Archive for NASCAR
BIGGEST EVENT IN GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY HISTORY SET FOR SATURDAY, SEPT. 15
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Grandview Speedway
NEWS FROM GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY
Presenting NASCAR sanctioned stock car racing plus special events
SERIOUS STOCK CAR RACING ENTERTAINMENT
Event promoter: Bruce Rogers @610.754.7688
Media Contact: Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc.
Ernie Saxton @ 215.752.7797
Fax @ 215.752.1518
E-mail: Esaxton144@aol.com
Cell/Text: 267.934.7286
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PLEASE WITH OUR THANKS
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COMING EVENTS:
Saturday, September 15, 7 p.m. A history marking event!!! BPG Racing Freedom 76 $50,000 To Win Championship for the 358 Modifieds. $40 for adults, $10 for youngsters 6 through 12 and under 6 admitted FREE.
Sunday, September 23, 1 p.m. NEETS Enduro Racing, 100 laps for big cars, 100 laps for small cars and 25 laps for Ladies. Also Blast from the Past Vintage Cars. $7 for adults
Sunday, September 30, 1 p.m. NEETS Enduro Racing and Blast From the Past Vintage Cars - $7
Saturday, October 13, 6 p.m. Thunder on the Hill Racing Series featuring 358 Modifieds, URC Sprints, ARDC Midgets, Sportsman, Legends, Monster Smash Demo Derby, Blast from the Past and Garden State Vintage Cars plus Vince’s Towing Owners Race. A Halloween Party Celebration.
Sunday, November 11, 7 a.m. to ??? Fall Racer’s Flea Market
Saturday, November 17th, 6 p.m. 50th Anniversary Awards Banquet, Gilbertsville, PA Fire Co. Social Hall
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THE BIGGEST EVENT IN THE 50 SEASON HISTORY OF GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY TAKES PLACE SATURDAY, THE BPG RACING FREEDOM 76
Standing room areas will be made available if needed
BECHTELSVILLE, PA September 14, 2012 . . . Interest is running very high in the $50,000 to win BPG Racing Freedom 76 at Grandview Speedway set to take place on Saturday, September 15th at 7 p.m.
Thousands of fans are expected to fill the grandstands to see many of the top racing talents in dirt track modified racing test their skills in an effort to win the $50,000 first place money along with lap sponsorship money. Many feel this race, part of the 50th anniversary celebration for the speedway, will attract the largest crowd ever seen at the historic racing facility.
A full series of qualifying heat races along with consolation events and the Schaeffer Motorsports Minuteman 20 will decide the starters in the Freedom 76, 76 laps of action on the one-third-mile, banked clay oval, in addition to the five guaranteed starters that include New York racers Danny Johnson and Billy Decker, 2012 NASCAR Whelen All American Series track champion Duane Howard, Forrest Rogers Memorial presented by Pioneer Pole Buildings winner Kevin Hirthler and second place point finisher Doug Manmiller. Winners of the event during the last 25 years have been invited to make a qualifying attempt and should they not make it during their qualifying effort they will be added to the back of the starting field. It is expected that at least 34 Modifieds will start the race.
In addition fans will have the opportunity to see the heat winners and guaranteed starters run in the 10-lap Mertz Flying Mullet Cash Dash worth $1,500 to the winner.
The cars raced by Duane Howard, Late Model champion Chuck Schutz, Sportsman champion Jared Umbenhauer will be on display in the first turn area along with other race cars early in the afternoon. The champions will be interviewed late in the afternoon, estimating 5 p.m., by track announcer Ernie Saxton (he has announced all the Freedom 76 races) on the victory lane stage in the infield.
Tickets for the BPG Racing Freedom 76 will go on sale at 3:30 p.m. after all advance and season ticket holders are allowed to enter the speedway at 3 p.m. Adult tickets are priced at $40, youngsters 6 through 12 will pay $10 and children under 6 are admitted free. The Speedway does not accept credit cards.
