Infineon Raceway

Re, who has more than 25 years of ticketing experience, will manage and oversee all aspects of ticket operations and services, including policies and procedures related to ticket sales, pricing and allocation. He will also coordinate accounting procedures on behalf of the ticketing department, oversee the maintenance of the ticketing system and will oversee customer service functions.

Prior to coming to Infineon Raceway, Re worked for a number of high-level organizations, including baseball’s Oakland Athletics (1982-1996), the Oakland Football Marketing Association selling tickets and personal seat licenses on behalf of the Oakland Raiders (1996-2006), the Stockton Arena, Ticketmaster and most recently with the Walt Disney Family Museum.

Some of Re’s most noted accomplishments include working as the Director of Ticket Operations for the Oakland A’s during the 1987 All Star Game and 1989 World Series. Re currently resides in San Ramon.

Source: Infineon Raceway, Press Release

Infineon Raceway

FIA World Touring Car Championship to

Host First Race on American Soil in Sonoma

SONOMA, Calif. (Nov. 8, 2011) — Infineon Raceway will again feature one of the most diverse motor-racing schedules in the country during the 2012 Big O Tires Racing Season, highlighted by the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend, June 22-24.

In addition to NASCAR, the season will also include the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, IZOD IndyCar® Series, AMA Pro Road Racing and historic car racing. New for 2012, the FIA World Touring Car Championship will host its first-ever race on American soil, Sept. 21-23.

NASCAR continues to headline the season in Sonoma as the series marks its 24^th annual visit to Infineon Raceway. The race has become one of the most exciting and unpredictable on the circuit as tempers flare on the road course’s tight turns. Race fans will also be treated to the best air show on the NASCAR circuit during pre-race ceremonies on Sunday, June 24, with the six-jet Patriots Jet Team.

Drag racing will again play a major part in the 2012 season, highlighted by the 25^th annual NHRA Sonoma Nationals, July 27-29. Six track records were broken over the 2011 race weekend, including speed and elapsed time in Funny Car (John Force) and Pro Stock (Allen Johnson). The NHRA Division 7 Drag Races, presented by Korbel, will be hosted the weekend prior, July 20-22.

The Indy® Grand Prix of Sonoma marks the IZOD IndyCar Series’ 8th annual visit to Infineon Raceway, Aug. 24-26, and its only stop in Northern California. Team Penske’s Will Power continued his domination in Sonoma in 2011, becoming the first back-to-back race winner in seven years.

Raceway officials are excited about the addition of the FIA World Touring Car Championship to the 2012 calendar. The September race weekend will be highlighted by two 30-minute sprint races on Sunday, Sept. 23, that will include plenty of action. With just 30 minutes in each race, drivers will make active use of their fenders to reach the front of the field. Manufacturers include BMW, Chevrolet, SEAT and Volvo. The series has a strong following globally as each race is broadcast in 59 countries.

“The first time I saw these cars race, I knew they belonged on our track,” said Steve Page, president and general manager of Infineon Raceway. “From the moment the green flag drops, the whole field is in a flat-out sprint for the lead. It’s going to be quite a show.

Infineon Raceway will also host the best in motorcycles with AMA Pro Road Racing, featuring doubleheaders in both SuperBike and Daytona SportBike at the West Coast Moto Jam, May 4-6. The weekend will also feature Supermoto USA, as well as electric motorcycle racing with the return of the TTXGP U.S. Championship.

Historic car racing will take center stage during two unique weekends, including the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival (June 2-3) and the Classic Sports Racing Group Charity Challenge (Oct. 6-7).

Tickets for all 2012 major events go on sale to the public Dec. 15. For tickets or more information, call 800-870-RACE (7223) or visit www.infineonraceway.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

*The complete major event schedule for 2012:

• · 24 Hours of LeMons – (March, tentative)
• · West Coast Moto Jam – May 4-6
• · Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival – June 2-3
• · Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series – June 22-24
• · NHRA Division 7 Drag Races, presented by Korbel – July 20-22
• · NHRA Sonoma Nationals – July 27-29
• · Indy® Grand Prix of Sonoma – Aug. 24-26
• · FIA World Touring Car Championship – Sept. 21-23
• · Classic Sports Racing Group Charity Challenge – Oct. 6-7

* Schedule subject to change without notice.

- Infineon Raceway, Press Release

Infineon Raceway

SONOMA, Calif. (Nov. 1, 2011) —

These continue to be very challenging economic times, making this year’s food drive, which spans Nov. 1-18, more important than ever. All of the non-perishable food items collected will be given to Friends in Sonoma Helping (FISH) and the Redwood Empire Food Bank in Santa Rosa.

The raceway’s food drive has generated more than 28,000 pounds of food since its inception in 2001, including 10,000 pounds in 2010.

“We were thrilled to hear Infineon Raceway wanted to partner with us again on the food drive,” said Vicki Schnurpfeil, FISH volunteer coordinator. “With so many people out of work, we’re getting more and more calls for food.”

Those who would like to donate to the food drive can drop off non-perishable food items to the following locations:

• · Infineon Raceway Front Office, 29355 Arnold Dr., Sonoma. 800-870-RACE (7223), www.infineonraceway.com.
• · Sonoma Market, 500 West Napa Street, Sonoma, (707) 996-3411, www.sonoma-glenellenmkt.com
• · Glen Ellen Village Market, 13751 Arnold Dr., Glen Ellen, 707-996-6728, www.sonoma-glenellenmkt.com
• · Destination RKA, 930 Shiloh Rd, Bldg 41-C, Windsor, (707) 836-7659. www.rka-luggage.com.
• · Food items can also mailed to: Jennifer Imbimbo, Infineon Raceway, Highways 37 and 121, Sonoma, CA, 95476.

The mission of the Redwood Empire Food Bank (www.refb.org) is to end hunger in its community. Since 1987, the Redwood Empire Food Bank’s service has grown to meet the rising need for food assistance and expanded to focus on providing as much healthy food as possible and including nutrition education as an integral part of many programs. The REFB currently assists over 78,000 Sonoma County residents every month.

FISH (www.friendsinsonomahelping.org) has been helping Sonoma Valley residents in times of need since 1970 and provides not only food, but clothing, transportation and emergency rental assistance to Sonoma Valley residents in need.

For more information on the food drive, visit infineonraceway.com or contact Jennifer Imbimbo at (707) 933-3981 or jennifer@infineonraceway.com.

- Infineon Raceway, Press Release

Infineon Raceway

SONOMA, Calif. (Aug. 26, 2011) –

What do you look forward to on and off the track here in Sonoma?

DP: On the track, I feel this is a real rhythm track, and if you get in a good rhythm with the car, and you’re aggressive and you put it where you want it, it can be a good weekend. Off the track, I look forward to the wine.

About the transition to NASCAR:

DP: I had to think about what would make me happiest and where I would have the most fun. I really enjoy racing those (stock) cars.

What’s the biggest difference between an INDYCAR and a stock car?

DP: It’s hotter in a stock car, a lot hotter. I found out in Montreal when your water and oil temperatures are between 240- and 280-degrees, it’s a lot hotter. Also, the length of the races. I feel they’re pretty long. Nationwide races are as long, if not longer, than INDYCAR races, and Sprint Cup races are even longer. The car changes a lot over a run of the race. The amount of things you can do on a pit stop are pretty cool. It feels in a stock car you can take bigger swings at it. You can start the race off struggling and the second or third pit stop you can be great. That’s pretty fun.

What will “success” mean to you in NASCAR?

DP: The same thing that defines success here (in INDYCAR). Getting to victory lane and running up front and being competitive every weekend.

On getting into a stock car for the first time:

DP: I remember Dario Franchitti saying he got in a stock car for the first time and said, “What am I doing?” I got in and said, “This is awesome!”

I went to Daytona in an ARCA race and got my first taste of bumping and pushing. Sliding into cars was so liberating. It was the most fun I ever had in a stock car. It was so much fun. I really had a great time.

