Little Big Town

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. –

Little Big Town will perform three songs prior to the non-points event on the pre-race stage located on pit road as well as the National Anthem, which will be carried live on FOX Sports. After the checkered flag waves on the 75-lap race, the group will perform a 60-minute post-race concert from the Sprint FANZONE Main Entertainment Stage.

Sprint FANZONE/Pre-Race access holders will be able to view the pre-race concert from the tri-oval grass while all ticket holders will have access to the post-race concert, which will start in the Sprint FANZONE approximately 30 minutes after the end of the race.

“Country superstars Little Big Town will take the party into overdrive at the 34th annual Budweiser Shootout At Daytona,” Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III. “Our fans can expect some hard racing, loud music and an unforgettable night as the stars of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series kick off the 2012 racing season at the ‘World Center of Racing.’ ”

In addition to their Budweiser Shootout pre- and post-race concerts and National Anthem, a special $84 ticket package designed around the Little Big Town has been created that includes a Budweiser Shootout ticket, Sprint FANZONE/Pre-Race access and VIP area access to the Little Big Town pre-race performance.

Formed in 1998, Little Big Town is comprised of Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet and husband and wife duo, Karen Fairchild and Jimi Westbrook. The group has sold over 1.5 million records, placed 12 songs on theBillboard Hot Country Songs charts, earned four Grammy Nominations and was honored with an Academy of Country Music award for Top New Vocal Duet/Group.

Their 2005 Grammy-nominated album, The Road to Here, was certified platinum and boasts hits such as “Boondocks” and “Bring It On Home.” Recent hits from their 2010 album The Reason Why include “Kiss Goodbye,” “The Reason Why” and the album’s fastest-rising single, “Little White Church.”

The Budweiser Shootout, NASCAR’s season-opening non-points event, is the climax to a racing doubleheader.  The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards is set for 4:30 p.m. followed by the Budweiser Shootout at 8:10 p.m., which will feature the top 25 competitors in the 2011 driver points as well as previous winners at Daytona including the Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola and the Budweiser Shootout.

Tickets for all Speedweeks 2012 events, including the Budweiser Shootout, are available online athttp://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter (www.twitter.com/disupdates) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/DaytonaInternationalSpeedway).

Source: Daytona International Speedway. Press Release

Randy Hill Racing (RHR)

Chastain who is working with Texas entrepreneur and NASCAR Nationwide Series car owner Randy Hill utilized the open-test in order to allow 19-year old Chastain, who made five NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) this season to prepare for his attachment to Hill’s driver development program in 2012 joining Casey Roderick.

Throughout the weekend, Chastain utilized his No. 08 Randy Hill Racing Ford Fusion to gain speed and comfort with the 2.5-mile superspeedway. Overall, Chastain turned the 19th quickest lap out of an impressive list of drivers which consisted of 79 drivers overall.

The No. 08 Randy Hill Racing Ford Fusion in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards (ARS) driven by RHR development driver Ross Chastain.

He added, “I want to thank Randy Hill and the team for putting their best foot forward to make this weekend possible. I cannot compare Daytona to anything else I’ve ever competed on. It’s a blast and the drafting was unbelievable. I was able to have a lot of on-track time, so that was helpful and I’m looking forward to coming back in February and doing everyone a good job.”

Hill was excited to bring a new driver into the ARCA Racing Series and is eager to see what the team can muster together between now and the race.
“We know we have some work to do, but that was one of our objectives of testing,” sounded Hill. “I’m proud of Ross and the team for working hard to get the car on the track and laying down some respectable lap times and making steady improvements throughout the weekend. I know when we come back for the race; we’re going to have a piece competitive enough that will allow Ross to hopefully contend for victory.”

One of the newest owners in stock car racing continued, “I was extremely impressed with the way that Casey (Roderick) and Ross (Chastain) gelled together. Not only did they consult, confer and share ideas at the track, but they took their relationship as teammates to the next level by participating and hanging out in non-racing activities outside the track. As a car owner, that makes me proud to work with two of the most promising up-and-coming drivers and know that they enjoy being around each other.”

The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona officially kicks off the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season and the 60th year of competition for the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). The season-opener will be televised live on SPEED and will serve as a preamble for the highly anticipated Budweiser Shootout for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS).

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.

- Randy Hill Racing Press Release

Team BCR Racing

Graham, driver of the No. 88 Batter’s Dream Ford Fusion would tackle the “World Center of Racing” for the first time on Friday morning. In a session that saw 40 machines tackle the 2.5-mile superspeedway, Graham would put his blue oval powered by RoushYates Engines to the 15th quickest lap. That afternoon saw the Mooresville, North Carolina-based team find additional speed and land 13th fastest overall in a four hour session that consisted of 53 cars.

Saturday morning’s session of single-car runs showed that the Lafayette, Louisiana could show consistency with his Team BCR Racing entry landing nearly identical lap times. With the afternoon session took the green flag, the ARCA Racing Series officials made drafting possible for the first time in a day and a half. The former hydroplane racer was eager to experience his first serious taste of drafting – after all, it’s a critical piece to success at Daytona.

Showing extreme focus and positive coaching from Howard Bixman, Graham clicked off the 12th fastest lap in 48.279 seconds at 186.416 miles per hour – his then fastest time of the weekend.

With the final day of testing set to conclude on Sunday, Graham and his team guided by owner Howard Bixman made small changes to their RoushYates powered automobile hoping for a little more speed when the track opened for business.

Buster Graham, driver of the No. 88 Batter’s Dream Ford Fusion in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards for Team BCR Racing.

“Man, I’m so excited, you have no idea,” said Graham. “Howard and Team BCR Racing along RoushYates Engines have poured a lot of effort into our program and I cannot tell you how much that means to me that we’re able to come here together as a group and run as competitively as we did. We didn’t make any major changes to the car it was great right from start, the RoushYates power under the hood is a bullet. We ran well in single-car format and we’re rocketing fast in the draft, that was the most fun I have ever had. I don’t think I could ask for much more. I’m looking forward to coming back in February.”

Bixman offered his thoughts on the weekend’s venture. “I’m real proud of Buster (Graham) and all the guys on this Team BCR Racing team. We worked our tails off and I can’t thank this group enough how much I appericate them. I can not begin to thank RoushYates Engines along with Nick Ramey and his staff for their support and willingness to make us a viable outfit in the ARCA Racing Series. We were ninth fastest overall and the second quickest Ford overall. We have some work to do to try find a little more with the car between now and February, but after what we’ve been able to accomplish, I think we’re all hoping Daytona would be a here little sooner than February. I think we showed that we’re going to be someone that’s going to be reckoned with here in a couple months.”

The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona officially kicks off the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season and the 60th year of competition for the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). The season-opener will be televised live on SPEED and will serve as a preamble for the highly anticipated Budweiser Shootout for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS).

For more information including marketing partnerships for the 2012 ARCA Racing Series season for Team BCR Racing and Buster Graham, please log onto teambcr.com.

For more on Batter’s Dream, please visit Battersdream.com.

Connect with RoushYates Performance Products and RoushYates Engines through their official web site at roushyatesparts.com.