There is a rain date set for Saturday, September 22nd that will follow the same schedule if needed.
With the huge crowd expected for this event should all seats be filled there will be standing room only opportunities made available in the main grandstand areas, the infield (in a protected area) and in the backstretch pit grandstand area. Prices will be posted.
There is free parking available on the speedway grounds. Campers are asked to stay close to the fourth turn area or head across the street. There is no block parking of campers and no roping off of areas permitted. There is additional parking in areas surrounding the speedway.
A special BPG Racing Freedom 76 tshirt is available at the novelty stand and a Grandview Speedway/BPG Racing Freedom 76 Yearbook/Program will also be available (including 10 pages of color including the covers) for $7.
Additional information including directions, lodging suggestions and weather can be found at www.grandviewspeedway.com or telephone 610.754.7688
-end-
MEDIA NOTE: On behalf of the Rogers family let me again extend our thanks for the great support given the BPG Racing Freedom 76. If I can be of any assistance with your race coverage please be in touch. Thank you. Ernie Saxton
ERNIE SAXTON COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
MOTORSPORTS MARKETING - SPONSORSHIP CONSULTANT
PUBLIC RELATIONS - JOURNALIST - BROADCASTER
215.752.7797 - OFFICE
267.934.7286 - CELL/TEXT
ESAXTON144@AOL.COM
MARILYN'S DIRECT LINE -215.752.2392
www.saxtonsponsormarket.com
Game to be played prior to Camden Riversharks baseball game at Campbell’s Field in Camden, N.J.
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DOVER, Del. – Dover International Speedway and Pocono Raceway are pleased to announce the tracks are teaming up for a celebrity softball game featuring NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Carl Edwards and Jeff Burton on Tuesday, May 15 at Campbell’s Field, home of the Camden Riversharks in Camden, N.J.
The game, billed as Team Dover vs. Team Pocono, marks the first time two NASCAR tracks have joined forces to promote their respective races. Edwards, driver of the No. 99 Fastenal Ford, will lead the Monster Mile squad, while Burton, who pilots the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet, will captain “The Tricky Triangle” team.
The teams rosters will be filled out with drivers from the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, as well Philadelphia-area athletes and celebrities, and members of the local media. As they are announced, updated rosters will be posted at DoverSpeedway.com and PoconoRaceway.com, as well as Facebook.com/DoverInternationalSpeedway and Facebook.com/PoconoRaceway, and on Twitter at @MonsterMile and @PoconoRaceway.
Gates open at 4 p.m. with the game beginning at 4:30 p.m. Following the game, Edwards and Burton will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the 7:05 p.m. Lancaster Barnstormers vs. Camden Riversharks baseball game.
During the Barnstormers vs. Riversharks game, both tracks will be giving away tickets to their respective NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races each inning — the June 3 “FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks” race for Dover and the June 10 “Pocono 400” race for Pocono.
Access to the Team Dover vs. Team Pocono celebrity softball game is free with a ticket to that night’s baseball game. Tickets for the Riversharks game start at just $5, and all children ages 16 and younger that wear their NASCAR gear get in free. In addition, the United Way of Camden County offers free admission for any child that wears the uniform of the little league team they play for to the game. For tickets, call 1-866-SHARKS-9 or visit www.riversharks.com.
NASCAR action returns to Dover International Speedway June 1-3, 2012 with the June 3 “FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, the June 2 “5-hour ENERGY 200” NASCAR Nationwide Series race and the June 1 “Lucas Oil 200” NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. For tickets or more information, call 800-441-RACE or click here.
Then, June 8-10, NASCAR’s top national circuit heads north to newly-repaved Pocono Raceway for the “Pocono 400” weekend June 8-10. The racing action kicks off with the “Pocono 200” ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards race on June 9 and will be followed by the “Pocono 400” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on June 10. For tickets or more information, call 1-800-RACEWAY or visit PoconoRaceway.com.
