Panther Partners with Moduline Cabinets on Multi-Year Agreement

Panther Racing Logo

IndyCar Series Champions Reach Extended Contract Agreement with Custom Cabinet Company

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – (January 4, 2013) – Two-time IndyCar Series Champion Panther Racing announced today it has reached a multi-year technical partnership agreementwith Moduline Cabinets, makers of specialized custom aluminum storage cabinets. Moduline will become the official tool storage supplier of Panther Racing and will create custom cabinets, tool chests and workbenches for the team’s headquarters in Indianapolis and for its pit and garage areas during the IndyCar Series season.

“We’re really excited about this partnership with Moduline,” Panther CEO and Managing Partner John Barnes said. “In motorsports we thrive on efficiency and organization, and we’ve seen the way Moduline can customize its products to suit the needs of its clients. We knew right away that Moduline would be able to streamline our efforts and add a great deal of style to our race shop. This is a great partnership for all of us at Panther Racing and we’re looking forward to having the Moduline team in here to start the installation process.”

Moduline specializes in customized aluminum cabinetry for shops, showrooms, kitchens garages, vehicles and trailers. The company is based in Massachusetts and its company branding will be displayed on Panther’s No. 4 National Guard Chevrolet IndyCar this season, in addition to all of the team’s uniform apparel worn by the crew and driver JR Hildebrand, the 2011 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year.

“Moduline cabinets is excited about becoming part of Panther Racing and their primary partner the National Guard,” Moduline President Paul L. Gill said. “We know we can help the team with our cabinets and organization products and we’re looking forward to working together.”

Panther Racing kicks off the 2013 IndyCar Series season on March 24 with the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in a seasonthat will be highlighted by the 97^th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on May 26^th. All IndyCar Series races are broadcast oneither the NBC Sports Network or ABC.

About Moduline Cabinets:

Gill Metal Fab, Inc. the parent company and manufacturer of Moduline cabinets was created in 1988 by Paul Gill. Over the years of producing metal components and parts, the company gained a reputation of high quality items and productivity and soon grew to be a very successful business. This success and participation in the racing industry led to the development of our product Moduline cabinets and accessories which are designed with the same standards.  Our Moduline products are modular, lightweight, durable and easy to install. Initially, Moduline was produced mostly for trailers and soon models were designed for shops, military vehicles and other specialty areas. The high quality and design make them the cabinet to own when organization is important. “A place for everything” is achieved with our cabinets.  They are available in several colors and combinations making them an absolute necessity for all of your organizing needs.  www.modulinecabinets.com

www.jrhildebrandracing.com - www.pantherracing.com - www.modulinecabinets.com

Source: Panther Racing, Press Release

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David Lee Blaney Michael Duane Bliss Kurt Thomas Busch Kyle Thomas Busch

Start times finalized for Budweiser Speedweeks 2013 events

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2012/12/start-times-finalized-for-budweiser.html

Brad Keselowski Ruby Tuesday Dodge Carl Edwards Copart Ford

iRPS Resumes Saturday on Glacier TV

The 2012 iRacing.com Road Pro Series resumes Saturday at 9 am Eastern (14:00 GMT) after a two week holiday break.  The online race, which will be broadcast by GlacierTV, features the Williams-Toyota FW31 for 56 laps at Watkins Glen’s Classic Boot Circuit.

After suffering a DNF in the opening round, Richie Stanaway has roared to the front of the iRPS standings on the strength of wins at Silverstone and Phillip Island, along with podium finishes at Indianapolis and Road America.  Davy Decorps is tucked right into Stanaway’s slipstream, however, in the  wake of a superbly-judged win at Road America, while the ultra-consistent Mogar DG Filho and Enzo Bonito are in striking distance of the points lead as the iRPS heads to New York’s Finger Lake region.

Catch all the action on Glacier TV Saturday at 9 am Eastern (14:00 GMT)!

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/iracing-news/irps-resumes-saturday-on-glacier-tv

Innes Ireland Eddie Irvine Chris Irwin Jean Pierre Jabouille

James Buescher Returns to Turner Motorsports to Compete in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2013

James Buescher (Rheem)

Reigning Truck Series Champion to Drive TMS No. 31 Chevrolet Silverado for Rheem®

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (JANUARY 3, 2013)- Turner Motorsports (TMS) today announced that NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion, James Buescher will return to the seat of the No.31 Chevrolet Silverado competing in a full 2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) schedule . Much like the 2012 season, Buescher will also continue to hone his skills running select NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) events in 2013. Buescher will aim to become the first back-to-back NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion. Buescher will drive a minimum of fifteen races for new Turner Motorsports sponsor, Rheem Manufacturing Company. Rheem is the only North American manufacturer that produces a comprehensive line of advanced, energy efficient heating, cooling and water heating solutions for homes and businesses throughout the world. A long time, loyal sponsor throughout NASCAR and other racing series, Rheem is one of the few sponsors in the sport today that has visited victory lane in each of the NASCAR’s national series, including the Daytona 500.

Coming off a breakout season in 2012, Buescher went on to record four wins in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, 10 top-fives and 14 top-10′s, enroute to his and Turner Motorsports’ first NASCAR Championship. Last season’s suspenseful ending that included three drivers trading positions right up until the last race at Miami-Homestead while vying for the coveted championship trophy brought heightened fan attention to the NASCAR truck series. In addition to Buescher’s stellar NCWTS in 2012, he also won the NASCAR Nationwide (NNS) series’ opening race at the famed Daytona International Speedway in February.

“Last season was a dream come true for me. I had always dreamt of winning a NASCAR championship. I am most excited about the opportunity to compete to become the first driver to win the NCWTS championship in back-to-back seasons. I look forward to working with the entire Turner Motorsports organization and Rheem on our quest to keep the NCWTS championship at Turner Motorsports “said Buescher.

“Everyone at Turner Motorsports is excited to have James [Buescher] return to Turner Motorsports and the seat of the No. 31 NCWTS ride. And, to have a company like Rheem with such a long standing relationship in the sport of NASCAR come on board is an honor. To have Rheem join us is just the icing on the cake,” said Turner Motorsports team owner, Steve Turner.

“The Rheem family of quality brands is proud to continue our support of NASCAR by joining Turner Motorsports for the 2013 season. The Rheem hallmarks of quality , innovation and consistent performance are the same qualities as those exhibited at Turner Motorsports.   Championship performance built on professionals dedicated to delivering quality results is at the heart of Rheem; we believe that Steve Turner, his entire organization, James Buescher and the No. 31 team exemplify those same characteristics. We can’t wait to see the famed red and black Rheem paint design competing for the 2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship, said JR Jones, Rheem President and CEO.

