DPR Sports & Racing News
Your One stop for all the Racing & Sports News... Local and National
E-mail: dan@danspitstopracing.com
DPR Sports & Racing
United States
ph: 630-776-3411
dan
- Home
- Gone Before Their Time
- Chicago Bears Page
- Chicago Cubs
- Chicago Blackhawks
- Chicago Bulls Page
- NHRA Racing 2012
- 2010 Brickyard 400
- Allstate 400 at The Brickyard
- O'Reilly Raceway Park
- 2010 Chicagoland Speedway
- Road America
- 2010 Chicago Auto Show
- Richard Childress Racing
- Hendrick Motorsports
- JR Motorsports
- Joe Gibbs Racing
- Roush-Fenway Racing
- Penske Racing
- Target Chip Ganassi Racing
- Stewart Haas Racing
- Rusty Wallace Racing RWI
- Richard Petty Motorsports
- Dale Jarrett Page
- 2010 Indianapolis 500
- NASCAR News
- Indy Car Series
- Andretti Green Racing
- 2010 IZOD Indy Car Series
- ARCA Racing
- 2009 Indy Car Series
- Motorcycle Page
- Die Cast Collectibles
Chicagoland Speedway
Briscoe Claims Pole for Peak Anti-Freeze And Motor Oil Indy 300
Briscoe Went out at 2:58 PM and bumped Castroveves with a speed of 215.364 mph.
Photos By Dan Peters
Dario Franchitti will start 3rd
Defending Indy Car Champ Scott Dixon can only look as drivers pass him up in qualifying and will start 6th
Photo Gallery from Pole Qualifying
Photo Gallery from Indy Car Practice
Rookie Ickler, Veteran Kimmel Lead in ARCA RE/MAX Series Open Testing at Chicagoland Speedway
On its way to the Illinois State Fairgrounds mile-dirt in Springfield for the next event on tour, the ARCA RE/MAX Series detoured for Chicagoland Speedway Wednesday where 22 drivers tested in preparation for next Friday's (August 28) Ansell Cut Protection 150 at the Joliet, Illinois Chicagoland speedplant.
Martin wins “Slam Fest” at Chicagoland Speedway
Photo By Dan Peters
JOLIET, Ill. -- Bump-drafting and body slamming were the order of the day – at least in the later stages of the race at the Chicagoland Speedway, no less –and no restrictor plates here.
50-year-old Mark Martin was the last man standing in a wild LifeLock.com 400.
Paul Menard was just one driver to feel the "slammin'" at Chicagoland
Photo By Mark Rotor
Rock em’… Sock em’ Race Cars.. Left to a fender..right to a quarter panel.
The race started out mild and mellow… but as the sun set…so did the drivers patience.
Pulling away after a double-file restart with two laps to go in Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup race, Mark Martin won his series-best fourth race of the season and the 39th of his career. Martin gained two positions to 11th in the standings and will have at least 40 bonus points for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup seven races hence, if he can hold a position in the top 12.
Photo By Mark Rotor
"That was fun," Martin exulted after climbing from his car. "That's what life's all about right there. These guys (Martin's No. 5 Chevrolet crew) deserved to win. We could have parked the car (Friday) with an hour left in practice. I knew it was awesome.
"But the best car doesn't usually win. The double-file restarts are to mess the best car up so he doesn't win, to make it good for the fans -- and it did -- but luckily we pulled it off anyway."
Photo By Mark Rotor
Martin took the checkered flag .415 seconds ahead of Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon. Kasey Kahne ran third, followed by series points leader Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin. Ryan Newman, pole sitter Brian Vickers, Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer and Juan Pablo Montoya completed the top 10.
Martin will feel his age in the morning or a day or two after a race. His bones will stiffen and his body will ache after driving 400 grueling miles, even though the fitness fanatic is still in top shape.
“I’m going to feel like hell tomorrow because I ain’t going to sleep much tonight,” Martin said on Saturday night. “When I’m pumped up driving fast race cars, I certainly don’t feel 50.”
He’s far from the sunset of his career and proved it under the lights on the 1.5-mile track.
Sam Hornish #77 & Jeff Burton #31 were just two of many to see thier day end early...
Photos By Dan Peters
Cautions breed Cautions…
As the race neared its end, the action intensified. Contact from Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Chevrolet cut the left rear tire of Paul Menard's Ford on Lap 227 of 267, igniting a multicar wreck in the tri-oval that eliminated the cars of Jeff Burton and Scott Speed.
The sixth caution on Lap 246 for debris from David Reutimann's car, which scraped the wall in Turn 2 after a side-by-side battle with Montoya. Gordon took tires under caution on Lap 248, and after a restart on Lap 251 dropped Johnson from the lead and scrambled the running order at the front of the field, Martin pulled away with Gordon chasing.
Oil from Kyle Busch's blown engine brought out the seventh and final caution on Lap 261, setting up a two lap shoot-out, with Martin opting for the outside lane and Gordon beside him on the inside. Martin got a great jump and pulled away for the win.
"What an incredible call that Letarte made," said Gordon, who is second in the standings, 175 points behind Stewart. "And the whole pit crew that did a fantastic job getting us off pit road with four tires. Then it was just a battle, maneuvering through traffic, cars slipping and sliding all over the place.
Jeff Gordon passed Kahne for second place on the final lap.
"Mark went a little bit early (on the final restart). I just spun the tires when I tried to get it going. It was still a great finish, one-two for Hendrick."
Johnson, the three-time defending Cup champion, led the field to the restart on Lap 251 only to see his No. 48 Chevrolet roughed up in traffic on the restart. Johnson, Hamlin and Vickers all sustained damage as the cars were dicing for position during the next two laps.
Greg Biffle finished 31st Saturday and fell to 13th in the standings, 10 points behind Matt Kenseth in 12th.
Body Slamming… And this time Kyle was not invited..
"… There was a lot of body-slamming out there, and guys were bump-drafting down the straightaways," Johnson said. "I didn't think we could do that at a mile-and-a-half track."
Mark Martin is within one victory of Harry Gant's 1991 record of five wins in a season by a driver 50 or older. …
One Million Dollars….
Photos By Dan Peters
By picking Martin and Jeff Gordon to finish first and second in the LifeLock 400 at Michigan in June and seeing them finish in the same order at Chicagoland, sweepstakes winners Donna and Richard Musgrave of Newcastle, Colo., won a $1-million prize.
Do they have any predictions for the Brickyard?
The Sprint Cup serried takes a well-deserved week off.. and heads to Indianapolis July 26th.
Photo By Mark Rotor
JOLIET, Ill. - Brian Vickers takes the pole for the LifeLock.com 400 Saturday at the Chicagoland Speedway. Vickers captured his 5th pole of the season in 15 qualifying attempts as he turned a lap at the 1.5-mile racetrack in 29.322 seconds (184.162 mph) Thursday. Vickers teammate Scott Speed turned-in the 2nd fastest lap 182.958 mph to edge Jimmy Johnson (182.217 mph) for the second starting spot.
"I'm very frustrated to not be in Victory Lane ," Vickers said. "Sitting on poles this year was one of our goals. Winning races was, too. If I had to pick between the two, I'd pick wins over poles, but we'll take whatever we can get and we're really proud of the poles we've sat on this year.”
LifeLock.com 400
Top Ten - Race Lineup
Pos. Driver Make
1. Brian Vickers Toyota
2. Scott Speed* Toyota
3. Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet
4. Denny Hamlin Toyota
5. Clint Bowyer Chevrolet
6. Kyle Busch Toyota
7. Jeff Gordon Chevrolet
8. Bill Elliott Ford
9. David Reutimann Toyota
10. Marcos Ambrose Toyota
Chicagoland Speedway is sports amplified; the ultimate sports experience. As the home of night racing, Chicagoland Speedway exhibits weekend-long excitement that offers a kaleidoscope of senses and visceral impact for any sports fan. From Champions Park to the competition on track, Chicagoland Speedway delivers engaging entertainment and the big event feel that every sports fan of any age will enjoy. Chicagoland Speedway is Racing Chicago Style: It’s Your Kind of Track.
