A second trip to Victory Lane for Jeff Gordon at Las Vegas? If it happens this Sunday in the Kobalt Tools 400, it probably will be a bumpy ride.      

Along with his lone win in 2001, Gordon has six top-fives and seven top-10's in 15 starts at the 1.5-mile track. He knows his way around Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS), pacing the field 457 times.

"There are some bumps down in turns 1 and 2 that you really need your car to get through," said Gordon, who is eighth in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings. "They're in the low line - the preferred line.

"In turns 3 and 4, you'll usually run low."

While there are preferred lines at each end of the track, there are also multiple racing grooves that give drivers the option to search for lines that may work better for the setup underneath the car.

"If your car is not working through the bumps in turns 1 and 2, you can run above them," said Gordon. "And I really like (turns) 3 and 4 because you have a lot of different options through there, as well.

"You can definitely change your entry into turn 3 and your line through the corner to get the most out of the car."

 With the introduction of the new generation of cars (Gen-6) this season, LVMS will host an extra day of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series testing Thursday. The driver of the No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet SS knows information gathered during the test could prove invaluable.

"Testing is very important," said Gordon. "When you have telemetry on the car, it gives us the opportunity to learn more about the loads and the bumps and what the car is going through, like ride heights of the front splitter. It gives us the opportunity to gather so much valuable information that we can use for the race on Sunday.

"And every lap we log helps us understand and learn more about our new No. 24 Chevy SS."

PPR PR

Texas Motor Speedway and the National Rifle Association have signed a one-year agreement with a renewal option for America's oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group to serve as the title sponsor for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on April 13, speedway president Eddie Gossage announced Monday.

 The annual spring NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway will be retitled the "NRA 500" and serve as the first prime-time Saturday evening race of this season. The NRA replaces Samsung Mobile, which had served as the title sponsor of this race since 2002. Gossage made the announcement and unveiled the race logo during Texas Motor Speedway's annual Media Day held in the Grand Ballroom of The Speedway Club.

"The NRA has been involved in the sport for several years and a partner of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. for many years in various aspects, and this race entitlement is just another extension of that business relationship," Gossage said. "We look forward to another successful partnership with the NRA for our April race week of activities."

The NRA has had a relationship with the NASCAR industry for more than a decade on a variety of platforms. The organization continues to be a generous supporter of SMI's Speedway Children's Charities and its fund-raising events since 2000. The NRA has contributed more than $500,000 to the Texas Chapter of SCC at Texas Motor Speedway alone.

NRA's most recent race entitlement in the sport came last season when the organization was the title sponsor for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race known as the "NRA American Warrior 300" that was held Sept. 1 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. NASCAR owner Richard Childress is a current NRA board member and team owners and drivers have donated sponsor space on their cars to support the NRA in the past.

NRA Executive Vice President and CEO Wayne LaPierre was unable to attend the event in person, but did provide a video message for the Media Day audience.

"The NRA 500 is the latest announcement in the long history of a growing partnership between

the NRA, Speedway Motorsports and the NASCAR community," LaPierre said. "NRA members and NASCAR fans love their country and everything that is good and right about America. We salute our flag ... volunteer in our churches and communities ... cherish our families ... and WE LOVE RACING! On April 13, we'll all come together at Texas Motor Speedway."

TMS PR

The ride will benefit the Bikes Belong Foundation, which raises awareness and funds for cycling safety and children's bicycle programs. It will also support Communities In Schools of Randolph County Backpack Pals Program, which provides nutritional meals for schoolchildren on weekends.

The event will consist of three different routes with various distances of 50, 70 and 100 kilometers through the rolling hills of Randolph County. The ride will feature live timing and scoring. The challenging courses were mapped by a USA Cycling-sanctioned team member and include routes for both recreational and experienced cyclists. Labonte, an avid cyclist, will ride on the 100-kilometer (63.5-mile) course. Cyclists can register now at www.bobbylabontefoundation.org/events.

