Press Release - Results from #1750

As the New Hampshire Motor Speedway prepares for the upcoming Sylvania 300, select Walmart stores will offer authentic NASCAR merchandise and host exclusive fan events starting Sept. 19. Customers are invited to attend these special events and enjoy show car and simulator displays– perfect to safely get behind the wheel and feel the power of NASCAR – Sept. 19-22 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., depending on the location.

The Sylvania 300 is the second race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. This 300-lap event is part of NASCAR's 10-race playoff. In 2011, Tony Stewart won the race and went on to claim the Sprint Cup championship two months later.

Race Time at Walmart
In addition to the fan events happening in Walmart parking lots, area Walmart stores will feature savings on all the food and snacks you need to enjoy the race, plus authentic NASCAR merchandise such as T-shirts and racing flags, with an even bigger selection of exclusive products available at Walmart.com/NASCAR.

Participating stores near the New Hampshire Motor Speedway include:

Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012

Displays free and open to the public include the Hefty Show Car Simulator, Cheez-It Show Car Simulator, Coca-Cola 2-Seat Simulator, Wheaties Show Car, Kingsford Ultimate Tailgate Truck, No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Charger, No. 24 Pepsi MAX Chevrolet and No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet at:

Store #1749
59 Walton Way
Somersworth, N.H.
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Displays free and open to the public include the Oreo Ritz Show Car, M&M's Show Car, Sim Pod and Trophy Display, and 5-hour Energy Show Car at:

Store #3535
35 Fresh River Road
Epping, N.H.
11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012

Displays free and open to the public include the Hefty Show Car Simulator, No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Charger, M&M's Show Car, Sim Pod and Trophy Display, and 5-hour Energy Show Car at:

Store #2369
39 E. Main/I-93 Exit 20
Tilton, N.H.
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Displays free and open to the public include the Cheez-It Show Car Simulator, Oreo Ritz Show Car, Coca-Cola 2-Seat Simulator, No. 24 Pepsi MAX Chevrolet, No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet, Kingsford Ultimate Tailgate Truck and Wheaties Show Car at:

Store #2055
344 Loudon Road
Concord, N.H.
11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 21, 2012

Displays free and open to the public include the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Charger, Hefty Show Car Simulator, Cheez-It Show Car Simulator, Kingsford Ultimate Tailgate Truck, Wheaties Show Car, 5-hour Energy Show Car, Oreo Ritz Show Car and No. 24 Pepsi MAX Chevrolet and No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet at:

Store #1698
3 Commerce Drive
Hooksett, N.H.
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Displays free and open to the public include the Coca-Cola 2-Seat Simulator, M&M's Show Car, and Sim Pod and Trophy Display at:

Store #2055
344 Loudon Road
Concord, N.H.
11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012

Displays free and open to the public include the Oreo Ritz Show Car, Wheaties Show Car, No. 24 Pepsi MAX Chevrolet, No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet and Cheez-It Show Car Simulator at:

Store #2330
116 Farmington Road
Rochester, N.H.
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Displays free and open to the public include the Coca-Cola 2-Seat Simulator, Kingsford Ultimate Tailgate Truck, No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Charger, 5-hour Energy Show Car, M&M's Show Car, Sim Pod and Trophy Display, and Hefty Show Car Simulator at:

Store #2055
344 Loudon Road
Concord, N.H.
11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Walmart PR

Although Friday's Kentucky 201 will be just the second race for Max Gresham at Eddie Sharp Racing (ESR), the newly-formed relationship is hardly taking baby steps in the final three months of the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) season.

The driver of the No. 8 Made In USA Brand (MIUSA) Chevrolet Silverado confirmed that he already feels up to speed at ESR, and doesn't consider the race at the Kentucky Speedway to be part of any learning curve.

"We are not going to Kentucky to figure a lot of things out," Gresham said. "We're going there to run in the lead pack and put ourselves in contention for a solid finish. We plan to unload the No. 8 Made In USA Brand Chevrolet fast."

Gresham will make his second of five selected starts with ESR with this weekend's race. The red, white, and blue team made its debut August 31 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway with a 22nd-place finish.

"The Atlanta race was a success because we all worked hard together to improve our team during the weekend," crew chief Chris Showalter said. "By the end of the race, Max and I had a great understanding of each other and we were able to make huge gains with our truck.

"The next step is to build on that at Kentucky. We're going to pick up where we left off at Atlanta."

