Nascar SCS Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway May Sun. 24 on FOX at 7:00 PM ET

Nascar ^

[mabarker1]

PRAYERS UP!!!

INDY 500 UPDATE

INDIANAPOLIS – James Hinchcliffe was injured in a crash in Monday’s practice for the 99th Indianapolis 500, destroying the Honda IndyCar that was set to start 24th in Sunday’s race.

Hinchcliffe entered the third turn of the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway at speed before his Honda shot up the track and slammed into the SAFER Barrier in the third turn. The car did not go airborne, unlike three of the crashes earlier in the month at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway where the Chevrolets driven by Helio Castroneves, Josef Newgarden and Ed Carpenter all came off the ground.

He was extricated from his car by the Holmatro Safety Crew and transported to Methodist Hospital in downtown Indianapolis where he was diagnosed with an left upper-thigh injury which required immediate surgery.

No replacements have been mentioned to take over his ride in Sunday's Indy 500 but Tristan Vautier, who qualified for James Davison's Honda 21st on the grid because that driver had previous commitments that kept him from qualifying, is a logical replacement. He previously drove for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in 2013. Vautier, however, is scheduled to race in Europe this weekend so won't be available.

Hinchcliffe was set to start on the outside of Row 8 in Sunday’s Indy 500.

Hinchcliffe previously suffered a concussion at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the 2014 Grand Prix of Indianapolis that kept him out of the first week of practice for the 2014 Indianapolis 500. He recovered in time to qualify for the front row of last year’s Indy 500.

According to Honda Performance Development (HPD) officials it was a suspension piece that failed. The right front pushrod failed as he was turning into the corner. He lost steering and hit the wall at a 45-degree angle at 230 miles per hour. The car did not get in the air but briefly turned on its side. It never left the ground – not unlike some of the crashes before the introduction of the Aero Kit.

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nascar May 19, 2015 11:05am EDT May 19, 2015 11:05am EDT

Horrific details emerge from James Hinchcliffe's Indy 500 practice crash

• Marc Lancaster Perform Media
  RSS
• May 19, 2015 11:05am EDT

IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe is lucky to be alive, based on horrific details that have emerged about his wreck Monday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

RACER magazine reported Tuesday that Hinchcliffe was impaled by a piece of the car's suspension, which had to be cut from the chassis by IndyCar's Holmatro safety team to get the driver out of the vehicle.

MORE: Castroneves goes airborne | Another high-speed wreck at Indy 500 practice

The magazine cites an associate of Hinchcliffe's and confirmed via multiple sources that a steel "wishbone" entered the driver's compartment after the Honda's right side slammed into the wall during a practice run. The piece of metal then reportedly entered and exited the 28-year-old Canadian's right leg and entered his left thigh before stopping in his pelvic region.

Hinchcliffe suffered "massive" blood loss due to his injuries but was stabilized by medical workers at the track and in the ambulance before arriving at Methodist Hospital.

Video shows the crash, but not any of the injuries described above.

PHOTOS: Crazy Indy 500 crashes

IndyCar has said only that Hinchcliffe underwent surgery on high upper left thigh and was in stable condition in intensive care Monday night.

Numerous drivers reportedly went to the hospital Monday to visit the driver, who likely is done with competition for the rest of the year, according to RACER.

[mabarker1]

UPDATE: NASCAR will issue a warning but won't penalize the Hendrick Motorsports team of Jimmie Johnson for pulling out a side skirt body panel Saturday night during the Sprint All-Star Race. At the start of the year, NASCAR announced it wouldn't allow the flaring out of fenders and body panels near the wheel wells, something that occurred with regularity over the last half of the 2014 season. The penalty is that a team must come in under green to fix it or, if the repair is done while under caution, then the driver must do a pass-through penalty (driving down pit road at pit-road speed) under green. Anyone found involved in such modifications, on first offense, gets a warning.(ESPN.com)(5-19-2015)

[mabarker1]