Registration will open at 11 a.m. and the ride will begin at 1 p.m., starting and finishing at Wheatmore High School in Trinity, N.C. The pre-registration cost is $25 for a member of a team of eight and $30 for an individual rider. Registration will be available the day of the event based on availability for $35. The first 300 registered cyclists will receive gift bags.

The memorial ride was born after two cyclists were killed while riding in the Charlotte and Greensboro, N.C., regions in 2010 and 2011.

"Awareness of cyclers on the road is improving, but unfortunately we're still hearing stories on the news of people being hurt or killed while riding their bikes," said Bobby Labonte, founder of the foundation with his wife, Donna. "Getting people together every year for this event not only provides a striking visual reminder to be mindful of bikers on the road, but it also helps raise funds for Bikes Belong, which will work to raise awareness across the country long after the memorial ride is over."

The Bobby Labonte Foundation is also using the memorial ride to further its mission to give back to children in need in the local community. The event will help support Communities In Schools of Randolph County Backpack Pals Program, which meets the needs of hungry elementary students by sending home a backpack of nutritious, non-perishable, child-friendly food each Friday. Riders, spectators and fans will be encouraged to bring an essential item such as canned meat items, juice boxes, cereal bars, fruit cups, crackers and pudding cups to donate to the program.

"CIS of Randolph County is excited that the Bobby Labonte Foundation has chosen our Backpack Pals Program as one of the recipients of the ride again this year," said Sandi Norman, executive director of CIS of Randolph County. "This program is something that the entire community has embraced as no one wants to think of a child going hungry. Yet, hunger among children is a reality especially during these tough economic times. The program does more than fill an empty stomach; it also lets these children know that someone in the community cares about them and their future."

In only its third year, the Share the Road Memorial Ride continues to have tremendous support from local and national sponsors whose support will benefit the two causes. Locally, Archdale Drug has continued its title sponsorship of the event. Additional sponsors include Trinity Furniture, CLIF bar and more to be announced later.

"The foundation is always working to help support kids, but a few years ago we felt the need to also do something special for cycling safety, especially with Bobby being an avid biker," said Donna Labonte. "This ride works to help both causes, and we're very grateful to our sponsors for helping to make it a success."

Pre-registration for the events ends on May 17. For further information and to register for the Share the Road Memorial Ride, visit www.bobbylabontefoundation.org/events.

Breaking Limits PR

Darlington Raceway and Francis Marion University athletic officials have announced that the Patriot baseball team will host a Race Night on Friday, March 8, when FMU hosts Lander University.

First-pitch for the game will be at 7 p.m. on Cormell Field at Sparrow Stadium. Admission will be $8 for adults and $5 for students. FMU students will be admitted free with identification and appropriate Swamp Fox Club passes will be honored.

The evening will feature in-game promotions, a ceremonial first-pitch by Darlington Raceway president Chris Browning, and a tribute to a local military veteran – Tony Blackmon, a 1984 Francis Marion graduate. The official pace car will be on hand near the ticket entrance, and tickets for the NASCAR Nationwide Series 200 and the Bojangles’ Southern 500, to be held May 10-11, will be on sale.

“It’s always fun when we can partner with one of our local universities on a program like this,” Browning said. “We appreciate working with the Francis Marion baseball team and look forward to an exciting Race Night this Friday.”

There will be a Race Package giveaway during the seventh-inning stretch with registration near the ticket entrance. The package will include tickets to both races, prerace pit passes, driver intro passes, and pace car rides.

The raceway will also provide a give-away to each fan wearing NASCAR apparel to the game, and will be offering race tickets at a special discounted rate to FMU students.Because of the recent wet weather, the March 8 contest will be the Patriots’ first home game in almost four weeks.

“We are very excited about this partnership,” said FMU director of athletics Murray Hartzler. “This will allow us to bring additional excitement to our new ballpark for an evening of college baseball. We are fortunate to have in our local area one of the crown-jewels of motorsports, and proud that some of its employees are Francis Marion graduates.”