BIG CROWDS FILL THE AISLES DURING THREE DAY MOTORSPORTS 2012 SHOW
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Tony Stewart's # 14 Sprint Cup car at Motorsports 2012
NEWS FROM:
MOTORSPORTS 2012 PRESENTED BY VP’S SEF SMALL ENGINE FUELS
RACE CAR AND TRADE SHOW
Promoter: Len Sammons @ 609.888.3618
MEDIA CONTACT: Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc.
Ernie Saxton @ 215.752.7797
Fax: 215.752.1518
Cell: 267.934.7286
Email: Esaxton144@aol.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PLEASE WITH OUR THANKS
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BIG CROWDS MAKE MOTORSPORTS 2012 A SUCCESS STORY FOR 27TH YEAR
OAKS, PA January 23, 2011 . . . Large crowds jammed the aisles and exhibitors did brisk business at the Motorsports 2012 Presented by SEF Small Engine Fuels Race Car and Trade Show. Racers, fans and promoters filled the three day show at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center to see just about everything imaginable in motorsports. Attendance was up considerably over past years for Friday and on the closing day, Sunday. A big crowd filled the Expo on Saturday despite the first winter storm to hit the area this season.
NASCAR Sprint Cup star Matt Kenseth, four time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday, drag racing legend Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins, five time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion crew chief Chad Knaus, former NASCAR star now SPEED TV personality Jimmy Spencer and a host of other well known figures in the sport were on hand to visit with fans and sign autographs.
“Our sales were good this year and every year. We know the market, the people know we are going to be here and give them good prices,” said Jeff Behrent of Behrent’s Performance Warehouse (Florida, NY).
Other vendors, filling more than 600 exhibit areas, shared the same enthusiasm about the show with several already making plans to return with the show takes place again in January, 2013.
No less than 250 race vehicles representing a wide variety of motorsports were won display and enjoyed by the fans.
Attendees also had the opportunity to visit various speedway displays collecting information on the 2012 season that will help them make plans for the events they want to attend.
“We do this show to meet the racing public, get exposure, and give something back to the sport, “ said VP Racing Fuels’ Fred Turza. “The Motorsports show has been excellent for what we are trying to achieve.”
One of the many highlights of the show was the annual BPG Racing Ms Motorsports Pageant won this year by Ms. Samantha Legas. The 20-year-old resident of Savannah, NY picked up $1,500 as the new Ms. Motorsports and will now represent the show through a number of personal appearances at motorsports events throughout 2012.
“I never expected to win Ms. Motorsports since I never had entered a pageant before,” said Legas. “I enjoy modeling, I enjoy racing and this is an opportunity to do both. I’m really looking forward to it.”
First Runner-up was 21-year-old Kasey Missimer of Bechtelsville, PA representing NASCAR sanctioned Grandview Speedway. Kasey also has the opportunity to be Miss AARN. Should Legas not be able to fulfill her obligations as Ms. Motorsports Kasey would step in.
Second Runner-up honors went to Mindy English of Addison, NY. The Dangerous Wines Swimsuit Winner was Kimmie Trout of Reading, PA.
The MetalFab sponsored Sunday activities included the Little Miss Motorsports Pageant with eight year old Carlee Strunk, daughter of 358 Modified racer Glenn Strunk, of Bechtelsville, PA earning the title. First Runner-up was Brianna Carter of New Egypt, NJ with Second Runner-up honors going to Kylie Murray of Pottstown, PA.
In the Tiny Miss Motorsports Pageant seven year old Samantha Idele of Southampton, NJ walked off with the top prize while First Runner-up honors went to Raclyn Eisenhard who calls Reading, PA home. Second Runner-up was Samantha Grice of Newark, Delaware.
Also on Sunday Joshua Fisher lead Jacob Reinfendifer and Cody West across the finish line in the 7-9 bracket of the Big Wheel racing action. Shane Rothman was tops in the 5-6 year old class with Bryce Smith and Gunnar Zeiner (son of late model racer Zane Zeiner) following. Mia Hirschman, granddaughter of asphalt modified racer Tony Hirschman Sr., won the 3-4 year old feature with Mackenzie Adams and Lainden Hinds finishing second and third.
