NASCAR announced today the postseason awards dates for the annual NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, set for Monday, Nov. 18 at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel in Miami Beach, Fla.

For the fifth consecutive season, the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will share the awards stage, honoring the series driver and owner champions as well as the top-five drivers in each series.

“Winning a NASCAR championship in one of our national series is a remarkable accomplishment, and the reason why the postseason awards shows are such significant dates on the NASCAR calendar,” said Steve Phelps, NASCAR chief marketing officer. “Returning to a major market such as Miami for the Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series Awards will shine a bright spotlight on the special and unique achievements of our champions.”

For the first time in two years, NASCAR will crown a new champion in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, as reigning two-time titlist Ricky Stenhouse Jr. now races full time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. JR Motorsports driver Regan Smith currently owns the top spot in the standings, followed by three-time IndyCar champion Sam Hornish Jr., last year’s championship runner-up Elliott Sadler, Justin Allgaier and Brian Vickers.

Reigning NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion James Buescher returned to the series in 2013 to defend his crown, and currently ranks sixth after four races. Johnny Sauter leads the points, followed by Matt Crafton and a trio of young rising stars Jeb Burton, Ryan Blaney and Ty Dillon.

NASCAR previously announced the date for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards – Dec. 6 at Wynn Las Vegas.

The next NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race will be the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m. on SPEED, Motor Racing Network Radio and SiriusXM Satellite Radio.

NASCAR PR

odd Bodine's won more than half of his 22 career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series' victories on 1.5-mile tracks, but never at Charlotte Motor Speedway, one of NASCAR's showplace venues and site of Friday evening's North Carolina Education Lottery 200.

Ironically, Bodine has owned Charlotte's sister track, Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, where he's won six times. So after a four-week break for the Truck Series and with Mattei Air Compressors' signage gracing his No. 13 ThorSport Racing Toyota for the second time this season, Bodine figures there's no time like the present to add to his 12 career victories on 1.5-mile tracks.

"It feels good to be going back to the track because you know I'm always ready to race," Bodine said, chuckling. "But that's especially true at Charlotte because it's a track I've always enjoyed and run well at and obviously we have the comforts of home -- sleeping in my own bed -- and you can't discount what that means."

Bodine's won at Charlotte, and with the Truck Series racing this weekend in conjunction with the Sprint All-Star Race, it's fitting those victories came in the Winston Open -- formerly the All-Star Race's qualifying event.

"But I've never won a points race, in any division at Charlotte and I think that it's finally time we brought that situation to an end," Bodine said. "Sometimes I've just had bad luck. I had a shot to win a Truck race, spun (Ron) Hornaday out and got put to the back...

"Just some dumb things like that, and I've never gotten the whole thing done. But now, with this ThorSport team with Mattei behind us again -- and as good as we've run this season -- I think it's time to get it done."

Bodine, who was one of three ThorSport drivers in the top seven of the standings until he hit a rough patch in consecutive races at Rockingham and Kansas, would like nothing better than to get back up in the points neighborhood with his teammates, who are currently one-two in the championship.

Matt Crafton's No. 88 Fisher Nuts / Menards Toyota is leading the points by 13 over a two-man tie for second between ThorSport teammate Johnny Sauter, who drives the No. 98 Carolina Nut Co. / Curb Records Toyota and rookie Jeb Burton. Bodine is currently 16^th in the standings, but only 19 points outside the top 10.

Bodine does have four top-five finishes in nine Truck Series starts at Charlotte, including a second-place run in 2010 and a third-place last May, so there's some cause for optimism bolstered by the reappearance of Mattei as the team's sponsor. Bodine gave Mattei's guests a show at Daytona as he pushed Sauter to the lead, from which Sauter won the race.

"Their compressors are state-of-the-art and Mattei knows how to make this program in NASCAR work to achieve their goals," Bodine said. "I've had a lot of fun working with them and we're looking forward to this weekend."

NASCAR has scheduled a 4.5-hour open-practice session Thursday split from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. ET and 2-4:30 p.m. That roughly equates to Friday's only official practice, from 10:30-11:50 a.m.; and also relates to Friday's 4 p.m. qualifying session. But with ThorSport crew chief Jeriod Prince and Bodine having had only four race weekends together, every lap is precious even if the Thursday test's timing doesn't really match the race schedule.