Gresham, the defending NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Champion, has experience at Kentucky - both on the 1.5-mile quad-oval and on the quarter-mile. He started 19th and finished 30th with engine failure at Joe Dennette Racing on June 28. He also has three top-five finishes in a Bandolero Bandit in 2005 and four top-10s in the U.S. Legends Cars International (USLCI) series in 2006.

Much like Atlanta, the key to success at Kentucky his getting the truck to rotate through the banking to generate speed down the straightaway runs.

"Kentucky is all about momentum," the 19-year-old driver from Griffin, Ga., said. "You want to carry as much momentum off the corners as possible. We have a good idea how to do that, so we're really confident about our approach. Even though it is our second race together, we're not taking any baby steps. We've made huge gains in a very short time. I am very proud to be a part of this team"

Gresham has found success at every step during his young career. He won the 2006 Semi-Pro Legends National Championship. He completed all 1,705 laps a year ago to win the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship, capturing two wins, four poles, nine top-five and 11 top-10 finishes.

The Camping World Truck Series is his next big next step.

Gresham will return in the No. 8 Made in USA Chevrolet for races at the Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 27, Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 2 and the season-finale on Nov. 16 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Max Gresham PR

Rev Racing's NASCAR Whelen All-American Series drivers, Mackena Bell and Trey Gibson, proved that they were championship contenders on Saturday night with two top-five finishes in the 100-lap championship race for the Bojangles Late Model Series at Hickory Motor Speedway.  Although not competing in the entire 2012 season, Bell's top-three finish earned her an eighth place finish in Late Model point standings at Hickory Motor Speedway while Gibson ended the season in sixth, 150 points ahead of his teammate.

Turner Motorsports PR

It is like déjà vu all over again for the No. 24 Drive To End Hunger team.

Two months ago, Jeff Gordon arrived at New Hampshire Motor Speedway 191 points out of the lead - the largest deficit he has faced this campaign. But six top-six finishes in the next eight races allowed him to cut 54 points off that margin, so why panic ahead of Sunday's Sylvania 300 when the deficit Gordon now faces is "only" 47?

"It was a disappointing result (in Chicago), but we had a fast race car," said Gordon, who finished 35th in that event after a 'stuck' throttle resulted in contact with the turn 1 wall. "We had a great run from 19th to inside the top five, and I would have liked to have seen if we had anything for them at the end.

"But we'll put that event behind us and focus on trying to win Loudon this weekend. There is still a long way to go."

Gordon's crew chief also believes the 2012 version of the "Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup" is in its infancy.

"It's way too early to panic," said Alan Gustafson. "We still have nine races to go, so we won't change our strategy.

"The plan is to continue to fight and 'stay the course.'"

In 35 starts at the 1.058-mile track, Gordon has three wins (1995, 1997 and 1998) and three poles, while his 15 top-fives and 20 top-10's are tops at "The Granite State" track. Another first for the four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion is running first. Gordon's 1,309 laps out front here leads all drivers.

"I really enjoy racing here," said Gordon, who trails Darrell Waltrip (23,130) by 108 for sixth in career laps led. "It's not an easy place to get around, though, with the long straightaways, flat corners and hard braking.

"Recently, we have led laps, run well and been in position to win. We just need to put ourselves in that position again.

"And capitalize on it."

PPR PR

Retired military working Dog Sgt. Beyco and ESPN NASCAR analyst Ricky Craven will join singer/songwriters MacKenzie Morgan and Ryan Broshear during prerace ceremonies on Kentucky Speedway’s Sept. 21-22 NASCAR doubleheader weekend.

Sgt., Beyco will join retired U.S. Army Command Sgt. Major Jimmy Supplee and Morgan on the NASCAR Nationwide Series Kentucky 300 prerace stage on Saturday. 

Sgt. Beyco, United States Marine Corps (USMC) MP H100, and her handler, Vietnam War veteran Joe Sturm, will deliver the command to fire 43 engines for the Kentucky 300 just before the 4 p.m., green flag. Sgt. Beyco earned eight medals, including the Combat Action Ribbon, during eight years of service that included a three-year tour in Iraq. She worked additional missions with the United States Secret Service, United States Marshals Service and select law enforcement agencies.

Supplee, of Carrollton, Ky., will be the race honorary starter. He is a 34-year veteran of the Kentucky National Guard 138^th Fires Brigade who served in the Vietnam War. 

Morgan, 15, of Richmond, Ky., will honor America Saturday when she sings “The Star Spangled Banner.” The Nashville, Tenn., artist lists The White House, Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox and Chicagoland Speedway/Route 66 Raceway among a high-profile list of performing credits. Her Simple Little Me extended play collection is available on iTunes.    