In addition to Buescher returning to the NCWTS, 2012 Champion crew chief, Michael Shelton will return to his previous role serving as Crew Chief for Buescher and the No. 31 Rheem Chevy Silverado in 2013. 

About Turner Motorsports

Turner Motorsports, LLC was established in 1999 by Texas businessman Steve Turner. 2013 will mark the fourth season of full-time NASCAR competition for the organization, which expanded in 2011 from a two-truck operation in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) to become the largest stand-alone multi-series team in NASCAR’s top-tier touring series. The team earned its first championship when James Buescher captured the NCWTS title in 2012. Turner Motorsports operates out of an 110,000 square-foot state-of-the art facility in Mooresville, N.C.  The Chevrolet-backed team has created alliances with General Motors’ powerhouse team Hendrick Motorsports, which provides engine support for both its NNS and NCWTS programs, and Earnhardt Technology Group for drive train and suspension technology assistance. For more information on Turner Motorsports, visit www.turnermotorsportsllc.com.

About Rheem Manufacturing Company 

Rheem Manufacturing Company (www.rheem.com) is privately held with headquarters in Atlanta. In its 87th year of operation, the company manufactures a full-line of high-quality residential and commercial heating and cooling systems; tank, tankless, solar, and heat pump water heaters; swimming pool heaters and commercial boilers throughout North America and world markets. The company’s premium brands including Raypak, Ruud and Rheem have been recognized with countless industry and consumer awards for reliability, innovative design and high quality. Rheem, now in its seventh consecutive year as a NASCAR sponsor is the official heating, cooling and water heating supplier to Turner Motorsports, LLC. and Richard Childress Racing. Rheem sponsors RCR’s No. 29 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car driven by Kevin Harvick and the No. 33 NASCAR Nationwide Series car driven by Paul Menard.

Source: Turner Motorsports, Press Release

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Leslie Johnson Bruce Johnstone Alan Jones Tom Jones

NASCAR Flips The Switch On New Digital Experience

NASCAR Logo

NASCAR Digital Media Officially Launches New Platform

Daytona Beach, Fla. (Jan. 3, 2013) — Calendars officially turned to 2013 just a few days ago, signifying for many a point of resolution – a fresh start in determining a new course of action. Like millions of its loyal fans, NASCAR^® took a bold step by officially flipping the switch on a brand new digital experience, highlighted by a revamped NASCAR.com^®.

“As people wake up and log on to the new NASCAR.com today and every day moving forward, they will see that it was designed with one thing in mind: the fans,” said Marc Jenkins, vice president of digital media for NASCAR. “This digital experience is meant to constantly evolve based on user feedback, with the goal of a creating a better digital experience for our fans.”

On the new NASCAR.com, the excitement of NASCAR will be captured through dynamic video, big, bold imagery, interactive graphics and the latest news and in-depth analysis from a choice group of NASCAR insiders and writers. Much of the content being produced by NASCAR.com’s editorial team will be focused on the upcoming races, giving fans the opportunity to consume rich, comprehensive event information on a week-to-week basis.

“The simplified NASCAR digital platform makes for easier user navigation and maximized interaction,” said Jenkins. “And most importantly, fans will have the same digital experience no matter what type of device is being used – be it a PC, a tablet or a mobile phone.”

Across the entire digital platform, there are also plenty of options for fans to further engage in on-track action on race day. The interactive live leaderboard will provide fans with in-depth information in real-time on each driver, while the popular RaceView^® and RaceBuddy™ applications will be improved for an enhanced broadcast complement on race day. Fans will also be able to engage in NASCAR FANTASY LIVE™, the official NASCAR fantasy game, which will have a brand new look and feel.

For fans heading to the racetrack, the new NASCAR.com will continue to serve as a great destination for in-depth information on NASCAR-sanctioned race tracks. From information on local attractions, track history, and most importantly, ordering race tickets, fans need to look no further than the digital home of NASCAR: NASCAR.com.

Finally, in addition to an entirely new website, NASCAR will release a pair of mobile apps before the start of the Shootout at Daytona (Feb. 16, FOX) and the Daytona 500 (Feb. 24, FOX), giving fans an unprecedented second screen experience on their tablets and mobile devices.

• ^ NASCAR Mobile ’13 – This app is highlighted with content such as latest news, race leaderboard, video, social media updates, in-car audio, live data and more.
• ^ NASCAR RaceView Mobile ’13 – In addition to the aforementioned features, this premium app will render a virtual live race environment, giving fans the ultimate tool to follow their favorite driver in real time throughout the entire race.

NASCAR selected SapientNitro last summer to help design and build the platform for NASCAR’s new digital experience. NASCAR has also worked very closely with technology services firm Omnigon, which has acted as an advisor throughout the build.

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for one of North America’s premier sports. NASCAR races are broadcast in more than 175 countries and in 25 languages. In the U.S., races are broadcast on FOX, TNT, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2, SPEED, Motor Racing Network Radio, Performance Racing Network and Sirius XM Radio. NASCAR fans are among the most brand-loyal in all of sports, and as a result more Fortune 500 companies participate in NASCAR than any other sport. NASCAR consists of three national series (the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series), four regional series, and one local grassroots series, as well as three international series. Also part of NASCAR is GRAND-AM Road Racing and the American Le Mans Series, featuring competition on road courses with multiple classes of cars. NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races at 100 tracks in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., NASCAR has offices in eight cities across North America. The next NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race will be the Shootout at Daytona on Feb. 16 on FOX. For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.nascar.com. Follow NASCAR on www.facebook.com/NASCAR or on Twitter: @NASCAR.

Source: NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications Press Release

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Oswald Karch Narain Karthikeyan Ukyo Katayama Ken Kavanagh

Montezemolo: Massa deal the right call

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has no doubts that his team did the right thing in handing Felipe Massa a fresh contract for 2013.

Although the Brazilian driver had a lacklustre start to the campaign, he improved dramatically over the second half of the year to secure his future at Maranello.

That move was questioned at the time, with some reckoning Ferrari should have gone for a younger driver, but di Montezemolo is totally convinced about the decision.

“The Brazilian improved a great deal in the second half: in fact in the first part, it seemed he’d gone on a round the world holiday!” said di Montezemolo during his annual Christmas lunch with media at Maranello this week.

“Joking apart, I think the decision to reconfirm his position was the right one. If we had changed, then one would need to take on someone who would make a difference and I can’t say I noticed many drivers around who would be quicker than Felipe.

“Also, we did not want to change the balance and the good atmosphere within the team. Domenicali and I told ourselves it was best to wait and I think that the facts proved us right.

“Towards the end, when Felipe was even faster than Fernando a couple of times, the points he scored played a vital part in securing our place in the constructors’ championship.”

Reflecting on the season just gone, di Montezemolo admitted that there was disappointment about the team just missing out on the championship – but that it should also realise it did a great job too.