"For Jeriod and myself it's definitely a good thing, because we're still getting used to each other a little bit," Bodine said of the additional practice. "Jeriod's still trying to figure out what I like and how I like the truck to be set up. We just need to learn how to fine-tune the set-up and get what I like onto the truck.

"It's not like we have a notebook from the last three years of going to these racetracks together and figuring all this stuff out. We're starting from zero and we're having to work all this out, so that extra practice is definitely a good thing for us, to move that process along."

The season's fifth race, 134 laps and 201 miles, is scheduled for an 8 p.m. start Friday, with live television on SPEED Channel beginning with "The Set-Up" pre-race show at 7:30. MRN Radio has live radio coverage, also beginning at 7:30.

Thorsport PR

Watkins Glen International” by Michael Argetsinger and Bill Green will be a topic of conversation on Saturday, May 18 at the International Motor Racing Research Center at 610 S. Decatur Street, Watkins Glen. Track President Michael Printup will be on hand to introduce the duo responsible for the Arcadia Publishing book that begins with the race through the streets on Oct. 2, 1948 and continues through present day at The Glen.

The 127-page pictorial format book, includes more than 200 photos capturing this history of Watkins Glen International and is the second in Arcadia’s series of books featuring tracks that host NASCAR. “Watkins Glen International” will be on sale at IMRRC and both authors will be on hand to sign copies.

Beginning at 1 p.m., the presentation is part of the ongoing Center Conversations speaker series and is free of charge. This presentation also features Philippe Defechereux and Clark Lance, discussing “Watkins Glen, The Street Years 1948-1952, Glory, Drama and the Birth of American Road Racing.”

If Watkins Glen International fans are unable to make it to Saturday’s program, “Watkins Glen International” is available for purchase in The Shop at 2 North Franklin Street. Open from Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., fans are encouraged to pick up their copy while in town at anytime.

Located in the Finger Lake Region of New York, Watkins Glen International is the premier road racing facility in the United States. Tickets for all 2013 events at The Glen are available now by calling 866.461.RACE. Gift certificates, licensed merchandise, Thunder Road Tours and tickets are available for purchase at The Shop, located in downtown Watkins Glen at 2 North Franklin Street and online at www.TheGlen.com. The Shop is open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

WGI PR

Race fans from around the world are converging on Concord, North Carolina for this weekend's NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and next week's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Godfather Motorsports will welcome them with a special Open House celebration on Thursday, May 23 from 11 am to 1 pm at the team's shop on 124 Talbert Point Road in Mooresville.
 
Driver Jerick Johnson, team owner Dave Moody and the entire Godfather Motorsports team will be on hand to greet fans, sign autographs and hand out complimentary samples of KOMA Unwind Relaxation Drink. The No. 30 KOMA Unwind Chevrolet will be on display, and official Godfather Motorsports Fan Gear will also be on sale.
 
"It's a great opportunity to say `thank you' to all the fans who support Godfather Motorsports, KOMA Unwind and SiriusXM Speedway all season long," said Moody. "We've had a number of radio listeners ask about touring our shop while they're in town, and I think it's a great idea. Fans are welcome to drop by anytime, but we'll throw open the doors for an official Open House next Thursday from 11 am to 1 pm. I'm sure we'll see some familiar faces, and a lot of new ones, as well."
 
The following night, Friday, May 24, fans are invited to cheer on the No. 30 KOMA Unwind Chevrolet when it competes in a special Pro All Stars Series event at Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, NC, with a post-time of 7 pm.

140 BUZZ PR

Roush Fenway Racing has announced a multi-race partnership with Pillow Pets. The leader in plush toys will serve as the primary sponsor on Trevor Bayne’s No. 6 Ford Mustang in the May 25^th Nationwide Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. As part of the Memorial Day Weekend festivities, Pillow Pets will take part in Charlotte Motor Speedway’s “Welcome Home our Troops; Let Freedom Race” program, billed as the largest welcome home ceremony for returning troops.  The company will provide Patriotic Pillow Pets to the families of military recently returning home from active duty.

“We are thrilled to team up with Roush Fenway Racing, Trevor Bayne and to become a part of the NASCAR community,” said Jennifer Telfer, CEO of Pillow Pets. “With this being our first race with Roush Fenway and with the great appreciation that we have for the men and women who have sacrificed so much to maintain the freedom that we all enjoy, it made perfect sense to use this platform over the Memorial Day weekend to give something back to those families.” 