Craven, the former driver of the No. 32 Tide NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) machine, will send the 36-truck NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Kentucky 201 field racing on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Gallatin Co., Ky., Judge Executive Ken McFarland will be the race grand marshal and deliver the command to start engines after Broshear, of Oxford, Ohio, performs “The Star Spangled Banner.”

Craven became the 15th driver to earn a victory in each of NASCAR’s three national touring series when he claimed a 105-mile NCWTS race title at Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 22, 2005. He also is the first driver to earn Rookie of the Year honors in each national NASCAR touring series. The 46-year-old from Newburgh, Maine took one of two closest race finishes in NSCS history by edging Kurt Busch by 0.002 of a second at the Darlington Raceway finish line on March 16, 2003. Jimmie Johnson matched Craven’s margin of victory on April 17, 2011 by inching below the Talladega Superspeedway checkered flag ahead of Clint Bowyer.  

McFalrland is a long-time resident who has served the county with distinction for more than 10 years. 

Broshear’s self-titled debut collection features 10 original classic country songs that reflect personal experiences such as the popular singles “Countrything,” “Let Your Redneck Out,” and “I’m Rich.” 

KY Speedway PR

Peck Motorsports is back home after completing a full three-day weekend in Des Moines, Iowa including racing in the American Ethanol 200 at the Iowa Speedway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. It was the team's fourth start in the national series for driver Todd Peck and the team.

With support from Stopain, the topical pain reliever, and the Arthritis Foundation, the team started their weekend by visiting Iowa Ortho last Thursday. The team pulled up with their team transporter and unloaded their No. 96 Stopain Chevrolet for patients to see up-close and feel the excitement of Pennsylvania's only NASCAR team. Meanwhile, driver Todd Peck gave away Stopain samples and prizes to people visiting. The Arthritis Foundation Iowa chapter also came out to the event to help educate people about living an active lifestyle.

Friday, the team moved to the Iowa Speedway for a day of practice. Peck and the team were able to unload the race truck and go on the track to prepare for Saturday night's race. The team made improvements during practice and were ready for Saturday.

Saturday proved to be a full day for the young, improving team. They not only welcomed their sponsor Stopain to the track, but also hosted two families affected by juvenile arthritis, including two young children living with the condition. The families, hosts of Stopain and the Arthritis Foundation, were treated to a VIP experience at the track including a pace car ride, tour of the garage and meeting the Peck Motorsports race team. The NASCAR Foundation also joined the activities with gifts for the children.

On the track, the team practiced and qualified Saturday afternoon before racing live on SPEED Channel Saturday night in front of an audience over a million viewers. The 200-lap race gave the team tremendous race experience as Peck finished in the 28^th position after fighting through engine woes throughout the night. The race capped off the weekend for the team before flying back to Pennsylvania on Sunday.

"It really was a fast three days," said driver Todd Peck. "We did a lot with Iowa Ortho on Thursday and had a good time with them and the Iowa Arthritis Foundation chapter. The families were awesome at the track and we can't thank Stopain and the Foundation for making that happen for them. The NASCAR Foundation stepped in this time with some gifts and the pace car rides too, that means a lot.

"We're all a bit disappointed with our finishing position on the track," continued Peck. "We are going to go back and look at our engine program and see where we can improve. We want to compete better than that for everyone that is supporting us. We will work hard to strive and get better in that area."  

The team is now planning for their next event at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville (Va.) on October 27.

Peck Motorsports PR

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick will celebrate his 37th birthday in style a week early this year, feted at the Dec. 1 Budweiser Presents Happy's Birthday Bash at The Fox Theater in his hometown of Bakersfield, Calif.

Country music star Craig Morgan headlines the charity event benefitting the Kevin Harvick Foundation with a special guest appearance by Bridgette Tatum. Tickets to the event, which is open to the public, go on sale Sept. 21 at 10 a.m. ET (www.vallitix.com, charge by phone at 1-888-825-5484, at The Bakersfield Fox Theater Box office, or any Vallitix outlet), but are available beginning at the same time on Sept. 19-20 to members of both the Kevin Harvick Fan Club and the Craig Morgan Fan Club.

"When you hit your late 30s, you don't exactly look forward to another birthday," joked Harvick, born Dec. 8. "But knowing my ever-increasing age benefits the Kevin Harvick Foundation and underprivileged children across the country will make it a little easier to take. I want to extend a huge 'thank you' to Budweiser, Craig Morgan and KS Industries for helping these youngsters while also celebrating a not-so-youngster."