“You can see the glass as half full or half empty, but clearly there is great regret,” he added.

“Because the outcome went down to the wire, because after that first lap in Brazil, maybe things could have turned out differently, because Fernando went on holiday at the start of the summer break with a 40 point lead over his closest challenger and because, when it came to collisions, we were forced to retire, while others kept going as if nothing had happened.

“However, the biggest regret is that we did not have a car that was quick enough to win the world championship.

“On the glass half full side, we had amazing reliability which allowed us to come second in the constructors’ championship despite the fact McLaren was quicker than us and despite the fact that, in the first half of the season we pretty much only had Alonso’s points to count on.

“There were those great starts and pit stops and the fact Fernando had an extraordinary season, the best since he has been in Formula 1.

“Next year, let’s hope we can say it was our best season, given that we want to give him and Felipe a car that’s competitive right from the start.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/montezemolo-massa-deal-the-right-call

Jason Leffler David Carl Allison Gregory Jack Biffle David Lee Blaney

Saturday Night Rumble Goes to Derek Bischak

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2012/12/saturday-night-rumble-goes-to-derek.html

Kamui Kobayashi Helmuth Koinigg Heikki Kovalainen Kevin Harvick

Vettel insists he can still improve

Sebastian Vettel insists that there is still potential for him to improve as a grand prix driver despite winning his third consecutive world championship in 2012.

The Red bull driver became only the third driver to take a title triple alongside Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher this year, but is certain there is still more to come from both him and his Red Bull team.

At just 25, he is still younger than any other triple world champion in the history of F1 and is widely expected to add significantly to his tally of three crowns and 26 victories.

“In terms of results, the last three years and winning the constructors’ championship have been perfect but I still feel that there are little bits here and there we can improve on,” Vettel told AUTOSPORT.

“That’s the philosophy and the spirit that we share in the whole team. You can always do better.”

The German is now one of only nine drivers to have won more than two world championships.

But even after sealing his third crown in the Brazilian Grand Prix last month, he is refusing to rest on his laurels and is uninterested in comparing his achievements to those of others while there are still more titles to be won.

“At the moment, I don’t really reflect too much on what has happened over the last three years,” said Vettel.

“I am extremely happy and extremely proud of what we have achieved.

“If you put it into perspective, it sounds even crazier when you look at the people who have achieved the same or similar in the past.

“It’s better not to put it into perspective and to carry on focusing on what we do.

“We are having fun, we are very passionate and that makes the difference.

“We did it our way and that’s what made the year very special.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/vettel-insists-he-can-still-improve

Dan Gurney Hubert Hahne Mike Hailwood Mika H‰kkinen

Ducati test seat a step forward – Pirro

Michele Pirro insists joining Ducati as a test rider does not represent a backward step even though it will leave him without a full-time race programme for the first time in more than a decade.

The Italian competed for Gresini in MotoGP’s CRT class in 2012, effectively finishing best of the rest behind Aspar duo Aleix Espargaro and Randy de Puniet.

As AUTOSPORT reported in September, he elected to join Ducati in a testing role rather than pursue a full-time ride for next year.

Pirro is confident the move will pay dividends in the long-term, giving him both increased credibility and a chance to fight for ‘something important’ when Ducati places him in either MotoGP or World Superbikes in 2013.

The Italian team confirmed last week that Pirro will get three wildcard starts in MotoGP next year.

“It may be a step backwards, but I most of all see the step forward I will do,” Pirro told Motosprint.

“I live for racing, it’s true, and I can’t race now, but this is a chance to understand if I can become a winner.

“I prefer to do fewer races, but doing them with the right support. I’m looking for credibility, and I’m determined to take advantage of every chance – even the smallest one – Ducati grant me.

“In 2013 I will do testing and will enter three MotoGP races. In 2014 I will have a competition programme, in MotoGP or in Superbike.

“It hasn’t been decided yet, but what counts is that I will enter a whole world championship season; and not just to make up the numbers, but to try to fight for something important. That was my objective.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/motorcycles/motogp/ducati-test-seat-a-step-forward-pirro

Divina Galica Nanni Galli Oscar Alfredo G·lvez Fred Gamble

Major ERC programme for Delecour

Francois Delecour is set to contest 10 rounds of the European Rally Championship in 2013 starting with this weekend’s Janner Rally in Austria.

Delecour, a winner of four world championship rallies and the 1993 WRC runner-up, will drive a Peugeot 207 Super 2000 for Kronos Racing with backing from several companies in Romania.

The 50-year-old Frenchman has not competed internationally on a regular basis since he left Mitsubishi’s WRC squad at the end of 2002, but came out of semi-retirement in 2012 to win the Romanian rally title.

He has also made selected WRC and Intercontinental Rally Challenge outings in the intervening period, coming sixth on the 2012 Monte Carlo Rally.

“I hope we’ll be able to do about 10 ERC rounds this year: that would be the plan, plus all the Romanian championship, so it’s definitely going to be a busy year,” said Delecour.

“But I feel much better prepared than I did last season, because I’ve been competing regularly and we’ve got a proper programme in a perfectly developed car with the chance to go testing as well.

“That really makes the difference. It’s as close as you get to a factory campaign so I am very, very happy.”

Delecour has never competed on the asphalt-based Janner Rally, which is expected to take place in snow and icy conditions when it gets underway on Friday.

“We’ll have a day of testing before the event, which will help a lot and I’m beginning to know the 207 quite well now while Kronos is a team that speaks for itself, so I don’t think it will be a problem.”

With Robert Kubica not making his ERC bow until later in the year, Delecour is one of the best-known names competing in Austria.

Stig Blomqvist, the 1984 world champion, drives a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX while Skoda’s Jan Kopecky is the top-seeded competitor.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/major-erc-programme-for-delecour

Clint Bowyer Zaxby s Chevrolet Brad Keselowski Ruby Tuesday Dodge

Red Bull ‘caught out’ by 2012 changes

Red Bull has admitted that it took too long to get to grips with the changes in Formula 1 at the start of 2012, as it strives to ensure a stronger start to its title defence this year.

After dominating 2011, Red Bull did not win until round four of last year’s world championship in Bahrain.

Eventual three-time champion Sebastian Vettel was as low as sixth in the points at one stage, and by mid-September only had one win to his name.

He then went on a four-race victory streak to set himself up for another title. Prior to that, he had looked hard-pressed to catch Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and also faced times when McLaren looked a stronger contender than Red Bull.

Team boss Christian Horner conceded that it had taken a while for designer Adrian Newey to get to grips with the 2012 rule tweaks and the new Pirelli tyre specification.

“There was a big regulation change where the exhaust effect was reduced dramatically, and that particularly had a significant impact on our car because arguably our use of exhaust gases was more advanced than other teams,” Horner said.