Darlington Raceway PR

As part of its ongoing effort to make it easier for fans to see races,Richmond International Raceway announced that race fans can now select Bill Me Later, a PayPal service, as a payment option for ordering tickets online.

“Providing multiple payment options shows the commitment our company has to delivering the best customer service possible for our fans,” said Richmond International Raceway President Dennis Bickmeier.

Bill Me Later is an easy, convenient and secure way to purchase tickets for any of Richmond International Raceway’s motorsports events, including the April 25-27 NASCAR weekend, which includes the Toyota Owners 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race,Toyota Care 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series event, the BLUE OX 100 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race and the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown, benefiting the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU.

With Bill Me Later, race fans can make purchases totaling $99 or more now, but pay for them over time, thanks to 6 months financing* from Bill Me Later. It’s a secure, instant, and reusable credit line.

*Bill Me Later is subject to credit approval, as determined by the lender, WebBank, Salt Lake City, Utah. Applicable for qualifying purchases of $99 or more if paid in full within 6 months. Customers check out with PayPal and use Bill Me Later.

RIR PR

Carl Edwards was turning back flips after his win Sunday and for Martinsville Speedway fans, the victory could mean they will turn a back flip or two.

To help Edwards celebrate the win in his No. 99 Ford Fusion, Martinsville Speedway is offering the $99 Carl Edwards Ticket Offerfor the STP^® Gas Booster™ 500 on April 7. The offer includes two tickets for in the South Annex for only $99.

Edwards’ win at Phoenix International Raceway broke a 70-race winless streak. It was his 20^th career NASCAR Sprint Cup win. It was the first win for the new Gen-6 Ford Fusion.

The South Annex is above first and second turns at Martinsville Speedway and offers a great overview of all the action as cars dive off the front stretch in to the first turn and then power off the second turn and down the back stretch. South Annex seats also are right on top of the top pit stalls that line pit road in the first and second turns.

The STP^® Gas Booster™ 500 at Martinsville Speedway is less than five weeks away. Action cranks up at the historic half-mile on Friday, April 5 with practice and qualifying for both the Kroger 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race and the STP^® Gas Booster™ 500.

The Kroger 250 is scheduled for Saturday, April 6, along with final practices for the STP^® Gas Booster™ 500.

Martinsville Speedway PR

The best way to get over a bad race is to go out and have a good one. Tony Stewart did just that with his eighth-place finish in the Subway Fresh Fit 500k on Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway.

Putting aside last week’s heartbreaking finish in the Daytona 500, the driver of the No. 14 Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet SS for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) performed solidly at Phoenix while earning his 12^th top-10 in 23 career Sprint Cup starts at the 1-mile oval. And he also learned a few things on which the team hopes to capitalize as the season progresses.

Stewart started sixth in an event that saw a variety of pit strategies play out throughout the race. Teams bounced back and forth between no, two and four-tire pit stops in an effort to gain an advantage on the competition. The race was just the second start for NASCAR’s new sixth-generation Sprint Cup car, so there was much information to be gained to shorten the learning curve for teams’ 2013 programs.

The No. 14 team was one of only a handful to take four tires during their first stop – a decision which placed it in 20^th place in the early stages of the race. The decision to take only right-side tires during a later caution placed three-time Sprint Cup champion Stewart back in the top-five shortly after the lap-100 mark in the race. While the team would experience a little more back and forth, it wound up on the plus side of the chess match as the laps wound down.

“Track position was everything today,” Stewart said. “You could still pass, but it was harder to pass the further back you were. So it was just a matter of where you cycled on the pit stops as far as when everybody figured out you had to take two tires or four, and then figuring out where in the cycle you were and whether you could get back the track position. When we got up to the top three or four there, we had good speed. But when you got hemmed up in the back there, it was hard to make up that ground.

“It will change as the season goes on,” Stewart said, referencing the Gen-6 car. “I think for the first real race, it’s pretty sporty so far.”

