Richard Childress Racing No. 31 Chevrolet Pit Crew Members Bring Home Individual Awards at NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge
WELCOME, N.C. (May 18, 2012) – Two members of Richard Childress Racing’s No. 31 Chevrolet pit crew took home individual awards at the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge at Bobcats Arena in Charlotte, N.C. on Thursday, May 17.
RCR’s 2012 individual award winners include front-tire carrier J.D. Holcomb and front-tire changer Tim Sheets. Each victor was presented a check for $10,000 and a commemorative ring.
Holcomb and Sheets fired off a time of 13.615 seconds, more than three-tenths of a second faster than the closest competitors, in the first round of Thursday night’s annual event in Uptown Charlotte. In the team competition, the No. 31 Chevrolet pit crew scored wins over the No. 39 Chevrolet team and their RCR teammates on the No. 29 Chevrolet before being edged out in the quarterfinal round of the single-elimination bracket competition.
“It was a great night for our guys on the No. 31 team,” said RCR Pit Crew Coach Eric Wilson. “These No. 31 guys have been so strong on pit road all season, but their individual performances tonight showcased their hard work, talent and dedication. It’s great to see these guys get credit for all the hours they put in everyday at pit practice and in the weight room.”
“This is just a great event for all of the crew guys and their families,” said Burton, driver RCR’s No. 31 Caterpillar/Wheaties/BB&T Chevrolet. “These guys have been the backbone of our team so far this season and they showed it tonight. It was great to see them finally get some credit for their talent and ability.”
The Sprint Pit Crew Challenge, in its eighth year at Bobcats Arena, is the only indoor event sanctioned by NASCAR that pits 24 top pit crews against one another in a head-to-head competition. Each crew member performed his respective duty in one of four different stations before pushing their respective race cars 40 yards to the finish line.
RCR has claimed six pit crew competition titles. The legendary No. 3 team took home the trophy four consecutive years, 1985-1988, before the No. 31 team captured the bragging rights in 2009 – the first time an RCR pit crew has captured the championship in the eight years of its current structure.
NASCAR Sprint All-Star Week festivities move to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the annual NASCAR Sprint Showdown and Sprint All-Star Race on Saturday, May 19. Live coverage of the events will be televised on SPEED, beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time and will also broadcast worldwide on the Performance Racing Network and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Qualifying for the second and final non points-paying event on the Sprint Cup Series tour will be televised on SPEED Friday, May 18, beginning at 5 p.m. EDT.
Wild Brothers Racing at Houston Mile
Wild Bros Racing attended the inaugural Houston Mile event on Saturday. The race was held in conjunction with the Aeros and Autos Show at the Ellington Air Force Base in Houston TX. For their first event, and due to the restraints of the airplane and car show, the race was run on a ½ mile track. This gave us the perfect opportunity to “get back on the saddle” with the Steetbike after the little get off Billy Shoemaker had 6 weeks ago at the TX mile. 
Billy’s six broken ribs are healed and the fairings of the Streetbike are nicely painted. The one day event went very well, even with the 8” of rain that dumped on Houston the night before. Billy preformed in top form, and the “Streetbike” did well. We walked away with the “Fastest Motorcycle Award” with a 209.1 on this ½ mile course. We are happy with the win but the power and speed were way down on the Bike. The Bike is being serviced to see why the speed was down 15-20mph.
Bill Warner and the “Racebike” are still recovering from the October accident. Still shooting for the June 2/3rd Wilmington race. Bill’s left hand still needs some work and strengthening.
PORTER AND CHESTER ANNOUNCES SPONSORSHIP WITH JAY BLAKE AND HIS “FOLLOW A DREAM” RACING TEAM FOR 2012
PORTER AND CHESTER ANNOUNCES SPONSORSHIP WITH JAY BLAKE AND HIS “FOLLOW A DREAM” RACING TEAM FOR 2012
For Immediate Release May 2012
ROCKY HILL, CT – Porter and Chester Institute, Inc. (PCI) announced today a product sponsorship with Jay Blake’s Permatex/Follow A Dream Top Alcohol Funny Car racing team, competitors on the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) tour.
In May 1997 Blake suffered an industrial accident that resulted in his blindness while serving as the head mechanic for a transportation company. While enrolled in an intensive rehabilitation program, Blake began to follow his dream of owning his own professional auto racing team. Turning his dream into a reality, Jay combined his renewed participation in drag racing with his desire to spread his true-life success by inspiring others to accomplish their goals through the power of positive thinking, self-determination, and teamwork. Jay leads his team of racing professionals in NHRA competition, where they finished the 2010 and 2011 season ranked seventh in the national standings.
“Follow A Dream” and Jay’s “Dare to Dream” are perfect complements to how PCI inspires students and help guide their dreams of a career and turn them into a reality,” Said Eddie Bonnell, Campus Director for Porter and Chester’s Woburn campus.
“We’re extremely excited that Porter and Chester has decided to support our efforts,” said Blake. “PCI provides its students a great educational experience, and we’re just happy to be part of that.”
