhardt into the infield grass. Miraculously, Earnhardt held his blue-and-yellow Chevrolet straight and stayed ahead of Elliott. For decades, the move has been referred to as “The Pass in the Grass.”

Twenty-four years later, the 1987 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race is still recognized by many as the wildest race in NASCAR history.

During the first 75-lap segment, Bill Elliott, driving the No. 9 Melling Racing Ford, swapped the lead with Geoff Bodine in the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet and Kyle Petty in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford. Elliott won the first segment and then led all 50 laps of the second.

Under the unique rules for the special event, the final 10 laps were to be run under the green flag with caution laps not counting. That’s when Earnhardt became aggressive and gave Elliott his biggest headache.

Bodine and Elliott made contact in Turn 2 on the first lap of the final segment, which sent Bodine spinning. Earnhardt took advantage of the situation, drove between the two cars and took the lead. The trio reloaded with fresh tires during the caution period that followed.

With seven laps remaining, Earnhardt and Elliott made contact coming off of Turn 4, sending Earnhardt into the infield grass. Miraculously, Earnhardt held his blue-and-yellow Chevrolet straight and stayed ahead of Elliott. For decades, the move has been referred to as “The Pass in the Grass.”

The two continued to race hard with Elliott being squeezed just shy of the outside wall several times during the final circuits. Earnhardt went on to win while Elliott fumed. He made heavy contact with Earnhardt’s Chevrolet on the cool-down lap to express his displeasure.

Earnhardt wasn’t pleased about being sent into the frontstretch grass.

“Bodine and Elliott wrecked in the first turn,” Earnhardt said in the May 21, 1987, issue of Grand National Scene. “I guess Bodine chopped down on him and turned him around, but all I know is that I didn’t touch anybody. I guess it was reflexes. I checked up and started to move where I thought they wouldn’t be. I decided to go to the bottom of the track and I was by myself. I don’t know why they threw the caution flag. No one was stopped.

“Then, as we came into the tri-oval two laps later, Elliott got under me and clipped me sideways. I almost got the car started the other way before I went into the grass and then I was able to get it right while I was in it. If I hadn’t, I might have gone right up into the flag stand right there with (flagman) Harold Kinder.

“I can guarantee you that, if I had turned someone sideways like that, I would be hanging from the flagpole right now.”

Earnhardt lived up to expectation in the 1990 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race as he led the entire race in Richard Childress Racing’s black No. 3. Photo: CMS

Going into the race that had been shortened to 70 laps, Earnhardt lived up to expectation as he led the entire race in Richard Childress Racing’s black No. 3.

“There was no question about who beat who today,” Earnhardt said in the May 24, 1990, issue of Grand National Scene. “I don’t mean for that to sound like bragging but, today, the race was won without controversy.

“I was running hard, but I was watching my rearview mirror, too. I wanted to stay consistent in case anyone did catch me. Then I could have something for them.”

There was wide speculation that Earnhardt would break away at the start and never look back.

During a brief intermission, teams up and down pit road made chassis adjustments, but couldn’t find the combination to go head-to-head with the sport’s biggest star.

Earnhardt went into the race a bit skeptical that he could make such a strong run. He was hopeful, but not completely confident.

“We didn’t know we could lead flag to flag,” Earnhardt said. “When you work hard, you can dominate and sometimes you make your luck.”

Earnhardt stayed alongside Mark Martin down the backstretch and nosed ahead in Turns 3 and 4 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, taking victory in the 1993 by NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race sixteen-hundredths of a second. Photo: CMS

Ernie Irvan, driving the No. 4 Morgan-McClure Chevrolet, easily won the first 30-lap segment of the 1983 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race while Rick Mast, after an inverted restart, topped the second. The third and final segment, at just 10 laps, looked like it belonged to Mark Martin in a strong Roush Racing Ford. But the complexion of the race changed when Terry Labonte crashed with two laps remaining.

Two restarts were needed when Earnhardt was charged with jumping the first. In the end, the race came down to a gusty pass. Earnhardt stayed alongside Martin down the backstretch and nosed ahead in Turns 3 and 4. At the start-finish line, he took the victory by sixteen-hundredths of a second.

“I drove deeper in the third turn than I thought I could, but the car stuck,” Earnhardt said. “I looked up in four and saw he was behind me and I knew all I had to do was keep going and I had it won.”

Martin recently reflected on battling Earnhardt in those intense NASCAR Sprint All-Star Races.

“Dale Earnhardt was tough everywhere he raced, but when everything was on the line, he was even tougher,” Martin said. “He loved those shorter, big money races. What can you say, he was Earnhardt.”

Tickets for all May races at Charlotte Motor Speedway can be purchased online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267). Frontstretch tickets with the best views of the world’s largest HD video board, debuting at the speedway in May, start at just $49 for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 21. Fans can also purchase two frontstretch tickets for just $99 to the Coca-Cola 600 on May 29.

