Tony Stewart Stands Atop of his 25-foot Tournament Model fishing boat for winning the Ford 400 Last November - Photo Credit: Getty Images Sport

MIAMI –

With delivery of the boat scheduled for later this month, Stewart appreciates the reward and come-from-behind victory that enabled him to claim it:

“We had to win the race to win the championship, and that’s what we did,” said Stewart. “To walk out of Homestead-Miami Speedway with a race trophy, the Sprint Cup championship trophy, and then to top it all off – a Contender fishing boat – it really doesn’t get any better than that. I’ve gotten some pretty cool trophies, even a couple of guns for winning poles and races, but never a boat. It’s cool. When we’re out on the water fishing with it, we’ll have a pretty good story to tell whenever someone asks about our boat.”

The vessel, which boasts a four-stroke, 300 horsepower Yamaha outboard, is valued at more than $115,000.

Homestead-Miami Speedway and Contender Boats are awarding the winner of Ford 400 a top-of-the-line fishing boat each year through 2013. This year’s season-ending championship race is set for Sunday, November 18.

About Contender Boats

Contender Boats was founded in 1982 and incorporated in Florida in 1984. It has operated continuously since then, producing more than 6,000 boats with both open and cabin configurations, ranging in size from 21 to 40 feet in length. The current production facility is located in Homestead, where all components are manufactured in-house including metal fabrication, carpentry, electrical, and upholstery.  www.contenderoffshore.com 

About Homestead-Miami Speedway

The Speedway has been open since 1995 following an initiative to spur economic recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew.  The 640-acre facility is active more than 280 days per year and hosts NASCAR’s Championship Races during Ford Championship Weekend (November 16-18, 2012).  The Sprint Cup Championship Ford 400 is broadcast live on TV and radio to 175 countries and into 24 languages.  The 2011 championship attracted ESPN Television’s largest NASCAR Sprint Cup viewership ever with a peak audience of 10.5 million when the checkered flag fell. Homestead-Miami Speedway, featuring a 1.5-mile oval and 2.21-mile road course, generates more than $250 million annually for the region.

Homestead-Miami Speedway continues its rich history of sports car racing in 2012 when the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series returns to South Florida’s road course. The Grand Prix of Miami, set for April 27-29, features Daytona Prototypes and Grand Touring classes in Race 3 of the 2012 GRAND-AM campaign. For information on the more than 280 events held each year at Homestead-Miami Speedway, please visitwww.homesteadmiamispeedway.com  or call 866.409.RACE.

Source: Homestead-Miami Speedway, Press Release

One driver already has a head start on that in his career and while he has a familiar last name and a world famous racing pedigree – he wants to make his mark on his terms.

Pietro Fittipaldi just completed his first season of competing in the Limited Late Model Division at Hickory Motor Speedway and if his performance this year is any indication, the 14-year old native of Miami, Fl., will have a long and successful career in a stock car.

Fittipaldi is the grandson of one of the most famous open-wheeled drivers in history – Emerson Fittipaldi.

However, the teenager wants to earn his respect on his own, and judging by this season’s performance at Hickory, he is off to a great start.

Fittipaldi competed in the Limited Late Model Division at the famed track and his initial goal for the season was to just get comfortable in a stock car and it didn’t take him long.

He finished second in his sixth start and collected his first win in his 13th start on July 23.

- Short Track Action

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Logo

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 25, 2011)

NASCAR determined that Kurt Busch violated Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing – inappropriate hand gesture; abusive language) of the 2011 NASCAR Rule Book.

In issuing the penalty, NASCAR cited Kurt Busch’s “poor judgment in making an inappropriate hand gesture” when he drove his car into the garage early in the race after it experienced transmission problems. In addition, NASCAR said Kurt Busch showed “disrespect towards a media member,” an incident that followed similar inappropriate media confrontations earlier in the season.

- NASCAR, Press Release

No. 17 Tire Kingdom / Service Central Toyota Tundra

Peters was unable to make a mock qualifying run in practice, which would have given him a faster speed, so he started deep in the field from the 22nd position. The first caution of the evening waved on lap three. Peters reported to the team the truck was a little too free, but they chose to leave the No. 17 Tire Kingdom/Service Central Toyota Tundra on track as it was too early to give up track position. Peters continued to fight a loose-handling race track until the competition caution waved on lap 20.