The PCI backed Follow A Dream/Permatex Funny Car is a 2008 Chevrolet Impala SS powered by a 526-cubic-inch Hemi engine that produces more than 3,000 horsepower. Todd Veney is the driver. For more information about “Follow A Dream”, log on to www.followadream.org.
“We are partnering with Jay and “Follow A Dream” for several reasons,” said John Goldbeck, Campus Director for Porter and Chester’s Stratford campus. “Back in 2006 when I first met Jay and heard his story, I was incredibly inspired and wanted to bring his story to our students. I invited him to an event where he met with many students and again was an amazing inspiration, sharing his example of the desire, drive and determination we try to inspire in all of our students. Porter and Chester Institute’s Automotive program has worked with Jay’s Follow a Dream organization and with his sponsor Permatex doing training clinics for our students and staff, we felt it would be a perfect relationship to build on.”
Tim Allison Had a Rough Week
This past weekend was suppose to be a double feature. The weather was great and there was a great car count. The first race was our make-up feature from the rain-out 2 weeks ago. The night started out great, but did not end in a good manner. We started 9th in the first feature and were heading to the front but disaster hit. The engine laid down and we DNF for the first feature. Upon checking the engine out we had a terminal engine failure and we were done for the night. What a heart breaker! This is our first engine failure in over 6 years. This weekend we will be at Lima Land Motor Sports Park .
Congratulations Jared!
Line Zeroing in on Multiple Targets in Topeka
Line Zeroing in on Multiple Targets in Topeka
Mooresville, N.C., May 15, 2012 – This weekend, Summit Racing driver Jason Line will head to Topeka, Kansas looking to accomplish two goals with one primary action. Naturally, as he does at every stop on the Full Throttle Drag Racing circuit, he enters this weekend’s Dollar General NHRA Summernationals with full intentions of winning. Should he do so, it will not only be his second victory of the 2012 season, but also his first professional win at Heartland Park Topeka, adding to his successes achieved there in the sportsman ranks.
“Heartland Park Topeka and I have a long history together,” said Line. “In fact, I raced my Stocker at the first event held there, when they were still pouring concrete when we rolled through the gates. I also won a points meet in Topeka. But for reasons I can’t quite explain, that success has yet to translate over to my Pro Stock car, something we’re more than ready to change.
“If there ever was a time that we had a car capable of winning the race, it would have to be right now. My Summit Racing Pontiac has been extremely strong all year, so I feel there is a good possibility we are going fix any issues we’ve had with Kansas in the past this weekend.”
However, the reigning Pro Stock champion knows his path to the Heartland Park Topeka winner’s circle will include challenges beyond mastering the racing surface, whose tricky nature will only be magnified by the warm temperatures forecast for this weekend. In addition to another tightly packed Pro Stock field, Line and his KB Racing crew will need to deliver the same consistent performance on race day that they have shown in qualifying, where their four No. 1 qualifying positions double those of their nearest competitor.
After seven races, Line’s record in 2012 is something most of his rivals would aspire to, with one win in two final round appearances, four finishes of the semifinals or better and a second-place positioning in the Full Throttle standings (behind only his teammate Greg Anderson). Even so, with improvement still possible, the quiet-spoken North Carolina racer continues to set his expectations at a very high level.
“The way things have gone this year, it would almost be better if we raced on Saturday (when qualifying is normally held),” joked Line. “Obviously to win this weekend, we will need a total effort, with four good runs, four good lights and no mistakes, which we haven’t been able to do since Phoenix. We’ve been close to getting it done, including Atlanta two weeks ago, but just came up a hundredth shy against our teammate in the final.
“I know there are many people who would be more than happy to have our Summit Racing team’s record so far, and would gladly trade places with us. However, without trying to sound cocky or arrogant, we are only satisfied when we win. By the same token, as soon as one race is over, no matter how we’ve done, we put it behind us and start working on the next one. For example, when we pull into Heartland Park this weekend, we’re not going to worry about how we did there in the past or even what happened at the last race. Our focus will be solely on doing whatever it takes to get our Pontiac back to the winners’ circle on Sunday. It’s about time I took a Topeka Wally home.”
Anderson Ready to Rekindle Old Time Magic in Topeka
Anderson Ready to Rekindle Old Time Magic in Topeka
Mooresville, N.C., May 15, 2012 – Greg Anderson and the Summit Racing team are looking for history to repeat itself this weekend at the Dollar General NHRA Summernationals in Topeka, Kansas. During the period from 2003 to 2007, the Anderson-led crew was virtually unstoppable at Heartland Park Topeka, with three No. 1 qualifying performances and four wins, one shy of the all-time Pro Stock mark at the Kansas quarter-mile held by Warren Johnson. Although they have been in contention in their subsequent visits, the four-time champion heads into this event hoping to experience a little déjà vu.
“We’re heading into this weekend looking to rekindle some of the magic this Summit Racing team had with Heartland Park Topeka in the past,” said Anderson. “We seem to have misplaced it over the last few years, but we’re ready to get it back and return to the form that saw us win there four times.