About Batter’s Dream:

Batter’s Dream is an automated ball feeding system (pitching machine) that allows baseball hitters and softball hitters to maximize time in the batting cage by getting more quality cuts without fixing a tee. One of the key benefits of the Batter’s Dream batting machines is that it allows batters the freedom to focus on rhythm, stance, timing and swing speed without the need for a second person. Simply put, Batter’s Dream is the most effective, simple and easy-to-use soft toss system ever invented to help improve a hitter’s mechanics and increase their batting average.

- Team BCR Racing Press Release

Budweiser Shootout Logo

Speedweeks Opener Features Deep And Talented Field

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 14, 2011) – In what could be the deepest and most talented field to date, NASCAR announced Wednesday the list of eligible competitors for the 2012 Budweiser Shootout.

The 34th annual season-opening event launches Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 18 with a start time set for 8:10 p.m. FOX and MRN will broadcast live nationally. Criteria are based upon the following qualifications, with eligibility based on a driver having been active in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series during the 2011 season:

• · The highest ranked 25 competitors in 2011 NSCS driver points
• · Previous winners at Daytona, including the Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola, and Budweiser    Shootout events

“The 2012 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona has all of the ingredients to be one of the most exciting races in the event’s 30-plus year history,” said Rob McCarthy, vice president, Budweiser. “We can’t think of a better way to kick off a new season than by continuing this great tradition and watching the best drivers in NASCAR battle it out under the lights at Daytona.”

“By taking the top 25 competitors in last year’s driver points and combine that with former race winners at Daytona, you have all the ingredients for an extremely deep and talented field of drivers for the 2012 Budweiser Shootout,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “When you take a look at the roster of drivers that this entails, I have to believe this is one of the most competitive fields that have ever been assembled for this event.”

The race distance will again be 75 laps (187.5 miles), consisting of two segments – 25 and 50 laps. Both green-flag laps and yellow-flag laps will count. Between segments there will be a 10-minute pit stop allowing teams to pit to change tires, add fuel and make normal chassis adjustments. Crews will be permitted to work on cars and will be allowed to perform functions they would do on a normal pit stop in a regular NASCAR Sprint Cup event. All work must be performed on pit road or in the garage. Changing of springs, shock absorbers or rear-ends will not be permitted.

Starting positions will again be determined by a blind-draw at the annual Shootout Draw Party on Friday, Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. on the SPEED stage in the Midway, outside Turn 4.

The Budweiser Shootout – a “non-points” event for NASCAR Sprint Cup competitors – was first held in 1979. Kurt Busch is the defending race champion.

Tickets for all 2012 Speedweeks events are now available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

Drivers eligible for the 2012 Budweiser Shootout include: 

2011 Top 25 Driver Points

Tony Stewart

Carl Edwards

Kevin Harvick

Matt Kenseth

Brad Keselowski

Jimmie Johnson

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Jeff Gordon

Denny Hamlin

Ryan Newman

Kurt Busch

Kyle Busch

Clint Bowyer

Kasey Kahne

AJ Allmendinger

Greg Biffle

Paul Menard

Martin Truex Jr.

Marcos Ambrose

Jeff Burton

Juan Pablo Montoya

Mark Martin

David Ragan

Joey Logano

Brian Vickers

Others (criteria in parentheses)

Bill Elliott (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400, Shootout)

Geoff Bodine (Daytona 500, Shootout)

Derrike Cope (Daytona 500)

Michael Waltrip (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400)

Jamie McMurray (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400)

Trevor Bayne (Daytona 500)

Terry Labonte (Shootout)

Ken Schrader (Shootout)

NASCAR, Press Release

Budweiser Logo

Under the terms of the agreement, Budweiser will maintain signage rights for all events at Daytona International Speedway including Speedweeks, the Daytona 500 and the Coke Zero 400, as well as the naming rights of the infield concession area – the Budweiser Bistro – and the Budweiser Party Porch located adjacent to the Superstretch.

“Daytona International Speedway and Budweiser share a storied history together dating back to the late 1970s, and Budweiser has always had a strong connection with race fans around the world,” Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said. “This is the longest-standing partnership for Daytona International Speedway and we will continue to build on its success well into the future.”

Budweiser has served as the entitlement sponsor of the Budweiser Shootout, the star-studded non-points race that kicks off the stock car portion of Speedweeks, since 1979 when the event was originally known as the “Busch Clash.” Budweiser began serving as the official beer sponsor of Daytona International Speedway in 2006.

“Our partnership with Daytona International Speedway dates back more than 30 years, and we’re very excited to continue our role at some of the biggest races on the NASCAR calendar,” said Mark Wright, Vice President of Media, Sports & Entertainment Marketing, Anheuser-Busch. “The addition of Homestead-Miami Speedway will also provide us another opportunity to connect NASCAR fans, ensuring Budweiser has a presence at the beginning and end of every season.”

Budweiser’s promotional partnership with Homestead-Miami Speedway will include race tickets and hospitality assets with the purpose of activating in-market sweepstakes, facilitating ticket giveaways and capitalizing on a retail point-of-sale presence throughout the Florida region.

“We are proud to now count Budweiser as one of our strategic clients,” said Homestead-Miami Speedway President Matt Becherer. “Our focus will continue to be delivering business value for all of our strategic partners while also delivering a first-rate experience for our fans. This new partnership with Budweiser will allow us to expand those efforts and we could not be more thrilled to work with them.”

About Daytona International Speedway

Daytona International Speedway is the flagship facility of International Speedway Corporation and home to the Daytona 500, NASCAR’s biggest, richest and most prestigious event. Daytona International Speedway is a versatile motorsports facility also hosting the Rolex 24 At Daytona, North America’s premier sports car race, as well as the legendary Daytona 200 By Honda motorcycle classic.

For tickets to all Daytona International Speedway events, call 1-800-PITSHOP or visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com. Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter (www.twitter.com/disupdates) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/DaytonaInternationalSpeedway).

About Homestead-Miami Speedway

It’s a NASCAR series-crowning South Florida Finish Line at Homestead-Miami Speedway Nov. 18-20. Homestead-Miami Speedway will host NASCAR during Ford Championship Weekend for the 10th consecutive year. Year after year Homestead-Miami Speedway delivers robust economic impact felt by businesses, restaurants and retailers throughout the region by offering Sprint Cup Series Championship tickets that start at just $55 dollars. For info on this and more than 280 events held each year at Homestead-Miami Speedway, visit www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com or call (866) 409-RACE.

About Anheuser-Busch

Based in St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch is the leading American brewer, holding a 48.3 percent share of U.S. beer sales to retailers. The company brews the world’s largest-selling beers, Budweiser and Bud Light. Anheuser-Busch also owns a 50 percent share in Grupo Modelo, Mexico’s leading brewer. Anheuser-Busch is a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and has been a leading aluminum recycler for more than 30 years. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the leading global brewer, and continues to operate under the Anheuser-Busch name and logo. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com.

- Daytona International Speedway/Homestead-Miami Speedway/Budweiser Racing, Press Release

Ryan Newman, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver, and Tony Stewart, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series owner and driver, share a light moment during the 2011 Sprint Cup Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway on Monday at Stewart-Haas Racing in Kannapolis, N.C. - Photo Credit: Harold Hinson Photography (HHP)

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (Feb. 8, 2011) –

For Newman, it’s been an ongoing series of “wrong-place-at-the-wrong-time” incidents at both superspeedways on the circuit since joining SHR in 2009. In fact, over the past two seasons, the South Bend, Ind., native and his No. 39 Chevrolet have become the poster child for rotten luck and hard crashes at the high-speed racetracks at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

It’s just bad racing luck, Newman says. Good thing for Newman and his No. 39 team that luck can change.