About the bumping and shoving on-track in NASCAR:

DP: I really enjoy it. I really do. It’s tough to do in an INDYCAR. You don’t want to be touching wheels. In a stock car, if someone messes with you, you just hit them back. It doesn’t really ruin your day. You help your day out by getting them out of your way. I’m not saying I’m an aggressive, aggressive person out there; I’m not going to go after people. I will always race someone fair to start with. I give them the benefit of the doubt they’ll race me clean, but if they don’t, you retaliate.

On her last possible race in Sonoma:

DP: I probably won’t have to miss coming (to Sonoma), hopefully I’ll be back again (in NASCAR).

Indy® Grand Prix of Sonoma Weekend

WHAT: Big O Tires Racing Season Presents: Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma
WHEN: Aug. 26-28
CIRCUIT: 12-turn road course
2010 POLE WINNER: Will Power (Team Penske)
2010 WINNER: Will Power (Team Penske)
NOTABLE: The weekend will also include Fluid Film Pole Day, as well as the Historic Grand Prix, Star Mazda Series, World Challenge and Formula Car Challenge, making for an action-packed weekend.
TICKETS: $10-$65 single day/$65-$85 weekend; parking is FREE and kids 12 and under are FREE (Friday and Saturday). Garage passes are available for purchase.
INFORMATION: 800-870-RACE(7223), infineonraceway.com/indycar, ticketmaster.com

- Infineon Raceway, Press Release

Infineon Raceway

SONOMA, Calif. (June 28, 2011) —

Most of the proceeds will benefit the Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, the charitable arm of Infineon Raceway, which has distributed more than $3.7 million to qualified youth groups in Sonoma County since 2001.

The Children’s Champions Grand Marshal’s Banquet generated $134,000, while the 9^th annual KFOX Race-n-Rock Charity Auction, which was hosted in the Wine Country Winner’s Circle on NASCAR Sunday, raised more than $31,000. More than $10,000 was also generated through various donations throughout the weekend, including a $1,000 donation from Farmers Insurance.

The Grand Marshal’s Banquet was held on Friday, June 24, at beautiful Cline Cellars in Sonoma and featured Grand Marshal John Ratzenberger, best known for his role of Cliff Clavin on the sitcom Cheers and the voice of Mack the truck in Cars and Cars 2. The sold-out sit-down dinner, which also featured NASCAR drivers Boris Said and Marcos Ambrose, plus NASCAR Hall of Famers Bobby Allison and Ned Jarrett, attracted nearly 500 people. Proceeds from the banquet will be split between Speedway Children’s Charities and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley.

“The excitement and celebrity appeal of NASCAR creates multiple opportunities to leverage the generosity of our fans, sponsors and members of the community,” said Steve Page, president and general manager of Infineon Raceway. “This was a terrific result for Speedway Children’s Charities, and we thank everyone who combined to make it happen.”

The top-selling item at the KFOX Race-n-Rock Charity Auction was a Ride of a Lifetime with NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. during pre-race ceremonies, which netted $2,800. Other top selling items included a Jeff Gordon signed firesuit ($2,450) Jeff Gordon Ride of a Lifetime ($2,150) and a Tony Stewart signed helmet ($1,400). A Brad Paisley-signed guitar from KUFX-FM generated an additional $1,150.

- Infineon Raceway, Press Release

NASCAR Logo

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (June 28, 2011)

Starting the race in 11th, it took Busch just 13 laps to take his first lead. The finish secured the ninth top-10 finish of the season for the Penske Racing driver.

“It’s a combination of having the right strategy, of course, and having that forward drive coming off the corner,” said Busch. “I think usually, though, my thought process is to protect the race car, not get into those big fender rubs or into the side of other people’s doors and have that damage. Ultimately you have to protect the race car and have that speed, then of course the right strategy. My crew gave me that today.”

The Penske Engines crew captured their third MAHLE Clevite Engine Builder of the Race Award in the last four races based on points awarded for qualifying, laps led and finishing position.

The award is part of the NASCAR Prize Money and Decal Program, also referred to as the contingency program, which provides teams prize money and weekly awards based on performance in several categories.

“For the race weekend at Infineon Raceway, our approach at Penske Engines was focused on two specific areas – reliability and fuel efficiency,” said Scott Corriher, president of Penske Engines. “Road-course events put more demands on the reliability of the engines mainly due to all of the down-shifting. Fuel efficiency is critical to allow for flexibility in executing race strategy, which focuses on track position. At all races, track position is important, but is even more critical at the road course events. We are certainly proud of the performance and the win by Kurt Busch and the Penske Racing Shell-Pennzoil Dodge team at Sonoma and Penske Engines is honored to once again be recognized by NASCAR for the MAHLE Clevite Engine Builder of the Race Award.”

Another notable contingency award winner from Sonoma included the No. 20 team from Joe Gibbs Racing which captured the Coors Light Pole, DIRECTV Crew Chief of the Race (Greg Zipadelli) and Goodyear Gatorback Belts Fastest Lap of the Race awards.

The win puts Busch in fourth place in the standings heading into Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT).

Official winners of this week’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Prize Money & Decal Program special awards include:

• AMERICAN ETHANOL GREEN FLAG RESTART: Clint Bowyer

• COORS LIGHT POLE AWARD: Joey Logano (93.256 mph. 76.821 secs.)

• DIRECTV CREW CHIEF OF THE RACE AWARD: Greg Zipadelli (crew chief for Joey Logano)

• GOODYEAR GATORBACK BELTS FASTEST LAP AWARD: Joey Logano (90.6491 mph, Lap 2)

• MAHLE CLEVITE ENGINE BUILDER OF THE RACE AWARD: Penske Engines, No. 22

• MOBIL 1 OIL DRIVER OF THE RACE AWARD: Clint Bowyer

• MOOG CHASSIS PARTS PROBLEM SOLVER OF THE RACE AWARD: Bob Osborne (crew chief for Carl Edwards, 0.062 secs)

• O’REILLY AUTO PARTS POSITION IMPROVEMENT AWARD: Carl Edwards (20 places)

• SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Andy Lally

About the NASCAR Prize Money & Decal Program

The NASCAR Prize Money & Decal Program, commonly referred to as the contingency program, is administered by the NASCAR Automotive Group. The program strives to build strong relationships with high-quality, performance-driven brands that are leaders in their respective categories and award money to NASCAR teams via per-race and year-end postings. Competitors become eligible for awards money by displaying partner decals on the front fender of their race vehicles and, in some instances, use of a sponsor’s product. National series contingency sponsors will contribute over $8.4 million to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2011.

- NASCAR, Press Release

2011 NSCS Dave Blaney - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCA

Blaney and the TBR team were happy with the No. 36 Big Red Chevrolet right off the truck. The Hartford, Ohio native posted the 29^th fastest time in the first practice with a fast lap of 91.259 seconds. He followed up practice by driving a lap of 91.214 seconds for qualifying, giving Blaney the 36^th starting spot for his 21^st career-road course start. The team went out for two practice sessions on Saturday and posted the 33^rd and 35^th fastest times of 90.566 seconds and 90.092 seconds.

Blaney took the green flag in the No. 36 Big Red Chevrolet from the 36^th position. He radioed that the car had a small side bite issue and was loosing drive by lap 15 while in the 32^nd spot. With green-flag pit stops beginning, Blaney drove up to the 10^th position before pitting on lap 24 for four tires, fuel and an adjustment.

By the first caution on lap 34, the No. 36 Big Red Chevrolet was in the 33^rd position, and Blaney radioed that the car felt better at the beginning of the run but after a few laps would fall off quickly. Crew chief Tommy Baldwin called Blaney down pit road for a four-tire pit stop and a rubber adjustment. The field restarted on lap 37, but two laps later, the field slowed again for a multi-car incident in turn 11. The Big Red Chevrolet stayed out and restarted 22^nd on lap 42.

By lap 45, Blaney radioed that his Chevrolet was loosing the backend and forward grip while running in the top-25. On lap 47, the team made another four-tire pit stop and rubber adjustment under yellow-flag conditions. The Buckeye Bullet restarted 32^nd and worked his way to the 26^th spot by lap 57.