Key terms that describe NASCAR weekends at Chicagoland Speedway: Thrilling, Engaging Entertainment, Multi-day Experience, Unpredictability, Unmatched Intensity, Great Sight Lines
Chicagoland Speedway – Tickets still available for the LifeLock.com 400!
*Continued convenience and value:
**Free parking on property for ticket holders.
*Chicagoland Speedway and the NASCAR Foundation pair up for Track Walk-Chicagoland, which will be held Saturday, July 11 at 8am. Proceeds benefit Feeding America and the Northern Illinois Food Bank. Fans can register at the NASCAR Foundation booth in Champions Park or call (704) 348-9657.
*Chicagoland Speedway has implemented an innovative fan texting service that allows fans to text in their call for help during an event, directly from their seats in the grandstands to our command center.
*In anticipation of the Dub Show Tour’s stop in Chicago, fans can check out the hottest rides at DUB Live! Display located in Champions Park.
*The Joliet Race Fan Rally, Chicago’s unofficial start to NASCAR weekend, is from 4-11 p.m. on July 8 in Downtown Joliet, Ill. All of the action happens around Chicago Street, where fans can listen to Q&A’s by NASCAR drivers, musical entertainment on several stages, check out a classic car show or try NASCAR’s Virtual Motion racing simulators.
First-Class Entertainment / Dignitaries
*Jimmy Fallon, host of NBC’s new late-night show “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” will serve as grand marshal for the LifeLock.com 400.
*Goo Goo Dolls will headline the free Miller Lite Rock N’ Racing concert Thursday, July 9 following NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying (around 9pm). The concert will once again take place at the track’s Miller Lite Pit Stop, located in Champions Park.
*Jessie James, the pop singer fresh off of tour with the Jonas Brothers, will sing the National Anthem before the LifeLock.com 400.
*Driver appearances (including Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Reed Sorenson, David Stremme, David Ragan, Scott Speed, Justin Allgaier, A.J. Allmendinger, Bobby Labonte and others) throughout the weekend and on the MRN at Full SPEED fan forum Saturday at 2pm CST on the SPEED stage.
_______________________________________________
News from Chicagoland Speedway 2009..
Palermo’s Pizza to Sponsor TBR’s No. 36 at Chicago
Mooresville, NC - (July 7, 2009) – Palermo’s Pizza announced today that it will sponsor Tommy Baldwin Racing’s No. 36 Toyota and driver Mike Skinner in the LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway this weekend.
In celebration of its sponsorship of the No. 36 machine, Palermo’s Pizza will offer race fans an opportunity to download a money saving coupon by visiting www.tommybaldwinracing.net.
Palermo’s Pizza has been making quality, authentic Italian-style pizzas for over 40 years. What began as a small Italian bakery has grown to become a leading name in premium frozen pizzas. Every Palermo’s brand pizza is made with the utmost pride and care, drawing on the founder’s Italian roots and family recipes to achieve premium quality, a tradition that is proudly carried on by the current generation. Palermo’s Primo Thin™, Rustico™ and Hearth Italia™ pizzas are sold in supermarkets and club stores across the country. For more information, visit www.palermospizza.com.
We are absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to team Palermo’s Pizza with Tommy Baldwin Racing for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at the Chicagoland Speedway,” said Giacomo Fallucca, President and CEO Palermo’s Pizza. “Chicago is a very important market for our frozen pizzas and one where we have been growing by leaps and bounds over the past year. This partnership with TBR provides us with a great opportunity to spread the word about Palermo’s pizzeria-quality frozen pizzas to NASCAR fans, the people of Illinois and the Midwest as a whole.”
“We’re proud to have Palermo’s Pizza on the car this weekend at Chicago,” said Tommy Baldwin. “It’s important for us to look for partners that share our team’s commitment in quality and pride. Palermo’s pizza is a terrific company with a rich history and we look forward to working with them this weekend and in years to come.”
Skinner will make his 258th start this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. He has 10 career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top-five and 38 top-10 finishes over those starts. He also earned the 1995 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship for Richard Childress Racing.
The LifeLock.com 400 will be televised live Sat., July 11 beginning at 7:30 p.m. EST on TNT and will be broadcast live on PRN and Sirius/XM Satellite Radio.
_______________________________________________
2008 IRL Weekend at Chicagoland Speedway
DIXON… NO, CORRECTION MAKE THAT CASTRONEVES WINS PEAK ANTIFREEZE 300 IN PHOTO FINISH
DIXON HOLDS ON TO CLAIM SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP
Helio Castroneves charged from the 28th starting positionto first, winning a photo finish in the PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy 300 at Chicagoland Speedway, the second closest finish in Series History.
A review of photos from the Indy Racing League’s state-of-the-art high-speed camera revealed that Castroneves had edged Dixon by .0033 of a second, about 12 inches. The margin of victory was the second-closest in IndyCar Series history.
It wasn’t enough to keep Scott Dixon from winning his second IndyCar Series championship.
Castroneves started 28th due to a penalty during qualifying and raced his way through the field to take the lead on Lap 78. He led 80 laps total and was in first as the leaders pitted on Lap 185 with 15 laps to go. Series points leader Scott Dixon won the race off pit lane and led the next 14 laps as Castroneves pulled alongside for the final two laps. As the two took the checkered flag side-by-side, it took a review of photographs by IndyCar Series officials to determine that Castroneves had edged Dixon
The IndyCar Series Timing & Scoring photo system takes a picture every ten-thousandth of a second. IndyCar Series officials have confirmed that the transponder on Scott Dixon’s No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing car had been improperly installed, resulting in Dixon being shown in the top spot on the Indy Racing League’s T&S system rather than race winner Helio Castroneves.
“The improperly installed transponder clearly affected the data we were receiving from Dixon ’s car,” said Jon Koskey, the Indy Racing League’s director of timing and scoring. “With the signal going the wrong direction, it could have bounced off of any number of things and made it difficult for the antenna to pick up an accurate signal. Because there’s always the possibility of electronic equipment failing and the possibility of human error, we have multiple systems in place to insure the accuracy of the data.”
Immediately following the conclusion of Sunday’s PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil 300, the camera operator informed race stewards that the photos showed Castroneves’ car in the lead. Brian Barnhart, president of competition and operations for the Indy Racing League, reviewed the photos and confirmed Castroneves the winner.
“We’ve invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in this system since 2001 to make sure our timing systems are accurate and provide the officiating staff with the information necessary to make good judgment calls such as this,” Barnhart said. “The primary system includes three parts comprised of a radio transponder mounted in the same location on each car, multiple detection loop antennas buried under the track and timing decoder units that decipher the transponder signals as it crosses the antenna. We back up that system with the start/finish line camera and secondary electronic systems.
“We use the high-speed camera to review the finishing order of every car at every race. It’s not always that close between the top two cars, but we have close finishes further back in the field all of the time
Castroneves celebrated his second victory of the season and the second time he’s finished runner-up in the championship in his career. (About learning he won the race) “I found out when I was walking to the podium to receive the second-place finish. I actually thought I really won it, but sometimes when you’re going 215 mph it’s hard for me to see in the blink of an eye. But what a great effort by Team Penske. Ryan (Briscoe) helped me out tremendously. We put ourselves in that situation today. And I’m sure next year is going to be a lot of fun as well, so I can’t wait for 2009.” (About coming from last to first) “We tried to keep everything that happened behind and keep racing. I had no doubt that we’d have a good car. It was a big task but, like I said, we believed, we did everything possible. But unfortunately Scott (Dixon ) was right there, too. I have to congratulate Team Ganassi, but what a great finish, what a wild race. It was kind of a little close, but I’m extremely happy for the way it came out here.”
