Media Contact:
Pete MacDonald 732-644-0975
Joe Grandinetti 215-778-9855
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, WITH OUR THANKS!

TSRS TOP CONTENDERS SET TO RETURN FOR 2011 CAMPAIGN
Southampton, PA – April 1, 2011 – With the second season of the TriState RaceSaver Sprint Series kicking off just eight days from now at the New Egypt Speedway on April 9th, Series Director Joe Grandinetti is expecting a strong turnout of cars.

Many of the top contenders from the 2010 season have registered for this season’s events including defending TSRS Champion Jeff Geiges who will return driving Tony Pietrofitta’s potent #175 car in 2011. Also returning will be past feature winners John Wyers out of Marmora, NJ, Bordentown, NJ’s Chuck Palmucci, North Jersey Ace Bruce Kindberg, 2010 Rookie of the Year Stefanie Palmai, and Sellersville, PA’s Bill Case Jr.

Jeff Geiges couldn’t have had a better 2010 season, His season included six heat race wins; and a stout 15 top 5 finishes to complement his three feature wins.

John Wyers, “The Jersey Gentleman” came home second in series points last season with four wins, six top 5’s and ten top 10’s driving the Village Card & Gift, Shore Line Striping, Baby Blue #84.

“The Dirt Diva” Stefanie Palmai will return to the wheel of the Tony Pietrofitta #67k again in 2011, this time with a RaceSaver Power Plant under the hood as opposed to the carbureted motor she used last year to win two heat races and bring home six top 5’s and 11 top 10’s throughout 2010.

“Chargin” Chuck Palmucci looks to perhaps pick up the one that got away in 2010; Palmucci dominated the first part of the season last year until motor issues sidelined him.

Bill Case Jr. returns to the wheel of the Grandinetti Racing #1 in 2011. Case picked up a win May 8th at New Egypt last season and looks to improve on his 5th place points finish from last year.

Bruce Kindberg is going out on his own for 2011. The owner of Bruce’s Speed Shop plans on running with the TSRS full time this season in his own #2 sprinter. Bruce who is always one of the most helpful drivers in the pit area picked up a win last year at Bridgeport on June 12th.

The 2011 campaign begins this Saturday at the New Egypt Speedway where TSRS Competitors are invited to practice their cars prior to Opening Night there on April 9th.

The Tri-State Sprint Car series is a fast affordable way to go Sprint Car racing in the Mid Atlantic region. Racers are encouraged to call series director Joe Grandinetti at 215-355-0510 or e-mail racinjoe23@yahoo.com or you can visit them on the web at http://www.tsrs1.com

Allentown, PA: CARQUEST Gasoline Alley Welcomes Bobby Varin, Jerry Higbie, Brent Marks And Sam Hafertepe To Monday Night's Show
By:Steve Pados, GA Motorsports Media

The extremely popular and nationally acclaimed CARQUEST Gasoline Alley TV/Internet Show cranks up the airwaves on Monday evening with another fabulous edition of their show on Monday evening show, March 28th as show hosts Ed and Steve Pados welcome another blockbuster lineup of talented racing stars and personalities who join the Gang for the fastest, funniest, and most informative racing show in the country today. The show airs from 6 to 8 PM every Monday evening on channels 103 and 137 and worldwide on the Internet. The Gang has been serving the racing world for the past eight years on the airwaves and is well noted for their well noted "theme" show format and will host the 518th edition of their show since they hit the airwaves and their 306th show since joining forces with the party channel at WALN Digital Cable and "Happy Jack" Burns on Channels 103 and 137. The Gasoline Alley Team of Ed and Steve Pados is looking forward to more of the same great format they have been following since the inception of their hit show back in 2002 as they highlight the past, present and future of auto racing with their great show.

With this edition of the show the Gang will feature a pair of great Modified drivers who have enjoyed the capacity of winning track championships in both 2009 and 2010 at the tracks where they compete and pair of sprint car stars who continue to set the standard for the drivers who raise the bar through the open wheel ranks to star on the 410 sprint car circuits around the country. The Gang will begin the interviews with six time Fonda Speedway Modified champion Bobby Varin as Bobby will update the Gang on his racing early in the season in Florida as well as the first two ROC races at Selinsgrove and New Egypt. Bobby will talk about the many hats he wears in racing as he branches out more with additional sprint car racing in 2011. "The Statesman" Jerry Higbie rejoins the Gang to talk about his exciting racing plans for the new season that include defending the track titles he won last season at Accord and the OCFS Speedways and also captured in 2009. Jerry will be back in the family owned Modifieds this season and is more excited than ever before as he seeks his third consecutive crowns at his weekend racing playgrounds and will talk about the new Modified he has constructed for battle at OCFS. Brent Marks, the sensational twenty year old sprint car ace, rejoins the Gang to talk about his latest triumph in the motorsports world with a win on Saturday evening at the Lincoln Speedway and Brent will talk about his goal to go after the Lincoln Speedway title won for the past three seasons by Brian Montieth. Sam Hafertepe, fresh off a win and a second place finish at the Devil's Bowl Speedway in ASCS racing action over the weekend, rejoins the gang to talk about his exciting win and his big plans for the new season ahead.

