Randy Hill Racing (RHR)

In an 11th hour deal struck between Hill and Go Green Racing (GGR), Roderick will pilot the No. 04 Randy Hill Racing (RHR) Ford Mustang in the 34th and final Nationwide event of the 2011 season. Originally, Hill had not planned on entering the South Florida contest however; the opportunity arose for Roderick to reunite with GGR under the leadership of NASCAR champion crew chief Paul Andrews and Hill knew it was too good of an opportunity to pass up.
RHR and GGR united for the Zippo 200 at the Glen in August where Roderick qualified and finished the race in his inaugural Nationwide debut.

“Casey’s a magnificent driver,” said Hill, a successful entrepreneur from the Lone Star state. “We (Randy Hill Racing) made our debut at Texas Motor Speedway two weeks ago with David Ragan in order to evaluate our program. Undoubtedly, David (Ragan) was a great asset for the weekend and Casey learned so much and literally became the team’s biggest cheerleader for the weekend. He earned the opportunity to race this weekend.”

He continued, “We had not planned on taking our No. 08 Ford Mustang to the track this weekend in an effort to better prepare ourselves for next year, but when an opportunity arose that offered Casey a chance to get more seat time, I knew it was the right thing to do.”

Casey Roderick

“It’s very humbling and exciting all at the same time,” Roderick, a winner in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards stated. “I wasn’t planning on racing anything in NASCAR the rest of the year. Then Randy sent me the text message about how would I feel about racing Homestead, I immediately felt like a kid in a candy store.

Obviously, it’s the last race of the season and there is so much on the line for many of my fellow competitors, that we’ve kept our goals reasonable and easily obtainable on Saturday afternoon. First, we have to qualify, which I think we should be able to ace without hesitation – then it comes to racing all 300 miles in the Ford 300 and give our No. 04 Randy Hill Racing Ford Mustang a good run. I’m looking forward to working with Paul (Andrews) and learning from someone of his caliber. When the weekend is all said and done, we’ll debrief and focus on 2012,” concluded the Lawrenceville, Georgia native.

Hill added, “We’re carefully strategizing our schedule for 2012. We’re talking to some potential sponsors who have become increasingly interested in our program over the last couple of weeks. Not to mention the credentials that Casey (Roderick) has achieved makes me believe it’s going to be a busy, but successful 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series campaign. However, before we can get started on that, we have to stay focused on Homestead this weekend. I would like to personally thank Archie (St. Hilaire, Go Green Racing owner) for opening the door for us to work together again.”

The Ford 300 (200 laps / 300 miles) is the 34th of 34 events on the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule. The first practice session of the weekend begins on Friday, November 18th, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. A final “happy hour” practice session has been etched in from 12:30 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. Qualifying is set for race day, Saturday, November 19th scheduled to lift off at 1:05 pm live on SPEED. The field will take the green flag later that afternoon at 4:30 p.m. with live coverage on ESPN2, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Satellite, Channel 90). Pre-race coverage of the anticipated thriller lifts off at 4:00 p.m. also on ESPN2.

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

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

Tweet with us through Twitter at @RandyHillRacing.

- Randy Hill Racing Press Release

Nelson Piquet Jr. (Photo Credit: Lesley Ann Miller)

Turner Motorsports welcomes Nelson Piquet Jr. … Turner Motorsports is pleased to welcome NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) standout Nelson Piquet Jr. to the seat of the No. 30 Chevrolet for this weekend’s Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Piquet Jr. made his NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) debut at Watkins Glen International in 2010. In his lone NNS start, the Brazil native brought home a seventh-place finish after qualifying in the 10th position.

NCWTS notes… As Piquet Jr. prepares for his first NNS race of 2011, the 26-year-old is wrapping up his rookie pursuit for the NCWTS championship. Over the course of 24 starts this season, he has captured five top-five and nine top-10 finishes, leading 52 laps along the way. He sits 10th in the championship point standings and is just five markers down in the fierce battle for the series’ Rookie of the Year honors.

Calling the shots… This weekend, Piquet Jr. will work with veteran crew chief Stewart Cooper. Cooper has worked with several drivers in 2011 including Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, Boris Said, James Buescher and Ricky Carmichael.

This week’s Impala… The No. 30 team will round out the 2011 season this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway hitting the track with chassis TMS-310. This chassis made its debut at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where Kahne drove it to a fifth-place finish after starting in the seventh spot. Buescher also piloted TMS-310 two weeks ago at Texas Motor Speedway, finishing in the 17th spot.

Bienvenidos a NASCAR… In support of NASCAR’s ‘Bienvenidos a NASCAR’ program, Piquet Jr.’s No. 30 Chevrolet will sport a special program decal this weekend. In addition to decals on entries in all three of NASCAR’s top series, the program will provide bilingual brand ambassadors, virtual garage tours and guidebooks of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage. There will be a Spanish language broadcast available via scanner (via ESPN Deportes), as well as ‘Bienvenidos a NASCAR’ ticket packages though Homestead-Miami Speedway and a Chino y Nacho pre-race concert on Sunday, Nov. 20th at 12 p.m. at the Coca-Cola Stage.

Turner Motorsports: A look back… In 33 Nationwide Series events in 2011, Turner Motorsports-prepared entries have notched three wins, 21 top-five and 62 top-10 finishes. Mark Martin kicked off the season capturing the team’s first-ever NASCAR win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March. It was Justin Allgaier’s turn in June when he nabbed his second-career win at Chicagoland Speedway and Reed Sorenson rounded the month out winning his first NNS race with the organization at Road America. Both of Turner Motorsports’ championship-contending drivers are inside the top-10 in the driver point standings with Allgaier in third and Jason Leffler in sixth.

In 24 NCWTS races in 2011, Turner Motorsports’ entries have earned 13 top-five and 31 top-10 finishes. The organization has earned five pole awards with Buescher earning three, and Carmichael and Steve Arpin capturing one each. Buescher is currently sitting third in the championship point standings, 28 markers out of the lead.

Nelson Piquet Jr. on racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series

“I am really excited to have the opportunity to get in the Nationwide car for Turner Motorsports this weekend. I have never done double duty before, so I am really looking forward to it. It is going to be a lot of seat time, more then I have ever done before in one weekend. I want to thank Steve Turner for giving me the opportunity to get in one of his cars, and I am looking forward to bringing home a solid finish in the No. 30 machine.”

Follow the No. 30 team on Twitter! Twitter.com/No30TurnerNNS

Follow Nelson Piquet Jr. on Twitter! Twitter.com/NelsonPiquet

Follow Turner Motorsports on Facebook! Facebook.com/TurnerMotorsports

- Turner Motorsports Press Release

Watkins Glen International

Save Up to $130 on Four NASCAR Weekend Tickets with No Service Fees 

WATKINS GLEN, NY – The excitement of the 2011 season at Watkins Glen International came to a close less than three weeks ago, but the 2012 season at WGI is right around the corner. Renewal brochures for 2012 will be shipped to account holders starting on Monday, October 10 – less than two weeks from today! Fans that renew will not only save the most money; they also have the opportunity to upgrade their seats and campsites before both go on sale to the general public. The Glen is again waving services fees and offering several payment plans to provide fans flexibility in paying for their purchase.