Under the caution period, Peters brought the No. 17 Tundra to pit road for four tires, fuel and an air-pressure adjustment. A quick stop by the No. 17 team returned Peters to the track in the 17th position for the restart on lap 23. Six laps later the caution was displayed again for a spin on the front stretch. As the caution was displayed, Peters’ Red Horse Racing teammate, Miguel Paludo, experienced a mechanical issue and retired from the race early due to an internal issue.

Timothy Peters

A quick stop by the Tire Kingdom/Service Central team placed Peters back on track in the 11th position for the restart on lap 101. The adjustments the team made under the final pit stop were just what Peters needed. Within 10 laps the No. 17 Toyota Tundra took over the eighth position. The caution waved on lap 117 for rain, as a storm blew over Homestead-Miami Speedway. The down-pour resulted in NASCAR calling the event official with 17 laps remaining.

Peters finished eighth and recorded his 12th top-10 finish of 2011, clinching his career best Truck Series point standings finish of fifth, only 56 points out of the lead position. In 2011, Peters recorded one win at Lucas Oil Raceway in July, seven top-five and 12 top-10 finishes in route to his fifth-place point’s finish.

About TBC Retail Group

Headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida, TBC Retail Group, Inc., a subsidiary of TBC Corporation, operates more than 800 tire and automotive service centers under the brands: Tire Kingdom, NTB – National Tire and Battery, and Merchant’s Tire and Auto Centers, along with over 400 franchised Big O Tires locations. The contingent of over 1200 stores has trained and certified ASE technicians who use state-of-the-art equipment to provide quality service on cars and trucks. The nationwide warranty provides peace of mind while it protects consumers and their investment in over 40 states. TBC Retail Group employs more than 300 associates at its Juno Beach, Fla. headquarters and approximately 10,000 associates nationally. To locate a store near you, call 800-NEW-TIRE. TBC Corporation, headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, is one of the nation’s largest marketers of automotive replacement tires through a multi-channel retail and wholesale strategy.

Red Horse Racing (RHR)

Founded in 2005 by former Mobil Corporation executive Tom DeLoach and NASCAR veteran Jeff Hammond, Red Horse Racing aims to be a professional racing team that strives for excellence on and off the race track. Red Horse Racing hopes to build and maintain solid, mutual relationships with its partners to win races and championships and to represent itself in a professional manner. The team has four victories and five poles in its brief existence. DeLoach and Hammond also own Performance Instruction Training (PIT), the number one pit crew training center in the world that also has many corporate training options that include team-building, lean manufacturing, motorsports demonstrations and more.

- Red Horse Racing Press Release

No. 9 GEICO Toyota Tundra (Max Papis) - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen / Getty Images for NASCAR

“I want to give a big thanks to everyone on this GEICO Racing team,” said Papis. “All these guys work so hard and do a great job. The season has had its good times and its rough moments, but we always stuck together and finished strong. I’m sad to see the year come to an end but looking forward to what 2012 will bring. Also, would like to thank my teammates for all of their help this season.”

With a one-day show on tap for the Truck Series, Papis took to the 1.5-mile south Florida track Friday morning for practice. Rain forced the teams to work quickly as the session was halted on numerous occasions. The precipitation continued for the majority of the day, leading to the cancellation of qualifying, which would result in the field being set according to practice speeds. Papis started the final race of 2011 from the 24th position.

Quickly the first caution came on lap five for oil on the track, while Papis continued to run inside the top-25. Once the field went back to green flag racing, the Como, Italy native showed a vast amount of patience knowing that the competition caution was coming around lap 20.

When the yellow flag was displayed for the second time, Papis came to pit road for four tires, fuel, and adjustments. On lap 24, Papis restarted from 23rd-place. The driver reported to crew chief Randy Goss that the adjustments helped the GEICO Tundra but he was still fighting a tight-handling condition.