For daily updates on May race activities, connect with Charlotte Motor Speedway by following on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CLTMotorSpdwy or become a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/charlottemotorspeedway.

- Charlotte Motor Speedway, Press Release

Chase Elliott

The 15-year-old Elliott took the lead during the fifth and final caution flag when the first- and second-place cars driven by J.P. Morgan and Brad Rogers, respectively, pitted for fresh tires with less than 20 laps remaining in the 150-lap USAR Pro Cup event. The son of 1988 NASCAR Cup champion Bill Elliott, who was third when the yellow flag waved, said his team was out of tires, so pitting during the caution period wasn’t an option.

“That was our fault for using them [the tires] up yesterday,” Elliott said after winning his first Pro Cup Series race and his second at the 1-mile track. “There was a chance we could hold them off even though we had a few more laps on our tires. Those guys sitting on their tires overnight may have hurt them a little bit.”

When the race restarted on lap 130, Elliott was leading with Caleb Holman second, Rogers third, Morgan fourth and Bryan Silas fifth. Rogers quickly dispensed with Holman, who was on old tires, when the green flag waved and set his sites on Elliott. With the laps winding down, Rogers, the younger brother of four-time USAR Pro Cup champion Clay Rogers, began closing on Elliott. However, with three laps remaining, Rogers bobbled in turn one and Elliott pulled away.

“I thought the tires were going to be a little bit bigger issue,” Rogers said. “He was awful fast there for not coming to get tires with me and J.P. right there at the end.

“He [Elliott] held a pretty wheel, man. He didn’t screw up when I was able to get to him on that lapped traffic. I had a run on him on the front straightaway, but Chase is a good dude and he’s got a bright future ahead of him. I’m sure we’ll be racing again in the future, hopefully.”

Rounding out the top 5 in the USAR Pro Cup race, respectively, were Morgan, Silas and A.J. Frank.

In the UARA event, Ronnie Bassett Jr. started on the outside of the front row and grabbed the lead immediately. He held the top position until lap 26 of the 75-lap race when Poole emerged the leader in a three-wide battle with Bassett and Paddy Rodenbeck as they raced into turn 3.

“We were right behind him [Bassett] for a little while,” said Poole, who has won three of the season’s first four races. “I was just trying to ride, but Rodenbeck had a really good car today and he was ready to go to the outside of the No. 04 [Bassett] car. Paddy tucked up behind the No. 04 and he got real loose coming out of the corner and it scared me half to death. Going down the back straightaway, Paddy made it three wide and made it a little more interesting. We were able to keep the momentum on the high side.

“We ran side-by-side with him [Rodenbeck] a few times. He gave us a bunch of room and I tried to give him as much room as I could. Usually, hanging up top really helps your momentum and it helped us stay out front.”

A brief red flag with less than 10 laps remaining due to a fire in Kyle Hall’s car after he slammed the fourth-turn wall gave Rodenbeck, Grissom and Bassett one less shot at Poole when the race returned to green flag conditions with seven laps to go. Poole, however, was too strong for his challengers.

The USAR Pro Cup and UARA series return to Rockingham Speedway Nov. 4-5 for their championship weekend.

- Rockingham Speedway Press Release

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. (May 11, 2011) – When the green flag waves for the Carolina 200 at Rockingham Speedway on Saturday afternoon, a multitude of up-and-coming drivers will take to the high banks of this one-mile race track, each hoping to etch their name into the famous “Winners’ Rock” which sits outside the track office.

Rockingham Speedway is set to play host to the UARA Late Model and USAR Pro Cup series and there are a few drivers in each category with a unique storyline or two. Practice sessions begin on May 12th and general admission to the grandstands is free on Thursday. Friday, May 13th is pole qualifying day for both series and fans will be admitted to the grandstands for a $5 fee. The Carolina 200 gets underway Saturday at high noon, with the UARA Late Models rolling off the starting grid for a 75-lap race, immediately followed by the USAR Pro Cup race, which runs 150-laps. Tickets are $20 in advance and $30 on race day.

The UARA Late Models will be competing in their fourth out of 16 total events for the 2011 season. The series will make a return to Rockingham Speedway on November 5th for their season finale. Brennan Poole holds the points lead in the series after three races with two victories and one second place finish. Poole will likely be a threat again as he sat on the pole for Rockingham Speedway’s American 200 last fall and placed third in the final rundown. Other notable names competing in the UARA event include Kyle Grissom, son of former NASCAR star, Steve Grissom. Steve made nine starts at Rockingham Speedway and won a Busch Series event in October of 1990, besting a venerable second place finisher that day—the late Dale Earnhardt, Sr. Robert Johnson, son of the legendary Junior Johnson, will also be looking for the checkered flag after finishing fifth in the final UARA standings last year. Robert’s father’s NASCAR teams won 13 races at Rockingham Speedway and three pole positions.