Renewal Customers Receive the Biggest Savings:

Watkins Glen International fans are among the most dedicated in all of motorsports and for that reason, fans that buy their tickets and campsites during the renewal period will save the most money on their purchases for the 2012 season. If fans renew their tickets by November 14, they can save up to $130 on four weekend tickets for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at The Glen weekend, August 9-12. Even if fans purchase fewer tickets or plan to attend another event, they will save more money during the renewal period than at any other time with the combination of advance pricing and waived services fees. The offer to waive services fees will not last past the renewal period and is just another sign of appreciation for fans that plan to spend their summers at the historic road course.

Payment Plans Available:

The popular Pick Your Plan option returns and provides maximum flexibility on a four-part payment schedule. If fans renew by November 14, they can put down as little as 25-percent of the total purchase to secure their ticket package for the 2012 season. Pick Your Plan provides additional flexibility to race fans who may want to spread out their payments with the remaining three payments being made on February 6, April 4 and May 14. Renewal customers may also choose to pay half now and half on April 2 with the 50/50 Payment Plan. Both of these plans can be used to renew for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at The Glen weekend or any other event weekend that has advance sales. All renewal orders must also be postmarked before the November 14 renewal deadline and all payment plans are only available for orders made with a credit card.

Family Friendly Options:

Bring the whole family as the extremely popular Kids Free program has become the Youth Free program which means free admission for all Kids and Teens 18 years of age and under during the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, SCCA Glen Double Nationals and Glenora Wine Cellars U.S. Vintage Grand Prix presented by Welliver weekends. The free offer does not apply during the NASCAR race weekend; however, seats in all nine grandstands for youth 18 years of age and under are only $20. This includes the McDonald’s Family Grandstand which again offers a smoke and alcohol-free seating option.

Upgrades or Relocations:

Fans that renew by the November 14 deadline will also be able to upgrade or relocate their seats or campsites during the upgrade and relocation period, November 28 – December 2. Fans interested in taking advantage of this can call the Upgrade/Relocation Hotline at 866.461.RACE(7223), during those five days, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

3 Easy Ways to Renew:

1. Online: Visit www.TheGlen.com/renewals and follow the online instructions

2. Mail: Send your 2012 Renewal Form to:

Watkins Glen International

Attn: Contact Center

1801 W. International Speedway Blvd.

Daytona Beach, FL 32114

3. Call: 866.461.RACE(7223) between the hours of 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Event ticket insurance is also available to help protect against unforeseen circumstances such as the possible postponement of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race due to a rain delay. The cost is only $6.25 per ticket and covers 100-percent of the purchase price for the ticket (conditions apply; credit card orders only).

Tickets for the 2012 race season at Watkins Glen International go on sale this December. Fans can learn more about the upcoming race season by calling the WGI ticket office at 866.461.RACE(7223) or logging on to the official website, www.TheGlen.com. Gift certificates and track merchandise can all be purchased at The Shop located at 2 North Franklin Street in downtown Watkins Glen. The Shop is open Monday-Saturday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Keep up with the latest happenings at The Glen by visiting the official Watkins Glen International Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/watkinsgleninternational, and following WGI on Twitter, @WGI.

- Watkins Glen International, Press Release

Randy Hill Racing (RHR)

With RIR set to be the first of several races for Roderick under the No. 08 Randy Hill Racing banner for the remainder of the 2011 season, the team looks to set a positive presence not only in the garage but on the racetrack as well.

To mentally prepare himself for his second NNS battle of the season, the Lawrenceville, Georgia native had hoped to compete in the Kevin Whitaker 140 at Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway on Labor Day in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East for Spraker Racing Enterprises. But Mother Nature dashed those plans forcing the event to be rescheduled.

Knowing that the competition has the tendency to be stiffer on Friday night, Roderick feels that staying behind the wheel of a racecar is crucial for not only earning the respect of his competitors but further advancing his career with seat time.

“I think everyone associated with Randy Hill Racing is looking forward to Richmond this weekend,” said Roderick, a former winner in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. “Randy Hill has made a pledge in times where teams are merging and closing up to enter NASCAR with an open mind, a lot of positive energy and a mission.”

The 19-year old added, “We’re hoping that the No. 08 Randy Hill Racing Ford Mustang will be good on Friday. We know we’ll have to qualify our way into the show, but I’m confident with the equipment and personnel surrounding our team, we can easily get that job accomplished. It’s about learning and taking the checkered flag. Heck, I’m just thankful to even be racing – let alone in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.”

Leading the entourage for RHR will be Motorsports veteran Jeff Spraker. The former NASCAR driver himself will take the role as crew chief and driver coach on Friday night. Spraker’s overall success and dedication to the industry is already having an impact on Hill.

“I could not be happier right now,” said Hill, a native Texan. ”We inhaled our first experience of Nationwide competition at Watkins Glen and I was thrilled with the results. We head to a short track now which is a complete opposite of a road course. Casey comes from a rich history of success in short track racing and Jeff has been around for nearly 30 years, so I’m highly optimistic about Friday.”

In addition to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East event, Roderick and Spraker recently worked together in a stint of three ARCA Racing Series events where the team shined with speed and finesse. During those contests, the two created a firm bond which they hope will continue to strengthen as time presses on.

“I cannot tell you what a pleasure it is to work with a talent like Casey,” said Spraker. “I’ve worked with a lot of drivers, but here’s a kid that I didn’t know a lot about and he impressed me the first time he climbed inside a racecar. We went to three ARCA races and his desire to please while show speed on the racetrack was evident from the moment he walked into the garage.”

He added, “I think our Ford Mustang will be solid this week. We’ve got some great horsepower from RoushYates. Casey and I will talk strategy for practice, qualifying and the race. I think overall, though, we’ll be fine.”

From Richmond, the Randy Hill Racing team tentatively plans to compete at Kansas Speedway, Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway, the site of RHR’s home track debut.

The Virginia 529 College Savings 250 (250 laps / 187.5 miles) is the 27th of 35 races on the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series tour. Practice beings Friday, September 9, with a one-hour and 15 minute session planned from 9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. A final practice session has been etched in from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Qualifying is set for later in the day set to launch at 4:05 p.m. The field will take the green flag shortly after 7:30 p.m. with live coverage on ESPN2, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Satellite, Channel 90). Pre-race coverage of the contest lifts off at 7:00 p.m. also on ESPN2.

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

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

Tweet with us through Twitter at @RandyHillRacing.

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

NASCAR Nationwide Series (Race 24 of 34) — Circuit Gilles Villeneuve

Primary Sponsor: Hefty® BlackOut™ (www.hefty.com);

Associate Sponsors: Reynolds Wrap™ (www.reynoldspkg.com) ; Del Monte Foods¿ (www.delmonte.com)

McClure Ready for Road Course Redemption:

- Saturday’s event will mark Eric McClure’s 161st- career start and his second at the 15-turn road course.