The third caution slowed the pace on lap 31 for a two-truck accident in turn four. With less than 10 laps on the fresh tires, Papis stayed on the track. However, a long green-flag run ensued, forcing Papis to deal with the handling conditions. When the field passed halfway, the GEICO machine was scored in the 19th position. Shortly thereafter, the leaders began to make green-flag pit stops. Papis was able to stay out a little longer than the frontrunners, which allowed the No. 9 truck to move into the second position on lap 77.

Max Papis - Photo Credit: John Harrelson / Getty Images for NASCAR

Papis was unable to pass any competitors before the rain started to fall on lap 119. With only 15 laps remaining and no sign of the weather letting up, NASCAR called the race, ending the 2011 Truck Series season. Papis and the GEICO team were left with a 21st-place finish.

Papis finished the season in the 18th position in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver championship point standings. The No. 9 GEICO team recorded a total of 10 top-15 and 17 top-20 finishes during the 2011 campaign.

To learn more about the GEICO Racing program, visit: www.geicogarage.com

You can also follow GEICO Racing on Twitter: www.twitter.com/geicoracing

- Player Management International, Inc. Press Release

Joe Denette Motorsports Logo

The solid performance was the Emporia, Va. native’s track-best finish at the 1.5-mile speedway in the NCWTS and his best finish in three starts for JDM.

With Friday afternoon’s time trials cancelled due to rain, the field was set by practice speeds from the morning practice session. Starting seventh, Sadler made his way to the front of the field by lap 37 and led 32 laps until green flag pit stops began at lap 70.

When the field cycled through, Sadler was scored as high as second. However, with less than 30 laps remaining the No. 24 Chevrolet lost power steering. Sadler would hang on to finish seventh behind race winner, Johnny Sauter.

Elliott Sadler Quotes:

“This AM FM-Energy/Great Play Chevrolet was good tonight. We led some laps and had a really good truck until I lost power steering. When it rains, it pours.”

“I’m really proud of my guys and I would like to thank Joe Denette and our partners for letting me run the 24 truck this year. We were competitive on the track and although we didn’t bring home the finishes that reflected our runs, I had a lot of fun running his trucks.”

Notes:

· In three starts for Joe Denette Motorsports in 2011 (Bristol, Martinsville & Homestead), Sadler has an average start of 7.3 coupled with an average finish of 12.3 and has led 90 laps.

· Sadler captured JDM’s first and only Keystone Light Pole Award of 2011 at Bristol Motor Speedway (August).

· Sadler claimed track-best finishes in all three starts in the NCWTS with JDM.

· Sadler completed 100 percent of laps attempted (519 of 519) in all three starts.

- Joe Denette Motorsports Press Release

No. 23 GunBroker.com Chevrolet Silverado

This was White’s fifth top-10 of the 2011 season and a track-best finish for the veteran driver at the 1.5-mile speedway.

Starting 12th after Friday afternoon’s time trials were cancelled due to rain, White spent the opening laps of the 119-lap event inside the top-15 fighting a tight-handling Chevrolet.

Just past the half-way point, White began running lap times as fast as or faster than the leader. When the fourth caution flag was displayed for a spin in turn-two, White made his way down pit road for four tires and fuel. Restarting 11th, White picked up two positions in the closing 18 laps to finish ninth behind race winner, Johnny Sauter.

White finished the 2011 NCWTS season 15th in driver’s standings behind series champion, Austin Dillon.

Notes:

- In four starts at HMS, this was White’s first top-10 finish.

- In 25 starts, Jason White has two top-five, five top-10, top-15 and 17top-20 finishes.

- In 2011, White had an average starting position of 18.8 and an average finish of 16.8. The veteran driver led 50 laps and completed 95.75 percent of laps attempted (3675 of 3838).

For more information on Joe Denette Motorsports please visit: www.JoeDenetteMotorsports.com

For more information on Jason White and GunBroker.com please visit: www.GunBrokerRacing.com

Follow Joe Denette Motorsports on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/TeamJDM23

Follow Jason White on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/JasonWhite23

Follow GunBroker.com on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/GunBroker

- Joe Denette Motorsports Press Release

Rusty Wallace Racing (RWR)

Saturday night’s Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway was the last of 34 races on the 2011 circuit. With new partner Combos onboard with Pilot Flying J, Annett headed into the 200 lap event eighth in the championship point race with just six markers separating him from ninth place Brian Scott. After securing a 15th place start, Annett’s goal for the night was to stay ahead of Scott to finish out the season as the eighth place driver in points.