Dixon maintained a 17-point lead in the championship to become the second driver to win multiple championships in the IndyCar Series. Dixon also won in 2003. “We were trying to work out where we needed to be, and I think I got a little complacent in the middle there. Some of those guys are so quick, some people we didn’t expect to be racing with. We got shuffled back in line a little bit, but what a great day. I still can’t believe it.” (About whether or not this trumps his championship in 2003) “Yeah, I think it does. We had to go through the cycles.
In ’03 we really knew what we won, but today was so emotional for the team. Everyone at Team Target worked together to make it happen. My hat’s off to them.” (About tough years in his career) “Yeah, it was so tough in those years. I think we tried to forget about them, but I think those years have made the team what it is today. I think those yea rs were tough, but you’ve got to have those years to make sure that you come back and work hard. I’ve got to thank Chip (Ganassi) for keeping me around. It was a revolving door there for awhile. I’ve got to thank my teammate, Dan (Wheldon). He was a great help today.”
Wheldon will be leaving Ganassi to head back to Panther Racing in 2009. He gave Dixon hugs in victory lane, but snuck back in holding a finger at his face telling everyone to be quiet. He then gave Dixon a “Victory Pie” in the face. Dixon never saw it coming.
Pole sitter Ryan Briscoe finished third. “It was awesome. It was some really great racing there, going three-wide for a while with (Dan) Wheldon and Helio (Castroneves). It was just a really good day and a good way to end the season. We’ve had a lot of progress this year, so this was an accomplishment going into 2009. I did my best to help Helio (Castroneves). I thought he might have had it. I was under that rear wing as close as I could get, so hopefully that helped him out.”
Hideki Mutoh won Bombardier Learjet Rookie of the Year honors by six points over Justin Wilson despite finishing 22nd. “I wish we were able to finish the 2008 season with a good finish, but I am very thankful to all the Formula Dream team for working so hard and getting No. 27 car back out on the track today. I won the Bombardier Rookie of the Year, but it hasn’t hit me yet. I am happy, but it’s really hard to celebrate it after such a disappointing race.”
The 2008 IndyCar Series season continues with a non-points paying race Oct. 26 at Surfers Paradise, Australia. The Nikon Indy 300 will be telecast live in High Definition at 10:30 p.m. (EDT) Oct. 25 by ESPN Classic and will re-air at 11 p.m. Oct. 26 on ESPN2. The race will air live on the IMS Radio Network. A Spanish-language telecast of the race will be carried by ESPNDeportes. The IMS Radio Network broadcast also is carried on XM Satellite Radio and www.indycar.com. The 2008 Firestone Indy Lights season has concluded.
Photo Below By Mark Rotor
INDYCAR SERIES POST-RACE NOTES:
- Scott Dixon wins his second IndyCar Series championship by 17 points over Helio Castroneves.
- Dixon is the second driver to win multiple championships. Sam Hornish Jr. won three.
- More details on Dixon’s season are listed below.
- Helio Castroneves is the first driver to win a race from the 28th starting position. Buddy Lazier won from 26th at Phoenix in 2000.
- More details on Castroneves’ season are listed below.
- The margin of victory is the second-closest in IndyCar Series history. The closest finish is .0024 of a second at Chicagoland in 2002 when Sam Hornish Jr. defeated Al Unser Jr. The 10 closest finishes are listed below.
- Hideki Mutoh wins the Bombardier Learjet Rookie of the Year honors with a six-point advantage over Justin Wilson.
- Ryan Briscoe finished third, his fifth top-five finish of the season.
- Tony Kanaan finished fourth, his 11th top-five finish of the season.
- Will Power finished fifth, his best finish of the season on an oval.
- Darren Manning finished seventh, his seventh top-10 finish of the season.
- Milka Duno led five laps, her first laps led in the IndyCar Series.
IndyCar Series driver Vitor Meira could be making his final start with Panther Racing following the announcement this week that Dan Wheldon has been signed to drive the No. 4 car for the team in 2009.
VITOR MEIRA: “I feel like it’s important for the fans to know what I think about everything that has happened this last week. I didn’t want to leave Panther and the No. 4 car because I know how good this team is going to be next year. I feel like I’m a big part of the foundation of this team in the new generation of the IndyCar Series. I’m sad to leave, and I don’t agree with all the decisions that have been made, but that doesn’t change the way I feel about Panther Racing, and I’ll always have a lot of respect for them. I feel like I’m personal friends with every member of this team. That will never change. I’m also happy to have had the experience with all the sponsors who have supported me, especially
Delphifor the two years of support and trust. The National Guard, as an institution, and the s oldiers as individuals, changed me personally and the way I look at everything. One of the key words in the National Guard is ‘honor’, and I’m honored to get to know every member of the National Guard and I always will be, even if I don’t drive their car in the future. I will always know, no matter what, that wherever I am the Guardsmen are Always Readyand Always There. I look forward to continuing my career in the IndyCar Series, and will share any updates as they come available.”
SCOTT DIXON 2008 SERIES CHAMPION:
Scott Dixon held first place in the standings in 2008 for all but three races. After winning the season opener at Homestead-Miami, Dixon fell to second with a 22nd-place finish at St. Petersburg,
He rebounded to first with his win at Indianapolis Dixon averaged 38.0 points per race, just shy of the 40 points awarded for finishing second.
Since the start of the 2006 season, Dixon has 42 top-10 finishes in 48 races. In those 48 races,
Dixon has 12 victories, 36 top-five finishes and has led 1,405 laps.
Beginning with the race at Richmond in June 2007, Dixon has 21 top-five finishes in 26 races. In those 26 races, Dixon has 10 victories, 23 top-10 finishes and has led 1,089 laps.
Dixon is the second driver to win multiple IndyCar Series championships. He also won in 2003. A look at Dixon ’s finishes in 2008 and 2003.
HELIO CASTRONEVES A SEASON TO REMEMBER:
Helio Castroneves turned in one of the most consistent seasons in IndyCar Series history, recording a record-tying 15 top-five finishes, including a record-setting eight second-place finishes.
Castroneves led all drivers with 15 top-five finishes and 17 races running at the finish.
Castroneves held first place in the standings for three weeks before relinquishing the position to Scott Dixon at the Indianapolis 500 in May. After that, Castroneves held second place the final 13 weeks of the season.
Castroneves averaged 37.0 points per race, better than the 35 points awarded for third place.
Helio Castroneves in the Record Book
Seasons with a win: Tied Scott Sharp’s record of eight.
Consecutive seasons with a win: Set new record with eight.
Career wins from pole: Set new record with seven.
Consecutive seasons with win from pole: Tied record of three others with three.
Consecutive starts: Moved into second with 112.
Career poles: Extended his record to 26.
Career top-10 finishes: Set new record with 88.
Career top-five finishes: Tied with Tony Kanaan for all-time lead with 66.
Career races led: Set new record with 71.
Career second-place finishes: Set new record with 20.
______________________________________________
Photo Gallery From Peak 300 At Chicagoland Speedway
NASCAR Sprint Cup Schedule Has Realignment Involving Atlanta, Auto Club, Talladega Tracks
NASCAR Nationwide Series Includes Date At Iowa Speedway
NASCAR Truck Series Realigns Date To Chicago For Night Race
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 19, 2008) – NASCAR announced today its national series schedules for the 2009 season, which features realigned dates for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Truck Series.
In the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series there will be a three-way date swap between Atlanta Motor Speedway, Auto Club Speedway (formerly California Speedway) and Talladega Superspeedway.
• Atlanta’s second 2009 race will be held on Sunday, Sept. 6, taking the Labor Day weekend slot now held by Auto Club Speedway.
• Auto Club Speedway’s second race will be Sunday, Oct. 11 – the fourth week of the “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup,” a slot formerly held by Talladega.
• Talladega’s second event will move to Sunday, Nov. 1, making it the seventh Chase event – the slot formerly held by Atlanta.
“The 2009 schedule reflects realigned dates that are good opportunities for everyone involved in our sport – fans, sponsors, tracks and teams," said NASCAR President Mike Helton.