The USAR Pro Cup series comes to Rockingham Speedway for their fourth race of the year as well. And, like the UARA series, they will also hold their season finale at the Rock on November 5th of this year. The big news of the week in this class was the entry of Chase Elliott into the field, son of NASCAR Champion, Bill Elliott. There already seems to be much parity in the USAR series this year, with three different winners in the first three races. Competitors Brad Rogers, Caleb Holman and J.P. Morgan each have one win and one pole position heading into this weekend’s race.

To order advance tickets for the Carolina 200 presented by Black’s Tire and Auto Service, contact the Rockingham Speedway ticket office at (910) 205-8800 or visit the track’s official website at: www.rockinghamracewaypark.com.

- Walker Marketing, Inc. Press Release

Chase Elliott

While his USAR Pro Cup outing that weekend at the Rock was slightly less successful, it became apparent to anyone watching that the young Chase had learned a thing or two about wheeling a race car from his dad, 1988 NASCAR Cup Champion Bill Elliott.

Among the folks watching was NASCAR owner Rick Hendrick, the possessor of 10 Cup Championships, who signed Chase to a driver development deal earlier this year, which has led to a jam-packed race schedule for the 15-year-old in 2011. A schedule that includes a return to Rockingham Speedway for the Carolina 200 presented by Black’s Tire and Auto Service in a USAR Pro Cup car.

“Chase is an amazing talent,” said Rockingham Speedway President Andy Hillenburg. “What he did in that Sunoco race last year was pretty remarkable. Not only was he incredibly fast, but his times in that race were incredibly consistent.

“It’ll be interesting to see how much better this kid has gotten in the last year.”

“We feel like we are a little bit better prepared for the Pro Cup deal than we were last year,” said Bill Elliott. “The Rockingham race was Chase’s first race in the series. Right now it’s about getting all the right parts and pieces in place under him. This should be a good race for Chase.”

“Rockingham is one of my favorite race tracks that I’ve raced on so far,” said Chase. “It was the first bigger track that I raced on and with it being an historic track – one that dad has so much success at –I am excited to be coming back.

“I really think i have learned a lot since last year. We ran a lot of Pro Cup races and have run the K&N Series this year. We now have a notebook full of information that we can fall back on.”

Racing action gets underway on May 12 with a practice for the cars of the UARA and USAR Pro Cup Series. General admission to the grandstands is free on Thursday. Friday, May 13 is pole day for USAR and UARA with fans admitted to the grandstands for $5. The Carolina 200 presented by Black’s Tire and Auto Service gets underway Saturday, May 14 with the UARA Late Models rolling off at 12 noon to be followed by the USAR 150-miler. Tickets, starting at $20 in advance, and suite packages are still available.

To order tickets for the Carolina 200 presented by Black’s Tire and Auto Service, contact the Rockingham Speedway at (910) 205-8800 or visit our website at www.rockinghamspeedway.com.

- Rockingham Speedway Press Release

Max Gresham Thumbnail

When asked if the whole experience had worn him out right after Sunday’s ARCA race, Gresham responded “no, I’m fine, let’s go again somewhere.”

You couldn’t blame Gresham if he was just at least a little tired.

At Richmond, Gresham spent more than eight hours in a racecar and sped on foot between garage areas throughout the day.

The results were spectacular as Gresham wheeled the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to the pole position, led nearly half the race, and finished fourth in the Blue Ox 100 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East event.
“We had an awesome lap to win the pole – two-tenths of a second faster than anyone else,” said Gresham. “It carried over into the race where we led a bunch and were fast over the first 60 laps. We ran in the top two the whole race until the car fell off really bad at the end. The finish definitely helped us in the points. Any top-five finish we can get is going to help us in the points at the end of the season.”

The solid effort jumped Gresham to seventh in the K&N East standings after three races – just 65 markers out of first.

The soon to be Woodward Academy high school graduate had little time to catch his breath as he immediately jumped into the No. 71 FedEx Freight / ARGO Group Toyota for the Hamlin ‘Showdown’ event.

The race, which featured top NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers Tony Stewart, Bill Elliott, Michael Waltrip, Joey Logano, Kyle Busch and Hamlin, saw Gresham rocket from his eighth starting position to swapping the lead several times with Busch, the sport’s current top star at the race’s halfway point.

Gresham saw his shot at winning the race go up in smoke when a crash not of his making while running fourth with less than 10 laps to go saddled him with a 14th-place finish.

“It was great racing Kyle for the lead,” said Gresham. “I absolutely love Richmond. You can really have fun doing the kind of side-by-side racing that Kyle and I did. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the result we wanted, but our FedEX Freight / ARGO Group Toyota was definitely the fastest car here tonight. I really have to thank Jamie Yelton and Fat Head Racing for that. I had a blast, a really amazing day. I can’t wait to come back here to Richmond and race again.”