The popular award winning TV/Internet show offers a live internet video feed to all of the Internet subscribers to view the wide assortment of the many racing videos that are played while the show is in progress and to enjoy the chat sessions with the many great personalities from within the racing community who pay the Gang a visit to discuss racing. As always, a surprise or two will be expected as the Gasoline Alley Gang continues to bring the racing community the fastest, funniest and most informed racing show on the airwaves today. All shows produced by GA Motorsports Media are carefully researched, authenticated and fully scripted to produce for our loyal sponsors, guests and racing fans the best show on the airwaves today.

CARQUEST Gasoline Alley TV/Radio/Internet Show continues with its outstanding line-up of talented guests with this week's edition of the show. The Show's programming is available on WALN Digital Cable Radio, Internet www.walncableradio.com for the Audio portion and: livestream.com/walncableradio/old for the video portion. The Show is available on Service Electric Digital Cable TV, Channels 103, and 137 and is live from 6 to 8 PM and later tape delayed on Channel 50 at 11 PM.

Join the Gasoline Alley broadcasting team of Ed and Steve Pados on Monday evening March 28th as they take you on a two-hour circular journey with their well documented, very informative and extremely funny show.

Should you have questions on how to be a part of the show through advertising, appearances or remotes, please contact Steve Pados at: 610 573 9706; Ed Pados at: 610 739 0391; or the WALN Studios at: 610 791 1818. You may also email: steveswp@ptd.net

RACING NEWS THE WAY IT IS MEANT TO BE

After 77 years of publishing National Speed Sport News ran their last issue today.

Official Press release posted on National Speed Sport News website follows...

by NSSN Staff

HARRISBURG, N.C. — There’s so much to say, and so little time to say it. For nearly 77 years National Speed Sport News has brought the latest auto-racing news, information and opinions into the homes of readers around the world. Sadly — and heartbreakingly — for those of us who have contributed to National Speed Sport News and worked on its full-time staff, this — March 23, 2011 — is the final issue. The struggling economy and a technologically charged consumer base have left this publication’s ownership (see letter on page nine) with few options. It’s been a hell of a ride through 76 years of triumph and tragedy. The stars (A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Richard Petty, Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones and the list goes on forever) this publication covered in their youth are now aging legends of the sport. Chris Economaki, whose column occupied this space for nearly 60 years, is 90 years old. His trusty Royal typewriter is now located in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The cars have changed. The sport is a thousand times safer than those earlier years when life was cheap and death was at every turn. Through the years hundreds of writers and thousands of hard-working photographers had their work published in these pages. For many of them covering racing was a hobby they pursued passionately, for others it was a profession and a way of life. Without them, National Speed Sport News would have meant little. Their work and their dedication to the sport they love is what made NSSN the Motorsports Authority. It is, indeed, the end of an era, yet we’re proud to have been part of the latest team to work on “The Bible.” The good times and the bad, the challenges and the successes are all items we’ll carry with us the rest of our lives. For nearly 77 years this newspaper honored a commitment to its readers to bring the best auto-racing coverage to their mailboxes on a weekly basis. We’re devastated that we will no longer be able to have that place in the lives of so many racing fans, but very proud you’ve welcomed us into your homes and racing shops for so very long. We hope NSSN will be remembered not for the way it bowed out, but for the entertainment and joy it brought its readers for generations.

******UPDATE ******

End Of An Era: NSSN Ceasing Publication
by NSSN Staff

All good things come to an end.

And so is the case for America’s Motorsports Authority, National Speed Sport News. After more than 76 years, the publication, which was first published as National Auto Racing News on Aug. 16, 1934, has printed its last issue, dated — March 23, 2011.