“So it took a while to understand that, and that combined with a different tyre took Adrian and his team time to get his head around.

“But they relentlessly stuck at it and the performance came.”

Before Vettel’s dominant September/October run, Red Bull trailed McLaren five-three in the 2012 win stakes, but Horner believes his team’s performance was always better than the statistics suggested.

“Even when we weren’t winning we were able to be securing sensible points,” he said.

“We should have won in Valencia, that was probably our biggest frustration of the year.

“The points we gave away not only the 25 points we should have had for the win but also the points it gifted Fernando.”

He added: “There were some challenges but getting that performance from the car and particularly for the last third of the championship was crucial.”

* Click here for AUTOSPORT’s guide to what’s new in F1 for 2013

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/red-bull-caught-out-by-2012-changes

Carel Godin de Beaufort Christian Goethals Paul Goldsmith JosÈ Froil·n Gonz·lez

MIS honored by MLive.com, Jackson Citizen Patriot

Michigan International Speedway Logo

BROOKLYN, Mich. (Jan. 3, 2013) – Michigan International Speedway garners a pair of honors from the Jackson Citizen Patriot and its MLive.com media group in a vote of its readers. The media outlet has named MIS its Corporate Citizen of the Year and track President Roger Curtis one of 13 Michiganders to watch in 2013.

The MIS mission is to be a part of the community and serve as a showcase for the Irish Hills, while creating business and tourism opportunities. The track annually welcomes visitors from all 50 states and 13 countries during its annual NASCAR, wine festival and other events. But that’s not all: the facility is also a fund-raising tool for local groups and serves as a venue for new business opportunities.

In addition, MIS and its charity foundation, MIS Cares, hosts numerous events throughout the year to raise funds to donate money back to the community.

Curtis has been at the forefront of these initiatives. In a vote of readers of the Jackson Citizen Patriot, Curtis was named one of 13 Michiganders to watch in 2013.

“It is an honor to be recognized for all of our accomplishments at the track and it means even more that our fans voted us these awards,” Curtis said. “This is a huge reflection on our staff and all the hard work they do throughout the year. We believe we are a great facility to show everyone who comes here how beautiful the area is, and create even more economic and tourism opportunities for local businesses.”

The spirit of giving isn’t just a seasonal belief at Michigan International Speedway; it’s the racetrack’s way of doing business, providing a valuable fund-raising platform for the community year-round.

MIS and its sister company Americrown combined donated a total of $631,500 to local service groups and organizations in 2012 through cash donations, work programs, grants and sponsorships, as well as tickets and merchandise that clubs raffle to raise money.

The speedway and Americrown annually work with service groups, church groups, Kiwanis, Rotary and Lions clubs, masons, high school sporting clubs and a host of other non-profit organizations to provide a platform for those groups to earn money for their causes and programs during the racetrack’s events.

Members of the community honored and remembered the victims and heroes of 9-11 during Spirit of America events at Michigan International Speedway by helping two local organizations. Thanks to the members of the community, MIS delivered a truckload of food to CCIS Food Pantry to help replenish the supply. In addition, more than $8,500 was raised for the Michigan State’s Firemen’s Association Memorial.

Following the success of an ongoing partnership to positively impact the environment while benefitting science, technology and math education, Michigan International Speedway and Adrian College developed plans for a first-of-its kind science center and science-related field trips at NASCAR’s fastest racetrack.

This unique partnership in sports will see hundreds of school children and college students from the region benefitting from learning about the ecosystem of the Irish Hills area, but also experiencing nature and conservancy that could contribute to their future work as scientists.

The partnership called TRACK AND EXPLORE has provided Adrian College biology students with opportunities to research and study animal and plant life on 900 acres of the 1,400-acre, environmentally rich Michigan International Speedway.

Michigan International Speedway has been chosen as the state’s only host venue for Tough Mudder, a hardcore, 12-mile obstacle course designed by British Special Forces to test strength, stamina, mental grit and camaraderie (www.toughmudder.com).

Besides its NASCAR races and Tough Mudder, MIS also hosts a number of other events throughout the year. The speedway annually hosts the Michigan Wine and Beer Festival presented by Experience Jackson in May, the Spirit of America in September and Michigan High School Athletic Association Cross Country Championships in November.

Officials for the two-mile racetrack are always looking for other events, including concerts, festivals, world-class automotive R&D testing, NASCAR-style driving schools, weddings, proms, reunions and camping jamborees, among others.

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

Tickets are on sale at http://www.MISpeedway.com or by phone at 800-354-1010.

Keep up with Michigan International Speedway via Twitter @MISpeedway or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MISpeedway. Android and iPhone can now download Discover MIS, the official app of MIS, on Google Play and iTunes.

Join our Mobile Fan Club by texting MISCLUB on a Sprint Handheld or other mobile device to 69050. Standard text message rates may apply. 

2013 Michigan International Speedway Schedule

Saturday, May 18             Michigan Wine and Beer Fest presented by Experience Jackson

Friday, June 14                  ARCA Racing Series RainEater Wiper Blades 200 and Sprint Cup Qualifying
Saturday, June 15            NASCAR Nationwide Series Alliance Truck Parts 250
Sunday, June 16               NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Friday, Aug. 16                  NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice and Qualifying
Saturday, Aug. 17             NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Sunday, Aug. 18                NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pure Michigan 400

Source: Michigan International Speedway, Press Release

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Chris Irwin Jean Pierre Jabouille Jimmy Jackson Joe James

VIDEO: Kevin Harvick 2012 Season Review

Source: http://thefinallap.com/2012/12/19/video-nascar-kevin-harvick-2012-season-review/

Copart Ford Denny Hamlin Z Line Toyota Kyle Busch

Alfalla Claims Charlotte

Alfalla (1) leads Hightower (3) and a group of others out of Turn Four.

Week Eight of the NASCAR iRacing.com Class C Series (open setup) made a trip to the NASCAR homeland for 90 laps of high speed action at one of the most popular tracks in the service. Over 1,100 sim racers tried to lay claim to Charlotte this week, but once again, there was familiar face in victory lane during the week’s high Strength of Field event.

Two time NASCAR iRacing.com Series World Championship champion Ray Alfalla (Florida) was once again in victory lane during the 4840 Strength of Field which took place on December 29th. Alfalla was able to take the checkered flag under caution after leading 76 of the race’s 90 laps over Brandon Williamson (Georgia) and Jordan Hightower (Mid-South). Fourth place Joey Brown (Texas) and fifth place Nicholas Morse (West) were involved in the race-ending caution as they made contact in Turn One with just a handful of laps remaining.

Williamson (11), Morse (2), and Brown (6) battle three wide in the middle of Turns One and Two.