After a half-day back in his native Georgia to regroup, Gresham flew to Indiana to make his 2011 ARCA Series debut in the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 at Salem Speedway. There, Gresham drove to the front by the halfway point of the race and was running fifth with a fresh set of tires waiting for him in the Venturini Motorsports pit box when a tangle with a lapped car severely damaged his No. 25 Gresham & Associates Toyota Camry.

Undaunted, the Venturini crew repaired the car in time to get Gresham back on track for a respectable 15th-place finish.

“We had a good run going and got swept up into somebody else’s mess,” said Gresham. “We led some early in the race. These Venturini Motorsports guys put a great car under me. They set up two great race cars today – one won and the other one should have won. I can’t wait to drive one of their cars again.

“This weekend was good for me,” Gresham concluded. “It showed I could drive three different cars on three different days. Hopefully, I can one day be like Kyle (Busch) and run three different cars every weekend. I can do it physically. Maybe after this weekend, some other people will see that in me.”

Gresham will now hit the testing trail with sessions at Bowman Gray Stadium , the site of an upcoming June 4 NASCAR K&N event, and he will also get some testing in at Michigan Speedway on Wednesday, May 25. The Jackson, MI two-mile oval will be the site of Gresham’s career superspeedway debut as he will wheel the No. 25 Venturini Motorsports Toyota in the ARCA RainEater Wiper Blades 200 on June 17.

Gresham’s next K&N race will be on Saturday, May 21 at Iowa Speedway in Newton, IA. He and his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota are the defending champions of the event.
To see photo galleries of Max Gresham’s weekend at Richmond and Salem, please visit the Images section of www.MaxGresham.com. Max Gresham post-race videos from Richmond and Salem can be viewed on the YouTube section of www.MaxGresham.com.

- Max Gresham Motorsports Press Release

NASCAR K&N Pro Series

No less than eight drivers with family ties to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series are expected to participate in the K&N Pro Series at some point in the coming season. Two have Hall of Fame lineage, one has seen his famous father hoist the Sprint Cup and another is the son of a multi-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion.

The first sign of such a movement came late in the 2010 season when Ben Kennedy participated in the K&N Pro Series East event at Gresham Motorsports Park under the Mark Martin Performance banner. While a mechanical issue ended the night early for the son of NASCAR Vice Chairwoman and Executive Vice President Lesa France Kennedy – and the great grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. – the writing was on the wall that was a test run for a full campaign in 2011.

A similar litmus test was made by Chad Boat, son of former Indy racer Billy Boat, when he participated in the fall race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The indication again was that this was setting the stage for a full season when the calendar turned, and indeed he will compete in a car fielded by Mike Curb.

NASCAR Hall of Famer Junior Johnson then founded Junior Johnson Motorsports late in 2010 to field a car for his son, Robert Johnson, for the full 2011 K&N Pro Series East season. Since the calendar turned, however, the flood gates have opened for the sons racing families that are now turning to NASCAR’s top developmental series to take the next step.

Chase Elliott will be the first driver to take advantage of the lowering of the minimum competition age to 15 for 2011. The son of 1984 Sprint Cup Series Champion Bill Elliott signed a multi-year deal with Hendrick Motorsports and will now compete full-time – a year ahead of schedule – out of the family garage in Dawsonville, Ga.

The K&N Pro Series East will also see a handful of legacy drivers get their toes wet on a part-time basis this year. Ryan Blaney, the son of current Sprint Cup Series driver Dave Blaney, plans to make spot starts in a family-owned ride while longtime national series driver Robert Pressley’s son, Coleman Pressley, will compete in a number of events with the newly-formed X Team Racing. Announced just this week, Brandon McReynolds, son of former Sprint Cup Series crew chief and current NASCAR on Fox analyst Larry McReynolds, will run with longtime K&N Pro Series East team Spraker Racing Enterprises. And Clay Alexander, the son of 1983 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion and former national series driver Mike Alexander, also hopes to make his debut in the series this year.

Not to be forgotten is a pair of drivers who also watched their fathers compete at the touring level. Ryan Reed, the son of former K&N Pro Series West competitor Mark Reed, has moved his operation from California to North Carolina in the offseason and plans to compete part-time in the K&N Pro Series East while ASA Late Model driver Yale Conley hopes to see his son, Cale, get some action in the K&N Pro Series East in 2011.

This group of racing sons just adds to those of a similar background that have already been running in the K&N Pro Series East. Two-time Nationwide Series titlist Randy LaJoie’s son, Corey LaJoie, has made seven starts in the series in the two previous season and plans to run for the championship in 2011. D.J. Shaw, the son of longtime K&N Pro Series East driver and 1994 champion Dale Shaw, will also be back for his sophomore campaign and expect to see Ty Dillon, son of former Nationwide Series driver Mike Dillon and grandson of Sprint Cup Series car owner Richard Childress, also return for a few spot starts.