While hundreds of other newspapers came and went during the past three-quarters of a century, NSSN continued to ride the support of its readers and advertisers in producing the most thorough weekly racing publication on the market. But economic times have been tight and the newspaper business has suffered at the hands of high production costs and modern technology, which provides information to readers instantly.

“This is one of the saddest days of my life,” said National Speed Sport News Publisher Corinne Economaki. “The sluggish economy has made it too difficult to continue publication and no matter how I try to make the numbers work — and believe me I have tried — it is just not feasible to keep the business going.

“For 76 years, since August 1934 when my father Chris sold copies of the first issue at Ho-Ho-Kus Speedway in northern New Jersey, to today, as I oversee the very last copy printed, this paper has been an integral part of my family,” Corinne Economaki said.

Through the years National Speed Sport News was the industry leader in covering motorsports, much of it thanks to Chris Economaki, 90, who sold the first issue of NSSN at Ho-Ho-Kus Speedway in New Jersey, and began writing for the publication soon after that and became editor in 1950.

Economaki saw the publication through its glory days, launching a career on television and taking his newspaper into thousands of homes across America. In a time when there was no Internet and very little racing was on television or radio, National Speed Sport News thrived.

When National Speed Sport News began its run, there were no seat belts, drivers wore leather helmets and the flathead Ford V8 was one of the most common racing engines. Today, safety is the utmost concern and HANS and other safety devices are all the rage. Fuel-injected engines are everywhere.

Not only has technology changed what fans see at the race track, it changed how NSSN gathered the news. In the early years most news arrived at the NSSN office by mail or telephone. Later the telecopier and the fax machine played key roles. Both were replaced by the computer modem and later by e-mail.

NSSN was printed by linotype, but later changed to phototypesetting and finally went completely digital in 2002.

But after enduring all these changes, a familiar friend will no longer appear at the mailboxes of its loyal readers.

NationalSpeedSportNews.com, the online version of the newspaper, will continue to be updated with daily news, giving Internet savvy readers the opportunity to keep up with some of the same news they enjoyed every week.

But as far as the newspaper goes, it’s the end of an era.

Allentown, PA: CARQUEST Gasoline Alley Goes 360 With URC's Bob Miller And Driving Stars JJ Grasso, Josh Weller, Jonathan Swanson And Robbie Stillwagon On Monday Night's Show
By:Steve Pados, GA Motorsports Media

The extremely popular and nationally acclaimed CARQUEST Gasoline Alley TV/Internet Show cranks up the airwaves on Monday evening with another fabulous edition of their show on Monday evening show, March 21st as show hosts Ed and Steve Pados welcome another blockbuster lineup of talented racing stars and personalities who join the Gang for the fastest, funniest, and most informative racing show in the country today. The show airs from 6 to 8 PM every Monday evening on channels 103 and 137 and worldwide on the Internet. The Gang has been serving the racing world for the past eight years on the airwaves and is well noted for their well noted "theme" show format and will host the 517th edition of their show since they hit the airwaves and their 305th show since joining forces with the party channel at WALN Digital Cable and "Happy Jack" Burns on Channels 103 and 137. The Gasoline Alley Team of Ed and Steve Pados is looking forward to more of the same great format they have been following since the inception of their hit show back in 2002 as they highlight the past, present and future of auto racing with their great show.

With this edition of the show the Gang will feature the drivers of the long-standing URC organization as they prepare for the opening of their season on April 9th as they kick-off at the spacious 5/8th mile facility in Bridgeport, New Jersey. The Gang will begin the interviews with longtime friend and URC and Thunder on the Hill Promoter Bob Miller as he prepares for another busy season with all he does and accomplishes in the exciting world of motorsports. "The Jersey Jet" JJ Grasso rejoins the show to talk about the upcoming season and what it will take for him to return to the championship status he attained in 2009. Grasso fell short by just 23 points to retain the championship and has now set his goals to remain focusing on the wins while not losing sight of the 2011 championship that will be on the line. "The Wild Child" Josh Weller rejoins the show to talk about the tremendous season he enjoyed in 2010 with his best ever third place finish in the final URC point standings and even missing one show along the way. Weller was the 2003 Rookie of the Year in the URC ranks and will set his sights on the 2011 URC championship for the new season ahead. The talented Jonathan Swanson, who finished in the top ten in points one season ago, makes his first ever appearance on the show to talk about his solid performances from a season ago and what is on tap for the new season ahead for this exciting "on the gas" racer. Robby Stillwagon, another of the young lions racing within the URC ranks, will also make his first appearance on the show to talk about his solid fifth place performance in 2010 and what exciting events will be on his racing calendar for the 2011 racing season.