The season begins with a tripleheader weekend at Daytona International Speedway capped by the running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 15.
In addition to that season-opening event for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the NASCAR Truck Series starts its season on Friday night, Feb. 13, followed the next afternoon by the NASCAR Nationwide Series opener.
For all three series, the season will conclude with another tripleheader weekend, at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 20-22.
Other key NASCAR Sprint Cup dates in 2009:
• The 31st annual Budweiser Shootout at Daytona – a non-points event – will be held on Saturday, Feb. 7.
• On the evening of Saturday, Sept. 12, Richmond International Raceway will again host the “Chase cut-off” race, affording the last opportunity for drivers to qualify for NASCAR’s championship playoffs.
• New Hampshire Motor Speedway will host the first races in both the “Race to the Chase” (Sunday, June 28) and the Chase (Sunday, Sept. 20).
There also will be an additional off-week for NASCAR’s premier series in 2009, prior to the Labor Day weekend event, giving teams a final break before a 12-week stretch that will end the season. Because of the way the calendar falls, NASCAR Sprint Cup teams will have a total of four off-weeks during the 2009 season.
The NASCAR Nationwide Series will have a 35-race schedule. Changes from this year include a new event at Iowa Speedway on Aug. 1, replacing Mexico City; a switch of the Atlanta Motor Speedway event from March to September; and moving the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve event in Montreal to Sunday, Aug. 30.
2009 NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES SCHEDULE
Date Site
Feb. 7 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, Daytona International Speedway*
Feb. 15 Daytona International Speedway
Feb. 22 Auto Club Speedway
March 1 Las Vegas Motor Speedway
March 8 Atlanta Motor Speedway
March 22 Bristol Motor Speedway
March 29 Martinsville Speedway
April 5 Texas Motor Speedway
April 18 Phoenix International Raceway
April 26 Talladega Superspeedway
May 2 Richmond International Raceway
May 9 Darlington Raceway
May 16 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, Lowe’s Motor Speedway*
May 24 Lowe’s Motor Speedway
May 31 Dover International Speedway
June 7 Pocono Raceway
June 14 Michigan International Speedway
June 21 Infineon Raceway
June 28 New Hampshire Motor Speedway
July 4 Daytona International Speedway
July 11 Chicagoland Speedway
July 26 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Aug. 2 Pocono Raceway
Aug. 9 Watkins Glen International
Aug. 16 Michigan International Speedway
Aug. 22 Bristol Motor Speedway
Sept. 6 Atlanta Motor Speedway
Sept. 12 Richmond International Raceway
Sept. 20 New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Sept. 27 Dover International Speedway
Oct. 4 Kansas Speedway
Oct. 11 Auto Club Speedway
Oct. 17 Lowe’s Motor Speedway
Oct. 25 Martinsville Speedway
Nov. 1 Talladega Superspeedway
Nov. 8 Texas Motor Speedway
Nov. 15 Phoenix International Raceway
Nov. 22 Homestead-Miami Speedway
* – Denotes non-points event.
2009 NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES SCHEDULE
Date Site
Feb. 14 Daytona International Speedway
Feb. 21 Auto Club Speedway
Feb. 28 Las Vegas Motor Speedway
March 21 Bristol Motor Speedway
April 4 Texas Motor Speedway
April 11 Nashville Superspeedway
April 17 Phoenix International Raceway
April 25 Talladega Superspeedway
May 1 Richmond International Raceway
May 8 Darlington Raceway
May 23 Lowe’s Motor Speedway
May 30 Dover International Speedway
June 6 Nashville Superspeedway
June 13 Kentucky Speedway
June 20 Milwaukee Mile
June 27 New Hampshire Motor Speedway
July 3 Daytona International Speedway
July 10 Chicagoland Speedway
July 18 Gateway International Raceway
July 25 O’Reilly Raceway Park
Aug. 1 Iowa Speedway
Aug. 8 Watkins Glen International
Aug. 15 Michigan International Speedway
Aug. 21 Bristol Motor Speedway
Aug. 30 Circuit Gilles Villenueve
Sept. 5 Atlanta Motor Speedway
Sept. 11 Richmond International Raceway
Sept. 26 Dover International Speedway
Oct. 3 Kansas Speedway
Oct. 10 Auto Club Speedway
Oct. 16 Lowe’s Motor Speedway
Oct. 24 Memphis Motorsports Park
Nov. 7 Texas Motor Speedway
Nov. 14 Phoenix International Raceway
Nov. 21 Homestead-Miami Speedway
2009 NASCAR TRUCK SERIES SCHEDULE
Date Site
Feb. 13 Daytona International Speedway
Feb. 21 Auto Club Speedway
March 7 Atlanta Motor Speedway
March 28 Martinsville Speedway
April 25 Kansas Speedway
May 15 Lowe’s Motor Speedway
May 23 Mansfield Motorsports Park
May 29 Dover International Speedway
June 5 Texas Motor Speedway
June 13 Michigan International Speedway
June 19 Milwaukee Mile
June 27 Memphis Motorsports Park
July 18 Kentucky Speedway
July 24 O’Reilly Raceway Park
Aug. 1 Nashville Superspeedway
Aug. 19 Bristol Motor Speedway
Aug. 28 Chicagoland Speedway
Sept. 12 Gateway International Raceway
Sept. 19 New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Sept. 26 Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Oct. 24 Martinsville Speedway
Oct. 31 Talladega Superspeedway
Nov. 6 Texas Motor Speedway
Nov. 13 Phoenix International Raceway
Nov. 20 Homestead-Miami Speedway
Note: All dates subject to change.
Kyle Busch Wins Dollar General 300
Photo Gallery from LifeLock 400 at Chicagoland Speedway July 12, 2008
Chicagoland Speedway paid tribute to the “King” Richard Petty in pre-race ceremonies Photos by Mark Rotor
Photos Below by Dan Peters
Local Support... The #7 Dodge of Robby Gordon shows the support for the Chicago Cubs "Save the Name"
Severe weather cancels Nationwide Practice & Cup Qualifying at Joliet
Photos By Dan Peters
- Then And Now: Keselowski Celebrates First Year With JRM
- Chicagoland Embraces The ‘Night Life’
- In The Loop: Burton Brings 121.4 Driver Rating To Chicago
- Team Rensi Owners Rensi, Weisbaum Return To Home Track
Chapter One Of Keselowski’s Success Story Written At Chicago
The Cubs aren't the only turnaround story in Chicago over the last year.
Add the remarkable journey of Brad Keselowski (No. 88 U.S. NAVY Chevrolet) as part of Windy City lore during that span.
Keselowski, a third-generation driver, got his start in racing working in the garage of his family- owned NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team. He ran eight races in 2004 then returned for a full-schedule the next season.
Late in 2006, Keselowski moved up the NASCAR ladder to drive for Keith Coleman Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. But after what turned out to be an unlucky 13 races, the team suspended operations in June, 2007.
Two weeks later, he got a call from Germain Racing to replace the suspended Ted Musgrave in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Memphis. After grabbing the pole, he led 62 laps and contended for the win until a spin on Lap 190 of the 200-lap event took him out of contention.
But his strong showing caught the eye of JR Motorsports owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. who happened to be looking for a new driver.
Keselowski became that driver for a three-race deal beginning at Chicago. His debut resulted in a solid 14th-place finish. The three-race deal turned into a late-season run where Keselowski responded with five top-10 finishes in his remaining 13 races.
Now in his first full-time season, he’s shown steady improvement with his first win (Kentucky), his first pole (Milwaukee), a second-place ranking in the standings and six top-five and 11 top-10 finishes in 19 races.
"It’s been quite a year,” he said. “Now we’re coming back to Chicagoland and it’s just incredible to look back and see how far we’ve come.
“I got together with the No. 88 team at a time when we both needed to make something happen. Now we’re running up front consistently and battling for a championship. It’s exactly what we were all looking to accomplish.”