As the 2011 schedule opens at Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway on Saturday, March 26 with the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150, this group of racing offspring will just be a portion of the new faces that will take to the track as three-quarters of the starting grid figures to be rookies or second-year drivers.

And evidenced by the national series success of recent graduates Joey Logano, Trevor Bayne, Ricky Carmichael, Austin Dillon and now Cole Whitt, the K&N Pro Series East has become the destination for the best up-and-coming prospects to launch their NASCAR careers, and the destination for fans to get a glimpse of the starts of tomorrow.

- Integrated Marketing Communications Press Release

Chase Elliott

CONCORD, N.C.

Elliott, the son of 1988 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Bill Elliott, will continue to compete for his family-owned team until meeting age requirements for entering NASCAR national series events. Bill Elliott Racing, based in Dawsonville, Ga., will field Chevrolets with support from Hendrick Motorsports.

“The apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree with Chase,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “I’ve always admired Bill’s ability in a race car and how he handled himself with the fans. I see those same traits in Chase, with his natural driving talent and an awareness of what he needs to do away from the track to be successful. He comes from a great racing family, and it shows.

“We think it’s a terrific situation. Chase already has a strong support system in place (in Dawsonville) that will allow him to focus on his education and grow as a driver, and Hendrick Motorsports will provide whatever kind of assistance the Elliotts need in any area.”

A 15-year-old freshman in high school, Elliott already has competed against some of the best short-track racers in the United States. In 40 late model starts last season, he posted 13 victories, 27 top-five finishes and 37 top-10s.

“I’ve always been taught that teamwork and people are important, and that’s something Mr. Hendrick really believes in,” Elliott said. “Everyone at Hendrick Motorsports has high standards and takes a lot of pride in what they do. Racing with all of their support, and the support of my family, is going to be incredible. I’m going to work really hard to make them proud and make the most of this opportunity.”

In 2010, Elliott became the youngest driver to win the Blizzard Series at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla., the Miller Lite Series at Mobile (Ala.) International Speedway and the overall Sunoco Gulf Coast championship. The Dawsonville native also posted victories in the prestigious Winchester 400 and at the re-opening of historic North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway.

Elliott already is two-for-two in 2011 after sweeping the Speedfest late-model features last month at Lanier National Speedway in Braselton, Ga. This season, he plans to enter a combination of super late model, pro late model and NASCAR regional touring series events.

CHASE ELLIOTT FAST FACTS:

Birth date: Nov. 28, 1995.

Hometown: Dawsonville, Ga.

Residence: Dawsonville, Ga.

Career victories: More than 60.

Types of cars raced: Late models, legends, bandoleros and go karts.

Career highlight most proud of: Becoming the youngest driver to win the prestigious Winchester 400 late model race at Winchester (Ind.) Speedway in 2010.

- Hendrick Motorsports, Press Release

Bill Elliott - Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

After years of coming to Daytona to drive Fords and Dodges, Elliott is set to take the wheel of James Finch’s No. 09 Chevrolet. The car number is familiar to Elliott, as his late father George Elliott fielded No. 09 cars back in the 1970s. But it’s Finch that most fans associate with the No. 09 Sprint Cup entry.

Elliott is hoping that it won’t be long before he can write a few more chapters of the history of Finch’s No. 09 Impala as well as add to his own history in NASCAR. In fact, he’s as pumped up about racing as he’s been in years.

“It’s a new opportunity for me, and I really feel like we’ve got some good stuff going,” he said, adding that he’s been working out every other day all winter to be sure he’s ready for the rigors of racing. “We had a pretty decent car at the Daytona test last month, and the crew has taken what we learned and gone back and worked on the car to give us even better stuff to come back with.”

Elliott, who has four Sprint Cup wins at Daytona including two in the Daytona 500, said he has great confident in Finch and his Phoenix Racing team.

“James has been around a long time, and he really understands racing,” Elliott said. “He’s got his act together.”

Elliott also is building a relationship with crew chief Nick Harrison.

“I’m learning him, and he’s learning me,” Elliott said. “Any time you’re in a new deal, you’re never 100 percent right off the bat, but we’ve got some really, really good equipment and we should be able to put it all together and get some good results.”

And the restrictor-plate tracks at Daytona and Talladega are where Finch has had his greatest success in the past. His drivers have finishes of third, fourth, ninth, 10th and 12th in the Great American Race. Phoenix Racing team also has a Cup victory at Daytona’s sister track, Talladega Superspeedway, in 2009 with Brad Keselowski driving.

But this year’s race will be a new challenge, largely because of a new track surface at Daytona.