- The 32-year-old driver was unable to participate in last year’s event as he was recovering from a concussion suffered the week at Bristol Motor Speedway.

- In 2009, McClure recorded a 22nd-place finish after starting the 74-lap event in the 41st position.

- Following last weekend’s accident at Watkins Glen, the TriStar Motorsports team has elected to use chassis No. 7 in this weekend’s event.š This chassis was last used at Nashville Superspeedway where the team scored a 23rd-place finish.

Eric McClure

“I am really excited to get to Montreal, especially since I wasn’t able to run last season. Montreal is a great city and the track is a fun one to race. I really enjoyed my first time there in 2009. The fan turnout is also spectacular and it really is a shame that this appears to be the last event there. I’m looking forward to hopefully getting a much better result than we had at Watkins Glen.”

- Team McClure Inc. Press Release

Marcos Ambrose pushes car - Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR

Marcos Ambrose, driver of the No. 9 Stanley Ford Fusion, is coming off the first win of his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career when he won Monday’s rain-delayed race at Watkins Glen International. Ambrose talked about the aftermath of that victory as part of NASCAR’s weekly teleconference this afternoon.

MARCOS AMBROSE – No. 9 Stanley Ford Fusion – DO YOU FEEL REDEMPTION AFTER WHAT HAPPENED IN SONOMA A YEAR AGO? “I was trying hard to forget about Infineon Raceway, but I have to say winning for the first time in the Sprint Cup Series is incredible, a huge achievement, and I’m just very thankful for the opportunity that I’ve been given here at Richard Petty Motorsports with the help of Stanley and DeWalt. It’s been a dream weekend for me and I’ve totally erased my memories of Sonoma from this moment forward.”

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF RUNNING BOTH RACES THIS WEEKEND IN MONTREAL AND MICHIGAN? “It (Montreal) sure does owe me a win. I think this year is gonna be the hardest yet because I have to start off in the back of the grid, but we’re doing the practice at Michigan on Saturday morning, we’re flying with Carl Edwards to get to the track in time. It’s gonna be really tight. We’ve predicted that there’s gonna be roughly a 20-minute gap between arriving on time and being late for the race, so I think we just have to play our strategies right. Hopefully everything goes to plan, getting through customs, weather with the plan, make sure the helicopter gets us to where we need to be at the track, but it should be OK. I’m looking forward to the race. We’ve got a big push with Stanley sponsoring the car and Canadian Tire supporting us there. We’re donating $100,000 to the Canadian Tire Jumpstart Program, a program designed to help kids participate in sports, and $100,000 going to that on behalf of Stanley is a big reason to try to turn up and win the race, to be honest with you, forgetting about of course the track does owe me a win. I’ve tried four times, I’ve led more laps than anybody else and feel like I just need to lead the last one this year, not lead the most laps.”

ANY CHANCE ONE OF YOUR COMPETITORS HAS MADE A DEAL WITH CUSTOMS TO SLOW YOU DOWN OR KEEP YOU OUT? “That depends. I just hope that customs control doesn’t like Jacques Villeneuve or Patrick Carpentier too much and slows us down.”

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO NOW TO WIN ON AN OVAL? “Not much different, really. I think that getting the first win out of the way at Watkins Glen was a big load off my shoulders, to finally win in the Sprint Cup Series is huge. I’ve been feeling that pressure for some time, so I hope that I’m able to drive a little more relaxed and a little more freer and the wins will come more often. We’ve come close this year at tracks like Vegas, Texas, Charlotte – we were very fast – I led 100 laps at Martinsville last year as well, so I feel good about that track. I’ve come close to winning at Bristol and Dover as well, so we’ve got some great tracks coming up with a chance to win. My focus right now is these last four races. If we can snag a second win here before the Chase starts, it gives ourselves an opportunity to make the Chase. There’s a lot to race for and hopefully the wins will come more consistently for me now that I’ve got the first one out of the way. It’s really tough, this sport, no doubt about it and to be able to call yourself a race winner means a lot, but it’s only one race win and you’ve got to get more of them to feel like you’re a real star in NASCAR. Ovals is where it’s at for me and I think it’s only a matter of time before we get one.”

HAS ANYTHING HAPPENED THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS THAT WAS UNEXPECTED? “Yeah, the state government from where I’m from in Tasmania actually put out a press release to congratulate and celebrate the win, so that was pretty awesome. The Royal ad in Australia for national print and media was massive, more than I could have ever expected. I think the biggest thing and the biggest shock for me was how many drivers and people inside NASCAR congratulated me and really were joyful of the victory as much as I was. Mike Helton came to victory lane as did Robin Pemberton to say ‘well done’ which means a lot. The other drivers out there were fantastic and to be respected by your peers, I think, is the most important thing to me. Winning races is great, but to feel like the other drivers around you respect you and feel like you deserve to win as well, it means an awful lot.”

DO YOU THINK THE INTERNATIONAL ASPECT OF NASCAR IS NOW ACCEPTED AND NO LONGER A CURIOSITY? “It’s tough to win and when you come from overseas and you come into this sport it takes years to get to where you really want to be and to be a contender, so I haven’t had any blowback at all on being international and winning in NASCAR. The only feedback I’ve gotten has been positive. I don’t think anyone cars, a NASCAR fan doesn’t care where you’re from, they just want to see the best drivers out there competing and winning. It doesn’t matter where you’re from. I wish anyone else from overseas or international areas that want to come and have a go at NASCAR I wish them the best, but it’s definitely not an easy road and I think myself and Montoya have been pioneers to compete in NASCAR, but to also win and it’s awesome to be part of that group. But, I tell you what, it hasn’t been an easy road, so I don’t expect there to be a huge influx of international drivers trying to come and take race wins away from North America.”

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT IN THE NATIONWIDE RACE THIS WEEK? “It seems the last few years we’ve always been fighting the weather, rain showers coming across, so I’m gonna be watching the radar and the weather forecast closely. My race in particular, I’m starting from the back as will Carl Edwards, and it’s gonna be a real challenge to get to the front. We’ve got some great drivers from Canada racing in the event. Jacques Villeneuve, Alex Tagliani, Patrick Carpentier come to mind. They’re gonna be staying at the front and looking out for their brakes and tires. They’ve got a real chance to win the race. We have to rely on, myself and Carl, have to rely on some cautions to get track position. I think it’s possible to win from the back, but it’s gonna be a real challenge. I think the fans are in for a spectacular race because you’ve got two races going on at once. You’ve got the guys that have been there all weekend racing the front and you’ve got myself and Carl starting from the back trying to get track position and be there at the end, so it’s gonna be interesting.”