Track News and Announcements

• Work begins on safety initiatives at Daytona: As construction continues on the Daytona Rising project, which is designed to provide a different race-day experience for fans, work began Monday to provide a safer race-day experience for the drivers. Daytona International Speedway officials announced work has started on safety initiatives that include additional "soft wall" coverage as well as asphalt in one area formerly covered with grass. The addition of new Steel and Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) Barrier became a hot topic in the aftermath of Kyle Busch's Feb. 21 wreck, in an XFINITY Series race the day before the Daytona 500, that left him with a broken leg and foot. Daytona's next event is on Fourth of July weekend, the XFINITY Series' Subway Firecracker 250 on July 4 and the Sprint Cup Series' Coke Zero 400 on July 5. The current work is expected to be completed before then. Other than acknowledging the start of the new efforts, the Speedway declined to offer any information beyond what it addressed in a March 11 news release.
  The specifics of the work: The inside retaining wall, inside Turn 1 and beginning with the exit from the infield road course, will be realigned and fitted with the SAFER Barrier. 20,000 square feet of asphalt will be put down to replace the grass in that area of the track - the lack of traction on grass adds to the inability to slow or possibly control a wrecking car. During his deconstruction of his February wreck, Busch spoke of the inability to get tire grip and possibly save his car from its eventual hit into the wall. Installation of SAFER Barrier on the retaining wall at the exit to pit road. Installation of SAFER Barrier between the exit of Turn 4 and the pit entrance, on the section of the inside retaining wall presently uncovered. Additional coverage of the outside wall of the backstretch with SAFER Barrier. After the July 5 Coke Zero 400, the Speedway will continue covering SAFER coverage of existing concrete walls.(Daytona Beach News-Journal)(5-20-2015)

[mabarker1]

Track News and Announcements

• Lt. Governors, Military Families To Honor Veterans at Coca-Cola 600: Two lieutenant governors, the head of the USO and the wife of a military hero will serve as race officials for the 2015 Coca-Cola 600, the nation's largest Memorial Day Weekend celebration. Dawn Seif, wife of fallen Marine SSgt. Andrew Seif, will be Grand Marshal; USO CEO & President J.D. Crouch II will be Co-Grand Marshal; West Virginia Senate President Lt. Gov. Bill Cole will serve as Honorary Starter; and North Carolina's Lt. Gov. Dan Forest will serve as Honorary Race Director for the 56th running of NASCAR's only 600-mile race at the famed Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 24.
  As race officials, Cole and Forest will be honored at a pre-race event, attend the official drivers meeting, address the crowd of nearly 100,000 fans, participate in the pre-race spectacular and present the trophy to the winning driver in Victory Lane. As Co-Grand Marshal, Crouch will introduce Seif as the Grand Marshal. Seif will give the race command, while Cole will wave the green flag over the 43-car field to start NASCAR's most challenging race. As Honorary Race Director, Forest will ride in an official pace car.
  Dawn Bredeweg and SSgt. Andrew C. Seif of Holland, Michigan, were married on Sept. 18, 2010. Tragically, SSgt. Seif was one of 11 service members killed in March of this year when their helicopter crashed during a training mission near Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. He was a Combat Engineer based out of Camp Pendleton and Twentynine Palms, California from 2006 until 2009. He then joined Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) based out of Camp Lejeune. During his career, he served one tour of duty in Iraq and two in Afghanistan. SSgt. Seif was a decorated Marine. In July 2012, he faced enemy fire to save a mortally wounded friend in Afghanistan. For his heroism, SSgt. Seif was a recipient of the USO's 2013 Marine of the Year Award and earned the Silver Star.
  Crouch was elected by the USO Board of Governors to become the 23rd President and Chief Executive Officer of the United Service Organizations (USO) in 2014. Crouch has a long history of public service, including numerous military honors and a service as U.S. Ambassador to Romania.
  Cole is a fifth generation West Virginia businessman. In January 2015, he became the first Republican to lead the West Virginia Senate in more than 80 years. He and his wife, Brownie, live in Bluefield, West Virginia and have four children.
  Forest is the first Republican Lieutenant Governor to be elected in North Carolina in more than 20 years, and only the second since 1897. Dan is an architect. He and his wife, Alice, reside in Raleigh with their four children, ages 8 to 20.
  Continuing its tradition as the biggest Memorial Day Weekend celebration in America, the Coca-Cola 600 pre-race show will pay tribute to veterans and active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The captivating performance will showcase ground exercises with troops from Fort Bragg, featuring Humvees, Howitzers, a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and more. Rope teams from Fort Campbell will descend from Black Hawk helicopters. The high-powered pre-race show will also include a 21-gun salute from the Fort Bragg firing squad and vintage war bird air parade and sky-diving members of Team Fastrax descending into the infield. There will also be a musical element to the pre-race show with performances including Rock and Roll Hall of Famers ZZ Top and Lee Greenwood.
  Great seats are still available for the Coca-Cola 600 and all rest of the 10 Days of NASCAR Thunder, with weekend passes starting at just $99. To purchase tickets and camping day upgrades, fans should call the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267) or shop online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.(CMS)(5-20-2015)