“The first few years we went there, we considered it one of the super tracks and saw numerous records set there, especially in the fuel classes because the surface was so good. It’s got some age on it now, and the track has become a little more finicky, putting it in the hands of the crew chiefs.
“It’s a real challenge, a lot like Darlington Raceway in NASCAR, in that it’s very tough to tame, which is the way it should be. They shouldn’t all be perfect surfaces that are easy to tune for. When the heat comes on that Topeka track, as is forecast for this weekend, it becomes a handful, turning it into a tuner’s race, so we’ll need to be at our best starting with the first qualifying session on Friday.”
A look at his season to date supports Anderson’s optimistic outlook for this weekend. Seven races into the 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series schedule, he leads the Pro Stock category by 72 points over his teammate Jason Line. In addition, he is the only competitor among the “factory hot rods” with multiple victories, having scored his third win in Atlanta ten days ago. However, as the self-proclaimed perfectionist admits, unlike previous years, this season’s success is mostly due to the grit and determination of the KB Racing crew rather than their race car’s performance. Although naturally pleased with the final results, he knows that maintaining their position atop the standings must include a return to form.
“I have no idea how we have gotten three wins and five final round appearances this year,” joked Anderson. “Who knows, maybe because we seem to struggle in qualifying, no one expects a lot from us in final eliminations, but somehow this Summit Racing team keeps getting the job done on race day, more than holding our own with what we have to work with.
“We just seem to have a love/hate relationship with this particular car, and we continue to work on swinging it more into the love side. She’s a feisty one, fighting us every step of the way, but this KB Racing crew is also a bunch of fighters, throwing everything we can at her. So far I’d have to call it a draw, and as long as we keep finding ways to win races, I’m good with that.
“As I said after we won Atlanta, I think our success this season comes down to our making fewer mistakes than our opponents. Even though we haven’t always been the baddest dog on the planet, somehow the people we’ve raced have made mistakes, which you cannot do in this class if you expect to win. The bottom line is that we keep racing tough, focusing on every little detail and finding ways to capitalize on our competitors’ mistakes.
“Of course we know we need to have the proper performance to keep being successful, which is why we are constantly digging, trying to improve every aspect of our program. The good news is that we’ve been able to win races when not at our best, and that things could turn around on any given run. But no matter how fast our Summit Racing Pontiac is, we need to keep that same tough attitude, never giving up and always finding ways to win, with Heartland Park Topeka next on our hit list.”
Hey- Check Out the Presenting Sponsor!
Team Pardee Racing
The ARP cars ran up front all weekend and shook up the pecking order considerably.
Sheila showed up in her Birel C28 Hybrid and blitzed the field- sending some very worried father and son teams back to their pits wondering how they could get outrun by not only a girl, but the youngest driver in the field!
John, competing in the premier junior division,Junior Rotax; made a brilliant charge for the lead and turned the fastest lap of the race but came up a tad short of the win. He drives an American made kart, the only one in the region. It is manufactured by Margay Racing out of St. Louis.
Race Report Week Ending 5/13/12
F1
Spanish Grand Prix- Pastor Maldonado
World of Outlaws
Morgan Cup- Williams Grove Raceway- Steve Kinser
GrandAm
Global Barter 250- Max Angelelli/Ricky Taylor
Whelan All American
Whitcomb 200- Ryan Preece
Nascar
Nationwide Series- VFW SPort Clips Help A Hero 200- Joey Logano
Sprint Cup- Bojangles Southern 500- Jimmie Johnson
Aquilante and Spaude “Storm” New Jersey Track, Subaru Team Wins on Home Turf.
Aquilante and Spaude “Storm” New Jersey Track, Subaru Team Wins on Home Turf.
– Subaru WRX STI Climbs From 45th to First in 45 Laps. –
Phoenixville, Pa. – May 14, 2012 – The Subaru Road Racing Team (SRRT) drivers Andrew Aquilante and Bret Spaude won round four of the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge (CTSCC) race on Saturday at New Jersey Motorsports Park near Millville, N.J.
Although the team qualified on the pole position, Aquilante, Spaude, and their race-prepared #35 Subaru WRX STI, had to charge through the field from 45th place on lap 31, after serving stop-and-go penalties.
Intent on making up for the lost track positions, Aquilante marched forward and took the race lead with nine laps to go; and eventually secured the win by a 2.224-second margin. It was the team’s second straight podium finish this season and their first Grand Sports class win in the Subaru WRX STI sedan.
“This win has been coming for a long time,” said Joe Aquilante, owner of Phoenix Performance in Phoenixville, Pa., which prepares the team’s Subaru race cars. “The Subaru excels on track configurations that reward superior handling qualities over outright top speed.”
Bret Spaude, of Bushnell, Fla., earned his first CTSCC series pole position with a 91.373mph lap of the 2.25-mile Thunderbolt Raceway configuration of the multi-faceted racetrack. Spaude dropped back to second place at the start and held that position, staying close to the bumper of Lawson Aschenbach’s race-leading car. On lap 25, Spaude pitted for gas, fresh tires, and turned the driving over to teammate Andrew “AJ” Aquilante.