Best Booth Awards were earned by:
Best In Show: Four Star Lettering
Best Commercial Booth: DMI
Best Quarter Midget Booth: Doylestown Quarter Midgets (Honeybrook)
Best Vintage Club: Garden State Vintage Stock Car Club
Best Speedway Booth: NASCAR sanctioned Grandview Speedway
Best Car Award went to:
Best Stock Car: Matt Jester (BD Media Booth)
Best Open Cockpit Car: Nick Schlauch, Sr. (Lincoln Speedway Booth)
Best Drag Car: Mike Clayboss 1970 Buick (VP Booth)
Best Vintage Stock Car: Frankie Schneider Sedan (Nazareth Reunion)
Best Vintage Open Cockpit Car: “White Phantom” (Flemington Historical)
Plans for the 2013 edition the Motorsports show will be announced shortly. Companies wishing to get on the mailing list to receive 2013 exhibitor information, which will be available in less than a month, can do so by writing to motorsports@aarn.com. Fans can also join the mailing list by writing to the same address.
“We would love to hear from show attendees/fans/racers with their opinions about the show,” said show producer Len Sammons. “We are always looking for suggestions regarding the show. We think we had a great show this time around but we always feel there is room for improvement.”
MEDIA NOTE: Our thanks to all of you for making this another successful event. Ernie Saxton on behalf of Len Sammons Productions.
ERNIE SAXTON COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Motorsports Marketing - Sponsorship Consultant
Columnist- Broadcaster
215.752.7797 - PA. Office
386-677-5152 - Florida until March 16
267.934.7286 - cell/text
Esaxton144@aol.com
www.saxtonsponsormarket.com
NASCAR Season Off to a Rough Start
Posted by: | CommentsNASCAR Sprint Cup drivers appeared a bit rusty in today's practice sessions for Saturday's Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway. When the smoke cleared, six Cup cars were trashed by crashes involving seven drivers.
The first incident occurred just 20 minutes into the first practice session when Denny Hamlin tapped Mark Martin going into turn 1, triggering a wreck that also collected Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer (subbing for an ill Kevin Harvick) and Jamie McMurray.
The second practice session didn't fair much better, as Juan Montoya bumped Kurt Busch into the frontstretch wall just three minutes after the track went green.
All but Juan Montoya had to pull out back-up cars.
Jeff Burton topped the first practice session at 193.303 mph. Kasey Kahne was fastest in the second session at 191.673 mph.
Two practice sessions are scheduled Friday for the Daytona 500 (2:00pm ET and 4:00pm ET). The Budweiser Shootout will kick off the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season at 8:00pm ET on Saturday.
Mustang to Make NASCAR Debut in 2010
Posted by: | CommentsFord Motorsports announced Tuesday that its Mustang model will make its NASCAR debut in 2010. It'll be the first time the Mustang brand has competed in NASCAR and the first Ford coupe in the Nationwide Series since the 1997 Thunderbird. The new Mustang will be coordinated with NASCAR's transition of the Nationwide Series' cars to the "Car of Tomorrow" platform. The platform will be nearly identical to that currently used in the Sprint Cup division, however the plan is to use different body styles in the Nationwide Series.
Image of 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series Ford Mustang, courtesy Ford Motorsports.
NASCAR expects to phase in the new car over 5 or 6 races in the 2010 season before employing the car full-time in 2011. The Chevrolet, Dodge and Toyota manufacturers have not officially announced which model they intend to submit for the new car design, however Dodge is rumored to propose its Challenger brand for 2010. NASCAR is interested in differentiating body styles from its highly-criticized Sprint Cup COT. According to a release made available from NASCAR.com, the new Nationwide car will sport a rear spoiler (rather than a wing) and a spring front suspension (rather than bump stops). The front splitter will apparently carry over from the Sprint Cup COT.