[mabarker1]

• Panthers Davis to be honorary pacecar driver for Coca-Cola 600: Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis' whirlwind year will take another turn - several left turns, actually - next weekend when the NFL's reigning Man of the Year drives the pace car at NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It's the latest experience in an offseason that's played out like a fantasy camp for Davis, who won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in January for his years of charitable work with children. Davis confirmed Wednesday he'll be behind the wheel of the pace car during Charlotte's Sprint race May 24. "I'm going to go as fast as they allow me to go," Davis said in a phone interview. Nationwide, the presenting sponsor of the Man of the Year Award, was scheduled to make the announcement Thursday morning. Davis will be certified Tuesday at the 1.5-mile oval. The process will include a short class, followed by a couple of laps around the track with a NASCAR official. Dale Earnhardt Jr., whose primary sponsor is Nationwide, will take Davis for a ride in Earnhardt's #88 Chevrolet. Davis can get some tips from Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, who drove the pace car last year for NASCAR's Sprint All-Star Race in Charlotte. "Luke is my brother. We bounce everything off of each other," Davis said. "He was extremely excited to be pace car driver last year and I'm equally excited to be the one doing it this year."(Charlotte Observer)(5-14-2015)

  
  Getting ready to run a few laps @CLTMotorSpdwy with @ThomasDavisSDTM as my co-pilot. @nationwide88

[mabarker1]

Car owners get access to new NASCAR Media Group data: Sports Business Journal reports that car owners have gained access to some of NASCAR Media Group's data, including an overview of its operations and some top-line financial information. Sports Business Journal, citing multiple sources, said in a story Monday that MWR co-owner Rob Kauffman discussed sharing information related to NASCAR Media Group to a larger group of team principles with Brent Dewar, NASCAR chief operating officer, to gain a better understanding of the unit. Kauffman, chairman of the Race Team Alliance, told Sports Business Journal: "There's definitely been an increase in communication. It's in everyone's interest because we're all in the sport together. There's been a better understanding between NASCAR and the teams of, 'Where are the costs? What are the big cost drivers? What are the revenue drivers? Where are there opportunities to save and grow?' And the only way you get that is by having fairly open dialogue. ... We're trying to work together to address an issue."(Sports Business Journal)(5-20-2015)

[mabarker1]

A second team for Furniture Row Racing? #78-Furniture Row Racing is enjoying its most successful start to a season in the 10-year history of the organization. Martin Truex Jr. has piloted the #78 Chevy to 10 top-10 finishes in the first 11 races of the year, and sits second in driver standings. This has come with a single-car operation based in Denver, CO. However, Furniture Row general manager Joe Garone says that may change. "Long-term, we're constantly looking for sponsorships to come on the 78 with Furniture Row and also to start a second team down the road to help support the overall effort," Garone said. A single-car team for the entirety of its existence, Furniture Row Racing has finally started to see success under that setup. However, Garone believes if funding was found, there would be few reservations about expanding to a second car. "Being a single-car for so long and now feeling like we're getting it to work really well, you feel like now is the time to go ahead and look at bringing something else on," Garone said. "You feel like you don't have to go through all the learning processes that you go through building a single-car team; you've kind of gone through that. We look forward to going through that process. Again, it all comes down to raising the money," he said. Another key part of the equation would be finding a driver. Garone said the team is not that far along in the process and needs to focus on finding the funding before searching for drivers. "Generally in that process there are companies that have their eye on a driver and the team has an eye on a driver and you kind of combine that together," he said. "When that bridge is crossed, we'll figure it out then." With Barney Visser owning both the team and the sponsor, the organization has been able to field the #78 without an additional major primary sponsor, but Garone says doing that for a second driver would be a challenge.(FoxSports)(5-20-2015)

[happydogx2]

Whew. That’s a lotta news. The link about USC Volleyball team (girls) winning the national championship was important, I’m sure. Being a teenager in So Cal in the late 60’s early 70’s was an eye-opening adventure. The Beach Boys were right. I did wish they could all be California girls.

As of now the weather is looking sunny and hot for the upcoming race. No rain in the forecast, yet.

[mabarker1]

? Link to Volleyball ?