VILLENEUVE DIDN’T MAKE ANY FRIENDS AT ROAD AMERICA EARLIER THIS YEAR. DO YOU EXPECT ANY OF THAT TO FOLLOW THIS WEEKEND? “I’m not sure, but I know that Jacques is a very fierce driver. He has a lot of talent. He’s very fast in these stock cars. Every time he jumps in one it’s like he’s got a chance to win and if they want to have payback, they’re gonna have to catch him first.”

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE WILD CARD FORMAT? IS THERE MORE PRESSURE OR EXCITEMENT FOR YOU TRYING TO GET ONE OF THOSE? “Absolutely no doubt, the changes that NASCAR has put in this year for the point system and also the Chase format have been big winners for the drivers and the fans. As a driver, I’m sitting 22nd in points and I know if I go out in the last four races and win another event I’ve got a chance to make the Chase. This time last year I was pretty much done for and I was only racing for pride, but it is a lot at stake for the drivers. That means the drivers are building to a frenzy here toward the end. You have the Sprint contingency program, where at Atlanta we can win $3 million as well — $1 million for your team, $1 million for a fan, and another $1 million for your chosen charity if you can win the Atlanta race. It’s just a huge incentive for the drivers who have won races during this contingency period try to win as well, and you’ve got the point system as well that now, if you can finish top 10, you get a lot more points than the old system, so you’ve got a lot to race for. You’ve got a lot to try to win for and I think the fans know that, the drivers definitely know it. Definitely the races this year have been more frantic than last year with drivers taking more chances. There are bigger crashes because guys are trying to get greedy and get to the front as fast as they can, and I think it’s been a great initiative by NASCAR – all the things they’ve done here – to try and make the Chase uncertain up to the very end.”

HOW DID YOUR FAMILY REACT TO THE WIN? “It was absolutely amazing. I’ve obviously got my wife and two kids here in North America. They weren’t there for the race. They were up on Sunday when we got rained out, but we had to take them back to Charlotte and take the oldest, Tabitha, to school for the first time. They were celebrating the win back in Charlotte. My family in Australia was up in the middle of the night popping bottles of champagne celebrating as well. They understand the sacrifice I’ve made and the commitment I’ve made to become a NASCAR Sprint Cup driver and I think it was just very satisfying for all my family and immediate friends.”

DOES THAT MEAN YOU’RE EVEN HUNGRIER TO GET THAT OVAL WIN? “Yeah, I thought about halfway through the whole victory lane celebration that it was a lot of fun and I want to do it again. I definitely now have had a taste of it and I want more.”

HOW DO YOU SHARE THAT WIN WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY SO FAR AWAY? “It was great to celebrate it with my team and, let’s face it, you spend as much time with your crew chief and your team as you do your wife, so I had plenty of people to celebrate with and that wasn’t a problem. But I really would have loved to have had my family there on that day, but it’s just the way racing works. We tried to have everyone up there. We thought it was gonna be a good weekend for me to win and just with the weather delay and with the way it all went down, there just wasn’t the opportunity for them to be there on the Monday, but it’s a good compromise. I’ll take the win if they’re at home any day. I can always bring the champagne and the trophy back.”

HOW DO YOU SHARE IT WITH FAMILY IN AUSTRALIA? “They just watched on TV and the phone has been running hot. I think after the race, by the time I got to my phone after victory lane, there was around 150 text messages, plus phone calls and everything else, so it’s been a big week trying to keep track of everybody and thank them for their support, not just my friends, but fans as well. It’s been a huge reach out and just a great problem to have is have the phone run hot.”

GUYS WATCH YOU ON ROAD COURSES TO LEARN. DO YOU DO THAT WITH OTHER GUYS ON OVALS? “On my recent form, not much. I’ve been having some issues the last month or so on these ovals. The oval format is very different and it’s something that you really have to adapt to and get comfortable with. I think it’s a matter of car feel and the driver feeling what’s happening so he can make the adjustments and guide the team into getting a better handling race car. I’m actually asking others about what they do around those tracks while on road courses it seems like everyone is coming to me.”

HOW MUCH MORE DIFFICULT HAS NASCAR BEEN THAN YOU THOUGHT BEFORE COMING OVER OR HAS IT? “Well, it’s taken me 105 starts to win a Sprint Cup race, so I think that pretty much answers that question for you. It’s been an incredible challenge. There is no certainty of success in NASCAR. You can’t back into a win or get lucky, you’ve got to have everything going for you. You’re up against the best drivers in the world. You’re up against the best competition there is out there as far as teams go, and the formats themselves – the race length, the difficulty of the machine that you’re driving and the circuits we use are incredible challenges. All of those things combined makes this the toughest thing I’ve ever done in racing, no doubt.”

HOW MUCH DOES THAT WIN AT WATKINS GLEN BOOST YOUR CONFIDENCE GOING INTO MONTREAL? “It makes a big difference to me. I needed to win this year. I felt the pressure for quite a long time to get to victory lane for Richard Petty Motorsports, Stanley, DeWalt, Ford – everybody else involved in our program – and I feel like going to Montreal is gonna be more of a celebration. I think that it will help my driving. It’s gonna keep me more relaxed and, hopefully, be the right ingredient to get me to victory lane. The big thing about Montreal is you have to be very careful – very careful in traffic, careful on my brakes — and really manage my stuff to the end and, hopefully, the race runs the right way for us to have a late caution to allow us to get close to the leaders of the race with not too many laps to go. If that can happen, then you never know, with my relaxed attitude and a bit of luck with the race strategy, it could work out.”

DID YOU SEE ANYTHING OF THE ACCIDENT WITH RAGAN AND REUTIMANN, AND WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE SAID-BIFFLE INCIDENT AFTERWARDS? “I’ve got really nothing to add about the whole Boris Said confrontation, but, I tell you what, the hits that Ragan and Reutimann took were vicious and I’m just pleased that they got out of the car. I know they’re sore this week, but I’m just thankful they got out of those cars somewhat unscathed. It’s a testament to the safety changes and the safety thought that NASCAR has for the drivers. Vicious crashes like that are never nice to watch and I’m just pleased that everyone got away.”

DO YOU HAVE ANY TIME AFTER THE NATIONWIDE RACE OR DO YOU JUMP BACK IN THE HELICOPTER AND HEAD BACK TO MICHIGAN? “It depends if we win the race. I’ll be hanging around for a little while, but the primary focus, of course, is to get back in time to have a good sleep and get ready for the Cup race on Sunday. Obviously, racing in two countries on the one weekend is a challenge and we’re not gonna be in one spot for too long anyway.”

WHAT WAS THE TIME DIFFERENCE LIKE FROM WHEN YOU WON IN WATKINS GLEN TO AUSTRALIA? HAVE YOU BEEN UP AROUND THE CLOCK DOING INTERVIEWS? “We tried to balance out the press releases and footage from the U.S. We opened it up for Australian media to make it a little easier on me, but the phone has been running hot, no doubt. There has been a lot of phone calls at inappropriate times to be honest with you, but that’s just part of winning. It’s a good problem to have and we’re trying to service the Australian media as best we can. It’s been big news down there, no doubt, and I’m happy to oblige with phone hook-ups and radio interviews and TV.”