The popular award winning TV/Internet show offers a live internet video feed to all of the Internet subscribers to view the wide assortment of the many racing videos that are played while the show is in progress and to enjoy the chat sessions with the many great personalities from within the racing community who pay the Gang a visit to discuss racing. As always, a surprise or two will be expected as the Gasoline Alley Gang continues to bring the racing community the fastest, funniest and most informed racing show on the airwaves today. All shows produced by GA Motorsports Media are carefully researched, authenticated and fully scripted to produce for our loyal sponsors, guests and racing fans the best show on the airwaves today.

CARQUEST Gasoline Alley TV/Radio/Internet Show continues with its outstanding line-up of talented guests with this week's edition of the show. The Show's programming is available on WALN Digital Cable Radio, Internet www.walncableradio.com for the Audio portion and: livestream.com/walncableradio/old for the video portion. The Show is available on Service Electric Digital Cable TV, Channels 103, and 137 and is live from 6 to 8 PM and later tape delayed on Channel 50 at 11 PM.

Join the Gasoline Alley broadcasting team of Ed and Steve Pados on Monday evening March 21st as they take you on a two-hour circular journey with their well documented, very informative and extremely funny show.

Should you have questions on how to be a part of the show through advertising, appearances or remotes, please contact Steve Pados at: 610 573 9706; Ed Pados at: 610 739 0391; or the WALN Studios at: 610 791 1818. You may also email: steveswp@ptd.net

RACING NEWS THE WAY IT IS MEANT TO BE

Allentown, PA: CARQUEST Gasoline Alley Returns To The Studio With ARDC Stars Ryan Smith, Nick Wean, Billy Pauch Jr, Mark Gilmore and Jason Rice "Pushin The Cushion" On Monday Night's Show
By:Steve Pados, GA Motorsports Media

The extremely popular and nationally acclaimed CARQUEST Gasoline Alley TV/Internet Show cranks up the airwaves on Monday evening with another fabulous edition of their show on Monday evening show, March 14th as the show hosts Ed and Steve Pados return to the studio to play host to another blockbuster lineup of talented racing stars and personalities who join the Gang for the fastest, funniest, and most informative racing show in the country today. The show airs from 6 to 8 PM every Monday evening on channels 103 and 137 and worldwide on the Internet. The Gang has been serving the racing world for the past eight years on the airwaves and is well noted for their well noted "theme" show format and will host the 516th edition of their show since they hit the airwaves and their 304th show since joining forces with the party channel at WALN Digital Cable and "Happy Jack" Burns on Channels 103 and 137. The Gasoline Alley Team of Ed and Steve Pados is looking forward to more of the same great format they have been following since the inception of their hit show back in 2002 as they highlight the past, present and future of auto racing with their great show.

With this edition of the show the Gang will talk to a number of ARDC driving stars who have geared up for the new 2011 racing season with the exciting "side by side and three wide is standard" 72 year old midget racing club. The Gang is coming off a record breaking show at held at the Phillipsburg Mall last week as they interviewed more than 200 driving stars during the exciting week long 4th Annual IRCO sponsored Dirt Track Heroes Show that opened Sunday with 141 cars jamming the Mall floor and perhaps the largest crowd in the history of the Mall for a one day attendance. The interviews will kick-off as the exciting "Flyin" Ryan Smith rejoins the Gang for the show to talk about his season in 2010 that saw him capture 23 wins during the season and included in the total were four wins with the ARDC and a great runner-up finish in the final points. The multi-talented Billy Pauch Jr joins the Gang to talk about a diverse season he has planned for 2011 that included a 358 Sprint start at Lincoln on this past Saturday that found him finishing up in the top ten in his first outing in the equipment. "Slick" Nick Wean joins the Gang to talk about his season from Hell in 2010 and the many changes his team made in the off-season for a fresh start in going after the ARDC driving title in 2011. Rookie youngster "The Wild Thing" Mark Gilmore returns to the show to chat about a great 2010 racing season that saw him capture a runner-up finish in the final points at the Hamlin Speedway and his goals as he joins the ARDC in 2011 with high hopes to earn Rookie of the Year honors in his next step up the racing ladder. Jason Rice, who was part-time campaigner in 2010, joins the Gang to talk about his plans for 2011 as he seeks to put more seat time in with the club in 2011. Rice had top finishes of a 10th place and 13th place in limited appearances with ARDC.