The No. 62 Rusty Wallace Racing pit crew made their first stop of the day under a competition caution on lap 36. Gaining three spots on pit road, Annett was placed in 11th for the restart on lap 39.

Struggling with a loose-to-tight handling racecar, Annett fought lap after lap for top-10 track position. As other cars began to pit around lap 90, crew chief Rick Viers had the No. 62 car stay out for a few more laps. The yellow flag came out on lap 92 and Annett was positioned third on the leaderboard. In for another four-tire stop, he restarted eighth on lap 97.

The caution was back out on lap 130. In order to gain an extra point, Viers kept Annett out on the track to lead lap 134. On lap 135, the No. 62 Pilot Flying J/Combos crew changed four tires, refueled and made a wedge adjustment to their Camry. Annett’s Toyota was back out on the track in 17th for the restart.

The field ran nine laps under green before the track returned to yellow flag conditions. While most cars pitted, Annett stayed out and restarted second with 47 laps to go. The caution was back out on lap 174, and 10th place Annett reported that although he was battling cars with four fresh tires, his last run was the most consistent that the car had been all night. Back in for four Goodyears and fuel, he restarted 11th with 21 laps remaining.

On lap 188, the No. 09 car spun across the track and caught the right front corner of the No. 62 Pilot Flying J/Combos Camry bringing out the last of nine cautions. Before the yellow, Annett was in position to hold onto his eighth place points position. He battled out the final laps with a damaged splitter and a right front tire going down, leaving a strong night to end with a disappointing 19th place finish that knocked him back to ninth in the standings, a mere three points behind eighth place Scott.

Michael Annett

For the latest updates on Michael Annett, please visit www.michaelannett.com.

About Pilot Flying J:

Pilot Flying J is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, and has more than 550 retail locations across North America. Pilot Flying J is also one of the Nation’s largest wholesale fuel providers, delivering over 500 million gallons of fuel to thousands of customers in 47 states and eight Canadian provinces. The company employs approximately 20,000 people and is the largest operator of travel centers and travel plazas in North America.

About Mars, Incorporated:

Mars, Incorporated is a private, family-owned company founded in 1911 and employs 70,000 associates at 250 sites, including 151 factories, in 67 countries worldwide. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, U.S.A., Mars, Incorporated is one of the world’s largest food companies, generating global revenues of more than $30 billion annually and operating in six business segments: Chocolate, Petcare, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, and Symbioscience. These segments produce some of the world’s leading brands: Chocolate – M&M’S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Petcare – PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, SHEBA®, CESAR® and ROYAL CANIN®; Wrigley – ORBIT®, EXTRA®, STARBURST®, DOUBLEMINT® and SKITTLES®; Food – UNCLE BEN’S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS® and SEEDS OF CHANGE®; Drinks – KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – WISDOM PANEL™, SERAMIS®, and COCOAPRO™. For more information, please visit www.mars.com.

- Rising Star Management Group Press Release

MacDonald Motorsports Thumbnail

“My team was behind me 100% all season long. I’m so grateful to have worked with them and for my sponsor, Daystar Television Network,” said Blake Koch. “We came up just short but I would have never dreamed to be in that situation at my home race track in front of all my friends and family.”

Driving the Bullet Liner / Foametix No. 82 Dodge, Reed Sorenson finished off his 2nd best season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with a 25th place finish at Homestead. The result gave Sorenson a top-5 finish in the season long driver’s standings and a place in the Nationwide Series banquet Monday night in Miami, Florida. Reed will be recognized for another great season in which he racked up one win, seven top-5’s, and 18 top-10’s.

Blake Koch finished his season 18th in the point’s standings, even while not racing in two races earlier in the year. The MacDonald Motorsports No. 81 remains 25th in the owner’s points, meaning they will be locked into the first 5 races of 2012.