- PCGCampbell for Ford Racing, Press Release

Greg Biffle

Following is a transcript from host Steve Byrnes’ interview with Biffle:

On his team’s performance issues this year:

Biffle: “We’ve had a lot faster cars this year, which sounds ironic compared to all of our top 10s last year … but on top of that, we’ve had problems getting fuel in the car. We’ve had poor fuel mileage. We’ve had to stop short of the field – caution comes out. Michigan – we led the most laps and we stopped. Caution comes out. Last run of the day, we start 25th. We finish 18th or something like that, so all of our finishes are not conducive of where we’ve been running. That’s the biggest thing. I hate to say it – this engine’s got great, a lot of power. Doug (Yates) and the guys have done a great job. We’ve hurt on fuel mileage this year because of that new engine. For some reason, when you make a lot of power, it takes a lot of fuel. That’s been one thing. There have been some pit calls. I spun out at Pocono trying too hard, trying to make up track position from a bad pit stop or something, and spun out. There have been a lot of little things that have caused us not to get those top fives or wins.”

On his response to Said’s post-race comments:

Biffle: “Several things to come mind. One – he wrecked me there last year. Never called me, never said anything about it. Number two – he ran me off in the carousel. That’s what ticked me off. Same place we saw the 24 and 31 in that huge wreck – ran me off the track there and that was why I was mad at Boris Said. Then he goes and hits the 6 car off the track. We just heard him say (on video replay) that he had no choice. Well, I disagree about having no choice of turning a guy the wrong way into the wall. And then after the race, not concerned about the safety of those guys (David Ragan and David Reutimann), he drives to my truck and parks behind my car. I was fine after the race and that just set me off. He pulled up behind my truck like he had a problem. I didn’t act properly there. I shouldn’t have been as aggravated as I was. He should have went and parked at his truck, took his gear off and talked to me or whatever he wanted to do.”

On whether he was upset with Said that he seemed unconcerned about David Ragan and David Reutimann post-race:

Biffle: “Yeah. That was kind of what fired me up because I had kind of forgotten about Boris Said running me off in the carousel. Let’s face it – I could have turned him anywhere on that race track that I wanted to. I got more respect for our race cars and other competitors on the race track to do that. Did you see the video footage of his car (with damage) when they were putting it on the lift gate? That was the opposite side of the car that he had the scuffle with the 6 on. So, he had been in a lot more incidents in that race than that one. You can’t come and race in this series and race guys with no respect at all. Come race hard, do your thing. Boris has a lot of talent, a lot of skill. He’s just not showing it.”

On his Tuesday phone conversation with Said:

Biffle: “He understands and he apologized for running me off in the carousel. He didn’t know he did. That was probably the whole thing that led to him coming up to my truck because he didn’t understand why I was so mad at him. He ran me off the race track in a very vulnerable spot, similar to what he did to the 6. We talked about it and I told him, ‘You can very well be where Marcos Ambrose was yesterday. You need to get in a fast car and show your talent, not be beating and banging and running guys off the race track at spots like that.’ We kind of said our peace and that’s that.”

(jokingly) On whether Said is going to give him a black eye as promised Monday:

Biffle: “I don’t know (laughing). I felt like it was like fifth grade, right, which means after recess, 3 o’clock on Wednesday, we’re going to fight over by the fence.”

About SPEED™
SPEED, anchored by its popular and wide-ranging coverage of NASCAR, is the nation’s first and only cable television network dedicated to automotive and motorcycle racing, performance and lifestyle. Now available in nearly 84 million homes in North America, SPEED, a member of the FOX Sports Media Group, is among the industry leaders in interactive TV, video on demand, mobile initiatives and broadband services, including SPEED2, a groundbreaking new broadband network featuring live, streaming and on-demand events complementing offerings of the linear network. For more information, please visit SPEED.com, the online motor sports authority.

About FOX Sports Media Group
FOX Sports Media Group (FSMG) is the umbrella entity representing News Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets under Chairman & CEO David Hill. Built with brands that are capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FSMG includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing partnerships. FSMG now includes FOX Sports, the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; Fox’s 19 regional sports networks, their affiliated regional web sites and FSN national programming; SPEED and SPEED2; Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Soccer Plus; FUEL TV; and Fox College Sports. In addition, FSMG also includes FOX Sports Interactive Media, which comprises FOXSports.com on MSN, whatifsports.com and scout.com, reaching over 20 million unique visitors monthly. Also included are Fox’s interests in joint-venture businesses FOX Deportes, Big Ten Network and STATS, LLC, as well as licensing agreements that establish the FOX Sports Radio Network, FOX Sports Skybox restaurants and FOX Sports Grills.

- SPEED, Press Release

Week two of the DIRECTV Head2Head Knockout competition narrowed the field to eight NASCAR Sprint Cup SeriesTM drivers. Each proceeding driver earned an additional $11,250 for charity totaling $14,375 for each of the eight proceeding driver’s charity of choice. Drivers will accrue a total of $400,000 for charity in the DIRECTV Head2Head Knockout while one fan will win a new truck from the manufacturer of the winning driver. Two races remain in the battle for the DIRECTV Head2Head Knockout title. Learn more at www.DIRECTV.com/NASCAR.

Week 2 Fast Facts:

• A rain-delayed race eliminated several drivers from contention. Drivers who lost their position due to accidents include Kurt Busch who was collected at lap 50, an accident in turn one that eliminated Denny Hamlin, a single-car crash at lap 87 which ended the day for Paul Menard, as well as Tony Stewart who collided with the wall on the final lap.
• Second-place finisher Brad Keselowski eliminated Kyle Busch who led the race for 49 laps and finished just behind Keselowski in third.
• A.J. Allmendinger finished eighth and defeated 10th-place finisher Jimmie Johnson in race two of the DIRECTV Head2Head Knockout.
• The Watkins Glen road course created an unforeseeable finish. No perfect brackets remain in the bracket-format competition.

Results following Watkins Glen:

DIRECTV Head2Head Knockout Results: Week 2

TURN 1 Winners

A.J. Allmendinger – No. 43 Ford / Paralyzed Veterans of America
(defeated Jimmie Johnson – No. 48 Chevrolet / Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Champions Grants)

Matt Kenseth – No. 17 Ford / Motor Racing Outreach
(defeated Tony Stewart – No. 14 Chevrolet / Victory Junction Camp)

TURN 2 Winners

Carl Edwards – No. 99 Ford / Speedway Children’s Charity
(defeated Mark Martin – No. 5 Chevrolet / Motor Racing Outreach)

Jeff Gordon – No. 24 Chevrolet /
(defeated Denny Hamlin – No. 11 Toyota / Cystic Fibrosis Foundation)

TURN 3 Winners

Kevin Harvick – No 29 Chevrolet / California State University Bakersfield
(defeated Paul Menard – No. 27 Chevrolet / Habitat for Humanity for Wisconsin)

Brad Keselowski – No. 2 Dodge / Paralyzed Veterans of America
(defeated Kyle Busch – No. 18 Toyota / The Church of God Children’s Home of N.C.)