The popular award winning TV/Internet show offers a live internet video feed to all of the Internet subscribers to view the wide assortment of the many racing videos that are played while the show is in progress and to enjoy the chat sessions with the many great personalities from within the racing community who pay the Gang a visit to discuss racing. As always, a surprise or two will be expected as the Gasoline Alley Gang continues to bring the racing community the fastest, funniest and most informed racing show on the airwaves today. All shows produced by GA Motorsports Media are carefully researched, authenticated and fully scripted to produce for our loyal sponsors, guests and racing fans the best show on the airwaves today.

CARQUEST Gasoline Alley TV/Radio/Internet Show continues with its outstanding line-up of talented guests with this week's edition of the show. The Show's programming is available on WALN Digital Cable Radio, Internet www.walncableradio.com for the Audio portion and: livestream.com/walncableradio/old for the video portion. The Show is available on Service Electric Digital Cable TV, Channels 103, and 137 and is live from 6 to 8 PM and later tape delayed on Channel 50 at 11 PM.

Join the Gasoline Alley broadcasting team of Ed and Steve Pados on Monday evening March 14th as they take you on a two-hour circular journey with their well documented, very informative and extremely funny show.

Should you have questions on how to be a part of the show through advertising, appearances or remotes, please contact Steve Pados at: 610 573 9706; Ed Pados at: 610 739 0391; or the WALN Studios at: 610 791 1818. You may also email: steveswp@ptd.net

RACING NEWS THE WAY IT IS MEANT TO BE

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations and INDYCAR announced that Firestone will continue to serve as the sole tire supplier to the IZOD IndyCar Series through the 2013 season.

Late last week the companies announced that they would allow the Firestone sponsorship and supply contract to expire at the end of the 2011 season.

“At the end of last week, we had reached the deadline where both organizations had to make a decision regarding the future to prepare our individual operations for the long term,” INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard said. “This is one of those decisions that it is imperative that you have the team owners 100 percent behind you. Early this week we called a meeting to walk the team owners through the process and hear their input. I’m happy to say we walk as one with Firestone.

“We feel that this new supply agreement will benefit everyone. It provides a proven safe and reliable Firestone product for the transition to the all-new cars for 2012. We have to thank everyone at Firestone for working with us to help ensure the best for the long-term growth of our sport."

Firestone has supplied tires to the IZOD IndyCar Series since 1996 and has been the official tire supplier since 2002. The new agreement does not include Firestone Indy Lights, the developmental series for drivers and teams striving to reach the top level of open-wheel racing in North America. Firestone will remain as title sponsor and tire supplier of the development series through this season.

“INDYCAR called a meeting to inform the team owners of Firestone’s departure,” said Dennis Reinbold, co-owner of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. “When we learned of this, we encouraged INDYCAR to check with Firestone to see if there might be any chance to continue. We feel that it is important to maintain continuity with their excellent tires as we transition to the new car for 2012.

"The team owners are collectively very relieved that Firestone had an open mind and that they were able to reach this agreement with INDYCAR. Firestone Racing tires are not only important from a safety and reliability standpoint, but they contribute greatly to the wheel-to-wheel competition for which our sport is famous.”

Firestone tires are manufactured in Akron, Ohio, and the decision likely will affect almost 50 hourly workers and 20 salaried employees. The Firestone brand has been associated with racing since 1911 when its tires were on the winnng car of the inaugural Indianapolis 500.

“We are pleased that we were able to reach this agreement with INDYCAR,” Firestone Racing executive director Al Speyer said. “As we prepare to celebrate our involvement in the 100th anniversary of the first Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, we are also focused on the future and the great opportunities that lie ahead.

"While we’ve reached the pinnacle of success in the IndyCar racing, we’re happy to extend our relationship with the IZOD IndyCar Series through 2013 and to continue our winning partnership. Meanwhile, we will continue to evaluate all options for promoting the Firestone brand inside and outside of motorsports, as the Firestone brand is a very important part of our business.”

Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations is a unit of Bridgestone Americas, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. Reporting to the BATO business unit are the company's Latin American tire operations; the U.S. and Canadian consumer tire businesses; the U.S. and Canadian commercial tire businesses; and Bridgestone Retail Operations, which operates the largest network of company-owned automotive service providers in the world. BATO develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires.
Drama will be intensified at IZOD IndyCar Series races this season with the inclusion of side-by-side restarts at all venues, starting with the season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 27.

The IZOD IndyCar Series decided to adopt side-by-side restarts on road and street circuits following input from its drivers and teams, complementing the rule on ovals announced Jan. 11 by president of competition and racing operations Brian Barnhart. He also announced that the restart zone would move closer to the start-finish line.