NASCAR Nationwide Series Ushers In Night Racing At Chicago
The NASCAR Nationwide Series helps Chicagoland make history Friday with the first night race in the eight-year history of the track.
When the 2008 schedule was unveiled, Chicagoland revealed its plans for night racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events. Both races moved up one day from their previous Saturday—Sunday day slots that had been on the calendar since 2001.
Race history shows a strong chance for a first-time series winner. Four drivers have collected their first win in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Chicagoland, including two-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson who won the first race at the 1.5-mile track in 2001.
It was the second of Johnson’s two full-time seasons in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the victory remains his lone win in series competition in 88 races.
Other first-time series winners at Chicagoland include Johnny Sauter (2002), Justin Labonte (2004) and Casey Mears (2006).
Team Rensi Owners Rensi, Weisbaum Return To Home Track
He’s still searching for his own home win at Nashville, but Bobby Hamilton Jr. (No. 25 Smithfield Ford) has already provided his team with a hometown victory.
Hamilton’s Team Rensi Motorsports co-owners, Ed Rensi and Gary Weisbaum are Windy City natives, and Hamilton produced a win for the tandem at Chicago in 2003.
Rensi, the former President & CEO of McDonalds, resides in Downers Grove Ill. Weisbaum, a graduate of Northern Illinois University, formed a marketing agency in Vernon Hills, Ill., before becoming involved in motorsports in 1992. He joined Rensi in 1999 to form one of the longest-standing series-only owner relationships.
Other Illinois natives in the NASCAR Nationwide Series garage include: Matt Swiderski (Chicago) – No. 2 Chevrolet engineer; Ramie Jones (Olney) – No. 32 Toyota engineer; Bill Cole (Milan) – No. 88 Chevrolet transporter driver; Joey Forgette (Springfield) – No. 11 Chevrolet front-tire changer; Lee Bob Cunningham (Forreston) – No. 99 Toyota mechanic / eighth man.
No ‘Sophomore Slump’ For Ragan
David Ragan (No. 6 Discount Tire Ford), the 2007 Raybestos Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, is proving not everyone has a “sophomore slump.”
Ragan finished last year with two top fives and three top 10s, earning fifth place in the standings. But at the halfway point this year, he’s already bettered his 2007 performance with two top fives and four top 10s and is already fifth in the standings with 16 races left.
Ragan is a double-duty driver using the NASCAR Nationwide Series to supplement his NASCAR Sprint Cup learning curve. One of the surprises in the premier series Ragan, 22, is in 15th in the standings, 102 points out of the 12th and final spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
No. 20 Goes For 10
Different driver, same opportunity for Dave Rogers and the crew of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
After leading the team to its ninth win of the season last week at Daytona with Denny Hamlin behind the wheel, Tony Stewart takes his turn Friday night at Chicago with Old Spice as the sponsor. Two other drivers have competed in the No. 20 this year.
Stewart has run the last two seasons at Chicago in NASCAR Nationwide Series competition, bringing home a top-10 finish in both.
A 10th win would be significant to series history. When Sam Ard set the series record with 10 wins in 1983 in the No. 00 Oldsmobile, he did so driving for team owner Howard Thomas.
Stewart leads the series in wins (five) and has a pre-race Driver Rating of 100.0 heading to Chicago.
NASCAR Foundation, Nationwide Join Together For Blood & Marrow Drive
The NASCAR Foundation and series sponsor Nationwide Insurance encourage fans to roll up their sleeves and sign up to become donors at participating locations as part of the Third Annual Blood & Marrow Drive Presented by Nationwide on Sept. 11.
A partnership between The NASCAR Foundation, the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, the Hendrick Marrow Program and 26 NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Camping World Series West tracks, the event is the largest of its kind in the motorsports industry, and since 2006, has collected enough pints of blood and marrow donor names to potentially save more than 16,000 lives.
In The Loop: Burton Looks To Trade Five Third-Place Finishes At Chicago For A Win
Jeff Burton chooses his races wisely.
He returns to the No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet at Chicagoland after a six-race layoff. The statistics show why Burton chooses it for his NASCAR Nationwide Series return – he’s run five races there in his series career and all five have resulted in third-place finishes.
That statistical oddity is backed up with some of the top-ranked Loop Data in the series. Over the last two Chicago races, Burton owns series-high marks in Driver Rating (121.4), Average Running Position (4.1) and Laps in the Top 15 percentage (97.8%). He also ranks third in Fastest Laps Run with 45.
A couple of the “usual suspects” should join Burton at the front of the pack – most notably two-time series champion Kevin Harvick (No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet) and reigning series champion Carl Edwards (No. 60 World Financial Group Ford). They rank in the top five of most Loop Data stats over the past three years.
Harvick has a Driver Rating of 121.2 (second), an Average Running Position of 5.7 (second), 34 Fastest Laps Run (fifth) and a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 97.7% (second).
Edwards owns a series-high 78 Fastest Laps Run, along with a Driver Rating of 115.5 and an Average Running Position of 6.4.
The Director’s Take: History Aside, Night Racing At Chicago Brings Challenges
The NASCAR Nationwide Series has the honor of running the first night race at Chicago but that distinction presents challenges according to series director Joe Balash.
“Teams will have to change the way they go about setting up their cars based on all past history being daytime races,” he said.
“There will be the same issues we have at other tracks with the grip levels changing from daytime practices to evening races. As the track cools off, you get a little more grip so teams will have to predict the changes in their cars.”
Chicagoland Speedway
Most Wins: Kevin Harvick, 2
Most Poles: Ryan Newman, 2
Quick Fact: First of two straight races in Ill.
NNS Etc.
- Robert Richardson, Jr. (No. 23 Chevrolet)is scheduled to throw out the first pitch Tuesday night at the Continental Baseball League All-Star Game in his hometown of McKinney, Texas.
Richardson will make the honorary first pitch to get the game underway at 8 p.m. CST. The CBL is a newly-formed independent pro league and the All-Star game will be played at The Gabe at the Ballfields at Craig Ranch in McKinney. - ESPN will have live, prime-time coverage from Chicagoland Friday, July 11, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
ET with NASCAR Countdown. The telecast from the 1.5-mile track also airs in high definition on ESPN HD. This is the third of five scheduled NASCAR Nationwide Series races carried by ESPN.
Dr. Jerry Punch will be joined in the booth by Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree.
Brad Keselowski will serve as this week’s In-Race Reporter and will talk back with Wallace on the race’s pace laps and during caution periods. - Of Note: Landon Cassill (No. 5 National Guard Chevrolet) celebrated his 19th birthday July 7. … Jason Leffler (No. 38 Great Clips Toyota) will attempt double duty this weekend; he’s also entered in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race Saturday night.
- Toyota won its 13th race of the season last Saturday and continued to build its lead in the Bill France Performance Cup standings.
But each manufacturer other than Toyota has at least one win at Chicago led by Chevrolet with four, including Kevin Harvick’s win last year. Dodge has two wins at Chicago while Ford has one.
Clauson Takes Control Of Raybestos Rookie Standings
The mid-way point of the season is a good time to check how the series’ new faces have faired thus far. Bryan Clauson (No. 40 Fastenal Dodge) is one of the new drivers who is beginning to stand out.
Clauson posted his first career pole at Daytona last weekend and went on to finish 19th— the highest-finishing rookie of the race. This season Clauson has one top-five and two top-10 finishes.
What’s impressive about Clauson, 19, is that he has produced on a limited schedule. He’s had to share the No. 40 with fellow rookie Dario Franchitti.
However, with Franchitti’s duties at Chip Ganassi Racing wtih Felix Sabates unresolved, Clauson looks to have the opportunity to gain more experience during the season’s second half.
Raybestos Rookie Of The Year Standings
Rank Driver Points
1 Bryan Clauson 139
2 Dario Franchitti 111
3 Landon Cassill 88
4 Cale Gale 83
5 Chase Miller 68
6 Brian Keselowski 63
7 Patrick Carpentier 41
Results following the Winn Dixie 250 at Daytona International Speedway
Up Next: Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 At Gateway International Raceway
The second half of the NASCAR Nationwide Series stand-alone season gets underway next Saturday, July 19 at Gateway International Raceway.