The yellow flag was displayed again on lap 61, and Blaney radioed that the rubber adjustment helped the Big Red Chevrolet turn but it was still loose in both right and left turns. The TBR team made a four-tire pit stop and air pressure adjustment. The No. 36 Big Red Chevrolet restarted 26^th on lap 65. As the field began green-flag pit stops, the TBR team waited to pit until lap 83 in order to have enough fuel to finish the race with a green-white-checker finish. Blaney gave up the fifth position to make the team’s final pit stop.

The No. 36 Big Red Chevrolet rejoined the field in the 30^th position. The final caution of the race fell on lap 88 with Blaney in the 29^th position. With most teams unable to finish the race with their fuel, majority of the teams pit while the TBR team stayed out.

On lap 92, the Big Red Chevrolet restarted 10^th. Blaney fell back to 11^th before Marcos Ambrose spun the No. 36 in the corner. Blaney kept the Chevrolet off the wall and avoided other cars. He got back to speed and joined the field as the last car on the lead lap in the 33^rd position. Blaney gained two more spots and crossed the finish line in the 31^st position.

The 31^st-place finish allowed the No. 36 to keep the 32^nd position in NSCS Owner Points. The team now sits 28 points out of 31^st and 43 points ahead of 36^th. Blaney also held onto the 31^st position in the NSCS Driver Points. He is 43 points behind David Gilliland in 30^th and 15 points ahead of Casey Mears in 32^nd.

“I thought the weekend went okay. I didn’t get a very good qualifying lap; I thought the car was better than that. We were fairly happy with the car in the race. We could run well early in the run but the tires slowed down a lot throughout the run. Early in the run, we were fine. The team played out pit strategy really well. We were sitting in a spot for a pretty good finish. We just got turned around, and that was the end of the good finish.”

Blaney will return to the track in the No. 36 Golden Corral Chevrolet next weekend at Daytona International Speedway for the Coke Zero 400.

About Big Red, Inc.
Big Red, Inc. is one of the top-10 beverage companies in North America with a history dating back to 1937. Along with Big Red, recognized as the number one selling red soda, Big Red, Inc. also markets beverage brands Diet Big Red, Big Blue, Big Red Vanilla Float, Big Peach, Big Pineapple, Big Punch, Big Honey Lemonade, NuGrape, and Nesbitt’s products. Distributed widely throughout the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Independent Bottlers and Pepsi Bottling Group, consumers across the country enjoy Big Red, Inc.’s beverages.

About Tommy Baldwin Racing:
Tommy Baldwin Racing was formed in 2009 by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crew Chief Tommy Baldwin. Baldwin utilized a slumping economy to open a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team with a stringent budget. The team competed in two full seasons with multiple drivers behind the wheel of the No. 36 Chevrolet and improved in the standings each year.

Based in Mooresville, N.C., TBR will compete in the full NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule in 2011 with NASCAR veteran Dave Blaney piloting the No. 36 Golden Corral Chevrolet. Looking to improve on-track performance, TBR found success early in the 2011 season with partners Golden Corral, Big Red and Accell Construction. TBR’s driver development program, Heinke-Baldwin Racing, will also compete in various NASCAR series in 2011.

For more information on Tommy Baldwin Racing, visit tommybaldwinracing.com or follow us on Facebook, facebook.com/TBR.HBR, and Twitter, twitter.com/TBR_Racing.

- Tommy Baldwin Racing, Press Release

2011 NSCS Casey Mears - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR

Sonoma, CA (June 26, 2011)

While GEICO is the primary sponsor of the #13 Germain Racing entry for eighteen races, even adding races as the season has progressed, Sonoma was not on the list. Once Mears paced the 1.99-mile, ten-turn road course in just 78.070 seconds, qualifying the #13 GEICO Camry 27th, team owner, Bob Germain, began considering ways to allow Mears the opportunity to compete in the advertised distance of the race.

Sitting on the team’s transporter late Friday afternoon with Mears and crew chief, Bootie Barker, Germain worked the telephone talking to the motor company, as well as consulting GEICO on their perspective. Not long after the meeting started, the trio exited the hauler committed to compete in all 219-miles of the Toyota/Save Mart 350. Mears and the Germain Racing team would quickly begin work on the resulting decision to compete in the full race, while working on a limited staff.

Amid weather better suited for a casual stroll along the beach, the green flag turned the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series loose in the Sonoma Valley on Sunday afternoon. Mears settled into the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry after rolling off of the starting grid in the 27th position. Barker would quickly advise Mears to keep the car clean and evade trouble, ensuring the team would survive the race. Their goal was to achieve the task set forth, which was to accumulate the necessary points needed to firm up the team’s position in the Top 35 of the Owner Point standings.

On Lap four, Mears radioed to Barker that the car was “bad loose and sideways off of Turn eight.” And by Lap 14, Mears indicated that the #13 GEICO Camry was “way too loose and hard to drive.” Barker quickly assured his driver that the Germain pit crew would make the necessary adjustments under caution. A focused Mears continued to make progress, honing in on the Top 20 by Lap 21.

Mears would begin to run short on fuel as the team gambled on a much needed caution, which would have allowed the #13 GEICO Camry to visit pit road. The irony would come on Lap 32 when Mears radioed to Barker that he was out of fuel and then brought out the event’s first caution flag of the day when he came to rest at the entrance of pit road. Mears would get the necessary push and bring the #13 GEICO Camry down pit road to the attention of the Germain Racing pit crew where he would get four new tires, a full tank of Sunoco racing fuel and much needed adjustments.

Mears would restart 39th on Lap 36 and begin to make up ground before the field found itself in a melee in Turn 11 before cycling through even a single lap, bringing out the event’s second caution flag of the afternoon. While navigating the road course under caution, Mears radioed to Barker: “The rear gear change helped and I now have more power.”

Despite going a lap down due to the earlier fuel issue, Mears continued to battle for positions and by Lap 59, Mears was running in the Lucky Dog position. A lap later, the caution flag was displayed and Mears received the Lucky Dog award, allowing him to earn a lap back.

The balance of Mears’ afternoon was spent pursing the field and when the checkered flag was displayed after 219-miles of racing, the #13 GEICO Camry crossed the finish line in the 34th position.

“It was a tough afternoon at times, but we accomplished our goal today and we got the points we needed as we head into Daytona next week,” Mears said following the race. “All I can say is that it’s great to have a team owner (Bob Germain) who is committed to our success and a sponsor in GEICO who gives us such great support and is equally committed to building this program. We’re excited to get to Daytona and put the #13 GEICO Camry at the front of the field.”

Next week, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series travels to Daytona where they will kick off the back half of the 2011 season.

Mears and the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry will hit the 2.5-mile tri-oval of Daytona International Speedway for the opening practice session at 4:00 PM (EDT) on Thursday, June 30th. Qualifying will follow on Friday, July 1st, at 4:10 PM (EDT).

The Coke Zero 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race is on Saturday, July 2nd, and it will be televised live on TNT beginning at 7:30 PM (EDT). The Motor Racing Network (MRN) will carry the live radio broadcast.

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

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

Please visit the Casey Mears Facebook fan page: www.facebook.com/caseymearsracing

- Player Management International, Inc., for GEICO Racing, Press Release

Tony Stewart - Photo Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images

Tony Stewart rallied from his 20^th-place starting spot to take the lead on lap 72 of Sunday’s 110-lap NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. The driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet Impala for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) was yet again demonstrating his road-course prowess as he powered around the undulating, 10-turn, 1.99-mile road course in California’s wine country.

Stewart’s penchant for outperforming his rivals at venues that require drivers to turn left and right was on display in the Toyota/Save Mart 350k, but so was his penchant for laying down the law, no matter the consequences. As such, it left Stewart 39^th when the checkered flag dropped.

It all began on lap 39 when Stewart touched the back of Brian Vickers’ Toyota heading into the treacherous final turn – a hairpin corner where bent fenders and hurt feelings go together like wine and cheese. Vickers spun around and collected numerous other cars while Stewart motored around the outside unscathed.

With an Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevy that was much better than it had been in Friday’s qualifying round and in Saturday’s two practice sessions, Stewart wheeled his way to the front, giving the 93,000 people in attendance an understanding as to why he has a total of seven wins, 11 top-twos, 18 top-10s and 304 laps led in 24 previous road-course starts.

