Backstretch Motorsports

Some Questions Following The 2010 Indianapolis 500

Diecast Dude — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 04:41:56 +0000

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Simona de Silvestro and Danica Patrick

A few — well, more than a few — questions after yesterday’s Indianapolis 500, dominated by Dario Franchitti:

What happened to Penske? Everything leading up to the race was the sole property of Penske cars, with everyone else relegated to Happy To Be Here status. However, the moment Jack Nicholson waved the green flag, most everyone and everything under Roger’s command transformed from kingpins to the Keystone Kops. Huge mistakes on pit road; subpar on-track performances. Why? Granted, you would have had to have been perfect to be within shouting distance of Franchitti, whose performance was flawless. But still, an odd off day. Especially on the biggest day of the year. No offense to Kurt Busch, but when he’s the star performer in your stable, something is off-kilter.

Why is there such a performance gap between Ganassi and Penske compared to all other teams? Yesterday (as far as Penske is concerned) notwithstanding, it is a rare occurrence when anyone other than a Penske or Ganassi driver isn’t atop the podium. Why? The car hasn’t changed in years. The cars are identical from team to team. There is no manufacturer advantage. Granted, Ganassi and Penske boast a stellar lineup of talent behind the wheel. But they don’t have a monopoly on this. So why the disparity? It’s not good for the IRL, which right now needs all the competition it can muster in order to get some attention on the national sports scene.

Who will Dreyer & Reinbold put in the #24 car? With Mike Conway sidelined for the year, someone needs to drive the Dad’s Root Beer float. While there are any number of qualified pilots, the best choice would be Ana Beatriz. She’s proven her mettle in both the Indy Lights series and with the big boys & girls. She’s demonstrated genuine potential to be in the upper echelon of open wheel. And there is the instant added publicity offered whenever a woman takes the wheel. C’mon D&R. Do the right thing.

Speaking of such… Yesterday heralded the continued gender integration of open wheel racing, in the same manner as NHRA has been. In the latter, whenever Ashley Force Hood or Karen Stouffer are in the staging area the thought isn’t “oh, there’s a woman.” It’s “oh, there is a top-notch driver.”

The issue facing Simona de Silvestro, as well as Beatriz and, yes, Danica, isn’t their lack of a Y chromosome or lack of ability. It’s not driving for Ganassi or Penske. Should their respective teams pick it up, the novelty will fade as the quality shines.

That said, female drivers will always have an instant edge in popularity over their male counterparts. For some reason, the media fails to grasp this fundamental, reacting in horror whenever slammed for slamming Danica or whoever. In its bleating how all drivers should be judged equally regardless of gender, it invariably overlooks multiple factors such as, oh, the quality of team for which they drive. As an example, has Sarah Fisher ever driven a car capable of winning? No. How, then, can we know what her true driving ability might be? We can’t. All we can do is wonder.

Switching over to Danica, she started at Rahal Letterman — second tier team — and from there moved to Andretti which has been struggling to be in the same ballpark as Penske and Ganassi. Consider her teammate Tony Kaanan. It’s been a long time since he has won. Has he forgotten how to drive? Is he an overrated hack? No. And neither is Danica.

It’s difficult to escape the conclusion that an alarmingly large number of writers covering auto racing do so not from the aspect of sport, but rather from the unholy trinity of entertainment, pop culture and personality. None of which can drive a car or turn a wrench worth a lick. These writers don’t know the sport itself, from either the mechanical or competitive aspects. And it shows.

Bob Dylan said it best when asked about whether he noted what critics said about his work: “You can’t listen to critics.” Listen to those who know by doing, or at the least have obtained genuine knowledge by listening to those who know by doing. Making things personal via obsessing over personality is journalism done on the cheap. Actually, it isn’t journalism at all.

Okay, off the soapbox and back to racing.