As Newman & Co., prepares for its third go-round at Daytona Speedweeks, there is confidence that this year’s February outing to the famed “World Center of Racing” will be the charm.

So it seems somewhat appropriate that the team kicks off Speedweeks with WIX Filters on board the No. 39 Chevrolet Impala as the primary sponsor for Saturday night’s Budweiser Shootout. The team will definitely appreciate the help from WIX as it works to “filter” out all the bad luck it has endured at Daytona and turn its racing luck around.

Of course, Daytona hasn’t been all bad for Newman during his first nine years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. In fact, Newman has tasted victory at Daytona and celebrated in the sport’s most famous victory lane on three different occasions.

Before joining the full-time ranks of the Cup Series, Newman earned his first win at Daytona in the ARCA Series in 2001. In his first-ever outing at the high-banked superspeedway, Newman started 11th and led the final 12 laps of the 80-lap event to win by more than two-tenths of a second.

Three years later, in 2004, Newman scored his only IROC Series victory at Daytona.

And then three years ago, in 2008, Newman celebrated the greatest moment of his racing career at the historic 2.5-mile oval. On that February evening, Newman achieved a lifelong dream when he stole the lead on the backstretch on the final lap of the season-opening race. He never looked back, winning the 50th Running of the Daytona 500.

It is that victory that earned Newman his berth in Saturday night’s Budweiser Shootout.

There’s no doubt Newman knows what it takes to win at Daytona. But, as Newman says, the driver and the team only control a very small part of what the outcome will be at the 2.5-mile layout. A lot of what it takes to win at Daytona is pure racing luck, and Newman and his No. 39 WIX Filters team just need a little help to “filter” out all that bad luck to make room for the good.

RYAN NEWMAN, Driver of the No. 39 WIX Filters Chevrolet Impala for Stewart-Haas Racing:

Your team has endured a lot of bad luck at Daytona since you joined Stewart-Haas Racing in 2009. How important is it for you to turn that luck around and start off this year on a high note?

“There’s a lot of emphasis on Speedweeks. Everybody brings their A-game. Everybody wants to get off to a good start but, ultimately, you control only a part of it and racing luck controls the other part of it. And Daytona is a tough place. It always has been. And, honestly, I think our last two years have been bad luck in the way our season has started. Last year, starting the season, we got involved in a wreck. And, the year before, we got involved in multiple wrecks before the 500 ever started and we were on our third racecar by the time we took the green flag for the 500. Both years, we have had to dig ourselves out of that hole. Two years ago, we did that. This past year, we didn’t. We won in Phoenix but did not put ourselves in the Chase. You never know what’s going to happen. That’s why we all enjoy NASCAR Sprint Cup racing and, hopefully, it’s a good start to the season for us this year.”

Everyone is always optimistic heading into a new season. What is your level of optimism going into Daytona?

“If you look back at our last two races of 2010, we have a lot to be excited about. I would probably even go back further than that. If you look back to Bristol in August, I think our team was really coming on strong. We had some really good runs and some really good finishes, I think, with the exception of a mistake I made early in the race at Charlotte and losing our rear gear at Martinsville, we would have been a top-five car in each one of those last 10 races. I think we have momentum on our side going into 2011, so I look forward to it. It’s the strongest end to a season I’ve had in a long time and I think that carries over into the start of the next.”

Talk about Daytona’s new surface and all the changes we’re going to see when the teams get to Daytona. Does that make the Budweiser Shootout an even more important race for you and your team?

“I think it will be the biggest potential change of events at Daytona that we’ve ever had with the asphalt and new nose, the restrictor plate being as small as it is, the fuel cans and the lack of that extra man coming over to be the catch can man. I think there are a lot of things that have changed up in reference to the tires. If you look at what we are going to go through at Daytona, it might be two sets of tires. The things we typically did we don’t necessarily have to do, so the emphasis gets put on other areas to be better or faster.

“The new Daytona is definitely going to change the racing. It’s going to change the way we race. It’s going to change a lot of things in respect to the Daytona 500 but, in the end, there’s still going to be a victor and we’re still going to see a lot of drama and unexpected things happening, just like any other time in NASCAR. To me, just that extra grip and the way we draft is going to make it more like Talladega, but it’s still not going to be Talladega. It’s going to be Daytona.

“And the whole fuel can situation is going to be very critical this year with the way that can inserts and needs to be pulled out. So there’s emphasis this year, specifically, at Daytona and throughout the season, in areas we have not had to worry about or have not had to work on, so those are going to be the things I think can make a difference. You could see something unexpected happen.

“We tested down there, but we never got more than two or three drafting in a pack, so I think being part of the Budweiser Shootout is going to be a really big deal. Not just to see how the cars react in the draft, but also to see what happens on pit road with the new fuel can. The Shootout will be the first live action for the pit crews and, while I know they’ve been practicing with this for quite some time, now, I think they will learn a lot in the Shootout. There are still a lot of unknowns for the teams, so being part of the Budweiser Shootout is a big deal and it potentially will give us an idea of maybe what we can expect in the Duels and then again for the Daytona 500, both on the track and in the pits. To be honest, everybody talks about how excited they are to kick off the season and get to Daytona but, to me, I think everyone is anxious. We want to see how all the pieces of the puzzle are going to fit together.”

The biggest win of your career came at Daytona in 2008 when you won the 50^th Running of the Daytona 500. Talk about that day and what the win means to you.

“Winning at Daytona was an incredible experience. I won the ARCA race there in 2001, but nothing will ever compare to winning the 50^th Running of the Daytona 500 in 2008. That was a dream-come-true. After the race, I said I could hear my dad’s teardrops over the radio while he spotted for me as I came to the start-finish line to win, and I think that shows the importance of this race and this place to me and my entire family. I always said that just competing at Daytona was an honor. When I was a kid, my dad would bring me to Daytona for the 500 and we would make fake passes with construction paper and glitter so I could sneak into the garage and meet the drivers. Winning the Daytona 500 was a dream-come-true. I still can’t put it all into words, but I would love to do it again.

“For me, it was the culmination of everything that me and my family had sacrificed for all those years of building my racing career and getting me to that moment. I still get speechless when I talk about it. But winning one Daytona isn’t the goal. You want to win every race. It’s obviously the biggest win of my career, and it was a great day. I believe Dale Jarrett had said the second one can be sweeter than the first. So I’m looking forward to getting down to Daytona and trying to get that second Daytona 500 win. But it would be pretty cool to get the other wins that I haven’t gotten there before, too. I would love to start my season with a Budweiser Shootout win.”

TONY GIBSON, Crew Chief of the No. 39 WIX Filters Chevrolet Impala for Stewart-Haas Racing:

How does running the Budweiser Shootout benefit you in your preparation for the Daytona 500 the following week?

“Anytime you get track time, it’s going to help us. If the race does nothing else, it will help us pick a drafting buddy who we can work with through all of Speedweeks, whether it’s our own teammate or someone else who we really draft well with. Sometimes it’s not another Chevrolet that you draft well with. Sometimes it ends up being another manufacturer that you really, really run well with in the draft. So the Budweiser Shootout really helps us pick that partner we may go into the Duels and the 500 with.