But with less than 25 laps to go, Stewart’s lawman mentality was about to be tested.

Vickers, whom Stewart nudged early in the race, was back in front of Stewart. As the pair sailed through the esses and down the chute leading to that final hairpin turn, Stewart shot underneath Vickers cleanly before jumping on the brakes to make his way around the corner.

As Stewart found another spot on his march to the front, Vickers found opportunity. His foot never hit the brake and he drilled Stewart so hard that both Stewart and Vickers went sliding into the corner’s tire barrier. Vickers nosed his Toyota into the wall, while Stewart’s machine spun backward and to the left, ultimately becoming upended on the stack of tires, with its rear wheels completely off the ground.

Stewart was stuck, and for what seemed like eons, remained there until safety crews removed his car from the wall. With all four wheels back on the ground, Stewart’s Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevy dog-tracked its way down pit road. There would be no quick fixes, and crew chief Darian Grubb quickly ordered the car to the garage whereupon the crew made a valiant effort to get it back on track.

Stewart eventually returned to the track, but his car was too battered and beaten to cover the course safely. He returned to the garage area for good, posting his first DNF (Did Not Finish) in 25 career road-course starts. Prior to Sunday, Stewart’s lap completion rate on road courses was 100 percent.

Afterward, a calm and collected Stewart climbed from his car and explained the events of the day.

“I dumped him (Vickers) earlier for blocking and he got me back later on,” said Stewart succinctly. “If they block, they are going to get dumped. It’s real simple. I mean I don’t blame him. I don’t blame him for dumping us back. But, I don’t race guys that way, I never have. If guys want to block, then they are going to get wrecked every time. Until NASCAR makes a rule against it, I am going to dump them every time for it. He did what he had to do. I don’t blame him. There is nothing wrong with it.

“I’ve been complaining about the way guys have been racing all year. I like Brian, I’m not holding it against him at all. But if guys want to block, that’s what’s going to happen to them every time for the rest of my career.

“I don’t know if it’s lack of respect or guys just pushing the envelope and not working with each other. There wasn’t any reason at the point of the race where he started blocking in the first place. It didn’t make sense to do it and I’m not going to tolerate it. I don’t race guys that way and I’m not going to let anybody race me that way. So if they block, they get dumped. Plain and simple.”

While Stewart laid down the law, his point standing suffered. He dropped one position to 12^th and now has 460 points, 113 markers behind series leader Carl Edwards and 14 points ahead of 13^th-place Greg Biffle.

His SHR teammate, Ryan Newman, lost two spots in the championship standings after finishing 25^th. He’s currently 10^th with 475 points, 98 markers back of the top spot and 12 points ahead of 11^th-place Denny Hamlin.

Kurt Busch won the Toyota/Save Mart 350k to score his 23^rd career Sprint Cup victory, his first of the season, his first at Infineon and his first on a road course.

Jeff Gordon finished 2.685 seconds behind Busch in the runner-up spot, while Edwards, Clint Bowyer and Marcos Ambrose rounded out the top-five. Joey Logano, Jimmie Johnson, Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski comprised the remainder of the top-10.

There were five caution periods for 17 laps, with five drivers failing to finish.

The next event on the Sprint Cup schedule is the July 2 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. The race starts at 7:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by TNT beginning with its pre-race show at 6:30 p.m.

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

2011 NSCS Regan Smith - Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR

It was not only Smith’s best-ever road-race finish, but it was also a career-best road-race result for the Denver, Colo.-based Furniture Row Racing team.

“The goal this weekend was to make a big improvement with our road-racing program and I feel we accomplished that goal,” said Smith, whose previous best Cup finish on a road course was 30th at the 2007 Sonoma race.

Smith also did something on a road course that he has not done before and that is to lead laps. His No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet led for five laps.

“I agree that the improvement on a road course was accomplished today, but I still think we could have done better — it’s hard to walk away satisfied with a 16th-place finish,” explained Smith. “I am happy how we rebounded but we did let some positions slip away at the end.”

After leading laps 83-87, Smith came into the pits following a caution for four fresh tires and fuel. Since he was on a different pit cycle than some other cars, he restarted 15th when the green flag flew for the final time on Lap 92 of 110.

By Lap 96 he passed six cars and was running ninth. But with tire wear and continuous logjams on the 10-turn, 1.99-mile circuit, he fell back to 16th when the checkered flag waved.

“You always want more and I felt we could have had an even better finish,” noted Smith. “Pete (Rondeau, crew chief) called a great race from the pit box and our over-the-wall crew came through. It was an overall team effort.”

Smith started the race from the 24th position and managed to keep his Furniture Row Chevrolet on the track as cars were spinning every which way through the left-and-right-hand turns.

“For the little experience he has had on road courses, Regan did an outstanding job today,” said Rondeau. “He drove patiently and passed cars when the opportunity was there. It was a solid effort.”

The race winner was Kurt Busch. Rounding out the top-five in order were: Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards, Clint Bowyer and Marcos Ambrose.

The next Sprint Cup race is Saturday night (July 2) at Daytona International Speedway.

- DMF Communications for Furniture Row Racing, Press Release

NSCS Ryan Newman - Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

Anytime the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to either Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., or Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International – the two road course events on the 36-race schedule – there are usually a few drivers who leave angry and a few racecars that are battered and beaten.

Ryan Newman’s No. 39 Haas Automation Chevrolet was one of the battered and beaten machines being loaded into the Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) transporter after he brought it home to a 25th-place finish in the 110-lap race around the 10-turn, 1.99-mile road course.

Newman started fifth at Infineon and was in the top-five for the race’s first 25 laps.

But on lap 38 while entering the final turn on the course – a treacherous hairpin that claimed many victims – Newman was caught up in a multi-car accident that all but ended his chance of victory.

During the accident, Newman spun in the middle of the corner and managed to stay away from the outside retaining wall. But as he was about to put the car in gear and begin driving forward, his Haas Automation Chevy was hit by another car attempting to dodge the melee.

The contact caused moderate damage to the front end of Newman’s machine and he was forced to make consecutive pit stops under green so crew chief Tony Gibson and the rest of the SHR crew could fix the damage.

Newman would crack the top-five later in the race as green-flag pit stops jumbled the running order, but with his No. 39 ride lacking rear grip, he wasn’t able to make any substantive charge on the leaders.

His SHR teammate, Tony Stewart, finished 39th. The driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet Impala rallied from his 20th-place starting spot to take the lead on lap 72 where he paced the field for three laps. He was a contender for his third career win at Infineon and eighth on a road course until Brian Vickers punted Stewart into the final corner’s tire barrier on lap 88. The contact resulted in Stewart’s first DNF (Did Not Finish) in 25 career road course races. Prior to Sunday, he had a lap completion rate of 100 percent.

Kurt Busch won the Toyota/Save Mart 350k to score his 23rd career Sprint Cup victory, his first of the season, his first at Infineon and his first on a road course.

Jeff Gordon finished 2.685 seconds behind Busch in the runner-up spot, while Carl Edwards, Clint Bowyer and Marcos Ambrose rounded out the top-five. Joey Logano, Jimmie Johnson, Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski comprised the remainder of the top-10.

There were five caution periods for 17 laps, with five drivers failing to finish the 110-lap race.

With round 16 of 36 complete, Newman currently leads the SHR duo in the championship point standings. He lost two spots and now sits 10th with 475 points, 98 markers back of series leader Edwards and 12 points ahead of 11th-place Denny Hamlin. Stewart dropped one position to 12th. He has 460 points and is 113 markers back of the top spot and 14 points ahead of 13th-place Greg Biffle.

The next event on the Sprint Cup schedule is the July 2 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. The race starts at 7:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by TNT beginning with its pre-race show at 6:30 p.m.

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

2011 Jeff Gordon - Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR

Gordon’s finish extended Chevrolet’s lead in the NSCS Manufacturers’ Cup standings after 16 races.

Clint Bowyer in the No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet finished fourth to give Team Chevy two of the top-five in the finishing order. Bowyer, who started ninth, now sits eighth in points.

Five-time defending NSCS champion Jimmie Johnson scored a hard-fought seventh place finish behind the wheel of his No. 48 Lowe’s/Jimmie Johnson Foundation Chevrolet to regain to positions in the standings. He is now third in the points order.