With the victory, Alfalla earned 303 championship points, placing him in position number one for the week. Second place driver Williamson finished off the week, earning 284 points for his efforts. Hightower finished in the third position overall, adding 265 points to his season total. DJ Lyon (Carolina) and Brown filled the remaining spots in the top five.

What a week it was for Alfalla. Not only did he win the week’s SoF event and earn the most points for the week, he was also the fastest qualifier. Alfalla’s time of 28.722 seconds was just marginally faster than second place Hightower, who turned in a time of 28.731 seconds. Justin Brooks (Carolina) finished off the week in the third position, with a time of 28.733 seconds. Fourth place went to Brian Viola (Mid-South) and rounding out the top five was Arthur Lucas (Virginias).

After nine super competitive weeks of online racing, Maxx Harris (Northwest) holds a 28 point lead over Phil Brown (Mid-South). Brooks is currently 99 points back heading into Week Ten, followed by Keith Elliott (Western Canada) and Charles Harnar (Mid-South) completing the top five.

Next week, the NiCCS (open setup) makes a trip into Alabama for a visit to one of the most popular tracks on the NASCAR circuit in Talladega Superspeedway. Will we see that last lap slingshot move for the win, or will it be something else? Check back with inRacingNews.com next week for a full recap of Week Ten at Talladega Superspeedway.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/iracing-news/alfalla-claims-charlotte

Ingo Hoffmann Bill Holland Jackie Holmes Bill Homeier

2014 rules ‘urge team collaborations’

Formula 1 teams need to be open to the idea of greater co-operation between themselves if they are to make the most of the radical 2014 change in regulations.

That is the view of new Caterham boss Cyril Abiteboul, who thinks that the scale of the challenge teams face when new 1.6-litre turbo engines come in means that going it alone could be a hindrance.

“Potentially this breakthrough will require some partnership between the teams, and that is not only for teams like us,” Abiteboul told AUTOSPORT in an exclusive interview.

“I can feel that it will be just like in the automotive business when you want to produce a new product: you try and share the platform – that is what Renault, Alpine and Caterham will be doing [for a new sportscar for 2015].

Click here to read how Abiteboul plans to lift Caterham in 2013 and beyond

“You want to be more efficient, you want to be more competitive – and therefore you work in collaboration.

“I think the same thing that will have to happen in F1.

“It is a bit new to F1, because the teams also have to compete against each on the track, but I think the future will be about collaboration – and 2014 will urge us into considering more collaboration.”

Although Abiteboul is eager for closer ties between teams, he has made it clear that he is not advocating tie-ups going as far as leading to the return of customer cars to F1.

“There is a limit and in particular we don’t want customer cars,” he said.

“But between no collaboration at all and customer cars, there is a compromise to be found.

“I am sure we can do better than we do right now – both for Caterham and F1 in general.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/2014-rules-urge-team-collaborations

Oscar Alfredo G·lvez Fred Gamble Howden Ganley Frank Gardner

Faith on the Frontstretch: More than “just another driver”

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2012/12/faith-on-frontstretch-more-than-just.html

David Hampshire Sam Hanks Walt Hansgen Mike Harris

Report: Why upset car dealers are trying to find a way around Google

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc.

Google is always trying new things, and everyone knows that new things don't always work out. But the search engine company's location on the Internet roadmap is a natural lure to its hundreds of millions visitors, so even when not-so-popular Google projects don't work out - like Wave and Buzz, for instance - or get entirely reworked, like Google Sync, it can affect a lot of people and businesses.

In August 2012, Google's social media portal Google+ (think of it as Google's version of Facebook) purged thousands of reviews left on the Google+ pages of car dealerships and changed the algorithm for how reviews are rated. According to Automotive News, one dealer saw 300 published reviews drop to just 11, another lost 145 reviews, yet another dealer had 400 reviews go "poof" over the course of two days. Google never truly explained its actions, noting that its efforts to remove all "spammy" reviews, like those solicited from customers and written at the dealership, for instance, would mean perfectly legitimate reviews might also be eliminated. That sent hundreds of dealers - especially those who had gone from positive to negative overall ratings - immediately on the hunt for another way to get reviews.

Five months later, dealers are still searching, with sites like DealerRater.com, Cars.com, DriverSide.com among the top destinations. The key to finding a supplement to Google+ is ensuring that third-party-site reviews get the prominence they need. A dealership's Google+ page will show reviews from other sites and it's possible to get them to show up in Google search results, but it's more complex than when everything was in one place, and right now, there's still the need to rebuild the goodwill that the purged positive reviews were creating. The power of positive reviews is continually evident in the amount of increased traffic online and in the store, so it's something dealers can't walk away from. Which takes us back to Google's location on the Internet road map: It means dealers could have a long walk ahead.

Why upset car dealers are trying to find a way around Google originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Jan 2013 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/02/why-upset-car-dealers-are-trying-to-find-a-way-around-google/

Jeffrey Tyler Burton Richard Allen Craven Kerry Dale Earnhardt Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr

Rossi can win again – Capirossi

Loris Capirossi believes Valentino Rossi can win again in MotoGP based on his own experiences of testing Yamaha’s YZR-M1.

In his capacity as safety advisor to the championship, Capirossi has had cause to sample Yamaha’s bike, amongst others, over the course of the season.

Having recently suggested it was impossible for anyone to win with the current Ducati bike, Capirossi has now tipped Rossi to once again be a frontrunner as soon as he gets back on a Yamaha.

Ducati has not won since Malaysia in 2009, when Casey Stoner dominated. Yamaha in contrast has picked up 10 wins and 30 podiums over the past two seasons courtesy of Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies.

“I had a chance to do a few laps with the Yamaha in Valencia, and I thank them for it: I realised how competitive it is,” Capirossi told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Valentino is my friend and I think he will be competitive with a winning bike.

“He will regain the enthusiasm, even though beating Dani [Pedrosa] and Jorge is super difficult.

“I think he can win races, [although I] don’t know about the title.

“Should he do it, we should all bow to him.”

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/motorcycles/motogp/rossi-can-win-again-capirossi

Z Line Designs Toyota Parker Kligerman Trevor Bayne Out! Pet Care Toyota

Steve Nielsen quits Caterham role

Caterham’s sporting director Steve Nielsen has resigned from the team, AUTOSPORT has learned.

Nielsen originally joined the outfit when it was known as Team Lotus at the end of 2011 after several years at the Renault team.

It is not clear why he is leaving, but sources suggest that he is moving to another outfit. The Leafield-based team has confirmed he will stop working for them in January.

No replacement has yet been lined up, with Caterham using Nielsen’s departure to evaluate a possible new structure to the sporting side of the operation.