ESPN2 will carry the broadcast live beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Last year, Reed Sorenson joined two-time series champions Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick as the only drivers to have two wins at the track in series competition.
Scott Wimmer is the defending pole winner at Gateway and shares the series lead in poles at the track (two) with another two-time series champion, Martin Truex Jr.
FAST FACTS
The Race: Dollar General 300 Powered By Coca-Cola
The Place: Chicagoland Speedway
The Date: Friday, July 11
The Time: 7 p.m. ET
The Distance: 300 miles / 200 laps
TV: ESPN, 7 p.m. ET
Track Size: 1.5-mile paved
2007 Winner: Kevin Harvick
2007 Pole: Denny Hamlin
2008 Standings
1 Clint Bowyer 2,814
2 Brad Keselowski 2,612
3 Carl Edwards 2,596
4 David Reutimann 2,588
5 David Ragan 2,489
6 Mike Bliss 2,473
7 Kyle Busch 2,438
8 Mike Wallace 2,273
9 David Stremme 2,231
10 Jason Keller 2,157
Schedule
Thursday–Practice 2:30-3:50 p.m.; Final Practice 6-7:25 p.m.
Saturday–Qualifying, 2:35 p.m
CHICAGOLAND SPEEDWAY TO INSTALL LIGHTS FOR 2008 SEASON
Chicagoland Speedway announced today the installation of lights for the 2008 season. With this new addition to the 1.5-mile, D-shaped oval, Chicagoland Speedway becomes only the 10th NASCAR NEXTEL Cup facility able to hold night racing.
"We are very excited to announce the addition of lights to Chicagoland Speedway for the upcoming 2008 season," said Matthew Alexander, president of Chicagoland Speedway. "Night racing is one of the most thrilling experiences for fans to be a part of, and now we will be able to bring that type of buzz and exciting atmosphere to our facility for fans to enjoy. Other NASCAR tracks with lights have experienced tremendous success when hosting night races and we anticipate similar results at Chicagoland Speedway. This is an exciting step for the growth of racing in the Chicago market."
The NASCAR race weekend at Chicagoland Speedway in 2008 will feature two night races - the NASCAR Busch Series race on Friday, July 11, followed by the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race on Saturday, July 12.
"Traditionally, our NASCAR races have taken place during the time of year when excessive heat can become an issue for our fans. By adding lights to our facility, we hope to make the guest experience a more comfortable one. In addition, we will now have the flexibility to run events later in the day in the event of inclement weather," continued Alexander. "This is just another way we are continuing our effort of making sure we consistently provide our fans with a quality product and overall experience."
Chicagoland Speedway and Route 66 Raceway are wholly-owned by International Speedway Corporation ("ISC"), a leading promoter of motorsports activities. ISC owns and/or operates 13 of the nation's major motorsports entertainment facilities, including Daytona International Speedway (home of the Daytona 500), as well as owns or has interest in a number of other motorsports-related businesses.
Dario Franchetti 2007 Pole Sitter
Track Facts
OVERVIEW
Adjacent to its sister track, Route 66 Raceway, Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois is a $130 million, 1.5-mile, D-shaped tri-oval speedway that annually hosts the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, NASCAR Busch Series, ARCA RE/MAX Series, Indy Pro Series and IRL IndyCar Series.
Chicagoland Speedway sits on 930 acres of land, which is large enough to accommodate 42 United Centers (Home of the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks).
Chicagoland Speedway provides 700 acres of free parking for over 50,000 vehicles.
GRANDSTANDS AND SUITES
Number of Seats: 75,000
Number of Suites: 32
The height of the grandstands is 15 stories tall, which is the same height as the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel in downtown Chicago. The grandstands are 2,480 ft. long, which is slightly longer than two John Hancock buildings laid end-to-end.
INFIELD
Media Center: 3,500 Square-Ft.
Care Center: 3,900 Square-Ft.
RV Spots: 616 (Infield) / 80 (Outside track)
The infield is 1,200 Ft. x 2,850 Ft., which is equal to four Soldier Fields (Home of the Chicago Bears).
GARAGES
Size: 11,050 Sq Ft.
Number of Garages: 4
Number of Bays: 120
PIT ROAD
Number of Stalls: 43 (Stock Car) / 34 (Open-Wheel)
FRONT STRETCH
Banking: 11 Degrees
Length: 2,400 Ft.
Width: 55 Ft.
Apron Width: 27 Ft.
BACK STRETCH
Banking: 5 Degrees
Length: 1,700 Ft.
Width: 55 Ft.
Apron Width: 27 Ft.
TURNS (1, 2, 3 & 4)
Banking: 18 Degrees
Width: 55 Ft.
Apron Width: 27 Ft.
July 2009 At The Chicagoland Speedway
Logano Wins Dollar General 300.. 3rd Race of the saeason
Photo By Mark Rotor
Photo By Dan Peters
Photo By Dan PetersStewart was not on fire during first practice.. 22nd fastest at 178.141Stewart Sizzles In Summertime?
As the temperatures heat up, so does Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot Chevrolet).
Not only does Stewart top the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings, he has two wins under his belt and is moving in on Kyle Busch’s (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota) and Mark Martin’s (No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet) series-best three wins thus far. Seems like a good time to be heading to a track where he has excelled
Photo By Dan Peters
“It’s a place I like,” Stewart said of Chicagoland Speedway, site of Sunday’s LifeLock.com 400. “This place is really getting racy as far as finally being able to move around and change lines and run anywhere from the bottom to the top. It’s a fun track because of that.”
Stewart is tied with Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Pennzoil/Shell Chevrolet) for most wins at the track with two each. His wins came in 2004 and 2007, while Harvick won back-to-back in 2001 and 2002.
With a series-high Driver Rating of 105.0 over the next eight events, the highest percentage of laps in the top 15 (75.3) and top average running position (10.3), Stewart seeks to improve his potential Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup seeding.
“I don’t watch the stats very much,” he said. “You just take it week to week. Technology in this sport changes so fast. What was good the last time you were here doesn’t mean it’s going to be good the second time around. So you constantly have to work. You’ve got to keep pushing the envelope.”
Even though he leads the Race to the Chase – the 10-race stretch prior to the Chase – it’s key for Stewart to gain another 10 bonus points (Chase drivers are seeded according to the number of wins they accrue during the season’s first 26 races.)
With half the season complete, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to one of the nation’s biggest markets for Chicagoland Speedway’s second race under the lights.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series runs the LifeLock.com 400 Saturday night, while the NASCAR Nationwide Series starts the weekend off with the Dollar General 300 Powered by Coca-Cola on Friday night.
Montoya was 7th in 1st practice at 179.611 mph
Photo By Dan Peters
Three Could Be The Magic Number For Montoya
Three just might be Juan Pablo Montoya’s (No. 42 Target Chevrolet) lucky number.
This is the third consecutive week the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing driver has secured a top-12 spot in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings.
Three years ago at Chicagoland Speedway, the Colombian native announced he was leaving Formula 1 to come to NASCAR.
Photo By Dan Peters
The 2000 Indianapolis 500 winner won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ 2007 Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award, and now in his third full season, Montoya currently is 11th in the standings, only 14 points behind 10th place Matt Kenseth (No. 17 USG Ford) and 21 points ahead of Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge) in 12th.
With five top-10 finishes in the last seven starts, Montoya is looking to secure a spot in the Chase.
Photo By Dan Peters
Race To The Chase Heats Up As Kasey Kahne Rejoins The Battle
Despite a 15th-place finish last Saturday at Daytona International Speedway, Kasey Kahne will head to Chicagoland Speedway inside the top 12, which makes him Chase eligible.
But he does have some work to do. Kahne leads 13th-place Mark Martin by only 65 points.