“After seeking input following our initial restart announcement, we felt it was best to be consistent with the rule and use it at every track,” Barnhart said. “Whether on short ovals, superspeedways, temporary circuits or road courses, side-by-side restarts will certainly be entertaining and further intensify our on-track action.

“We are still contemplating adding a ‘free pass’ element, often referred to as ‘Lucky Dog’ by TV commentators, to the restart procedure but we want to hear from the fans.”

Procedures immediately following a yellow caution period and leading up to resumption of green flag racing at each event include:

• Once the indicators of caution are displayed, cars are grouped single file according to their running order behind the safety car. Any car that has passed the pit commit line at the time the caution is called may proceed without penalty to pit lane for service, blend at pit out and rejoin the field. This eliminates the "no man's land."

• When IZOD IndyCar Series officials declare the pits open, lead-lap cars are eligible to pit (displayed by a plus sign at pit in).

• All remaining cars will pit on the next lap (displayed by a minus sign at pit in). Cars enter and leave pit road at an equal, controlled speed and are placed behind the lead-lap cars in order of when they cross the blend line.

• Once cars are grouped behind the safety car and the race leader is established, all cars between the safety car and the race leader are waved around to take their positions at the rear of the ?eld. This allows lapped cars that did not pit to get one lap back and the race leader to lead the ?eld to the green ?ag on the restart.

• The race leader will have the option to restart on the left or the right and the second-place car lining up on the opposite side. This only applies to the cars restarting on the front row; the remaining cars will line up side-by-side for the restart as the grid was set for the start of the race (i.e. driver’s right or driver’s left).

The first oval race of the season is the Indianapolis 500 on May 29. The restart zone for all ovals will be on the frontstretch.

“Most of the ovals we run two- and three-wide anyway so what’s the difference?” Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing driver Graham Rahal said. “It will make it more exciting for the fans, there will be more passes and there will be more crashes. It’s a fact for those team owners. That’s going to emphasize you and your row getting the jump pretty good.”

Thursday, March 10, 2011
Ford NASCAR drivers in a street legal Mustang, a Tony Stewart-owned sprint car, two supermodifieds, and a world superbike champion will attempt to establish half-mile closed course records in the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile Speed Trials” Saturday, March 19, immediately following the Scotts EZ Seed 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race.

“The World’s Fastest Half-Mile issued a challenge to the fastest of the fast,” said BMS Executive Vice President and General Manager Jerry Caldwell. “For the first time in years, fans will witness an all-out attack for speed. This challenge ignites new creativity in the racing world to stretch speed boundaries in the most intense, close-quarters setting in motorsports.”

As part of Bristol Motor Speedway’s 50th anniversary celebration, the Speedway extended invitations to several motorsports champions from wide-ranging motorsports disciplines to set class half-mile closed-course records, as well as break the 11-year-old track record.

Former NASCAR Cup driver Brad Noffsinger, Mike Lichty and Bryan Clauson will chase Sammy Swindell’s all-time Bristol track record of 138.442 mph (13.860 seconds), set during qualifying for a World Of Outlaws winged sprint car event at Bristol in June 2000.

Noffsinger and Lichty will be first to try out supermodifieds, the most exotic cars to hit Bristol’s high banks, while Clauson will run one of Tony Stewart’s pavement sprint cars.

Former AMA and World Superbike Champion Scott Russell will attempt to set a half-mile closed-course motorcycle speed record riding a Yamaha superbike. The five-time Daytona 200 winner brings substantial experience on high banked ovals, though never one as tight as Bristol’s half-mile.

Ford Racing enters its supercharged 2011 Mustang GT to Bristol to establish a half-mile closed course record for street legal cars. Ford NASCAR drivers David Ragan and Marcos Ambrose are expected to drive the ultimate "pony car" into the record books. The Mustang’s 5.0 liter engine is topped off by Ford Racing's twin-screw supercharger and cranks out 624 horsepower. To balance all that power with more driver control, the factory suspension comes equipped with a FR3 handling pack and Ford Racing/Brembo big brake kit.

Competitors will have one hour, from approximately 5 until 6 p.m., to make record runs following the Scotts EZ Seed 300. The “World’s Fastest Half-Mile Speed Trials” is a bonus event for the Nationwide Series race ticketholders.

The Speed Trials will begin after the conclusion of the Scotts EZ Seed 300. The driver and car line-ups are subject to change.