“It’ll be altogether different,” Elliott said. “But I’m looking forward to it.”

Elliott said the key this year will be finding a drafting partner willing to hook up in a two-car draft, which has proven to be the quickest way to get around the track.

“That’s going to be the key to the whole deal,” he said. “If you don’t find somebody to tango with, you’re just going to be along for the ride.”

Elliott said the surest road to success in the Daytona 500 begins with getting off to a good start.

“You’ve got to go in with your guns loaded,” he said. “If you’re fast to start with, it sets the tone for the whole weekend.”

Qualifying for the Daytona 500 is set for Sunday at 1:05 p.m. The 150-mile Gatorade Duel qualifying races are scheduled for Thursday at 2 p.m., and the green flag for the Daytona 500 is expected to fly shortly after 1 p.m. on Sunday Feb. 20., with TV coverage on FOX.

- Phoenix Racing/Bill Elliott, Press Release

Bill Elliott - Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

But he’ll be doing something new in 2011. For the first time in his career, he’ll start the season as a Chevrolet driver. He has teamed up with James Finch’s Phoenix Racing to run the No. 09 Chevrolet in a minimum of 18 races this season.

The new combo will start the season at Daytona, where Elliott has four Sprint Cup wins including two in the Daytona 500 and Finch has finishes of third, fourth, ninth, 10th and 12th in the Great American Race. Phoenix Racing team also has a Cup victory at Daytona’s sister track, Talladega Superspeedway, in 2009 with Brad Keselowski driving.

“It’s big for us and big for Chevrolet to get Bill Elliott,” Finch said. “It’s the first time in his career that he’s committed to race a Chevrolet.”

Finch also said he was confident that even at age 55 Elliott, whose previous Cup wins have come in Fords and Dodges, can get the job done in his Chevrolets.

“With the right equipment, he’s ready,” Finch said. “He was just a couple of hundredths of a second off the pole at Homestead last year.”

Nick Harrison will serve as crew chief on the No. 09 Impala, and the team will use engines from Hendrick Motorsports. Bill Elliott said he’s excited to be moving to Phoenix Racing and to the Chevrolet camp.

“I think this will be a really good deal,” he said. “James has really good race cars, and there’s no doubt about the Hendrick equipment. After all, look at all the championships they’ve won.”

Elliott, who will climb in the No. 09 for the first time on Thursday during testing at Daytona International Speedway, said he’s pleased to have the opportunity to drive proven equipment at this stage of his career. He plans to make the most of it.

“This may well be my last really good chance as a driver,” he said. “I’m going to give it my best shot. I feel like I’m still in good shape, and I thought we ran pretty good last year.” Finch said he hopes to run the full Sprint Cup schedule with the No. 09, and he plans to run a limited Nationwide Series schedule, focusing on the restrictor-plate tracks.

“I’m going to concentrate on the Cup side,” Finch said. “We’ll see what we can do.”

- Bill Elliott/Phoenix Racing, Press Release

Motorcraft and Quick Lane

DEARBORN, Mich. – January 14, 2011 –

FCSD brands Motorcraft and Quick Lane, Wood Brothers Racing and Bill Elliott are auctioning the “Fired Up for a Cure” fire suit and helmet from the 2010 NASCAR Design Contest to benefit JDRF. Designed by eight-year old, Carson Luther of Wildwood, MO, the fire suit and helmet that Elliott wore at the NASCAR event at Charlotte Motor Speedway in October will be awarded to the highest bidder with all the proceeds going to JDRF.

To bid on either of the JDRF items, fans can visit http://tinyurl.com/2010JDRF-Firesuit to bid on the fire suit and http://tinyurl.com/2010-JDRF-themed-helmet to bid on the helmet. Both items will be up for auction beginning Friday, January 14, until Friday, January 21, at 5pm (ET).

“The last piece of the Ford Customer Service Division fundraiser for JDRF is to auction off the helmet and fire suit that matched Carson’s car,” said Eddie Wood, co-owner of Wood Brothers Racing.  “Both the helmet and fire suit are one-of-a-kind items unique to Wood Brothers Racing, Bill Elliott and JDRF.”

JDRF has become the charity of choice for the two FCSD brands that are the primary sponsors for Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 Ford Fusion and Tasca Racing’s Shelby Mustang Nitro Funny Car, and the three organizations couldn’t be a better fit. Ford Motor Company is the largest global corporate sponsor of JDRF.

“It’s important for FCSD to give back to our community, and the design contest provides us a great platform to reach a large audience to bring awareness to the search for a cure,” said Brett Wheatley, Director of Marketing, Ford Customer Service Division. “We’d love to have the fans bid on these one of a kind items and raise more money for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.  I want to thank Carson Luther for his great design on the race car and fire suit.”