Nielsen is an F1 stalwart, having previously worked at Arrows, Benetton/Renault, Tyrrell and the old Team Lotus, and his experience would be invaluable to any outfit on the grid.

Caterham endured a difficult 2012 campaign, when it failed to make the steps forward that it had hoped to.

However, it managed to hold on to its crucial 10th place in the constructors’ championship after Vitaly Petrov finished 11th in the final race in Brazil to help his team overhaul rivals Marussia.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/steve-nielsen-quits-caterham-role

Floyd Anthony Raines Scott Russell Riggs Hiroshi Fushida Beppe Gabbiani

Jenson Button: 2012 in quotes

Jenson Button’s 2012 Formula 1 season started and finished with victories in Australia and Brazil respectively, but in between things didn’t go quite as he had hoped.

While there were some great moments, notably a dominant win at Spa, tyre and set-up struggles mean that he was never really in the world championship fight.

Along the way, he had plenty to reflect on, whether it be McLaren’s form on track or the interest in his team-mate Lewis Hamilton’s future…

Jenson Button: 2012 in quotes

“I was surprised. I would have thought we would have had more issues under braking because the downforce that the top teams were producing from the blown diffuser last year was staggering and to lose that much, you would think that you would struggle, and the difference between on throttle and off throttle you think would be massive but it is not such an issue.”

Being pleasantly surprised after the first day of winter testing

“It was very special. Starting the year with a win is important. To come away with Lewis’s pole yesterday and victory today, I think it puts us in a great position for the next few races and on the right foot.”

Revelling in the promise of McLaren’s great start to the year after winning in Australia

“I haven’t got a clue what to do at the moment and every time we have good ideas we don’t seem to make any progress. I love driving an F1 car so I am confident every time I jump in and then after two laps there is no grip anywhere. Out of the front pack I was the slowest by a long way, and I am not two seconds a lap slower than Lewis.”

Struggling to understand a poor performance in the Canadian Grand Prix, in which he was lapped

“There’s nothing to say really. The TV camera says it all.”

Underlining that Sebastian Vettel’s off-track pass on him at Hockenheim is an open-and-shut case

“There is no one quicker than us at the moment and we can fight for the win in the next few races.”

Returning to form in the German Grand Prix

“Most of the problem this year has been in and out of the range where they work, and that’s a difficulty. You try and drive gentle with them to look after them, and they drop out of the range and you end up damaging the tyre more than if you keep them in the range and are aggressive with the tyre. It’s been very difficult, especially for me, because my style of driving initially didn’t suit the tyres – I’ve had to adapt a little bit.”

Explaining his tyre struggles

“I just think it’s great, I love reading it. Every day I read the papers and the websites. We [the drivers] all do, even though we say we don’t, and there’s a lot of good reading out there.”

Confessing that he enjoys driver market speculation… provided it doesn’t involve him

“He has chosen to go his own way at the end of the year. It is his decision, although I personally don’t think it is the right decision.”

Disagreeing with Lewis Hamilton’s decision to leave McLaren

“One of the toughest races I have ever had.”

Having a long afternoon’s work winning the Brazilian Grand Prix

“After five races I thought that we would win the championship.”

Admitting in December that the season didn’t go as he hoped

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/jenson-button-2012-in-quotes

Jean Marc Gounon Emmanuel de Graffenried Lucas di Grassi Cecil Green

The 2012 NYC Streetsies, Part 2

The second installment of the Streetsies is reserved for everyone who made the year’s worst news. Streetsie aficionados will recognize a lot of familiar faces in the 2012 edition. For the best local transportation projects of the year, check out part one.

We interrupt this installment of the Streetsies for a year-end pledge drive update. In addition to being eligible to win a Specialized hybrid bike courtesy of Bicycle Habitat, everyone who gives $50 or more by midnight Sunday will be in the running for a sweet collection of jazz CDs from Sunnyside Records. Thanks for reading, and please make a tax-deductible contribution to Streetsblog and Streetfilms so we can keep on bloggin’ in the year ahead.

Okay, now here’s the worst of 2012. Stay tuned for more Streetsies (and our final pledge drive prizes) next week.

Biggest Setback

The best thing you can say about Governor Andrew Cuomo’s transportation record is that, unlike in 2011, he had some legitimate competition this year in the “Biggest Setback” category. Still, he won handily again by ramming through his shiny symbol of accomplishing Big Things, the Tappan Zee highway bridge.

At the beginning of 2012, a broad coalition of local Hudson Valley governments was fighting to preserve the vision of transit-oriented growth that came out of the extensive public planning process for the replacement Tappan Zee. Their best leverage was the veto power wielded by three county executives over the Cuomo administration’s application for low-interest federal financing. But once Cuomo got Rob Astorino, C. Scott Vanderhoef, and MaryEllen Odell to cede their votes in exchange for guaranteed rush-hour bus lanes and a working group to study transit options for the I-287 corridor, that lever was gone. While the fight goes on for quality transit and relief from 1950s-style car-dependence in the Hudson Valley, there’s a lot more ground to cover today than there was a few years ago, pre-Cuomo.

Andrew Cuomo's New York: "Justice" and "Community," mega-bridges, yogurt trucks, choppers. Transit? Not so much.

Meanwhile, the governor’s spine turned to jelly when the trucking industry complained about higher Thruway tolls. And, in an extra twist of the knife, Cuomo’s post-Sandy global warming epiphany was all about building expensive things to protect the region from the next storm, not investing in a low-carbon future to help keep climate-related disasters at bay.

Biggest Obstacle to Safer Streets

Hands down, this distinction belongs to Teflon Ray Kelly. At the February hearing when family and friends of New Yorkers killed in traffic told the City Council in heartrending detail about their experiences dealing with NYPD’s broken crash investigation system, Ray Kelly never showed up. When the press finally dug into the police department’s appalling failure to hold deadly drivers accountable, Ray Kelly had nothing to say. When the Mayor’s Management Report revealed that traffic deaths had risen as NYPD traffic enforcement dropped, Ray Kelly didn’t bother to promise he’d turn things around.

It’s going to take a change at the top to fix NYPD.

Photo: Daily News

NIMBY of the Year

It looked like Manhattan Community Board 7 transportation committee co-chairs Dan Zweig and Andrew Albert, masters of the death-by-a-thousand-parliamentary-delays technique, were poised to capture Streetsblog’s coveted NIMBY of the Year Award after they cast sort-of-decisive votes against the Columbus Avenue bike lane extension. Then in a last minute surge, these three raced ahead to claim the prize for an unprecedented third year running:

It’s hard to say what’s more astounding about Norman Steisel, Iris Weinshall, Louise Hainline, and their interminable quest to undo the public process that produced the Prospect Park West bike lane. The sheer amount of time they’ve devoted to making it more dangerous to cross the street? The fact that they can still count on the press to quote their lawyers in mindless he-said/she-said stories, even though it’s a matter of public record that they didn’t believe their own lawsuit? The complete inability to grasp that they’re at odds with most of their neighbors? Their whole operation defies belief.