TURN 4 Winners

Dale Earnhardt Jr. – No. 88 Chevrolet / Make-a-Wish Foundation
(defeated Greg Biffle – No. 16 Ford / Friends of Animals)

Clint Bowyer – No. 33 Chevrolet / Emporia Kansas Community Foundation
(defeated Kurt Busch – No. 22 Dodge / Victory Junction Camp)

- ASPIRE Communications for DIRECTV Head2Head Knockout, Press Release

2011 Red Bull Racing Teammates Brian Vickers & Kasey Kahne - Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR

DRIVERS:

+ HELUVA WILD! FINISH

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — So here’s the deal.

Kasey Kahne and the No. 4 Red Bull Toyota are hanging on by a thread, having lost three positions in the points standings after a 26th-place finish Monday at Watkins Glen International.

NASCAR’s little yellow rulebook says a driver and his team must be in the top 20 to even be eligible for a Chase berth, and then from there wins and wildcards mean everything.

Kahne sits 19th in the standings and doesn’t have a win — yet. Two drivers ahead of him in the standings, Paul Menard and Denny Hamlin, each own a victory. Another driver, Brad Keselowski, has two. So the 74-point gap between Kahne and the Chase means the No. 4 best get cracking, and a late tire issue in Monday’s rain-delayed Chip  Dip at the Glen didn’t help.

“We ran well all day,” Kahne said. “The car was what we needed, but at a place like this track position is key. We were trying to save fuel at the end and somehow got a flat on the pace laps.”

Good thing for Kahne that the Race to the Chase suits Red Bull Racing Team rather well. Michigan is next (the site of our first Sprint Cup victory). After that, it’s Bristol (just keep the fenders intact). After that, it’s Atlanta (we’ve been known to run well at the mile and a halfs). And race No. 26 is Richmond (we locked ourselves into the Chase there in 2009).

Brian Vickers was scored in 18th Monday, this after an overtime of two laps that saw cars flipping and hitting hard.

It was a wild finish to NASCAR’s second and final road-course race. Just before David Ragan T-boned a guard rail, David Reutimann tumbled and Boris went after The Biff, Vickers pitted for four tires and fuel three laps from the finish. “Wish we had better track position, but we have tires,” crew chief Ryan Pemberton noted. “Give them hell.”

Vickers restarted 25th and improved seven spots at the stripe.

UP NEXT: Pure Michigan 400, Sunday, Aug. 21, Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Mich.

- Red Bull Racing Team, Press Release

2011 NSCS No. 36 Golden Corral / Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet Impala SS

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (August 16, 2011)

Fellows posted the 34^th-fastest time in first practice and the 40^th-quickest time in final practice. The TBR team worked on the setup before qualifying, and the road-course ringer posted the 38^th-fastest time although the handling was better. Ready to race on Sunday, Fellows had to wait until Monday morning due to rain.

The Canadian racer took the green flag for the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen from the 38^th position and in the first lap, moved up 10 spots to the 28^th position. He continued his trek forward in the next laps and moved to 23^rd place when the field began green flag stops on lap six. Fellows radioed that the No. 36 Golden Corral Chevrolet was a little too harsh in the rear. He drove up to 21^st before Crew Chief Phillipe Lopez called Fellows onto pit road for a fuel-only stop on lap nine.

The Golden Corral Chevrolet returned to the track in the 38^th position. The three-time American Le Mans Series GT Drivers Champion explained to the crew that the Chevrolet lost all of its side bite. Despite the handling condition, he worked up to 28^th spot by lap 26 but was unfortunately passed by the leader. Luckily, a caution was called on lap 29, and the No. 36 Golden Corral Chevrolet received the Lucky Dog. Fellows used the yellow-flag condition as an opportunity to elaborate the car’s handling. He explained that the car was not very good in the bus stop or turn five. The Chevrolet had a huge push in turn five and did not have enough side bite to be fast in the bus stop.

Back on the lead lap, Fellows drove the No. 36 Golden Corral Chevrolet down pit road for a four-tire pit stop. The TBR team made an air pressure, trackbar and spring adjustment to help give the Chevrolet side bite. The 51-year-old restarted 26^th on lap 32. He wheeled the Golden Corral Chevrolet to the 21^st spot by lap 43 and radioed that the car was better but still needed more side bite. He moved into the 18^th position by the second caution when Kurt Busch hit the turn five wall on lap 50.

Lopez called his driver down pit road for another four-tire pit stop and an air pressure and trackbar adjustment. Twenty cars stayed out on the racetrack, and Fellows restarted 25^th on lap 53. He once again told the crew that the Golden Corral Chevrolet did not have side bite. As some of the field took green-flag pit stops, Fellows drove the No. 36 Golden Corral Chevrolet up to the third spot.

Another caution was called for Denny Hamlin in turn one on lap 67. Fellows explained that the right was really harsh and the car still lacked side bite and was tight in turn five. He pit on lap 67 for four tires and a wedge and air pressure adjustment. The field went back to green on lap 70 with the No. 36 Golden Corral Chevrolet in the 22^nd spot. He fell to 26^th by lap 83 and told the crew that the changes did not help. He continued that the car carried too much momentum when diving in a straight line and was loose.

Paul Menard hit the wall on the backstretch, and the fourth yellow flag waved on lap 87. In an effort to fix the handling problem for the final laps, Lopez called Fellows back down pit road. The team changed four tires and made another air pressure adjustment.

The road-course veteran restarted on lap 91 in the 29^th position for a green-white-checker finish. Coming to the final lap, Said and Ragan made contact going into turn two, which sent the No. 6 car spinning. While spinning, Ragan clipped the rear of the No. 36 Golden Corral Chevrolet, sending it into a spin as well. Fellows then hit the front left on the No. 6 and then went soaring into the wall. With the No. 36 damaged and stopped in turn two, Fellows radioed to the crew that he was okay after catching his breath for a moment. He was taken to the infield care center and treated and released.

The incident relegated Fellows to a 30^th-place finish, one lap down. The No. 36 Godlen Corral Chevrolet is still 32^nd in NSCS Owner Points, 73 points behind the No. 34 in 31^st. The team is two points ahead of the No. 13 in 33^rd and 49 points ahead of the 36^th spot held by the No. 7.

“It was disappointing to finish the way we did,” explained Fellows. “We were really good during the middle run. It was really fun racing in the middle there. Then, we lost the handling again. At the end, I was behind the No. 7 when Boris, I guess, hooked David, sending him flying right into me. There just isn’t any need to be racing that way when you are back in 22^nd place. That was as hard a hit as I have ever had since I started racing. I am real sore right now. It is going to take a few days rest to heal.”

The TBR team will return to the track next weekend at Michigan International Speedway. Dave Blaney will pilot the No. 36 Accell Construction Chevrolet for the Pure Michigan 400 on Sunday, August 21^st.