Yep, I’m fairly sure Summer is almost here, had the A/C on for the last 2 weeks. Gotta keep Duke Energy from going broke Ya know;)

[happydogx2]

Below is a link to an article re: Muscle Car City Museum in Florida. This guy’s a collector and owns “about” 20 1967 427 inch V-8 Corvettes along with dozens of other “muscle” cars. Got some great memories of driving my sister’s boyfriend’s 1967 GTO convertible. He’d let me drive the car for a few hours every now and again so he could get some alone time.

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2015/05/18/muscle-car-city-keeping-american-dream-alive/?intcmp=latestnews

[mabarker1]

Congrats - Brad Keselowski: #2-Brad Keselowski and his girlfriend, Paige White, welcomed a baby girl into the world on Twitter on Wednesday morning.(NASCAR.com)(5-20-2015) [No Pics yet]

The baby drama began on Tuesday night when T.J. Majors tweeted that he was headed to the hospital for the "birth of one of my best friend's baby girl." In a March 2014 blog, Keselowski said Majors was his "best friend."

tj majors

✔ @Tjmajors

I will miss the heat race at @GoProMotorplex. Had to go to hospital for birth of one of my best friends baby girl! Will make the race.

Thanks for the Link HDx2 !

[mabarker1]

I got to this one while working My way through the List of the "600 Miles of Rememberance" page in the Link in Post 85

No. 38 car: The Unknown Soldier

Dedicated to the common memories of all soldiers killed in action in any war, the No. 38 team's truck driver Charles "Wahoo" Sampson, who served many tours of duty as a United States Marine, decided to honor The Unknown Soldier. Having lost a number of brothers during his time served, he felt this was the best way to honor them along with others who were unidentified or never made their resting place back home.

[mabarker1]

So We got Breakfast in Monaco, Lunch at Indy and Dinner in Concord Sunday.

Let’s light this candle!

[Chode]

UP!!!

[mabarker1]