A stop-and-go penalty plus an additional 30 seconds for accidental contact with a neighboring team’s spare tire on the way out of the pit box dropped the team to 45th place. Aquilante went on a determined charge; he was in fourth place by lap 56 when the team called him in for a final pit stop, dropping the Subaru Road Racing Team entry to 12th place after pit out.
On lap 70, Aquliante passed David Donohue for third place, drove by second place Eric Curran on lap 73, and took the race lead on lap 75 as he erased a quarter-second deficit to race leader Charles Espenlaub. Aquilante finished the 83rd and checkered flag lap with a 2.224-second margin over Espenlaub and the rest of the 23-car Grand Sports class, which was part of a 59-car, two-class field.
“I dug myself a hole, when I incurred those pit lane infractions, and just had to drive my way out of it,” Andrew Aquilante explained. “I know we have a great car, and when things like that happen, you just have to stay cool, put your head down and drive the wheels off. Our Subaru WRX STI was running strong all weekend, the handling was superb, and we know this track really well since it’s where we perform most of our on-track testing.”
“To finish on top in completely dry conditions and re-starting after serving our penalties truly shows the performance development from our Subaru WRX STI,” commented James Han, motorsports marketing manager for Subaru of America, Inc. “Our Subaru core technologies, including the Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, were firmly on display this weekend. Plus, securing the win in front of our fans at our home track of New Jersey Motorsports Park, where Subaru is the Official Automobile and Pace Car, made this result that much more special.”
The race-prepared #35 Subaru Road Racing Team WRX STI is developed to compete against rival teams fielding cars producing over 400-horsepower.
Dyson- Long Day’s Journey Into Evening
Long Day’s Journey Into Evening
MONTEREY, CA May 12, 2012 – Dyson Racing took home second place P1 points in the six-hour American Le Mans Monterey race here at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in their ModSpace/G-OIL Lola Mazda coupe. “I am happy for Mazda and AER to get another solid six hour finish with no reliability problems. We will take the points and go to Lime Rock only four points down in the championship,” said Chris Dyson.
The team lost time at the five-hour mark when they had to take the car back to the garage to repair the debris damaged front diffuser, which was cutting off cooling air to the radiator. With that putting them down the running order, they used the last part of the race testing various tire combinations.
Johnny Mowlem joined the team for the six hour enduro that has moved back to its traditional spring time running. “The first part of my stint I used to get my hands around the car and during the second part I was starting to feel comfortable with the car. I could run 1:17’s and 1:18’s and was happy with that pace. It was comfortable for the track conditions at the time and the only car faster than us was the Muscle Milk car. I am disappointed for the Dyson Racing team since we should have been second overall. At least we got second place P1 points which is good for the championship but more work needs to be done before the next race.”
Eight-year Dyson Racing veteran Guy Smith echoed the sentiment. “We have been out of sorts with the car during this weekend and are still looking for more speed. I was in rallye mode during my time in the car for the last two hours of the race. Muscle Milk drove a flawless race and our hats are off to Greg Pickett and his team.”
“We struggled for pace today and pretty much all through the weekend and I think today was definitely a character building day for the whole organization,” commented Dyson. “We have our work cut out for us in the next eight weeks to be in a better competitive position for Lime Rock and to turn it around and to get back on top. We are going to spend that time doing some pretty extensive testing and looking at some items on the car that have been problematic since we got first got the car. Ultimately we will take both the negatives and the positives from this weekend and learn from them knowing what we have to work on for performance.”
RCR Post Race Report — Darlington Raceway- Sprint Cup
RCR Post Race Report — Darlington Raceway
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
RACE: Southern 500
TRACK: Darlington Raceway
DATE: May 12, 2012
Race Highlights:
Richard Childress Racing teammates finished 13th (Paul Menard), 16th (Kevin Harvick) and 18th (Jeff Burton).
Menard tied for fifth in NASCAR’s Loop Data category for Closers, gaining three positions in the final 10 percent of the event.
Menard logged the 13th-fastest Speed in Traffic with an average of 161.238 mph according to NASCAR Loop Data statistics.
Harvick ranked first in Green Flag passes (109) and Speed in Traffic (162.797 mph).
Burton’s 10th-place qualifying effort was his second-best start of the 2012 Sprint Cup Series season
Burton made 57 green-flag passes during the 500-mile race
Jimmie Johnson scored the win in Saturday night’s race. He was followed to the checkered flag by Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr.
The next scheduled Sprint Cup Series race is the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 19, televised live on SPEED beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM Satellite Radio beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Kinser Restores World of Outlaws Pride with Morgan Cup Victory
Kinser Restores World of Outlaws Pride with Morgan Cup Victory
The King dominates features at Williams Grove, tightens championship points race
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – May 12, 2012 – Steve Kinser cruised to a pair of victories Saturday at a packed and rowdy Williams Grove Speedway, first snapping his 27-race winless streak with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and later claiming the Morgan Cup on behalf of the series.