Kevin Harvick, No. 29 Rheem Tankless Chevrolet, had to rally back through the field after receiving damage in a multi-car incident to take the checkered flag in ninth place. He remains second in the point standings, 25 points behind the leader.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr., No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet, was relegated to the 41st finishing position after getting caught up in a multi-car accident that punctured the radiator and damaged his engine. The disappointing day resulted in his falling to seventh in the standings.

Ryan Newman, No. 39 Haas Automation Chevrolet, now sits 10th in points after an on-track incident landed him in the 25th finishing position in the 110-lap/ 218.9-mile/350K race.

Tony Stewart, No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet, battled from his 20th-place starting position to the lead before his day ended after contact sent him into the tires in turn 11. The two-time NSCS champion now sits 12th in the standings.

Kurt Bush (Dodge) was the race winner, Carl Edwards (Ford) was third, and Marcos Ambrose (Ford) finished fifth.

Next stop for the Series will be July 2 at Daytona International Speedway.

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DUPONT CHEVROLET – FINISHED 2^ND

POST RACE PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT:

THE MODERATOR: We welcome Jeff Gordon.

JEFF GORDON: Like I said, I’m going to be 40. There are some advantages. Today it paid off.

THE MODERATOR: We’ll open it up for questions.

Q. When Kurt stayed out, did you think this was playing in his hands?

JEFF GORDON: You have to ask somebody that actually could see the front. I know it wasn’t me.

Q. Jeff, you mentioned before the beginning of the race your car wasn’t as good, then it was way better in the second half the race. What was the biggest difference you made or maybe the way you were driving to get up to second place?

JEFF GORDON: We made a lot of adjustments. Gosh, rubbers in the rear, track bar, wedge, everything else. You know, I didn’t really think any of those things were making a big difference. But we also were never in clean air.

There at the end, that was the furthest forward we had been all day. I really think the adjustments we made really did work on just helping the car turn into the corner a little bit better and getting us pointed up off the corner so we could drive off a little straighter. I was just so tight getting in the corner. Because I had so much wheel when I went into the throttle, I wanted to spin off. I was really slow through the fast sections as well.

We struggled in every aspect. Normally when you’re off a little bit, there’s normally one corner you’re good in. There wasn’t one corner I was good in. There at the end, I don’t know if the track came to us, what happened. It seems like that setup, the adjustments we made, being in cleaner air, started working for me. I had enough grip to really use the curbs. By using those curbs, I could get up off the corners better.

Q. Kurt Busch said at the end of the weekend he was put off by the fact you didn’t apologize to him last year; you apologized to other people. Have you ever used something like that as a catalyst to come back and kick everybody’s butt? He had a phenomenal race. Have you ever used something like that to kind of push you to have a day like the day Kurt had today?

JEFF GORDON: Well, no. I make a bonehead move and mistake on a guy, a guy like Kurt Busch who ran me off the track on a restart, then I ran him off the track on the next restart. But I did it far more.

I didn’t feel like I owed him an apology. He’s done things to me over the years that I didn’t get any apology on. That’s just the relationship I have with Kurt. If it’s Carl (Edwards), certain guys out there have certain relationships. If you have that kind of respect on the track for one another, you apologize. I don’t think that exists really with me and Kurt, so I see no reason to apologize.

Those guys have been on a mission here lately. I would say their motivation is how bad they ran earlier in the year. I think it was pretty well documented how much they struggled, some of the comments that were made. Whatever they’ve done since then, it’s been working. They’re fast on ovals, fast on the road courses. They were strong all weekend long.

To me, that’s why he’s in Victory Lane, ’cause he’s a good driver and he had a great racecar and team today.

Q. Can you give us an idea what you thought when you saw the 14 car. It’s not often that we see a car kind of in that position, so to speak.

JEFF GORDON: I’ll tell you what I thought. Did you see the wreck in the Grand Am in Elkhart Lake? That’s what I thought. Throttle stuck or brakes went out. You got to be traveling at a high rate of speed going backwards to get up on the tires over there and keep it there.

From what I heard, he had a little help getting there.

Q. From up here it looked like things were crazy on turn 11. Lot of action. In your past experience with this race, was it more than usual or anything different about turn 11 or just the way luck is?

JEFF GORDON: I mean, I made a comment one time on the radio, it was nuts, just crazy, crazy. You guys are seeing turn 11. It’s crazy from the time you drop the green going into one, two, three. I mean, it’s just the buildup to get to turn 11.

The problem is turn 11. There’s two places you can pass on this track, going into seven and 11. You couldn’t really pass going into seven today. It was so slick, you had to be so careful. So everybody gets to turn 11. Because you’re racing one another, it seems like guys, you know, really block the inside lane and force guys to go around the outside lane. So it builds frustration. You get in a position where this is your only shot for that entire lap to try to make a pass.

So, you know, either somebody gets aggressive and drives in there too hard, makes contact, or they just get frustrated and start using the bumper. It’s hard to say. But it was pretty crazy from where I was sitting. I know that.

Q. Jeff, you alluded you didn’t feel you needed to apologize to Kurt from last year. You apologized to a few of the others. Did you come into this race planning to run it differently than you did last year?

JEFF GORDON: Well, I didn’t plan on going into it last year that way. It just kind of happened that way.

I was not proud of some of the things that I did last year. You know, it’s not my style. It’s not the way I like to race. Like I said, there were some instances where it was a mistake on my part. Juan Pablo is behind me. He’s the king of the late-brakers. He would be a long bay ways behind me, yet he would still drive down inside me. When I crashed Martin, I was blocking Juan Pablo and made me go into Martin. It wasn’t like I was trying to do anything towards Martin.

There were times today where we didn’t have the car and I gave up the spots. I wasn’t going to try to push the issue. I guess that’s good and bad. I didn’t have a car that could even try to pass anybody or block anybody down in turn 11 for most of the race. So I had to give up a lot of those spots and bite my tongue and hope that we could get it fixed or get track position, which it worked out.

I certainly didn’t want to make as many enemies as I did last year, because I made a lot of ‘em coming out of here. So it’s nice to come out of here and that not happen. I don’t think I really touched anybody today. So that feels good.

CARL EDWARDS (Finished third; also in the room): You really pissed me off passing me at the end (laughter).

JEFF GORDON: But I didn’t touch you (laughter).

CARL EDWARDS: I felt bad after that race. Then I heard how mad everybody was at you and it made me feel better (smiling).

Q. You might not want to talk specifically in the first person, but talk about retribution and what you need to do if someone gets you earlier in the race. With Vickers and Stewart today, they seemed to have the bad blood. I’m sure you’ve had problems with other drivers in a particular race. Talk about that in general because NASCAR might be listening.

CARL EDWARDS: I don’t think I’ve ever gone out and tried to get somebody back. Have you?

JEFF GORDON: Never. And I have a terrible memory. I never remember those instances where I got into a wreck with somebody so I forget about it later.

CARL EDWARDS: I think NASCAR has this ‘have at it’ mentality, the statement they made. I think in the end will be better and safer for all of us. You know when you’re out there, if NASCAR is going to let things be settled on the racetrack, I think people will respect each other a little bit more on the racetrack, and that’s good.

JEFF GORDON: The only thing I’ll say is if you’re going to try to win a championship, those types of situations are, in my opinion, going to hinder you from doing that. If you start getting into a battle with a guy, especially if it’s somebody that is not in championship contention, you know, then what happens is you’re not going to win. It’s going to be a lose for you and everybody. If it’s somebody that’s in the championship, then you guys have to figure out how to settle it, whether it happens on the track or off the track.

I think it just depends. If you’re that upset at what happened, and you see that guy again before the race is over, you’re still upset, depends on how your fuse is. Some people have short fuses and some people have long fuses. I got into a battle with Tony Stewart before. That’s not a guy I battle with anymore. We had our situation. I’m so glad that we resolved it fairly quickly. Nobody has more respect for one another out there than me and Tony because I’ve been on the other side of it with him when he can get mad. He’s not a guy that you want to have gunning at you. He’s a great racecar driver, he’s smart, he can get really mad. We’ll see how this one turns out.