Stewart’s SHR teammates each had their day end early in separate incidents that resulted from similar issues. Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 39 Quicken Loans Chevrolet for SHR, finished 40^th after having two separate right-front tire issues, which both resulted in contact with the outside wall. The damage from the second incident was too much for Newman to return to the racetrack.

Danica Patrick, driver of the No. 10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet SS for SHR, experienced the same issue on lap 186 when her right-front tire blew and sent her car hard into the outside wall while running 26^th. She finished the day 39^th in what was her 12^th career Sprint Cup start but only her second at Phoenix.

Carl Edwards won the Subway Fresh Fit 500k to break a 70-race winless streak. His last victory came March 6, 2011 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Today’s win marked the 20^th Sprint Cup victory of his career and his second at Phoenix.

Five-time Sprint Cup champion and reigning Daytona 500 winner Jimmie Johnson finished 1.024 seconds behind Edwards in the runner-up spot, while Denny Hamlin, reigning Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski and Dale Earnhardt Jr. rounded out the top-five. Clint Bowyer, Matt Kenseth, Stewart, Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton comprised the remainder of the top-10.

There were eight caution periods for 43 laps, with eight drivers failing to finish the 316-lap race, which was extended four laps by a green-white-checkered finish.

With round two of 36 complete, Newman leads the SHR contingent in the championship point standings. He is 20^th, 46 points behind series leader Johnson. Patrick stands 22^nd, 48 points out of first. Stewart is 23^rd, 51 points behind Johnson.

TSC PR

When Casey Mears and his GEICO team arrived at Phoenix International Raceway this weekend, they were looking to recover from heartbreak dealt to them in Daytona, where contact with Tony Stewart ended their day prematurely. Rather than dwell on the past, Mears and his GEICO team chose to view Phoenix as the start of their 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season and move forward.

Unfortunately, the opening practice on Friday did little in the way of soothing the soul when Mears and his GEICO Fusion sat 40^th of 43 cars on the speed chart. The subsequent qualifying session would then prove challenging when the #13 Germain Racing entry ended up qualifying 43^rd, last on the starting grid. After a night huddled up in a hotel lobby, crew chief Bootie Barker and his engineering staff found some speed and Saturday’s practice session saw Mears jump to 26^th on the charts.

Overcast skies and reasonable temperatures welcomed NASCAR fans to the racetrack on Sunday for the Subway Fresh Fit 500. Having qualified last, Mears and his #13 GEICO Fusion had their work cutout for them when the green flag set the field underway for 312-laps of racing. Seemingly oblivious to his situation, the Bakersfield, CA, native jumped all the way up to the 29^th position by lap three. A caution flag on lap 21 allowed Mears the opportunity to bring his GEICO Fusion to the attention of the Germain Racing pit crew, who promptly returned him the racing surface four spots better (27^th) than when he entered pit road. He would continue to maintain his position and sit solidly in the top 25 for most of the afternoon.

With 70 laps to go, things got faster in the world of Mears and his #13 GEICO Ford Fusion would go on a tear that saw him strategically maneuver his way to the front of the field. It all started on the lap 242 restart when the #13 GEICO machine took off from the 26^th position. He re-entered the top 25 on lap 246 and just seven laps later he was holding court in 22^nd place. While the majority of drivers turned their best laps early in the event, Mears was getting quicker as the race wore on, recording his fastest lap of the day on lap 255. He chased down Jamie McMurray to take over 21^st with 36 laps to go and then set his sights on Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. It would take Mears just ten laps to track down the Roush Fenway driver and capture 20^th after a two lap door-to-door battle.

The final caution would be displayed with just three laps left in the advertised distance of the race, resulting in a green-white-checker finish. Mears would not need to pit under caution, as Barker had topped off fuel during his previous visit to pit road under yellow on lap 236. While the bulk of the field sat in their cars concerned about fuel levels, Mears and his GEICO Fusion sat waiting to attack on the final two laps.