Kinser, the World of Outlaws career wins leader, entered the event with only five feature laps led this season. That changed dramatically as he led the final 23 laps of the $12,000-to-win main event and then dominated all 12 laps of the Morgan Cup – a race featuring five World of Outlaws drivers and five Pennsylvania Posse drivers in a showdown about bragging rights, a sterling silver trophy and an additional $4,000 prize.
“We had been running top fives, but hadn’t been able to get to Victory Lane,” Kinser said. “We got two tonight.”
It was his 571st World of Outlaws feature win and 38th total Outlaws victory at the famed half mile. Both numbers are more than double the next closest driver.
The win combined with trouble from Sammy Swindell and Donny Schatz, who entered the race 54 and 46 points ahead of Kinser, respectively, created an even closer points battle.
Swindell, who had a tire issue while running fifth on lap 23, finished 24th. He holds an eight-point advantage over Kinser. Schatz, who violently flipped in turns three and four on the restart following Swindell’s caution, is third in the standings – 12 points behind Swindell.
Kinser qualified fourth quickest of the 41 drivers and charged from fourth to second in his heat race to lock himself into the dash. The random inversion was a six, starting Kinser on the inside of the second row – which is where he finished.
Kinser darted to second on the opening lap of the feature as Craig Dollansky rocketed into the lead. As drivers were in various lines across the track, Kinser was the premier car on the bottom and he used a run off turn two to grab the lead on lap 8.
He quickly pulled away until the first caution of the race on lap 11 for Logan Schuchart, who spun out between turns one and two. Kinser chose the inside lane for the restart and again found himself with a comfortable before the caution waved on the restart lap for a handful of cars who collided in turn four.
“The only way we was going to get into any trouble was trying to pass some lapped cars,” he said. “I don’t know if I could have gotten out in the second groove and passed or not. I think I could move around as good as anybody.”
The inside lane worked for Kinser again on the restart and more drivers began to move to the bottom groove. Greg Hodnett passed Dollansky for the runner-up position on lap 12 and closed on Kinser as the duo entered traffic on lap 19.
The cautions for Swindell and Schatz closed the gap for Hodnett, who was unable to get around Kinser for the top spot.
“We did the best we could,” he said. “Unfortunately it turned out second. Considering Steve Kinser, the greatest World of Outlaws driver ever, just beat us, I think I can live with it.”
Polesitter Danny Lasoski, who dropped to fourth place in the first nine laps, rebounded toward the end of the race and he passed Hodnett for second place on the restart following Swindell’s caution only to have the position negated by Schatz’s red flag.
“Tonight starting on the pole we thought we had a really good shot at winning,” Lasoski said. “Steve went by us and he was stuck real good. And then the middle of the race here we come when (the track) cleaned off.
“As soon as we had the red flag I don’t know what happened. We pushed back off and had no brakes, so it was just like hanging on the last few laps.”
Lance Dewease finished fourth and Dollansky was fifth. Aaron Ott drove from 12th to sixth, Daryn Pittman placed seventh, Stevie Smith was eighth and Danny Dietrich charged from 22nd to ninth to earn the KSE Hard Charger Award.
Adam Wilt, who set quick time with a lap of 16.936 seconds, rounded out the top 10.
Lasoski, Sheldon Haudenschild, Hodnett and Pittman each claimed a heat race. Don Kreitz Jr. won the Last Chance Showdown.
RCR Post Race Report — Darlington Raceway- Nationwide
RCR Post Race Report — Darlington Raceway
NASCAR Nationwide Series
VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200
Darlington Raceway
May 11, 2012
Race Highlights:
Richard Childress Racing teammates finished fifth (Austin Dillon), 24th (Elliott Sadler) and 26th (Brendan Gaughan).
Sadler is second in the Nationwide Series driver championship point standings, trailing point leader Ricky Stenhouse Jr. by 23 points. Dillon ranks third, followed by Sam Hornish Jr. and Cole Whitt.
The No. 2 Chevrolet team is third in the NASCAR Nationwide Series owner championship point standings, 23 points shy of the No. 6 car’s lead, with the No. 3 team fourth in the standings and the No. 33 team fifth.
Dillon leads the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings over Whitt.
According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, Dillon and Sadler maintained the fifth and sixth-highest average running position, respectively.
Combined, the RCR entries posted the fastest lap of the race for 15 circuits.
Dillon was one of five drivers that spent 100 percent of the laps running in the top 15.
Dillon was the third-fastest driver early in a run, maintained the fourth-fastest green-flag speed, was fourth-fastest on restarts and was the fifth-fastest driver late in a run.
Sadler led 14 laps, or 9.3 percent of the race.
Sadler had the third-best Speed in Traffic (162.036 mph).
Gaughan made 17 green-flag passes during the race.
Gaughan led one lap.
Joey Logano earned his third win of the 2012 Nationwide Series and was followed to the finish line by Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Sam Hornish Jr. and Dillon.
The next scheduled Nationwide Series race is the Pioneer Hi-Bred 250 at Iowa Speedway on Sunday, May 20. The 10th race of the 2012 season is scheduled to be televised live on ESPN beginning at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.