Worst NYC EDC Project

Future generations will surely wonder what the hell the New York City Economic Development Corporation was thinking when the agency decided to put a giant ferris wheel and oceans of parking at the most transit-accessible part of Staten Island.

Why, EDC, why?

Dumbest NYC EDC Negotiating Ploy

EDC reportedly had the Sheridan Expressway teardown killed just to grease their contract negotiations with the Hunts Point Terminal Produce Market Cooperative — the city’s largest produce distributor — because the market doesn’t want to tack on a few minutes to some truck trips. But if convenient truck access to all points in NYC is so important, why would NYC EDC ever take the market honchos seriously when they threaten to leave the South Bronx and set up across the Hudson if their demands aren’t met?

By the way, here we are at the end of 2012 and there’s still no agreement between EDC and the market.

Best Argument for Abolishing NYC EDC

Yankee Stadium’s lavishly subsidized parking garages — an EDC project through and through — went belly up.

Biggest Disappointment

After sending signals last year that wide-ranging reform of NYC’s mandatory parking minimums could be coming to neighborhoods outside the Manhattan core, the Department of City Planning proposed a modest but welcome reduction in Downtown Brooklyn’s parking minimums. And… that’s it. Nothing else. The rest of the parking minimums outside Manhattan haven’t been touched.

Even a call to action from Times architecture critic Michael Kimmelman didn't spur Amanda Burden to do much of anything to reform NYC's burdensome parking minimums. Photo: NYT

While cities with much paltrier transit service than NYC aggressively expand the zones where parking minimums don’t apply, Amanda Burden has barely touched the issue in 12 years of running the planning department, to the detriment of housing affordability and the city’s long-term sustainability. Time is about to run out on her.

Most Epic Subcontractor FAIL

The Public Bike System Company, the equipment supplier in Alta Bikeshare’s winning bid to run NYC’s bike-share system, tried to save some money by ditching the firm that developed the software for its bikes and kiosks. They chose a brilliant time to do it — right when 10,000 of their bikes were poised to hit the streets in the media capital of the world. Who knows how it all played out for PBSC’s accounts, but it didn’t look like such a smart business decision when the company struggled to replace the software with an in-house solution, leading to a series of frustrating delays.

Most Useless Legislating

After threatening to do something that would actually benefit most New Yorkers, like, say, passing a law calling on NYPD to get serious about crash investigations, James Vacca’s transportation committee went back to its same old parking shtick this fall. Sadly, these are the pressing questions that have come to define the Vacca era of transportation committee leadership:

• How many different ways can the City Council try to squeeze more free parking spaces from the city’s finite amount of curb space?
• Will Vacca, David Greenfield, and company ever realize that they are wasting a lot of time on something that is basically impossible, and that even in the imaginary world where they succeed, New York would be a worse place because of it? If they already know this, will they ever admit it?
• If James Vacca or a member of his staff gets a parking ticket on Sunday, can they draft a bill that would negate the ticket by Monday?

Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/12/28/the-2012-nyc-streetsies-part-2/

Kyle Eugene Petty Floyd Anthony Raines Scott Russell Riggs Hiroshi Fushida

Video: Silverado HD, Touareg V10 TDI face off in diesel tug-of-war

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Etc., Chevrolet, Volkswagen, Humor, Diesel

A couple weeks ago, we watched a Chevrolet Silverado get dominated by a Dodge Ram Heavy Duty in a fullsize pickup tug-of-war, but in that truck's defense, Chevy's Vortec gas engine was no match for the torquey Cummins turbo diesel. For our next round of vehicular tug-of-war, a Duramax-powered Silverado HD takes on Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI.

Now, on paper, putting the Duramax V8's 365 horsepower and 660 pound-feet of torque up against the V10's 310 hp and 553 lb-ft looks like an easy win for the Bowtie, but unfortunately, this battle has a similar result as the Dodge versus Chevy video, with the Silverado smoking its tires trying to move forward as it gets pulled backwards. Put another way: YouTube 2, Chevy Silverado 0.

It just goes to show, though, that big tires, bolt-on fender flares and goofy smoke stacks don't improve your towing abilities. Besides, what did the Silverado driver expect when the Touareg V10 TDI has towed a Boeing 747 in the past?

Scroll down to watch the cargo-hauler tie up with the family-hauler.

Continue reading Silverado HD, Touareg V10 TDI face off in diesel tug-of-war

Silverado HD, Touareg V10 TDI face off in diesel tug-of-war originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 30 Dec 2012 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/30/silverado-hd-touareg-v10-tdi-face-off-in-diesel-tug-of-war/

David Lee Blaney Michael Duane Bliss Kurt Thomas Busch Kyle Thomas Busch

2013 Silly Season notes for #2 Penske Racing team

The 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion will have a new look on his Miller Lite car, plus the big change, switching manufacturers from Dodge to Ford. Dodge left the sport after the 2012 season. ............

Source: http://jayski.com/news/teams/story/_/page/2-Penske-NASCAR-Team-News#29

Stefan Johansson Eddie Johnson Leslie Johnson Bruce Johnstone

GP3 to race in Abu Dhabi in 2013

GP3 will race in Abu Dhabi for the first time in 2013, with the Yas Marina circuit hosting the season finale.

Series organisers revealed the calendar for next year on Wednesday, featuring seven Formula 1 support rounds and an unconfirmed standalone race on June 14-16.

The championship will not return to Monaco, where it raced for the first time in 2012.

The Abu Dhabi round in November will mark the first time the series has raced outside of Europe.

Series CEO Bruno Michel said: “Since the series’ inception, the calendar has always consisted of eight race weekends and it will be the case again in 2013.

“The fact that the season will end in Abu Dhabi marks GP3 history. It moves the series in yet another positive direction.”

GP3 also confirmed pre-season tests at Estoril, Barcelona and Silverstone, and an in-season test at the Hungaroring in June.