Q. Jeff, does it ever get old winning in your neck of the woods? Probably not.

JEFF GORDON: I hate winning and I hate finishing second. It’s awful (laughter). You have to understand my emotions throughout this day. Carl can relate because I know he was back there with me. I never thought for one second we were going to finish second today or anywhere in the top 10. So to come back and do what we did was incredible.

I love coming out here for so many reasons. You know, the family, the friends. But I love this track. It’s a very challenging, but fun track to drive. It’s the first road course of the season. That’s unique and different for us at this point in the season. I get to bring my family out here. Ella’s birthday is this past week, so had a birthday party for her. There’s just one thing after the other. I have the wine that’s out here. There’s so many reasons I love coming out here.

So to me it’s only added pressure to try to do well on the racetrack. And I’m just shocked with all the distractions that we’ve actually been able to be as successful as we have. I was up the 4:30 in the morning two days this week. I was dead here on Friday. Luckily my wife was very considerate to let me get a lot of sleep the last couple days. I don’t think we would have run as well as we did today.

Q. What were you doing up till 4:30?

JEFF GORDON: I was up at 4:30 with Leo. That was six or seven years ago (laughter).

Q. When you see something like what went on with Vickers and Tony, Vickers may come back at him and vice versa, how aware of you are that while you’re trying to run your clean race? How do you handle that?

JEFF GORDON: You have to understand, neither one of us even saw that. I don’t know what happened. I hate to comment on something I don’t know what happened. I was purely pointing out an instance with me and Tony.

It sounds like there was a situation, I don’t know what it was. I was kind of using that as a reference. But I have no idea what happened.

I think something may have happened earlier that led to that. But I have no idea. I don’t think it’s really something I can comment on.

Q. Jeff, your fans out here are pretty crazy. They just love you to death. How do they compare to fans around the country? Are they as enthusiastic?

JEFF GORDON: Well, you know, you’ve got the really avid core of fans that are kind of based back east or in the southeast that are very avid fans. The difference is I’m from here. Because I’m from here and we’ve had so much success out here, the avid fans that are out here are as big of fans as there are anywhere else in the country.

It feels so good to go to driver introductions and get the reception that I get. Even just walking through the garage area. Again, another one of those reasons why I love coming out here, because it is not the same other places that we go. I have an incredible fan base, but it is a little bit unique out here because Vallejo being so close.

Q. After the race, Jeff, you came into the winner’s circle and congratulated Kurt. Did that have anything to do with what went on here last year?

CARL EDWARDS: Did you apologize?

JEFF GORDON: I’m still not apologizing (laughter).

No, had nothing to do with that. The guy did a great job. He drove a great race. They’ve been running well. To me what happened here last year, what happened at Martinsville, is behind us. I’ve moved on from that. I think we’re pretty even. Was just congratulating him on the win. Had nothing to do with anything else.

I think it was his first road course win. Is that right? So a guy really who is as talented as he is, every guy that competes in this series has won on ovals wants to win on a road course to kind of prove something to themselves and the rest of the competitors. When you do that the first time, I know how much it means. I know it meant a lot to him. I wanted to congratulate him on it.

Q. Jeff, you talked about that you haven’t been real good on the road courses. What does this do for you now? You were right there at the end.

JEFF GORDON: I have a question for Carl. I want to know what you were thinking when you decided that you were going to fly all the way across the country from California during the middle of the season for that race.

CARL EDWARDS: I like to race a lot, okay?

JEFF GORDON: I know you do.

CARL EDWARDS: We had so much fun last there, man. Have you raced there?

JEFF GORDON: No. When you left last year, I was like, He’s crazy. So I take my hat off to you for doing that.

CARL EDWARDS: Thanks.

JEFF GORDON: I mean, I think I may have answered that question, as well.

CARL EDWARDS: Are you going to write this article on Tuesday (laughter)? We’re just messing with you.

JEFF GORDON: I don’t remember the specifics of your question. But we struggled throughout this day and we really were able to turn it around with some adjustments as well as track position there at the end. So kind of contributed to a great finish.

THE MODERATOR: Gentlemen, thank you for your time. Congratulations.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports

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- Team Chevy, Press Release

Toyota Motorsports Logo

Logano started from the pole position — his second career NSCS pole and his first road course pole.

Martin Truex Jr. (eighth) and Kyle Busch (11th) also earned top-15 results at the 1.99-mile, 11 turn road course near Sonoma, Calif.

Other Toyota drivers in the field included Kasey Kahne (20th), David Reutimann (24th), Michael McDowell (30th), Casey Mears (34th), Brian Vickers (36th), Denny Hamlin (37th), Bobby Labonte (38th), Joe Nemechek (40th) and Mike Skinner (42nd).

Busch is now fifth in the unofficial NSCS point standings following Sonoma, and Hamlin is 11th in the standings.

Other Toyota drivers in the top-25 in the unofficial point standings after 16 of 36 NSCS races include Truex (18th), Kahne (19th) and Logano (23rd).

JOEY LOGANO, No. 20 Home Depot Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Finishing Position: 6th

Are you pleased with your finish today? “Over the last few finishes here — yes, for sure. I felt like there are some things we could have done better — could have kept myself out of trouble a little better. Besides that, the four tire call there at the end by Zip (Greg Zipadelli, crew chief) definitely a good move to get a good solid finish out of here after getting the pole and winning yesterday (NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race). I can’t tell you how bad I needed something like this. It’s definitely going to help our season. I think it’s definitely going to get us some momentum.”

How much did Max Papis help today? “Max (Papis) is the man. He is awesome. He’s funny, listening to him on the radio and he has that accent going. He’s awesome. He’s helped out a ton. Everything he does, he just makes total sense. He’s just done this for so long he knows exactly what to do out there. Him being another driver you can really relate to what he is saying. I thought it was great — him helping me before we got here last month — we were working with each other. Hard work pays off all the time.”

What happened with Robby Gordon? “That’s no big deal to me. I don’t know. He was running me all over the race track. He knocked my fender in for no reason. We were a lot, lot faster than him. I just had enough. I wasn’t going to get pushed around. He pushed around before and I was sick of it. I think that’s a small story. That’s not a big deal. We finished sixth. I’m pretty happy about that.”

How would you describe the racing? “It’s crazy out there. Luckily this time I wasn’t involved in as many (incidents) as I’ve been before. Usually, I was getting spun out all the time. We did a good job with all that stuff. Obviously, our car’s beat up a little bit. I think overall, considering everything that happened, that’s pretty good.”

MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Finishing Position: 8th

How was your race today? “We had a great car. It was fast. Just got spun out once. Then, we got on the right pit strategy. At the end, we were just out of tires. I was really good for 25 laps or so on tires, and then if we get a caution and I got a heat cycle on them I was really loose. I was really loose all day, but the heat cycle would really make it bad. At the end there, those last five laps, I just couldn’t go because the rear tires had smoke coming off of them. I just couldn’t get any rear traction. We lost four spots the last few laps. Still a good day for us. We had a fast car. Everything held up. The brakes were great all day. The transmission, the engine — all that stuff was good. Just wish we could have got a little bit more there. We thought for awhile there we were going to have a shot for the win. I just ran the tires off it.”

Are you disappointed with your finish? “I wanted to win. I thought we had something for Kurt (Busch) there. We were running him down when that caution came out. Then after that caution I was so loose I couldn’t go and I got pushed in the dirt. After that caution my car was horrible. Before that caution — if it went green — we were going to be fighting with Kurt, I believe.”

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 M&M’s Pretzel Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Finishing Position: 11th

How was your race? “Overall it was a really good day. Early on in the race it seemed like we had a pretty good M&M’s Pretzel Camry that we could come up through the field and pass a few guys. You know, a couple guys started making pit stops and getting their cars a little better and we sort of fell back. We were a little bit mediocre. We were still fast, we just didn’t have the speed like the 22 (Kurt Busch) did all weekend. We were like a fourth- or fifth-place car. We had the opportunity to finish there, but unfortunately with about five (laps) to go we were involved in a few others wreck and spun out. Gathered it back up and got going again, probably fell back to 15th, but salvaged an 11th out of the thing. We’ll take it and go on.”