Mears restarted from the 19^th position when the green flag turned the field loose for the final time on Sunday afternoon. The #13 GEICO Ford Fusion made its way speedily through the field on the intense closing laps and when the checkered flag began to wave, Mears recorded a 14^th place finish in race number two of the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. After qualifying 43^rd, Mears and his GEICO team picked up 29 positions en route to their Top 15 finish.

“It was a fun day because the #13 GEICO Ford Fusion was fast and it felt great being able to go chase people down and pass them,” a smiling Mears said after climbing from his GEICO Fusion. “We made changes to the car and they started to work and you could gradually see our progress over the course of the race. I’m so proud of the guys on this GEICO team because everyone could’ve hung their heads and mentally checked out after Friday, but they didn’t; they kept working hard and today we showed our character as a team.” He joked, “I like to pass cars and I got to do a lot of that today!”

Aside from recording the team’s first Top 15 finish of the young season, Mears was the third best finishing Ford, behind only race winner Carl Edwards, and Brad Keselowski, who finished 4^th. Mears’ 14^th place Phoenix effort bumps Germain Racing to 20^th in the Owner Point standings and moves him to 19^th in Driver Points.

The GEICO Racing team will next travel to Las Vegas, Nevada, where they will try their luck in the Entertainment Capital of the World.

Before getting the race weekend underway, Germain Racing will take part in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test on Thursday, March 7^th, at the 1.5-mile paved oval.

Mears and the #13 GEICO Ford Fusion will hit the track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the opening practice session on Friday, March 8^th, at 3:00 PM (EST). Qualifying will follow at 6:40 PM (EST)

.PMI PR

Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 39 Quicken Loans Chevrolet SS for Stewart Haas Racing (SHR), had high hopes for another strong showing Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway, but an ill-handling racecar and a pair of right-front tire failures caused him to finish a disappointing 40^th in the Subway Fresh Fit 500k NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

From the drop of the green flag, Newman struggled with a loose-handling Quicken Loans Chevrolet SS. Despite his struggles, Newman managed to hold position inside the top-20 until a tire failure at lap 100 sent the red-and-white machine into the outside retaining wall. The Quicken Loans team made repairs to its battered racecar, and Newman rejoined the field just one lap down to the race leaders. As Newman logged laps, another tire failure at lap 142 sent the No. 39 Chevrolet into the outside retaining wall, leaving the racecar damaged beyond repair and Newman with a 40^th-place finish, dropping him to 20^th in points.

“We blew a right front, and I wasn’t real sure why,” Newman said. “I don’t know if we melted a bead or what it was, but that set the stage for blowing the right front the second time. We didn’t have enough caution laps to get it fixed and fixed right. The sway bar wasn’t hooked up, the splitter was off. It was a tough day for our Quicken Loans Chevrolet. We had a decent car. We just didn’t get to show it, track position-wise.”

Tony Stewart led the way for SHR by finishing eighth. Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet SS, scored his 12th top-10 in 23 career Sprint Cup starts at the 1-mile oval.

Danica Patrick, driver of the No. 10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet SS for SHR, finished 39th after right-front tire failure caused her to make hard contact with the outside wall while running in 26th place. It was Patrick’s 12th career Sprint Cup start but only her second at Phoenix.

Carl Edwards won the Subway Fresh Fit 500k to break a 70-race winless streak. His last victory came March 6, 2011 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Today’s win marked the 20th Sprint Cup victory of his career and his second at Phoenix.

Five-time Sprint Cup champion and reigning Daytona 500 winner Jimmie Johnson finished 1.024 seconds behind Edwards in the runner-up spot, while Denny Hamlin, reigning Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski and Dale Earnhardt Jr. rounded out the top-five. Clint Bowyer, Matt Kenseth, Stewart, Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton comprised the remainder of the top-10.

There were eight caution periods for 43 laps, with eight drivers failing to finish the 316-lap race, which was extended four laps by a green-white-checkered finish.

With round two of 36 complete, Newman leads the SHR contingent in the championship point standings. He is 20th, 46 points behind series leader Johnson. Patrick stands 22nd, 48 points out of first. Stewart is 23rd, 51 points behind Johnson.

TSC PR