With a long off-season starting today, MacDonald Motorsports prepares to be even stronger in 2012. A lot of opportunities for drivers at MacDonald Motorsports are available in 2012 while the team plans to make the necessary adjustments to become a top-10 team. We would like to thank all of our sponsors this season for everything they did and their partnership with our team.

About Daystar Television Network

Daystar is a Television Network committed to spreading this message across the world: No matter what you’ve done, where you’ve been, or who you are. It is not too much for God to handle. There is life, hope, and forgiveness waiting for you through Jesus Christ. Find out more on www.Daystar.com.

About Burtin Polymer Laboratories (BPL)

Burtin Polymer Laboratories (BPL) remains one of the foremost authorities in research, development, and commercialization of polyurethane systems produced for commercial roofing, commercial and residential insulation, flotation, adhesives, packaging, spray elastomers and custom molding products. Recently launched, its Bullet Liner® products are primarily used for pickup truck beds, tailgates, wheel wells and other similar vehicle protection applications. Also, part of the impressive line of Burtin Polymer Labs products is Foametix® Spray Foam Insulation, which is a series of light density, polyurethane spray-applied foam insulation systems designed for residential and commercial / industrial building applications.

About MacDonald Motorsports

The MacDonald family name has been in the racing circles since owner, Randy MacDonald, started his own driving career in the 1980’s. The provisions made by Randy’s father, Marrill “Doc” MacDonald, and mother Pat helped Randy start racing professionally and establish his own company. Randy’s father Doc helped him create business relationships and carry out other important functions of the team until finishing his own race in March of 2007. Despite his death, Doc’s impact on the team will not end, as MacDonald Motorsports continues on in his honor and memory.

- MacDonald Motorsports Press Release

No. 01 I Hate Steven Singer Chevrolet Impala (Photo Credit: Phil Cavali)

The teams only had one practice session on Friday as rains washed out their final one. The lack of the extra track time wasn’t in the JD Motorsports favor when qualifying took place on Saturday. Thus, Wallace didn’t get the lap he was seeking and lined up 31st for the start of the 200-lap race later that afternoon on the 1.5-mile oval. Once that first green flag fell, the St. Louis native hit the gas and started his trek forward in the running order.

The first real caution to hit pit road for fuel, tires and adjustments took place during a pre-determined competition caution on lap 35. This allowed Wallace to come down pit road for service from the IHateStevenSinger.com Chevrolet crew. Back into action he went after battling a slight handling problem through the turns. With this now attended to, Wallace was able to gain more positions on the pylon and maintain a lead lap run.

By the time the fifth caution waved on lap 136, Wallace knew he could run in the top-20 positions and set his sights for that goal. A spin by a competitor on lap 147 allowed the red No. 01 Chevrolet to pit road for the last pit stop for tires, fuel and adjustments. At this time, Wallace was running 22rd for the restart on lap 152 with fuel and tires to go the distance. From there, the team was aided by three more cautions to slow the pace race of the race and keep many competitors on the lead lap.

Using determination and car handling more to his liking in the last 40 laps, Wallace was able to pick up two more positions to earn another top 20 finish and close out the 2011 season on a commendable note. Wallace finishes out the campaign 13thin the Driver’s Standings and said he will be back driving for JD Motorsports for the 2012 season.

Mike Wallace - Photo Credit: John Harrelson / Getty Images for NASCAR

“We got down a lap, raced our way back onto the lead lap, had good pit stops, didn’t get caught up in anyone else’s mess and bring the IHateStevenSinger.com Chevrolet home in one piece. That’s a pretty good day for a team like ours in the independent ranks.”

“I worked things out with Johnny Davis and am happy to announce we will be racing the No. 01 Chevrolet for him again next year in the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series. So, that’s some good news to close out the year.”

- JD Motorsports Press Release

SS Green Light Racing Thumbnail

Rain showers forced NASCAR officials to cancel qualifying so the trucks were lined up by time from the morning practice session giving Starr the 23rd starting spot for the season ending race.

David would not stay in 23rd for long as he moved his way up to 18th when a competition caution was displayed on lap 20. A problem on the first pitstop dropped the Zachry Toyota back to 28th challenging David to work his way to the front of the 36-truck field.