KASEY KAHNE, No. 4 Red Bull Toyota Camry, Red Bull Racing Team Finishing Position: 20th

DAVID REUTIMANN, No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Finishing Position: 24th

How was your race? “That’s a long race. We did a decent job in the Aaron’s Dream Machine. We stayed out of trouble until right there at the end when we spun. I hate that. We were in position to have our best finish ever here and it just got away from us at the end. Our pit crew today was outstanding and Rodney (Childers, crew chief) made some great calls and put us in a good position all day. I’m ready to head back to an oval next week in Daytona.”

MICHAEL MCDOWELL, No. 66 HP Racing LLC Toyota Camry, PRISM Motorsports Finishing Position: 30th

CASEY MEARS, No. 13 GEICO Toyota Camry, Germain Racing Finishing Position: 34th

BRIAN VICKERS, No. 83 Red Bull Toyota Camry, Red Bull Racing Team Finishing Position: 36th

What happened with Tony Stewart? “You know, he wrecked me and I wrecked him.”

Were you blocking him? “I wasn’t blocking him (Tony Stewart). That may have been his perception where he was sitting. You know, the 18 (Kyle Busch) went off the race track in front of me — he was flying through the dirt. He was coming back on the race track and I was trying to avoid him. You know the cars in front of me were slow and I was in the inside of the guy in front of me. It’s pretty early in the race to worry about blocking someone or wrecking someone. I think when he sees the replay and he realizes why I went low, he’ll realize that if he looks out my front windshield, he’ll realize it had nothing to do with him, it had to do with the 18 almost wrecking and a couple other guys slow up top. You know, it’s unfortunate. He made his bed at that moment and he had to sleep in it.”

Are there any problems between you and Tony Stewart? “I don’t believe he said that. Maybe he did. I think we were joking and laughing last week — we had a great race. We haven’t had any problems in a long time. Actually, I think the last real problem we had was turn 11 in 2004, funny enough. That was the last time we actually got together.”

Why are drivers always angry after this race? “I’m not angry. I’m okay. I’d rather have been racing for a win than worrying about crap like that. I’m fine with how it all worked out. Granted I wished it hadn’t happened — I hate it for the Red Bull guys. These guys worked hard on the car, we had a really good car. We were trying some different stuff, we made some changes at the beginning of the race. We were trying some different stuff on air pressure and we were just horrible at the start of the race — just absolutely horrible. Once we fixed that we were pretty quick. We were quick after that until we got wrecked.”

Has NASCAR said anything to you? “No, they haven’t and I don’t think they will. They know that Tony (Stewart) and I have been around long enough to know how to handle these things ourselves. We’re both grown adults. It’s not like we’re rookies and we’re learning the ropes. We know the deal, they know the deal — we’ll figure it out. I’m sure Tony and I will talk this week. We don’t need them to tell us.”

Do you like racing at road courses? “I do like road courses. I enjoy coming here. It was a good race and I think they’re good — the two road course races we have are good tracks. They’re exciting for the fans — they’re exciting for the drivers — it really mixes things up. I don’t necessarily know that road racing is, I think our cars are better suited for ovals. But, I think we put on a heck of a show on road racing venues as well.”

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Freight Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Finishing Position: 37th

BOBBY LABONTE, No. 47 Clorox/Kleenex Toyota Camry, JTG-Daugherty Racing Finishing Position: 38th

What happened that forced you to the garage during the race? “I do know we got together with David (Reutimann), I just drove underneath him there. He might not have seen me. I just got on the curb and was almost saving it, but it didn’t quite work out. He got setup by the 17 (Matt Kenseth) car. I was just part of it, part racing. Then we were building our speed back up there and got a couple laps and come off turn 11 and the 66 (Michael McDowell) car was there and I’m not sure what all happened, but next thing I know I’m in the fence.”

JOE NEMECHEK, No. 87 NEMCO Motorsports Toyota Camry, NEMCO Motorsports Finishing Position: 40th

MIKE SKINNER, No. 60 Big Red Toyota Camry, Germain Racing Finishing Position: 42nd

- Toyota Motorsports, Press Release

NASCAR on TNT

Quote of the Day:

“If I were the other teams, I’d be switching over to his Racebuddy camera to see how he’s getting around the track because he’s in a totally different zone than these other cars.” – Kyle Petty on Kurt Busch during Lap 27 of 110

TNT NASCAR: Countdown to Green delivered by Pizza Hut

Lindsay Czarniak (host), Kyle Petty (analyst) and Larry McReynolds (analyst)

TNT analyst Larry McReynolds on the conditions at Sonoma: “The weatherman has been a great race fan all year long. You never have to worry about that when you come to Sonoma.”

TNT analyst Kyle Petty on open road racing at Infineon on why Infineon has become a course that unleashes volatile emotion: “There’s only a few passing zones on the course and the only other time you can pass is in pit road. When it gets down to the end, the last 10-15 laps, the only way around is knock somebody out of the way.”

McReynolds on what might happen in the end today if tempers flare in the race like in years past: “I promise you, if you go to the garage area after the race today, somebody will be hunting somebody. I promise you.”

McReyolds on the effect this race has on the Sprint Cup Series point standings: “This road course always tends to shakes up the points race. This is a place, I promise you, the points will move around a lot by the time the checker flag waves here today.”

TNT analyst Wally Dallenbach on passing on the road course at Infineon: “The easiest place to pass is probably Turn 11. The [most fun] way to pass is using the chrome horn.”

NASCAR driver Jimmy Johnson on his chance to repeat as a winner this year at Infineon: “What we learned last year is not working this year so we’ve had to kick the ball and start all over again. It’s been exciting and I’m not the only one [not sure about how his tires will react]. There’s only about four or five guys who have the set-up for this tire and the rest of the guys are all slipping and sliding.”

Johnson commenting on McReynolds’ observation about his lack of winning since last year at Infineon: “At the end of the day this sport is very, very tough. We made some big changes in the off-season and now we’re working through some of that now. There’s no one who wants to win more than me and we’re working very hard.”

Johnson on his preparation for this race: “This year we took a little different approach and didn’t do much. I have a lot of notes and video that I go through. I drive laps mentally. That’s something I picked up in high school on the swim team – knowing my swim, knowing my turn and I’ve crossed that over to motor sports. I really know my lap and reference points before I get on the track.”

Johnson on his humble beginnings in the sport of NASCAR racing: “It was very tough. My mom was a school bus driver and my dad was a heavy equipment operator and I’ve had a great problem driving for these great teams and big teams. The impression was that I came from a wealthy family, I wish that I did. My struggles… made me the guy I am today.”

Petty commenting on pit reporter Marty Snider’s interview of Marcos Ambrose about last year’s race in Sonoma where he was leading the race and made a mistake of stalling his engine that cost him the race: “In his mind he needs to make up for it to show he recovered from it. He said he put it behind him. You do put it behind you until about 3:30 in the morning when you wake up in a cold sweat and you remember that car sitting there on the hill. You never put things like that behind you. They come up 10 and 15 years later. Trust me, I know. That still bothers him on some level.”

TNT Pit Reporter Matt Yocum interviews 81-year-old Rex White, the oldest living NASCAR winner – 1960 Grand National winner – in ‘Pride of NASCAR’ segment: ”I didn’t have enough money to buy a pit pass. If you didn’t take in some money [from the race] you didn’t have a way to get home. When you’re not sure you’re gonna eat when you’re on that path for your income, you gotta really like it. ”

White on the early days of NASCAR and drivers talking about designs of cars: “You could talk about a guy’s wife but you couldn’t talk about his car. A guy would fight you moreso over his car than his wife.”

Petty commenting on White as a NASCAR pioneer: “Rex White is a phenomenal guy…when you look at we did, like he said, ‘We raced to put food on the table.’

McReynolds interviewing Juan Pablo Montoya’s crew chief Brian Pattie about the keys to today’s race:

Pattie: “1) Fuel mileage. The key is making sure it [tank] is full. 2) Grip. Make sure you have plenty of this – tires. Lots of teams will be working with air pressure. You don’t have a lot of time to adjust. 3) Strategy. Depends on what fuel mileage you get. Do you pit two times? Or three? I don’t think a two-stop guy will win the race today.”