Tickets start at $29, a reference to the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet Harvick drives for Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. A private, VIP after party will be held at The Padre Hotel, as will the exclusive Happy's Hour Pre-Party Presented by NTS Motorsports. A limited number of pre-party and after-party combination concert tickets are available to the public for $129. Morgan will entertain concertgoers with the many hit songs from his more than ten year country music career, including his newest album, THIS OLE BOY.

 

The Budweiser Presents Happy's Birthday Bash takes place the day after the season-ending NASCAR Sprint Cup Awards Ceremony in Las Vegas, in which Harvick will be honored by virtue of his qualification for the 2012 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR's version of the playoffs, which kicked off last weekend at Chicagoland Speedway.

The Bakersfield concert is one of several Kevin Harvick Foundation events scheduled throughout the year. Remaining on the 2012 calendar is the Nov. 7 Happy's Classic golf tournament in Bakersfield and the Christmas for Kids Concert in December in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Kevin Harvick Foundation PR

Race fans were treated to some awesome racing with a few surprise winners over the weekend. Overall, another great weekend is in the books.
 
Here are the results from this past weekend.
 
ASA MIDWEST TOUR
Iowa Speedway (Newton, IA)
Friday, September 14, 2012
3M 150
1. Brent Kirchner
2. Chris Wimmer
3. Chris Weinkauf
4. Jeff Choquette
5. Jeff Storm
 
www.asamidwesttour.com
 
ASA NORTHWEST SPRINTCAR RACING ASSN. SPRINT CAR SERIES
Douglas County Speedway (Roseburg, OR)
Saturday, September 15, 2012
1. Sierra Jackson
2. Johnny Giesler
3. Guy Barrett
4. Jeff Bird
5. Andy Alberding
 
www.nsraracing.com            

Cale Gale and the No. 33 Rheem team tied their season-best finish, fifth, in the American Ethanol 200 presented by Hy-Vee this Saturday at Iowa Speedway.  With a quick truck all weekend, Gale practiced sixth in both practice sessions and qualified sixth for the 200-lap event.  The Rheem team focused on the setup of their Chevrolet, knowing that changing track conditions would likely leave many competitors chasing the track throughout the 175-mile event.  With an excellent pit strategy, crew chief Jerry Baxter and the Rheem team put Gale in a position to be running inside the top five during the final laps and helped enable to Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender to tie his career-best NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) finish. 

With only two sets of sticker tires and 200 scheduled laps at a track where lap times fall off as tires wear down, the Rheem team utilized pit strategy to help dictate the pace of their race.  At the start of the event, the Rheem Chevrolet was just a little tight through the center on both ends of the race track, but as the sun set the track started to come around to the 33 team.  With no adjustments needed, the Rheem team was able to focus on tire-wear and fuel to determine when they needed to pit.  Gale stayed on track during the opening caution period on lap 24, but opted to pit for fuel-only as they neared half-way in their fuel run during the lap 36 caution period. 

As several competitors took tires during the lap 36 and 55 caution periods, Gale fell back to the 10th position while running on old tires.  The Rheem team came down pit road on lap 71 for his first set of sticker tires, some 20 to 40 laps after most of their competition.  The move pushed Gale's No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet back to 20th in the running order, but gave him the grip that he needed to battle his way back through the field with fresh tires.

With the field spread out on their pit sequence, Gale was able to outlast many of his competitors as they began pitting under green.  The Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender raced as high as the third position before coming down pit road on lap 164.  The intensity heated up when the caution flag was displayed as Gale pulled on to pit road.  Still in front of the leader when the caution came out, Gale was able to continue driving through to pits to circle around to the lead lap.  The Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender returned to pit road the next lap for four fresh tires and fuel and restarted the American Ethanol 200 in the third position. 

With three restarts in the final twenty laps, Gale battled the competition for his position inside the top five.  Restarting the race on lap 174, Gale dove to the inside in turn two to take over the second position and chase down the leader.  Just five laps later the caution flag was displayed again and Gale restarted the race on the bottom in the second position.  Gale drove the Rheem Chevrolet hard into turn one and lost some ground while running in the middle of a three-wide pack in turn two.  In a close battle for the top six positions, Gale was able to hold on to cross the finish line in the fifth position. 

"I had a lot of fun tonight," commented Gale following the race.  "The Rheem team built me a really good Silverado and had great pit stops all night.  Jerry [Baxter, crew chief] and all the guys did a great job improving on our Rheem Chevrolet all weekend.  I can't thank everyone enough--my team for their hard work, Eddie Sharp for giving me this opportunity, or Rheem for their support.  I had a lot of fun tonight.  I can't wait to get to Kentucky next week."

ESR PR