2016 NASCAR Hall Of Fame Class Announced: NASCAR announced the inductees who will comprise the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2016. The five-person group - the seventh in NASCAR Hall of Fame history - consists of Jerry Cook, Bobby Isaac, Terry Labonte, O. Bruton Smith and Curtis Turner. In addition, NASCAR announced that Harold Brasington won the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. Next year's Induction Ceremony is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. The NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel met today in a closed session in Charlotte to debate and vote upon the 20 nominees for the induction class of 2016 and the five nominees for the Landmark Award. NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France and NASCAR Vice Chairman Mike Helton announced the class and Landmark Award winner, respectively, this evening in the NASCAR Hall of Fame's Great Hall.
The Class of 2016 was determined by votes cast by the Voting Panel, including representatives from NASCAR, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, track owners from major facilities and historic short tracks, media members, manufacturer representatives, retired competitors (drivers, owners, crew chiefs), recognized industry leaders, a nationwide fan vote conducted through NASCAR.com and, for the second year, the reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion (Kevin Harvick). In all, 57 votes were cast, with two additional Voting Panel members recused from voting as potential nominees for induction (Jerry Cook and Robert Yates). The accounting firm of Ernst & Young presided over the tabulation of the votes.
Voting was as follows: O. Bruton Smith (68%), Terry Labonte (61%), Curtis Turner (60%), Jerry Cook (47%) and Bobby Isaac (44%).
The next top vote-getters were Red Byron, Benny Parsons and Rick Hendrick. Results for the NASCAR.com Fan Vote, in alphabetical order, were Buddy Baker, Alan Kulwicki, Terry Labonte, Mark Martin and Benny Parsons.
The five inductees came from a group of 20 nominees that included, in addition to the five inductees chosen: Buddy Baker, Red Byron, Richard Childress, Ray Evernham, Ray Fox, Rick Hendrick, Harry Hyde, Alan Kulwicki, Mark Martin, Hershel McGriff, Raymond Parks, Benny Parsons, Larry Phillips, Mike Stefanik and Robert Yates.
Nominees for the Landmark Award included Brasington, H.Clay Earles, Raymond Parks, Ralph Seagraves and Ken Squier. It is awarded to competitors or those working in the sport who have acted as a NASCAR ambassador through a professional or non-professional role. Anne B. France won the inaugural award last year.
Class of 2016 Inductees:
Jerry Cook made his name in modifieds, winning six NASCAR Modified championships, including four consecutively from 1974-77. All the while, he was vying with another driver from his hometown of Rome, New York, nine-time champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Richie Evans, for supremacy in NASCAR's open-wheel realm. After retiring from racing in 1982, Cook stayed with the sport and helped shape the series known today as the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Cook served as the series' director when it began in 1985 and remains with NASCAR as competition administrator.
Bobby Isaac's uncanny skill at drawing speed from a race car puts him on a short list of NASCAR legends. His 49 career poles ranks 10th all time. Maybe more impressive: Isaac captured 19 poles in 1969, which still stands as the record for poles in a single season. Isaac began racing in NASCAR's premier series in 1961. He finished runner-up in the series standings in 1968 behind NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson. In 1969, he finished sixth in the standings after posting 17 wins and those 19 poles. In 1970, Isaac won the championship posting 11 victories, 32 top fives and 38 top 10s in 47 starts. Isaac won 37 races in NASCAR's top series, ranking 19th on the all-time list.
Terry Labonte is a two-nickname NASCAR star. Early in his career he was known as the "Iceman" for his coolness under pressure. But his demeanor belied his determination. Later in his career he became known as the sport's "Iron Man" thanks to 665 consecutive starts in NASCAR's premier series, a record which stood until 2002. Winning two premier series championships, in 1984 and '96, is impressive; the 12-year gap distinguishes Labonte further. No other driver has won his first two championships that far apart and Labonte is one of only six drivers with championships in two decades. Labonte's stellar career is tucked between perfect bookends - his two Southern 500 wins, in 1980 and 2003. His 361 top-10 finishes ranks 10th all time.
O. Bruton Smith, executive chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc., promoted his first stock car race in Midland, North Carolina at the age of 18. Smith's early endeavors included operating the National Stock Car Racing Association - seen as an early competitor to NASCAR - and building Charlotte Motor Speedway. CMS became the foundation of Speedway Motorsports Inc., which currently owns eight NASCAR tracks hosting 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events, the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and additional high-profile motorsports activities. Smith took SMI public in 1995, the first motorsports company to be traded at the New York Stock Exchange. He was inducted into the North Carolina Business Hall of Fame and National Motorsports Press Association's Hall of Fame, both in 2006; and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2007.
Curtis Turner, called by some the "Babe Ruth of stock car racing," was among the fastest and most colorful competitors in the early years of NASCAR premier series racing. Turner competed in NASCAR's first "Strictly Stock" race in 1949 in Charlotte and was the only driver to win a NASCAR premier series race in a Nash. He posted his first of 17 career victories in only his fourth start on Sept. 11, 1949, at Langhorne (Pennsylvania) Speedway. Although many of Turner's victories came on short tracks and dirt ovals - much of his career pre-dated NASCAR's superspeedway era - he won the 1956 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway and the first American 500 at Rockingham Speedway in 1965. He remains the only series driver to win two consecutive races from the pole leading every lap. He also won 38 of 79 races in which he competed in the NASCAR Convertible Division.
Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR:
Harold Brasington, a South Carolina businessman, believed in Bill France's fledgling NASCAR business, created the sanctioning body's first superspeedway - a one-of-a-kind egg-shaped oval, paved on an old cotton and peanut field. Expecting 10,000 fans to show up at Darlington Raceway's first competition on Labor Day of 1950, 25,000 spectators showed up for the inaugural Southern 500 - NASCAR's first 500-mile race. Darlington's success inspired Brasington to extend his reach north -- to North Carolina. He employed his track building and promoting expertise, helping in the creation of Charlotte Motor Speedway and building North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham, NC.(NASCAR)(5-20-2015)

[mabarker1]

Tommy Baldwin Racing Welcomes CULER Aboard: Tommy Baldwin Racing welcomes CULER aboard the #7 Chevrolet at the Coca-Cola 600. CULER space coolers can drop the air temperature as much as 30 degrees. Made in the USA and featuring multi-patented technology, CULER products provide industry-leading effectiveness and efficiency. The home sized space coolers operate on as much energy as a 40-watt lightbulb. This is CULER's first time sponsoring a car in NASCAR, but their products have been involved within the midway at NASCAR events in the past. "It's great to see CULER want to become further involved in NASCAR," said team owner Tommy Baldwin. "Many race fans are familiar with their product from seeing them at the track and now will be able to associate a name with the innovative cooling technology."
"CULER is very proud and excited to support Tommy Baldwin Racing and driver Alex Bowman for the Memorial Day weekend race at Charlotte," said Jeff Badovick, Chief Executive Officer of CULER. "Our CULER associates wish Alex and TBR a solid run and great finish."(TBR), see an image of the scheme on the #7 Team Schemes page.(5-20-2015)

[mabarker1]