About Andretti Autosport… Considering the miserable time all members of said organization had at the cathedral of speed during practice and qualifying, the race results were very positive. Kaanan’s charge from the back was especially noteworthy. However, this alone doesn’t negate the fact that there are issues at AA needing to be addressed. IRL could use someone stepping up to challenge the Penske-Ganassi stranglehold. Who better, from the PR aspect if nothing else, than Andretti?

So what’s next for the IRL? In the immediate future, it’s Texas this Saturday night. This race needs to be a good one. Usually the host to awe-inspiring action and fantastic finishes, last year’s event was a snoozefest with zero excitement. Given how this coming Sunday finds NASCAR at poke-along Pocono, Texas is a golden opportunity for the IRL showcase itself. Here’s hoping it won’t blow it. Long term? To be discussed at a later time.

P.S. A personal note: thank you to everyone for your condolences over my mother passing away last week. Very much appreciated.

Psychedelic Super NASCAR

Diecast Dude — Thu, 20 May 2010 21:54:05 +0000

A few hopefully salient notes as we wander toward the weekend, preferably not daubed with saline from unnecessary anguished tears. But more on that in a bit.

Denny Hamlin’s pit crew won the whatever it’s called challenge yesterday evening, thus guaranteeing it will be mentioned in every race going forward whenever the #11 is in for service. Especially whenever said crew makes a boo-boo. Of such is the fate awaiting those who seldom receive notice save when things go very right or very, very wrong.

One can only hope this week’s adventures in legal beagle land have taught Jeremy Mayfield a couple of invaluable lessons. One, going up against NASCAR in court takes the old adage about bringing a knife to a gun fight to a whole ‘nuther level. Second, and far more important, get the eff away from drugs. Lest we forget, wasn’t that long ago when Mayfield made the Chase in consecutive seasons. Now he’s chasing the dragon. Not good.

There has been much wailing and gnashing of teeth in Junior Nation over his dismal performance in the past couple of races. Which is how fans of any driver should react when their favorite is struggling. However, the let’s-blame-Lance-McGrew-and/or-Rick Hendrick-for-it-all meme needs to go in the round file. They’re not driving the car, and they’re not the one who since the 2008 Chase have been looking, acting and speaking like a whipped puppy.
I like Dale Jr. A lot. But in racing, seldom if ever does the responsibility for everything that befalls a driver not doing well rest solely on their team. Or so much as primarily. The fury of the fans flew fast and thick at Bristol this past March when McGrew chided Earnhardt on the radio to not lay down on hIm when a good run turned sour due to Dale Jr. speeding on pit road. However, lately how often have we seen him drive like he did during the last lap of this year’s Daytona 500 when he tore through the field like a man possessed? Not very.

Winning in NASCAR requires many things. Featured among them is focused anger, the will to win regardless of cost. Mumbled comments delivered with head hung low is not said focused anger’s hallmark. I don’t know what’s eating Dale Jr. It’s not my business to know. What I do know is if he wants to get back to being Dale Jr. he needs to feed it something other than himself. Quickly.

Today’s video is brought to you courtesy of the mindset that empty sections of stands at Dover are really no big deal because there were a lot of people there anyway. Please stop pretending it’s 2005, kids.

Psychedelic Super Jesus

BRIDE | MySpace Music Videos

You want a NASCAR rivalry, you’ve got it: Jimmie Johnson vs. Kurt Busch

Diecast Dude — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:19:15 +0000

Jimmie Johnson celebrates in victory lane after winning the
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Food City 500 auto race at
Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn., Sunday, March 21, 2010.
(AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

While Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski have been gathering the majority of headlines these past two weeks for Edwards’ work in assisting Keselowski’s quest to understand what a backflip feels like, an actual rivalry has been brewing in NASCAR. The kind where winning, not wrecking, is the measuring stick of success.

Namely, Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch.

Today’s Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway was the latest installment.

And what an installment it was.