Diabetes affects more Ford families than any other disease.  Ford Motor Company has raised more than $35 million for JDRF since the grassroots campaign started in 1998.

About Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)
JDRF is the worldwide leader for research to cure type 1 diabetes.  It sets the global agenda for diabetes research, and is the largest charitable funder and advocate of diabetes science worldwide.

The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that strikes children and adults suddenly, and can be fatal.  Until a cure is found, people with type 1 diabetes have to test their blood sugar and give themselves insulin injections multiple times or use a pump – each day, every day of their lives.  And even with that intensive care, insulin is not a cure for diabetes, nor does it prevent its potential complications, which may include kidney failure, blindness, heart disease, stroke, and amputation.

Since its founding in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes, JDRF has awarded more than $1.5 billion to diabetes research, including $107 million last year.  More than 80 percent of JDRF’s expenditures directly support research and research-related education.

Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing On the Web

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MQL_Racing Facebook: http://www.facebook/com.MQLRacing Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorcraftquicklaneracing/

About Motorcraft
Motorcraft® offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended and approved by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to underhood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer exceptional value with the highest quality and right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford and Lincoln dealers, independent distributors, and automotive parts retailers and are backed by Ford Motor Company’s Service Parts Limited Warranty. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.

About Quick Lane Tire & Auto Centers
Quick Lane® provides automotive quick services for all makes and models.  Quick Lane’s nationwide network will surpass 600 facilities, each providing the convenience of an aftermarket company (no appointment necessary, service while you wait, evening and weekend hours, competitive prices) with the confidence of a major automotive manufacturer (quality parts, factory-trained technicians).  Quick Lane® is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.quicklane.com.

About FordParts.com
FordParts.com allows customers to shop online, order and receive original equipment parts, connect to a Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealership of their choice for the parts expertise, personal delivery assistance, and post-sale follow-up associated with a traditional purchase at a parts counter.  FordParts.com is designed to support anyone who needs to find and buy original equipment Ford parts. Repair shops, body shops, fleets and do-it-yourselfers will appreciate the speed and convenience of researching and purchasing Ford parts via this online portal, and the flexibility of choosing in-store pick-up or having the parts delivered.  For more information, visit www.fordparts.com.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents.   With about 163,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s brands include Ford and Lincoln.  The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.  For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.

- PCGCampbell for Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center, Press Release

Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway

The test will be the first time race cars will turn laps on the new asphalt of Daytona International Speedway, which was repaved for only the second time in its history.

The Goodyear tire test will be open to the public with free access to the Oldfield Grandstands through the lobby of the Daytona International Speedway ticket office.

Drivers scheduled to participate in the test include:

2010 Daytona 500 champion Jamie McMurray

Brad Keselowski

Mark Martin

Jeff Gordon

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

David Ragan

Kurt Busch

Casey Mears

Matt Kenseth

Bill Elliott

Paul Menard

Jeff Burton

Juan Pablo Montoya

Bobby Labonte

Todd Bodine

Regan Smith

Reed Sorenson

Brian Keselowski

On July 5, Lane Construction began the historic repaving project and used an estimated 50,000 tons of asphalt to repave more than 1.4 million square feet of Daytona International Speedway with a target completion date of Jan. 1, 2011.

Two test sessions have already been scheduled for January – the Roar Before The Rolex 24 on Jan. 7-9 and NASCAR Preseason Thunder with the Sprint Cup Series tams on Jan. 20-22.

Speedweeks 2011 will kick off with the 49th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series race on Jan. 29-30 and conclude with the 53rd annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 20, the prestigious season-opening event to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

For tickets and more information on Daytona International Speedway events, visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.

- Daytona International Speedway, Press Release

Ford Racing

CARL EDWARDS, No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion (Qualified 2nd)

ARE YOU A GUY WHO BELIEVES IN MOMENTUM? “I hate to admit it but I do now. I used to never believe in it but I do now. If the sun would stay out I think we could hold on for the pole but I’m not certain it will hold up.”

PAUL MENARD, No. 98 Menards Ford Fusion (Qualified 16th) - “It felt pretty good. We have been fighting a little bit loose off of four. It had the same issues. It was a little late getting back to wide open but the car drove pretty decent so we should b okay.”

DAVID RAGAN – No. 6 UPS Ford Fusion (Qualified 9th) -“That was a solid lap. We went out early and the car felt really good. You always think there is a little more on the table. I’m proud of Drew and everyone turning this car around from Texas. It just shows how quick the process works. I know they had to do some body work and change the engine out. That should wind up in the top-10 which should be good.”

DAVID GILLILAND – No. 37 Taco Bell Ford Fusion (Qualified 40th) – “We hit the splurged really hard. We only made one qualifying run in practice and never hit the splitter all day. We hit it really hard and pushed up the track. It is disappointing. We thought we had a better race car than that. In race trim it was really good and
I’m excited about racing this car on Sunday.”