“It also helps speed up the process of getting your race trim figured out for the Daytona 500, which is obviously our sport’s crown jewel. Everything we do in the Shootout, we can learn from and transfer right over to the 500 car. We may take a few more risks in the Shootout because it is a short race but, for the most part, everything we do in that race – good or bad – we learn from. Not only does it help us figure out the race package, but it gives our pit crew extra practice in race conditions and, with the fueling change this year, that’s a really big deal. You know, I was a gas man for 12 years. I actually went out to pit practice one day to see what it was and how to do it. I got hung up twice trying to use the new fuel can. It’s very different. Our engineers and our pit crew have been working really hard to figure out the best case scenario of how to make the pit stop work, and being in the Shootout is a big deal because it’s their first live action. It’s kind of like a free race for all of us to make sure we are on top of our game.”

The No. 39 team has had bad racing luck every time it has been to Daytona. How important is it to come out of Daytona with a good finish, and how much does Speedweeks set the tone for the season?

“It’s everything for us. We have yet to go down there and have good luck. We have always gone down there and qualified really well and run really strong, but we just haven’t had any results. It’s big for us. If we can come out of there with a top-15 finish, I’d be tickled to death because that would be almost 20 spots better than we have ever finished. I’ve told a lot of people that and they think I’m joking, but that’s what I would like for us to do. It’s so hard to overcome a bad finish at Daytona. The past two seasons, we have gone to Daytona and we have had a bad finish and then we’ve put ourselves in a really big hole. We want to change that cycle. If we can go to Daytona and come out with a decent finish, I will be pleased.”

The No. 39 team ended the 2010 season with a lot of momentum you believe will carry over to the start of this season. Do you feel that, if you have a good run in the Budweiser Shootout, it will be huge for this team and perhaps be the start of turning your luck around on restrictor-plate tracks?

“Absolutely. If we can go through the Budweiser Shootout and run strong  and come out of there unscathed, that’s going to set the tone for the rest of Speedweeks. It builds momentum. It builds confidence. And that will just carry right on through the week. It just keeps multiplying from there. Hopefully, we can go down there and do that and be strong the rest of the week.”

Does the team have any good luck charms that you guys are taking to Daytona in hopes of changing your racing luck?

“I think a couple of guys have gotten a few things they’re going to bring down to Daytona with them and even stick in the car to try and change our luck. They’re just going to try something different to see if it helps. The racing gods will either smile on you or frown on you and, hopefully, it’s our turn for them to smile on us. We finished Talladega last fall (23^rd), which was something we hadn’t been able to do previously, so, hopefully, that’s a sign our days of wrecking and destroying racecars at the restrictor-plate tracks are over. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Being from Daytona and growing up around the racetrack, does that make Speedweeks and these races more important to you, personally?

“I’ve been going down there for years. And I’ve been fortunate enough to work with teams, and we’ve won the Daytona 500 twice down there. I’ve run well down there and I’ve run badly but, anytime you go there and you get to showcase your team in front of the home people – friends and family – it means a lot. No matter what kind of sport it is, it’s always nice to go run well in front of your home crowd. You know, when you go to Speedweeks each year, there are four goals you want to accomplish – win the Shootout, qualify on the front row for the 500, win your Duel and win the Daytona 500. We have just as good a shot as anybody. So, the first goal at hand is to win the Shootout, and that would be awesome. I can’t think of a better way to build momentum for the rest of Speedweeks and the season.”

Ryan Newman’s Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway Performance Profile:

×Race length extended due to green-white-checker finish.

- True Speed Communication for Stewart-Haas Racing, Press Release

Bobby Labonte - Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

CORNELIUS, N.C.

“Thanks to our sponsors we are primed to meet our ultimate goal and that’s to be in the Chase for the championship,” Labonte said. “JTG Daugherty Racing has the good fortune of being associated with some of the best brands in the business and that will allow us to be in position to be a contender.”

“We are indeed fortunate to have substantial corporate partners lined up again for 2011 and to have a driver of Bobby’s caliber piloting the No 47 Toyota,” said JTG Daugherty Racing co-owner Tad Geschickter. “Bobby is a proven winner and he will help us achieve our goals of winning races and selling cases for our sponsors.”

To kick off the season, Labonte leads JTG Daugherty into their first-ever Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway. For the 33^rd annual event, the team is proud to announce a new partnership with Cequent, a TriMas company, and the Reese Towpower® brand.  Reese Towpower® hitches will sponsor the No. 47 Toyota for the first time during the Shootout on Saturday February 12. In addition, Reese will sponsor the car in the All-Star event at Charlotte Motor Speedway and return as primary at Pocono Raceway in August. Reese Towpower®Towpower has pioneered the technology that has set the standard for today’s most advanced towing.

For the Daytona 500, The Kroger Co. returns as primary sponsor of the No. 47 Toyota. The Kroger Co., the nation’s largest traditional grocery retailer, employs more than 334,000 associates who serve customers in 2,461 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states. The Kroger family of stores includes:  Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Jay C, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith’s.

In 2011, Kroger is partnering with the USO to celebrate the 70^th anniversary as the leading organization that provides morale-boosting programs and services to enhance the quality of life for troops and their families around the world.  In honor of our retired and active duty members of the military and their families, Kroger is donating $400,000 to the USO during the pre-race ceremonies at the 2011 DAYTONA 500.

As a special tribute, Kroger and JTG Daugherty Racing have placed a very special logo on the hood of the No. 47 car for the DAYTONA 500. The logo includes the names of more than 350 Kroger associates from across the country who are active duty and reservist members of our nation’s military. These men and women have served in our armed forces while employed by the Kroger family of stores.

“It is such a privilege to be able to have a small part in thanking the men and women in uniform for the service they provide to our country and communities to keep us safe,” Labonte said. “I’m proud to carry the USO logo on our Toyota Camry. It’s pretty special for all of us at JTG Daugherty Racing to be able to do that thanks to Kroger and all of our partners behind this program.”

Every sponsor is significant to the racing program’s success, but one has been with JTG Daugherty Racing every step of the way. Kingsford® Charcoal returns to the team for its 14^th year to remind fans that ‘Racing Season is Grilling Season’. Kingsford® Charcoal will be primary at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Richmond International Raceway (April), Dover International Speedway (May), Charlotte Motor Speedway (May), Daytona International Speedway (July) and Michigan International Speedway (August).

Just after Vegas, the familiar face of Little Debbie® can be seen on Labonte’s car at Auto Club Speedway. Since 1960, Little Debbie® snacks have remained a value leader. More than 75 varieties are available.

Following the 400-mile event in California, Lance® Sandwich Crackers takes over the reins for the April event at Martinsville Speedway. Labonte’s machine will also fly the Lance® colors at Darlington Raceway and Charlotte Motor Speedway (October). Since its inception in 1913, Lance® has been dedicated to providing fresh, great tasting snack options for a busy lifestyle.

Shifting from snacks to famous baked beans, Bush Brothers & Company returns for their ninth year with the team and Bush’s® Baked Beans will be a primary of the No. 47 Toyota Camry for seven races including Texas Motor Speedway (April), Talladega Superspeedway (April), Bristol Motor Speedway (August), Atlanta Motor Speedway (September), New Hampshire Motor Speedway (September), Dover International Speedway (October) and Kansas Speedway (October).