About Golden Corral Corporation:
Founded in 1973, privately held Golden Corral Corp. is headquartered in Raleigh, N.C. Golden Corral currently has 485 restaurants in 41 states. The company’s vision is to be the leader in the family restaurant segment by making pleasurable dining affordable for every guest, at every restaurant, every day. Golden Corral restaurants nationwide have long been strong supporters of the U.S. Military and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). Golden Corral helped raise more than $1,000,000 for the DAV in 2010 as part of its annual “Military Appreciation Monday” initiative. For more information on Golden Corral, visit www.goldencorral.com.

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

Turner Sports Logo

• Total Page views: 7.6 million, up +62% vs. 2010 Watkins Glen Race.
• Average Uniques: 1.1 million, up +44% vs. 2010 Watkins Glen Race.

Source: Omniture

ABOUT NASCAR.COM

NASCAR.COM, managed by Turner Sports, is the official online destination of NASCAR. As one of the top three sports leagues sites on the Internet, NASCAR.COM provides racing enthusiasts with an all-inclusive offering of engaging content including fantasy games, video highlights, social elements, in-depth editorial content, schedules and standings. NASCAR.COM also offers interactive platforms including the award-winning TNT RaceBuddy and TrackPass RaceView.

- Turner Sports, Press Release

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

Watkins Glen, NY (August 15, 2011)

While the backdrop was majestic, the start of Mears’ weekend was not. The opening NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice session saw Mears exit early when engine issues forced him to the garage. The GEICO team worked feverishly to install another motor in time for final practice, hoping to gain track time prior to qualifying. Fortunately, their hard work paid off, as well as the horsepower of the new motor, and the #13 GEICO Toyota Camry was seen pacing the famed road course during the final practice session. Mears appeared to be unfazed by the series of events, and promptly shot straight to the top of the speed charts. At the close of the session, Mears and the #13 GEICO Camry rested solidly in the 10th position on the board.

Although Mears’ engine change would relegate him to the rear of the field for Sunday’s race, he would still need to turn qualifying laps. Despite knowing that he would start in the rear, Mears confidently wheeled the #13 GEICO Camry around the 11 turns of the 2.45-mile road course in just 71.443-seconds, out-hustling both Kurt Busch and Greg Biffle for the 26th starting position.

When the sun came up on Sunday morning over the hills of Watkins Glen, it provided hope that the rain would hold off and allow the start of the scheduled 90-lap Sprint Cup Series race. As the day wore on, Mother Nature would dash those hopes. When the teams took to pit road for the National Anthem, so did the raindrops. Soon after, NASCAR officials announced that the race would be moved to 10 AM (ET) on Monday.

With a solid crowd still intact, NASCAR promptly displayed the green flag at 10 AM (ET) on Monday, with fog and gray skies looming. Starting 43rd, a determined Mears wasted little time in moving forward. In the opening lap, the #13 GEICO Camry picked up six positions before NASCAR dealt the California native a tough blow. NASCAR informed Mears that he changed lanes before crossing the start/finish line and taking the green flag. Consequently, Mears would be forced to bring his #13 GEICO Camry down pit road for a pass-thru penalty, once again sending him to the rear of the field.

Undaunted, Mears and the #13 GEICO Camry returned to the race and picked up where they left off, gaining positions one by one. Having lost a lap due to the penalty, Mears anxiously worked his way around The Glen looking to return the #13 GEICO Camry to the lead lap. Lap 28 provided the opportunity that Mears was awaiting, as the event’s first caution flag of the day was displayed for Greg Biffle, who had depleted his fuel supply. A competent Mears was able to conserve enough fuel to allow him to remain on the racetrack and take the wave around and return to the lead lap, as instructed by crew chief Bootie Barker.

Mears and the #13 GEICO Camry restarted 31st on Lap 32 and his assault on the field got underway. Mears was unusually quiet on the radio, rather focusing his energy on piloting his GEICO Camry to the front of the field.

As the race wore on, the fog began to worsen. Mears’ spotters both informed him that as the fog got heavier, it prohibited them from seeing certain parts of the racetrack. Mears response came in the form of him picking up five positions and moving into 26th on Lap 52. Apparently the fog was of little effect to the #13 GEICO Camry. Just eight laps later, Mears had moved into 8th before surrendering the position to visit pit road for a scheduled green flag pit stop, where the Germain Racing pit crew promptly provided him with four fresh tires and a full tank of fuel.

By Lap 69, Mears had worked his way back up to the 18th position and had secured a seat for what would be one of the wildest endings of the 2011 season. Lap 86 rolled around and with it came the fourth caution flag of the day, setting up a green-white-checker finish. As the cars paced the track under caution, Mears and other drivers began to report sprinkles of rain falling on their windshields.

When the race went back under green for the final three laps, no one could have predicted the chaos that would ensue. After the field took the white flag, a vicious multi-car crash involving David Ragan and David Reutimann erupted on the final lap, stopping the hearts of everyone who was watching the race. Fortunately, Mears and the #13 GEICO Camry escaped the melee unscathed, but Reutimann and Ragan were both seen gingerly exiting their racecars.

When the checkered flag waved in the Finger Lakes region of New York, Casey Mears recorded a 20th place finish after beginning the event at the back of the field. Netting 23 positions, Mears and the GEICO team took a weekend filled with challenges and converted it into one of their most solid performances of the 2011 season.

“We had a great weekend if you think about it because we were forced to deal with several challenges, but we overcame them all, which makes me so proud of this GEICO team,” Mears said after exiting his #13 GEICO Camry. “Many teams presented with the same adversity would have collapsed under the pressure. We didn’t. We embraced it. We knew what we had to do and we stayed focused on making something good happen and, in the end, we did.”

After recovering from an engine issue in the opening practice, starting from the rear of the field, and a lane violation at the beginning of the race, Mears and the GEICO team had proven they could not be deterred. Their effort not only netted a Top 20, but also bounced them up a position in the Owner Point standings to 33rd.

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

2011 NSCS Andy Lally - Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR

Mooresville, N.C. (8/16/2011) -

Rain postponed the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen event, which was originally scheduled for Sunday afternoon, to Monday morning. However, the rookie driver was more than ready when the green flag dropped.

“We didn’t perform as well as we wanted in qualifying, which is unfortunate because track position is so crucial at a road course such as Watkins Glen. There just isn’t a lot of room to pass here. We ended both practice sessions in the top-20, but the track changed a lot between practice and qualifying and we missed on some of the adjustments we made. When the race started, I knew I just had to be patient, take advantage of opportunities to pass, and work my way up through the field. We had a solid run, our pit strategy worked great and we ended up with a decent day. I finished 18th here last summer, and would have liked to finish a little better today, but part of that is just me always wanting to get better. The important thing is that we added to our top-35 cushion for the third straight week”

Watkins Glen marked a double-duty weekend for Lally, who also competed in Saturday’s Grand-Am Rolex Series event, where he finished 15th. The TRG Porsche team of Spencer Pumpelly and Steve Bertheau provided for yet another addition to the TRG trophy case as they went on to claim the win in the GT class.