2013 calendar

10-12 May    Barcelona, Spain
 14-16 June   TBA
 28-30 June   Silverstone, Great Britain
 05-07 July   Nurburg, Germany
 26-28 July   Budapest, Hungary
 23-25 Aug    Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
 06-08 Sep    Monza, Italy
 01-03 Nov    Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
 

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/gp3-to-race-in-abu-dhabi-in-2013

Beppe Gabbiani Bertrand Gachot Patrick Gaillard Divina Galica

Kligerman joins Kyle Busch Motorsports for 2013 Nationwide Series season

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2012/12/kligerman-joins-kyle-busch-motorsports.html

Ruby Tuesday Dodge Carl Edwards Copart Ford Denny Hamlin

Joey Logano and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. visit the Middle East and Germany on USO trip

Source: http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2012/12/joey-logano-and-ricky-stenhouse-jr.html

Copart Ford Denny Hamlin Z Line Toyota Kyle Busch

Shane Lewis to Make Dubai 24H Debut

Shane Lewis
Dubai 24H
DUBAI - December 29, 2011

American to Start 31st Career 24-Hour Race at Middle East's Premier Event

Shane Lewis began his career running open wheel races that lasted 30-minutes. Today, he has become one of the sport's most sought-after endurance specialists being called on to compete all over the world. When the Jupiter, Fla.-resident takes the green flag in the Seventh Edition of the Dunlop 24H of Dubai January 13, Lewis will add his 31st career 24-hour race-start to a resume which already boasts multiple victories. Lewis will join longtime endurance race teammate Vic Rice (San Rafael, CA) as well as Germans Karl Pflanz and Kim Hauschild in the No.125 Hamburg Racing Team (HRT) Aston Martin Vantage GT4. The Middle East's premier endurance touring and grand touring (GT) race marks the debut of Lewis in the event and at the Dubai Autodrome.

While Lewis is new to the Dubai event, the circuit and even the region, he will be well acquainted with two of his three co-drivers. The multiple American Le Mans Series and Rolex Series race winner has teamed with Rice in numerous sports car races for 15 years and joined with Rice and Pflanz to capture victory at the 2010 24 Hours of Nürburgring. The quartet will race in the SP3 class on the 3.35-mile/4.39km, full Formula One circuit of the Dubai Autodrome. The Aston Martin they will share is a Nürburgring 24 (N24) edition of the Vantage GT4 car built by the factory and tuned by HRT for endurance racing. It will be Lewis's first time driving the legendary British marque in competition.

In his career, Lewis has piloted every major class of sports car from prototype to touring car in 24-hour races. He has made three starts at the "grandfather" of all endurance races, the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1999, 2000, 2003) leading his class in 2003 and he has 14 starts at North America's only professional 24 hour race, theRolex 24 At Daytona ('97-'02, '04-'11). Lewis has four starts at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring ('04, '05, '10, '11) winning his class in '10 and taking podium finishes in '04 and '11. Other endurance race starts include six Petit Le Mans ('98-'01, '03, '10) and seven 12 Hours of Sebring ('97-'98, '00-'03, '10).

As many as 90 entries are expected to take the green flag for the 2:00 p.m. (local) start on Friday, January 13. Currently, of the potential grid of 360 drivers, seven are from the United States including Lewis and Rice as teams and drivers from all over the world are placing the Dubai 24H on their "To-Do" lists for the year. Open testing is scheduled to start on Wednesday, January 11 with the first of two official "free" practices coming on Thursday. Qualifying for all classes takes place at 4:00 p.m. that same day, followed by an SP3 qualifying session at 5:00 p.m. Night practice begins at 6:00 p.m. Cars take to the grid at 1:00 p.m., Friday, January 13. The race will take the checkered flag at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 14.

Lewis has raced every major class of sports car in every major international series. In 2011, he captured a podium in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring and a class victory in the Six Hours of Nürburgring.

Shane Lewis

About racing in his 31st career 24-hour race:

"To be planning my 31st career 24-hour race is pretty amazing and pretty cool. I don't think anyone is more surprised by that than I am. I started out driving open wheel cars. The longest race I ever thought I'd be in would be 500 miles! It was a complete fluke I ever agreed to drive in a 24-hour race. But, the opportunities and then all of the success started coming in endurance racing and now I can't imagine ever wanting to limit myself to just 500 miles. I really love these endurance races. They are so challenging as a driver and that is really what drives me. Being able to hit this milestone at an event as unique and as exciting as the 24 Hour of Dubai makes it even more special. I'll never forget it."

About the opportunity to race in the 24H of Dubai:

"I am really excited about this chance to race at Dubai. I've raced all over the world but never in the Middle East so that is going to be exciting. The fact that this race has so quickly become one of the major endurance races on the world calendar adds to that. I have great teammates for this race. Vic and I have raced together so many times I have lost count. There aren't many guys out there as quick and as reliable as Vic is and you can't ask for more in a teammate. Vic and I raced together with Karl Pflanz at Nürburgring and had a lot of success and I have heard really good things about Kim Hauschild. HRT is really experienced. They know their stuff and they have put us into one of the hottest rides out there. The Aston Martin Vantage is a legendary car and one of the few makes I have never run. I can't wait to race the car!"

About the challenges of Dubai:

"The challenges for Dubai are exciting. New car, new circuit, new team and 90 cars on a three-mile lap! HRT is a well-run team with plenty of experience. Michael Budde, the team owner, has been to Dubai recently to look everything over: the track, the pit box, the lighting, everything so we will have a leg-up on that. We'll also have the added benefit of working out of the Team Oryx garage in Abu Dhabi the week before the race. Vic and I are all over YouTube watching lap-after-lap of in-car footage to learn the circuit. The track looks like it has a nice flow. So, with all the cars and the momentum of the lap, working traffic is going to be the biggest deal. If we can stay out of trouble, I think we have a great shot in the Aston Martin."

Vic Rice, About the longtime driving relationship with Shane Lewis:

"Shane and I have been friends, teammates and sometimes friendly competitors for more than 15 years. It's difficult to quantify exactly why we are so successful together but to use a well-worn cliché, the chemistry just seems to work. For endurance races it's always about finding a comfortable balance for a long run rather than outright single-lap speed. As race car drivers we are obviously competitive by nature but our competition with each other is only to push the other to be the best we can be on a given day at a given track. The 24 Hours of Dubai is becoming a classic. I've had opportunities to go in previous years but not in cars or teams capable of being class winners."

For more on Shane Lewis, visit: www.ShaneLewis.com. Follow Shane Lewis on Twitter @Go_Shane_Go and Facebook at Shane Lewis - Athlete.

To follow the Dubai 24H, visit www.24HDubai.com. Listen live to practice, qualifying and the race at www.RadioLeMans.com.

Source: http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2011/12/shane_lewis_to_make_dubai.php

Mark Anthony Martin Jeremy Allan Mayfield James Christopher McMurray

Are you ready for the 2013 Daytona 500?

Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/12/29/2572295/are-you-ready-for-the-2013-daytona.html

Rupert Keegan Eddie Keizan Al Keller Joe Kelly

VIDEO: Kevin Harvick 2012 Season Review

Source: http://thefinallap.com/2012/12/19/video-nascar-kevin-harvick-2012-season-review/

Joe Kelly Dave Kennedy Loris Kessel Bruce Kessler