Another longstanding team partner, Clorox® launches their first of six primary races at Phoenix International Raceway in February. They are also slated to prominently be displayed at Kansas Speedway (June), Pocono Raceway (June), Infineon Raceway, Texas Motor Speedway (October), and Phoenix International Raceway (November). Clorox® branded products promote healthy habits both at home and in the classroom and helps prevent the spread of cold and flu germs along with many other uses. Clorox® will be leveraging their sponsorship to remind race fans that their brand is the world’s most effective disinfectant.

JTG Daugherty Racing is proud to announce partnership renewal with Kimberly-Clark Corporation. Kimberly-Clark Corporation will highlight several key brand introductions by taking primary space for the races at Kentucky Speedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, and the October event at Talladega Superspeedway.  Every day, 1.3 billion people trust Kimberly-Clark products and the solutions they provide to make their lives better with well-known family care and personal care brands such as Cottenelle® Kleenex®, Scott® Products, Viva, Huggies®, Kotex®, Poise® and Depend.

JTG Daugherty Racing has signed the RainEater wiper blade brand to have primary billing at Michigan International Speedway in June. RainEater is the industries newest aftermarket wiper blade brand offering consumers superior all-weather performance with their aerodynamic frameless and full feature traditional wiper blades.

“JTG Daugherty Racing is thriving and signing new sponsors in addition to activating existing partnerships,” crew chief Frank Kerr said. “It’s exciting to be part of the company’s growth. We have a fresh start with strong backing from our sponsors and the addition of a champion driver. We’re very confident about this year and ready for Daytona.”

Associate sponsorships for 2011 include Glad® Bags & Wraps, KC Masterpiece®, Hidden Valley®, Tom’s®, Coca-Cola®, and Sullivan-Palatek®.

“We have all the right ingredients and personnel in place to be successful,” Labonte said. “We are extremely focused and serious about being one of 12 teams competing for the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship and we have the ability to do it thanks to all of our great partners.”

- JTG-Daugherty Racing, Press Release

JTG-Daugherty/Bobby Labonte/No. 47 Toyota Camry

Michigan International Speedway

Paint FireKeepers red on Saturday, Feb. 12, during a free Budweiser Shootout Viewing Party from 5-11 p.m. The watch party will take place in the Dacey’s Sports Bar inside the casino. The Budweiser Shootout in Daytona kicks off the start to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

Numerous prizes will be given away throughout the evening, including a grand prize trip for two to this year’s Daytona 500. The grand prize package includes airfare, hotel accommodations and tickets to the Daytona 500, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series races, which are held on Feb. 18-20.

Garage passes, a hauler tour of the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet and meet and greet with Sprint Cup Series superstar Kevin Harvick are all included in the package.

“It’s great when we can team up with our partners like FireKeepers Casino and Budweiser to host an event like this to kick off the 2011 race season,” MIS Director of Corporate Partnerships Josh Burgett said. “We may not be IN Daytona, but we can celebrate like we are and host a fun party for our fans. And it’s free! It will be great to see the Sprint Cup drivers back on track in what could potentially be an exciting race with the repaved surface at Daytona International Speedway.”

Other prizes that will be given away throughout the night are MIS tickets, Budweiser Acceleration hospitality packages and non-event weekend pace car rides.

The Bud Shootout has always been a fan favorite, which features the Top-12 Chase drivers along with other past shootout champions and NASCAR rookie of the year winners in a sprint to the finish. The event is annually held the weekend before the Daytona 500.

Last season, Harvick, the August Sprint Cup Series race winner at MIS, pulled ahead of Kasey Kahne to win his second consecutive Bud Shootout. Harvick will compete in 2011 with new Budweiser sponsorship. The former Daytona 500 winner will be at MIS in June to attempt to win two straight Sprint Cup Series races, which hasn’t been done in the Irish Hills since Greg Biffle in 2005.

Nestled in the lush Irish Hills of Southeastern Michigan, Michigan International Speedway is the Great Escape, a venerable NASCAR national park where fans can get away and enjoy the very best in racing and camaraderie. It’s the love of racing and the thrill of a great time for race fans and drivers alike.

MIS’ Value Pricing ends on February 28. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tickets for the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 on June 19 and NSCS 400 on August 21 are as low as $25. Visit MISpeedway.com or call the MIS ticket hotline at 800-354-1010 today to take advantage of great pricing for 2011 events at MIS.

Media Note: An advertising piece promoting MIS’ Budweiser Shootout Viewing Party at FireKeepers Casino on Feb. 12 is attached to this e-mail for media use on your websites.

Michigan International Speedway – 2011 Schedule

Saturday, May 21       Great Lakes Wine Fest

Friday, June 17           ARCA Racing Series RainEater Wiper Blades 200

Saturday, June 18      NASCAR Nationwide Series

Sunday, June 19         NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400

Friday, Aug. 19           Meijer Pole Day

Saturday, Aug. 20       NASCAR Camping World Truck Series VFW 200

Sunday, Aug. 21         NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

- Michigan International Speedway, Press Release

NSCS No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet Impala SS

The invite to the prestigious, non-points Budweiser Shootout — Saturday night, Feb. 12 at Daytona International Speedway — was on the basis of Smith being a former NASCAR Sprint Cup rookie of the year (2008).

It will mark the first time that Smith and the Furniture Row Racing organization will compete in the Budweiser Shootout, the traditional opening event of Daytona 500 Speedweeks. The shootout lineup will consist of nearly 30 drivers, including the 12 who earned a berth in last year’s Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

“When I got the call that we’ll be in the Budweiser Shootout it was an awesome piece of news,” said the 27-year-old Smith. “To be a participant in this race instead of a television viewer is not only uplifting, but it also gives us the opportunity to better prepare for the Daytona 500.”

The 75-lap Budweiser Shootout at the newly-paved 2.5-mile superspeedway is a precursor to the Daytona 500. Both the Budweiser Shootout and Daytona 500 (Feb. 20) will be televised nationally on FOX.

“The invite to participate in the Budweiser Shootout was a pleasant surprise,” said Joe Garone, Furniture Row Racing general manager. “Any chance we get to race is a chance to win and that’s why we do what we do. As our performance increases it is exciting to see the team getting closer to meeting that goal. We’re ready to kick off the new season in the Budweiser Shootout.”

- DMF Communications for Furniture Row Racing, Press Release

ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards

As exciting as that sounds, the Shootout may not be the best event of the day.

That honor could go to the Automobile Club of America (ARCA) Lucas Oil Mist 200 which will be held at DIS earlier in the day.

The ARCA crowd has been a ‘warm-up act’ for the NASCAR boys at Daytona since 1964 when ARCA founder John Marcum and his Midwestern-based racing series joined the Speedweeks party. Based on pre-event testing last week – and a look at the entry list – this year’s Daytona ARCA race could be a hard act to follow for the Cup gang later in the day.

- CloseFinishes.com

ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards

“We’re extremely proud of the depth and quality of the venues on the 2011 schedule, each of which is very important to the identity and industry position of the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards,” said ARCA president Ron Drager. “Both the number of scheduled events and the geographic coverage represented by the markets we’ll be racing in are good fits for the series.”

Daytona International Speedway will host the season opener for the 48th consecutive year. The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 will serve as the preamble for the same-day NASCAR Sprint Cup Budweiser Shootout on Saturday, February 12. The 2011 ARCA Racing Series schedule will conclude with the series’ championship weekend at Toledo Speedway on Sunday, October 16. In between, the series will appear at a wide variety of venues, making up the most versatile mix in all of motorsports.