“To get caught up in that wreck on the last lap at Daytona and still gain a spot in the standings is pretty cool,” Kahne said. “The competition is so strong.
“It’s hard to gain ground when everyone challenging for those final Chase spots is getting strong finishes.”
And by strong finishes, he could mean fellow Chase contender Juan Pablo Montoya, who finished ninth at Daytona, and, of course, standings leader Tony Stewart who won last Saturday’s race and heads into Chicago with a 180-point lead over second-place Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont/National Guard Patriot Academy Chevrolet).
Even with five former series champions in the current top 12 – Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet), Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge) and Matt Kenseth – Kahne is optimistic.
“There is still a lot of racing left before the Chase starts,” he said.
Chicagoland Speedway’s Victory Lane Has Seen Wide Variety Of Winners
Photo By Dan Peters
Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet), Jeff Gordon and Ryan Newman (No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet).
Sounds like a dream lineup, right?
Perhaps, but what they also have in common are NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins at Chicagoland Speedway. And two drivers have more than one victory here.
In only eight years, the track has seen six winners – including Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart, who both have two Chicagoland wins.
In fact, Harvick won the first two NASCAR Sprint Cup races the track hosted in 2000 and ’01 and has the best average finish at Chicagoland: 7.375.
Could returning to a track where he knows how to win be the boost Harvick needs in a difficult season? Chevrolet leads all manufacturers at the Joliet, Ill.-track with six and currently is leading the series in manufacturer points with 135 over Toyota (100), Ford (84) and Dodge (77).
Photo By Dan Peters
One driver who could join Harvick and Stewart as a two-time Chicagoland winner is Kyle Busch, who won both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide Series races at Chicagoland last season. Currently eighth in the standings, Busch said last year’s sweep was special.
“Winning both races at Chicago last year, it was just a great weekend,” he said. “It was special, but there have been several special wins the last couple of years.
“Winning at Atlanta, Daytona, and Infineon last year, and winning at home in Vegas and on my birthday in Richmond were also great races. But winning Chicago last year and beating Jimmie (Johnson) was definitely neat.
“Ultimately I have a lot of respect for him, Jeff Gordon, and anybody in this sport since it’s so competitive. To go out and beat guys like that, it's something that's pretty special. I really cherished that … and I know M&M’s did, too.”
Another driver battling for Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup eligibility, Kasey Kahne, would like to change his Chicagoland luck.
“I think this weekend could be one of those weekends where we qualify well and have a good race Saturday night,” Kahne said
2008 Race Photo By Dan Peters
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has run half its season, with surprises and stellar competition the highlights of the first half. Below are a few statistical nuggets gleaned from the first half:
• 11 different race winners
• 8 different pole winners
• 7 different teams are represented in the top 12
• 40 drivers have led at least one lap
• Average margin of victory is 1.044 seconds
• All four manufacturers are in the top 12
• All four manufacturers have won a race
A number of other storylines highlight the first half, namely:
• Tony Stewart has proven to be a quick study in driver-ownership. In his first season as co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, he has led the points and won two races through the first 18 events.
• There have been three first time winners. Brad Keselowski, David Reutimann and Joey Logano all captured their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory. With his win at New Hampshire, Logano became the youngest winner in series history.
• Mark Martin makes full-time return count. Martin returned to full-time to the series for one reason: to win races, and a championship. Already, his first goal is complete, winning three races over the first 18 – which is tied with Kyle Busch for the most this season.
• Juan Pablo Montoya is having a break-out season. In his third full season, Colombia-born Montoya is looking more and more like a championship contender. With eight top 10s, he has already eclipsed his previous season-best total of six. Montoya currently sits 11th in the points, 86 points inside the Chase cut-off.
NASCAR in the Garage: Illinois Natives
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
John Darby (Rockford) – NASCAR Sprint Cup Series director
Chad Knaus (Rockford) – No. 48 crew chief
Drew Blickensderfer (Decatur) – No. 17 crew chief
Jay Frye (Rock Island) – No. 82 & 83 general manager
Eric Maycroft (Algonquin) – No. 19 front tire changer
Andy Spenner (Hoyleton) – No. 31 mechanic/catch can man
Matt Swiderski (Chicago) – No. 07 Engineer
Chris Spaulding (Gurnee) – No. 88 Engineer
Brad Dusterhoff (Chicago) – No. 1 Engine Tuner
Jim Gilbert (Belleville) – No. 82 Transport Driver
Nick Odell (Springfield) – No. 18 Front Tire Changer
Andy Kreup (Breese) – No. 24 Pit Support
Martin Looking for Top-12 Return
Eight races remain in the Race to the Chase – the 10-race stretch that precedes the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – and Mark Martin has some catching up to do. He and Kyle Busch are tied for the series lead in wins this season with three each, but this week Martin finds himself outside the Top 12, thus temporarily Chase-ineligible.
An early accident last Saturday night at Daytona dropped Martin to a 38th-place finish and two spots in the series standings, to 13th.
He trails 12th-place Kasey Kahne by 65 points.
After winning at Michigan four weeks ago, Martin has finishes of 35th at Infineon Raceway, 14th at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and last Saturday’s 38th at Daytona.
Martin’s three wins are crucial because they mean bonus points for Chase seeding.
Eligible drivers have their point totals reset to 5,000 to begin the Chase, with 10 points awarded for each victory in the season’s first 26 races. The Chase driver with the most wins earns the top seed, and so on.
2008 Race Photo By Dan Peters
As the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series enters the second half of 2009, here’s a glance at the surprises, comebacks and new winners thus far.
- The Return Of Mark Martin: Even though he currently finds himself outside of the Top 12, and Chase eligibility, he has three wins (at Phoenix, Darlington and Michigan) – tied for series best with Kyle Busch – and has made history as one of only four drivers to win a race after the age of 50.
- The Rise Of Stewart-Haas Racing: Everyone knew Tony Stewart could win races, but could he do it as a driver/owner? Sure looks like it. In his first season as co-owner of Stewart-Haas, he leads the series standings and has two victories.
- Three First-Time Winners: Brad Keselowski (No. 25 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet), David Reutimann (No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota) and Joey Logano (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota) each captured their first NASCAR Sprint Cup wins this season. Logano also earned the title of youngest winner in series history at the age of 19 (besting Kyle Busch’s record of 20 years).
- The Stats Speak: Seven different teams in the top 12; eight different Coors Light Pole winners; all four manufacturers have won a race and are in the top 12; and 11 different race winners this season (there were 12 different winners all of last year).
- Double-File Restarts – Shootout Style: It kicked off at Pocono Raceway, creating exciting racing action and enhanced competition for drivers and fans alike.
RCR Looks For Turnaround At Chicagoland
Seven different teams populate the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12, the most after 18 races since the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup expanded to 12 teams in 2007.
But one team is noticeably missing from the list – Richard Childress Racing.
After putting all three of its cars in last year’s Chase, RCR expanded to a four-car operation in the offseason.
Currently, none of those four cars have a victory this season, and the closest driver to a Chase spot is Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet) in 15th-place.
Eight races remain until the Chase’s start, meaning RCR must move quickly if it wants to make a serious playoff push. This Saturday night’s race at Chicagoland might prove a good launching point.
Burton has finished in the top 10 in two of the last three Chicagoland races, including a runner-up finish in 2006. Since the inception of Loop Data in 2005, Burton has a Chicagoland Driver Rating of 82.3, 25 Fastest Laps Run and an 11th-fastest Green Flag Speed of 167.219 mph.
Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios Chevrolet), currently 16th in the series points, has been in a slump over recent weeks.
After spending the first 10 weeks in the top 12 – with a high-position of second – Bowyer has finished outside the top 10 in 10 of the last 12 races.
Still, he is solid at Chicagoland, finishing in the top 10 in two of the last three races.
At Chicagoland, Bowyer has an Average Running Position of 16.9, a Driver Rating of 79.4 and four Fastest Laps Run.