After dominating the majority of the race, Kurt Busch found himself on the outside of Victory Lane looking in while Jimmie Johnson celebrated the fiftieth Spring Cup victory of his career and third this season. Which considering there have been a total of five races… any way you slice it, that’s a nice average. For his efforts, Busch finished third, unable to match Johnson’s performance on the final restart when he went from fifth to first in a handful of laps and scooted away.

Kurt Busch is the most invisible Sprint Cup champion since the Chase format was invented. No doubt much of this was due to his intense unpopularity at the time he won it all in 2004, with an assist from how his younger brother Kyle has hogged the headlines since his ascendancy in the sport. Nevertheless, Kurt has continued to plug away, grinding it out during the Penske team slump and enjoying the fruits of his brother’s early Christmas present last year in the form of crew chief Steve Addington after Pat Tryson, Kurt’s crew chief last year, decided he looked better in NAPA blue than Miller Lite blue and thus went to MWR so he could sit on Martin Truex Jr.’s pit box. Addington and the elder Busch give every indication of having meshed well thus far, Kurt’s win in Atlanta along with two top five and three top ten finishes providing ample testimony to the belief this is working out.

Unfortunately for Busch, he’s having his resurgence at the same time Johnson is turning NASCAR into Tokyo with him playing Godzilla. Whether Busch can be Mothra and at least slow down Johnson’s awe-inspiring dominance remains to be seen. In a season where the most publicized aspects of NASCAR have been flapping gums and roof flaps failing to keep cars from imitating Chitty Chitty Bang Bang — well, other than what the driver says before his airborne and upside down vehicle goes bang into the wall or ground, whichever comes first — the on-track duel between Johnson and Busch has been one of the few racing highlights thus far. Busch has been layin’ ‘em down, while Johnson has been derailed once by parts failure and once by tire issues. Other than that he’s been invincible. Can Busch return him to the land of mere mortals? Based on the crowd reaction at Bristol today, more than a few people hope so.

Who said what about whom in the garage on Friday is of little, if any, genuine importance. It’s as meaningful as a home run during batting practice. Only what is said by deeds and not words when it’s live, not Memorex, counts. Johnson and Busch are doing their talking when the tape is rolling on Sunday. Right now, they’re saying a lot. For the season’s sake, here’s hoping they continue the conversation.

On to the next round at Martinsville.

Typing Is Tough, Talking Not So Much… Result: New Podcast

Diecast Dude — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:44:59 +0000

The Dude also returns.

Typing is super-painful this evening. Luckily, or not depending on how you look at it, my vocal chords are still intact. Hence a longer than usual podcast. Had a lot to talk about.

Yes, including the Carl Edwards/Brad Keselowski incident.

The spoken portion of the audio is unedited, so please forgive the occasional clunkers and microphone noise. I recorded it on my iPhone with earphones that have a mic attachment. Cut down on some noise, but picked up on others.

I’ll list the songs later this week.

You can listen to it here, or if you have iTunes subscribe to it here. The RSS feed is here. As always, please let me know what you think, and thanks.

Trundling Through Tuesday

Diecast Dude — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:28:56 +0000

A few assorted thoughts on this soggy Tuesday morning:

The spoiler’s coming! The spoiler’s coming! Jimmie Johnson will keep on winning anyway! Because that’s what he does.
Another crew member suspended for violating NASCAR’s substance abuse policy. Have you noticed it’s almost invariably someone on lesser teams who gets busted? Wonder why that is. The power players do a better job of screening job applicants, perhaps?
Since what happens in Vegas stays on the Internet, about last weekend, starting with Saturday. Somehow, the media managed to insert itself into both the major stories. First, Danicaphobia.
Over on the political side of things, one of the standard tactics used by the left whenever anyone says anything against President Obama is accusing them of being racist. Which far, far more often than not isn’t the case, as it is an ideological / political / philosophical divide creating dissent. Nevertheless, the charge of bigotry remains a favorite gambit. Using a chess reference, it’s something of a Sicilian Defense approach, one permitting an immediate switch from reaction to action should whoever made the first move falter. It also conveniently sidesteps any effort to actually defend against arguments based on ideology, politics and/or philosophy.