Return visits to O’Reilly Raceway Park (ORP) and Winchester (Ind.) Speedway, as previously announced, and the addition of Madison International Speedway will also highlight the 2011 calendar.

ORP, located in the Indianapolis suburb of Clermont, will host the ARCA Racing Series on July 28 in conjunction with the USAC National Midget and Silver Crown Series races the same day. The event will be the eighth for ARCA at the 0.686-mile oval since 1971.

The ARCA/USAC tripleheader kicks off ORP’s Kroger SpeedFest, which also features a Friday event for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and a Saturday race for the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The ORP events lead in to one of the feature races on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule, the July 31 Brickyard 400 at nearby Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The ARCA Racing Series’ visit to Winchester Speedway, the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile,” is scheduled for Saturday, June 25, and will be the series’ first appearance there since May 2007.

Madison International Speedway, located in Oregon, Wisc., will host the ARCA tour on Friday, August 26 in the first appearance of the ARCA Racing Series at the semi-banked, half-mile paved oval.

In addition to its position as the host for ARCA’s season finale, Toledo Speedway – the home track of the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards – will host the series for its traditional spring date on Sunday, May 15.

Speedway events returning in 2011 include Kansas Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Pocono Raceway, and Talladega Superspeedway, in addition to the season opener at Daytona. The Talladega event will be the 50th ARCA Racing Series appearance at the renowned 2.66-mile Alabama superspeedway since 1969, and the upcoming events at Pocono mark the 52nd and 53rd appearances of the ARCA Racing Series at Pocono since 1983.

Additional short tracks again hosting events in 2011 include Salem (Ind.) Speedway, Berlin (Mich.) Raceway, and Iowa Speedway. The Illinois State Fairgrounds and DuQuoin State Fairgrounds will host the traditional mile-dirt races late in the summer.

Contributing to the diversity of the ARCA Racing Series schedule will be another road course race at New Jersey Motorsports Park, scheduled for Sunday, May 22. The race will be ARCA’s fourth consecutive appearance at the 2.25-mile Thunderbolt Raceway course in Millville, N.J.

Companion events in 2011 include races with the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series, as well as with the USAC National Midget and Silver Crown Series.

The full 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule is as follows:

Saturday, February 12 – Daytona International Speedway

Friday, April 15 – Talladega Superspeedway

Sunday, May 1 – Salem Speedway

Sunday, May 15 – Toledo Speedway

Sunday, May 22 – New Jersey Motorsports Park

Saturday, June 4 – Chicagoland Speedway

Saturday, June 11 – Pocono Raceway

Friday, June 17 – Michigan International Speedway

Saturday, June 25 – Winchester Speedway

Saturday, July 9 – Berlin Raceway

Saturday, July 16 – Iowa Speedway

Thursday, July 28 – O’Reilly Raceway Park

Saturday, August 6 – Pocono Raceway

Sunday, August 21 – Illinois State Fairgrounds

Friday, August 26 – Madison International Speedway

Monday, September 5 – DuQuoin State Fairgrounds

Saturday, September 17 – Salem Speedway

Friday, October 7 – Kansas Speedway

Sunday, October 16 – Toledo Speedway

The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards has crowned an ARCA national champion each year since its inaugural season in 1953, and has toured over 200 race tracks in 28 states since its inception. The series tests the abilities of drivers and race teams over the most diverse schedule of stock car racing events in the world, annually visiting tracks ranging from 0.4 mile to 2.66 miles in length, on both paved and dirt surfaces as well as a left- and right-turn road course.

Founded by John Marcum in 1953 in Toledo, Ohio, the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is recognized among the leading sanctioning bodies in the country. Closing in on completing its sixth decade after hundreds of thousands of miles of racing, ARCA administers over 100 race events each season in two professional touring series and local weekly events.

- Automobile Racing Club of America Press Release

Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway

For race fans, Friday, Nov. 26 and Monday, Nov. 29 will be their opportunity to take advantage of special ticket offers for Speedweeks 2011 at Daytona International Speedway.

Race fans can choose from one of the following four ticket packages, all priced at $49 per ticket:

• An infield/grandstand ticket with garage access for the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 29-30, a savings of 35%.
• Infield/grandstand ticket for the Budweiser Shootout/Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 12 with admission to the Budweiser Pre-Race Party that includes an appearance by former Daytona 500 champion Kevin Harvick, Hooters wings and beverages, a savings of 29%.
• General admission grandstand ticket for the Gatorade Duel At Daytona qualifying races on Thursday, Feb. 17 and a Sprint FANZONE/Pre-Race pass, a savings of 24%.
• General admission grandstand ticket for the NextEra Energy Resources 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Friday, Feb. 18 and a Sprint FANZONE/Pre-Race pass, a savings of 24%.

Additionally, on both Friday, Nov. 26 and Monday, Nov. 29, race fans will receive free shipping (a savings of $14) for all tickets purchased (phone orders only) and fans will have the ability to customize a ticket envelope with a holiday gift message.

Children 12 and under are free in Sprint FANZONE during Speedweeks 2011 and free in the general admission areas during the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Budweiser Shootout, Gatorade Duel At Daytona, NextEra Energy Resources 250 and DRIVE4COPD 300.

To help make the race day experience more enjoyable, the speedway recently announced that fans may now carry in soft-sided coolers measuring 14 x 14 x 14 inches or 2,700 cubic inches – six times the size previously permitted.  In addition to the larger cooler, fans can carry in lightweight backpacks or daypacks, approximately 17 inches in length, similar to those used by school students.

To purchase tickets to any of the Daytona International Speedway’s events, call 1-800-PITSHOP or visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com

- Daytona International Speedway, Press Release

No. 33 Rheem Swimming Pool Heaters Chevrolet Impala Logo

BRINGING NASCAR BACK TO THE BEACH: As the NASCAR Nationwide Series moves in on Daytona Beach, Fla. for the inagural race with the series’ new car, The Kevin Harvick Foundation, along with partners Rheem and WileyX, will ‘Bring NASCAR Back to the Beach’ where NASCAR started over 60 years ago. On Thursday, July 1st, from 10:00 a.m. until noon at The Ocean Deck in Daytona Beach, the group will host a group of 50 children from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Volusia and Flagler Counties for a fun day in the sun and a game of volleyball with Kevin Harvick, DeLana Harvick, along with TV and radio personalities, Adam Alexander and Matt Yocum.

The newly founded Kevin Harvick Foundation is dedicatied to the support of programs that positively enrich the lives of children throughout the United States, has teamed with longtime Kevin Harvick Inc. partners Rheem and WileyX, in hopes to give the children from the local Boys and Girls clubs an experience they will not soon forget. A group of 50 boys and girls will enjoy a day on the beach, which in addition to the volleyball game, includes photos with the Nationwide Series new car No. 33 Rheem Swimming Pool Heaters Chevrolet, giveaways, a photo with the Harvick’s as they receive a donation from Rheem and WileyX for the Foundation and lunch at Ocean Deck.

Following the beach event, the Foundation along with Rheem and WileyX will also host 100 members from the local clubs for the Friday night race to cheer on Harvick and the No. 33 Rheem Swimming Pool Heaters Chevrolet.