As he made his way through heavy traffic, David was very fortunate to avoid a spinning German Quiroga on lap 31 avoiding some of the bad luck that has plagued the team this season. He restarted from 20th place when the green flew again on lap 35 and made a bold move on the restart charging up to fifteenth before settling into 18th place where he would stay through a long green flag run that included the full field making green flag stops.

On lap 98 a caution would slow the field for the last time and Starr would restart the Zachry Toyota 18th as the trucks were set for a 36-lap run to the end of the seasons last race.

David charged through the field after the restart, powering his way toward the top-ten moving to 14th on lap 110 and challenging Austin Dillon for tenth when the rain showers came and shortened the race on lap 117. Johnny Sauter held of a charge by Denny Hamlin as the rains began and won the race.

“The finish result does not show how good our truck was,” Starr said. “The SS Green Light team did a great job. We had a hiccup on the first stop and that dropped us all the way to the back but we didn’t give up.”

“When they dropped the green after the last caution our Zachry Toyota was like a rocket ship. I mean the truck was awesome and it was unfortunate the rains came because I felt we had a 7th or 8th place truck. If the caution had come out and we got back some of the real estate, I felt we had a truck capable of getting up to the top-five.”

David Starr - Photo Credit: John Harrelson / Getty Images for NASCAR

Starr finished thirteenth in the NCWTS driver’s standings behind Austin Dillon.

“Overall it was a great season, although we did not live up to our expectation, we had some bad luck and we went through some growing pains; the whole team stuck together, nobody complained or pointed fingers and we learned a lot. You can take everything we learned and apply it to next year and come out stronger. I want to thank everyone who supported us this season including Zachry, NCCER Build Your Future Campaign, Allegro, Advocare, Akzo Nobel and ASI Limited.”

For more information on SS Green Light Racing visit www.SSRacingonline.com.

- SS Green Light Racing Press Release

No. 6 CollegeComplete.com Chevrolet Silverado

After rain canceled qualifying, the team took the green flag in the finale from the ninth position. Just as the weather played a role in the starting spot, it also affected the outcome, with a heavy downpour forcing NASCAR to shorten the event on lap 119 of 134. The condensed race took away from a final run to the front following a final pit stop, leaving Lofton and team 18th.

“I wish we could have finished the race, but it would have taken a while to dry the track for the last 15 laps. I am so proud of my crew chief Dan (Bormann) and all of the guys. They have worked really hard the last few months. From rejoining Eddie to switching to Chevrolets, we’ve got a lot accomplished,” Lofton said.

Just as the teams were preparing to hit the track for the first time on Friday morning for practice, a pop-up rain shower soaked the track, postponing the session. Once underway, rain forced a yellow flag in the closing minutes. Once the yellow was lifted, a final two-lap run at the end of the session boosted Lofton, as he drove his CollegeComplete.com Chevrolet up the speed chart from 21st to ninth.

Re-occuring rain showers fell throughout the afternoon, forcing the cancelation of qualifying. With the field set based on practice speeds, Lofton was given the ninth starting position for the start of the race.

Since the rain washed all of the rubber off of the racing surface, Lofton noted early in the race that the track was slick, with little grip. With a competition caution waving on lap 20, crew chief Dan Bormann called Lofton to the pits for the team’s first stop of the day. After swapping out right side tires, Lofton rejoined the race in the fifth position.

Justin Lofton

The California racer dug in, picking up one more position before the rain came less than 18 laps later. The track condition and amount of time needed to dry the track forced NASCAR to end the race shy of the scheduled distance, leaving the team in 18th as the season came to a close.

Lofton ended the season with three top-10 finishes with a best finish of seventh. He also closed out the year 14th in the driver point standings. Team owner Eddie Sharp closed out the season 16th in the owner point standings.

With the 2011 NCWTS season behind him, Lofton will now focus on an off-road event in two weeks in the desert, followed by his charity golf tournament in January, which benefits the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Imperial Valley. More information, as well as registration and donation information, can be found on the tournament’s Facebook page found under “Justin Lofton Charity Golf Tournament.”