That all said, ofttimes those speaking against Obama leave themselves wide open to being labeled racist. How? They are unwilling, or unable, to phrase their statements in a logical, factual manner. They use emotion and sarcasm for sarcasm’s sake as their foundation. This invites being tagged as racist regardless of whether it has any part of their argument.

Now, switch this from racism to misogyny.

When a male journalist — unlike Bumpdrafts, I’ll name a name, that being Jeff Gluck — endlessly harps on the performance of a driver in their third Nationwide race, obsessing over their every moment and cackling with glee when said driver is something other than instant Jimmie Johnson, it is difficult to not suspect the motivation is based in something outside a dispassionate reporting of the facts. While certainly all are entitled to express their opinion, there is a point when enough is enough. There’s a race going on. In case you haven’t noticed.

When Danica Patrick and Michael McDowell had a close encounter of the unfortunate kind on the track, many including Gluck tripped over their own fingers in haste to label her as being the one responsible. When after the fact McDowell stated the entire incident was his fault, you never knew there were so many crickets in Las Vegas.

Whether Gluck and others incessantly snipe at Patrick for reasons other than professional opinion of her driving ability and/or warranting her ride is something known only to those involved. Labeling them sexist is a serious charge. Nevertheless, that is how they’re coming off.
As to Sunday, about all that can be said is come crunch time Chad Knaus will make the right call eleven times out of ten. Steve Letarte, not so much.

Finally, a personal note of thanks to everyone for your prayers and love during the past several days. It’s been rough. My aunt is now at peace, enjoying the fruits of a quiet life well lived. In a world where so many, not excluding myself in the least, forget to follow Christ’s teachings about doing what we are called to do without constantly calling attention to ourselves, her example is one I know in my heart is the right one to follow.

David Ragan - Atlanta Advance

NASCAR PR — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:01:16 +0000

Team:	No. 6 UPS Ford Fusion
Crew Chief:	Donnie Wingo
Chassis:	Primary: RK-615	Last ran Texas – finished 17th
	Backup: RK-670	Ran Homestead in 2009 as the No. 26 – finished 18th

Ragan, NSCS at Atlanta Motor Speedway:

Date	Event	S	F	Laps	Led	Status	Money
9-6-09	Pep Boys Auto 500	16	33	322/325	0	Running	$93,425
3-8-09	Kobalt Tools 500	39	19	327/330	0	Running	$85,650
10-26-08	Pep Boys Auto 500	13	8	325/325	0	Running	$119,625
3-9-08	Kobalt Tools 500	14	23	323/325	0	Running	$83,950
10-28-07	Pep Boys Auto 500	37	33	320/329	0	Running	$120,700
3-18-07	Kobalt Tools 500	38	33	322/325	0	Running	$104,125

	Races	Wins	Top-5s	Top-10s	Poles	Led	Money
Spring	3	0	0	0	0	0	$273,725
Fall	3	0	0	1	0	0	$333,750
Cumulative Races	6	0	0	1	0	0	$607,475

Ragan on racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway:

“I’m pretty pumped up to be going back to my hometown track. I love going to Atlanta, it’s close to home and the track is fun to race at. It’s a fast track with multiple grooves, which lets us choose different lines around the track. We’ve had some average weeks so far, but need to step it up and get a good hometown finish. UPS is also based in Atlanta, so we really want to get a good finish for them.”

Crew chief Donnie Wingo on racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway:

“I really like racing at Atlanta. There are multiple grooves and the tires wear out fast so it makes the driver have to work their way around the track to find different lines. It really is a challenging track because of the rate the tires wear out. So if you aren’t too fast to start with and you can be consistent on a long run, you’ll be better off in the end. Atlanta is home to David and our sponsor UPS, so we’re looking to get a good finish for everyone.”