“I’m excited to be able to host local kids from the communities around Daytona this week at both the beach on Thursday and at the track on Friday night,” said Harvick. “DeLana and I started the Kevin Harvick Foundation to be able to positively influence kids from across the U.S. and provide opportunities for them to follow their dreams and live up to their potential. I hope that we are able to do that this week as we kick off the race weekend and summer. I look forward to having the group from the Boys and Girls clubs in the stands Friday night along with our Rheem guests and hopefully I can give them something to cheer about.”

FROM THE COCKPIT: The No. 33 Rheem Swimming Pool Heaters Chevrolet will carry an in-car camera this week for the ESPN broadcast of the Subway Jalapeno 250 Powered by Coca-Cola. In addition to being able to get an inside look at the car, tune in for an inside voice as Harvick serves as the ESPN in-race reporter for the 100-lap event.

TRACKSIDE LIVE! Harvick will appear on the Friday, July 2, edition of SPEED’s Trackside Live! The taping for the show will take place on Friday morning beginning at 11:30 a.m. outside the turn four tunnel of Daytona International Speedway. Stop by and watch Harvick, as representatives from Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) will be on hand with free giveaways from KHI sponsors Rheem and WileyX.

LOOKING FOR NO. 12: Harvick will be looking for his 12th top-five finish this week at the famous 2.5-mile track where he will make his 17th-career Nationwide Series start at Daytona International Speedway. Harvick also looks to add his first superspeedway win in a KHI-owned car to the list.

In 16 previous Nationwide Series starts at the track, Harvick has one win, 11 top-five and 13 top-10 finishes. His average starting position is 9.6 with an average finishing position of 5.9. In addition to his stellar stats, Harvick has completed 100 percent of laps attempted (1816 of 1816 laps) and led 212 laps. Harvick’s most recent Nationwide Series start at the track came earlier this season when he started the season-opening race from the fourth position and finished third as teammate Tony Stewart won the first race of the 2010 season.

Harvick’s 2007 Nationwide Series victory at the track marked his first superspeedway win across all three series. In addition to the win, he swept the weekend by winning his first career Daytona 500 the following day. At the beginning of this season, Harvick added another Budweiser Shootout win to his list of successes at Daytona, adding to his 2009 Budweiser Shootout win.

Kevin Harvick

What do you expect for the first Nationwide Series new car race this week at Daytona International Speedway? “I think they’re going to be very similar to what you see with the Cup cars. They’re going to move around a lot. At the test they moved around a tremendous amount. I think with everybody going home and working on their cars, you’re going to see a lot of people instead of worrying about how fast their cars are going, they’re going to worry about handling and I think it’s going to be a great race. The cars look great. I’m excited about getting in them.”

Talk about the repaving of Daytona following this weekend’s race events. “I know it’s time and I know there are a lot of issues underneath that made them decide to repave it. So, we’re going to miss the handling issues you have at Daytona and all the things that you always fight and it will be a lot like Talladega with a much narrower surface than what we have at Talladega. But hopefully, it will eventually get back to having some bumps and it usually does. Talladega has been the one race track that really hasn’t changed a whole lot. It’s all about speed and that’s going to be what it’s going to be like at Daytona. You bring your fastest car and not worry about handling; just play the chess match and see what happens.”

CHASSIS HISTORY: For the inaugural NASCAR Nationwide Series new car race, the No. 33 team will unload a brand new chassis, No. 057, for the two-time Nationwide Series champion.

PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: KHI team co-owner Harvick returned the seat of the No. 33 Chevrolet at New Hampshire Motor Speedway following a three-week hiatus. Harvick started the New England 200 from the third position and after 200 laps, finished the race seventh. The finish marked his 12th top-eight finish in 13 starts this season and ninth top-eight finish in 10 starts at the New England track.

Kevin Harvick

Nationwide Series Stats at Daytona

Year No. Team Start Finish

2010 33 KHI 4 3
2009 33 KHI 3 10
2009 33 KHI 1 11
2008 33 KHI 7 12
2008 33 KHI 9 21
2007 21 RCR 4 2
2007 21 RCR 31 1
2006 21 RCR 42 3
2006 29 RCR 17 5
2005 21 RCR 1 2
2005 21 RCR 7 2
2004 21 RCR 2 8
2004 21 RCR 3 4
2003 21 RCR 3 3
2001 2 RCR 12 2
2000 2 RCR 7 5

*KHI: Kevin Harvick Inc.

*RCR: Richard Childress Racing

About Rheem:

Rheem Manufacturing Company (www.rheem.com) is a privately held company with headquarters in Atlanta, Ga. In its 81st year of operation, the company distributes throughout North America and world markets an award-winning line of eco-friendly, technologically advanced residential and commercial heating, cooling, water heating, whole-home standby generators, controls, pool and spa heaters, indoor air purification products and commercial boilers. The nation’s leading consumer products review magazine recently reported that Rheem products have been rated most reliable among all leading brands by tens of thousands of consumers. The premium brands of Rheem Manufacturing Company include Ruud, Raypak and Rheem. Rheem Manufacturing Company is the primary sponsor of Kevin Harvick Inc.’s No. 33 Chevrolet Nationwide® Series car and is an associate sponsor of KHI’s No 33 truck in the Camping World Truck Series.

About Kevin Harvick Inc.:

Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI), established in 2001 by Kevin and DeLana Harvick, is an 80,000 sq. ft. facility located in Kernersville, N.C. Home of the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship team, KHI enters 2010 in its seventh full year of competition with two full-time Truck Series teams and one full-time Nationwide Series team. Four-time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday returns to the helm of the No. 33 Truck team looking for his fifth title and third championship for KHI (2009 and 2007), while Sprint Cup series stars Kevin Harvick and Elliott Sadler guide the No. 2 Truck team. Two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Harvick will again shine as the lead driver of the No. 33 Nationwide Series team as he continues to make his mark in motorsports and establish KHI as one of the top teams in NASCAR competition. For more information about KHI and its teams, please visit www.KevinHarvickInc.com.

- Kevin Harvick Inc. Press Release

Granny Grump

Now to address other things on my mind at present. At face value there are basically 2 ways to look at this up-comin’ weekend. In the grand world scheme of things Daytona is fairly insignificant (1), but the flip side of this means we all need a diversion and are lookin’ forward to the Daytona mayhem and madness (2). I fall into the later category, if ya know what I mean. Every time I think about it I get all warm and nervous. Not much makes me feel that way anymore except for hot flashes and these here races. Well that and Mark Martin, Ron Hornaday, Jr.,  and about 45 other drivers, give or take a few here and there. At my age I count my blessin’s where and when I get ‘em, but, that’s neither here nor there if ya know what I mean.

So, I guess I’ll start this here article off with Miss Danica. Now, I admit that I was not much in favor of her comin over to NASCAR, as my loyal readers may remember. It had nothin’ to do with her racin’ abilities. She has had some success over in the drag racin arena so I really had no idea whatsoever how that would play out in real racin’… oval type racin’ I mean to say. I was thinkin she might be more of a distraction thing for the drivers and the sport cause all I had to go on were those GoDaddy.com commercials and I personally think those are just chock full of questionable taste, silliness and aimed strictly at men. Come on now. Fact is fact. I can tell you one somethin’ right now, if I get stopped by a woman cop and she starts tearin’ her shirt off and leanin’ in my face, that girl is gonna get a whole lot of granny whuppin’ in real short order. Then I guess I’ll be writin’ from jail but it would probably be worth it. Know what I mean? And then there was the one last Sunday where she was wrapped in a towel and layin’ on a message table and, once again, that girl was rippin her shirt off.