Honda Racing Report 5/12/12
Honda Racing Report- Saturday, May 12, 2012
Indianapolis 500 Opening Day Practice Report
Circuit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (2.5-mile oval) Speedway, IN
2011 Winner: Dan Wheldon (Bryan Herta Autosport Honda) 170.265 mph average
Weather: Partly cloudy, mild, 74 degrees F
Indianapolis 500 Opening Day Top-10 Practice Results:
Ps. Driver Team Engine – Chassis Best Lap Speed /Notes
1. Josef Newgarden-R Sarah Fisher Hartman Honda Dallara 220.250 mph
2. JR Hildebrand Panther Racing Chevrolet Dallara 219.693
3. Bryan Clauson-R Sarah Fisher Hartman Honda Dallara 219.632
4. James Jakes-R Dale Coyne Racing Honda Dallara 218.286
5. Tony Kanaan KV Racing Technology Chevrolet Dallara 217.741
6. Charlie Kimball Chip Ganassi Racing Honda Dallara 217.699
7. Helio Castroneves-W Team Penske Chevrolet Dallara 217.617
8. Simon Pagenaud-R Schmidt Hamilton Racing Honda Dallara 217.483
9. Justin Wilson Dale Coyne Racing Honda Dallara 217.429
10. Scott Dixon-W Target Chip Ganassi Honda Dallara 217.244
Additional Honda-Powered Drivers:
12. Takuma Sato Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda Dallara 217.180
13. Graham Rahal Chip Ganassi Racing Honda Dallara 217.047
18. Dario Franchitti-W Target Chip Ganassi Honda Dallara 215.896
19. Alex Tagliani Bryan Herta Autosport Honda Dallara 215.344
21. Michele Jourdain Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda Dallara 214.871
23. Mike Conway A.J. Foyt Racing Honda Dallara 214.152
Townsend Bell Schmidt Hamilton Racing Honda Dallara no speed/did not run
Wade Cunningham A.J. Foyt Racing Honda Dallara no speed/did not run
W – Previous 500 Winner R – Indianapolis 500 Rookie
Rookie Newgarden Leads Opening Day at Indianapolis
The next generation of IZOD IndyCar Series starts claimed the spotlight Saturday at the Indianapolis
Motor Speedway, led by Honda-powered rookie Josef Newgarden, who claimed overall honors at
Opening Day practice for the 96th running of the Indianapolis 500.
Nashville native Newgarden was the 2011 Indy Lights series champion, and moved up to IndyCars this
year with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, the team that also led the Indy Opening Day speed charts last
year with Ed Carpenter.
Newgarden was followed on the time sheets by second-year IndyCar driver JR Hildebrand; rookie and
USAC star Bryan Clauson in the second Sarah Fisher entry; and Honda-powered “500” rookie James
Jakes, driving for Dale Coyne Racing. Veteran Tony Kanaan rounded out the top five in today’s practice.
In all, Honda-powered drivers and teams claimed three of top four speeds today, and seven of the top 10.
Thirteen of the 15 drivers expected to run with Honda power took to the track today. Practice at the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway continues through Friday, with Pole Day qualifying on Saturday, May 19.
Josef Newgarden (#67 Sarah Fisher Racing Honda) fastest in practice: “It’s pretty cool. I think today
was a good day for the series. The car felt pretty good, too, better than I expected it to be in traffic, and
the speeds are only going to get better as practice continues this week. I’m already looking forward to
qualifying for my first ‘500’.”
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca has been good to Dyson Racing
MONTEREY, CA May 11, 2012 – Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca has been good to Dyson Racing. At last year’s September ModSpace Monterey race, the team wrapped up four championships, including the Engine Manufacturer Championship for Mazda and the driver’s title for Chris Dyson and Guy Smith. Smith won the pole for last year’s event, set fastest race lap and he and Chris led 60% of the six-hour race.
In this afternoon’s qualifying for the American Le Mans Series Monterey, Guy Smith qualified the #16 ModSpace/G-OIL Lola-Mazda second quickest for the third longest race of the ALMS season. “We made some large changes before qualifying and I have to say the car is the best it has been all weekend,” said Smith. “Historically we have always been good here and I think it will be a good race car. We will have a lookat the data tonight and see if we can find some more speed for the race tomorrow.”
Joining the team this weekend is British driver Johnny Mowlem. Johnny is considered one of racing’s best versed drivers. He has class victories in the 12 Hours of Sebring, the 24 Hours of Daytona and class podiums at the Petit Le Mans, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 1,000 km Nurburgring and will be driving with Chris and Guy in the longer ALMS enduros this year plus assisting in the ongoing development of the new Lola-Mazda.
Mazda Raceway has also been good to Johnny. “My first ever win in the American Le Mans Series came here back in 1999 and my first ever lap record was also done here. It has been a very kind track to me over the years,” noted Mowlem. “I love the surrounding area and the climate plus the track has a lot of elevation changes which makes it an exciting and challenging track to drive. You put all those things together and it makes it one of my top three favorite tracks in the world. I have driven here in GT1, GT2, LMP1 and LMPC – the last time I was here in an LMPC car we got the pole and track record.”