FAST FACTS

Hometown Boy: Atlanta Motor Speedway is David Ragan’s hometown track. Ragan is originally from Unadilla Ga., located approximately 90 miles from Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Ragan has six prior starts in the Cup Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway. His best finish was eighth place in the fall of 2008.
A win this weekend would make David the first driver to win at Atlanta with primary sponsorship from Atlanta-based, UPS.
Ragan has three Nationwide starts at Atlanta. His best finish was ninth in the fall race of 2009.
Ragan made two Truck Series starts in 2006 at Atlanta for Roush Fenway Racing.

UPS Maximum Center Recognition— Atlanta Motor Speedway

The Pleasantdale West Center (SLIC - 3014) in the Georgia District was selected for the March 7 Kolbalt Tools 500 as part of the UPS Center Recognition Program. The Pleasantdale West Center, one of the top two centers in the district for 2009, is recognized for its exceptional service performance, which includes range of dispatch, exception scan and delivery scan frequency, and net delivered per piece and inside pieces per hour performance.

New Pennzoil Ultra Hyper Cleansing Technology Under the Hood of Richard Childress Racing Vehicles in 2010

NASCAR PR — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:24:46 +0000

Technical Relationship with Pennzoil Helps Team Develop Winning Motor Oil Formulations

HOUSTON, March 1 - In 2010, Richard Childress Racing will run with Pennzoil’s cutting edge Hyper Cleansing Technology(TM). When Pennzoil and Shell Oil Company began a multi-year agreement in 2007 with Richard Childress Racing as the primary sponsor of the No. 29 Chevrolet driven by Kevin Harvick, an important technical support program between Pennzoil and RCR began as well. Pennzoil scientists worked directly with the race team to engineer their most technologically advanced motor oil available on the market, Pennzoil Ultra(TM).

Building new engines and keeping them clean and protected week in and week out is essential for race teams. Pennzoil and RCR work together throughout each race season to test motor oils in the harshest racing environments in an effort to gain insight and develop technology that can be used both on-track and in consumer vehicles on-the-road. The payoff of that relationship is evident in the new ultra-class synthetic motor oil, Pennzoil Ultra(TM), which is an advanced proprietary synthetic formula that far exceeds the most stringent car manufacturer standards(1) and already exceeds the 2010 GF-5 specification’s requirements for cleanliness and protection. Nothing keeps an engine closer to factory clean.(2)

“Our engines are built to be extremely efficient. With engine heat rising up in some cases to over 280 degrees Fahrenheit in tolerances that we measure to a thousandth of an inch, it is essential that our engines are maintained in clean, pristine condition and we look to our team at Pennzoil to provide that,” said Danny Lawrence, Engine Builder and Trackside Manager for Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines, the high performance engine production and research and development company established in 2007. “In racing, even the smallest deposits can rob performance and lead to catastrophic engine failure and Pennzoil technology helps provide exactly what we need to keep our engines running clean.”

Kevin Harvick remained atop the leader board after a second-place finish at the Shelby American at Las Vegas Motor Speedway presented by Pennzoil Ultra on Sunday, February 28. On February 6, in an invigorating start to the 2010 NASCAR season, Kevin Harvick became the fourth driver to win back-to-back Budweiser Shootout titles. The achievement marked the seventh win in the exhibition race for the RCR team, more than any other organization.

“We ran Pennzoil racing motor oil with Hyper Cleansing Technology(TM) in the car during the Budweiser Shootout and the Las Vegas race,” said Gil Martin, Crew Chief, Shell-Pennzoil No. 29 car. “Pennzoil always provides tremendous support on and off the track that allows for our cars to challenge for the head of the pack.”

The new Pennzoil Ultra(TM) ultra class synthetic motor oil is the output of a global team of scientists pursuing the goal of maintaining an engine in factory-clean condition. Pennzoil’s technical support program with RCR provides the race team with the most advanced motor oil technology along with the support of a team of industry leading scientists. Through excellent collaboration, Pennzoil’s team of scientists engineer motor oils that resist heat, shear and wear, while keeping the engine clean even during the most demanding race conditions.