Ford Motorsports claims the Mustang has accumulated over 2,000 professional race victories. The fifth-generation Ford Mustang has enjoyed success in the KONI Challenge, SCCA Speed World Challenge and Formula Drift events. Ford has competed in the NASCAR Nationwide Series since its inception in 1982 under various brand names: Fairmont (1982-1986), Mercury Cougar (1984), Thunderbird (1987-1997), Taurus (1998-2005), and Fusion (2006-Present).
Click here to read the press release from Ford Racing.
Here's my take on it: I think this is a great step in the right direction for NASCAR and the car manufacturers. It seems that NASCAR is taking a conservative approach with the new car's debut; I think they could have been more aggressive though. While it's certainly an improvement over the Sprint Cup COT -- "let's just put headlight decals on the thing and pretend it's a stock car" -- they could have gone a little further and allowed a more stock body and -- dare I say -- allowed the various makes to have different downforce numbers.
Why not take the guts of the COT platform (e.g., the frame, etc.) and throw a fully stock body on top of it? Drop in a front valence and rear spoiler for safety and then let them drive it. No headlight decals allowed. Whoever builds the better car wins. And it would be great to have something that handles dramatically different than the Sprint Cup cars to throw those drivers for a loop. Let the manufacturers duke it out for a little added drama.
We'll see how it goes. It has to be better than the Fusion.
Happy Harvick Not So Happy?
Posted by: | CommentsTim Tuttle at SI.com, citing "multiple sources", is reporting that Kevin Harvick is asking out of his contract with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) after this season. Harvick has another year remaining on the contract, but according to the report he is looking to move over to Stewart-Haas Racing, perhaps taking sponsor Shell/Pennzoil with him.
RCR has had a poor season so far in 2009 and Harvick is mired back in 25th in the point standings, pretty much putting him out of contention for the championship. Meanwhile Tony Stewart has had a remarkable season with his new team, posting fifteen Top-10s and two wins. Stewart leads the driver standings by 175 points over Jeff Gordon. The NASCAR Sprint Cup season passed the halfway point after Sunday's race at Chicagoland.
Harvick stepped into the RCR #29 team after Dale Earnhardt was fatally injured at Daytona in 2001. The team changed numbers from 3 to 29 out of respect for Earnhardt. In just his third start for the team, Harvick posted his first win in a photo finish at the Atlanta race in March.
Harvick has not won a Sprint Cup race since the 2007 Daytona 500.
Weatherman For Hire
Posted by: | CommentsI find it interesting to see how often drivers are able to "steal" a victory of sorts by gambling on the weather. Oftentimes it's the teams that can afford to actually take the chance (e.g., those that have little to lose) that actually go through with it, but it's not unusual to see a team successfully pull it off once or twice a season.
With the modern advances in both weather and computer technology a team is capable of making much better judgments about the changing weather conditions than, say, 10-15 years ago.
Weather radar can now be brought down to street-level precision -- more than enough to identify a race track on the map. Precipitation is displayed real-time with both direction and speed, allowing for one to determine whether the shower is going to affect the track and if so, exactly when it should arrive. Furthermore, rainfall rates and duration can be analyzed to determine if the shower is going to just wet down the track, or be enough to wash out the remainder of the race.
Now I'm not necessarily suggesting that each team go out and hire a certified meteorologist (though I wouldn't be surprised if teams had them already, perhaps to predict the weekend's forecast to help the crew chief with the car's setup), but in these large teams that have 50, 100, or 200+ employees, you'd have to believe that they would have 1 or 2 that are weather enthusiasts that are sufficiently equipped to find and interpret weather data.
If rain is forecast for race day... wouldn't you want such a person in your pit area?
John Calla is a professional meteorologist. He has over 15 years experience watching The Weather Channel and 25 years experience shoveling snow. He also took an introductory level meteorology class in college. Mr. Calla will work for food.