McReynolds: “My key is to stay on the race track. Dirt is bad. Asphalt is good. He [Montoya] starts 17^th today. When Montoya won this race is 2007 he started 32^nd.”

McReynolds prediction: “A month ago I wouldn’t have picked this driver to be in the Top 15. I think it’s about the double-deuce, Kurt Busch gets his first win on a Sprint Cup Series road race today.”

Comments on passing on the Infineon Course:

Pit reporter Chris Neville reporting from Turns 1-2: “You’re not going to see a lot passing here today.”

Pit reporter Ralph Sheheen reporting from Turn 4: “The problem is there are a lot of bumps here on Turn 4.”

Pit reporter Matt Yocum reporting from Turn 7: “This is where you’re going to see guys outbreak one another for a passing opportunity.”

Pit reporter Marty Snider reporting from Turn 11: “There are four places to pass at Sonoma, it’s not easy but it can be done.”

TNT analyst Wally Dallenbach on what it will take today to win the race: “It’s all about set- up [rigid vs. soft set-up]. What you have today, you can’t make too many adjustments in pit lane.”

Petty on what it will take to win today balancing patience and aggression: “You have to be really patient in the first half of the race. You have to keep your car on the race track. If I’m looking at balance here, it’s going to be 90-10. For 90% of the race you’re going to be patient and for 10% you’re going to be ungodly aggressive.”

TNT NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing: SaveMart 350 from Infineon Raceway

Adam Alexander (host), Kyle Petty (analyst), Wally Dallenbach (analyst)

Pit Repeorters: Chris Neville, Ralph Sheheen, Marty Snider, Matt Yocum

Dallenbach on how difficult the race course will be: “If you can pass seven or eight cars, you’re a big mover….”

Petty on the race strategy: “This is not a place where you have a lot of pit stops today. You have what you have.”*

* Winner Kurt Busch made two pits stop on the day.

Dallenbach on the new tires drivers are using today: “When you change tires on these cars it’s a totally different set-up. You start from scratch.”

Kyle Petty on Kurt Busch during Lap 27 of 110: “If I were the other teams, I’d be switching over to his Racebuddy camera to see how he’s getting around the track because he’s in a totally different zone than these other cars.”

Petty on the heat inside the race car on the floorboard: “The temperature on the floorboard can get to 220-230 [degrees] and it’s a slow bake. It’s like a turkey in the oven, man, you’re just baking all day long. You leave the race track and your foot is burnt but it’s really baked.”

TNT NASCAR Summer Series – Post-race remarks

Tony Stewart on his collision with Brian Vickers toward the end of the race claiming Vickers blocked him: “:I’m not going to tolerate it. He was blocking and I’m going to dump him.”

Winner Kurt Busch on his victory at Sonoma with a two-stop strategy: “It was an unbelievable set-up. I’m real proud of our team. We had to conserve our rear tires. That was our main thought and once we had our fuel mileage, I started to pick up my pace. I didn’t want guys to think they had a shot at us.”

Ford Racing

CARL EDWARDS, No. 99 Scotts Ortho Ford Fusion (Finished 3rd)

MARCOS AMBROSE, No. 9 Stanley Ford Fusion (Finished 5th) “I am so proud of my Stanley car and my Stanley team to get a top five out of what could have been a very tough day for me. Todd and the guys worked hard all day and got us into a good position there at the end. We weren’t able to get the million dollars for the Children’s Miracle Network kids, but thanks to Stanley they will get $100,000. I want to thank Stanley for putting me in the car and believing in me and I am looking forward to what we can do the rest of the way and when we get to the Glen.”

AJ ALLMENDINGER, No. 43 Best Buy Ford Fusion (Finished 13th) “That was crazy just like always. The car was pretty good and I think from about mid-race on we kind of got loose. The track, there was so much crap on the race track and we kept adjusting. Everybody was running into each other out there. I got into a couple guys and got them angry and then I had one guy dump me. I just tried to keep fighting. We are getting there. If we can get some luck on our side we might actually be up front where we deserve to finish. It could have been a lot worse and 13th isn’t great, but it could have been a lot worse with 20 to go. Now we can go have more fun at Daytona.”

DAVID RAGAN, No. 6 UPS Ford Fusion (Finished 29th) IS THIS ONE YOU’RE JUST HAPPY TO GET OUT OF THE WAY? “We struggled from the get-go. Goodyear brought a new tire here and we couldn’t get our UPS Ford to hook up from the first lap of the race. This was a brand-new car and we need to go back and revisit the things that we did differently than our teammates. We never gave up and I thought we were going to be okay during the mid-part of the race. We had that drive through penalty that hurt us a little bit, and this track is always one that we have to work hard at. We just have to look forward to the next couple of tracks that are pretty good for us.”

DAVID GILLILAND, No. 34 Taco Bell Ford (Finished 12th) “I am really proud of our team today. Peter (Sospenzo) and the guys gave me a really great Taco Bell Ford Fusion this weekend. We had an issue with second gear toward the end of the race there, so we lost a few spots, but I had a lot of fun running up front all day. I asked the guys on the radio during the race if there was an award for passing the most cars ’cause, man, it sure seemed like I was passing cars all day. Great day for our team and now we get to go back to Daytona.”

CARL EDWARDS PRESS CONFERENCE

DID YOU HAVE ANY CHANCE TO CATCH THE 22? “In the end on the restart they were telling me his lap times and he was kind of easing around there. Every once in awhile he would blister off a fast lap. His car was extremely good and he did a good job managing it. I think he had just a very fast car.”

IF YOU WERE BATTLING FOR THE POINTS IN THE NATIONWIDE SERIES, WOULD YOU HAVE GONE TO WISCONSIN? “I think we would of but as it stands we were racing for the owners’ championship over there. There is also the fact that I committed to running all the races. That was the most important thing. Fastenal was okay with me staying here and they made it clear that they were a part of Roush Fenway racing and not just the 60 team. That was very cool. We are still fighting for the owners’ championship over there and I will race every race that I can.”

IS IT UNUSUAL TO SEE A TEAM AND ORGANIZATION TURN THINGS AROUND AS FAST AS THE 22 HAS? “I don’t know if it is unusual but they have definitely turned things around. Our team, one year ago, after this race really turned things around and got on a role. Now all I worry about is how long it will last and if we can keep it going. I am sure they are thinking the same thing and hoping they can keep this going through the whole season. It is amazing how the performance in this sport peaks and can fall quickly as well.”

HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK STAYING YESTERDAY HELPED AND HOW TOUGH WAS IT TO WATCH THAT RACE ON TV? “It was very tough to watch the race from Road America but I think staying was the right decision. It paid off today. It worked out. It was a good call. We could have finished poorly here and ended up on the fence over there like Tony did or something. Anything can happen. It turned out to be the right call and it paid off, so it was a good move.”

THERE SEEMED TO BE A TON OF ACTION ON TURN 11. WAS IT CRAZIER THAN NORMAL? “It looks like there is an opportunity with all that pavement out there to move turn 11 about 200 yards this way (laughs). They can call it the donut hole or something out there. You can go out there and spin around and do donuts when you get run off the race track. There is an awful lot of pavement there to put that corner at the end of it. You know what I mean?”

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT RETRIBUTION IF SOMEONE GETS YOU EARLY IN A RACE? “I don’t know that I have ever gone out and tried to get somebody back. Have you Jeff? I think NASCAR with the “Have at It” mentality will be in the end better and safer for all of us. I know that if I go down in the corner and hit a guy that NASCAR will kind of let things be settled on the race track. So in a way, I think people respect each other a little more on the race track.”

WHEN SOMETHING GOES ON WITH TWO GUYS LIKE WITH TONY AND VICKERS TODAY, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT HOW YOU RACE THEM? “My spotter does a good job of letting me know who is mad at each other. Jason will say for me to watch guys because they are about to wreck each other. In general, you never really know what happened or if it started a lap before or what. It is hard to tell in real time who is mad at who and what is about to happen.”

- PCGCampbell for Ford Racing, Press Release