Twisted Tea Adds Races with Hornish and #9 Team: After serving as the primary sponsor of the #9 Ford Fusion team for select races beginning in 2014, Twisted Tea Brewing Company has once again increased their partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) by adding two additional races to their 2015 schedule. The Twisted Tea colors will return to the #9 Ford beginning this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600 and the following weekend at Dover International Speedway for the FedEx 400 Benefiting Autism Speaks. It was announced earlier this year that the hard iced tea company will serve as the primary sponsor for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway in July. They also opened the season as the primary sponsor during Hornish's debut with RPM (in the Daytona 500). "We've received a strong response from our drinkers and NASCAR fans regarding our relationship with Richard Petty Motorsports and Sam Hornish Jr.," said Robert Vail, member of the Twisted Tea team. "The Coca-Cola 600 falls on a unique weekend when we take time to honor our nation's military and those that serve. It also happens to be one of the biggest weekends for motorsports and the unofficial kick-off of summer. It will be great to have the Twisted Tea colors back on the No. 9 car this weekend as well as next weekend at Dover."(RPM), see images of the scheme on the #9 Team Schemes page.(5-20-2015)

[mabarker1]

• Charlotte Motor Speedway Notes & Facts - Thursday - poles:
  · Fireball Roberts won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway (World 600) in 1960 with a speed of 133.904 mph.
  · 42 drivers have Coors Light poles at Charlotte, led by David Pearson with 14. Ryan Newman and Jeff Gordon lead all active drivers in poles at CMS with nine.
  · David Pearson and Ryan Newman are tied for the series most Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Sprint Cup Coors Light poles with six each; followed by Jeff Gordon with five.
  · 12 drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Charlotte. David Pearson holds the record for most consecutive poles at Charlotte with 11; from the fall of 1973 through 1978.
  · Jeff Gordon won five straight Coca-Cola 600 poles at Charlotte between 1994 and 1998.
  · Four active drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway: Jeff Gordon (10/10/93), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (5/28/00), Ryan Newman (5/27/01) and Aric Almirola (5/27/12).
  · 15 of the 112 (13.3%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Charlotte have been won from the Coors Light pole; the most recent was Jimmie Johnson in 2014 (Coca-Cola 600).
  · The second-place starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (17) than any other starting position at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
  · 32 of the 112 (28.5%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Charlotte have been won from the front row: 15 from the pole and 17 from second-place.
  · 85 of the 112 (75.8%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Charlotte have been won from a top-10 starting position.
  · Nine of the 112 (8.0%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Charlotte have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
  · The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Charlotte is 37th, by Jimmie Johnson in the Coca-Cola 600 of 2003.
  · Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Charlotte with a 7.630.
  · Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway twice; the fall race of 2002 and the fall race of 2008.
  (NASCAR)(5-21-2015)

[mabarker1]

Son delivers Byrnes' NASCAR Hall of Fame vote: As the esteemed NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel gathered Wednesday in Charlotte to deliberate on who will be selected for the 2016 NASCAR Hall of Fame class, an equally esteemed single ballot arrived to be counted among the votes. Completing that ballot was one of the last things longtime broadcaster Steve Byrnes did before passing away from cancer on April 21. His 12-year-old son Bryson and wife Karen made the surprise special delivery. Then the voting panel, which includes the sport's legends such as NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty, Junior Johnson and Ned Jarrett, posed with Bryson in honor of the sixth-grader's father -- a beloved member of the NASCAR family and highly respected member of the media.(5-21-2015)

Click the Pic for More of the Story

[mabarker1]

Special scheme at Charlotte for Bowyer: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series continues its "home" visit in Charlotte this weekend. The sport's longest race of the year is a Memorial Day tradition at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Another tradition is honoring those who serve and have served. Clint Bowyer's #15 Cherry 5-hour ENERGY Toyota will be outfitted in red, white and blue colors with a special decal for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation again this weekend. A portion of sales from a special cherry 5-hour ENERGY bottle now through July 31 goes to the organization that supports the military's special operations forces and their families through college scholarships, family services, and financial stipends. Bowyer's windshield also honors the service of his paternal grandfather, Dale E. Bowyer. The special windshield decal is a part of NASCAR's 600 Miles of Remembrance, honoring military service members and their families. Dale E. Bowyer is Clint Bowyer's paternal grandfather and was a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Army. He won the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism while fighting the armed enemy in Germany during World War II.(MWR), see images of the scheme on the #15 Team Schemes page.(5-21-2015)