As part of the program, the California-based company will give away more than 2,000 Pillow Pets to the military guests and help sponsor a bus that will bring troops and their families to the May 26^th Coca-Cola 600. After a dinner at zMax Dragway, the Pillow Pets bus will take a parade lap around the 1.5-mile speedway before dropping off the heroes to their seats for one of the season’s most celebrated events.

“We are excited to have Pillow Pets on the car,” said Bayne, the 2011 Daytona 500 Champion. “They are a new partner to the sport and we are thrilled to welcome them into the family. In addition, getting to be a part of the ‘Welcome Home our Troops’ program is a great honor.

“It says a lot about the type of organization that Pillow Pets is and what they stand for,” added Bayne. “It is Memorial Day weekend and I know they have an entire line of Patriotic Pillow Pets that they are sharing with military families.  We’ll have our pits all decked out, so it’s shaping up to be a big weekend and a grand entrance into the sport for those guys.”

“Obviously everyone knows that the military cause and honoring the heroic men and woman who defend our freedom is something that is very dear to me,” said Roush Fenway team owner Jack Roush. “We are very happy to have Pillow Pets on board and I am proud to welcome a partner that shares the same value for our defenders of freedom as we do. Hopefully we will give them a good showing and end the celebration with a trip to victory lane.”

In addition to the Nationwide Series race at Charlotte, Pillow Pets will serve as the primary partner on Bayne’s No. 6 Ford Mustang at Indianapolis (July 27) and Dover (Sept. 28).

Click here for a video of the Pillow Pets Ford Mustang Being Outfitted for Charlotte

RFR PR

History collides with the present, as names including Johnson, Gordon and Busch build upon a foundation laid by the likes of Waltrip, Yarborough and Earnhardt.
 
This Saturday night, the most thrilling all-star exhibition in all of sports roars under the lights at the historic Charlotte Motor Speedway, with the 29th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. There are no points in this one, but one major prize – a $1 million payout to the victor courtesy of Sprint.
 
In 1985, NASCAR held its inaugural all-star clash, with Darrell Waltrip coming home first among a field of 12. This year, 22 cars will take the green on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET, live on SPEED, Motor Racing Network Radio and SiriusXM Satellite Radio. Nineteen of those drivers have already locked up a spot; three more will earn entry moments before driver introductions.
 
A primer on the all-star eligibility…
 
-       Drivers who have won NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points races in 2012 and 2013
-       Drivers who are past NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race winners in the last 10 years
-       Drivers who are past NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions in the previous 10 years
-       The top-two finishers in the Sprint Showdown, the 40-lap race that precedes the NASCAR Sprint
-       All-Star Race
-       The top Sprint Fan Vote driver who finishes the Showdown and whose car is in “raceable” condition as determined by the series director per the 2013 entry blank. Fans may vote for their favorite driver by using the NASCAR Mobile ’13 application or online at www.NASCAR.com/SprintFanVote. Votes cast from the NASCAR Mobile ’13 application count double.
 
Format changes will greet the world’s best drivers this weekend, all with one central theme: speed.
 
The need for speed begins Friday night with Coors Light Pole qualifying at 6 p.m. ET on SPEED. Qualifying will consist of three laps and a mandatory four-tire pit stop. Pit road speed, entering and exiting, will not be enforced. The team with the quickest time wins the Coors Light Pole and will lead the field to green on Saturday night.
 
Like last year, the 2013 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race will consist of five segments – four 20-lap segments and a 10-lap shootout. The winner earns a $1 million pay day from Sprint.
 
But unlike last year, the running order at the completion of the fourth segment (Lap 80) will be repositioned based on the average finish for the first four segments – putting a premium on strong finishes throughout the entire event. The new lineup will be placed directly behind the caution car prior to the opening of pit road for a mandatory four-tire pit stop, placing a spotlight firmly on the unsung heroes of NASCAR – the pit crews. The order of the cars returning to the track will determine the starting order of the fifth segment. Running order ties will be broken by the finish of the fourth segment. In the fifth and final segment, only green flag laps will count.
 