Team owner Kevin Buckler is happy with his team’s performance and improvements.

“This is the 4th straight event we’ve gone to victory lane with our Porsche team. On the cup side of things, we just keep getting a little better each week. Andy earned his best finish since Talladega, earlier this spring. We showed a lot of speed all weekend long. The rain threw us a bit of a curveball. Our team now has to deal with a short week before heading to Michigan. But those guys just keep giving 110% no matter what they’re up against, so I’m sure they will be able to come through yet again this weekend. A lot of guys let their emotions get to them this weekend, so I’m proud of Andy for using his head, keeping the car out of trouble, and bringing us home a solid finish.”

Next week the #71 team heads to Michigan International Speedway for the running of the Pure Michigan 400. Coverage will begin Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.

About TRG Motorsports:

TRG is a full-service motorsports company offering a total driver ladder approach. This approach starts with track days, goes to club events, up into street stock series and culminates in the ultimate goal of professional motorsports. With sports car focused facilities in Petaluma, California (Infineon Raceway) and Mooresville, North Carolina, the team can offer turn-key support as well as arrive-and-drive programs.

The company’s NASCAR operations are headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina. The team fields a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entry and has the capacity to run ARCA, Nationwide and the Camping World Truck Series.

The Racer’s Group was founded in 1993 and has been competing at the top level of motor racing. The team boasts Rolex Series GT championships in 2005 and 2006 and holds the record for the most wins in Grand-Am with 32. The team’s resume is highlighted by five championships, four Rolex 24 Hour at Daytona victories and a Le Mans 24 Hour win.

Detailed team info can be viewed at www.trgmotorsports.com and www.theracersgroup.com.

- TRG Motorsports, Press Release

Marcos Ambrose, driver of the No. 9 Stanley Ford, poses in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen at Watkins Glen International on Aug. 15 in Watkins Glen, N.Y. - Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR

“Just a dream day. The sacrifices you make, we all make to get here it’s hard and the whole team,” Ambrose said. “The Petty family, my family, to get here, to be a contender in the Cup Series, to finally get to Victory lane is a dream come true to me. I’ve traveled half way around the world, and I’ve dragged my kids and my wife with me, and I kept telling them I was good, but until you win the Cup Series you can’t really put that stamp on it. I’ve tried two and a half, two and a half years now to get to Victory Lane and I just have to thank Todd for giving me the chance.”

Keselowski’s second-place finish gave the driver of the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge his first top-10 finish in four races at the historic road course while Kyle Busch garnered his sixth top-10 finish in seven races at WGI. With 15 laps to go, Busch maintained a three-second lead with Ambrose passing Keselowski for second-place.

“I wanted to win, but if I’m going to lose on a road course to someone, Marcos Ambrose is the man,” Keselowski said. “He’s so good on restarts and I thought we had a shot at it and that’s all you can ask for as a driver. …I’m proud of the finish. It was a good points day for us.”

With 49 laps led, Busch controlled the lead for a majority of the day, but the driver of the No. 18 M&M’s Toyota could not hold it on the final restart on Lap 91 of 92. Busch is now tied with Carl Edwards after the No. 99 Aflac Ford finished ahead of 2011 Legend of The Glen Jeff Gordon in 12^th. Gordon led six laps before falling to a 13th-place finish in his No. 24 DuPont/Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet.The 26^th running of the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen was postponed from its original race date of Sunday, August 14, due to rain but the raced ended up being worth the wait. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race included a record-tying 14 lead changes among eight drivers. The event only featured five caution periods but involved some of the biggest names in the sport including Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin, resulting in them falling to sixth and 11^th in the season standings respectfully.

Tickets for the final event of the 2011 season at legendary Watkins Glen International, the U.S. Vintage Grand Prix, September 9-11, are on sale now! Don’t miss one of the largest vintage festivals in the country and see the cars that helped build the history of The Soul of American Road Racing. Fans can order their tickets or get more information by calling the WGI ticket office at 866.461.RACE (7223) or visiting the official website www.TheGlen.com. Keep up with the latest happenings at The Glen by visiting the official Watkins Glen International Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/watkinsgleninternational, and following WGI on Twitter, @WGI.

- Watkins Glen International, Press Release

Tony Stewart - Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images

In his seven previous NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, Tony Stewart had finished no worse than seventh – a run that includes four of his five career wins and two second-place finishes at the 2.45-mile, 11-turn road course in upstate New York. And in Monday’s rain-postponed Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen, an eighth straight top-10 finish seemed all but assured.

But when the checkered flag dropped, Stewart crossed the stripe in 27^th, his No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet Impala the last car on the lead lap. It was Stewart’s worst finish in 13 career Sprint Cup starts at Watkins Glen, and his third-worst finish in 26 career Sprint Cup starts on a road course.

What happened? A green-white-checkered finish set up a last-lap dash that saw the kind of beating and banging most fans associate with short-track races at Martinsville (Tenn.) and Bristol (Tenn.). Instead, plenty of fender rubbing was on hand at The Glen. It led to Stewart spinning in the outer loop, whereupon he was hit by another car as he went around, which pushed him into the inside wall. He managed to re-fire his racecar to finish the race, avoiding a dreaded DNF (Did Not Finish).

“What a free-for-all,” said Stewart as he climbed from his battered and beaten car inside the garage area.

No more words were needed. What appeared to be a surefire top-10 turned into a loss of 20 spots. As a result, Stewart dropped one spot to 10^th in the championship standings. He now has 659 points, which puts him 93 points behind new series leader Kyle Busch while giving him a 25-point cushion over 11^th-place Clint Bowyer.

His Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) teammate Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet Impala, finished 16^th. It was Newman’s fifth top-20 finish in 10 career Sprint Cup starts at Watkins Glen and his fifth straight top-20 finish this season.

With round 22 of 36 complete, Newman continues to lead the SHR duo in the championship point standings. He remained eighth and now has 686 points, 66 markers back of Busch and 52 points ahead of Bowyer.

Marcos Ambrose won the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen to score his first career Sprint Cup victory in 105 starts. The two-time Australian V8 Supercar champion is no stranger to Watkins Glen, however, as he scored back-to-back-to-back NASCAR Nationwide Series wins at The Glen in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

The race finished under caution with the winner of last Sunday’s race at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, Brad Keselowski, finishing second. Busch, Martin Truex Jr., and Joey Logano rounded out the top-five, while Kevin Harvick, Juan Pablo Montoya, A.J. Allmendinger, Jeff Burton and Jimmie Johnson comprised the remainder of the top-10.

There were five caution periods for 14 laps, with 15 drivers failing to finish the 92-lap race, which was extended two laps by the green-white-checkered finish.

The next event on the Sprint Cup schedule is the Aug. 21 Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. The race starts at 1 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by ESPN beginning with its pre-race show at noon.

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