While the level of performance in most street cars won’t match that of an ECR engine, the cleansing and protection of passenger car engines is still vital. Pennzoil Ultra(TM) offers Hyper Cleansing Technology(TM) that is designed to seek out and dissolve contaminants safely into the oil before harmful deposits form that can create sludge or corrode engine parts. In fact, nothing keeps your engine closer to factory clean than Pennzoil Ultra(TM). The oil not only prevents deposits, but it also gently lifts existing sludge deposits off engine surfaces and dissolves them safely into the oil. Pennzoil Ultra(TM) also cleans out more engine sludge than the brand’s next best oil, Pennzoil Platinum®. (3)

“At Pennzoil, we leverage our global technology to develop technically advanced motor oils,” said Luis Guimaraes, general manager, North American marketing, for Pennzoil. “We are very proud of our newest addition to the Pennzoil family of motor oils. Pennzoil Ultra(TM) is an advanced synthetic motor oil that keeps engines close to factory clean, and no leading synthetic motor oil provides better wear protection than Pennzoil Ultra(TM).(4)”

Richard Childress Racing uses and recommends Pennzoil Ultra(TM) technology exclusively as the formulations provide cleansing and protection even in the most rigorous racing conditions. New Pennzoil Ultra(TM) 5W-20, 5W-30 and 10W-30 viscosities can be found in major automotive retailers nationwide. Pennzoil Ultra(TM) 5W-40 and 10W-60 viscosities can be found at retailers and installers servicing mostly European cars. For additional information, please visit www.Pennzoil.com.

About Pennzoil®

Pennzoil® is the #1-selling motor oil and one of the most trusted brands in America. The Pennzoil line of quality products meets or exceeds industry specifications to offer exceptional engine protection, and includes Pennzoil Ultra(TM) motor oil with Hyper Cleansing Technology(TM), Pennzoil Platinum® Full Synthetic motor oil, Pennzoil® Advanced Protection motor oil, Pennzoil® SUV, Truck & Minivan motor oil, Pennzoil High Mileage Vehicle® motor oil, and Pennzoil Marine® engine oil. For more information about Pennzoil products, please visit www.pennzoil.com

Pennzoil is produced and marketed by Shell Lubricants. The term ‘Shell Lubricants’ collectively refers to the companies of Royal Dutch Shell that are engaged in the lubricants business. Shell Lubricants companies lead the lubricants industry, supplying 13% of global lubricants volume.(5) The companies manufacture and blend products for use in applications ranging from consumer motor oil and food processing oils to heavy industrial lubricants and commercial transport oils. The Shell Lubricants portfolio of top-quality brands includes Pennzoil®, Quaker State®, FormulaShell®, Shell TELLUS®, Shell CASSIDA®, Shell RIMULA®, Shell ROTELLA® T, Shell SPIRAX®, a portfolio of leading car care brands and Jiffy Lube® lubrication services.

About Royal Dutch Shell

Royal Dutch Shell is incorporated in England and Wales, has its headquarters in The Hague and is listed on the London, Amsterdam, and New York stock exchanges. Shell companies have operations in more than 100 countries with businesses including oil and gas exploration and production; production and marketing of Liquefied Natural Gas and Gas to Liquids; manufacturing, marketing and shipping of oil products and chemicals and renewable energy projects including wind and solar power. For further information, visit www.shell.com

Based on GF-4, Ford, Chrysler, GM and Ferrari specifications
Based on Sequence VG sludge test using SAE 5W-30
Based on a severe sludge clean-up test using SAE 5W-30
Based on Sequence IVA wear test using SAE 5W-30
Kline & Company, “Competitive Intelligence for the Global Lubricants Industry, 2008 - 2018.”