This year there is even an added incentive: if a driver wins all five segments, he or she will take home “Bruton’s Big Bonus” – an extra $1 million paid by Charlotte Motor Speedway and Bruton Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
 
All of this action takes place this Saturday evening, the grand finale of a week packed with fan-friendly activities on and off the race track.
 
See below for a full schedule of events for the upcoming week. All on-track activity will take place at Charlotte Motor Speedway:
 
Friday, May 17, NASCAR Day– The NASCAR Foundation and NASCAR industry will come together on Friday at Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS) to celebrate the 10th Annual NASCAR Day. This special day is an unprecedented celebration of drivers, corporate partners, media and fans uniting with The NASCAR Foundation to support a range of charitable causes that are relevant and meaningful to those within the NASCAR family. Fans can get the commemorative NASCAR Day pin and make a donation at www.NASCAR.com/foundation.
 
Friday, May 17, 6 p.m. ET – NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Coors Light Pole Qualifying. For tickets, call 1-800-455-FANS or log onto www.charlottemotorspeedway.com. SPEED will televise the event.
 
Friday, May 17, 8 p.m. ET – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series North Carolina Education Lottery 200. For tickets, go to www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or call 1-800-455-FANS. SPEED, Motor Racing Network Radio and SiriusXM Satellite Radio will broadcast the event.
 
Saturday, May 18, 7:30 p.m. ET – Sprint Showdown (top-two finishers qualify for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race). For tickets, go to www.charlottemotorspeedway.comc or call 1-800-455-FANS. SPEED, Motor Racing Network Radio and SiriusXM Satellite Radio will broadcast the event.
One final option remains for those not already locked in after the Sprint Showdown – the Sprint Fan Vote. Fans may vote for their favorite driver by using the NASCAR Mobile ’13 application or online at www.NASCAR.com/SprintFanVote. Votes cast from the NASCAR Mobile ’13 application count double.
Saturday, May 18, 9 p.m. – NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. For tickets, call 1-800-455-FANS or go to www.charlottemotorspeedway.com. SPEED, Motor Racing Network Radio and SiriusXM Satellite Radio will broadcast the event.
 
The drivers already locked into the main event are: Marcos Ambrose, Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Mark Martin, Ryan Newman, David Ragan and Tony Stewart.
 
Keep up to date with all the week’s events by following @NASCAR or @CLTMotorSpdwy on Twitter (Hashtag: #SprintAllStar).

NASCAR PR

State Water Heaters, a leading manufacturer of commercial and residential water heaters, has joined Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), the title-winning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team co-owned by three-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart.

Effective immediately, State Water Heaters will be an associate sponsor of the No. 14 Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet SS driven by Stewart and the No. 39 Quicken Loans Chevrolet SS driven by teammate Ryan Newman. Additionally, State Water Heaters will serve as the primary sponsor of Newman and the No. 39 team during the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup race weekend Oct. 25-27 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

“The State Water Heaters brand has a rich history in the plumbing industry, and over that time we’ve developed strong partnerships with our wholesalers and contractors. We’re thrilled to join SHR where we’re able to share the excitement of this program with our customers,” said Jeff Storie, senior marketing manager, State Water Heaters. “We’ve recently launched some great new water heaters, as well as a new Find a Local Installer tool on our Website. We look forward to working with Ryan, Tony and the rest of the SHR team to raise awareness among the legions of NASCAR fans about State brand products and our loyal contractors.”

For more than 60 years, State Water Heaters has stood for durability. Tested under the toughest conditions in the most hostile environments, State Water Heaters builds long-lasting products that provide years of service. Motorsports also provides tough conditions and hostile environments, making State Water Heaters’ presence in NASCAR a natural fit. The Ashland City, Tenn.-based company has sponsored NASCAR teams since 2006, and it enters a new era by partnering with SHR.

“We’re very proud to welcome State Water Heaters into the Stewart-Haas Racing family,” said Stewart, who co-owns SHR with Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation, the largest CNC machine tool builder in the western world. “State Water Heaters is an innovative company that prides itself on quality and customer service. Just as they deliver for their customers, we plan to deliver for them – on the track and off. It’s a strong brand that through its partnership with our race team will become even stronger.”

TSC PR

When Tina Johnson began experiencing oral pain and infections in 2010, she spent a lot of time looking for answers, to no avail. But all of that changed once she met Aspen Dental practice owner Dr. Alison Teske (Meudt), DDS, and her team in Waukesha, Wis., who successfully treated Tina for periodontal disease and gave her a new reason to smile—her health.