AJ ALLMENDINGER, No. 43 Best Buy/Insignia Ford Fusion (Qualified 5th) – “It was alright. This isn’t my best place to qualify at. It’s a tough race track trying to figure out what line you want to go an contemplate if you want to do something different. I’m happy with it. There could have been a little more there but us race car drivers always think there could have been. That should get us in the top 10 and I think we should have a pretty good car for Sunday. Maybe we can win 43 people a Ford Fiesta.”

TRAVIS KAVPIL, No. 34 Long John Silver’s Ford Fusion (Qualified 41st) – “We really struggled with our car in practice this morning. It wasn’t looking real good. Our teammate David Gilliland was running pretty decent so we switched the whole thing over to what he had and now we are right there lap-time wise with what he was. I am proud of my guys. We were searching for it for a little bit there and changed everything on the race car going into qualifying and it drove pretty good. I am looking forward to tomorrow and working on it and trying to keep improving it for Sunday.”

MATT KENSETH, No. 17 Crown Royal Ford Fusion (Qualified 13th)  - “We just missed the balance by a mile. I am glad our speed was still good because the car drove not very good. It was so-so earlier in race trim. I thought we had a really good day overall, we just missed it in our qualifying lap.”

ARIC ALMIROLA, No. 9 Budweiser Ford Fusion (Qualified 24th) – “I didn’t do a very good job there. The car was a lot better than that and I did a bad job. I am disappointed in myself because we have a much better car that that. I just missed it. We have a really good car in race trim and I think we will be in good shape come Sunday.”

GREG BIFFLE, No. 16 3M Ford Fusion (Qualified 27th) – “Going to the back-up car hurt us. We went from probably going in the front to going in the back. That lap didn’t feel very good. It was too tight and kind of slow. I would have thought the car would be better than that. This is a car we haven’t run for awhile. We just have to get it on the race track tomorrow and see how good we can make it.”

BILL ELLIOTT – No. 21 Motorcraft Ford Fusion (Qualified  4th)– “The track cooled off and the car was good.  Donnie and the guys do a good job.  We made some changes the very last run we did and actually slowed down a little bit.  It seemed like that last 10-15 minutes of practice a lot of people picked up, but I was really surprised to pick up that much. We’ve been fighting a little bit tight rolling through the center. The car was still just a little bit tight rolling through the center, but when I was able to pick the throttle up I could get everything I had.  They do a great job.  My hat’s off to Len and Eddie, the Motorcraft guys, Ford – everybody – they’ve just done a super job on this Fusion.”

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DAVE BLANEY, No. 38 A&W All American Food Ford (Qualified 36th) - “Qualifying went pretty well.  The car was a ton better than in practice, and I probably under drove it a bit and cost us some time.  But we made huge gains from practice.  David Gilliland made a nice mock qualifying run in practice, so we learned some things from him and that helped us.  Greg Conner and the guys were able to make some good changes and it turned out OK.”

Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion, qualified second for Sunday’s Ford 400. Following are his post-qualifying press conference comments.

CARL EDWARDS PRESS CONFERENCE –

HOW WAS YOUR QUALIFYING LAP? “Jamie and I, like he was saying, we were all in a battle here and my mission was to do two things – number one, to beat Jamie. We did that and I thought, ‘Man, we’ve got it. We’ve got the pole,’ and then Kasey came along and got the pole, so there couldn’t be two better guys to race for this. I’m happy for Kasey to get the pole and I’m happy for Jamie that he’s gonna get the award this year. You’ve had an amazing year. For us, we came into this race focused on this qualifying effort and it is disappointing to not get the pole, but we’ll have a great starting spot. Hopefully, we’ll have a fast race car, but the way I look at it, though, is if there’s any way to get an award that has anything to do with fast qualifying, I don’t think I’ll ever be that guy. It looks like I’ve maintained that streak, but we have had a lot of fun this year and qualifying has been a lot better, so it was a good lap for us.”

WHY ARE YOU WINNING POLES THIS YEAR? “Being from Missouri seems to help (laughter). I don’t know how to answer that question, but I can say the same thing I said at the beginning of the season. If you get married or you change something in your life, and you go out and run really well, that’s why you ran really well. And if something changes and you run really poorly, that’s why you ran really poorly. It just seems like you run as well as you’re gonna run and people attribute it to whatever is going on in your life, so that’s just the way it goes. I don’t think about my daughter or my wife when I’m in the race car. Why am I winning poles? Because our car is faster in qualifying trim. And truly for us, we have put more effort on it in the last half of the year. We’ve spent more time in qualifying trim and I think that’s been a big help to us. We have to spend that much time. He doesn’t have to spend as much time as us, but we’ve got to spend that much time to go that fast, but we’ve put the effort in.”

- PCGCampbell for Ford Racing, Press Release