- Justin Lofton Media Relations Press Release

No. 14 Hefty® BlackOut™ / Reynolds™ Chevrolet Impala (Eric McClure) - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen / Getty Images for NASCAR

“I believe if we had not been caught up in the wreck with the 39 car, we almost certainly would have had a better finish. I don’t exactly know what happened other than he just came up into us, but our group battled hard and we made the best situation out of it. We had a decent car for the damage, but couldn’t totally overcome it. That’s just about a perfect summary of our season.”

“With all of the bad luck we have had this season, I am glad this season’s over. On a positive note, as a whole, we were competitive more times than not. We just need to continue to get better and capitalize when we can. It was a fun year; I love the guys on my team and couldn’t ask for a better group of guys to have my back. I’m looking forward to next year.”

Starting the race from the 34th position, McClure was scored in the 30th position by the time one full circuit was made around the speedway. Before the field could make another lap, however, the team’s spotter, Stevie Reeves, informed the team that another competitor, who had been racing inside of the No 14 car, slid up into the orange and black Chevrolet, forcing it into the outside wall. After visiting pit road three times under the ensuing caution to fix the damage on both front fenders, McClure was sent back on track in the 38th position.

When the event’s second caution flag waved for debris on lap 13, McClure returned to pit road so the team could make certain the fenders were still clearing all tires, as well as make a small chassis adjustment as the car was showcasing a loose handling condition on entry. As McClure was exiting the pits in the 36th position, the field was taking the green. Although the team hoped to remain on the lead lap before the scheduled competition caution flag on lap 35, the deficit was too great as the leaders overtook McClure just before the caution was displayed. After visiting pit road for four tires, fuel, and a track-bar adjustment, the No. 14 Chevrolet returned to the track in the 34th position.

As the race continued, the car’s handling improved on the exit of the turns but was still too tight on entry. As such, when the event’s fourth caution flag waved on lap 92, McClure, who was scored in the 31st position, visited pit road for tires with an air-pressure adjustment, fuel, and another chassis adjustment. A quick stop by the Hefty Racing® crew placed McClure in the 29th position for the restart.

Eric McClure - Photo Credit: John Harrelson / Getty Images for NASCAR

When the race resumed on lap 136, McClure once again began working his way through the field, and by lap 140, he was once again scored in the 28th position. Since the car’s handling was much improved over the last run, the team decided to not visit pit road when the caution flag again waved on lap 146. When the race resumed on lap 152, McClure slipped to the 31st position as he radioed the crew of a possible flat tire as the car was, “all over the place.” As the team prepared to change tires should the car enter pit road, both Reeves (spotter) and Cogswell (crew chief) informed McClure that no smoke could be seen and all tires looked inflated, so the team opted to not visit pit road and hope for a caution. When a caution did occur on lap 174, McClure was on a lap by himself. With nothing to gain by visiting pit road, Cogswell instructed the driver to stay on track to receive the wave around, which would allow the team to gain a lap back when the race restarted on lap 179.

The event’s eight caution flag waved two laps later for a two-car accident, which allowed McClure to visit pit road for four scuffed tires and fuel. Scored in the 29th position when the race resumed on lap 186, the TriStar Motorsports team was able to hold the position for the final circuits of the 2011 Nationwide Series season.

- Team McClure Inc. Press Release

No. 11 Shore Lodge Toyota Camry (Brian Scott) - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen / Getty Images for NASCAR

Miami 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway

November 19, 2011

Race Highlights:

· Brian Scott and the No. 11 Shore Lodge Toyota Team picked up the 11th starting position for the NASCAR Nationwide Series finale in Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday afternoon. The Shore Lodge Toyota was a little too free for Scott during qualifying so the team went into Saturday’s race with a plan to tighten the car at the first opportunity.

· The loose-handling issue on the Shore Lodge Toyota was a problem during the first several laps of the race but Scott struggled more with the restarts – an issue exacerbated by the loose-handling problem. As a result, Scott was back in the 13th position by the time the competition caution waved at lap 35.

· A super-fast pit stop by the No. 11 Shore Lodge crew placed Scott in the sixth position for the restart at lap 39. The loose-handling issue persisted during the next run however and Scott once again found himself losing a handful of positions. The team elected to make a track bar adjustment during the next stop at lap 90 while also changing four tires and adding fuel.