“All the years that I have been racing in the ALMS, Dyson Racing has been there year in and year out doing a fantastic job. It is just a pleasure to drive for a team that has such a desire to do well and is very professional plus there is a real family atmosphere here. To be honest, most of the teams I have driven for are very business-like in their approach to drivers but Dyson Racing is much friendlier. I am looking forward to being a part of the team and playing a small part in creating a little bit more of their history and helping Chris and Guy towards winning the championship again.”
Rahmer Rallies in Outlaws Season Debut at Williams Grove
Rahmer Rallies in Outlaws Season Debut at Williams Grove
Pennsylvania legend passes Hodnett for lead with five laps to go to claim the opener
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – May 11, 2012 – To say Fred Rahmer knows his way around Williams Grove Speedway is an understatement.
Since claiming the 1986 Rookie of the Year, Rahmer has amassed eight track championships en route to becoming the winningest driver in Williams Grove history. He added to that list on Friday and picked up his fifth career World of Outlaws feature victory in front of a packed crowd on Night 1 of a weekend doubleheader at the historic paper-clip half-mile oval.
“Any time you get a win against this group, plus our local guys, it’s a good win,” Rahmer said. “When you respect somebody as much as most of the guys around here respect (the Outlaws), it feels really good. It’s tough to put a whole night together and end up standing here in the winner’s circle.”
The Hall of Famer timed in third quick of the season-high 45 cars. He then finished fourth in his heat race to advance to the feature and lock himself into the dash. The invert was a six, starting Rahmer fourth in the six-lap dash. He gained a position to earn the third starting spot for the 25-lap feature and then he began to play the guessing game.
“I knew watching the (Last Chance Showdown) that there was no way it could sustain life on the top the whole race,” he said. “I just hoped it gave up quick enough and it did. I saw Steve (Kinser) driving across the track in the (Last Chance Showdown) and that’s my best line. We were just fortunate that it gave up just enough right at the right time.”
Rahmer, who rocketed into second place as polesitter Jason Sides took an early advantage in the feature, peaked late in the race. Midway through the event Rahmer fell to fourth place as Greg Hodnett began to work his way toward the front.
Hodnett passed Daryn Pittman and Rahmer to advance to the runner-up position on lap 13. Hodnett reeled in Sides through lapped traffic and slid for the lead in turn four on lap 19.
At that time Rahmer also found a groove and advanced to second on the ensuing lap. He then passed Hodnett for the top spot as the duo exited turn two on lap 21.
“I thought we were pretty decent,” Hodnett said. “I was floating around, not really running the bottom, not really running the top. I just kept doing what I was doing and I think it kind of took half rubber on the bottom of (turn) four. I just kept sliding by it and I was having to slow down too much to get to it.”
The only caution came on lap 22 as Sides appeared to have something break in the front of his car entering turn one while running fourth. He spun up the track and had to be towed to the pits.
Rahmer lined up on the inside for the double-file restart and checked out during the last four laps. Pittman slid Hodnett for second place in the final couple of laps.
“To be good enough to race with Fred and actually pass Hodnett back, those guys have been really good and we haven’t even been in their league,” Pittman said. “It’s fun to be competitive again.
“Every time I thought I had something figured out I’d change around and get better. The track really, really changed a lot as the race went on. That was fun driving it, so that had to have been fun to watch.”
For Hodnett, it was a disappointing end to a promising night in his return to a sprint car. It was Hodnett’s first race back since his father, Hoyette, passed away last Saturday.
“We want to come out with a win every night, but this one would have been pretty nice,” he said. “Obviously we’re going to try again tomorrow, but I really wanted to win this one and it just didn’t work out.”
Danny Dietrich, who claimed his first career World of Outlaws win on Thursday at Lincoln Speedway, finished fourth and Steve Kinser led the Outlaws with a fifth-place finish.
Stevie Smith was sixth, Don Kreitz Jr. placed seventh and Sammy Swindell earned the KSE Hard Charger Award after driving from 23rd to eighth. He also reclaimed the World of Outlaws points lead, which has swapped each of the past seven races.
Craig Dollansky, who set quick time with a lap of 17.118 seconds, finished ninth and Lucas Wolfe rounded out the top 10.
Dietrich, Hodnett, Smith and Wolfe each claimed a heat race victory. Kinser won the Last Chance Showdown and Paul McMahan was victorious in the C Main.
The Outlaws return to Williams Grove on Saturday for a full night of racing that includes not only the 30-lap A-main, but also the Morgan Cup Challenge featuring PA Posse drivers against World of Outlaws drivers in a 12-lap dash.
Posse 1, Outlaws 0: Dietrich Claims The Gettysburg Clash
Posse 1, Outlaws 0: Dietrich Claims The Gettysburg Clash
The Pennsylvanian collects his first career World of Outlaws victory at Lincoln
ABBOTTSTOWN, Pa. – May 10, 2012 – The flash bulbs kept popping, the confetti kept falling and the celebration kept intensifying.