What in this world are they thinkin’? That doesn’t give either woman in those commercials a healthy, respectable image, if ya know what I mean. Am I wrong here or what? I don’t think so. The site is named GoDaddy.com, not Go Nasty Rippin’ Off Her Shirt Girl, for Pete’s sake. Bring back the bigger than life racin’ posters. Please! I can’t take this anymore. Leaves a bad taste in my mouth, so to speak. Lord have mercy! And it just isn’t fair for people to think of either girl in those ways whether you are male (which have different opinions I am sure) or female. I can tell you that right now. Danica is a racer. What has rippin’ your shirt off got to do with that anyway? Whatever! Now we finally have had the opportunity to watch her behind the wheel and she is impressive to say the least. She doesn’t need that yucky stuff. Just my opinion, but, I’m stickin’ to it.

And while we’re on the subject, everyone of those other girls racin were very impressive. Granny was shoutin’ for ya, honeys. I am very happy women racers are finally being viewed differently and I think we are gonna see some excitin’ competition from all of them. It’s just a shame that Shawna Robinson, Kim Crosby and a few others weren’t taken seriously a few years back. Those girls were just as talented and good lookers too and they didn’t have an owner boyfriend to help them out, either. Of course that doesn’t always work, but, I’m just sayin! Maybe somebody out there ought to dig deep in their pockets and hunt these girls down and jump on this new racin band wagon. How’s this sound? A well known owner puttin’ together a new NASCAR multi-driver team with only female drivers hittin’ ARCA, then trucks and onwards. Could pay off big! Sponsors? This is only an idea, but, Tampax, Kotex, Playtex, Maidenform, Avon or a wide range of other female products. Hey it can’t be any worse that the shirt rippin’ girls. Right? Again, I’m just sayin’.

Enough of all that. Now for the “Other Stuff”:

I am so thrilled to see Mark and JR fillin out the front row Sunday. Talk about excitin. I’m getting all warm and nervous again and this aint a hot flash as far as I can tell. And lookey here, Kyle Busch owns a truck team now. I will refrain from comment for now, but, will say a genuine congratulations to ya Shrub! I sincerely mean that.

I sure did hate to recently read about Robby Gordon runnin a limited schedule. He just needs backin from someone. Ok, some big time money man, listen up. Robby is amazin and get that boy in some big bucks equipment and he will run them all down. Hear me? And the merchandise will fly out the hauler. Put me down for a shirt and hat! Maybe even 2 of each! See? You’re already makin money on somethin’ you haven’t paid for yet! Know what I mean? Just say yes!

And Kevin Harvick won the second in a row Bud Shootout. Kevin, honeybunch, Granny was pullin for ya and ya made this mature woman as happy as she could be considerin’ she got a speedin ticket tryin to get home in time to watch the race, but, that’s a story for another time and place. Know what I mean? Anyway, sweetness, woohoo and pass the potatoes! Congratulations to ya! I hope this starts 2010 off in great fashion for ya. Of course, I said the same thing last year, but, that is neither here nor there!

And finally for this go around I want to call attention to the ever so handsome and talented Steve Park who competed in the NASCAR All-Star Showdown at Irwindale last weekend. Logano won, young Pena almost did and Steve came in 10th. It was wonderful to see that boy racin with some big names. He stayed out of trouble and brought his ride home 10th. Man oh man wouldn’t I love to see him back in the Nationwide or Cup series. And so would a lot of other race fans. The women love him. Why I was at one of his autograph sessions one time and some of those women were throwin articles of clothin at him and made Danica’s commercials look like a church picnic! That’s the truth! Why, I still stifle the urge to hang my Pennzoil banner out across the chicken coop every racin Sunday! Why people would come from all over town to look at that thing hangin’ out there all big, yellow and, well, big. It was amazin’ to see, I can tell ya that right now. I purely miss the boy. He sure showed he can still get the job done. Wish some owner would give him another chance if that’s what he wants.

So that’s it for now, y’all. I’m sure I will think of other stuff I should have talked about, but, I can’t sit here any longer. I’m still a very busy woman. I’ll catch up with you again, probably next week sometime if court and my speedin ticket appearance goes well. Around here who knows, however. Personally, I think law enforcement has a good one for me, if ya know what I mean, but, that’s neither here nor there. Later.

Looking at the event’s participants the following emerged -

HARVICK SALVAGED A MEDIOCRE NIGHT FOR RCR - Harvick raced hard and won, while teammate Jeff Burton didn’t seem to race anyone and had to come back from a spin. Burton never looked up to the speed Harvick was.

CARL EDWARDS MAY BE THE FASTEST CAR OF SPEEDWEEKS - Edwards looked to be the strongest car during the race; he was challenged repeatedly yet was able to hold the lead until the entire field finally ganged up on him and he got blown to the back; the rule is when you know who the fastest car is you gang up on him and trap him out back – the field did that to a T.

THE REST OF THE ROUSH FLEET LOOKED GOOD – Except Greg Biffle cannot finish a plate race well to save his bacon. They ran the old Ford engines for this race while using the new powerplant for 500 pole runs; the race engines next Sunday are expected to be the old ones, to date more reliable than the still-new FR9.

LET’S SEE WHAT THE REST OF PETTY-GILLETT CAN DO NOW - Kasey Kahne displayed muscle all race; it bodes well for teammate A.J. Allmendinger, last year’s Speedweeks darkhorse, at the very least.

JAMIE MCMURRAY LOOKS BETTER THAN EXPECTED - McMurray displayed a fight the Earnhardt-Ganassi Chevy #1 has never really had; indeed, he looked to displace his loose cannon of a teammate as top dog at the EGR outfit.

BRIAN VICKERS WANTS TO WIN BADLY - Vickers appeared to be the most aggressive at push-drafting and fighting to win; that he didn’t get a better finish than he did was surprising, as he was clearly the best of the Toyotas in this race.

JGR LOOKS DECIDEDLY MEDIOCRE - Denny Hamlin made a run to the front but never looked strong enough to sustain it, while Kyle Busch finished fourth, far better than he actually ran all night. Joey Logano was quiet all night but showed some muscle.

HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS DIDN’T HAVE THAT HOT A NIGHT – Satellite driver Tony Stewart fought for the lead all night, but the rest of the Hendrick fleet didn’t look as strong as expected. Martin, Johnson, and Gordon reached the top five but never looked stout enough to stay there.

JUNIOR IS HOPELESS - I didn’t count a single car Junior passed all night and the car never looked able to do anything. A bad combination looks to be getting worse, not better.

ANDRETTI AND LABONTE GOT SOMETHING OUT OF THEIR CARS - John Andretti and Bobby Labonte don’t have stout racecars anymore but they got something out of what they had. I’m still amazed they’re not with Petty’s group anymore; they’d be a better fit than Sadler and Menard.

PENSKE RACING MAY HAVE TO DEPEND ON BRAD KESELOWSKI FOR THE 500 - Kurt Busch didn’t display as much muscle as one would expect, and despite Mark Martin’s apology it appeared Busch chopped into Martin and spun himself out.

The end result was a memorable race and a stout start to Speedweeks 2010.