· Scott was once again running in the 13th position by the time the field reached the halfway point in the race so the team took another swing at the adjustments on the car during a stop under caution at lap 131. Scott restarted the race from the 10th position and from that point on, would never drop further than the 11th position.

· A series of cautions would come out during the final 25 laps of the race. The Shore Lodge Toyota team made its final stop of the race during the seventh caution at lap 175. Scott restarted the race from the 10th position. As the laps wound down, Scott battled his way to the ninth position where he was running when the checkered flag finally waved.

· Scott’s Joe Gibbs Racing Teammates Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano finished the race in the fifth and 10th positions, respectively.

· The team’s ninth-place finish on Saturday evening moved Scott back up to eighth place in the final 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series driver point standings. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., finished second in Saturday’s race and captured the 2011 Nationwide Series driver championship.

Brian Scott - Photo Credit: Rainier Ehrhardt / Getty Images for NASCAR

“I’ll take a top 10 to end the year. We fought hard ever since Daytona. We didn’t have the performance or the results that we wanted until about the middle of the year. This team – we flipped the switch. Kevin (Kidd, crew chief) and I really got on the same page and we started having good runs. We were a pretty good team the second half of the year. Definitely performed the last quarter of the year with some top-five finishes, and got a pole at Chicago. We’re going to focus really on the last part of the year and continue to build and do the things that we started doing at the middle of the year that will make us better to come back in 2012 and be even stronger.

I don’t see any reason why this team can’t make the progress through the off-season and come back with the yellow and black Dollar General car and have a team good enough to run for the championship. I feel like Kevin Kidd (crew chief) and I have a relationship that is on really good terms. We’re really communicating well. We’re going to continue to work through the off-season just as hard – if not harder – than we worked all year. Come back and be a really strong team.”

- Joe Gibbs Racing Press Release

Brad Keselowski gets ready to celebrate after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series season-ending Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, Nov. 19. - Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR

Keselowski began the 200-lap race from the pole position after posting a lap of 32.208 seconds, or 167.660 miles per hour, during the Saturday afternoon qualifying session. As the race began, Keselowski radioed that the car was handling very tight in the center of the HMS corners, yet he was still able to race out to a one-and-a-half second lead before the NASCAR-mandated competition caution at lap 35. Crew chief Todd Gordon called for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment on the team’s first pit stop before Keselowski restarted the race in the lead at lap 39.

Just after the restart, Keselowski moved to the top of the track in an effort to keep the No. 60 car of Carl Edwards at bay. While Edwards was able to make his way around the Discount Tire machine, Keselowski kept his car at the front of the field during the ensuing green-flag run. After visiting pit road under the green flag at lap 92, Keselowski was caught one lap down to the race leaders as the caution flag flew prior to the pit stops cycling through. Keselowski, however, was able to earn the “Lucky Dog” award to get back to lead-lap racing. He then proceeded to take advantage of the opportunity.

Following the pit stop, which included a left side wedge adjustment, Keselowski radioed that his car was running great from the center to the exit of the corners, but it still needed some help on corner entry. He was able to race his way back inside the top five by clicking off consistent lap times and showing determination to finish off the NNS season with a solid result. As the race entered its final 50-lap segment, Keselowski began turning the fastest laps on the track as he moved into the second position.

At lap 181, following a lap 180 restart, Keselowski reclaimed his spot at the front of the field. Racing in an all-NNS champions group at the front of the field, Keselowski was able to hold off Stenhouse Jr., and Edwards over the final laps to secure the victory.

Penske Racing teammate, Sam Hornish Jr., finished seventh in the Ford 300 on Saturday evening.

Following Saturday’s result, Keselowski and the No. 22 team ended the season ranked fifth in the Nationwide Series owner point standings.

“You couldn’t ask for a better way to end the season,” said Keselowski. “Not being able to win the championship, it’s good to be able to finish on a high note, winning the pole and the race today at Homestead. It’s a great exclamation point to the season for the whole Discount Tire Dodge team.”

Brad Keselowski Ford 300 Race Statistics

Start: 1

Finish: 1

Laps: 200 / 200

Laps Led: 4 times for 66 laps

Status: Running

Owner Points Position: 5

- Penske Racing Press Release