Crown Royal to Pit Fans against NASCAR Driver Matt Kenseth in Race Competition

NASCAR PR — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:12:57 +0000

“Race Matt” Promotion Allows Fans to Get Behind the Wheel to Win $17,000

After securing another top-five finish this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth will return to the Nevada track later in the year when the driver may face his stiffest competition yet. Crown Royal will run a season-long “Race Matt” promotion, where fans (where legally eligible) will be able to enter to race the former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, prior to the season-ending banquet.

In all, three fans will be selected at various intervals throughout the season to compete in the finale in Las Vegas for the chance to win $17,000. Each of the three winners will also receive a trip for two to Charlotte, N.C., where they will complete a mentorship program and tour the Roush Fenway Headquarters in an effort to prepare for their big day against Kenseth.

Crown Royal continues to identify new and exciting ways for their fans to feel like royalty throughout the race season, all while reinforcing its commitment to reminding fans to always “drink responsibly.”

Adult fans (21 and over) can enter the promotion at CrownRoyal.com throughout the season, and by entering will also automatically receive entry to a local market sweepstakes for a VIP at-track experience to a nearby track. The local program will be fulfilled at various tracks throughout the season, beginning on April 10, 2010.

NASCAR Hall of Fame Highlights Sport’s Roots with Latest Artifact

NASCAR News — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:22:10 +0000

Junior Johnson’s Moonshine Still to be Highlight of Pre-NASCAR Exhibit

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Feb. 28, 2010 – 71 days until opening) – Inaugural Inductee Junior Johnson revealed today a unique contribution to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the 150,000-square-foot interactive, entertainment attraction set to open May 11, 2010 in Charlotte, N.C.

Johnson, almost as famous for running moonshine as his racing career, is providing the NASCAR Hall of Fame a full-size, authentic moonshine still to be displayed in the pre-NASCAR Theater of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The still, which was built by Johnson, is identical to the stills used by Johnson and his family in years past.

“The still represents many facets of the sport for the NASCAR Hall of Fame,” said Winston Kelley, executive director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. “It helps show a key aspect of the true roots of stock car racing and NASCAR, and it displays the authenticity of the NASCAR Hall of Fame telling the breadth and depth of NASCAR’s past and present. We look forward to showing fans and non-fans all aspects of the sport, from its fascinating beginnings to the sophisticated technology used by teams today. NASCAR has thousands of vibrant stories to share, and this story is at the heart of the sport’s folklore.”

Telling these stories has been a massive undertaking for the NASCAR Hall of Fame exhibit team. Historian Buz McKim is charged with uncovering hidden treasures of the sport for display in the facility, which houses more than 40,000 square feet of exhibits and has more than 50 interactive displays. Even as the exhibits are being prepared for display, more great stories are being created.

“As we prepare the artifacts for display, some present unexpected challenges,” said McKim. “That was the case last week with the still. I called Junior to ask how to connect a couple of the parts of the still, and he just said he would drive down and help out. Sure enough, two hours later, Junior arrives with wrenches in hand and starts installing the still himself and offering direction to our exhibit fabrication team. Those are some of the cool moments of this job that really make you appreciate the people of this sport. Junior is a class act.”

Aside from cars and a transporter, the moonshine still is one of the largest historic items in the building. It is constructed of wood, metal and copper and features a cooker, two boilers, a dry barrel, a flake stand, condenser and strainer. The artifact will be on display in the Pre-NASCAR Theater, which tells the story of what led to the formation of NASCAR. It also highlights the history of the automobile prior to the 1948 inception of NASCAR. The Theater is on the fourth floor of the facility in Heritage Speedway, the artifact-rich area of the venue that focuses on the history of the sport.

A North Carolina native, Johnson made his first moonshine run at the age of 14. After years in the family business, he was convicted in 1956 on a charge of producing illegal liquor. He served 11 months in federal prison and years later was pardoned by President Ronald Reagan. It was the decades of running moonshine that led to Johnson’s career as a race-car driver, along with many other famous names in the sport.