The RCR driver with the strongest record at Chicagoland is also the one furthest from Chase contention: Kevin Harvick.
Slumping through a surprisingly difficult season, Harvick is 26th in points. Statistically, this weekend seems like a perfect opportunity to turn that around.
Winner of the first two series races held at the track, Harvick has a Driver Rating of 114.9 (third-best), a series-best Average Running Position of 5.6, 37 Fastest Laps Run (ninth) and a series-best Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 96.3%.
Casey Mears (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet) is also strong at Chicagoland, finishing in the top 10 in two of the last four races, including a fifth-place run in 2007.
Mears, 22nd in series points, has a Driver Rating of 79.2, an Average Running Position of 16.9 and 15 Fastest Laps Run at Chicagoland.
Milestones this week include:
John Andretti – 375 starts
Tony Stewart – 375 starts
Robby Gordon – 325 starts
The NASCAR Foundation has joined forces with Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, for a summer-long food drive with a goal to provide 350,000 meals in 2009 to children and their families in need starting this weekend.
In partnership with Feeding America, The NASCAR Foundation has created several opportunities for fans to join these efforts including a Track Walk at Chicagoland Speedway on July 11 at 8 a.m. and the online virtual food drive conducted throughout the summer NASCAR Sprint Cup season.
The online virtual food drive begins this week and runs through August 31. Fans can visit www.NASCAR.com/foundation to create their own virtual food drive and set goals for number of meals raised. Friends and family members can track an individual’s progress at his or her personal food drive page, which allows users to do photo uploads, personalized messages and a goal tracker. Participants who raise a minimum of $30 will receive a “Walking the Walk to End Children’s Hunger” T-shirt.
Proceeds from all of these initiatives will go to benefit The NASCAR Foundation and Feeding America. To get started today or to learn more visit www.NASCAR.com/foundation.
Up Next: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Jeff Gordon owns the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins and poles at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, site of the Allstate 400 at The Brickyard, which begins at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 26. Other interesting notes:
- Jimmie Johnson, who earned his second Indianapolis win last year from the pole, is tied with Tony Stewart and Dale Jarrett with two wins there, surpassed only by Gordon’s four victories.
- Jimmie is one of two drivers to w\in from the pole. Kevin Harvick did it in 2003.
- Thanks to Gordon and Johnson, Rick Hendrick owns six Indianapolis wins, the most of any team owner, He’s followed by Joe Gibbs with three. Richard Childress and Robert Yates each have two wins.
- Gordon took the checkered flag in the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis on Aug. 6, 1994. Just 23 years old, he led 93 of the race's 160 laps and passed Ernie Irvan for the win.
- Four drivers have the most starts at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with 15 – Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte and Mark Martin.
Fast Facts
The Race: LifeLock.com 400
The Date: Saturday, July 11
The Time: 8 p.m. ET
The Track: Chicagoland Speedway (1.5-mile tri-oval)
The Distance: 400 miles/267 laps
_______________________________________________
Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12, along with other notable drivers, going into the LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on July 11. (Note: Drivers listed below who are outside the top 12 are chosen based on past performances at the upcoming track and/or are within striking distance of the top 12.)
1 – Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 106.2
2009 Rundown
• Two wins, 10 top fives, 14 top 10s
• Average finish of 7.8
• Led 10 races for 236 laps
Chicagoland Speedway Outlook:
• Two wins, six top fives; one pole
• Average finish of 10.3
• Finished fifth last season
• Led six of eight races for 395 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 9.3, second-best
2 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 101.4
2009 Rundown
• One win, nine top fives, 12 top 10s
• Average finish of 10.7
• Led 11 races for 570 laps
Chicagoland Speedway Outlook:
• One win, four top fives, five top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 10.1
• Finished 11th last season
• Led four of eight races for 87 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 374 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
3 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 109.0
2009 Rundown
• Two wins, eight top fives, 12 top 10s
• Average finish of 11.6
• Led 14 races for 887 laps
Chicagoland Speedway Outlook:
• Five top fives, six top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 8.1
• Finished second last season
• Led six of seven races for 176 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-best Average Running Position of 8.6
4 – Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 101.6
2009 Rundown
• One win, six top fives, 10 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.2
• Led 11 races for 354 laps
Chicagoland Speedway Outlook:
• Five top 10s
• Average finish of 17.3
• Finished 28th last season
• Led two of eight races for three laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 10.0, third-best
2008 Race Photo By Dan Peters
5 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.7
2009 Rundown
• Five top fives, nine top 10s
• Average finish of 13.4
• Led eight races for 158 laps
Chicagoland Speedway Outlook:
• One top five
• Average finish of 23.5
• Finished 32nd last season
• Led one of four races for 15 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 12.1, seventh-best
6 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.3
2009 Rundown
• Five top fives, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 13.8
• Led eight races for 577 laps
Chicagoland Speedway Outlook:
• Average finish of 23.7 in three races
• Finished 40th last season
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 12.1, seventh-best
7 – Ryan Newman (No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 81.1
2009 Rundown
• Five top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 15.0
• Led 10 races for 156 laps
Chicagoland Speedway Outlook:
• One win, two top fives, four top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 17.6
• Finished 10th last season
• Led three of seven races for 163 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Has run 80.5% of the laps on the lead lap, 12th-best
Photo By Mark Rotor
8 – Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 103.1
2009 Rundown
• Three wins, four top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 16.1
• Led 11 races for 809 laps
Chicagoland Speedway Outlook:
• One win, two top fives
• Average finish of 7.8
• Won last season’s Chicagoland race
• Led two of four races for 167 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 253 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
Photo By Mark Rotor
9 – Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.4
2009 Rundown
• Five top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 15.3
• Led nine races for 355 laps
Chicagoland Speedway Outlook:
• One top five
• Average finish of 12.8
• Finished fourth last season
• Led two of six races for 77 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 349 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
2008 Race Photo By Dan Peters
10 – Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 85.9
2009 Rundown
• Two wins, four top fives, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 15.7
• Led eight races for 187 laps
Chicagoland Speedway Outlook:
• Two top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 9.8
• Finished seventh last season
• Led six of eight races for 300 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 1,509 Green Flag Passes, 11th-most
Photo By Mark Rotor
11 – Juan Pablo Montoya (No. 42 Target Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 84.6
2009 Rundown
• Eight top 10s
• Average finish of 14.7
• Led four races for 17 laps
Chicagoland Speedway Outlook:
• Average finish of 16.5 in two races
• Finished 18th last season
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 1,733 Green Flag Passes, second-most
12 – Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 86.3
2009 Rundown
• One win, two top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 15.4
• Led three races for 83 laps
Chicagoland Speedway Outlook:
• Average finish of 29.4
• Finished 15th last season
• Led one of five races for 10 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 144 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most
13 – Mark Martin (No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 92.5
2009 Rundown
• Three wins, four top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 18.3
• Led nine races for 219 laps
Chicagoland Speedway Outlook:
• Three top 10s
• Average finish of 14.0
• Finished 17th last season
• Led four of eight races for 44 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Has been passed 764 times, fewest in the series
Most Popular Driver Voting Underway
Voting is now open for the 2009 Most Popular Driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR’s eight Touring Series on NASCAR.com. This is the second consecutive year the vote has been in the hands of the fans. Last year, more than 250,000 combined votes were cast among the participating series. Brad Keselowski earned the NASCAR Nationwide honor.
For NASCAR Nationwide Series News at Chicagoland Speedway, See The Nationwide Page
http://www.danspitstopracing.com/nascar_nationwide_series
____________________________
2008 NASCAR Weekend at the Chicagoland Speeway....
Kyle Busch sweeps at Chicagoland Speedway’s weekend under the lights. “Hail to King Kyle”
Photos by Mark Rotor
NASCAR Nationwide Series
ARCA Series
Indy Car Series
2008 INDY LIGHTS at Chicagoland Speedway
DPR Sports & Racing
United States
ph: 630-776-3411
dan