On Saturday, May 18, Aspen Dental and Stewart-Haas Racing will celebrate Tina’s good health and experience by showcasing her healthy smile on Ryan Newman’s No. 39 Aspen Dental Chevrolet during the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

A resident of Waukesha, Tina was selected to have her photo featured on the No. 39 Chevrolet based on her comments on the Aspen Dental Facebook page:

“I first came to Aspen two years ago. My dentist, Dr. Alison Teske, and the staff at Waukesha Aspen Dental are awesome! Specifically Casey and Ann made me feel at ease. Aspen Dental gave me a wonderful smile! I highly recommend Aspen Dental to everyone.”z

“When I was sick, people would ask me to smile for photos and I would refuse,” Tina added during a follow-up conversation. “I went to Aspen Dental because I just couldn’t live that way anymore. The Aspen Dental team took those medical concerns away from me. They were the key to my recovery. Now, when people ask me to smile, I do!”

A resident of Brookfield, Wis., Dr. Teske graduated from Marquette University School of Dentistry and has been practicing for five years. She is a member of the American Dental Association (ADA), Wisconsin Dental Association (WDA) and the Waukesha Chamber of Commerce.

Aspen Dental began featuring patients’ photos on Newman’s No. 39 Chevrolet during the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, and will continue the tradition throughout the 2013 season.

The NASCAR All-Star Race gets underway on Saturday, May 18 at 9 p.m. EDT after the undercard Sprint Showdown is completed. SPEED will carry live coverage of both races beginning at 7 p.m., with its “RaceDay” program beginning at 4 p.m.

In 2012, Newman scored a pair of top-10 finishes driving the No. 39 Aspen Dental Chevrolet. He finished fifth in the Coke Zero 400 July 7 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and 10^th in the Sylvania 300 Sept. 23 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon.

“I’m looking forward to driving the Aspen Dental Chevy at the Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte,” said Newman. “The opportunity to feature fans of Aspen Dental on the car puts a smile on everyone’s face. I know Tina will be watching!”

Aspen Dental will also be the primary sponsor of Newman’s No. 39 Chevrolet during the AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend Aug. 31-Sept. 1 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. For all other races during the 2013 season, Aspen Dental is an associate sponsor with placement on the lower-rear quarter panels of the No. 39 Chevrolet and prominent positioning on Newman’s uniform. In addition to Newman, Aspen Dental is also featured on the uniform of Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet and co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing.

Aspen Dental PR

Although all available tickets for the inaugural running of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Mudsummer Classic on Wednesday, July 24 have been sold, fans now have an added opportunity to catch a glimpse of the historic event. The Tuesday Night Tailgate (July 23) has been added to the schedule, with tickets going on sale tomorrow (May 16).

The Mudsummer Classic marks NASCAR’s first national series dirt track event since 1970, and the first-ever dirt race for the Camping World Truck Series. For many drivers, the added Tuesday night practice sessions will be their first venture on a dirt-track.

Tickets for the doubleheader evening, which will include a pair of two-hour practice periods for the trucks, along with a 25 lap Eldora Dirt Late Model Invitational, are priced as low as $10 for adult General Admission and go on sale at 9 a.m.

The most efficient method to obtain tickets is by using the TicketForce-powered online system at www.EldoraSpeedway.com. With its capability to process up to 800 different orders simultaneously, it has a flawless track record of handling Eldora’s rich history of marquee events and massive opening day ticket sales. A backup direct link to the ticketing site of eldoraspeedway.ticketforce.com has also been established.

Race fans that do not have access to a computer can call into the Eldora Box Office at (937) 338-3815 where a full staff of Ticketing Specialists will be available to assist a cue of up to 25 calls at a time. In addition, the Speedway Box Office will be open for walk-up sales beginning at 9 a.m.

On Tuesday, July 23, the spectator gates will swing open at 1 p.m., with the first NCWTS practice session taking the green flag at 4:30 p.m.

Entrants for the Eldora Dirt Late Model Invitational will be announced after the running of the $100,000-to-win Dirt Late Model Dream presented by Ferris Commercial Mowers (June 6, 7 & 8).

Eldora Speedway PR