Despite the colorful upbringing, it was Johnson’s illustrious racing career that earned him a place in history as one of NASCAR’s five Inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductees. He won the second Daytona 500 in 1960 and was credited for the discovery of drafting on superspeedways. He won 50 races at NASCAR’s premier level before becoming a car owner. His success continued as an owner where his drivers won 132 races and six championships. Johnson also was responsible for connecting R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company executives with Bill France Jr., which led to the 33-year partnership of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, predecessor to today’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Beginning May 11, fans can see Johnson’s moonshine still and learn more about NASCAR by visiting the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Tickets are on sale now at www.nascarhall.com or by calling 877-231-2010. Tickets are $19.95 for adults, $17.95 for seniors and military, $12.95 for children 5-12, and free for children younger than 5. Memberships provide unlimited entry for one year and start at $25 for children and $50 for adults annually. Group discounts, facility rentals and sponsorships also are available by calling 704-654-4400.

###

Opening May 11, 2010 in uptown Charlotte, N.C., the 150,000-square-foot NASCAR Hall of Fame is an interactive, entertainment attraction honoring the history and heritage of NASCAR. The high-tech venue, designed to educate and entertain race fans and non-fans alike, includes artifacts, interactive exhibits, 275-person state-of-the-art theater, Hall of Honor, Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant, NASCAR Hall of Fame Gear Shop and NASCAR Media Group-operated broadcast studio. The five-acre site also includes a privately developed 19-story office tower and 102,000-square-foot expansion to the Charlotte Convention Center, highlighted by a 40,000 square-foot ballroom. The NASCAR Hall of Fame is owned by the City of Charlotte, licensed by NASCAR and operated by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. www.nascarhall.com

Mike Bliss Finishes 39th With Kim Kardashian Fragrance Chevrolet In Las Vegas

NASCAR PR — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:21:54 +0000

(Las Vegas, NV) March 1, 2010 – Mike Bliss cut the right front tire and hit the wall on lap 44 of Sunday’s Shelby American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, ending the day in 39th position. The Tommy Baldwin Racing crew brought the Kim Kardashian Fragrance Chevrolet to the garage after the contact with the wall and replaced the entire right front assembly. The team was able to get the car back out to the track on lap 160 in order to complete the necessary laps to finish 39th.

“We cut a tire down in turn one, which was too bad because I felt like we had a pretty good race car,” said Bliss, who was unhurt in the crash. “Before we blew the tire I really believed we were in the process of a strong run and was hoping to get a nice finish for Tommy and the folks with Kim Kardashian Fragrance.”

The blown tire put a damper on an otherwise exciting weekend in Las Vegas for Tommy Baldwin Racing. The No. 36 Chevy sported a custom Kim Kardashian Fragrance paint scheme in conjunction with the launch of her first signature fragrance, Kim Kardashian, which can be found at Sephora.com. The team also hosted Kardashian Sunday, and got the chance to meet with her prior to the race.

“It was a big weekend for the team and I was excited to get the chance to meet Kim,” said Bliss. “Kim and her group were great and it was fun getting to share the NASCAR experience with them. It did not even bother me that I was wearing a pink fire suit”.

Team owner Tommy Baldwin added, “I thought the weekend went well and we were happy with all the excitement and attention brought to the team thanks to the involvement with Kim Kardashian Fragrance. I was pleased with the effort the team put forth; unfortunately we ran over something, got a flat tire and hit the wall. Although we do not have the finishes to show for it so far, I truly believe we have a top-25 caliber team, we just need to start stringing together some nice results and we will be fine.”

Bliss started the day in the 30th position and was running 32nd when the tire went down on lap 44. The team will look to rebound next Sunday March 7th at the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The No. 36 Chevrolet will feature the new 2010 Wave Energy Drink paint scheme for the race airing at 1pm EST on FOX.