It wasn’t a normal Victory Lane. Then again, Danny Dietrich isn’t a normal winner and the World of Outlaws vs. Pennsylvania Posse rivalry isn’t a normal matchup.
Dietrich, a native Pennsylvanian whose 24th birthday is a week and a half away, picked up his first career World of Outlaws victory on Thursday in The Gettysburg Clash at Lincoln Speedway.
“Words can’t express,” a beaming Dietrich said. “I’m ready to go drink a few beers.”
Dietrich was dominant in the first World of Outlaws event at the semi-banked, 3/8-mile oval since 1998. After starting seventh, he was up to fourth place within the first three laps. Following a caution on lap four for Alan Krimes, who spun in turn one, Dietrich took little time finding the lead.
He passed Danny Lasoski for third on the backstretch of lap four and then blew by polesitter Lance Dewease for the runner-up position on the ensuing lap. Dietrich edged Sam Hafetertepe Jr. for the lead as the duo cross the finish line on lap six and quickly checked out.
“When he drove around us on the outside I knew that there was nobody going to beat him tonight,” Hafertepe Jr. said. “That’s the most dominant car that’s been out here in a long time.”
Dietrich had to survive four cautions, including the final three for drivers who had trouble while running in the top 10. Lasoski slowed dramatically on the backstretch on lap 18 and Adam Wilt hit the wall in turn two on lap 24. The final caution came on the restart for fifth-running Doug Esh, who came to a stop in turn two after colliding with another driver.
Despite double-file restarts, Dietrich rocketed to the lead every time and never faced a stiff challenge once he found the top spot.
“All about knowing the track and getting the setup right,” he said. “I felt like we hit it perfect from the drop of the green and hopefully we can do that the rest of the weekend.
“This is pretty much a normal Saturday night for us. We’ve been fast. We just had to clear up a few issues. Luckily we put it all together tonight.”
It was the third win of the season for Dietrich, which comes as no surprise to Dewease.
“Danny deserves to win,” he said after finishing second. “He’s been the best race car in Central PA all year and definitely the best race car here all year.
“He started seventh so he must have been pretty good to get up through there that quick. I’m sure he got to the top before a lot of people did, but he can run anywhere at this race track.”
Hafertepe Jr. was third with Cory Haas charging from 17th to finish fourth. Lucas Wolfe, who hails from nearby Mechanicsburg, was the top World of Outlaws driver as he placed fifth.
Kevin Nouse earned the KSE Hard Charger Award after maneuvering from 23rd to sixth. Donny Schatz finished seventh and is the new World of Outlaws points leader. It marks the sixth consecutive race the top spot has changed.
Fred Rahmer drove from 22nd to eighth, Daryn Pittman finished ninth and Gerard McIntyre rounded out the top 10.
Sammy Swindell, who entered the event with the World of Outlaws points lead, set quick time with a lap of 14.501 seconds. Wolfe, Chad Kemenah, McIntyre and Esh each claimed a heat race, with Bill Stine winning the C Main and Brad McClelland the Last Chance Showdown.
The World of Outlaws face the Posse at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg on Friday and Saturday.
“We’re strong,” Dietrich said of the Posse. “I think we’re always fast when the Outlaws come to town. Hopefully we can keep it up.”
“Homecoming” Awaits Subaru Road Racing Team at New Jersey Track
– Drivers Aquilante and Spaude Look to Build on Third Place Finish at Previous Round –
Phoenixville, PA. – May 9, 2012 – This weekend the Subaru Road Racing Team (SRRT) travels to New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP), near Millville, N.J., for the fourth round of the 2012 GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Championship. The B+ Heroes 200, a two-hour, 30-minute sprint race, is scheduled for Saturday, May 12 at 3:15pm (EST). Two weeks ago, SRRT drivers Andrew Aquilante and Bret Spaude surfed the waves of the rain-swept Homestead Miami Speedway to put their 4-door #35 Subaru WRX STI race car into third place; the team is eager and confident for this weekend’s race.
“Reaching the top of the podium this Saturday would mean a great deal to our team as NJMP is the closest GRAND-AM event to our race shop and less than an hour’s drive from the national offices of Subaru of America,” said Joe Aquilante, owner of Phoenix Performance in Phoenixville, Pa., which prepares the team’s Subaru WRX STI race cars.
Team driver Bret Spaude, of Bushnell, Fla., will qualify the 4-door #35 Subaru WRX STI, and drive until it is time to slot teammate Andrew Aquilante of Chester Springs, Pa., into the cockpit for the charge to the checkered flag.
“Our success at Homestead Miami Speedway was a culmination of our crew’s collective sweat and determination over the past six months along with continued support from Subaru,” said Joe Aquilante. “Bret put in a blistering lap time during qualifying to place the #35 Subaru on pole for the race start, and Andrew put the all-wheel drive capabilities of our WRX STI to effective use when the heavy rain fell.”
The race-prepped #35 SRRT WRX STI is developed to compete against rival teams fielding cars producing over 400 horsepower.